Weekly Header Challenge -- Memories

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Memories

Chosen by Kathy.

Here is the image I used for this week’s theme:

Although this is a recent memory, I'm really holding on to it!  Here's the story, in photos and a few words of explanation...

Thomas applied for and was accepted into BMW's advanced technician training program!  We had only three weeks to get everything in order and get him down to Orlando, Florida where the training program is.

I pulled out two boxes of stuff we had used for camping a few times, and it was perfect for Thomas' new apartment where he'll be staying while attending the program.

Fernando led the way in the Suburban, and I rode while Thomas drove his car (a used BMW!!).

Other than the first hour, this is what the entire 12-hour drive looked like...

We stopped the first night in South Carolina to visit friends, who own five acres and chickens!

Tripod and remote shutter release, and here we all are...

Then it was on to Atlanta and more good friends, and another goofy photo...

Once we were in Orlando, and while Thomas was in orientation, Fernando and I visited Cocoa Beach.  We ended up swimming among all these pelicans, which were swooping and diving all around us.  It was amazing.

Thomas had me take an "official" photo of him (with my phone) that he could post on Facebook with his news.

As we drove off from his apartment, I took a photo with my phone.  At first, I was annoyed that I had also captured the reflection of my hand in the car window.  But then, it struck me that it looked like I was trying to hold on to him.  I love the symbolism of knowing that I got to experience almost 21 years with an amazing young man before having to let him go.

In the end, I love this last photo because I realize that I never really had hold of my son; he was meant to fly.  But I know that he's in God's hands--always has been, always will be.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Through the Open Door

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Through the Open Door/Gate

Chosen by Mac.

My photos tell the story of what I saw through our open front door a few weeks ago, with the last photo being the one I used for my header.  On to the story...

One delivery came, below:  a box of mechanic's tools!  The was the second of three separate shipments.  Thomas was at tech school at this time, so missed the delivery.  The boxes were extremely heavy, so I had the UPS driver get this box into the foyer.  I slid it enough to get the door closed, then let Thomas deal with it when he returned home.

Once he had the two delivered boxes of tools, he just lacked the tool box.  Below, he was home for that delivery, and was as excited as a 20-year-old can get!

Out the front door he flew...

...to greet the UPS driver for this delivery.  (I shot most of these photos through the open garage door, mind you!!)

The driver brought out the box on a crate--the box was super heavy!

Here is my final photo below, and the one I used for my header.  He's positioning the box just so in our garage, and his goal is to get it organized with all his tools.  He has since graduated (October 14) from auto/diesel tech school, and is in the midst of his employment search.

I shot the above photo through the door from the house into the garage, and Thomas is standing in the open garage door area--so this photo is through two doors!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Official

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Official

Chosen by Tom.

Should I use the noun or the adjective for this week's theme?  I may have a few pictures of officials--police officers, a government figure--but I decided that I have several images that describe something official.  Like my header, uncropped below:

This header image has a fun memory attached:  I grabbed the mail that day (spring 2013) and saw the envelope with the big "Yes!" on it.  I hollered to Danny, "Hey, you got mail from UIC!"  Then I said out loud to myself, "They say yes."  I thought it was another advertisement from yet another college, so I was trying to be funny about it.  Then I realized what the yes meant--Danny had been accepted!  I went from joking to super excited.

Here's my one image of the noun version.  He looks official, too, don't you think?

Don't mess with the security officer.

Here are the rest of my images for official.

Math team -- officially 5th in state.

Thomas--9th in state individually!

Officially a college graduate!

Thomas is officially a licensed driver (yikes!)

Danny--an official member of the National Honor Society.

Fernando started his own business a few months ago; this business card makes it official!

My official business display at a local business expo.

I took this last picture just a few days ago.  The vows, a kiss, then this walk down the aisle--they are now officially husband and wife!

That's officially it!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- I Didn't Expect to See THAT Here!

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ I Didn't Expect to See That Here!

Chosen by Kathy.

It was tough to find images that fit this theme.  Halfway through my images, I realized I was searching for Now What's That Doing Here?  Then I realized it's slightly different.  I expect to, say, walk into a room and have it look like it always does.  So, these pictures reflect things or scenarios I didn't expect to be there.

For my header, I chose this image:

I fully expected to see college books lying around my house, and even on my kitchen counter.  I didn't expect to see that molecular model sitting there, though.  I guess that's a toy for a biochemistry major (required for his Quantitative Chemical Analysis course--I can barely type that, let alone try to say or describe it!).

Here are some more unexpected scenarios...

Walking into my family room, I fully expected to see Jacob in his spot on the couch, on his laptop.  I did not expect to see a huge Papasan chair with Thomas lounging in it, his bruised ankle (twisted in a football practice injury) hanging off the end of the chair.  That chair took up the entire family room!

While making a large batch of tomato soup which I planned on canning, I didn't expect the hot soup to shoot through the little pouring hole in my blender as I pureed it.  And, neither did I expect to look up and see the splatters of soup all over the ceiling above.  I mean, I had the lid on the blender.  Sheesh.

For last year's Labor Day parade, I expected to see parade-type things--not Jacob with a sign taped to his chest.  The sign came from my friend, the homeowner, whose son-in-law had posted it on the coffee pot in the kitchen that morning.  She figured the sign would get put to good use on Jacob.

One day last October, I heard a loud CRACK as I sat at the computer.  I thought the lawn mowing service for the church property behind us had kicked up a rock which hit our window.  I checked all the first floor windows on the west side, but nothing.  I shrugged and went back to my day.

Later that evening, after Danny had come home from school, I heard a, "Hey, Mom?  What happened to my [bedroom] window??"  I knew before I even saw it.  The industrial lanwmower had kicked up a rock to the second-story window, which shot through both the screen and the outside pane of the double-pane window!  I took several pictures, while dreading calling the company to see if they'd replace the window.

Before I could even finish my story to the owner of Prime Cut Landscaping, he told me to get the window and screen fixed and send him the bill.  I was impressed and amazed at their integrity--and thankful we didn't have to pay for repairs!

The below is the Christmas tree in Daley Plaza downtown Chicago; it's a familiar landmark of this city, along with the Christkindl market at Christmastime (you can see the booths of the market around the tree).  Danny performed in the UIC University Choir's Christmas concert that night, and honestly, we found the building, walked in, and enjoyed the concert, never bothering to look at our surroundings.  When we exited the building, there it was!  I expected a street full of skyscrapers, and lots of people since it was a Saturday night.

While Fernando and Danny walked to the parking garage to pick up the car, we had about 15 minutes to enjoy the tree and our surroundings.  I even had several people lined up at one point, handing me their smart phones to take their pictures in front of the tree, lol!  How did that happen??  I guess they saw the Canon around my neck and figured I knew what I was doing.  It was a ton of fun.

Thanks for visiting!  I expect to see some great, interesting, and fun photos on your blogs, too!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge - Waves

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Waves

Chosen by Mac.

This week, I went with the literal interpretation on the theme--actual waves, as in ocean waves.  I hope you all were more creative!  Here's my header shot, below.  I kept it cropped just like a header, since the horizontal wave lends itself to that format.  I love the contrast of the breaking wave on the left, and the curled, smooth part on the right.

A few days later, the waves looked like this.

And after another day, when all the seaweed was kicked up, they looked like this.

These images were all taken on our 2011 trip to Florida to stay with friends--they have a timeshare at Disney, and we all stayed together in a huge beach cottage at Vero Beach.  Here was my first wave image of our week-long trip:

Early Monday morning, and all those people, you may ask.  Here's why, below.  The final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor!

Wave close-up.

Friends and family enjoying the waves!

The waves subside a lot some nights, and I found myself on the deck of our cottage or on the beach almost every night, just enjoying the colors and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Finished!

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Finished!

Chosen by Kathy.

I feel so much better prepared for the Weekly Header Challenge this week!  Even though our family is experiencing multiple difficulties and challenges, I think I found a great photo to illustrate Kathy's theme for this week.  Here is is, in full format:

The game is finished and both teams celebrate together!

The Crusaders (our home team, in blue) played the Illinois School for the Deaf (the Tigers), and won a hard-fought game.  Both teams played with great heart, which was exhibited at game's end when both teams gathered for a pep talk by the Crusaders' head coach.  Then, all the players held up their helmets and celebrated together--the game is finished!  What a great show of sportsmanship.

Here's another shot from a wider angle, though I love the close-up with the camaraderie between the players.

Other things that are finished...

My garlic-lemon-rosemary chicken roaster is finished.  (It was delicious.)

Finished kebabs from the grill.  And finished in minutes by my hungry guys!

Thomas' baptism!  Old life finished--no looking back after this public declaration of faith in Jesus.

The tomatoes are finished--in cans as sauce.

Danny's haircut is finished.  He paid me for this one.

Alpha Omega math team finished 5th in state at the state finals tournament!

Jacob finished college!

If I play this game, I'm finished.  ;)

The finish of a summer day.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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