Weekly Header Challenge -- Games

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 ~ Games

Chosen by Christine.  (That's me.)

I laughed when I looked at the theme for the week--who chose this theme, anyway?  It was me.  And I have no pictures to show for it.  Well, except for this game called baseball.  Friends invited us to see a Chicago White Sox game with them last month--what a blast!

Here's the photo I used for my header:

Sox win!  Sox win!

Here are the highlights from the evening.  Enjoy!

Fireworks show after the game!

One photo after the game, looking from the ramps at the stadium out toward the city.

It was a great game and a great day with friends!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Aah! Time to Relax!

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 ~ Aah!  Time to Relax!

Chosen by me.

Well, as you may be able to guess, I chose this theme to coincide with our mini vacation to the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Bonaparte, because I knew we'd be relaxing there quite a bit throughout the week!

Here is the uncropped image that I used for my header.

Jake was able to get a week off work, and he is dating a sweet young lady, Allie, who was also able to come with us and experience what a typical family vacation is for us.  The two cuties had plenty of time to sit, relax, do things together, chat, and just get to know each other better.

Here are some more relaxing images from Lake Bonaparte...

Fishing near the High Rocks.

Relaxing on Jackson Rock.

Beautiful sunset from our dock.

My morning mug of tea, a chair, a dock, and a beautiful view.

Swishing feet in the water!

Exploring the tree house.  (Allie's New York cousins came to visit.)

Playing cards on the front porch.

Since I'm a huge fan of sunsets, and sunsets at the Lake, I leave you with one final relaxing image, with a kayaker paddling by.

I hope you've had time to relax this summer!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Cell Phone Pics

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 ~ Cell Phone Pics

Chosen by Craver.

This week's theme was both simple, and difficult.  I rarely take pictures with my cell phone--an Android smartphone--because I usually have my camera with me.  But on those occasions I don't, or when I want to share something on Facebook right then, my phone comes in handy.

I usually take vertical pictures with my phone, so I made a composite for my header.  Here it is:

 August 2014 -- Up at Lake Bonaparte.

I made a surprise trip to the Lake this past August for my mom's 75th birthday, so not many people knew I was up there.  I wanted to share on Facebook what a typical evening up there is, so when I went down to the dock to sit and watch/photograph the sunset, I pulled out my phone to share what I was doing.  I call these evenings my dock dates.  That's the picture on the right.

The picture on the left was taken at Janet's cottage, where she was hosting a beauty products party.  The ladies let me slip out to her deck to capture the sunset, and the sun was so stunning--the picture in no way does it justice--that I had to take one with my phone to share on Facebook.  Here are the two individual images that make up my header.

Out of the couple dozen images I've ever taken with my phone, I'm now sharing the best ones here for you!  Remember, I only use my phone when I want to share something unusual, exciting, or funny (usually on Facebook), or when I just don't have my "big" camera on me.  Here goes...

January 23, 2013 -- For just a few minutes, autism doesn't exist.

April 18, 2013 -- Massive flooding in the Chicago suburbs.

Same day -- Driving through the flood to get home.

May 24, 2014.  Thomas gets his driving permit.

May 26, 2014.

Please don't ask why Danny is pushing a dresser

filled with stuffed animals down the sidewalk...!

May 2, 2014.  What happens when your friends' children are little, and yours are big.

May 3, 2014 -- Thomas' math team takes 5th place at the state competition.

May 10, 2014 -- Jacob's graduation!

August 7, 2014 -- Celebrating an 825-point game!

This last picture is worth noting since in our family, breaking the 800-point barrier in a Scrabble game is a major feat.  Mom and I pulled this one off during her birthday week at the Lake.  :)


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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Weekly Header Challenge - Thank You

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.

Feel free to click on the other participants' blogs

to see what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Thank You

I wish I had one single image to portray this theme of thanksgiving!  I think this is the highest number of images I've posted for these weekly challenges, but I narrowed it down as much as I could.  I started thinking about what to be thankful for, in a year filled with Fernando's job layoff and back surgery, my own back problems, no money to spend on Christmas, and many other "bad" things that have happened.

I decided that this sunrise is a good way to show that hope does not disappoint, and that as surely as the sun rises, we are in His care.  A quote about thanksgiving in all circumstances:

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NASB

Thank You for hope!

Thank You for my country.

Thank You for family who loves me enough to play my favorite game with me!

Thank You for autism, because You are glorified in our weaknesses.

Thank You for little and fun reminders that You care.

Thank You for a hubby who helps me build kitchen drawer organizers!

Thank You for signs of spring.

Thank You for leading and guiding my sons in their lives.

Thank You for long life for my parents for us to enjoy them!

Thank You for awesome teenagers.

Thank You for all the wonderful beginnings we celebrated this year!

Thank you for guys who help me in my garden.

Thank You for daisies in my yard.

Thank You for strong, godly sons.

Thank You for sunsets right in my own suburban back yard!

Thank You for garden strawberries that help make this possible.  ;)

Thank You for flower gardens.

Thank You for peaceful spots near home.

Thank You for technology!

Thank You for garden harvest.

Thank You for hard workers at home.

Thank You for Jacob's tree in autumn.

Thank You for my bench in my little corner of back yard.

There is so much more to be thankful for, but this sampling helps me realize I have ever so much to be thankful for!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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