mom

Mom

May 15, 2013

Katney picked this week's Headbanger's theme.  We are going with "Mom."  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

Moms are so important, and never appreciated enough.  I love my kids, but if dads had to spend as much time dealing with their childrens' shenanigans as the moms, we'd have a lot more cases of lost kids and hunting accidents; do you know what I'm saying?  Of course, I always make it easy on my wife and never contribute to frustrations in the house. (cough, cough)  The pic in my header is my D2 with my mom and her mom (Mrs. Craver.)  Next, I show D1 with her son and her mother.

Um, that's not how you steal a kiss, not that you'd have to steal one from Nana anyway.

 

Craver's family tree with Mom & Dad.  (side note: Why am I the only one with a moustache?)

family portrait

One child is a missionary, visiting from another continent. Another child is an out-of-state college student. When will we see this family all together again? Nobody knows.

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The mom asked me to take a family portrait, and between everybody's hectic schedules, we only had the one opportunity, so here's what I did. I scoured the web for samples of family portraits, to see if I could get some ideas for lighting and positioning. When I went to the house, I had three rough sketches for suggested poses. This is the first time I started a project with a drawing.

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Mrs. Craver accompanied me, and was a tremendous help because she notices things that escape my attention. After I explained that I need to work on the camera settings and positioning of the flash, I said that they could relax, and I would tell them when I was ready to take the actual pictures. They ended up with three final proofs, but it took sixty shots to get there. Portraits have been my biggest photographic challenge.

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I feel pretty good about the idea to separate them into two groups. Mom & Dad are together in the foreground, and their grown children are clumped together about a foot behind them. If I had not done that, I would have dwarfed the parents, because these kids are so tall! The back wall is creme colored, or off white, but solid. I got that look by placing two incandescent lamps on the floor behind the family and two bounced flashes lit the family. What do you think... any helpful advice? What would you have done differently?

sneaky church cam

This was a sneaky shot I took at church. I showed that man his picture, and he laughed about the "butt shot." That was good natured self-deprecation, but it was not why I took the shot. I was motivated to snap this pic because I saw something very different. I see a family that is so blessed, it moves me. I know this man personally, and that he takes his role as husband and father very seriously. He is not just a figurehead, but in a very practical way, he serves as the spiritual head of his family. He leads with wisdom and grace. I see how they love each other. The wife is a godly woman who serves unselfishly. That little girl sings at church with all her heart. I've taught their other kids in Sunday School, and these kids know their Bible. One can see that their parents instruct them at home.

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A lot of people have a warped picture of what a Christian looks like. Crusades, inquisitions, picketing funerals and whatnot. For me, a Christian looks like this.

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(f.y.i. -- I'll be running around and probably won't get much time on the computer for a few days. I hope to catch up with you in between errands.)

different is good

There was a time when we local homeschoolers looked like we came from the same cookie-cutter. All the gals wore denim jumpers. I didn't mind that we were associated with that look, but I celebrate a more diverse look today.

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The Craver clan went to the Illinois Christian Home Educators' Family Camp this weekend. I think each of us had lots of fun in our own way. As for me, I came home with a couple nice macro shots, but I especially enjoyed the diversity of people that is being represented in our group. We have a lot of the same interests, in that we are homeschoolers and we are predominately from a theologically conservative strain of Christianity. But it is good to see a little bit of ethnic diversity. There was one mom who had a shawl that looked tie-dyed. I saw her wearing a top that was not the old standard denim "uniform." It was more like a dashiki. She had a dragon tattoo above her ankle, and I thought it was pretty cool. (She kinda reminded me of a certain blogger from Pennsylvania.)

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Generally, I'm not a big fan of tattoos, but I like to see people with different preferences work together for a higher goal, and especially when they can retain their individuality while appreciating others.

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This little boy was not paying attention to the speaker, but preferred to play with pebbles in the dirt. He is biracial. People used to warn me about letting my children get cozy with other skin-types. "What if they decide to marry and have children?" That was their mantra. Well, I happen to think that biracial children have an intriguing look about them and all children are beautiful regardless.

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Hasta later, Friends!

due north

One man I used to know used to ask whether a decision was "due North." By that, he meant that in your heart of hearts, you knew that it was the right thing to do. Our time in Florida is finished, and we must pack up the van and head back to our home up North. It is an uncomfortable (for me) 80 degrees as I type this at night. Nights are supposed to be cool, right? But it's not about the weather; I need to get back to our home and my work; it's the right thing to do.

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Again, if you would, please pray for journey mercies as we begin Monday's 22-hour trek.

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I did not take as many photos as I originally expected, but there are a few, and I especially want you to see one of the shots I got of the moon from a few days ago. The photos took an appropriate back seat to the time with family. I got to see my beautiful red-head (daughter) and her husband. Usually I enjoy theological discussions with him, but this time, we just chilled, and I got to hold my brand new grandson, Rylan.

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My wife and children had a good time overall, even though we each got sick at one point or another, and my younger daughter lost her camera. I still hope that turns up somewhere. It was cool to visit my friend's church and hang out with an uncle and aunt, and my sister and her family. One of the nieces especially has grown up from being a cute little girl who we barely knew to the most delightful conversationalist.

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The time with my parents was a major highlight for me, and I think for my wife, too. Mom and Dad are amazing people. Who shall I compare them to? If you've seen the movie "Twister," there's an older lady the storm chasers visit, and she demonstrates hospitality to the uttermost. That's like my mom. Dad is a man of peace, wisdom and humor. He is an expert in diplomacy.

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Every time I leave my parents, I wonder if this is going to be the last time I see them both again. Nobody lives forever, and when the day comes that I hear of one or both of them passing, it will tear my heart in two, but I will always remember them well. Their memories are completely associated with fondness, affection, delight, and the utmost respect.

15 years ago

This time next month, my redhead will be holding her own baby in her arms. They grow up so fast! Mr. Big Eyes there turned nineteen this week.

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Fast-forward another fifteen years... the Mrs. and I will probably be part-time greeters at the local Wal-Mart.

going medieval

The Craver clan benefitted from someone else's generosity and we were treated to a day at Medieval Times. (I don't know exactly how much she paid, but I'm sure I could never afford it.) This was a treat for the whole family. If you are not familiar with this, here's what you get: You go into the castle, and except for the bathrooms (thankfully), everything is themed back to the middle ages. We take our places at narrow tables in an arena, and eat with our fingers, while watching a classic adventure unfold before our eyes. The horses are stunningly magnificent, and the actors do their parts so well! Their weapons handling, equestrian skills and athleticism really impressed me.

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When we first walk in the door, they assign a color, indicating which section of the arena we are to be seated, and which knight we are to cheer for. Then, a professional takes a group photo in the next room. I asked them what their rules are, concerning photos, and they said that I was free to take pictures of everything, except for that one particular room. Sweet!!

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They're very good at shaking all the money out of your pockets with so many delightful extras that can be purchased, whether it be at the dungeon (museum), bars, gift shops, or photo booths. I personally did not feel the need to buy anything else. The main event and my own pictures were quite satisfying; thank-you very much. Our benefactor bought trinkets and souvenirs for the kids, though.

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Normally, I do not like clapping, cheering, or yelling like a simple-minded fool. No, seriously. But this time, I told the family, that to enjoy the experience thoroughly, we had to completely immerse ourselves, and cheer for our green knight without restraint. It turns out, he was the bad guy. (Don't worry; they change the story.) But we had a blast, and I'm sure it was more fun for the performers and other fans as well. If you've never been there, I definitely recommend it.

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...More pics on Facebook & slideshow on Youtube!

f-f-f-freezing temps

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The weather has been exceptionally cold lately. We gotta keep moving, though. Inching along on the treacherous ice, we'll eventually get where we need to be. Some may find this hard to understand, but I actually like living in cold weather. The snow is beautiful and it is exciting to witness the changing of the seasons. Most of the time, if you anticipate the needs of the season, you can keep enjoying the present weather.

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Friends treated us to a special evening last Saturday. We got all dressed up and drove into cold, wet, slushy Chicago to see The Screwtape Letters and have dinner at a restaurant. We met some of their other friends and the whole event was such a pleasurable diversion from our regular routines. I hope you get a chance to read it yourself. It's a funny book from a brilliant English mind.

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Check this one out. The plowed heap of snow is just as high as the car next to it!

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Hey, in a few weeks, we'll be trekking down to Florida to visit family on account of the arrival of our new grandson, Rylan. He's due February 14 and last night, I did a trial-assembly of a crib we plan on bringing for him. That day will probably race up to us quickly, and we have to get ready for the looooong trip. Once we arrive, the weather will be fine I'm sure, but I'm dreading that drive. I'll probably pack a little cooler with Snickers and Red Bull to keep myself alert. Please pray for good driving weather and a safe trip!

soul siblings

We held an Arts Festival with all kind of exhibits on Saturday. I entered my photographs. Among the artistic expressions was another church's choir, praise team, and worship dancers. Some of their expression may be a little different, but our bond through Christ runs deep, and this is my family, who I will share the rest of eternity with. Think about that... my blood kin will be my family for a few decades, but my church family throughout the planet, those before me and those to come, these will be my brothers and sisters forever!

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I generally don't care for interpretive dance. I'm not condemning it as wrong, or anything like that... it's just not my cup of tea, that's all. But now that I have the disclaimer out of the way, let me say that I found this very interesting, and even exciting. They artistically, and effectively communicated the ideas of their songs. I hope I recognize some of these church people at the grocery store or local parks. I would love to continue the sweet fellowship that began on such a high note.

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Then on Sunday, we had another multicultural moment. This lady got baptized. She is from Haiti, and does not speak English. She spoke in French or Creole (I couldn't tell which) through a translator.

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She has a sad episode in her past. Many years ago, she was a single mom. She joined a church and wanted to be baptized. After 6 months of preparation, she was finally told by her old pastor, that they would NOT baptize her until she was married. I don't have all the facts, but that doesn't sound right to me.

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Wanna hear something cool? This lady from Haiti faithfully attends my English-speaking church every week. Like I said, she does not understand the words, but participates as much as she can, and then hears the message for the first time, when her son translates the sermon at home for family devotions on Sunday nights.

Sky Watch Friday!

blue skies ... good times

I won't say that it was "nuthin' but blue skies," but we had predominately fair weather for last weekend's activities. My parents came up to visit (from Florida) and the top two photos were from Saturday's family reunion at a cousin's farm. There was a little rain off and on, but we had strong sun for a good portion of the day. ...Man, I have a LOT of cousins!!! Some came from as far as Puerto Rico, and one (the sister of the balloon catcher with the orange shirt) just earned a PhD! I resisted the urge to say, "Eh, what's up Doc?"

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The bottom two pics are from a return to my brother's place. That's the same site where we went pond fishing last week. There were plenty of wonderful things to see at both places, but the best part was that I got to spend time with people I love.

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One quick story from the family reunion: There was about 9 of us in the swimming pool, when (just for kicks) I shouted, "Guys! Guys! Help me find my swimming trunks!" You should've seen the looks on their faces!!

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New Sky Watch location:

Visit HERE to enter this week's Sky Watch Friday

midweek huddle

My parents came up from their home in the South. They will be visiting for a couple of weeks, and staying with one of my brothers. I took Tuesday day off of work; we had a cookout, and guess what else we did?...

[clockwise from top: Craver, SIL (she refused to touch the fish she caught), S1, Brother (SIL's hubby)]

Our family grew up real tight, until we (six) siblings grew up. Now that people bought homes in scattered places, it's rare to have all eight (parents plus kids) in the same place.

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When we got together on Tuesday, I really felt close with my brothers. It was as if we had never moved away. Dad got a temporary fishing license, and hung out with us for a bit, but he later told us that fishing is not really his thing. That's okay.

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It was heart-warming to see our kids getting along so well with their cousins, but let me tell you about something that one of our kids did. My brother (the host) was visited by a friend of his family. We have never met her before. She was introduced by her first name to all the grown ups. My son (S2) asked her for her last name. Then said, "Hello Miss (last name)." And he gave her a hug. She was impressed, and as the lad's parents, we felt most honored. Atta boy, S2!

food, fun and fellowship

1. D2 makes a dandelion wreath
2. S1 does a dive-roll on the lawn
3. Cup game*
4. New pals

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1. A glowing D1
2. Silly poser!
3. D2 with Daddy's unwieldy digicam
4. My sweet Mrs., trading shot for shot

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Two parties were held at State Street Church. This is still part of our "Kentucky" weekend, though the church is just North of the border in Indiana. The first party was for SIL and a fellow graduate on Friday. Then on Sunday, they had a time of more food and fellowship after the ordination. What a nice bunch of people! We had a good time with them, and the kids enjoyed the spacious lawn on the side of the hill that the church was built upon.

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*At Friday's graduation party, I finally tried Mrs. Craver's cup game. It's a rhythmic passing game she learned from some young girls at camp. You go faster and faster until contestants can't keep up. It was an excellent ice-breaker with people we didn't really know yet. I already miss them.

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I am glad that D1 & SIL made this their home church while they were living down there.

celebratory ceremonies

Graduation

1. Procession behind school banner
2. Big Al hands Wes the coveted diploma
3. A graduation kiss from Wifey
4. The siblings minus D1, who was taking a picture

Ordination

1. D1's amazing song
2. SIL's family watches with great joy
3. Craver gave the Charge to the Ordinand
4. SIL's dad (also ordained) prays over him

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More photographs forthcoming!!

gourd news

(licensemaker)

On Thursday, we will be squashing the family into the minivan and heading down to Kentucky for my son-in-law's big weekend. He graduates from Seminary on Friday and will be ordained on Sunday. I am excited to be able to attend.

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It is likely that I will have very little (if any) blog access until Tuesday, so I'll miss y'all. Sadly, I'll lose several days of lawn care and I'll miss them little pumpkins on the soccer field, but this is totally worth it. You be gourd (good) now. ;-) In case you're wondering, the wicker gourd doesn't really have anything to do with this. I have been waiting to use it since I took that picture back in January, so here it is. Ta-Daa!

mom meme

Six Random Things was sent by my friend L.L. Barkat, author of the new book, Stone Crossings. If you don't mind, I'll put a twist on this one, and take the opportunity to honor my mother.

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1. My mother is spontaneous. I think she is a sojourner at heart, enjoying the journey every bit as much as the destination, and flexible enough to adapt with all the twists and turns that come along the way.
2. She is creative and clever. She can think outside the box. Don't let it bother you that she beats you effortlessly at dominoes; you never really had a chance.
3. Mom is taller than my dad. Of course, he's 5'0" (and half-an-inch). Still, I will always look up to both of them.
4. She has birthmarks on her forearm that people always wonder about and sometimes ask. But they're just splotches of color. Maybe her melanin chose to band together and congregate there, separating from the rest of her skin. Because she is so fair, sometimes people guess that she might be from Eastern Europe rather than Puerto Rico.
5. She's a bargain-brand shopper. Never wasteful. I'll bet Dad likes that.
6. She loves to laugh. We can sit and visit and enjoy telling stories from a light perspective. Her laughter is affirming and encouraging.

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Let me add one more thing, just because. When I was little, I loved to draw and color. Right now, I can't remember a specific instance of sitting with her, but I feel close to Mom when I'm doing something artistic.

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As usual, I will break the rules and not tag specific people, but please use this meme if you feel so inclined. :-)

Tagging Rules:

• Link to the person who tagged you.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Write six random things about yourself.
• Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.
• Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

dynamic duo

Someone else took this picture, Probably Dad. That's my younger brother O, next to me, and I'm the rascal looking up in time to notice that our little "prison break" has been discovered.

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It might be difficult for you to accept this, but O and I were not rascals at all. The escape was on account of we were a crime-fighting duo. Kind of like a younger version of Starsky and Hutch. We expected to return before anyone noticed we were gone.

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Don't worry. I'm sure we caught up to the bad guys later.

vampire daddy

A friend took this shot of me biting my daughter's hand at a picnic. You see, at home, we don't like to use the paddle when kids behave badly; that's so 1950's. Here, she swiped the cap right off my head and refused to let it go. So I bit her.

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Lest you begin accusing me of being too harsh, let me say something in my defense. Do you know how many times she swiped my cap after that? A bunch of times, actually. She is just a twisted little nut and that's all there is to it. But that's not my point.

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(My original point was supposed to be that my friend can go to picasa.google.com and use that to edit and store photos.)