Simply Craig

One of my favorite times to take pictures is just before sunset. The light softens, everything seems to glow, and the world takes on the most beautiful golden color. It's one of nature's greatest gifts to photographers. Of course, my favorite subjects are usually my kids. . This little one... Well, she isn't exactly a fan of getting muddy. Can you tell? Her expression says it all! On the other hand... This one doesn't seem to notice the mud at all. She's far too busy enjoying the moment to worry about a little dirt. I love how two sisters can be so different, yet both are perfectly themselves. As we were heading home, my son suggested I stop and photograph a nearby group of horses. I'm so glad I listened. The evening light, their reflections in the water, and the peacefulness of the scene made it one of my favorite photographs from the day. Sometimes the best pictures happen simply because someone says, "Mom... you should take a picture of that."

There are certain telltale signs that you now have a teenager living in the house... The phone started ringing a lot more. My cell phone minutes were burned up by complaining. There was a noticeable increase in the grocery bill. His room became messier. He suddenly forgot how hangers work. Mood swings and raging hormones made their grand entrance. Tears appeared at the drop of a hat. (Wait... boys do this too?!) The wisdom we would impart seemed to hit the wall. Sharing was no longer an option. Authority started being questioned. And, of course... Pimples made their debut. Does any of this sound familiar? I can still remember rocking my firstborn as a baby, convinced that  our  child would be different. He would grow up to be independent, respectful, and always listen to our wise advice. That plan worked beautifully... Until about age three. (He absolutely hated nap time!) From what I've been told, the teenage years are quite the adventure. We can choose to go through them the...

For quite some time, I'd had my eye on a pair of jeans. Apparently... Someone was listening. One evening, I walked into my closet to change into my pajamas, and there they were, draped over the clothing rack. The unexpected. I couldn't believe it. It was such a thoughtful surprise. But honestly... It's never really about the  stuff. It's the little things he does that make my heart happy. Like those evenings when I'm completely exhausted and ready to call it a day, but there are still kids to bathe, dishes to wash, a kitchen to clean, and a dozen other things waiting to be done. Without saying a word... He simply steps in. He takes over. No complaints. No scorekeeping. He just quietly lightens my load and tells me to go do something for  me . To relax. To breathe. To recharge. Those moments mean more to me than he'll probably ever know. He's always been full of surprises. He has a way of doing the unexpected, and somehow he continues to make ordinary days fe...

I'm sad. Really sad. You see, I'm a twin. For fourteen years, my twin sister and I lived hundreds of miles apart. We talked often, visited when we could, and picked up right where we left off every time we were together—but it just wasn't the same. Then, a little over a year ago... Something wonderful happened. She moved to Arizona. Not just to Arizona... She moved  two miles away. I can't even describe how excited I was. What surprised me most was discovering a part of my heart I didn't even know had been empty until she arrived. It's true what people say about twins. There's a bond that's difficult to explain unless you've experienced it. We walked through every stage of childhood side by side. We shared birthdays, baptism days, classrooms, memories... and yes, even our looks. Who else gets to share all of that with their very best friend? Even after fourteen years apart, we slipped right back into our friendship as though no time had passed at all...

One of the best pieces of photography advice I've ever received came from a friend who simply said, "Take at least one picture every day, and you'll be surprised how much you learn." It sounded almost too simple. But after practicing it for the past few months... I can honestly say she was right. Carrying my camera with me each day has taught me to see the world differently. Instead of waiting for special occasions, I've started noticing the beauty in ordinary moments—the little expressions, the changing light, and the everyday memories that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. I've learned so much just by making it a habit to capture one photograph each day. Today's "photo of the day" came easy. A friend asked if I would watch her little boy while she was out of town, and of course I said yes. We've thoroughly enjoyed having a baby in the house again. I introduced him to the train, and we've been best buddies ever since. The only downsid...

Kindergarten is right around the corner. That means new friends, a new teacher, a backpack just her size... and one last hurdle before she can officially begin. Those dreaded, mandatory kindergarten shots. Every child knows exactly what the word  "shots"  means. My brave little Brit tried so hard to be tough. She carried that worry with her all day, doing her best to hold back the tears she knew were waiting. Poor thing. Of course, our first stop inside the doctor's office was her favorite place... A mouthful of candy has a funny way of distracting a little girl...for at least a few minutes. As the appointment drew closer, I could see the nervousness written all over her face. Then, just as he always seems to do... Daddy arrived. He sat beside her as the nurse prepared the shot. Brit wrapped her tiny fingers tightly around one of Daddy's, squeezing it with all her might. She was determined to be brave. But the very moment the needle pierced her skin... Every ounce of ...

The ground is starting to warm up, the days are growing longer, and all the signs are pointing to one thing... It's time to plant another garden. Yes, I said  another . Last year's garden definitely wasn't what you'd call a  victory garden. I blamed the fancy drip system that faithfully overwatered and drowned nearly everything we planted. This year, I'm putting my trust in the old-fashioned watering method...me. I'm ready for homegrown tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and fresh vegetables picked right off the vine instead of forgotten in the refrigerator until they're no longer fresh. There's just something satisfying about walking outside, gathering what you need for dinner, and knowing it came from your own backyard. If you're not planting a garden this year, don't feel bad. If all goes well... I'll share. As I planted each tiny seedling, I couldn't help but notice how much gardening resembles life. Every plant competes for the same things—w...