Thinking and Reflecting.....

.....and looking through photos ;)

I have a lot to still get up on the blog (RE: a little more cambodia, 2 weddings and a family session).....but I definitely moved to vancouver a couple weeks ago and it's been busy!  I'm enjoying myself though ;)

Anyhow, here's some more Uganda photos to pass the time.....

I miss being overseas....

Engagement: Leah + John

Here's some photos from an engagement that happened in.....2010! Wow, 2010 is SUCH a long time ago ;)

Anyhow, Leah and John are getting married this coming May.  Super excited for their wedding!  For the engagement photos, we chose this one sunday and were hoping for good weather....and didn't quite expect that it would be SNOWY weather!  It was indefinitely cold, but made for some lovely photos (I think ;)

Thanks so much for trudging through the snow with me Leah and John!  Looking forward to your wedding and I hope you like the photos ;)

Hello beautiful light.......

Hello beautiful light reflecting off the pond.... ;)

It was just about this time that I realized we were standing on a frozen swamp, and my boots proceeded to crack right through the ice until I was above my ankles in freezing water!  Mwahahah!  It was actually pretty funny ;)

But I won't end there....here's one more to show you, yes, more of the lighting I got to work with...sigh ;)

Cliche CHRISTmas thoughts ;)

I'll be honest.....I actually highly dislike blogging.....truly do.  I hate writing about myself, which is why I've been so focused on just posting photos lately.  Thought about even changing this blog to more of a photography blog (given that's what it's technically turned into ;)

I think, in turn, the reason why I'm not sharing so much is that I've really been questioning a lot of 'things' lately.....I've been learning a lot and I don't know how to verbalize it all here.....or even if I really want to.  But for the sake of what I've been struggling with, and the fact that just maybe someone might be reading this over the holidays, here's what's on my mind ;)

I've been thinking a lot this christmas about what it actually means to be a christian.  Over the past year, I've been watching christians....and I mean CLOSELY ;)  I tend to be a people watcher anyhow, but this has been different.

I "claim" to be a christian, but I have really been watching my actions and words and wondering if I am TRULY portraying the Jesus that I know in my heart.  If you are reading this and don't know Jesus, know that he is FAR better than our/my humanness will ever be able to share or portray.....we are a very broken representation of an awesome God.  And in fact, our frailty in representing Christ at times is maybe just more PROOF that we need someone bigger than us.....

I realize it's entirely cliche that I'm thinking about all of this around christmas, but truthfully, what better way to spend the holiday than comtemplating Christ ;)  So many presents and dinners and other things that will take our focus off of the one who deserves our focus the most.....I've been actually a little overwhelmed contemplating the holiday this year.....this last year has been really challenging and God has been nothing but GOOD to me through it all :)

Anyhow, I wanted to share some photos from an orphanage that I visited while in Cambodia.....I was sitting in this pizza place one evening and this group of girls from the UK handed me an invitation to a party at this orphanage they were volunteering at....and I obviously agreed to visit (who doesn't want to hang out with some kids? :)

I got there and was a little nervous, but after about 5 minutes, I felt right at home ;)  And the best part was when they pulled out this tarp and laid it on the dirt to act as a dance floor.....and then we danced for a solid couple hours!  And these kids could honestly dance.....like dance beyonce off the floor.....they were THAT good ;)

Anyhow, I've never written so much in my life!  I hope that (whoever is reading this) has an awesome Christmas holiday!  Enjoy the photos....and understand that we are very blessed here in Canada.  The kids below likely ain't gonna get any turkey this christmas, and their joy will still remain ;)  Pretty awesome to see....awesome kids.....

Merry Christmas! ;)

Oh my Heavens!!

Too much to Blog!!!

Alright, I now have all of the following to post.....I suck at blogging..... ;)

Ninja Children (RE: more photos from Cambodia ;)  I think I'm just gonna do sporadic random posts from my trip.....too many photos and FAR too many thoughts going through my head ;)  But seriously, check out their moves!

Engagement: Leah and John ;)

Wedding: Nicole and Alejandro (they're on their honey moon as I speak (er, write ;)

Soon....soon I will post ;)

A few from Cambodia :)

Wow....I was only gone for two weeks, and it felt like two months....

Now I'm home and it's been a week.....and it feels like it's been a lot longer!

I'm must be moving in slow motion......

Anyhow, enjoy!

Kids are the same everywhere ;)

Ta Prohm

Monk at Angkor Wat ;)

Family Portraits: The Friesen Family

Hello all!  I am BACK from cambodia :)  With a lot of photos mind you.....I'm almost overwhelmed choosing which to share...... ;)

Anyhow, here's the Friesen family!  I was able to take some photos for them at the Stewart Farmhouse near Crescent Beach.....Beautiful place!!  I went the day before at the same time of day, and I got ENTIRELY excited because the place has so much character (must have been why there were a ka-jillion other photographers there too! ;)

Anyhow, thanks so much Friesen's for taking time to let be grab these photos!  You have an awesome family!! :)  I have far too many favorites from the bunch, so let's just say that I'm posting all the ones below because I really, really like them ;)

Enjoy!

I'm off soon!

I am officially having the most perfect moment right now.  Sitting at a coffee shop, drinking a vanilla latte, looking through photos and finishing some plans for the next couple weeks of travelling!!  I leave on Tuesday for Cambodia!! :)  I'm visiting a cousin and his wife there (see her blog here ;)  I'm so excited.....not only to just be going away but to be taking pictures in a new place!  And there are (it appears) a ton of neat things to see in cambodia (temples and such ;)  OH! And this is random, but I keep being told that I should blow up a cow while I'm over there (apparently it can be done if you pay a pretty penny).....I've had 2 people tell me this (I'll have to clarify when I'm over there ;).....

.....And for the record, I would never do such a thing!  I'd FOR SURE end up in fetal position, blubbering like a child, if I even saw this happen ;(

Anyhow, that was random.

And although I realize that's probably no way to introduce a sneak peek for the family below, it'll just have to do! Below is one of my personal favorites.  I'm gonna try to post the rest before I take off, and then you're going to get the BIGGEST dose of cambodia photos when I get back! ;)

Enjoy!

Engagement: Kerissa + Dan ;)

Hello all!  I'm trying to plow out some posts quick.....cause I've got some family photos tomorrow with another awesome family (with three cute little blondes that are likely gonna run circles around me...HAHA ;)

Anyhow, here's engagement photos that were taken *cough* a long time ago at Granville Island.  Kerissa and Dan actually got married last weekend.  I was in the bridal party, and YES, she chose fantastic dresses for us!   I've included a picture at the end of me and another of the bridesmaids :)

Thanks Kerissa and Dan for letting me a part of your wedding!  It was a beautiful day and I hope and pray for the best for the two of you in the years to come :)  Blessings!!

Kerissa, you might hate me for posting the next one, but I think you look spectacular!  And I'm positive no one will disagree with me, what with those blue eyes and all ;)

And here's the wicked dresses.  Yes....WICKED :)  You could tie them around a ka-jillion ways....helpful when you have some really tall, some really short and some very pregnant people in the bridal party.  HAHA!  Anyhow, Kerissa found them here.  Indefinitely recommended ;)