Family 'o' fun - and some other news :)

EDITED TO ADD: Many of you have asked where I got the Vintage look, and I meant to add the link on Maggie's name below, but it was late and I completely forgot! I want you to check out her actions, because they are my all time favorites (besides my own) and they are reasonably priced. Check them out HERE.

Yeah - gotta love those toesies~ I had a blast photographing this fun family who lives on a lake about 20 minutes north of our city. I had never met them before the shoot, but couldn't help but be excited just from K's emails. Her enthusiasm was contagious!
She and her hubby had never had engagement photos done, or any kinds of photos of the two of them, so we played around a bit and had some fun results :)



These next 2 photos, I tried something different - a vintage kind of look, which I loved! I used Maggies warm vintage on both of these, and they have such a warm inviting look to them.

They have a one year old and a 2 year old, and they were a bit challenging (who knows of kids that age who aren't when a camera is concerned) and the bright, bright sun was a challenge as well, but we managed to find some shade in their backyard and got some nice shots.


I was telling my husband that the thing I love most about photographing people is capturing those candid moments - the ones where if you blink, they are gone! You know, relationships. I think we captured some great moments, and I HOPE they love these. Thanks K!

And what's the other news? Well, I was just called as our new ward Relief Society President. Shock? Yes... yes yes yes. Aren't I too (ahem) young and inexperienced to be the Relief Society President of the largest ward in 2 and 1/2 provinces (over 600 members). I've spent the last couple of weeks just reeling inside. Doing too much thinking, really. Thinking about all the many ways I could possibly fail, fall on my face. Thankfully, I have amazing counselors and a great secretary who will keep me on track and help me get to know the sisters better. I've only lived here for 6 months, so it's daunting to be, in effect, put in charge of their welfare! I do love the sisters here, though. I've been impressed by their faith, their love of the Savior and of each other, and their willingness to reach out to anyone new. I felt very loved and accepted from the first moment I moved here, so I hope to carry that on in this new capacity. I feel blessed to serve in this way, as overwhelming as it feels right now, and look forward to growing a LOT.

I felt such a huge outpouring of love and support from the sisters in the ward today. They gathered around me, saying "congratulations" and other words of encouragement. There were even some sisters who said they were excited about it! I was worried, to be honest, about what the sisters might think about it - if they thought anything. I mean, who is this chick from Alberta - not even here for 6 months, and now she's the Relief Society president? What the heck? I did not seek out the call, but it came nonetheless, and I was pleasantly surprised to feel the love and support from the women I'll be serving. It put my mind at ease.

For any of my reader(s) who aren't aquainted with our church, the Relief Society is an organization consisting of the women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ages 18 years and older. The primary purpose of the Relief Society is to bring women and families to Christ, through righteous service and charity. The Objectives of Relief Society are (as taken from the Church website):

Both individually and collectively sisters of Relief Society make a difference in these six ways:

• Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of the kingdom
• Emphasize the divine worth of each sister
• Exercise charity and nurture those in need
• Strengthen and protect families
• Serve and support each sister
• Help sisters become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood

These are the objectives of Relief Society. They show the vastness of its purpose and the breadth of its mission, and they define the sisters, setting them apart from all other associations.

It will mean many, many meetings, much service, and really getting to know the women around me on a personal level. It is stepping outside of my comfort zone in many ways, but that's what's great about it! So, it is quite an undertaking, but I am certain that I can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in blessing the lives of the sisters in our ward, with the Relief Society presidency and board members. I'm getting more excited and less afraid as each day passes. Wish me luck!