RUNNING 5K

It was quite the experience to be in the Kamloops Marathon this morning! I decided to start with the 5K because I have been using the 5K Runner app on my iPhone. I thought it would be fun to have a goal and this run was perfect timing considering it was my last day of being 46!! I'm grateful for my two girlfriends Shauna and Paula who have been walking and running with me for years because it certainly helped me today. What I haven't been doing enough is hills and that made it harder today. There are a lot of hills around TRU and I was running them today! Have to admit, we still miss Boogie the Bridge but now that they hold it on Sunday, we haven't been running it!

I was especially grateful for my family who showed up to cheer me on, I'm hoping they will run with me next year...although I'm pretty sure my kids will leave me in the dust!! The pictures are thanks to Don who happily took over my camera as long as he could shoot in Sports Mode!! I'm thinking of doing our church sponsored 10K in September! There really is something exhilarating and fun in running with a crowd of others and having to cross a finish line that makes you work that little bit harder! Anyone want to join me in September? Let me know....

BEAUTIFUL BECCA

I like to work on Photoshop tutorials and there are some fun, interesting ones at this website....
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/   I decided to try this one with the photo within the photo. I found this cute picture of Rebecca and added a PW Sunshine action to it, some word art, a starglow from Katie Pertiet and made the background black and white. I'm happy with how it turned out!!

PIONEER TREK 2013 VIDEO

I've been working on putting a video together of all the pioneer trek pictures I took last week of the LDS VERNON YOUTH STAKE PIONEER TREK 2013 and I'm happy with how it turned out!! It brings back so many memories!   I really was grateful for the opportunity to work with some amazing leaders and youth who made all this possible and I can't thank all the "Mas" and "Pas" enough who were willing to work with 8-10 kids and shape them into a close knit family in 4 days!! They too did an amazing job!! If any of you would like a copy of one of these pictures, just let me know in my comments section! 

This is dedicated to my Rebecca and Mitchell because I couldn't ask for more enthusiastic, fun, loving kids...I'm lucky to be their MOM!!! 

TREK 2013

It was my privilege last week to be a part of our TREK 2013! Our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts on a pioneer trek for our youth every 4 years. It gives our youth an opportunity to experience just a little what the early pioneers went through to be here. It is an amazing 4 day journey that involves walking for miles, pulling handcarts, eating rationed food and making new friends. They end up hungry, thirsty, tired, sunburned and blistered but with a new appreciation for their pioneer ancestors. They learn that with the help of the Lord, they can do hard things and triumph over them.

I was involved with the back up crew this year, which was a new endeavour for me as well. I worked with my friend Deanne to provide the food for the trip and so did a lot of shopping, organizing and worrying. I was happy with how things turned out and have to admit, I was especially grateful for all the hard work that each member of our back up crew did. There was a spirit of love and camaraderie that you can't find anywhere else and what a stupendous blessing it was to be a part of it.

I had two of my children involved in this year's trek and they embraced it wholeheartedly...they were enthusiastic and helpful but they learned a lot as well. They were put in different families and were given a wonderful "Ma and Pa!" They had so many stories to tell when it was over...and I know that their testimonies of the experience were strengthened immensely. I love them dearly and was so grateful they had this opportunity. Here are just a few of the many pictures I attempted to capture:

JUNE FLOWERS

I was inspired by one of my classmates in my photography class who took some amazing flower pictures! Happy to be using Manual and loved these taken from my garden.....I say garden loosely for those of you who have been in my yard, lol. 

BEST FRIENDS

My five kids are now all taller than I am and they think it's funny. Have to admit, when I look at this picture I remember how little they were just yesterday and how quickly time has gone. I love have them as adults and being able to visit and know they are really some of my best friends but there is still this ache in my heart that my babies are babies no longer. But I love them dearly and look forward to the years ahead making more memories....

I've missed using actions so here is one of my favourite recent pictures with several of PW Actions on them. I used her Seventies, Sunshine and Edge Burn!

FAVOURITE JUNE PICTURES

I know June isn't over yet but I still decided to post some of my favourite pictures from this month! I have lots but picked these 6 because they are just special...and because some of them I'm amazed that I was even able to get them! So here we go:

My friends asked me to take some family grad pictures and this turned out to be my favourite! Here is Mikayla trying not to cry because her Aunt Shauna was trying not to! It turned out to be so cute....

Since I was already at Riverside Park taking grad pictures, my Rebecca saw me and had me follow her around with my camera! I loved this one...these 2 REBECCA's have been such good friends over the last few years...they have both played on the Norkam basketball team and I know my Rebecca is going to miss her friend so much! They're both putting on their basketball serious face when they are both such jokesters!!!  It's "Rebecca squared!!!" 

I was so happy to get this picture!! I was taking some pictures of my friends girls when I saw their little brother on the bench fooling around! I asked him to sit up on the bench and smile at me, I quickly changed my focus and got this picture!! It was perfect.....He's such a cutie!!

Lots of fun pictures at my daughter Vanessa's grad but I really loved this one of my girls....it's just so them!!!

I take lots of pictures at Mitchell's soccer games and of course I get lots of pictures of Mitchell but it's always a bonus when I can snap some good ones of the other players and I was so happy with these 2! It just shows their  intensity and willingness to play hard!!  

 
So there you go.......some favourite June pictures!

WEDDING PICTURES..... PHILIPS

I was happy to be asked to photograph my friend Laurinda's daughter's wedding in March and I've been meaning to post some pictures.  Evan and Emma were married Easter weekend and what a beautiful day it was. The sun was shining and they both looked so happy! They were married at St. Andrew's on the Square, a beautiful church in downtown Kamloops and it made for the perfect setting! They were surrounded by family and some very cute flower girls....I think the ring bearer got nervous, but he perked up when it was over and had lots of fun! We were then able to get some beautiful pictures down at Riverside Park with family.....

Thanks for asking me Evan and Emma....