It's a Winter Wonderland!

Christmas Spirit

I love Christmas, but I’m right sick of the Holidays. I see scads of people every day getting their Holiday Cards made, printing photos of the family adventure to get their Holiday tree, and stringing up Holiday lights. This is not to mention folks of all ages buying cameras and accessories to give as the perfect Holiday gift. Carolers singing Holiday tunes spread Holiday cheer as they roam the streets. And what a better way to get into the Holiday spirit than a picture with the jolly old elf himself?

I ask you: what ever happened to good old fashioned Christmas cheer? You know, the time of year when families gathered around the table to eat a Christmas dinner cooked by mom and grandma and then relaxed afterwards with the Christmas story and gifts? The time of year when Christmas carolers flocked the streets before Christmas singing yuletide tunes like Silent Night, O Come all Ye Faithful, and What Child is This?  This is not to say that I’m opposed to Christmas trees, Christmas cards, exchanging presents, or even Santa himself, but I think it’s time that we look at it all from a different view.

This might sound like another rant about “keeping Christ in Christmas,” and if that’s what it is to you, then my point hasn’t come across. To me it’s something much deeper.

The essential part of Christmas is being left out, but to some extent even that is very sadly becoming cliché. Every year there are ads in the paper and on television advising us to “Keep Christ in Christmas,” and I may be underestimating things a lot, but in a world on the downward tailspin of commercialism and capitalism a 30-second ad or a 2x3 inch section in the paper isn’t going to do much to reverse it, sadly.

Yes, Christmas does bring us comfort as we remember Christ’s birth and God’s ultimate gift to us, but in many ways, it’s more than that. It’s how it translates from that into society. Society isn’t totally hopeless: there are many organizations around the Christmas season that work at keeping Christ in Christmas but also at providing for those less fortunate. While standing behind the Salvation Army Christmas kettle yesterday I flipped open one of their pamphlets to read that they raised over $18 million last year with the kettle program and hoped to surpass those numbers this year. This money is used all across the country to serve 1.5 million people in need every year via soup kitchens, work programs, emergency aid, and many other programs.

Christmas is still more than that, though. It’s about togetherness, about spending time with those you love. It’s about taking time to enjoy the winter wonderland God has given us. Christmas is hot chocolate and ginger bread houses and candy canes, wreaths and sleigh rides and bells.

With that being said, I hope people see Christmas as more than just the “Holiday” but as what it truly is: the undefined feeling after realizing you’ve been given truly the greatest gift of all – a gift that all the money in the world couldn’t afford to buy, let alone gift-wrap!

Merry Christmas everyone! May God bless you this season and always.

Handel's Messiah

It all started in January, 2010. A group of almost complete strangers from the Bulkley Valley gathered in the Pentecostal Church in Smithers with one combined purpose: wanting to perform one of the most famous pieces of music for the coming Christmas season; Handel's Messiah. There were about 100 choir members and 11 members of the orchestra.

11 months and many hours of practice later, it was December 9th, 2010; opening night. While waiting in the wings, some people rocked nervously, others jived to their own tunes, but we were all excited to finally be in this moment.

How to describe it from there? Words really can't bring across the level of emotion brought forth, nor the incredible feeling of being up there and delivering a powerful Christmas message! (Math geeks calculated: about 15% of our community turned out for this event; and about 1% of the community was involved in the production of the Messiah)

It was wonderful to meet so many new people and sing in a whole new group than I'm used to! (The tenor section was lacking in oomph so another female and I joined their ranks to help them out :D) My favourite part was watching the audience. There would be the odd person skeptical of what we could bring who would leave with tears in their eyes and joy in their hearts. Older folk would sit in the pews, eyes closed, mouthing the words to the music, no doubt moved themselves.

And in front of it all, our director Sharon - whose patience throughout this labour of love really paid off. :)

 

Here's a link to a short clip from Thursday night:

http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/7402/Handels_Messiah/

Me, my mom, and my brother

Our competent director, Sharon Carrington

The 3.5 sisters :)

An incredible experience; I'll never forget it!

Let's Frolick in the Graveyard

Apologies in advance for the horrid colour on a few of these pictures. WB is apparently something I still need to work on ;)

This morning, bright and early (mostly early) I headed over to a secret location to do family pictures for my cousin (sorta, not quite, ish) and her family. I was a bit apprehensive since they are like, amazing photographers themselves...but every fear was put to rest as soon as they hopped out of the van with their cheery smiles on (seriously, they were all just bundles of joy. Not even kidding!). They were probably the easiest people to photograph - they all know where to stand, and their kids can smile on demand! Props to you guys for a good start to my day :D

P.s. Jason- I look forward to our shoot-off :)

Yay for one good photo from the first batch! Yucky colour though...

As J is saying, "Laura, you're morbid. You're so morbid."

Oh, did I mention? They are basically the most normal family you'll ever come across. Seriously.

"Squirrels!" "I HATE squirrels!"

Whoops, where'd that head come from??

"I bet it would be funny if we kicked snow all over mommy!"

Boys will be boys...he got some mud on his finger and had to wipe it everywhere :)



Thanks bunches guys! You rock!!

Mystery Dinner

As promised, a few shots from Friday night's Mystery Dinner. A bunch of young people were asked to help with a "fashion show" for that night. Here's a few of the outfits...

My print dress with dress shoes
Not sure why I'm getting hit with a pineapple...



Checked shirt, stick pin in tie, and penny
loafers



Julie is modeling the crepe dress with plunging
neckline. And Austin again.

Doug is modeling Levi Straws jeans, a sharp shirt,
and a BRIEF-case. His jeans were also "darted"

Here we have Kelsey modeling the
wrap-around dress, 10 carrot necklace,
and slip-on flats. In the background Scott
is wearing his Tea shirt and MATCHing
hat and shoes.

Not bad for an appetizer! Who knew sleepy relatives
and farmer's helpers could be so useful!

This picture speaks for itself.

Someone was very sad to let his outfit go :P HAH.

It can only get better from here!

Soo, a slight change of plans this week. I had my first two family portrait sessions today instead of Friday as I had to take that evening off for some exciting event (stay tuned for pics :D).

It was an interesting experience. I only glanced briefly at the photos I took, and I'm not sure how they'll measure up to the standards of Sharon (my boss). I used the work camera (Nikon D60) instead of Oliver...

P.s. Laura: I think I need to take lessons from you on how to make kids smile. Tis the season right? Nah - the youngster I had tonight cried the entire time. I wasn't even allowed to bribe her with suckers!

New Developments :)

Soo....guess whose first family portrait session is booked for December 3rd???? THAT'S RIGHT!!!
My boss informed me of this fact today. Oh, and I also get to do the Santa photoshoot on Dec. 11 and 18th :D!! [deep breath] THISISAWESOME!!! But I'm incredibly nervous. I have a long list of "don't's" from my boss and an equally long list of "do's" so these pictures turn out good.

p.s. we still need a Santa. If you're available from 11-3 on Dec. 11 & 18 and you fit the category of quite jolly, non-pedophile, cookie loving, and have the ability to fill in a Santa suit, let me know, k?

&beauty was everywhere.

This sight greeted me after a particularly troubling sleep.  

My mom woke me up at around 7:30 asking if Oliver wanted to take a look outside. I'm not sure if he did, but I sure did! I slipped my feet into my sister's crocs and stumbled outside while tugging on my winter jacket. I stumbled out into the snow, inwardly slapping myself for forgetting socks. It was cold! I managed to get a few quick shots, and I hope they're worth the frostbite on my feet :P

Question for photisters: This next photo was taken in manual mode at approx. 1/80 sec, F/16. I thought I had the shutter speed slow enough to get enough ambient light, as it wasn't even that dark out, but this is how it turned out..

Yuck.

Solutions?

Now this picture was taken that same morning and it doesn't do any justice to the amazing display God set out for us to enjoy. The hoarfrost was so huge it was literally hanging from the tree branches, and when the sun's light hit it it was like a million tiny mirrors were gracing each branch. It was absolutely breath taking!

I'll give one thing to absolutely frigid weather: it sure gives us amazing displays of beauty! I'm now wondering why I used to hate winter with such passion...even though it's sparse and cold, it still manages to be beautiful in its own unique way.