Sunday at Harvest Bible Chapel (York Region)

Today is Sunday, February 7, 2010 and most people are excited for Superbowl Sunday!

But if you're like me, you're really very much more excited to go to church on Sunday to worship the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, together with brothers and sisters in Christ, to hear the Bible preached and proclaimed without apology, and to fellowship with people too!

If you're still wrestling with this whole "God" thing or looking for a church, why not give Harvest Bible Chapel (York Region) a try? Sick at home? You can even join our service streaming live online (Sundays at 10am)!
Still think that church is where Christians are just hearers, but not doers? Come visit us! You'll be glad that you got connected to a community of faith.

Pastor Paul has been preaching through the book of James and it has been an amazing journey - both encouraging and gut-wrenching at the same time.  Read it -- you'll see why! 

We've been so blessed at Harvest to have had this huge influx of babies and children!  Isn't he adorable?  He has grown so much over the past few months.  Want to see more of him? Then visit Shelley's blog!

Alright, it's almost time for the big game!

(Belated) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :D

Hello everyone!  A very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all :)
Did you get to spend some quality time with family and friends?  I sure hope so! 

So, I'm back in town after an amazing ski trip to Mont-Tremblant!  What a place!  The scenery, sights, and sounds first thing in the morning at the top of the mountain were gorgeous!  There are plenty of long runs to go down and the glades are fun too!  By the last day, my quadriceps were burning so badly -- what a great feeling that was :)

I had the opportunity to go to Tremblant with some family friends and slept on a sofa bed for the length of the trip, but check out the view I got outside my window :)

Not bad, eh?  Sometimes it pays to be a sofa-bed-er!
We stayed there over New Years, so we got to partake in some New Years festivities!

Ever heard of a "New Years Ski Show"?  Neither had I, until Tremblant.

I don't think I've ever been so close to fireworks before, as when we were at Tremblant.  We could have just lied on the floor!

Of course, when you go to ski resorts, you have to get a Beavertail!  I chose apple cinnamon this time around.  Yum!  I would have gotten Maple Walnut, but I didn't see it on the list.  There's this little old-fashioned cafe, bakery, and pastry shop in The Village called La Chouquetterie that has some delicious treats (cakes, tarts, pies, pastries, coffee, etc.).  I think this chocolate croissant (however simple) deserves an honourable mention.

Since we stayed at a hotel in The Village that was so close to the slopes, we got this amazing deal called "First Tracks".  All that means, is that you get to wake up super early in the morning (think, 6am), get in the gondola before everyone else, head to the top of the mountain, and be among the first people to ski down the mountain for the day.  What a deal!  We had fresh snowfall one night, went up the gondola for "First Tracks", and sure enough, we were among the first to make treads in fresh snow :)  Was it worth the early wake-up?  Sure was!  Plus, no one else is up there, so you get the whole run to yourself! 
Sadly, I didn't bring my "real" camera up to the mountain, so I just took two shots with my cell phone camera.  It was such an amazing view!  Photos just don't do it justice.

  If it weren't for the ridiculously long drive, I think I would go more often :)

Justin and Sharon's Engagement Session

Ever have one of those "spur of the moment" good ideas?  Justin and Sharon's engagement session was one of those good ideas!  On a Saturday in October, I was second-shooting for a wedding that only lasted the morning and early afternoon.  Now, you must realize how odd it is for a wedding photographer to only be "working" until after lunchtime on a Saturday.  Anyways, so the wedding ceremony finishes, it's time to go home and do ... what?  Nothing?  Hmm ... Maybe I'll go eat an omelette.

Well, here I am, eating lunch, twiddling my thumbs on a Saturday afternoon doing ... nothing (again, you must realize how odd this is for a wedding photographer to not be working for 14-hours-plus on a Saturday).  Then I remembered, Glendon had an engagement session in the afternoon.  Hmm ... I wonder if they've started yet.

So, enter the random "spur of the moment" phone call to Glendon.  Sure enough, they haven't started yet, and he could swing by my house and pick me up.

Then, "BAM"!  Amazing-ness happened!

These two were just oozing cute-ness all e-session long!

Sharing a tender moment.

I think I've seen this guy in magazines or something!

I think they super-owned this one, don't you?

Thanks Sharon, Justin, Leo, and Glendon for a great "spur of the moment" moment! :)

Just to let you unsuspecting people know, here's a word of warning!  Baton Rouge salads are uber huge!  If you can completely finish an entire meal-sized salad there in a single sitting,  I would consider you more of a carnivore than an herbivore.  That is all.

Shane and Linda's Wedding - October 2009

Thanks again to Claudia Hung for introducing me to Shane and Linda!  Linda's make-up was exquisitely done by one of Claudia's favourite make-up artists, Rhia Amio.

I was really looking forward to Shane and Linda's wedding day especially after getting to know them during their super fun engagement session!  It was also nice to meet more wonderful people from Toronto City Mission and to see and to hear how talented they are!

I started the day off at Linda's parent's house.  One of the great things about weddings is that you have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people including the bride and groom's good friends and their family members.  Shane's brother was memorable -- he has the classic brotherly complex ... which simply means that he had a lot of "fun" with Shane! (But we can't show that here! :p)

Linda and Shane chose the beautiful Timothy Eaton Memorial Church for their ceremony.

Smiles all around that day :)

High five! Yea!

That's right ... they do look THAT good.

Congratulations Shane and Linda! May the Lord continue to thoroughly bless you both! :)

Shane and Linda's Engagement Session - September 2009

Thanks to Claudia Hung for introducing me to Shane and Linda! Wow, these two are as cute as a button (or is it, as cute as two buttons?)! :p

Turns out that Linda and Shane met at Toronto City Mission, a Christian organization who lives and breathes in the city's poorer communities and offers support and programing in those communities. My sister had the opportunity to be a part of their Sonshine Day Camp program this summer and it has been so encouraging to hear what God is doing through TCM. So, if you get a chance, lend a helping hand :)

We ended up starting late, just as the sun was just disappearing beneath the horizon, so we ran around cramming in as many "sunny" photos as quickly as we could before the sun disappeared! They were both such great sports and did I mention that they're as cute as a button (or two buttons?) :p

See you both again in a few short weeks!

James and Hye-Rim's Wedding - September 2009

Wow! It's been something like one and a half months since I've last blogged. Super sorry, everyone! It's not because I don't have anything to blog -- in fact, quite the opposite -- these past few months have been non-stop weddings!

First, thanks goes to Geehae Jeong for inviting me to second-shoot for her at James and Hye-Rim's wedding! I still think she's Claudia Hung's long-lost Korean twin, but that's another story :)

Today, it's James and Hye-Rim's story! Let's start with some *bling*! :)

The super talented Rhia Amio was the make-up artist for the day!

I affectionatelly call this, "The Claud Shot":

Hye-Rim looked stunning in her dress -- I think her bridesmaids agree :)

More bling? You betcha!

Alright, let's skip ahead to later in the day! I just finished the book, "What He Must Be: If He Wants to Marry My Daughter" by Dr. Voddie Baucham Jr. and this moment of when the father gives his daughter's hand to the groom during the marriage ceremony excites me like no other! The father is now entrusting to the groom all the Biblical duties which he once had -- to be her priest, prophet, provider, and protector (Eph. 5:22ff). I love this moment.

These two were such free worshipers of Christ, it was so encouraging to see!

These two were uber cute -- don't you just want to pinch their cheeks!?! :p

Mickey + Minnnie! They ended up wearing these at the evening reception :)

If you're wondering what's so funny -- someone expelled some toxic fumes :p
Look at those cake toppers!
I've been noticing that cupcakes are "all the rage" this season -- I'm not complaining though :) They are SO popular among guests and get eaten up so quickly! Yummy!
If you know me, then you know that I'm a huge "sap" -- here's my other favourite part of the day: the father-daughter dance.
Party time!

Thanks James and Hye-Rim for letting Gee and I be a small part of your wedding day! We have never received such an extended "thank you" in the speeches at the end of the night and for that, we both very much appreciated it! It was SUCH a blessing to see you two worshiping Christ and exalting Him during the ceremony! All the best to you two!

Alfred and Sophia's Wedding - July 2009 - Teaser

Thanks to Glendon Tang for inviting me out to second-shoot with him this weekend at Alfred and Sophia's wedding! It was lots of great fun on their wedding day, but first, it's teaser time!
Thanks again, Glendon! Of course, thanks to Helen too :)