SHINE in the Dominican

SHINE Dental

I had the awesome opportunity to go and serve in the Dominican in January. I went with a dental team . I was able to go and play with the kids and color with them and basically just love on them.
They just loved having someone pay attention to them...and boy did they LOVE the camera. They are so thankful and so appreciative of everything. I had about 17 of them coloring all at once for about 2 hours.
Like that would ever happen here in Canada......after 15 minutes the kids would be like..."whats next??"
I wish I could have brought all these beautiful kids home with me.

Chalen

Typical little boys!! Playing with trucks, jumping on people, fast g.t's down the hill, thowing snow at girls!!! Right from the start you can see the boy in them! I love catching this behind the lense. boys just being boys. Thats the way they are and that is what you'll want to remember them as years down the road. Thanks Chalen for letting me come and chase you around!

Lauren

On sunday we got to take a drive out to Kenora to take some photos. What a beautiful drive. Sun glistening over the snow, clear dry roads, rocks, trees, lakes...what more could you want. My first shoot was with a girl named shannon and her daughter Lauren. I felt like we were heading to Narnia when we went to her place. Seriously...it is WAY back there. Such a gorgeous spot on the lake. Shannon makes gorgeous jewellery. I always love going to see what she has created! We visited then headed out for some photos in their gorgeous yard.

Shaun and Chantel

Highschool sweethearts celebrated their wedding on Saturday and I had the awesome priviledge of being a part of their big day. My favorite part of the day was when we got to go into their old highschool and take photos of them where they first met and spent so much time together. How neat to be able to capture them in their old classroom and walking down their old hallway where they use to flirt and be silly together. Loved it.

Share the Love Contest Winners

Thank you all for taking the time to submit a story for this years' Share The Love Contest.
There were many great submissions full of halarious, awkward, and moving moments.

I loved reading through them and hearing how you and your special someone take the time to celebrate love together. Never stop making fun memories together!
Here are some of the many great quotes found in the stories:

"Its memorable days like this one I know we're blessed to have one another."

"He is a friend, a confidante, a supporter,..."

"my knight in Carhartt armour."

"The police were going to be on our tail"

"a quiet canoe ride under the stars"

"He is a person I want to get lost in Rome with"

It was so hard to choose between all of the fantastic entries. I wish I could have chosen all of you....but  after reading them over and over again, we finally narrowed it down to just one submission.

And the winner is...drum roll please...............Naomi and Cody
Below I'll share a few peices of one of their favorite moments together.

"We decided that for our one year anniversary of dating we would stray a little from the beaten path.  Our evening began at Value Village where we both found some pretty sweet/vintage/80's style formal wear.  My dress was SO awesome, purple, mid-calf length, shoulder pads and beading galore!  Cody got a very sweet cardigan, tie, and some nice bi-focal glasses! 

After getting dressed up, we hit the town!  Mongo's for supper where we got looks from most everyone in the line up for stir-fry, (I kind of had trouble seeing because the thick glasses I had on were NOT my prescription).  Then starbucks for latte's, followed by hitting up the casino to play the slots!  The whole time we had a bit going about how we were a mid-forties couple in the 80's; Bill and Phyllis Campbell.  Bill sold insurance, and Phyllis was always nagging him about watching his weight."

Naomi and Cody will be awarded a free photoshoot with a fifty dollar credit to be used towards pictures of their choice.

Thanks for taking the time to celebrate love with us.