Playing Catch-Up: Ben and Helena Loops

I had not realized how far behind I had fallen in my blog posting until I logged on yesterday and noticed that my last post was made in June. So, with the year now coming to a close, I'm going to do the best I can to "catch-up", as it were, and post pictures from some pretty monumental events this year.

Two very good friends of mine, Ben and Helena Loops, tied the knot back in mid-March. Their story is such an encouragement to those of us who are still learning how to wait , not only for a spouse, but how to wait on the Lord.













Ben's nieces were the flower girls for the wedding













Helena's home church in Cedar Rapids was the venue for both the wedding and the reception. Traveling to CR also gave me an opportunity to visit with a good family friend for a bit before the ceremony started.



































Lighting of the Unity Candle. I love this part of the ceremony because I think it's probably the first moment the bride and groom have really been able to have a private moment together.











As part of the table decor, Helena had put together four bookmarks with messages from the gospels. Even on her wedding day, she is thinking about how to reach people for Christ.



































Instead of the typical wedding reception dance, the bride and groom opted to have a board game theme. Here' s a group from Des Moines puzzling out a game of Blokus.




















Ben and Helena, thank you so much for the opportunity to take pictures of your special day! I am so blessed to know you and I look forward to many more years of doing life together at West Town.
All the Love,
Tiffany

Memorial Weekend Festivites: Day 1

The last week in May, members of two of our church satellite locations participated in something called Mission to the City. Instead of traveling across the globe to reach people for Christ, they focused on downtown Des Moines and West Des Moines, spending each day outreaching to our community. Friday, the last day of the week long event, the Down Town Church was able to host Steele Croswhite (from our sister church in Salt Lake City, Utah) and Phil Wickham for a time of worship and celebration. The concert was held at the Simon Estes Amphitheatre, where thousands of people gathered to hear some awesome music and amazing testimonies.
















The Des Moines River made for an awesome backdrop!




































































































































This probably doesn't do justice to just how many people were there...



















































By the grace of God, the Down Town Church was able to rent all of the equipment so we were all able to enjoy a top-quality concert!

















Phil giving his testimony and talking about the song "Safe" off of his new album, "Heaven & Earth"





























































































A sea of people raising their hands to God, singing "I can't lift my hands high enough, when I'm reaching for you my God!"

Bryson's 1st birthday

Yesterday, one of our infants at the daycare had his first birthday and so, in true Klassic Kids fashion, we gave him his first chocolate cupcake and let him have at it. Knowing we were going to be celebrating, I naturally brought the camera to work yesterday to take pictures of the inevitable mess that was about to occur. The first several shots turned out alright, until I fiddled with some settings on the camera and readjusted the flash and suddenly, the colors were much richer and the shots themselves improved drastically.

Recent Photography

So it's been a little while since I last posted, but I continue to press on in (hopefully!) improving my photography skills. The last several years, our church has been involved in the Upward sports program and from January-mid-March we've ministered to over 500 kids and their parents through the basketball season. I, along with a good friend, Kelly, was asked to take pictures of the kids at their games on Saturdays and after taking probably a couple thousand shots, I've been able to hone my sports photography skills. Not all turned out great, but a zoom lens and the sports setting on my camera allowed me to be a part of the action without getting trampled.




























I also had the opportunity to attend the Women of Faith conference that was recently held here in Des Moines. The time was incredibly uplifting and encouraging, and of course gave me plenty of opportunities to get some picture taking in and use the new flash I recently acquired.











Mandisa rocks it out with "I'm Every Woman"












Nicole C. Mullen's dramatic performance of her song, "One Touch"
























Lisa Whelchel (aka Blair, from "The Facts of
Life") talks about her faith and her struggles of how to have strong relationships with people.