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.

Thanksgiving 2009 (part 1)

Thanksgiving this year was a bit of a whirlwind as I had to be back in Des Moines to work on Friday morning at 10:00. I arrived home, with the friends who had kindly given me a ride in tow, on Wednesday evening and was received happily by both 2 and 4-legged creatures :-) I was on the road again (this time with my own wheels!), by about 4:00 Thursday afternoon, but even though it was a short trip home, it was a trip home nonetheless and I was incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be able to make it.














We kind of love our dogs....and yes, Bucky is sitting at the kitchen counter, because that's apparently his spot.














Papa













Mama













Bandit. Conserving.













Yes, the house is decorated for Christmas. Why not enjoy it for a little bit longer?













The gorgeous portrait Sarah's mom did of our dogs, past and present









































Family room

































Front entryway



















Dining room window



















Dining room tree