I have been saving this for a long time...

At the beginning of October I got a chance to re-meet (we had lunch once a while back) a wonderful woman and spend some time with her awesome children. It was a dark icky day. We did not have much light so we are planning to revisit again really soon for a few more shots. I have been sitting on this session because I really wanted to post it when I had time to think. This session was too special to just post really quickly and then go on.

As I said, I had lunch with this beautiful lady a few years ago. I remember then that she seemed to have something extra special about her. Funny how you can just "feel" those kinds of things. She became my friend on Facebook and I started viewing her feeds. I noticed her husband was having some health difficulties so I followed his Caring Page site. He was battling brain cancer at the time. I expected to find updates about Spencer and expected to read how hard it was to see a soul mate battle this kind of cancer. What I found was something totally different. Sure there were times when the posts were sad and tests were not favorable. But, through it all this family, and especially this sweet woman, stayed strong with her faith in God and motivated everyone reading Spencer's page to be a faithful child of God. Funny how in her most trying time of need, that she was serving others. Brianne did not complain about why this illness was happening to Spencer or her young family. She just served Spencer the best she could and cared for her family the best that she could and she continued to live during this time the best she could. But, the key is that she kept living. Spencer's illness did not stop her from living, nor did it stop Spencer.

I followed that feed religiously. It was the first thing I checked in the morning and the last thing that I checked before bed. Funny how you become so attached to people you barely know. But, through that Care Page, I feel like I really know this family.

Unfortunately, Spencer lost his battle with brain cancer on July 16, 2009. While I am sure that Brianne has had a very hard adjustment with her new life without her soul mate, I am sure if she was writing this blog post, she would say that she has not stopped living. Not long ago she visited Disney World again after having visited there shortly before Spencer passed away and she wore a button that read, "I choose life". See how amazing this woman is? Even in the depths of sorrow, she can see the silver lining. I truly believe that Brianne is a gift to us all. I am sure she was to Spencer.

Why do I write this? To make you feel sorry for Brianne? No way! That would make her very sad to hear that you felt sorry for her. I write this to share a little of what she has shared with me. Even in your darkest moments there is light. Even when you can not see it, it is there. You just have to be wiling to find it. Life is good. We are only here on earth for such a short time, why waste a moment? Each one can provide a special gift to yourself or better yet someone else.

I am thankful that Brianne asked me to take the first photographs of her family since Spencer's passing. We went to the Botanical Gardens here in Athens to visit a special bench that is dedicated in memory of Spencer. I will always visit this bench now and think special thoughts about this fabulous family. We had a great time although the weather was not working in our favor. The kids are just too hilarious and Brianne is such a fun spirit. I really look forward to visiting with them again soon to finish up our session... if it ever stops raining.

I had a lot of favorites. LOL



This is Spencer's bench.