Most people meet on dating websites or facebook, but in their own original style, Daniel and Nicole met, in all places, a political chat room! You just have to love it! I’m not very much of a political person myself, but I will admit that I’m opinionated…that probably counts for something.

Although Nicole and Daniel didn’t have a true wedding party (aka bridesmaids and groomsmen), there were many friends and family that radiated unconditional love and appreciation for the couple. Neither has had an easy or necessarily comfortable life, and it’s a testament to God’s love and faithfulness that they found each other and fell in love.

Nicole and Daniel, I wish you the very best in this life. Continue to let your light shine!

Mid-June through September was spent battling mono (yes, you can still get mono as an adult…who knew?!? And for those wondering, No–I didn’t get it by smooching on anyone, but my children perhaps). I haven’t felt so exhausted since I was pregnant and creating a child inside me! No, scratch that. I’ve never felt so exhausted before in my life…and wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I have a lot of respect for people with chronic fatigue now. Even though I had mono, similar to dealing with grief, life doesn’t slow down or stop just because you’re going through a crisis. With God’s grace and mercy (and plenty of rest) I struggled through (and with the help and encouragement of many family and friends! Love you!).

July was an exciting month filled with the first, of prayerfully many, mission trips. I was privileged to go to Jamaica with our teen ministry to help the Jamaican teens learn how to run a Swamp-like camp. I learned so many lessons from all those teenagers…like how to love a complete stranger without judgment or prejudice. We learned how to survive on rice, beans and fish for a week (I was in heaven…those that know me will understand). I saw teenagers hearts being challenged and called higher…and I remembered just how difficult it was to be a teenager. I have so much respect for the teens that fight to lead a righteous life in Christ. I am proud to say that many teens in both Georgia and Jamaica have been baptized as a result of the love we shared over one week. One week…one conversation…one smile can change a life. Never underestimate how God can use you.

School started back up and my baby (ah!) started kindergarten. It was another bittersweet day. I’m so excited to be at the same school as Angelina, but as I dressed her that morning, packed her lunch, put her new bookbag on her back, and walked her into school, I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated…for her and for myself. Most other students had their mother AND fathers walking them in, and Angelina was stuck with just me. No Daddy Spencer. We said a special prayer that morning and I know he was a proud daddy up in heaven.

It’s been 16 months since Spencer has been gone. It’s easier now…the kids and I talk about him fondly and candidly. I fear that they will continue to remember less and less, mainly because of their young age. It will be up to me (and friends and family) to keep his memory alive. Thank goodness for my thousands of pictures and videos! I am moving forward–spiritually, emotionally, and even in my grief. As I reached out to widows and widowers, I met an incredible man of God. Through much prayer, conversations, laughing and sharing of life stories we have bonded in way that I could have never imagined. We share a similar story of grief and single parenthood…and a deep understanding of each other. God is so good and I’m looking forward to what the future holds!

I suppose the main reason I’ve been blogged out, is because I’m fighting some strange illness. I’ve been SUPER fatigued and have really low blood pressure (85/50) along with a myriad of other symptoms. Please pray for me. I’m going back to the doctor tomorrow. My guess is that it’s hypothyroidism. I just want to feel normal!!!

For today though, I’ll leave you with an amazing maternity session I did a couple weeks past. This couple is expecting there first baby very soon! Little Carter should be here in less than a month! We met on North Campus–a special place to them as they are both UGA graduates! Go Dawgs! Talk about a small world too…her husband, Jeff and I, figured out that we were in the EXACT same major (Sports Med/Athletic Training) and graduated the same year. We weren’t cronies or anything, but we were definitely familiar to each other! Small, small world.

Here are some pictures of the morning.

Friends,
After J-Ru came over and “fixed” a desktop computer I had been given, I started poking around on it. Spencer had uploaded this video journal to it. It’s long (58 min). I watched it last night. It was the first time I’d really watched Spencer on video since he died. It made me miss him terribly…all his little Spencer-isms (rubbing his hands over his faith, his chuckle, his concern for us, his amazing love for God).

It made me sad…especially because he/we were so faithful that he would be healed. I was tempted last night to feel like he lost the battle and his extreme faith was all for not because in the end he died…and then I remembered that that same faith that he’s speaking about is the exact thing that helped him WIN. He never gave up his faith in God and glorified God with his life. Spencer did in fact win the battle. God saved his life. He was healed.

Some of my favorite lines:
13:30 “I was stressed out with life, my grad school program…and I felt like I couldn’t handle it anymore…and I felt like God was pushing me to my max right now–and this was prior to any of THIS…and I just thought, I’m so ungrateful…maybe this is what God’s trying to teach me…and God says ‘You think you can’t handle anymore. Well, you’re about to handle some more…and I’m going to pull you through it and teach you to be grateful for the life that you have…and you need to stop complaining about the little stupid things in life.’ We all do it…and we need to just sit back and be so thankful to God for the life that we have.”

49:25 “And that’s the way I feel. I’ve got no fear. There’s nothing my God can’t do. There’s nothing I can’t face. There’s nothing my family can’t face…because I’m a Christian…because I have God on my side. Get behind me Satan…you keep trying to attack me, keep trying to make me think faithless thoughts, but it ain’t happenin’ cause I got no fear.”

Love you all. Thanks for loving Spencer…and me.

Spencer’s Video Journal from brianne whitworth on Vimeo.

Here is the second or third video journal Spencer created before his 2nd brain surgery on 11/26/08. I admire his unfailing faith and trust in God. There is a lesson in here for all of us.

You are forever loved and missed.

Spencer Whitworth

4.27.79 – 7.16.09

Oh how I miss the days when you actually believed you were royalty…a lady in waiting. haha…I guess I am a lady in waiting!

Thanks Stacie for letting me in on the make-believe adventures! You can view the rest here.

I’ll have to video myself with these same moves next time…I don’t know that I’ll be as good though

Seriously though…tell me this is not the funniest thing ever!!! This boy’s got swagger!!

It was actually a lot of fun meeting lots of women (and men) in love! I loved asking each bride how she met her fiances and what she loves about him. I’m always intrigued to find out what their favorite parts about planning their wedding has been…almost unanimously the answer was finding the dress! Hello!?!? What about the photographer?

I was able to meet some incredible wedding vendors. Check them out!

• Joe at Runaworks Studios was my “neighbor” and is a fabulous videographer.
• Mose & Shekita own a hilarious photo booth called  OMG Booths.

I’ll also be announcing the lucky bride who won the complimentary wedding photography soon!!!

Brides, thank you for dropping by and chatting with me! I look forward to photographing the most important day of your life!

Call me to book your wedding and receive the special offer on the back of the promo card!

With love!

Brianne Marie     706.372.1146

Rene was kind enough (and brave enough) to help me out on one of my learning experiences! In case you couldn’t tell (because she’s tee-niny) she’s expecting a little babe soon!

ps-can you guess where we were???

So this week…drumroll please….I’m super duper fantabulously excitedly grateful for:

1. E-MEALZ.com

I can’t quite recall the last time I was this excited about something so silly…and yet so profound (oh wait, except for item 2). I discovered e-mealz.com a couple weeks ago, but never put it to the test. I had SO MUCH FUN COOKING this week! Seriously, can you believe I just said that? I’m astonished as well. I cooked: maple pork chops, blue cheese buttered roast, french dip sandwiches, beefy black bean rice, cashew chicken salad. Some firsts for me: I actually cooked chicken with the bone-in (I have strange meat/poultry phobias). I cooked a roast for the first time. I fed my children pork chops for the first time (again, Spence and I didn’t eat much meat/pork).

E-mealz basically plans all your meals for the week, hooks you up with a snazzy meal plan with instructions included and then in a separate document sends you a grocery list with things on sale!!! HOLLA!! I danced a little jig (you can’t see me so I decided to tell you). It’s like my secret handbook to be a stepford wife or something. My little cheat sheet. My cliff’s notes on all things cooking/meal planning.

And the most fabulous thing is…it’s only $5 a month! That is like taking candy from a baby for me!!! Please, if you struggle with planning meals that are creative and get you excited about cooking, then check them out. Tell them I sent you…maybe they’ll hook a sista up.

2. My SPECIAL Racetrac cup

I don’t know about you, but I have this thing called a vehicle that I have to fill up with gas every so often (ok, for me, it’s like every 3 days because I’m on the go so much…but whatev). Why not fill up for gas at a place that gives you FREE slushies every time you walk in! Now, to be fair I had to spend $6.99 for a special cup…but I get free refills all summer! I know I LOVE some slushies in this hot, humid, sweatilicous GA summer time. I seriously stop every day for a slushie. Must remind myself to work out more often from consuming all that sugar. If you’re a slushie lova like me…go get you a special cup. Seriously. Genius marketing ploy….yummm…..sluuuuuuuuuuuushies.

As always I’m grateful for my family, friends and children this week. Angelina had cheerleading camp Mon-Wed. She is SUCH a cheerleader…oh boy, what am I in for?!? I was so NOT a cheerleader. She also learned to swim today at the request of Angela B. I’ve tried for years, but noooooooo, she didn’t want anything to do with me teaching her. Go figure. I realized some incredibly challenging stuff about myself this week too–my views on life and business. I am vowing to change some things. I don’t want to become a “maybe later” parent (read this article). I don’t think I am one, but I know I could become one…if I didn’t stay in check. I also went to an amazing single’s bible study where my mind was blown about what a covenant is, more specifically God’s blood covenant…truly amazing lesson.

That’s it for today. I would leave you with a picture of some of the food I cooked…but alas, I’m too tired to upload them now…so here’s a recent picture of one of the cutest wee ones ever.

I had so much fun as a photographer shooting their engagement pictures as we were able to go shoot at the Fire House (is that what you call it?!?). We pulled the truck out–and no, there were no calls during the session–although we did have a couple looky-lous…i.e. the other firemen. I snuck a couple pictures of them staring! Afterwards we drove across the highway (literally) to his parents house to take some more laid-back romantic shots.

I can’t wait for your wedding day!! Congrats and thanks for the adventure!