Answer to prayer!

My mom had her final test and had just spoken with the doctor about the results. She and I came out of the ladies dressing room, and we called my dad over. He walked up and had that look of "Well, what's the answer?" in his eyes, but we took him aside and I said "It's time to do a circle dance! Momma is cancer free!" And we circled around singing our "do to do to do" song knowing everyone in the waiting room was staring at us. But we didn't care.

It probably sounds funny, but circle dances have become a tradition in our family. Anytime the three of us have any good news, we'll grab the hands of the others and circle around celebrating. It has become some of my favorite moments spent with my parents as we celebrate what the Lord has blessed us with that day.

So after two days of doctor's visits with my mom and endless mammograms, MRIs, CAT scans, and sonograms, I'm excited to share that she remains cancer free! Thank you sooooo much to everyone on here who surrounded my mom in prayer. She's been keeping up with all your sweet comments, and your encouragement means the world to her, and me too!

Here's a cute pic of my parents from a few months ago.

Special prayer request please!

And old journal entry:

******

May 16, 2004

Well, it's official. Momma has cancer. I don't really know what to think of it. When other people find out, they go into the "Oh I'm so sorry, you must be taking it hard," thing, but honestly I'm not. I think it's because I'm living in denial. Like, I like to believe that this is just an obstacle to bring us my family closer to God by relying on his strength during the hard times vs. I just can't believe that God would take my mom away from me when he knows how important she is to me. I've always said that she is my soul mate. She is just the one person who knows what I'm thinking without me having to say it, and she is my number one cheerleader in life who would do anything in the world for me. It's the simple things I would miss like today I was laying in bed reading and got hungry, so I called her downstairs on my cell phone and asked if she could make me something. Then, without hesitation, she stops what she's doing and makes me a grilled cheese sandwich and homemade french fries. Like, who else in the world thinks enough of me to do that? Some people might look at that as I'm spoiled, but honestly, I look at it as she is the ultimate example of true love that I hope to be able to give to people one day.

Despite my being in denial, last Friday I had my first day of actually breaking down over the whole cancer thing. My parents had gone out of town and after going out with my friends I came home to an empty house. It just hit me that night, like, if something happens to my mom, this is what it will always be like, coming home to an empty house without her stirring things up in the kitchen or reading her books in the library or coming downstairs with "My boo boo, how are you?" So it hit hard and when I got upstairs in my room, I just dropped to the floor in tears.

That's the only time I've cried over the cancer thing. Since then I've gone back into denial, or maybe it's hope... cause like my grandma had breast cancer and survived it, so I'm trying to have faith that if my grandma can get through it, my mom certainly can. Then again, my mom's lump is pea size when my grandma's was just a sesame seed, but still.. with modern day technology and tons of prayer, I'm trying my best to have faith that God will save her.

So for the people reading this, please take a moment to pray for my mom and her health.. and the well-being of those who are close to her. God knows I need all the patience and strength I can get too.

Scarlett

******

Since that journal entry, my mom is now a survivor. 2004 was full of chemo, radiation, losing her hair, losing her right breast and almost losing her life after the chemo became toxic in her system. But after a rush to the emergency room, on Christmas Day 2004, God graced us with a miracle and she's been on the upswing since then.

This blog entry is a special prayer request. Tomorrow my mom goes in for an extensive amount of 2-days of tests to see if her breast cancer has had any reoccurance. With a 75% chance that breast cancer does reoccur, my mom is always scared that it will creep up again, especially considering how bad her case was. I'm so thankful for months like this month that promote breast cancer awareness. This is a serious epidemic, and we need a cure! Thank you to those out there who have supported in one way or another. (It's fun to see so much pink flooding the stores this month!)

For tomorrow, please pray for God's healing touch over my mom, for God's comfort to calm her fears, for God's wisdom to work through the doctors, and for God's patience as we wait to find out results.

I was looking for an old photo to post here on the blog during the time she was going through her treatment, and I ran across an old disc of images that I thought I would create as a slideshow to share with you guys. I almost forgot about these photos, as a way to block the pain I guess, but today I got teary eyed just looking at them all over again. When she found out she had the cancer, my mom asked me to document her journey with my point and shoot camera, but it's funny how at the time, taking pictures was the last thing I wanted to do. I think deep down I was just a scared little girl who wanted my mommy to be ok, not be a photographer. If I had known at the time, it was all part of my training for becoming a professional photographer in the years to come.

Here is a collection of the pictures we have from 2004. It takes you through various doctor's visits, MRIs, the faces we met along the way, chemo treatments, the first hair cut when her hair was beginning to fall out, wig shopping, and then the hospital visit during Christmas that was the turning point for her healing miracle.

These are straight out of my cheap point and shoot camera, no editing.

Now a days, my mom is writing a book about giving hope to cancer patients. She keeps a blog of her journey writing the book and to provide daily inspiration for others. I'd love for you to check it out and show her some love! And if you know someone going through cancer, please send her blog their way. She is also available for speaking to groups if you know of an opportunity she can minister in that way!

www.gotcancergethope.blogspot.com

Thanks everyone for your prayers!!

I need your address!

You would think with my birthday being on Christmas, that I would be the first to send out holiday cards. But honestly, this is one area I have always slacked in. I think it's the procrastinator in me who wants to do something really cute and then next thing I know it's the week before Christmas and obviously too late. So I give up and leave the holidays with a guilt complex looking at all the festive cards everyone sent me.

So this year, I am determined to be the first card everyone gets in their mailbox. I just got done designing an oh so cute holiday card. Forget red and green, mine is saturated in pink, of course! And I'd love to send one to YOU, my wonderful blog readers! So I need your mailing address. Even if you are a photographer friend of mine, more than likely I don't have your address, so please send it to me! Don't post it in a comment for security reasons, but definitely send me an email at scarlett@scarlettlillian.com.

In the meantime, I'll be sending my card design to the printers. FYI, I use overnightprints.com and they offering a special $10 discount right now if you plug in the code HOLIDAY2007. Just thought I would share if you are printing up some custom cards too.

Wow, I can't believe it's almost holiday season.... this year has flown by for me!

What do you hope Santa will bring you this Christmas?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my Mercedes convertible! :-)

A date with God.

Ever since my mom got cancer in 2004, I made a vow to myself that I would start doing things that scared me and to walk through my fears.

It came in baby steps.

First, I broke up with my first love.
Then I went surfing.
Then I got up on stage and performed karaoke.
Then I tried online dating.
Then I broke up with the online date.
Then I quit my secure corporate job.
Then I moved out of my parent’s house.
Then I started my own graphic design turned video business.
Then I agreed to model for some photographer friends.
Then I became a photographer.

Then last Friday night, I did something else that has always scared me. I went on a date... with just myself. I was in Destin, FL to shoot a destination wedding for Julia and Hugo (their photos are coming soon!), but I was supposed to have dinner with my cousin Becky who lives near by. However, Becky was sick as as a dog, so our dinner plans got canceled. And my second shooters were still driving down from Atlanta, so I was left in Destin, all by myself, with nothing to do. So rather than go back to the hotel, I decided to live it up.

For the first time ever, I walked into a restaurant and asked for a “table for one” followed by a movie for one. Two things I never thought I would ever do in one night. As independent as I’ve always been, eating by myself and going to a movie by myself were two things I never ever ever ever wanted to do by myself. But wow, I honestly had so much fun!!

As I wrote the list above, I kept thinking “Psh, that’s not so bad.” But let me tell you, at the time when they were huge mountains in my life I had to climb and overcome, including Friday night. And it’s just amazing the places God can take you when we finally let Him have control.

For example. Tonight I had dinner at a restaurant that just 2 years ago, I conquered one of the fears... singing karaoke. My cousin Becky had just broken up with a great love of hers too, so I dedicated and belted out “I Will Survive” to her while celebrating her birthday. Here’s a video clip below (Becky is the hot blonde!).

Yes, I know, I’m blackmailing myself here.



So tonight I went back to the same restaurant to celebrate the fact that I DID survive. All the fears that I continue to work through, I have survived. All the dreams I have been scared to chase, I have survived. All the moments I could have settled for less, I chose not to and instead have survived. I proudly lifted my Cosmo and toasted to being single and fabulous all over again.

Since I had just come from the wedding rehearsal, I had my camera on me and decided to document the night to share the highlights of my date. When we let Him, God totally knows how to romance us. First He picked me up in my car I’m saving up for, a convertible Mercedes (ok, so I didn’t ride in it, but I parked right in front of it and couldn’t resist taking a photo). Then I got out of the car to see He painted me the most beautiful hot pink sunset sky. Seriously, it was breathtaking. Then our dinner at the restaurant, and onto my Heaven aka ColdStone Creamery, then finally ending the night with a great movie, “Why Did I Get Married?” Though I’m not married yet, the movie had a lot of great lessons on how important commitment is through the good and bad of married life. I really recommend it and it was a great date movie for the Big Guy and I. Even afterward, I couldn’t resist, I went in the photobooth at the movie theater, and used my camera to take a bunch of funny photos.

So here’s a slideshow of my night. And may you also find the courage to do something this week that scares you. There’s no greater feeling than conquering your fear to discover it is only False Evidence Appearing Real. Start by taking a bunch of photos of yourself at a photobooth. It’s so much fun!

New blogs coming soon...

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I've been busy shooting weddings and e-sessions and I've been out of town for a destination wedding in Destin, FL. I have a lot of family over that way too, so I used the trip to catch up on old times and explore some family history with my camera. Lots of new photos and blog entries coming soon, I promise!

Dog wedding

Ok, so I looked at this and laughed thinking the owner was nuts, but then again, it wouldn't surprise me if I married off Rhett one day too! Just thought you would get a kick out of this dog wedding! (Even though they could have used a much better photographer!)

Why do brides toss a boquet?

So I've been editing the rest of Tara and Robbie's wedding and I finally came across a missing snapshot of the amazing Terrica and I that my second shooter Katie took of us. Then I cruised over to Terrica's blog to check out what the latest is in her wedding planning world, and I saw this one post on her blog that answered all my dumb questions about wedding day traditions. From tossing the boquet to the creative groom's cakes, I am always capturing traditions that I never really know the story behind. So thank you Terrica, this post was really informative!


You know what all the common wedding traditions are, but do you know where they came from or what they mean?

Groom’s Cake- A deeply-rooted Southern custom. According to superstition, any single woman at a wedding should go home with a slice of groom’s cake and sleep with it under her pillow. That night, she’ll dream of her future husband. Whether or not this holds true, it seems that the groom’s cake is making a comeback, and not just in the South.

Tying the Knot- This comes from the days of the Roman empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots. The Groom untied the knots before they, well… you know.

Diamond Engagement Ring- Italians started this tradition, they beleived the diamond was created from the flames of love.

Garter- Brides originally tossed a garter, rather than a bouquet, at a wedding reception. In the 14th century, this custom changed after Brides became tired of fighting off the drunken men who tried to remove the garter themselves!

Ring Finger- Prior to the 5th century, the ring finger was actually the index finger. Later, it was believed that the third finger contained the vena amoris, “vein of love” that led directly to the heart.

Tossing the Bouquet- Guests used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers in order to keep some of her good luck. To escape, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the idea that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.

The Best Man- ”Marraige By Capture” this goes back to when men would kidnapp or capture the woman they wanted to make their bride. This obviously was not a one man job, and of course the future groom would only choose the “best man” he knew to come long for such an important task.

The Groom’s Boutonniere- This goes back to medieval times when a knight wore his lady’s “colors,” proudly displayed for all to see.

The only things I need answers to now are:

1. Which leg does the garter go on?
2. Does the wedding band go on after the engagement ring, or before?

Brides always ask me these, and unfortunately I never know the answer to. If you know, please leave a comment and fill me in!

What does Google say about you?

So from time to time I google myself because I'm always curious what new things are being said about me in the world of cyberspace. It's also fun to discover who links to me and what others are saying about my photography.

But every now and then I discover something that makes my eyes go wide. To prove that anything you do on the internet is permanently recorded forever, I ran across a really really really old blog I had totally forgotten about that I used to keep right after college. It was crazy to read back over my life and the thoughts swirling around in my head that I so vulnerably put out there to the world. (Not that I really had any blog readers considering I only posted about 4 entries, and that was before blogs were cool!) I couldn't help but reflect on the very first blog entry which started like this:

April 24, 2004

1. I don't know what the future holds for my career.
2. I don't know what the future holds for my love life.
3. I don't know what the future holds for my mom's health.

I went on to ramble about each of them and all the insecurities that surrounded each situation. To give the nutshell version of each:

1. At this time, I was in between post-college jobs so clueless what direction God wanted me to go in.
2. I was in the midst of breaking up with my first love.
3. My mom's mammogram showed a few suspicious spots.

And it was just so amazing to remember that scared 22-year-old girl that I was, and how far I've come come in the past 4 years.

1. Woo hoo, after trying out 4 different careers, I finally figured out that I was meant to be a photographer!
2. Ok, this one I still have no clue about, but I have faith God knows what He's doing.
3. Praise Jesus, my mom is now a cancer SURVIVOR!!!!

College was a great experience, but I feel like these past 4 years after it, that I've been in the college of life learning an education through the highs and lows of simply living. There have been amazing moments, confusing moments, blessed moments, crumbling moments, content moments, depressing moments, on top of the world moments, and more. But all in all I can look back and see God's hand and purpose in each moment as He continued to guide me to where I am today. It was a good wake up call to read this as a reminder that waiting on God's best isn't always easy, but it is always worth the wait when we keep our eyes fixated on Him. (I needed that reminder for #2 especially, ha!) In appropriate timing, this morning in my quiet time, I read the verse:

Jesus said "I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest." ~John 10:10

That's one thing I never hope to lose sight of, is living life to the fullest in every moment we are given.

Walking through fears.

Thinking outside of the box.

Having the courage to do things that would make others gasp.

Walking the narrow path.

And loving and serving those that God puts in my path.

I pray that your life is full of all of the above too! And I'm curious, where were you 4 years ago? Leave me a comment and tell me your story!

This is me in 2004. Look how crazy short my hair was. It was all part of the trying to find myself phase, so I went from hair down to the middle of my back to chopping it all off on a whim. Never again will I go that short! I need big hair! :-) (Mom was going through a bad hair year too. )

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

It was 1975 and my mom was a senior at Florida State University. One of my mom's roommates in the dorm was about to receive a visit from her cousin, Johnny, driving from the small one-light town of Campbellton, Florida. I don't think my mom was quite aware how this simple visit would turn into her destiny. When my dad walked through the dorm doors, my mom thought, "That is the man I'm going to marry, he just doesn't know it yet."

Soon, my dad's visits to Florida State were no longer for his cousin, but now for my mom, and over the course of my mom's remaining time in school, they dated around the campus and fell in love. Nine months later, mom graduated from school and they began their lives together 32 years ago today.

And what an adventure it has been. I came along five years later to join their love story. It hasn't always been an easy journey, with many ups and downs, but they have been the greatest example of my mom's favorite quote, "Whatever the question, love is the answer." It's been an honor to witness their love through the good times, the bad times, but yet through it all, to watch how true love truly endures.

Happy Anniversary mom and dad! You two are my heroes and my best friends. "Where there is a Williams, there is a way!"

How cute is their wedding photo? Wedding photography suuuuuuure has come a long way! :-)



And here's a recent photo I took of them all mushy gushy earlier this year.


Also, if you are looking for a great source daily inspiration, my mom is the true writer in the family and has an awesome blog too! I'd love for you to check it out and leave her some love!

Click here to view my mom's blog!

Congratulations Claudette & Rob!

In Florida, during the month of September, there are two things you risk when having an outdoor wedding.

Rain or hurricanes.

Rob and Claudette didn't have either, but it sure felt like hurricane winds out on the beach where their reception was. On the positive side, it made for some awesome photos with Claudette's long cathedral veil flowing in the wind as she kissed her new husband in the midst of the whirlwind day. From a tearful ceremony at St. Paul's Catholic Church to the gorgeous view at Serenata Beach Resort, all in all, it was a beautiful day for Claudette and Rob full of a lot of love.

Here are my favorite photos of the day and their slideshow is at the end! A special thanks too to my friend, Kara Pennington, for coming to town to help shoot with me!



Claudette's gorgeous ring! This picture represents actual size. Ok, just kidding, but it is really close! :-)














I always love a tearful groom!


I fell in love with her nephew/ring bearer, Gage. I almost packed him in my camera bag and took him home with me!








Of course I had to do a feet shot with the flip flops!












When Claudette was dancing with her dad, she opened her arms to her sisters and turned it into a dance with her dad and all his girls. So sweet!


Claudette adoring her groom at the end of the night.