A LOVE STORY -- Rekindled

Photo Credits - Heather Binkley

A Sweet Story Of A "FIRST LOVE" Rekindled......

Many of you know our daughter Katherine. I had blogged about her a few months ago, telling a story of Katherine's very first boyfriend, Raymond Warner who made the life changing decision to join the Army.

Raymond was Katherine's "first love"....You know...the one that you'll always remember and never forget...The one that you'll have crazy dreams about when you're 50 years old...Yeah, THAT kind of "sweet, I'll never forget you" love.

Raymond and Katherine first dated the summer after her first year in high school. They dated off and on for a long time. Then they went their separate ways and dated other people throughout her high school years.

Unbeknownst to me, just before Raymond left for the Army this past January, he and Katherine began "talking" again. When Raymond suddenly showed up at our home on the day he was leaving for basic training, I talked the two of them into letting me take a few photos of them in the studio.

Raymond has been in Basic Training at Fort Knox (Kentucky) since January. He and Katherine have been writing letters to each other the entire time. During Basic Training, things are very strict. He has no access to a phone, cannot receive calls, cannot receive care packages, etc. The only thing he CAN receive are hand written letters. So, just like in the olden days, they have written letters back and forth to each other since he's been gone.

The soldiers get very little free time. Every minute is spent training, so when you receive a letter from one of them during basic training, it's a really BIG deal. Raymond has sent Katherine approximately 10 letters...She has sent him about 17. And through those letters, their love has been reignited.

This past weekend was "Family Day" where the soldiers get to finally see their families. Families travel from all over the US to Fort Knox to see their loved ones. Raymond invited Katherine to come up for Family Day. His Mom, Renee and his brother Connor, invited her to ride up with them. She had a blast with Raymond's mom, and they talked all the way to Kentucky.

In their most recent letters to each other, Raymond told Katherine how he couldn't wait to see her. Katherine couldn't wait to see him either.

Raymond's Dad, Chet Warner and his fiance', Heather Binkley, also traveled to Family Day to see Raymond. Heather took some amazing photos and generously shared them with us.

All of these photos are courtesy of Heather Rae Binkley. Thanks Heather!

Raymond and Katherine spent the entire weekend together along with Raymond's Dad and Heather and his Mom, Renee and his brother Connor. Katherine said it was the best weekend ever. When she came home, she talked to us for over an hour, telling us all about her trip.

She said "Seeing and being with Raymond again was like getting back together with a Best Friend that you haven't seen in years. It was like we've never been apart."

Those old feelings that they once had for each other are back. And this time, it seems those feelings are stronger than ever.

Saying "Goodbye" at the end of the weekend was difficult for everyone...Raymond's parents, his brother and for Katherine. As Raymond turned and walked away, Katherine began counting the days until she could see him again....

Thank you Raymond for serving our country.....and thank you for making our little girl so happy! We love you both!

Beverly and Chuck

Raymond will be in Basic Training for 6 more weeks. He'll be coming home for 10 days the first part of May.

Katherine can't wait...

Thanks To Heather Binkley who really "captured every moment" and shared them with us.

Closing the book on another chapter in our lives

It's funny how life changes. And then, in reality, it's really not very funny at all...

Over the past few weeks we've closed the book on another chapter in our lives. It was one that we all knew was coming....we were expecting it. And you'd think that when you're prepared, it's all good.

However, sometimes life has a way of throwing you a curve ball when you're least expecting it...even more so, I think....if you're a woman.

Over the past few weeks, we've gone from a home of 6 people to a home of two. Our children both moved out, into their own apartments. The two girls that we had taken into our home, our second daughters, Ariana and Shelby, also moved out as well.

While we are delighted for all of them and happy that they are all independent, happy, doing well and are able to live on their own, it's amazing at the feelings and thoughts that go through your mind once this happens.

I know that many of you are just entering the mommy stages of your lives -- or have small children ---or still have teens at home. Believe me...what they say is so true. It happens, and they'll be gone with the blink of an eye.

It's amazing how that happens. If you're a parent, you know that at times it seems life stands still.

* When you're the mom of a newborn, and you're tired and exhausted, time stands still.

* When you have a sick child....

* When you're the parent of a toddler whom you cannot make happy, who has learned how to throw tantrums (and does it remarkably well)....it seems like life is in slow motion

* When your children enter elementary school and go through hard times, it seems like those days last forever

* Middle schoolers bring on an entirely new set of challenges and worries-- the attitude, the hormones-- what happened to the little boy or girl who used to think you hung the moon?

* And needless to say.....while teen years can be the most amazing times of all....when they're your own children, it can be trying and wonderful all in the same breath.

Like you, I had always heard the old cliche' "before you know it, they'll be gone" and when times were tough, I'd think to myself....ok whatever. Now that I'm there, it seems so true. All the years of raising my children, literally seem like seconds instead of years.

I thought I was prepared. But at the end of the day when everyone had moved out, I went upstairs to close all the bedroom doors, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Wow...they're all gone. A chapter of our lives has come to a close".

And then it begins....the mind is a remarkable thing....it has a way of playing tricks on you and making you question all the years that you just put behind you....

* Was I a good mom?

* Did I do my best?

* What did we do right...what did we do wrong? What if...what if...what if....

* What should we have done differently?

* Do they appreciate us...do they love us like we love them?

And then you begin to question your mortality --

* How much longer do I have on this earth?

* What's next?

* Where do we go from here?

* And you ask yourself -- Is this normal or am I going crazy? Are these feelings that everyone has when this chapter of the book of life is closed?

Looking back....the last couple of years have been a tough road to walk....

* The loss of a job

* The loss of my father

* Changing careers in the midst of midlife and during a recession

* Starting a new business

* Like everyone else, just trying to make ends meet

* And now, saying goodbye to our children

But we will be fine. I thank God everyday for giving me all He has given me....Loving parents who loved me no matter what I did and who loved each other until the day my father took his last breath.

For giving me two wonderful children that I have loved more than life. For giving me Chuck...who has been a wonderful father, husband and best friend and who has given me everything he possibly could all these years, who has loved me through thick and thin, for better or worse and who has never left my side. For an incredible family including an amazing sister and step daughter, nieces and nephews.

And I thank God for giving us the opportunity to do what we love to do....to photograph people - to create memories of the good times in their lives, their babies, their children, their teens, the final days of high school, their families, their engagements and their weddings.

We are thankful and appreciative for our association with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep -- where we have met some of the strongest and most amazing people ever -- those who have lost a child at birth.

We are thankful for Inspiration Through Art (formerly the Littlest Heroes Project) and for the incredible families we have met along the way who are raising children who are either terminally ill, who have faced death with these children, or who have children with life long disabilities.

Our hearts go out to these families....

We are thankful for Wish Upon A Wedding...where we have been given the opportunity to photograph and tell the story of amazing couples --- Couples who are facing a terminal illness or a life altering disability together, and who have chosen to love each other and stay together, and who have chosen to be married and to travel the journey ahead of them as one.

We thank God for our children, our family and for all of you whom we have met along this journey of life. May God bless each and every one of you.

And to Chuck, the best guy in the world...who is an amazing husband and puts up with me through times like this....I love you so much. Thank you for being my guardian angel and for always being there for me.

Beverly

BRINGING JOY TO OTHERS THROUGH MUSIC

BRINGING JOY TO OTHERS THROUGH MUSIC.....

Recently, we had the pleasure of accompanying some amazing individuals from McEachern United Methodist Church who were visiting the Powder Springs Nursing Home & Rehab Center to sing to the residents and brighten their day. This caring group, who calls themselves the Seasonal Singers, is led by Tanya Ghoreishi - McEachern Methodist's Minister of Music.

The Seasonal Singers is a group of approximate 30 people ranging in age from 6 months to 83, from McEachern UMC who love to sing. They meet every Monday to either practice or to visit places like the Powder Spring Nursing Home and they spread a little sunshine and a lot of love through their voices and song.

Rev. Charlie Marus, McEachern's Associate Pastor and Tanya Ghoreishi, Minister of Music and Director of Fine Arts, are passionate about reaching out to others. The voices and music of McEachern's Season Singers brought smiles to the faces of residents at the Nursing home, to the staff and to a group of Alzheimer's Patients there as well.It was an honor and privilege for us to be on hand to capture the smiles through photography and videography.

The Seasonal Singers is a fabulous group of people who love to sing and who care about others. To find out more about McEachern Methodist Church's Seasonal Singers, please contact

Tanya Ghoreishi at 770-943-3008 ext 5005 or via email at tanya@mceachernumc.org

BELOW IS A SHORT VIDEO OF THE SEASONAL SINGERS PERFORMING AT THE POWDER SPRINGS NURSING HOME & REHAB CENTER

Chuck Williams Photography and Videography

Chuck, Beverly & Chris Williams

404 925-2921

www.chuckwilliams-photography.com

Find us on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/chuckwilliamsphotography

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO

WISH UPON A WEDDING - ATLANTA

We're delighted to be working with Wish Upon A Wedding Atlanta to help grant a Wedding Wish for Erikka Searles and Omoro Mitchell.

Check out their Love Story below and become a Facebook Fan of Wish Upon A Wedding Atlanta!

http://www.facebook.com/WishUponaWeddingAtlanta

For more information about Erikka Searles and Omoro Mitchell’s upcoming wedding or Wish Upon a Wedding Atlanta, contact Lisa Horten, PR/Media Chair at atlantamedia@wishuponawedding.org or message the Wish Upon A Wedding Atlanta facebook page.