FIVE YEARS LATER

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,just because,my family,the marriage fight — admin at 11:32 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Five years ago today the world fell out beneath my feet. Beneath OUR feet.

My husband was not himself. He was cocky. Arrogant. Spontaneous. Those are just some of the nicer words I can use to describe what was happening.

Turns out – he was going through a manic breakdown. Through that breakdown – as most of you know – some secrets came to light. Issues in his life and our life together – came to a head.

I was pregnant with Enoch and God had told us that AMAZING things would happen during this pregnancy.

This was NOT amazing – but does amazing mean good and warm and fuzzy or can it also mean terrible BUT great. Things can be terrible & great. Amazing & terrifying.

And I was “alone” with a two-year old boy that missed his daddy and a baby kicking inside my womb.

I say “alone” because our family was beautiful and supportive and our friends were beautiful and supportive. But I was alone in this marriage.

I was crying. Wondering. Praying. Trusting God. Some more crying. Not really hoping – trusting.

AND HERE WE ARE – FIVE YEARS LATER!

TOGETHER. Because we were all together on that fateful day.

We usually celebrate in style. But my FIL is still on the mend from his stem-cell transplant AND yesterday the rain rain rain came down down down. We found some sunshine in the afternoon and took a chilly dip in our favorite pool. The rest of the day was spent playing games – watching cheesy Christmas Hallmark movies & a little bit of Planet Earth II – spending a much better day together than this day five years ago!

Jared – I love you. I love what our marriage has become and look forward to it getting even better as the years continue. I love that you are so transparent with what happened to you and our lives. I love that you love Jesus and your parents and my parents and our families and our friends. I love how you love our boys and I love how you love me. You love me so well.

*J* FAMILY

Filed under: family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 3:40 pm on Monday, July 23, 2018

I’ve been taking photos for Arica and her family for SEVEN YEARS!

These kiddos are 7 and 4 – just like my sweet boys!

I’ve loved watching them grow!

He’s such a good big brother!

SHE IS SO DARLING!

BE STILL MY HEART!

This is the third house they’ve been in since I’ve been photographing their family!

THIS is the property they’ve been WAITING for!

Sometimes – I can’t pick a favorite between the black & white and the color – so I’ll show you both!

MY FAVORITE!!

SO VERY SWEET! MY FAVORITE MOMENTS!

SUCH A DREAMY SPOT – and it’s their backyard!

My favorite shots YET! My favorite session of their family so far! I feel like that happens every year!

Arica – THANK YOU for asking me into your lives year after year! I APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY SO MUCH!!

LAND OF LITTLE HORSES

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,baby barden,bardenisms,farmlife,friends,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 11:06 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2018

I’m sure you’ve read about my friend Trudy. We met when I went to college in Philadelphia. She was my RA and took me under her wing. I was so very homesick and she was so very supportive.

I transferred after one semester but we stayed close – thank GOODNESS for email and IM – in those days!

Trudy lives in Virginia about 7 hours away. When I got married – she was there. When she got married – I was there. But that time – I was IN the wedding AND photographing it. So – my friend and fellow photog Megan Hampton came along with me. Fitzy was 6 months old and Megan was pregnant with her first!

Jared and I met Trudy and her husband in Lancaster three years ago – but – she has TWO sweet boys now and I haven’t met them.

Megan and Trudy have stayed in touch over FACEBOOK and we messaged one day that we should meet halfway – in Gettysburg – at a place called Land of Little Horses!

Monday morning we piled our 5 kiddos in Megan’s van and started our 3 hour tour!

This guy – he has always reminded me of Fitzy – and seeing him in person – made it all the more true!

He is such a sweet pumpkin!

I mean – LOOK AT HIM!!

And this little pumpkin – she is SUCH A DOLL!

It was an UNBELIEVABLY hot and humid day. But when you make plans in advance THREE HOURS AWAY – you keep them!

THOSE BOYS TOGETHER!! OH MY HEART!!

That guy lounging on the bleachers – he is cut from the same cloth as my Enoch guy.

It’s absolutely wonderful having a friend like Megan who I love and respect who happens to have a son just like mine.

I can text her – tell her my frustrations about the stubbornness and the dedication of that sweet boy and she very much understands.

BROTHERS!! 13 months apart!

Typically the horse rides are outside – but thankfully they decided to hold them IN the arena!

We saw a horse that could ADD and stomp out the answer with his hoof!

This guy – he wanted to take this little horse home in our car! ALL THE LITTLE HORSES actually!

THOSE CHEEKS!!

Trudy and her boys left mid-afternoon – because as you mommas know – wrangling a one-year old and a two-year old in nearly 100 degree weather is EXHAUSTING and the kiddos get EXHAUSTED.

We hung out for a little bit to pet some horses!

He is very seriously trying to figure out how to smuggle those 2 horses home.

This guy loves his animals too!

This guy does NOT do well in the heat – but we made sure to stay hydrated and take lots of shade breaks!

ONE LAST PICTURE before we make the drive home!

And one stop at RED ROBIN to fill our bellies! YUM!

Megan – thank you for being adventurous and awesome! I LOVE YOU!

Trudy – thank YOU for making that trip with two kiddos – LITTLE KIDDOS! YOU ARE AWESOME!! I LOVE YOU!

WHAT DOES YOUR FRIENDSHIP LOOK LIKE!?

*K* FAMILY

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 11:39 am on Sunday, July 15, 2018

I’ve been taking pictures of these kiddos for YEARS!

I was so excited when Roni asked me to come take pictures of ALL the grandkids together!

This little pumpkin! It’s my first time meeting her! I WANTED TO EAT HER UP!

And this little guy – he was NOT so sure about having me take his picture!

LOOK AT HER SQUISHY ARMS!!

THAT SWEET FACE!!

LOOK AT ALL THOSE GRANDKIDS! PRECIOUS!!

Roni – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to come out and photograph your sweet family!

It’s SUCH AN HONOR to keep coming back!

 

BARDEN FAMILY

Filed under: bardenisms,family,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits — admin at 11:19 am on Saturday, July 14, 2018

Jared’s aunt and uncle were up for the 4th of July – so we got some quick family photos!

That’s my HANDSOME hubs!

Those CRAZY boys!

I hope you spent America’s birthday with the ones you LOVE!

*C* FAMILY

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 11:25 am on Friday, July 13, 2018

Katie and I have had this session scheduled for MONTHS! The weather this summer has been SO unpredictable!

BUT – we eventually got a BEAUTIFUL day – third time’s a charm!

I LOVE THAT LAST SHOT!!

I love that shot – everyone is looking at me – but Jeff is looking at his son! SUCH A MOMENT!

Isn’t she DARLING!?

He warmed up to me – eventually!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

And the way to winning a little boy’s smiles – A TRACTOR!!

She has THREE BIG BROTHERS to look after her!!

Katie & Jeff – I’m SO happy that it FINALLY worked out – and on such a BEAUTIFUL evening!

I hope to see you again soon!!

*U* FAMILY

Filed under: family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 11:56 am on Thursday, July 12, 2018

Missy is my best friend. Cody is her husband. Dusty is his cousin. That’s how I know this awesome family!

When I started photographing this family – these boys were NOT this big!

MY FAVORITE SHOTS!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!!

Dusty – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to capture your family again! I missed seeing you last year!!

ALLISON – CLASS OF 2019

Filed under: portraits,seniors — admin at 11:12 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2018

That’s Allison on the left and her sister Addison on the right.

Addison is only 12 but when your sister and her friends are getting their pictures done – you jump in on some shots too!

SWEET SISTERS!

Did you know that it’s hard to make a 12 year old LOOK 12 in her photos?

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

So these girls – sisters. cousins. friends. seniors. FIND YOUR TRIBE.

Amy wanted some memorable shots of her girls while Allison is home for one more year!!

SO – Allison – I have this vision in my head – are you willing to get IN the water – like ALL IN!?

GORGEOUS!!

ISN’T SHE THE BEST!?

ONE last spot for the night! This old church is DIVINE!!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!

Amy MAY HAVE BEEN crying at this point!

OH! WAIT! ONE MORE SPOT!

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SHOTS OF THE SESSION!!

THAT LIGHT! THE DEW! THE GRASS! THAT GORGEOUS GIRL! SWOON!

Amy – Allison – Addison – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU for believing in me – for trusting my vision – for dealing with this CRAZY weather and last-minute plans!

I can’t WAIT to see you again to finish our session! And throughout this LAST year of high school to capture ALL the things!

TORI – CLASS OF 2019

Filed under: portraits,seniors — admin at 11:14 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Tori joined our EPIC senior session!

Wait – Amy – you want to add another gorgeous soul to our photo session!? ALWAYS YES!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

SERIOUSLY!!

Those last few shots!!

Thank you SO MUCH Tori & Amy!! Tori – whatever you do in this life – find what you love and do it well!

KYLIE – CLASS OF 2019

Filed under: portraits,seniors — admin at 11:53 am on Monday, July 9, 2018

You might recognize Kylie! She’s one of the BREAKFAST CLUB seniors!

We scheduled the other half of their session for the last Sunday in June BUT the weather forecast was NOT good. RAIN & THUNDERSTORMS all evening. And since senior pictures also means hair appointments and make-up – we had to call it the night before. AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING.

So we rescheduled again – and it called for rain and thunderstorms AGAIN. So – we called it the night before – again.

BUT the day of the session – the weather was gorgeous and looked to be good in the evening – SO – I texted with Amy – the AWESOME mom that set up these photos for her daughter and her friends – and said – I’m still in if you want to do this tonight!

The boys had taken shifts at work – but the girls – minus one – were IN! AND she added another senior to the mix!

SO – we started at 6 and I walked in my house at 9! DID I MENTION I LOVE THIS JOB!?!?

Kylie is a DREAM to photograph!

SERIOUSLY!! GORGEOUS!!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

And those REAL smiles!! HOW AWESOME ARE MY SENIORS!?!?

PERFECTION!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

SENIORS – can I encourage you to book your session so we shoot RIGHT AT SUNSET and even a little (or a lot) after – it’s the dreamiest light!

Kylie – thank you for being AMAZING! Whatever you decide to do after high school – make sure you love it! LIVE WELL!

Stay tuned for Tori & Allison’s photos!!

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