ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,my family — admin at 8:28 pm on Monday, July 19, 2010

It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down and written a blog. I don’t have time. I have a wedding every Saturday and then at least 3 sessions a week – minimum. Right now – my blog is 4 weeks behind my schedule. I’ve thought about just blogging every other session or just using 3 or 4 pictures in each post. I can’t bring myself to it! I love all my clients and sessions and can’t bear NOT showing them to you!

It’s been an amazing 2010 for barden photography! I cannot believe the support, love, and encouragement you have all shown me! I can’t stress enough how much I love ALL of you and what you mean to me!

We are still trying to get pregnant. I am still confused and angry. I have at least 5 inquiries a week about newborn or maternity sessions. Every other day I find out about someone else being pregnant. Jared asked me the other day why I take the newborn and maternity sessions when they hurt my heart so much. i do it because I LOVE newborn and maternity sessions. Babies are such amazing miracles and capturing a woman’s body while that miracle grows inside her – just gives me chills. It’s amazing! I also choose not to refer them to someone else because I need to be joyful and happy about their blessing. I am so very angry with people that are pregnant – it’s nothing personal – just in general. I pray that God has children in our future – a pregnancy for me – in the future – but He might not. And if He doesn’t – I don’t want to live in anger all my life. I want to be happy for those people being blessed with a child. I want to be happy around those beautiful babies!

At our last appointment – almost 3 months ago now – we found out that Jared has a low count – bordering on infertile. My cycle is like clockwork but that isn’t helping. I’ve stopped the charting, the temperatures, any kind of control I have or had in the situation. Having control makes me stress out more that it’s not happening when I want it to.

I want to be a mother right now. I’ve wanted to be a mother since I can remember. I don’t know if I’ve written this before but when I graduated high school I was so upset that I would have to go to college cus I was supposed to get married and have babies – lots of them. Sometimes I guilt myself into thinking that if we would have never gone on birth control – then we would have babies – we might have a 5 year old today. Was it my fault – our selfishness?

Waiting and wondering is the hard part – and hoping. I feel that God is ignoring me – has pushed me to the side – marked me in his memo book to reply at a later date – if He remembers. I KNOW this is not true – but it doesn’t stop me from feeling that way. Sometimes I feel like I’m at the middle of a tug of war with satan and God – and I’m screaming out – asking God to just pull me over the line to His side – but He just leaves me there in the middle of the tug.

I don’t understand why I’m watching so many people being blessed with pregnancy – and yet here we are – waiting and hoping.

I’ve had many people write to me on FACEBOOK or email me and tell me that my blog has helped them through their own loss or to better understand a family member that went through a loss like this. It means so much that this experience is helping others to cope – that I can help with an outlet for their own grief and anger. People have emailed me and asked me how I can be so strong in my faith – I wonder if they are looking at the same person I am looking at in the mirror. I feel like I am getting weaker by the day. It’s been over a year and a half since we started trying – including getting pregnant and having our miscarriage. I wonder how I can get through the next month and then realize that I’ve gotten through the last year and half – only by the grace of God.

My brother and his wife Jessica just announced they are pregnant – 10 weeks. They posted an ultrasound picture on FACEBOOK – their precious miracle. 10 weeks is when we lost Enoch and looking at that US picture and knowing that is what I was hoping to see – breaks my heart. It is the strangest and most complicated emotion I have ever felt. I am so incredibly happy for my brother and his wife – to be an aunt to this sweet baby. I am so sad that it isn’t us. I am so confused and don’t understand why it isn’t us – why we couldn’t have news together – why I’m not holding my 9 month old baby and my sister’s 21 month old baby – waiting for their cousin to join the world. Instead – Samm and I have babies holding each other’s hands in heaven.

Our options are to wait – to go ahead with IUI and if that doesn’t work – in vitro. I am praying that God would lead us in the right direction – that He would show us the way. Like I said – I feel like He doesn’t speak to me on this topic – I have no idea what He wants for us – what we should do. I believe that if God has a baby in store for us – He can make that happen. It’s if He does or not. I’m praying that if He does – He will calm my heart – give us peace – and if He doesn’t – He will take this desire from me.

I am trying to enjoy life for what it is instead of worrying about what it isn’t. I wake up thinking about babies and go to sleep thinking about babies. I see babies in my job, at church, at WAL*MART, everywhere.

Thank you all for praying for us and encouraging us. We love you. so. much.

HOW I LOVE GREAT DANES

Filed under: animals,bardenisms,schrute — admin at 5:11 pm on Saturday, July 17, 2010

Schrute is such a sweetie! I really don’t know what I would do without him keeping me company all day!!!

100

Our friends Malissa and Cody just got another Great Dane puppy and I had to visit her!!

300

She is so cute! Her big brother Jager is a sweetie too!!

200

TWENTY NINE

Filed under: bardenisms,just because,my family — admin at 6:06 am on Thursday, June 24, 2010

Not much has changed since May 26th of last year – other than I’m a year older.

But – this is the last year that I will be celebrating my real age! I will be 29 again next year and the year after that!

My dear friend Trudence had flowers delivered to me for my birthday – that I used in a session that very day!

100

My sister sent me a care package with some goodies in it! Do you remember those little pills with dinosaur sponges that expand when you put them in water? She sent me some of those too!

150

200

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!!

SLR CLASS – TAKING INDOOR PORTRAITS

Filed under: babes,bardenisms,portraits — admin at 7:19 am on Friday, June 18, 2010

We had the second session of our SLR class – taking portraits indoors!

200

201

We went over lighting and how the flash can be your friend – or your enemy!

202

203

204

Oh – that sweet babe warms my heart!

205

I can’t wait till our next session!!

GOD SIGHTINGS

Filed under: bardenisms,just because,scenery,word of God — admin at 7:00 am on Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Mara asked me to come talk to RAY about God sightings – letting God direct your vision and creative process.

We met at 7.30 in the morning a few weeks ago and spent some time either drawing, writing, or photographing – letting God lead our hearts and minds.

This is what God showed me that morning …

100

200

300

400

500

600

650

700

725

750

775

800

825

850

875

900

950

God showed me so much that morning – that heart shaped leaf was the last thing I noticed – how much He LOVES us!

Thank you Mara for asking me to come along!

YOUR HANDS

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms — admin at 6:06 am on Monday, May 24, 2010

I’ve had a few people tell me to check out this song – my sister-in-law Jessica recently told me to listen to it – because it must be meant for me.

It describes exactly how I feel. I would love to tell you that I am doing great. That I am happy. I’m not. I’m working on it – slowly.

I approach my 29th birthday with the same feelings as last year – I am not pregnant. I am not a mother (on this earth). I am not even close to seeing it happening.

I’m done.

Done counting days. Done figuring out when is the “prime” time. Done hoping that every month I’ll take a test that comes out positive. I’m just done.

I’m working on being happy. I’m working on being a good wife instead of imagining about being a good mother. I’m working on capturing precious moments for others since God has given me this talent. I’m working on finding my own precious moments. Appreciating the husband who loves me – no matter what. The puppy who rests his head on my heart and depends on me. The family who loves me and supports me. The friends that surround me. The Jesus who laid down His life for me.

I’ve had numerous people tell me they are proud of how strong I’m being. I don’t see it. I think I get weaker and weaker as each day – moment – passes. So thank you.

So – I’m done. Done hoping. I’m not giving up hope – just done hoping.

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when…

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave…
I never leave Your hands

JJ Heller

I know that I am in Your hands Jesus. That You are in control.

I trust God. I have faith that God will complete His will in my life – our life. I have a hard time hoping that plan includes a baby. That is where I am stuck!

*K* FAMILY

Filed under: at work,babes,bardenisms,family,just because,kiddos,portraits — admin at 8:40 pm on Saturday, May 15, 2010

A few Saturdays ago – a group of local photographers and I got together for some fun sessions!

I had posted on FACEBOOK the need for a family to be models for a group of local photogs – Jenn and her family answered the call!

Danielle Dickerson, Danielle’s boyfriend TJ Hower (who is a DJ), Heather Goodreau, my aunt L, and I had a GREAT time with this family!

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

That last shot is my favorite! Thank you again so much for being models for the afternoon!

Thank you again Danielle, TJ, Heather, and aunt L!

RENATA & MATT

Filed under: at work,bardenisms,just because,marry me,wedding — admin at 8:26 am on Friday, May 14, 2010

I took Renata & Matt’s engagement photos last May – and they were GREAT models!

Their wedding was in October – which I didn’t photograph – but we had talked about doing an after session.

When I posted on FACEBOOK that I needed a couple who was willing to wear wedding attire for our photographer’s meet up – they jumped at the chance!

We had so much fun with Matt & Renata – and their brand new baby pup – Lucca!

Danielle Dickerson – TJ Hower – Heather Goodreau – and my aunt Lori were the other photogs shooting with me!

200

I LOVE THAT SERIES!

201

202

That is my FAVORITE series!

203

204

205

206

I LOVE that one too!!!

207

209

209a

211

212

213

214

215

LOOK AT HER!!!!

216

217

218

220

My FAVORITE family shot!

222

224

Thank you guys EVER so much for hanging out with us and putting up with our creativeness!

SCHRUTE

Filed under: animals,bardenisms,schrute — admin at 9:09 am on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

We LOVE Schrute – and he loves to go on walks!

100

101

102

103

He is such a baby! I went to leave for a session the other day and this is the face I got!

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

Oh – the poor guy!!

ASSISTING DANIELLE DICKERSON

Filed under: babes,bardenisms,expecting,just because,portraits — admin at 8:48 am on Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Danielle and I met on FACEBOOK – I think!

She is a photographer in the Corning area and a fellow Mansfield graduate!

Danielle asked me to assist her on a belly session a few weeks ago – with a GORGEOUS couple!

200

201

202

203

204

206

207

208

209

211

212

213

215

216

Thanks again for asking me to tag along!

« Previous PageNext Page »