I put an ad in the yearly magazine put out by Mansfield University – thanks to David VanLoon for asking me!

Melissa Wiles is the model in this photo – she had a just because session this year – and I love how this picture turned out!

Congrats Melissa on being the face of barden photography!

Thanks again Dave for asking me to be a part of the magazine!

I need something to keep my mind off not getting pregnant. I’ve decided to take up running – which I hate!

I’ve never been one of those girls that was concerned with their weight – but I never really had to – I went through the typical chubby stage in middle school but have always managed to stay in the “normal” range.

I’m not all about the numbers – I hardly ever step on a scale – it’s more about how I feel and how that favorite pair of jeans fits!

So – I figured since I write about nearly everything on this blog – why not keep up with my new goal – to lose twenty pounds.

I plan on walking 3 miles with Schrute everyday. My friend Serena and I are going to take up running. We are going to start slow with walking and then move to jogging and running. I would love to be able to run 3 miles without stopping.

I don’t think that skinniness = happiness. I don’t think it’s healthy to be obsessed with a number on a scale. I don’t count halves and quarters of pounds. I would love to be able to fit in my wedding dress again and those jeans that I LOVE and fit so perfectly – when they fit!

I would love to lose 20 pounds and would be ecstatic about 30 – and 40 would mean I would be at my wedding weight!

What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to leave as your impression on this earth? On people’s lives?

What are your goals – have they changed with each year you’ve grown older – each year you’ve discovered new joys – new heartaches?

I’ve been inspired to make a list of the things I’ve wanted to accomplish in life : some very much under my control – most of them completely out of my control. Some can be checked off and some are still waiting.

Fall in love with a boy.

Get married to said boy.

Fly.

Own a photography business.

Learn to play the piano.

Learn to play the fiddle.

Ski.

Touch a manatee.

Be published in National Geographic.

Be published in a wedding magazine.

Conceive a child with above mentioned boy.

Give birth to a happy, healthy baby.

Introduce Jesus to someone.

Travel to Africa.

Photograph in the Amazon.

Enjoy cooking.

Photograph a wedding in Europe.

Dance with my husband in the rain in Times Square.

Listen to my child sing her love to Jesus.

Own a store front in Mansfield with a small studio.

Hope. Completely.

Sleep on a beach under the stars.

Sing on a CD.

Enjoy running.

Introduce Jesus to everyone.

Those are just a few I can think of – what are yours?

I am loving this JERK CHICKEN NACHO dinner!

I made it again and forgot the peppers – but it was still YUMMY!

Might be my new specialty!

Jared’s parents adopted a kitty – rather – it adopted them!

It was intended to be an outdoor kitty but has found it’s way inside and inside their hearts I think!

She is a sweet kitty!

Dave Fitzgerald is a childhood friend of Jared’s. We spent a week with Dave and his wife in Florida while we were engaged. They are great, fun people!

Dave was in our wedding and is one of those friends you could call in the middle of night and he would be there at a moment’s notice.

Dave has just released a worship album – HOPE OF HEAVEN!

Make sure to visit www.davefitzgerald.com to get yours today!

Thank you Dave for your willingness to serve God and your friendship!!

I have been listening to this album non-stop and it’s one of those albums that I feel God put on Dave’s heart to speak to Jared and I at this moment in our life!

My parents have a game room that they had the youth group from AWC paint back in the day – I had put hand prints on the ceiling.

I realized over Easter that hand prints have a hole in the palm – as a reminder of what Jesus went through for us.

I have an appointment this morning to make sure that I am indeed ovulating. I then meet with Dr. Roberts again on the 22nd of this month to go over the results of everything thus far.

We had some not so good news a few weeks ago regarding a test and need a miracle. Babies are miracles anyway – the fact that so many things need to be perfect to conceive at a given moment.

I still feel my heart tug when I see a pregnant woman or hold a newborn baby. I choke back the emotions that are welling up to the surface.

I trust that God’s will is perfect and He knows what is best for us. I have faith that He will apply His will to our lives.

Hoping that includes a child – is the hardest part.

When I get my hopes up – each month it’s a harder fall than the month before when we aren’t pregnant.

I appreciate everyone’s prayers – so much! Mostly I need prayers to accept what is and be joyful.

My Aunt Lori – my kindred spirit – writes her own blog – you NEED to check it out – especially today!

http://lorihoose.wordpress.com/

Thank you so much Jesus for Your sacrifice – for Your love that is unlike ANY other!

Take this Good Friday to reflect – to thank – to love – to repent.

3.31.2009 was my last day at Phoenix Rehab – I cannot believe that I’ve been working as BARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY for one year!

I had 24 weddings in 2009 and 32 seniors for the class of 2010.

I captured so many families and babies – sweet family pets and little league games – engagements and pregnancies!

I LOVE this job – I LOVE my clients – I LOVE that this year is going to blow last year out of the water!

This year I have 27 weddings for 2010 and 6 on the books for next year – including my first destination wedding in TEXAS!

I would love to have 100 seniors for the class of 2011 and double my family sessions from last year!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE who believed in me and prayed for me and trusted their memories with me!

BECAUSE OF YOU – I get to do what I love!