I FINALLY got some new glasses after 2 years!

I went over to Dave & Jenna’s this morning to talk with Dave about advertising in CROSSROADS – the University magazine, a yearly publication. This is what I chose to place – as a half page!

And of course I had to take some pictures of *M* and *L* – such sweeties!

LOOK AT THOSE SWEETIES!

Thanks for letting me snap some shots of your kiddos – you are so blessed to have two beautiful babies!

When I first bought this website in January of 2008 we had just started renovations on our bathroom – and we LOVE the result!

The time has come for more renovations!

A few weeks ago the ceiling in our entry room fell apart – yes we have a VERY old house. A few of the tiles fell down and there are lots of little bumps and sags all along the room. Our friend Matt came over yesterday to check out the damage and give us an estimate. Once the ceiling is in we will paint the walls – which right now are paneling – UGH!

We also need the steps to our upstairs level torn out and redone.

We have two bedrooms in our house – right now we use the smaller, cedar bedroom and the long, paneled bedroom serves as our “junk” storage. We are going to have Matt add a walk-in closet to the long room and then paint the paneling.

We still have a long, long list – if you can’t tell – I hate home repairs.

Right now our kitchen sink is frozen on the draining end – and has been for 5 days!

We need a new higher counter, maybe a dishwasher, a new faucet, and something done with the floor.

We need to have all the hardwood refinished, tear off the front porch and switch entries, change out windows, new siding, and change the driveway around.

I will try to remember to post pictures as we go!

A new chapter is starting for BARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY!

I am offering some new services, a community outreach contest, and an additional photographer.

Lots of you know that KT joined us this year – booking 11 weddings for 2010 so far!

If I am booked for your wedding – you have the option to still use barden photography and KT will be your photographer.

KT now has her own blog and her own schedule! If you would like to inquire about KT’s prices – jot me an email!

You will also notice that the banner has changed at the top of the website – if not you might need to refresh – focusing on seniors.

Mandy & Jason – thank you so much for being my cover models these past few months!

Melissa – welcome as the new face of barden photography!

I am so excited about senior photos this year! I have already surpassed my over 30 goal – and that was for the class of 2010.

My goal for the class of 2011 is … 100 seniors – from any and all surrounding schools!

I only have about 2 open dates for weddings this year and already have 4 for 2011!

KT has lots of open dates for 2010 – check out her schedule if you are interested!

As I look ahead at the future of barden photography I am humbled and amazed that I have the support of so many of YOU!

BARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY – BEAUTIFUL

I am starting a new program: BEAUTIFUL.

I will be awarding 2 families a photo session.

Email me @ dcbarden@gmail.com – write a paragraph or two about a family you know (or YOUR family) that deserves a FREE photo session.

I will be choosing 2 families from the entries and announce the winners on May 1st. The deadline for the submissions will be April 15th.

Make sure to tell me WHAT MAKES THEIR (or your) FAMILY BEAUTIFUL.

I can’t wait to read your submissions!

I am so thankful for my God – my husband – my family – my friends – my Schrutie – my job. Oh so thankful!

I am continuing the 2010 = HOPE prayer and will be for the whole year – I just might need some help!

If you know me – you know that I am NOT an optimist! It is something that is very hard for me to do – look on the up side of things.

I like to imagine lines in heaven when we are babies in the womb. There are lines for patience – worry – common sense – optimism – and so on. Sometimes I like to think that the worry and anxiety lines needed price checks and I got hung up there! I had every intention of getting some patience and trust and optimism – but the lines were close before I got there.

I am trying to be hopeful – without getting my hopes up – because the more I get my hopes up – the harder they fall.

I really thought with every fiber of my being that we would have a baby in our arms right now – if not that – we would be pregnant. We do not have a baby in our arms. We are not pregnant. I am impatient. I am confused. I am thinking way too much and it hurts.

In May I will be 29. I never imagined I would have an established business. I imagined I would have lots of babies.

Like I said – I LOVE BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER – oh how I love it – but oh how I would love being a mother.

I am thankful that I get to photograph women with miracles in their bellies.

I am thankful that I get to love all these little newborns and watch them grow.

It is very hard for me to think of the things that I am thankful for – but I have all of you to hold me accountable for that – and I am thankful!

I am VERY thankful for my blog readers and clients.

Thank you so much for opening your lives and your homes to me – it is so awesome to be able to watch your families grow.

Thank you for opening up my blog and reading about my hopes and fears and dreams.

This year is the year of HOPE – 2010.

Last year started off AMAZING – my 1st BRIDAL EXPO was a success (I got 1 booking at the show and 12 overall) – we got our 1st puppy – we found out that we were pregnant with our 1st child – made our 1st flying trip together – got my 1st MAC computer …

Then we lost our 1st child – had our 1st real test of faith – had our 1st absolutely horrible year while we’ve been together. UGH!

I felt like Job – like I was losing everything – my trust – my hope – my sanity – my baby – but I felt that God had told satan to not touch my photography – that was off limits.

2009 with barden photography was AMAZING – more than I could have even imagined – more than I wanted it to be! I had prayed for 24 weddings – and God gave me 24 weddings. I wanted to expand my senior portfolio – and EXPAND it did!

I am so thankful to God for His blessings this past year!

This year I am hoping.

I am hoping for a much better 2010 – I am hoping that I don’t lose my hope.

I asked God for specifics again with weddings and seniors and He has already gone beyond my furthest hopes.

This year at the BRIDAL EXPO we booked 8 weddings – with 5 more in the works! I have 24 weddings for this year and KT has 9!

We met with a bride and groom Tuesday night about their 2011 wedding in SAN ANTONIO! Our 1st destination wedding!

I am hoping and praying for another year of 1st’s – the 1st year of more than 24 weddings – the 1st year of more than 30 seniors – the 1st year of diving into newborn photography – the 1st time we get to see our baby on an ultrasound – feel our child move inside me – hold our newborn baby in our arms.

I am so thankful to God for His blessings in this coming year!

I HOPE that your year will be AMAZING – and that above all else you will know the love of Jesus and the healing that only He can give!

Yesterday was GREAT! We didn’t see as many couples as we would have liked to but it was a Friday and the weather was a little shady.

We got there at 9.30ish and set up the booth – WHICH LOOKS SO SHARP! I will TRY to remember to take my camera and get some shots!

We had 17 brides register for our FREE SWAG!

We booked a wedding on 9.25.2010 for KT – thanks again Miranda!

We booked another wedding for me on 6.13.2010 – a Sunday wedding at … BELHURST CASTLE! AHHHHHHH!!!! Thanks again so much Elizabeth!!!!!!

The coordinators from the mall told me that our booth looked really sharp and they would make a note in their books for next year about it!

We got home around 10.15ish where I promptly lost my voice – waking up to realize that I have INDEED lost it for sure – I cannot speak above a whisper – thank goodness for KT and her translating!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FROM MY FORMER CLIENTS that stopped by – you guys are AMAZING!

Special thanks to Mandy for bringing her sweetness Leah and letting me yoink her for a bit!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE TODAY OR TOMORROW!