WAITING

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,family,friends,just because — admin at 12:35 pm on Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I hate waiting. I really don’t know of anyone who enjoys waiting – except maybe my mother-in-law but she is a crazy exception!

I like to read the end of books before I start them. I would much rather go into a movie knowing the end first. It’s just the type of person I am – and have always been.

I have waited 6 years for barden photography to be what it is today. Here is a little history of the beginnings of barden photography.

In 2003 – my college friend Jeremiah asked me to photograph his wedding. To this day I still haven’t seen the photos. they bought the rolls, I took the pictures, and gave the rolls back to them. It was my first wedding and the only pictures I took for other people that year.

In 2004 – Dave Fitzgerald asked me to photograph his family for Christmas. I gave them the rolls and have only ever seen a few of those photos! It was the only pictures I took for other people that year.

In 2005 – I photographed 2 weddings – both were on film and both were for friends. James & Laura were married in October and I am so thankful they trusted me enough to allow me to capture their day. I made mistakes. I put people out in direct sunlight without thinking about shadows. Belinda & Nate were married in December at the same church and the same reception hall as James & Laura – so it was a little easier! It was a beautiful Christmas wedding! I also took photos for a family for their Christmas cards!

In 2006 – I photographed 6 weddings – most of them were for friends and were for experience. I had 1 engagement session, 1 senior session, and 1 portrait session.

In 2007 – word spread a little more and I photographed 6 weddings. I had 1 engagement session, 7 seniors, and 15 portrait sessions.

In 2008 – it started to get a little crazy. I photographed 10 weddings, 3 engagement sessions, 7 seniors, 26 portrait sessions, and sold 2 of my nature prints. In November of 2008 I started to realize that this could be my full-time job. This could really happen! I prayed and prayed that I would be able to get 24 weddings for 2009 and I would be able to quit my job as a secretary. I would be able to live my dream job!

In 2009 – I had my first BRIDAL EXPO in January and it was INCREDIBLE! I gave a 10 week notice at my job to leave on March 31st of 2009. During those 10 weeks – our friend Dave Fitzgerald called us and wanted to speak to the whole family – Jared, me, Mom and Dad B – he had a word for us. He told me specifically that God had revealed to him that barden photography was going to grow. It was going to get to a point where I would be overwhelmed with inquiries and work. To just wait – and see. For the first year of barden photography – officially – I had 24 weddings, 1 after the wedding session, 14 engagements, 32 seniors, 73 portrait sessions, 10 promotional jobs, 5 sports sessions, sold 1 nature print, and sold 6 gift certificates for family sessions. It wasn’t overwhelming. I didn’t think anything of the conversation we had with Dave earlier in the year.

8 months into 2010 – I’ve had 20 weddings, 1 after session, 2 bridal sessions, 12 engagements, 12 seniors, 78 portrait sessions, 3 promotional jobs, sold 1 nature print and sold 1 gift certificate. I am overwhelmed with inquiries for sessions. I am looking at how many I have scheduled for the rest of the year – and it’s amazing to me! Impossible!

2003. 1 wedding.

2004. 1 session.

2005. 2 weddings. 1 session.

2006. 6 weddings. 3 sessions.

2007. 6 weddings. 23 sessions.

2008. 10 weddings. 38 sessions.

2009. 24 weddings. 142 sessions.

8 months into 2010. 20 weddings. 110 sessions.

I am so thankful for all that God has given me through barden photography over the years – from the very beginning when a friend had faith in me to capture his wedding to the moments right now and the moments many years down the road.

Now we wait again. We wait for a child. I have known from the moment I can remember that I’ve wanted to be a mother. That I was meant to be a mother. 2009 was a year for change. I quit my job – started a new one – we got a puppy – and found out we were going to be parents. We waited for our first appointment and waited more when the image I knew I was supposed to see wasn’t there. We waited for our baby to miscarry – waited to start trying again. Here we are – a year and a half later – still waiting for a miracle. Praying for a baby – our baby.

On March 28th of this year – Jared’s mom was given a word in church. That our children would rise up like mighty oaks. Our children.

On April 11th of this year – Dave called us again with a word for us. We would have children. Lots of them – running around in our yard – jumping on trampolines – and they would be our biological children – they would all look like Jared.

On August 15th of this year – we met with our Pastor – because I am angry, tired, sad, and weary. He told us that God has children for us – our biological children. But first we must open our hearts to the notion of taking in a child that is not ours – biologically.

So we wait and pray.

Because we are all waiting – for something.

For a new job – a spouse – a baby – a moment alone – a day without worrying about your weight – a friend – and for Jesus to come back.

7 Comments »

256

Comment by Tarren Young

August 24, 2010 @ 12:50 pm

Danielle, WOW!

God definitely has something planned for you. This entry is so heartfelt and so true. Though I have not had some of the experiences you have had, I, too, am waiting. Like you said, we all are! And although we do get depressed and down time to time, or for some of us, all the time, this article doesn’t resonate depression or guilt. It is true, down to the core, that yes, we are getting tired of waiting, not just emotionally, put physically as well, we are human. But if we muster all the faith we have, even if it’s the size of a mustard seed, God will allow us to move mountains, and He’ll either help us move that mountain so we can learn to rely more on him, or He’ll move that mountain for us. This article is God’s truth in YOU and, down-rooted inspiration! Blessings and prayers to you always!

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Comment by Auntie L

August 24, 2010 @ 1:11 pm

Wow, Danielle. LOVE this blog entry. It made me cry. I know what its like to wait, and i know how long you’ve waited. I have confidence in God’s timing, but that doesn’t erase the angst of waiting. Thanks for honestly sharing your successes with your readers. I find sharing makes the wait less painful. I hope that’s your experience today. Love you bunches, Aunt L

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Comment by Samantha

August 24, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

Don’t feel alone in the waiting game for a child. Derek and I tried for a year before we got pregnant in January of this year for the second time (that we knew of),after time and time again through that year finding out SO many other people were becoming pregnant, just to go in for an appointment take a test and have blood work done and to get a call back letting us know that we were in the process of miscarrying.The next month came and once again we got pregnant and things looked promising seeing the lines getting darker and darker on the first response tests and numbers looking good in our blood work… to waking up to horrible cramping and once again miscarrying. FINALLY after 14 months someone figured out that it was just something simple that was making me miscarry. I wasn’t creating enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy. All it took was one little pill twice a day for us to get pregnant for the third month in a row this year and for it to finally stick. I always wonder why the first two weren’t meant to be and thankful that for whatever the reason we were given this blessing of the pregnancy we are in now. I know the excitement of being pregnant and loosing it like you. If you ever want to talk feel free to message me. Keep your head held high and and your hearts strong and things will pull through. Sometimes it’s the waiting game we all have to play.

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Comment by brenda barden

August 24, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

As I always say, you have such a great way with words! I would think at some point along the way you will do more with your writing talent, perhaps even the two of you:) As you have written, we are all waiting for something. How true that is! It is how we are viewed during the waiting process that is so important, so may we all strive to do it well, although that is easier said than done! 🙂

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Comment by MaryBeth Lynn

September 8, 2010 @ 2:47 pm

I feel even closer to you from reading this, and we still haven’t met. Blessings, my sister in Christ, and praises to God for the blessing you are, in your openness, to those of us privileged to know you even virtually. 🙂

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