"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us, we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.... if we let ourselves we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come..... Remember, there are far, far better things ahead, than any we leave behind" C.S. Lewis

Last year I had a pretty crazy year to say the least... and I wanted to share a few images to collaborate on lessons I learned and maturing God has helped me to do. :) To put it bluntly, 2013 was one of the toughest years of my life. It was incredibly good for me- teaching me lessons that I would not trade for anything in the world, but still incredibly tough.

God is truly good... in every circumstance, in every happening of my life. Whether that be a good situation or a bad one, He is good all the time! In 2013 I made memorable trips, took a few good landscape images, shot 3 weddings, did multiple other people sessions, and a lot happened other than photography that forever impacted me! So here goes a disorganized, be-lated, jumbled post! Please bear with me... 

To start my year off, I bought this little '96 Toyota Camry! And 3 days after buying it, I landed in a ditch on my way to work after sliding all over the road from ice and snow. Don't worry.. my car was okay:)  

January 2013

~Landing in a Ditch~

February 2013

~Eliana and Noah~

~Sedona Slippery Rock Canyon~

I flew to Phoenix and Sedona to spend a few days with a friend before flying to Mexico City and Oaxaca for 12 days. Here are a couple images from that trip. 

~My first Mexico Trip- 2013~ 

My 1st trip outside of the United States! ....Mexico.... you've probably already seen images from this trip (if you ever look at my blog anyway....)

March 2013

~Courtships begun...~ 

While gone to Mexico, both of my brothers, Micah and Martin, began relationships with their wives they are now married to...Wow how things happen fast when you have the last name 'Barnard'! Haha! But I was quite happy for them! :) Here's micah and Joanna's engagement photo. ( They didn't actually get engaged until May though)

May 2013

~School yearbook Session!~

I did my first session for a school year book! Here's an image from that session :) 

~Morganne~ 2013 Senior

(by the way, this cousin of mine is one of my favorite people to sing with! :) 

~Hope and Josie~

a kid session taken in May (actually these 2 kiddos are morganne's nieces!) 

~Lost in wonder~

Love love the location this image was taken at! 

~Registered Nurse and Mommy!~

So Proud of my sister, Mildred! She graduated with her ASN in Nursing with honors, while also being a single mom with 2 boys. :) I know I'm biased, but she is amazing! 

~Hocking Hills Ohio~

These falls were simply stunning. They had been getting a lot of rain in that area of Ohio so photo landscapes were perfect that day! 

June 2013

~Sun Starlights~

The month of June lead me into changes and transitions... needless to say, I was very distracted and did not do a whole lot of photography during June. (or a whole lot during most of the summer actually!) I was happy when I found this image while looking through my photo library!  It was taken in Circleville, OH. I love the way the sun is coming through the trees. 

July 2013

~Independence Day in Canada!~

I visited Canada for the first time. And of all times, I went on July 4th. Kind of weird huh? I liked Canada, but I must admit I was happy when the car rolled back into the good ole' USA! :) 

A little macro with my macro lens from my iPhone.. yes, I really did take this image with my iPhone... this too, was taken in Canada.

~Macro Leaf~

~Mr & Mrs Micah Barnard!~

At the end of July, my best friend, Joanna, married my brother, Micah. She was a stunning bride! (I know, I know, she is my best friend and sister-in-law, but I'm a photographer and I think I should know when I see a pretty bride! ;))

~Happy Bride and Groom!~

~Elyanna Brielle~

A newborn session in the hospital with my Cousin and his wife and their new little baby girl

August 2013

~Sunset on a summer evening~

 (taken with my iPhone again :) 

~Macro beetle~

(taken with my real camera)

 September 2013

~In Love~

An image from Martin (my oldest brother) and Angelica's Engagement Session, taken in September, just 3 weeks before their wedding! 

October 2013

~Mr & Mrs Martin Barnard!~

October 9, 2013

~"Fall" at Niagara Falls~

~Biking out in nature~

Out on a bike trail with my friends, Scott and Joann thrasher 

~Family Fall Fun! ~

My sister, her boys, and her Fiance, Ezekiel (at that this point they were engaged)

November 2013

~Mayhle Kids~

~Anna- 2014 Senior~ (taken in Oct 2013)

~In Studio with baby Samuel~

December 2013

I finished the year with my first Christmas wedding! It was so much fun! 

~Mr & Mrs Allan Patton!~