Read This; Read That!

I am officially addicted to the library! From just regular books to digital books for my kindle, I am in a huge book phase. I can't get enough!

Right now I am reading two different series, have 4 books checked out from our local library, and one digital book checked out for my kindle. I just wish I could read all day long. :)

June

We have a lot of pictures for June...

My birthday was in June (30 years to be exact - ugh) and Danny splurged and got me the nicest camera I have ever owned. It takes still shots as well as video, so I've been having a blast with it (when I can and when I'm not busy packing or unpacking another box.)

First, we have lots of pictures of my cute kids. While playing around with the settings on the camera, I figured that they're my greatest subjects to practice on. :)

For my bday, I decided that I wanted to try making homemade ravioli. It sounded yummy! :) It was actually delicious. Our only complaint was that we didn't have a pasta press so the pasta was a little thick, but other than that - YUMMM! Ellie just really loved the bread; which we happened to buy from Macaroni Grill. She ate more of that bread than she has ever eaten of anything in one setting.

We also had some friends come over for a "birthday party". (We miss you Angie and Chad.) Chad let my kids play with his iPhone and they had a hard time putting the thing down. What is it with kids and electronics these days?

Chad and Angie brought over Dance Dance Revolution. We played that and Guitar Hero for my birthday. I know, strange request... but we did do what I wanted. :) Even Danny danced for us. :)

In other pictures, Ellie the banana head was eating some yogurt and decided that it would look great on her nose. Then the next day, she decided to finger paint with her yogurt. Again, I had just gotten the camera and was a little picture-happy. :)

June was about the time when Ellie decided that she loved trying on other peoples shoes. She is still in that phase and still loves to wear others' shoes (whether it's mom's or dad's or her brothers', it does not matter).

When Danny and I were in the process of looking for a house in Boise, we had our computer set up with his laptop beside it and we went through hundreds of homes virtually in the matter of a weekend. We narrowed down our list to give to the realtor. Basically, we did a TON of the work in finding this place. It was actually at the top of our list before we even came to Boise to walk through homes. Anyway, Danny took a picture of our computer setup... we called it our command center. We spent a lot of hours at that command center!

When the kids woke up for Father's Day, they wanted to draw pictures and make cards for Danny. They all did a really great job and were so cute while making them.

In between moves, I tried to take the kids to the park as many times as possible. It was my way of trying to make up for the lack of fun this summer. That is also when Preston finally learned how to keep himself going on a swing. Now that's all he ever wants to do.

I also have a couple of videos that I recorded of Ellie. They are so cute that I can't help posting them. :) It's also one of the first videos I recorded with my new camera. It's not completely in focus, I'm still working out how to download it off my camera, etc. Just bear with me. In explanation of the first video, Ellie's favorite cartoon is Dora. There is a Dora episode with "super babies" and there's a song that they sing in the episode. She LOVES that episode and loves to sing that song. In the second video, Ellie was really starting to talk a lot and say different words.

I guess that sums up June. It was a busy month, and worth the post!

Pics

Video 1

Video 2

Mother's Day

Moving has it's drawbacks, like not being able to keep up with things - including a blog.  But I really had to sit down and write this one.

There are a lot of women out there that are special to me and I want to wish them all a Happy Mother's Day!  Especially to my mom and Danny's mom.  We love you both so very much and continue to be grateful for every moment that you have given to our behalf.  You both have done so much for us.

My mom sent me a WONDERFUL new book for Mother's Day (thank you, mom).  And I started reading it last night.  I really needed the messages in the book.  It is called "Contentment; Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers" by Maria Covey Cole.  I wanted to quote a couple of things from the book:

"As daughters of God, when we acknowledge His goodness and mercy in our lives, accept that life is not meant to be easy, and learn that motherhood is, by divine design, difficult and testing, we will truly be content with the things the Lord has allotted to us."

"If we work upon marble, it will perish.  If we work upon brass, time will efface it.  If we rear temples, they will crumble into the dust.  But if we work upon immortal minds, and instill into them just principles, we are then engraving on the tablet that which no time will efface, but will brighten and brighten to all eternity." (-Daniel Webster, as quoted in Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families)

And, one of my favorites:

"I have come to understand that the echo of eternity is found in each and every human being and in the interactions between human beings, and that we must not allow these small yet significant moments to pass by without valuing them.  That is why I treasure holding my newborn babies, delight in chasing my toddlers around the house, prize going on Sunday walks with my middle children, and relish spending time with my teenagers.  All of these simple, ordinary moments of daily life are precious and are to be savored.  And for a mother, this is where true contentment is ultimately found."

I love being a mom!  I find so much joy in the simple moments of my boys snuggling up to me while we watch a movie.  I love it when Preston runs up to me and gives me a hug and says, "Mom, you are awake!"  I love the little talks that I get to share with Kaden as I take him to and from school now.  I absolutely adore my little girl; trying to make her giggle, going in to her grinning face after a nap, and holding her when she just needs to be held.  I find contentment in knowing that my children love me and they know I love them.  In my opinion, this is what motherhood is about.  And I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mom and spend time with my children each and every day.

25 Random Things About Me

I was tagged in Facebook for this and since I know that some of you don't have a Facebook profile, I am posting it here too. Enjoy... (I won't tag anyone but if you do this on your blog, let me know so I can see!)

1. I feel lucky that my husband is truly my best friend. Our marriage has been an amazing 10 years!
2. I like video games... especially the old-school ones like Mario and Tetris. I even enjoy watching my husband play his video games and telling him that he missed something. :)
3. You may have heard of people with a sweet tooth, but I think I have the sweetest. I made 2 batches of brownies last week and am going to make carmel brownie cookies today. Really bad for my diet, but life is for enjoying, right? At least that's what I tell myself after eating the whole batch. :)
4. I was absolutely addicted to ice for about 3 years. I couldn't get enough of it from the beginning of my second pregnancy through my third pregnancy. Then after having Ellie, the craving suddenly stopped. I wish it would come back though because that is a better craving for me than my brownies!
5. I never used to like reading at all. I was the person that when a book was suggested to me, I would pretty much roll my eyes and say that I would wait to see if it came out on video. :) Now, though, I can't get enough. I love books!!!
6. Twilight was the first book (other than religious fictional books) that I read and loved! It opened up a whole new world for me in reading. (It's not just a teenage-girl book, right?)
7. I have the best family in the world! Between my siblings and parents and even my in-laws, they are AWESOME! I am so excited when I get to hang out with any of them!
8. I LOVE to digital scrapbook and I just wish I had more time to do it!
9. I like cooking for other people, just not my own family. When it's my family it seems like a chore. When I cook for other people, though, it feels more like an occasion than a daily chore.
10. I have many pet-peeves and one of my biggest is when the toilet paper is on the spool the wrong way. It is supposed to go over the top so you can find the end!
11. Many people dislike doing the laundry, but I don't mind... I just HATE folding socks!!!
12. I used to not mind a messy home, but now I can't stand it. I think my husband has turned me into a clean-freak.
13. I love being a mom. I really do! I just don't like cleaning up after bodily functions... especially when the one I am cleaning up after is over 3 years of age! That includes cleaning the toilets after the boys used it.
14. I find the most joy and peace when I am living the precepts of the gospel.
15. I love being in shape but hate the process. (Again, look at number 3)
16. I have a specific way to load the dishwasher. I'm not as anal about it as I once was, but I still sometimes rearrange things after my husband does the dishes.
17. Having a girl has been bad on my finances. Girl clothes are just way too fun to shop for.
18. I still wonder why I have a facebook profile. I mean, isn't a blog enough anymore? :)
19. I wish all my sisters lived just down the street so I could see them more often. (that does include sisters-in-law)
20. I have a really sensitive nose. Danny makes fun of me, saying that he has to brush his teeth twice, rinse with mouthwash, and still put a mint in for me to kiss him. I swear that's not true, but it's nice when he does. :)
21. I want to travel the world and hopefully we will be in a financial position to do so someday.
22. I love motorcycles and am not scared at all of my husband owning one. I just wish I could ride with him more. (Darn kids) :)
23. I am like my sister in that I do not like pain, but I love paintball. What is that about?
24. I am a shy person but love to have friends. Sometimes I find it hard to make new friends because of my shyness. It's pretty frustrating!
25. Me and Danny are planning a trip to the East Coast this summer for our 10-year anniversary. I have never been back there and I am super excited!

Good Book!

I purchased this book on Monday (as per the recommendation by both my sister and sister-in-law), and I finished it today...  SUPER!  I'm just so bummed that it is part of a series and I have to wait for the next one!  

Family

It has been a while since I sat down to work on my blog. In fact, it has been a while since I even looked at others’ blogs. As most of you know, my sister-in-law, Megan, gave premature birth to her twin boys. Dex received his body then went back to be with Heavenly Father again; and Crew is at Primary Children’s Medical Center right now trying to get strong enough to come back to UVRMC’s NICU.

Throughout the past couple of weeks I have gone through an array of emotions. It has just taken me a while to sort through my feelings enough to deal with them as well as read other people's emotions on the matter. Let alone being able to sit down and write about them.

I guess what it all boils down to is that I love my family! I am so grateful for having them in my life and being linked to them for all eternity. I’m not just talking about my wonderful sweetheart Danny and my three beautiful and wonderful children. The family that surrounds me in this life are the greatest examples to me...

Parents: I have two amazing sets of parents who have taught Danny and I right and wrong. They have ALWAYS been there whenever we needed them and have sacrificed so much for our behalf. I could say they are the most loving and giving people on the planet.

MY SIDE

Traci and Rick: Strong family values and very, very talented in many, many ways. My sister is a wonderful homemaker and I always wanted to be just like her when I became a mommy.

Tresa and Chet: The funnest people to hang around! No matter what we are doing, it is always fun when it’s with them. I also look up to Tresa and the strong testimony she has.

Jodi and Felipe: The most kind-hearted and giving people. I could go on and on about their many kindnesses and the great friends they are to me. I love to just talk to Jodi and enjoy the wonderful spirit that she exudes.

Jill and Spencer: Amazing, giving, and wonderful family values. They are a complete combination of all of the above. Family-oriented, fun, kind, giving - all words that would describe Jill.

Weston: Great missionary! He has been blessed with all of the traits listed above as well - maybe due to having 5 sisters. :) I miss him so much, and am so proud of all he is doing for the Japanese people.

DANNY’S SIDE

Justin and Megan: Where do I begin... They amaze me! Their strength astounds me! Megan is outgoing and fun and super strong in the gospel. Justin is a great friend and an amazing husband and father.

Kayla and Adam: They also are the most giving people. They would give you the shirts off their backs if you needed them. Adam drove our Uhaul truck to Las Vegas for us - as a favor... What more can I say?

Matt and Kim: Spiritual, funny, strong, and giving. I love ‘em both to pieces! Matt worries needlessly about EVERYONE and EVERYTHING and therefore would be there for you at the drop of a hat. I love to hear his testimony, too.

I didn’t sit down expecting to write all of that... But it is how I feel. I have been blessed with the most amazing family members in the world and as I have observed them I can’t help but realize what a great blessing the gospel is. We DO have the opportunity to be an eternal family. When someone goes back to our Father in Heaven, we WILL have the opportunity to see that person again. How grateful I am for these people as they witness to me of this truth. I love you all!

First-Time Gardener

Well, I did it! I planted my first garden. Let me reiterate that this is my first time gardening and I definitely do not have a green thumb. But, nonetheless, I finally have seeds in the ground.

The pictures aren’t much to look at; after all, it just looks like dirt. But I will be taking pictures throughout the summer to verify the progress (or non-progress) of my vegetables. I have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, green beans, and watermelon (yes, I am trying watermelon – we will see how it turns out). This year I figure is kind of a test-run. I will hopefully be able to increase my knowledge and gardening abilities in the coming years.

Oh, and by the way, as you can see from the pictures I have not yet killed the flowers that I planted in the pots! Yes – I know it is extremely amazing that they are not all wilted and dead. But they are alive and well so far. Here’s to hoping!

My Life As A Mom

Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time in a single day to do all that I want to accomplish. And then there are the days that I just don’t feel like doing all that I need to get done. I wonder if this roller coaster of feelings ever goes away… Somehow, I don’t think so – especially as a mother.

There are days I think I am doing an ok job in raising my kids and there are days when I feel like I have absolutely failed. There are moments when I feel so glad that I took the time to sit down and read with my children; and there are times when I go to bed wishing I would have slowed down enough to play a game with them.

But the one thing that I have always tried to instill in my two little boys is the one single fact that I love them! I tell them so every day. In fact, sometimes I can’t help but say it over and over to them as I give them each a hug and kiss. It’s amazing to me how much love I can feel for these sweet little people that have been sent to me from above.

I would be the first person to admit that I am not the best mother in the world. I lose my temper way too easily; I don’t spend enough one-on-one time with either of them; and I don’t give them enough credit for the many times they are super good. But every night I pray for them. And I pray to be a better mom for them. I thank my Heavenly Father for each of them. And I pray that they will ALWAYS know that I love them.

Such is my life as a mom. I look at their sweet little faces admiring themselves in the mirror with their new pair of sunglasses that I bought for them and I smile. I smile because not only are they so darn cute and kissable, but also because regardless of the roller coaster of good and bad motherhood decisions – at least they know that I truly do love them. Not because I bought them new sunglasses; but because I TRY to show them every day. And what it comes down to is that is all I want… for them to always know that I love them.

No Green Thumb Here...

I would be the first person to admit that I do not have a "green thumb". In fact, I would probably be the last person that should try to grow anything plantlike. But this year I have decided to give it a try. My wonderful sister-in-law Megan was generous enough to give me some leftover flowers... She had overestimated in how many she would need. So I decided to make some nice welcoming pots on our front porch. Kaden just wanted to help by watering them after I was done.

Not only am I trying to keep these flowers alive for more than a day, I have decided to be ambitious enough to start a vegetable garden in a couple of weeks. We will see how that goes. Wish me luck!

"He Can Help You"

As I was running up the stairs today, the engraved silver band that Danny gave to me as an anniversary present slipped from off my finger. Because I was running and my hand was going back and forth, I had no clue as to where my ring landed. I immediately went to work searching for this prized possession of mine.

Kaden saw me searching and began helping me. We looked all over; on the stairs, behind the couch, on the couch, in the laundry that was sitting on the couch, on the carpet… We simply couldn’t find it. As we were searching the stairs once more, Kaden spoke up. “Mom, I know who can help you,” he said. “The Holy Ghost… If you pray, he can help you find it.” Of course I stopped panicking, told him he was right, and sat down and prayed. During my prayer I made sure to thank Heavenly Father for this wonderful son of mine that had just put me in my place in the very best way possible.

After my prayer we sat there for a moment; then we got up and began looking again. Not two minutes had passed by before we had found my ring, in between our movie stand and the wall – one place I wouldn’t have thought of looking.

Whoever says that they are just kids, doesn’t know what I know. My children are angels, sent from heaven to remind me in the most subtle of moments of the important things in life. They remind me of who I am, who I come from, that we all need help once in a while and that there is always someone who can help you. Thank you, Kaden.

Sometimes You Have To Let Them Pick Themselves Up

It’s a mother’s instinct to run to their child when he/she falls down. Whether the fall is physical or not, we want to be there for our children – to pick them up, clean off the dirt, kiss the bruises, and tell them it’s going to be ok. It’s difficult to theorize, but for some reason it’s an involuntary response – some deep underlying force that fills you with a desire, or more appropriately, a necessity to instantaneously be at your child’s side when they need you.

The only problem with this instinct comes when it’s time for that child to learn, grow, or even just become their own person. Such was the case with Kaden this morning…

It was a normal morning in the Bradshaw home. By normal, I mean hurrying to eat breakfast, rushing upstairs to get boys dressed, enforcing the AM teeth-brushing chore, assisting our little kindergartner with his not-so-cooperative hair, running to get shoes on, and rushing out the door to get Kaden to school on time. As I said, it’s a normal morning routine.

We reached the school with just enough time for Kaden to run to class before the bell rang. We said our “goodbyes” and “I love you’s”. He jumped out of the car and started running. He caught up to a little girl that looked just about the same age as himself. He patiently waited like a true gentleman as the girl slowly meandered to the crosswalk. He even walked behind her through the majority of the crosswalk. Then he got impatient.

He saw his chance to pass and decided to take it. He passed on the right and ran to the sidewalk on the other side. But he miscalculated the distance needed to clear the sidewalk on the other side. His foot caught the curb and sent him sprawling to his knees, then his hands, then finally to his stomach.

On most days I watch Kaden from the car until he reaches the door to the school. Today was no different. I sat in the car, watched the whole display, and my heart jumped. It ached for me to get out of the car, run to my little boy and do all of the things that the “mother’s instinct” tells us to do.

I sat there, torn, watching as he got up, embarrassed. I sat there, desperately fighting the urge to run to him as he gingerly started walking, checking his hands and knees for scrapes and bruises. I sat there, absolutely hurting for my baby as he got to his classroom door and banged on it so he didn’t have to heave the heavy door open with his already aching hands. I sat there, telling myself, “It’s good for him to learn to be a big boy,” all while the instinct in me was screaming, “But he’s not a big boy – He’s my baby.”

Why? Why is it necessary to sometimes fight the natural urge as a loving mother to reach out for your little one? Why does it have to be so absolutely painful to have to watch as a child gets hurt, but know that it isn’t the right time to run to them? My only answer to that question is that it’s Heavenly Father’s way of teaching us. He’s trying to show us what He sees on a daily basis. And he’s giving us the ability to feel a portion of the kind of love he has for all of us. I guess if I look at it that way, I am grateful after all for these difficult incidents. They truly are teaching experiences.

The Light Bulb Is On

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to live my life. Yes, I am almost 28 years old and you’d think I would have figured it out by now. To be honest, I have been doing things specifically with other people in mind for so long. For instance, I would strive for, if not force, our family to read the scriptures. I did it specifically so that my kids would realize the importance of these sacred records and to make them better people.

Another example is the simple task of cleaning our house. Danny likes a clean house. Well, let me put that a different way; Danny HATES a dirty house. So when I clean, I do it for him. And on the days that I don’t feel well, or I’m just too tired by the time Danny gets home, I feel guilty that I didn’t clean before he got home. (Even though Danny will say over and over again that I should just sit down and relax. I bring the guilt on myself.)

At Thanksgiving, my sister planted a seed into my head. She actually gave me the wild and crazy idea that I could take care of myself first, and therefore be better prepared to take care of my family. In fact, she made it sound so easy. She said that if Danny came home before I got the chance to do the dishes, and I just happened to be taking a break when he walked in the door, I shouldn’t feel guilty if he starts putting the dishes in the dishwasher because I deserve to have breaks. She said that I have long days too – a different type of long day than Danny, but long nonetheless.

This was when the light bulb started to flicker inside my head. And between then and now, I’ve had family members, books, and different specific situations help me to come to a conclusion. It has only taken three full months for the light to finally go from a flicker to a bright halogen light bulb that is almost blinding. This light can’t go off now. It is stuck inside my head and refuses to go dim again.

So… What if I actually perform tasks specifically to improve myself? What if I read the scriptures, by myself, just to feel that spirit stronger in my life? What if I did it simply to make myself a better person? What if I did it to feel happier in my own life? Would it then affect the rest of my family the way it would have an effect on me? Would they understand the importance of these sacred records, simply by seeing the example of how the scriptures affect me?

I know it is often said that we should lead by example. Please don’t ask me why it took me such an extremely long time to figure out what that meant to me. A great way to put it is with a quote. My sister's friend, Charmaine Anderson, said, “This is my take on parenting: You figure out who God sent you...writing things down like this is a good start...then realize it is not your job to "mold" this gift from heaven. That will just set up battle lines. Your job is to love your unique little person; be a good example to them and then before it is over they will be inspired to mold themselves into someone you will be proud of. Not that I did any of this at all myself but from many conflicts I have learned that ‘being nice is more important than being right.’”

So, maybe I’m not the world’s best mother. I might yell at my kids too much, get frustrated too easily, and sometimes maybe go to bed feeling awful for being too hard on so-and-so. But I’m trying. I get to wake up the next day and try a little harder. And if it takes setting time aside just for myself in order to become a more patient, loving, and caring person, and in order to be a better example for the little ones that have been sent to me from above; I guess it is worth a try.

After all, isn’t there such a thing as being selfish in order to be selfless?

Invisible Mom

My sister, Traci, emailed this to me. I absolutely loved it! And I think all of us moms can appreciate the fact that we are often invisible. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please." I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird intoa beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Family

Lately I have had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the wonderful people that make up my family. Between Halo matches on Xbox live with as many siblings as possible, and an unexpected visit from my parents just so they could bring us a valentine… From advice from a loving father on how to finish our basement, to loving words of encouragement from a mother who always wishes she could do more for her children… From texting back and forth due to a newly-strengthened relationship with a kind, loving and generous sister, to long talks on the phone due to a long-found connection of a sister far away. I have been blessed with more love and more examples in my life than any one person should be awarded. But I am so grateful for it.

I remember the summer when it all began; when I first started to realize that our family was special. My mom was going away because Jill was very sick. She needed a heart transplant and the hospital that would provide that for her was located in California. So we would all make the best of it. I would, at first, stay behind with Dad. I was still in school at the time and needed to finish out the year. Maybe after the school year ended I could go visit them for summer-break.

It was really hard at first. Everything that a ‘soon-to-be’ teenage girl would go to her mother for, was now handed off to an older sister. Jodi was then put in the awkward situation of giving ‘motherly’ advice to an eleven-year old sister. But we managed.

When the school year ended, I was allowed the opportunity to go stay with mom and Jill. For me, it was a blast. We went swimming every day in one of the several pools located in our apartment complex. We met new friends and enjoyed the excitement of spending a summer in California. It wasn’t until Jill was called in to the hospital because a heart had been located, that I realized the significance of the situation. From that moment, our family seemed to strengthen. From constant trips to the doctor’s office, to facing the challenging possibility of having a split family again for a second transplant, there wasn’t anything that I felt was too much for our family.

It has been a long time since that summer when I was eleven. Yet, here we still are… as strong as ever and growing closer to each other all the time. I sometimes wonder how my parents did it. How did they place so much value on family for their children to realize? How did they make sure that we would each grow up knowing that we are loved and that they are there for each of us individually if we ever needed them?

All I can say is that I hope, as a parent, that Danny and I can show the same kind of example to our children that I was shown as a daughter. And in return, I hope that I can reciprocate with the same kind of love to the people that mean the most in my life.

Disclaimer

Again, I must remind everyone who reads this blog that it is my release. The stories that I write are more for me than anyone else. It is my hobby. And it is my way of keeping a journal. Once more, it was my sister who got me started in writing these stories. She is the one who helped me realize the importance of keeping a journal, and through reading her blog I gained more courage in what I post on my blog.

You, no doubt, had no idea that you would get such a close perspective into my life. So with that, if you do not want to look too deeply into the life of Mardie H. Bradshaw, you may want to stop reading. I am becoming more and more brave when it comes to putting my feelings out there.

For those who continue reading, I warned you. :)

Nursery

I finally did it! After much hard work and deliberation I figured out a schedule for our nursery that seemed to work. What’s more? All of the adults seemed anxious as well. We will be taking turns being in charge of a lesson, a lesson activity, singing time, and two other miscellaneous activities. This way we will be in charge of something one week and then have two weeks off.

These are the times when my testimony is strengthened about receiving inspiration for your calling. If you could have only seen the mess that was our nursery, you would be rejoicing, too. :)

I love the gospel and the support we get from Heavenly Father. It truly is Christ’s church!

Short Story Journaling

My sister started me on this one. She just started writing down her little stories that happen in her day into a short story form. I love to read hers and it made me want to try. So I sat down and wrote this short story. As I wrote, I realized that it was a little easier than I thought it would be. When you are writing about something that happened, that is true, it makes it fun and exciting. I truly enjoyed doing it. So, I guess here is the start of a new hobby. I don't know if other people will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, but too bad for them. :)

Time

My little super hero is so funny. Yes, I’m talking about Preston. He is the one who eats, sleeps, and, yes, breathes anything super. He is the one who insists that he doesn’t need to wear a shirt. After all, Spiderman takes his shirt off in the movie in order to transform himself into “Spiderman”. If that’s the case, then why would he need a shirt?

Well, yesterday was just another day, except, of course, that mom was busy all day on the computer. You see, I have needed to sit down and plan out our ward’s nursery schedule for weeks. Everything we have tried so far in that two-hour time period just ends up in “disaster” and I have 10 different people telling me 10 different opinions on the way things should happen in nursery. So yesterday was my day to sort it all out and get that mess organized. Nevermind the fact that Preston was poopy. Nevermind the fact that he had already watched two movies in a row. Nevermind the fact that he just wanted to play with someone, ANYONE… I just needed to get it done.

The next thing I know, Preston is crawling on me with Batman and Spiderman in each hand, fighting to the death. I patiently waited to see if he would get down off of the office chair by himself. Of course, any mom knows that’s not going to happen. He happily played with his various super heroes while slowly pushing me out of the office chair. I finally had enough and forced him to go play in by the TV (yes, a movie was still going).

After a few minutes of peace, he runs into the office with Spiderman in hand and yells, “Spiderman, Mom! Spiderman!” I turn to him and say, “Yes, Preston… That is Spiderman.” He walks out of the room satisfied to have gotten my attention and not 1 minute passes when he runs in with a stuffed Buzz Lightyear that he got for Christmas. He yells, “Buzz-Year, Mom! Buzz-Year!” This time it took two tries to get a response from me. I turn to him and say, “Yep, that’s Buzz Lightyear.” I turn back to the computer ready to finish up my preparations. Again, not 1 minute passes when he runs in with his stuffed BullsEye – the horse from Toy Story – and yells, “Ooze-Eye, Mom! Ooze-Eye!” This time it took three or four tries to get me to turn to him. At first I didn’t know what he was saying. Usually he calls this horse “Ohsey”. I stared at him for a minute, confused, and not quite sure what to say. Then it dawned on me what he was saying. At that moment, he broke my defenses. I forgot that I was intensely working out other issues and just focused on him. I couldn’t help but chuckle and say, “Good job, Preston. That’s BullsEye.”

He seemed to realize that he had done it. He had made me stop, in spite of myself, and pay attention to him. Even if it was for a brief moment, he was satisfied. And he walked away with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his little eye. That’s when I realized that I need to get my priorities straight. No matter what is going on in my life, I have this wonderful blessed opportunity to spend time with my boys. I say opportunity because I have a choice. I can ignore this opportunity and try to trudge through the other stuff that is going on in my life. Or I can stop everything and take the opportunity to sit and play with them. Time passes so quickly with these little ones. I need to make the time count.

I'm Back

Yes, by my own free will I decided to update my blog!

What?

Yep, no coercion here, just decided to finally do it. Actually, one of the main reasons I haven't updated my blog is because I enjoy looking at everyone elses blogs... They are so creative and pretty. I simply didn't like the looks of mine and didn't want to take the time to learn how to make it better. But today I just decided to do it. It took me forever... But here I am! I still have some tweeking to do, but at least it's a start!

So, look out everyone. You just might see another update without it taking a year. :)