Blogging Sabbatical

So...I took a year-long hiatus from blogging. Life happens. I wish I had documented life happening a bit better, but, hey, here we are. A lot has happened this past year, of course. Every year seems to be more eventful than the last, but I suppose that's the nature of this time of life. Or maybe that's just the definition of living life. Regardless, looking back over the events and changes of the last year makes me feel profoundly grateful. An unexpected year, but so much better than I had anticipated. Lemme break it down:
Grad School
BYU won. Not because I wanted it to. If I had been forced to make a decision off of my desires alone, I would be in London right now, finishing up my Master's degree. Thank heaven for personal revelation. If I had gone to London, my life wouldn't look a thing like it does right now. I still remember what it felt like to finally receive the answer I'd been looking for. Sometimes we're just not asking the right question. Thanks to my wise mother for leading me to that conclusion.
So I've spent the last year studying public health at BYU, getting to know the other 14 students. Very well. I can't say that I'm very sure of what I want to do after I finish my degree here, but it has been a year of intellectual growth and finding out what I really believe about a lot of important issues. I landed a research job with the greatest professor in the department, in my humble opinion--Ben Crookston--or at least the one who is most invested in the future of his student. He landed me an internship with an NGO called Freedom From Hunger, based in Davis California. They do poverty alleviation and health promotion work in countires all over the world. I've been an independent contractor with them, helping with translation, data entry, and report-writing for studies they've been doing about microfinance in Mali. Ben also helped me secure me the opportunity to head to Peru a couple of months ago. I had planned on spending the summer there, but ended up only staying for 10 days. That leads us to the next subject.

Utah Capitol Tour with the MPH cohort

Marriage
I'm getting married in 17 days. And I couldn't be more excited! Another unexpected turn life has taken, but the best one by far. I feel inordinately blessed by this, even though it overwhelms me to think of thrusting all of my weaknesses upon someone I care so much about. Seems a little backward to consign someone I care so much about to a life full of my problems and faults, but it's not stopping me ;)
I'm still getting used to the idea of fusing my life together with the life of someone else. I've had 26 years to become very independent and self-serving, and it's time that got shaken up a bit, I suppose. The thought of the growth marriage will require scares me, but I know it's what I want. There's been a viral blog post going around written by Tyler Ward. In that post, he says, "Although happiness is often a very real byproduct of a healthy relationship, marriage has a far more significant purpose in sight. It is designed to pull dysfunction to the surface of our lives, set it on fire and help us grow." This could be a big fire, guys. I'm so grateful to have someone who is willing to help me set my dysfunction on fire and to suffer through the resulting heat and burns.

Mission
I remember back in February when my mom texted all of us children, asking if we could do a Google Hangout that weekend. Now to some, this might seem tender and precious--Family, isn't it about...time? But knowing our parents as we do, we all knew that this meant something big, not to mention the fact that I didn't even know my mom knew what a Google Hangout was. I know I speak for my siblings when I say that all of our minds were going a million miles an hour with both ominous and exciting possibilities racing through. When the actual news was delivered, there was a momentary shocked silence on everyone's part. Dad had been called to serve as mission president of the Australia Melbourne Mission. All of us were excited, initially. And still are. But I have to admit that, for me, as the time of their departure got closer, I began to dread it. Brandon might maybe perhaps possibly be able to attest to the fact that I cried a lot, And he didn't even see all of it. I feel very close to my parents--I think all of us children do. They've always made themselves so available to us, and they are a veritable treasure trove of advice and wisdom. I have always known that following my parents' advice would lead me right, and the thought of not having immediate access to their founts of knowledge made me feel all sorts of uncomfortable and anxious. It was a strange feeling: knowing that no couple could be better in that capacity than my parents, but at the same time, feeling a strong reluctance to share them with 240 missionaries. It was a bit reminiscent of how I felt when Grandpa Neal passed away. Everyone was so kind and gracious with flowers, notes, calls, and visits during that time, but there were some moments when I wished we could just grieve in private. I knew that we were not the only ones who had lost someone special to us, but part of me didn't want to share the experience with the whole Church. It was silly and petty and ungrateful, but I admit that those feelings surfaced a couple of times. Likewise, my feelings about my parents leaving were very selfish at times. The thought of one or both of them missing my wedding has definitely made me sad, but even more, it was the thought of having a baby without my mother there; of wanting a father's blessing and being unable to get one; of being sick without my mom. However, the Lord does things in His infinite wisdom, and I've reflected on the fact that this situation provides me with an especial opportunity to really "leave, cleave, and be one" with Brandon--to bring us closer than we might have been given a different situation. Brandon was the one that comforted me on one of my tearful episodes with the affirmation that I can rely on him for things I need or just for comfort.
Overall, my parents' leaving on their mission has been one of the most powerful examples in my life of faith in Christ and celestial marriage. Although they have both felt overwhelmed since their call, it was great to watch them prepare together and strengthen each other. In order to be financially able to accept their call, they had to make many sacrifices. Only the Lord, and our family second to Him, understands the sacrifice it was for my mom to sell her grand piano. Music is simply an inseparable part of my mom, and that piano was like another child. Not just to my mom, either, although she was definitely the most protective of it--we placed anything on top of it at our peril. It was a gift from my dad to my mom, and many of us children had spent countless hours at its keys, not to mention the family home evenings, recitals, piano lessons, Christmas Eves, and other events it hosted over the years. It was symbolic of many things to our family.
But my mom always wanted to serve a mission, and it was evidence of the sincerity of her desire that she was willing to part with her piano. President Monson recounts the story of Benjamin Landart, who gave up his prized violin and the career opportunity of a lifetime to serve a mission. Landart said, "The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up something I loved to the God I loved even more. He has never forgotten me for it." I loved that story when I heard it, and now it is even more meaningful, as it reminds me of my mom.
Even more difficult for both of them was to leave their first and only grandchild before her first birthday. They waited a long time to get a grandchild, so to leave her when she finally came was a trial to them both. Not to mention all the grandkids that will come during their three years away.

My parents left on June 28 for Melbourne. Brandon's and my wedding is August 16. My mom is going to be here for the wedding, even though it takes receiving approval from the Brethren to make something like that happen. She had originally planned to spend about a week here in Utah. That's a week and a half away from my dad, with travel time. However, Mom and Dad soon found out that the first transfer of my dad's presidency would fall while my mom was away. Fifty new missionaries. Mom apologized to me and told me that she would have to stay a shorter time since she just can't leave Dad alone at a time like that. To me, this was another powerful example of righteous marriage. While I know that both of my parents would love to be here for a week and more during the wedding time, I also know that their priorities are 1. to the Lord 2. to each other 3. to their children. This situation is a blessing to me since it demonstrates my parents' devotion both to the Lord and to each other. I won't have a Daddy-daughter dance at my wedding, but I have something better: a righteous father who is serving the Lord. I am so grateful to have righteous parents!

Capitol Reef--Bradshaw Reunion 2012

For our Bradshaw Family Reunion this year, we made a trip to Capitol Reef down in Southern Utah. So much fun. 

Saturday morning we took off around 10 to head to Orem and then to Springville and then to Capitol Reef. We picked up Emily and then headed to Cracker Barrell in Springville. It was especially great to see our out-of-state Bradshaws: Charles, Mac, Sally (Martin, Tennessee); and Emily, Colin, Sam, and Charlie (Laie, Hawaii). We stopped in Scipio for lunch at Dairy Queen. They had this great petting zoo set up right by the gas station/restaurant. They had emus, llamas, a zebra, peacocks, ostrich, lambs, goats, donkeys, and a bunch of other animals. The zoo is run entirely off of donations. 

The ostrich was super mean--if you didn't watch him carefully, he'd bite you. I may or may not have learn this from trial and error. 

The goat liked my dad so much that he tried to steal his wedding band.

Anyway, we got to Capitol Reef around 4, I believe. Gorgeous. Our campground was perfect--away from all the other campers with a gorgeous view. You could see the mountains in the distance, an orchard on one hand, a hill on the other, and a field on the other. Red, green, blue--so beautiful. 

We set up our tents--mom and dad in one with their new, big cots; Anna, Em, and I in the 4-man tent. Em, Anna, and I went walking in the orchard. There were marmots scampering around the area. It was really just a gorgeous place. 

Everyone got set up and then we ate dinner--taco salad made by Keith. Super yummy--homemade chili with jalapeño bits. He let me take some home which I'm having at least once a day lol. After dinner, I noticed Sally (about 10 years old) writing something with charcoal. 

That's right...the Preamble to the Constitution. She's such a smarty pants. 

 After that, we headed to do two really short hikes to Goosenecks Point and Sunset Point. Dad is so afraid of heights that he wouldn't even go to the fenced-off area. The views there were beautiful as well. You couldn't really find a NON-beautiful view in the area. 

After that, we made a fire and sang some songs before heading to bed. They made smores after that, but Emily, Anna, and I were ready for bed by the time it was dark. I finished my book Edenbrooke (all in one day!) and then slept. Or attempted to. It was super super super windy--wind gusts about 50 mph so it was tough to sleep. Grandma Janet tried to sleep outside. She stayed all night like a soldier (but she didn't sleep much lol). 

In the morning, (Sunday) Keith made open-faced McMuffins--egg and cheese with sausage, bacon, or ham. They were really yummy and creative. After that, we had a little church meeting where the focus was God's creations. After the meeting, we drove to hike the Grand Wash. That was a very mellow hike. No climbing, just walking through a canyon. It was beautiful, though, with the canyon walls full of holes. 

We ate our lunches at the end of the hike and waited for Dad and Reed to come with the cars. Back at the campground, we took a much-needed nap, since everyone was drowsy from less-than-ideal sleeping the night before. Then I took Jace to look for lizards--his obsession. He wanted to catch one for his little sister Lexi. So we went searching (I video'd it), and he decided the lizard we found was named "Liz." Liz is a boy. Naturally. We went and got Emily to come with us, crossed the field and searched around the riverwalk area. It was pretty much hilarious. The kid has nonstop energy, and his voice is so animated. We had to stop in the field for some butterfly catching, of course. 

You can see Jace's concerned face because "Liz" went into these "pokey vines." He was worried she was going to get hurt. Next picture is Em and Jace fishing for Liz lol. 

Dinner was pulled pork sandwiches with sauer kraut. Yum--Keith did great on the food. Here's the chef of the trip on the left, with his brother Charles on the right lol. My uncles are too funny. 

Here's little miss Eliza, happy after eating her dinner. 

After dinner, we got lucky enough to actually catch a lizard. Jace named this one "Lizzie"--also a boy. You can see the look of pure joy on his face as his grandma holds Lizzie in her hand. 

I think we had a fireside of sorts. We had some people tell camping stories from past years. After that, the kids played lots of games. Anna and I headed to bed when it got dark. Party poopers, right? lol

Monday morning we had pancakes for breakfast and then made lunches before heading out to Goblin Valley. The drive was an hour and a bit, and the valley was so cool! I hadn't been for years, and the last time we went, it was incredibly windy. But Monday it was hot hot hot and not a trace of wind. Anna and I did some exploring. Seriously that place is incredible. Utah has such amazing and unique sites. 

We went up to the pavilion to eat lunch and get hydrated. Here's Lexi attempting to hide her baby doll from her parents, since they didn't want her to take it down to the valley lol. 

I ended up taking her down and hanging with her, Trevor, and Jace for awhile. Jace was jumping off the hoodoos, saying, "To infinity and beyond!" Then he'd smack his chest like he was Buzz Lightyear, pressing the button to activate his wings--and then he'd jump to Trevor lol. So funny. 

Anyway, we headed back to camp where mom, Anna, and I went to see the horses. 

After that, Mom, Anna, Charles, Ben, Mac, and I went to hike the Pioneer Tanks. I was tired, but I wanted to do as much hiking as possible. The drive alone was incredible. Windy road through beautiful red rock country. The hike was nice--only two miles round trip.

 

We made it to the tanks, which were pretty cool.

 

There was also a pioneer register--pioneers had written their names on the canyon walls back a hundred some-odd years ago.

We got back around 8 and ate dinner (chicken and potatoes.) 

Then some of us practiced our skits for FHE. I did "Twas a dark and stormy night" with Keith, Lydia, and Emily Bradshaw. I was the "constabule." It was pretty funny! After that, we went to sleep. In the morning, we had cereal/bagels and then packed up everything! I ended up riding with Emily and her three boys because she had barely slept the whole trip since little Charlie was sick. We listened to Harry Potter 6 on CD and stopped in Scipio at Subway. 

It was such a great time to be with the Bradshaw clan. They're always so much fun to be with. It had been so long since we had all camped together, and I loved having that experience again!

Here's to wonderful family and amazing places!