Italy 2007
So I’m sitting outside Starbucks (no not with a drink) on State Street and 5900 South. It is the most beautiful September 19th day ever! Sunny… windy… cool… HOT! I absolutely LOVE people watching.. . but even more I love listening to their conversations and analyzing their daily life, their struggles and happiness! There are two ladies sitting next to me sipping their lattes talking in Spanish… dang it! I can’t ease drop… hmm there’s a man crossing the street with a long ponytail, green tank-top and bear belly, A dad with his son in soccer cleats, woa! A “Just Married” car, an old lady with 3 dogs, a hormonal teenage boy texting inside with his sunglasses still on, Harley boys with their leather get-up, men in suits, people honking, aww a little boy just smiled and waved at me! LOVE IT! Okay so on to my most recent thoughts… Recently I have been thinking about how much my Heavenly Father has blessed me this past year. I feel like I have relied on Him and leaned on Him more than any other time of my life. I am so grateful for His love and His plan. He truly does know each of us…. like really really KNOWS us! and has a plan for each of us…. a specific plan that we must learn to embrace. It has been interesting to see where my life has gone and how everything unfolds as we grow… . I am still clueless as to where I will be in 3 months but I know something is waiting for me! I’m just trying to live one day at a time.
It is interesting to think about where I was a year ago and what I thought I would be doing at this time. I thought I had things figured out, but just as those thoughts entered my mind, curve balls were thrown from every direction. I was humbled and became best friends with the edge of my bed each morning and night and in-between.
I just feel His overwhelming LOVE!!
The Atonement is a beautiful thing and I am so so grateful for my trials and hardships so that I can use it in my life. I am grateful for those bad days, painful days, emotional days, achy body days, somber days, lonely days, and cry-your-eyes-out-for-no-reason days where the Atonement is present and used for ME, just ME. I feel Heavenly Father has blessed me and trusted me with so many things! And he DOES answer prayers. I have prayed for good college roomies.. BAM done! I prayed to know why I hurt and ached so much a while back… BAM I know! I have prayed to feel His love and comfort. BAM I feel it so strong! I prayed to know why I went home this summer when I wanted to go somewhere else.. BAM I know! I prayed for a good experience in Utah with teaching and roomies.. BAM it’s the best!
Last Sunday in Relief Society our teacher gave us a quote that I absolutely LOVE: “Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.” – Corrie Ten Boom.
I feel so lucky and blessed for my family and friends that have been part of my life! Honestly.. everyone says they have the best friends and family…. BUT I definitely DO! Hands down… THE BEST in every possible way!
Sorry this is turning into a novel, but I just had to say my thoughts and write them down. I had to seize this opportunity before my next thunderstorm and trial roll along.. I would feel so ungrateful if I didn’t recognize my Savior and His Atonement, His plan and His love.
Don’t think that I have everything figured out because I don’t. I am far from that and still have much to learn (like how to discipline those first graders), much to experience (like watch Star Wars and eat a Hot Dog at a baseball game), much to see (like starving children in Africa), much to be taught (like how to properly ride a long board), much to discover (like how to cook like my mama), much to do (like ride in a hot air balloon), and how to love more openly (like the jerk who scratched my car with his car door!)…. It’s one day at a time… thank goodness!
19.9.09
lucky girl
Posted by Madison Bradshaw at 2:10 PM 9 comments
9.9.09
Does anyone smell updog?????
Whats up dog??? HAHAH okay sweet Office Quote.. sorry it's late
K i'll be honest I'm not really sure what to call this post or what to write.. I have just had requests to write something because peeps are tired of clicking on my post and seeing my nasty chin! BTW (thats By the Way dad!) Danielle took out my stiches and everything is healing quite nicely! I went to the dentist today as well and got my tooth "unchipped".. well they just gave me a filling! My scabs are healing quickly and my chin doesn't look HUGE and sore anymore!
I am having so much fun down here in Utah! It has been such a blessing for me! I love my two roommates who are also student teachers! I have had classes with them in Idaho so we knew each other beforehand. This picture is of me and Bailey! She is so cute and fun! We are teachers at the same school so we carpool each day! I randomly just took this picture because I don't post without a picture so excuse the nastyness... I need to go shower cause I just worked out and its about 11:00 p.m. and we're both procrasting going to bed! HA! Anyway.. the ward is fun and very sweet! I live so close to Danielle, Sarah and Megan so me and Dani have been hanging out a ton! (yoga, climbing, hiking, running, grocery store, Jamba Juice, temple dates, Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon, naping, and making dinner!) I have also been hanging out a lot with my EFY counselors from this summer! :) They are super fun and I have had fun going to drive-in movie theaters, pool party's, long-boarding up Provo Canyon (I'm very careful don't worry), playing tennis, and star gazing! :)
And alas student teaching! Okay i love it! I love my kids, my teacher, my school, and supervisor! Everything is going great! I crack up at my kids everyday! They say the cutest things like ask me when I am getting married, why I am NOT married yet, if I have any kids, why I look like a high schooler, and why I have a dad! They are so observant and notice when my chin and hand look better and healed and they always comment on the outfits I wear! :) I can't help but smile and laugh sometimes too when they don't follow the directions because half the time they are clueless... i need to work on this.. i need to be meaner and more stern, but its soo hard! :)
Well big gulps huh? What can I say.. LIFE is peachy!!
Posted by Madison Bradshaw at 9:35 PM 5 comments


