A final goodbye...

However long it has been since we've seen someone from our past, the love or friendship that is shared between two people closes the time gap no matter how large or small it may be and allows for one to feel as though no time had passed at all.

My grandmother, Ilynn C. Bradshaw, was one of those people. Raised in Southern Utah. Married Lafey LaVel Bradshaw. Became a mother to seven children - all of whom she raised while helping to tend the dairy farm and keep life in order no matter how hectic things got. She was born with fair skin and deep red hair. Some of which I see from time to time in Jessica's beautiful blonde hair. Grandma always had a beautiful smile.

Before moving here to Mobile we took the opportunity to visit with her one last time. When we first walked into the home where she had been living for the past few years it seemed as though she might just remember who I was this time. But that small spark of memory in her eyes quickly melted away as she shook our hands and excitingly ask the kids over and over again, "Are you here to see somebody?" They would smile as they held her hand and say, "Oh yes grandma! We're here to see you!"

I spent several summers during my teenage years living in Manderfield, Utah with Grandma on the farm. Doing the chores. Cleaning the barns. Helping around the house. But never failing to go home after three full months with hundreds of new memories and a warm feeling of closeness to a woman so far in age from me but someone I felt who was exactly like me.

When I got my mission call to Korea I spent two weeks with Grandma before I entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. I teased her for years about how she was my very first mission companion. An honor I think we both secretly enjoyed. When my grandfather passed away before I had the opportunity to tell him personally that I had chosen to serve a mission for the church, she took me aside and said very matter of factly. "He knew Lisa..." "He knew you would always serve a mission."

Those few words made my heart feel so much better. For not having said a word about my regrets to tell Grandpa when I had the chance just a few short weeks before his death, Grandma knew exactly what I needed to hear. She then pulled out a think book of cards and letters underneath a large stack of papers. She handed it to me and told me to look through it. It was every card and letter my grandfather had ever sent her. Something so personal and private to her, I was astounded that she had offered to let me look over such personal private memos. It is a memory of both my grandmother and grandfather that I cherish very much.

Yesterday afternoon the Bradshaw family laid my grandmother to rest in Beaver, Utah. She was finally home. Home where she could remember. Home where she could laugh again. Home where her husband waited for her and whom she missed so much. Although we will miss her, our memories of her will live on. Goodbye Grandma. We will surely miss you.

Throw me something sister!

In Mardi Gras terms the phrase "Throw me something mister!" would get you just about anything being tossed over the side of a huge float brightly decorated and festively arranged! At Jessica's school the phrase took on a whole new meaning! The Kindgergarten classes at her school got together and provided "throws" for the entire student body the day before school let out for a week long Mardi Gras break! "Throws" include beaded necklaces, plastic cups, stuffed animals, balls, masks, candy, and moon pies! (Moon pies: chocolate covered marshmallow stuffed cookies - can also be found in Banana flavor.)
Up and down the hallways each grade level had their group of students sit on the floor and wait for the afternoon parade to begin! Jessica had lots of fun throwing to her brother, Kenny, and many other neighborhood friends. Her costume was made in class along with the mask that she refused to wear because she said she couldn't "see".
I have never heard such loud screaming in a school! My ears had a ringing in them that lasted for hours after the event. After the Kindergarten students had made their rounds through school they were treated by a special parade put on by the Principal, Dr. Foster, and his staff who wore costumes and threw beads making sure each child got a handful of everything! What a fun way for the school to celebrate Mardi Gras!

An end to a very fun week...

So, for the most part everyone got what they wanted out of the trip to Orlando. Lisa got to ride Test Track and Mission:Space as well as buy herself a pair of really cute Mouse ears. (See pictures of Princesses below.) Jessica got to meet Minnie Mouse and can say without a doubt (as verified by several Disney Cast Members) that she is the only six year old to ride the Hollywood Tower of Terror ride 10 times in one day! Kenny met face to face with a real-life (animatronic) carnisaur at Animal Kingdom and missed near death as a Yeti tried to swoop down and knock him off a backwards moving roller coaster while his mother screamed helplessly behind him. Arnold got to taste six different flavors of Coke from the Coca Cola cooling station from places like China, Israel, and France and can finally sleep peacefully as I will no longer be hounding him to take us to "Disneyland" for a family vacation. And as for me....I can now say that as a parent I was able to take my three children to Walt Disney World while they were still young enough to enjoy it and not too old to do things like stand in front of Cinderella's castle for one last embarrassing family picture.

Around the world in only two days?????

The Epcot center's world showcase had to be one of our favorite stops! We spent two days there and traveled through 11 different countries. If my memory serves me correctly the countries were Mexico, France, Norway, China, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, America, Canada, Germany, and one other that I can't remember.

The kids got masks that they decorated at their first country and little token trinkets to attach to the mask at every other stop. After collecting all eleven trinkets they were 'awarded' with a Travel Poster from Goofy! Jessica had each country stamp their Disney World Showcase stamp in her autograph book along with a phrase or quote written in their native language. It was a fun way for all the kids to get into traveling all over the place that day with Mom and Dad! We logged over seven miles of walking while at Epcot Center and that was only after half a days worth of sightseeing!!!!

The authentic food, costumes, and decor were all unique to each separate country that we visited. China and Japan were our favorites, but Mexico reminded us of El Paso and Germany (because of the Schloemer heritage) made for a fun way for us to share a little of the culture with the kids. We ate everything from Sushi to Bratwurst and sauerkraut to Lo Mein and Fish and Chips! It was a great way to spend two days of our trip!

Princess for the day....

One of my favorite parts of the trip was convincing Lisa and Jessica that they wanted to forego the rides for an hour so we could stand in line to meet the Disney Princesses!



After waiting for what seemed like FOREVER, we were finally led into a private room where we were able to visit with each of the three Princesses. Jessica had her autograph book on hand and Lisa giggled the whole time!



Next to "Its a Small World" this was number 2 on my own list of "must do's" while at the Kingdom!

Our kid's new best friend....

It had been quite a few years since I had been to Orlando, Florida. It must've been in the 80's when our high school marching band was invited down to play for the half time show of the Citrus Bowl. During the week that we were there as a group we spent several days at the parks. We marched in parades, played for the crowds and showed off our Hula dancers. It was a fun place to be as a teenager! After several years of trying to get Arnold to take us to Disneyland when we lived in Utah, he finally conceded after we moved here to Alabama and drove us the nine hours to Orlando for the week that the kids were out of school for Mardi Gras break. We spent several days at each of the four main theme parks. Kenny loved Animal Kingdom. Lisa loved the rides at MGM Studios. Arnold and I enjoyed the Epcot scene. And Jessica was mesmerized by the Magic Kingdom! Luckily there was something at each park for everyone! The kids seemed to enjoy any ride that had a remote possibility of making me scream like a baby. I would have to say that I did pretty good and went on every ride they wanted me to...EXCEPT for Mission: SPACE at Epcot where I thought my claustrophobia would get the best of me and ruin the rest of our day there. Tower of Terror at the MGM Studios was my next least favorite as it had the sensation of being in an elevator that was dropping to its death and then heading back up at a high rate of speed before crashing back down again. I'm getting dizzy from just thinking about it! Needless to say we have memories that will last us a lifetime!

What happens in Orlando...stays in Orlando!

The things people do when they are on vacation! I'm not quite sure what came over us...maybe it was all that Disney "magic" everyone kept talking about?



And who knew Jessica would grow up to be such a hard core 'rocker'?! Aerosmith rules!!!



I still don't know exactly what the Disney photographer wanted out of the 'pinching' pose, but it made us laugh when we got home anyway!

Cub Scout Troop Pine Wood Derby Race 2006

Kenny enjoyed his first Pine Wood Derby race. He spent most of the time cheering on his buddies and forgetting that he was actually racing a car himself. I think it was a fun experience for everyone!

Temple work for them or is it more for us?

Several years ago my Korean grandfather and grandmother passed away. Since then my mother has tried to find a way to get her siblings together in Hawaii to do the temple work needed for their family. Being that each of the seven siblings lives in a different part of the world, this was no easy task. But yesterday, on a day when life went on as usual for the rest of the world, she accomplished her goal and met in the temple in Laie and completed the glorious temple work for her parents. Parents who disagreed with her decision to move to America and leave Seoul, Korea when she was just a teenager. Parents who questioned her decision to marry a young, talented, amazing man from Manderfield, Utah. Parents who eventually moved from Seoul themselves to find a life in Hawaii near the rest of their children who had one by one followed in the footsteps of my mother to move to America in hopes of a better life. Today I feel a sense of sadness in that I was not able to be there for such a memorable event, but I also feel a sense of joy. The kind of JOY that only comes from knowing that the ultimate goal obtained ultimately ensures our place in heaven with those very unique and wonderful people we love and cherish the most. Congratulations, Mom! You did it!

And the winner is....

Today I received a flyer from our Elementary school saying that the School Board had dropped the boundary issue from its agenda for tonight's meeting and that the students who were previously told they might have to attend a different school next year will get to stay where they are - at least for the time being! (See posts on Feb. 20th and Feb. 22nd) A member of the PTA Board said that the school board is also going to give our school money to expand the cafeteria that will allow for more room during the lunch hour and bring in more portables to house the overflow of students for the upcoming 2006-2007 school year. The issues of overcrowding will still be a major one come Fall 2006, but for the time being our children will be able to continue their education at their current school and hopefully get a reprieve from the boundary change at least for another year or two. My hope is that the school board will not just table this issue but continue to work on it. Become educated about it. Explore some other alternatives and options for it and realize the great need for expansion in this growing area of Mobile.

Home from vacation....

So for the last eight days we lived, breathed, and celebrated Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Four different theme parks each with its own set of must do's we as a family finally got to experience first hand which so many of you have told us about over and over again. Honestly, I feel like we need a full vacation just to recuperate from our WDW vacation! As soon as I can post some family photos, I will do so, but for now...it is back to laundry and unpacking! Have a great day!

Cousin Deb's Mardi Gras memory

I just had to share part of this email I got. Its a story of one of those really silly memories you have as a child that you carry around with you even through adulthood! "Dear Lisa...I am so happy that your kids are experiencing Mardi Gras. We lived in New Orleans for a short time and I have extremely fond memories of Mardi Gras. Even after we left, we would go back and visit for the parades. Like ya'll we went to the "family routes" to view the parades. I was an adult before I saw women acting crazy for plastic trinkets. My parents favorite story of David and I (Nancy wasn't here yet) was our first Thanksgiving in Houston. They took us to the downtown Thanksgiving parade and David and I saw the floats and kept shouting "Throw me something mister" and were extremely upset when there were no beads, bears, cups or doubloons. My parents had to explain to crying children that only in Louisiana (and now I know Mobile) did the floats throw treats. I am glad to hear ya'll are settled in and through with Hurricane Season. The kids look amazing and thank you for the photos... Happy Mardi Gras. Love, cousin Deborah"

Does one person's voice really matter?

Last night I attended the hearing for the proposed boundary changes at our local elementary school. I was disappointed at the number of parents who were there (or not there) to speak, listen, and become informed on the matter. Many of those parents that I have heard over the last few days express dissatisfaction about the matter were non-existent at the hearing. Those that did come and had something to say asked questions which I thought were trivial compared to the real issues at hand. "What color uniforms does the new elementary school require?" "What kind of money has the PTA at the new school raised this year?" "Why does the new school start 40 minutes earlier than the current school?" Do they not realize what issues are at stake here? I was relieved when the current PTA President stood and offered a three phase plan to help alleviate the growth problems at our school but became quickly dismayed when her emotions took over and all I heard was more about "how much money we have spent as parents at this school" vs. "how much money the PTA has raised at the other school". How "we built our house in this area because we were promised that Hutchens is where our children would go to school" blah blah blah. It was midway through the meeting that I finally stood and offered the information I had prepared over the past few days. All it took was a couple of clicks on the computer. I spent time perusing Test scores, School websites, and phoning the people at the school board for fire codes, attendance requirements, growth projections, etc. All of which have everything to do with the facts on hand and the change to the boundaries for our school. I still don't understand why PTA money has anything to do with changing the board member's minds about the move. Can the parents really be upset over the money that went towards their school? What happened to doing something because of the impact it will have on not only your children, but the children of the future? So what if the new school's PTA isn't up to par? I say: Jump in, get involved, make it the PTA you would want it to be! Wouldn't that be the logical thing to do? Regardless of what went on around me last night, I was able to speak my peace, lay down the issues, propose some immediate solutions and managed to even get a quick spot on the 10:00 o'clock news. Does one person's voice really matter? I say YES. As long as that voice is informed, educated, and willing to accept the responsibilities that come with having a stance on something that may or may not be the popular choice at the time.

And yet another blow to my kids...

Today I received a note from our elementary school saying that the School Board will be holding a hearing tomorrow night on a possible re-districting of our school boundaries. This means that my two youngest children may possibly be asked to attend a different elementary school next year. Take it...the new school is actually newer. Built in 2003 it is newer than the one they attend now. The new school houses only 550 students while the current school they attend houses close to 850. Could my children benefit from being moved to a new school for the 2006-2007 school year? I'm sure there are things that they could stand to benefit from, but after such an eventful year are they resilient enough to stand yet another blow to what they have come to know as their 'comfort zone'? Timeline: Move from Woods Cross Utah in March 05. Start a new school in the middle of the school year in April 05. Out for the summer May 05. Hurricane Dennis July 05. Start new school year early August 05. Hurricane Katrina late August 05. Out of school for 2 1/2 weeks because of the storm September 05. Possibility of having to move to a new school February 05. New building, new teachers, new friends, new everything. We hope for the best for our children and we expect those that we elect to represent them on the school board to do what is best for them. But when does doing what's best for them actually hurt them? We have yet to understand how the school board knowing the enormous growth in this area could not forsee the need for more elementary schools in West Mobile. After this move from one elementary school to the next, will they then be asked to move Middle schools and High Schools as well? Will the School Board see fit to at least take a moment to think ahead a few years and not just put a bandaid on the initial problem of overcrowding at one school, but actually dig deeper and find a solution to the on-going problem of growth in our area? We have yet to see.

Pride and joy...

No one could be prouder of our kids than us!