Happy birthday honey. It has been such an incredible adventure this past year with you. I remember last year on your birthday you were leaving for the summer to be a counselor at EFY and be with family (I am sure glad this birthday that I didn't have to do that again.) It was a wild summer counting the seconds until you would call, meeting at a Dodgers game on the way to my family reunion, flying to your family vacation, and finally making it to my birthday when you moved back to Provo for school. Fall semester proved to be eventful once we decided to be married and then tried to make it through finals before everyone arrived for our wedding. Christmas break was an incredible highlight of this past year getting married, going to Midway and Coronado for our honeymoon, spending Christmas with you, moving into our little apartment, and Lucille's wedding. And ever since I have felt privileged, honored, blessed, I could keep going... to be your wife.
I look forward to all the adventure we will have this coming year together. Frisbee with E's friends after his birthday dinner
This past weekend Enoch and I went on our first family vacation together! We had it all marked on our calender, booked a condo, borrowed bikes from my parents, and headed up the mountain. It was a lot of fun, lets be honest- I had the best company ever. We found our condo and unpacked, ate a little dinner and went up to main street to enjoy window shopping (including some sweet western stores), the live jazz music, and the beauty of Park City.
Saturday morning was a lot of fun waking up, watching some cartoons, some National Treasure, and then heading out on our bikes through the trails of Park City. It was sprinkling throughout our journey, but we had fun regardless testing our endurance up the mountain hills and high altitude, racing down the hills, and observing the homes and shops. We also hit up the outlets and went out to eat at the Park City Ski Resort before driving home in the downpour (we are 3 for 3 in crazy weather driving back from Park City/ Midway.)
A little side note, the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay was also in Park City this weekend, I wish I could have spotted Ryan while we were on our bike ride, but I think he is amazing and most definitely intense for running the Ragnar portion and passing all those people (you have done the Bradshaw name proud!)
The sound park, just off the bike trail Base of the Park City Ski Resort Main Street Enoch modeling a cowboy hat made out of wood
Their is no doubt in my mind that I have the best father in the entire world, I feel a bit bad bragging but it is absolutely true. He is one of my best friends, a great example, and the first person to offer assistance whenever something goes wrong. He is the hardest worker I know, once he has begun a project he won't stop until he is done and has truly has overcome to many challenges and made something truly wonderful of himself. Dad, I admire you so much and I hope that someday I can be the great parent you are to me. I love you further than the moon and back
In light of all June wedding E and I thought we would take advantage of some of the fun locations. Last weekend we played tourist in Salt Lake and visited: Utah State Capital Building,
Pioneer homes on the fruit streets, (this was the LDS church that we found on our walk around the area. It looks like it Hansel and Grettle could live here)
The Beehive House, The Cathedral of the Madeline, Liberty Park, and concluded with Mike and Janelle's fabulous reception!
I resent that this song does not sing about December being the best month to be married; however, this June has proved to be the month of marriage. Enoch and I have receptions every weekend in June, all four of them previous roommates. It has been so much fun knowing them and being a part of it throughout all of the magic from first date to engagement.
I love being apart of the wedding days, it is so nostalgic for me thinking back to the first time Enoch and I hung out, when I helped Enoch study for his Anatomy Test and he put is arm around me and I thought my heart was going to explode (after he left I had to sit on the couch and take deap breaths and keep reminding myself that it was real) the many dates to volleyball games, going on Enoch's family vacation, pestering Enoch about getting married, Sunday evening after General Conference when E told me he wanted to bet married in December, going ring shopping, and of course our wedding day. Yah for marriage, the celebration, friends, good food, being able to dance with Enoch, temple sealings, pictures, and being in love!
So as we go I will update pictures from all of the weddings
Mike and Janelle Root
(I totally stole this off of FB, I didn't have any pictures from you reception)
Carly and Chase Thornock
This picture doesn't even come close to how beautiful these two are, Car you looked stunning.
PS who would have thought that June 13th it would downpour
I don't have any pictures from Taylor and Kristen's wedding, but here is a shout out to them.
Finally, Whitlie and Dallin concluded the weddings. The weather cooperated until half way through the reception when the clouds came down over the mountain and within a few short minutes everything was snatched from outside and the party continued in the Murdoch's home.
Whitlie is so beautiful and is also the conclusion of all of us roommates now married! We are of the belief of theNo Roommate Left Behind Act
Also, my very talented mom made her cake and it was beautiful, plus Enoch was an awesome help
The cake in all its glory
In hindsight of all the marriages this month I would like to add a few extra words to this title of this song.... it would go something like, "Oh They Say When You Marry in June- YOU WILL SURELY BE RAINED ON!" You would think that a wedding on June 26th would be safe from rain, but no, not this year. It has been a memorable month with so many wonderful experiences.
After much deliberation of what family ward we should attend after getting married, Enoch and I agreed upon the the Provo Peaks 8th ward, a Spanish speaking ward. You may ask, why the Spanish ward? Do you even speak Spanish? To which I would reply, no- I don't speak Spanish.
So here is a little background on the situation, for reader ease I have divided this saga into two parts.
Part 1- Enoch Enoch grew up in Culver City, just west of LA. As part of Enoch's elementary school there was a Spanish Immersion program- meaning half of the subjects were taught in English and half in Spanish. Therefore, pretty much all of Enoch's family speaks Spanish and most served Spanish speaking missions as well. At family gathering instead of spelling words when the parents don't want their kids to understand- they speak in Spanish. Unfortunately for me, I felt a bit like one of these helpless kids out of the loop, so this has been part of the motivation for some Spanish training.
Part 2- The Polo Family The Mills have some good family friends, the Polo family. They are quite possibly the kindest and friendliest family alive and father Polo (Alberto) is the bishop of the Provo Peaks Ward. You would think since Alberto is from Peru that perhaps his family would all speak Spanish as well, now that is where you are wrong. Other than Lisa (the mom) none of the kids speak Spanish. Rory and Mica Polo were quite convincing when they would tell me, "You should come to our ward, we don't speak Spanish either."
So here is how church goes for me. I am very lucky because the ward is very English friendly, sacrament meeting is translated, Enoch and I were called to be Sunday school teacher and we teach in English for all of the youth 12- 18 which is about 6 people, and then usually someone will sit by me in Relief Society and translate for me. All in all I am very taken care of.
It has been a great experience for me to learn more and come to love the Latino people. They are wonderful people who love the Lord and work hard at what they do. Many of our ward activities are very cultural based and all the ward member come decked up in the country they are from and make authentic food as well. A personal favorite of mine is the Maldinado family who I refer to as Brother and Sister Argentina, becuase of their immense pride for their country. Sis Argentina is over the top in every way and is so endearing to me. Every RS lesson is complete with handmade foam handouts complete with hot glued jewels, and ribbon; however when it came to culture night half the church was accessorized with Argentina. This is just a small sampling of our fun ward, I could go on... Anyhow, it has been a unique experience for us and has taught me a great deal of humility. I feel helpless at times not being able to communicate, and blessed by all of those willing to translate for me. I have also been forced to get out of my comfort zone and approach others even if we can't communicate perfectly.
I have tried I little Spanish now, winter semester I enrolled in accelerated Spanish (101 and 102 in a semester) which is 8 credit hours of Espanol. I started the semester with great optimism and was quickly burned out by 4 hours of assigned talking and listening each week in Spanish along with the scheduled homework and vocabulary. needless to say I survived the first half and then dropped the 102 for the second block of the semester. I don't think accelerated Spanish is for the typical individual or the weak in heart.
Now that I have given you my life's Spanish experiences I would like to return to the real reason that I am writing. Enoch and I have the best calling in the Provo Peaks 8th ward! We love our Sunday School class and this past Tuesday we had the long anticipated class party. We had pumpkin waffles and then went to a park to play some croquet. It was so much fun and I feel lucky to associated with them.
This past week was my brother Ryan's graduation from American Fork High School, Go Cavemen! It was fun being attendance and having memories flood back of participating in school activities, soccer, choir, dressing up for the football and basketball games, going to aspen grove as Seniors, and of course high school dances.
I am so proud of Ryan for his enthusiasm as he has gone through high school. He has a millions friends and more energy and zest for life than most others I know. He loves to run with short shorts (they bring in power and definitely speed), he is fantastic at making movies from the AP calculus musical to CaveTV, and finally is brilliant academically in school. congradulations Ryan and I can't wait for you to carry on the Bradshaw tradition at BYU, go cougars!
