A Christmas Countdown

Remember when candy was life? It didn't matter what kind or what time of day it was. I remember receiving an advent calendar from my uncle, Victor, when I was little. Every day in December I got to open a little window and devour the chocolate behind it. This cute little calendar was given to us at the beginning of December and I took this picture today. I am pretty good at waiting until the date arrives when I get to rip the snickers off or tootsie roll. But other than that, it's become more of a candy dish that hangs on our wall...from the looks of it, the mints, rolos and hershey kisses will probably stay in the "dish" long after Christmas.

Positively Embarrassing

In June, I wasn't feeling well. Chris was convinced I was pregnant. I was in denial and brushed it off to a bug of some sorts. Then finally, one morning, I woke up thinking, "Oh my, he might be right." It was 6:15 am and I HAD to go get a pregnancy test. Granted, they offer them for free at the OBGYN I was working for, but I didn't want everyone to know the results. I got dressed and drove to Walgreens. They didn't open until 8!? That seemed kinda late to me. Discouraged, I drove the distance to WalMart. The automatic doors didn't open, but there were tons of people inside. I took initiative and pryed the doors open and walked quickly back to get a pregnancy test. They were renovating and everything was moved around. I didn't want to ask where the prego tests were so I just kept walking. I guess the workers knew I was lost because everyone was staring at me. I finally found them all the way back by the garden center. I grabbed one and started back toward the registers. I was getting lots of glances. I didn't know if it was because I had just woke up and it was obvious or because I was carrying a pregnancy test. I heard a whisper from one of the workers, "Is it seven yet?!" What!? They don't open until 7? No wonder the doors weren't open. No wonder everyone was staring. I started realizing that "all of those people inside" were all workers and renovators. Oh my. Oh my. I panicked. I stopped in my tracks and turned back toward the garden center. I put the test back on the shelf and tried to sneak out the garden center entrance to avoid future embarrassment. It was locked. I shook the door in disbelief.

A worker shouted, "Hey, what are you doing in here!?"

"Just trying to get out."

"How did you even get in?"

"I came through the front doors."

"Well I suggest that is how you get out then."

No. No. NOoooooo. I walked all the way back through the store and came to the STILL not working sliding doors that wouldn't even pry. I ended up having to go out through that half-door that they put the carts through. Embarrassing, I know.

Albertson's was open and I bought an overpriced pregnancy test. Positive. I cried out of fear at first. Chris gave me a blessing and from then on, the anticipation has been so exciting for both of us.

I can't believe I am 31 weeks! I am in the 30s! February could not come soon enough.

A Treasure from 1999

While sifting through my box of paintings and drawings this morning, I found a treasure wrapped up in a manilla envelope. It was a survey I filled out as part of a young women activity, written to my future self. I even wrote a note to myself on the front of the envelope:

Inside you will find keys to my future I think...however I neglected my duties so you will find 3/4 of my survey done and only 2 pictures about my wedding! sorry.

(Please note: There are some spelling errors, incomplete sentences, and wrong tenses used...I will share ALL of these exactly as I wrote them 2 days after turning 14 years old. The above picture was taken in January 1999, posted for reference sake.)

Name: Julie Bradley
Age: 14
Date: November 29, 1999
Ward: 2nd Ward
The girls in Young Women: Krissy, Danielle, Vicky, Tayna, Patti, Kayla, Julia D., Heidi, Andi, Ana, Brittney, and Me
My Young Women Leaders: Sister Burnett, Sis Hudak, Sis Duncan
My best friend(s) is: Heidi and Patty
I like them because: They are sweet, they don't make fun of me and funny
My favorite color is: Blue and Purple and Pink, but mostly Blue
Because: it looks good like when I wear it and its pretty
Favorite toy I played with as a child: it was a Blue unicorn with a yellow silky horn; I used to rub the silky horn on my lip
Favorite Song: Crazy By Brittney Spears
Person I most admire: my dad, George Bradley
Because: he is very spiritual, smart, and talented
My talents are: I play the flute, basketball, and I know how to shop
I have a testimony of: the church, the Book of Mormon, the prophets, the Bible
I want to gain a testimony of: Young Women values
I would like to have: 5 children. 2 boys and 3 girls
Their names will be: Boys; George Austin, Craig Scott, *Brock (maybe) Girls; Ashton Lee, Camaran Alyce, Jo Marie
The qualities I will look for in a husband are: care, Loving, Loves kids and are good with them, cute
The qualities I want to have as a mother are: patience, kindness, good chef, work when kids are older.
The qualities I most admire in my parents are: they are very creative, playful, helpful, and loving
The talents I would like to develop are: Better at basketball, cooking, patient
I would like to have a career as a: chef
I will teach my children to always: share, be nice to eachother, and to always have fun.
Describe your dream house: every room is always in perfect. Everyone is happy, big hous, jecousy, inground pool, trampoline.
Traditions I would like to continue in my own family that my family does now: Christmas, Find Easter Baskets, Movie Night, Family Home Evening
New Traditions I would like to create: Family Campouts,

(Also included in the envelope was a picture of a young Justin Timberlake as "the guy," and a magazine clipping of a huge wedding gown for $549. Hahaha)

Season's. Greetings. To All.

Last year, we bought an artificial tree and all the trimmings. We also got some decorations for the house from our parents and some other family members and friends. The day after Thanksgiving this year, I insisted we bust it all out. I am under doctor's orders to not be on my feet--so I was Santa's (Chris's) helper doing all I could sitting down. I MAY have hung a few ornaments. Once the tree box was empty...something else was too. OUR HOUSE. Where were all the rest of our ornaments and decorations? Meh. After Chris searched our cars and storage a few times we realized we must have left them in storage in Rexburg. So our house isn't very decorated. I did have a (as in one) Christmas placemat that I put on our dining room table and our tree has some bulbs and lights on it. Overall, I think it looks cold and bare. I do have a Christmas Scentsy candle and Josh Groban's Noel cd that add some atmosphere. And I think with some snow on the ground, egg nog, and a Christmas sweater we may be able to make up for some other things lacking...afterall, our Christmas cheer is NOT one of those things.

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