Finding JOY in the JOURNEY...: August 2007

August 22, 2007

The best part of retiring....PRESENTS!

The kids (with Mom's help) pitched in and got dad a laprop and mobile wireless card for his retirement gift. This way he can get online in the car (on those ridiculously long drived he and mom take) or in Vegas, Utah or Hawaii!

A tribute to Dr. James R. Bradshaw...

We decided to all share a story about how we feel about Dad as a professor and to share our memories of him at BYU-H.

Jordyn read a letter from Lisa, that talked about how she felt about Dad as a teacher and father.

Dad and Mom both were touched by evryones sentiment

Scott and Jolene listening to Lisa's memories.

Lee and I shared our memories. Lee didn't know dad as a teacher but shared his feelings about how Dad has set a bery high standard of what a FAther adn Husband should be and that he is a perfect example to Lee as to how to be both. I shared three things about my dad...one was that he had a plaque that read, "Give a man some bread and you feed him for a day...teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." And I feel that Dad is a perfect example of someont who teaches people how to fish. I also spoke about how he would always take his students circumstances into consideration. When I would do his grading I would be so hard on the students and he would always come and explain to me that it's not always about the "letter of the law" but also the "Spirit of the law" that matters. The last thing was that EVERY person that I met told me the same thing about dad...."Brother Bradshaw is the best teacher ever"! Not because he was easy or their friend, but because he ACUTALLY taught them things. Not just made them memorize but made sure they understood the principle of the lesson. BYU-H will never be the same now that DAD is gone!!!!!

Dad's Retiremement Dinner...

After 38 years of teaching at BYU-Hawaii, Dad finally retired. It has been a very emotional time as I come to grips with the fact that my Dad wont be down the street anymore. But I am so glad that he is finally able to RELAX and ENJOY the fruits of his labors. We decided to have an intimate dinner with just the family to celebrate the wonderful teacher and provider that Dad has been to all of us. WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!!

It was such a wonderful day...to be able to sit around the table and have dinner with the family. We really missed Lisa and Jonny (and family) and can't wait to all b eback to gether again!

The food was so good that no one was talking or wanting to be bothered by this pesky photographer:-)

Jordyn made the best homemade mashed potatoes!!!!

Dad is talking to Jonny and his kids...but all he can think about is that big juicy steak calling his name...hahaha!

Sunday Brunch with Alii

After Lee and I attended Church this past Sunday, we decided to go to Brunch at Turtle Bay with Alii. It was so nice to take a moment to actually enjoy the hotel and all it has to offer!

Lee hates this pciture but I think it's adorable.

Kind of looks like he has me in a head lock but I like the picture anyways...

Our home away from home...

The beautiful view from our table at the Brunch...

how can yo beat that...good friends, food and scenery!

Long Lost Ben:-)

Lee and Ben catching up on old times...

We went to Dave & Busters to have some fun!

AAAHHH...what a cute couple:-)

Ben is Lee's good friend from "back in the day". We lost contact with him for a couple of years but he came home to Hawaii to visit with his family and we got to spend some time together.

August 17, 2007

My sweetie...

Whenever we walk by a florist or fresh flowers Lee has to buy me some. I refuse becaue when you used to be a florist you dont want to spend money on flowers. I give in once in a while.

August 16, 2007

Jordyn's Super Seventeen SURPRISE Party

Dad and Nikki...waiting to open presents...

Mom and Lee as we were waiting for present time.

I think this is a cute picture of Mom...it was nice becasue all the Bradshaw's were congregated at the dining table and we just sat and ate and talked story.

This is the only picture I could grab of these two sitting still:-)

Jordyn's 17th Birthday

Me and the birthday girl...notice the tiara's? I can't believe how old Jordyn is getting. I Still remember her as a baby and I am so proud of the wonderful young woman she has become!

I happened to catch Scott at the wrong angle becasue he was actually smiling thorughout the entire party...but I think this picture is hillarious with is party hat on!!!

Lee and I (he refused to wear the hat after we yelled "surprise" as Jordyn enterd the house) taking our own pictures...this is the only pose we ever have of us because there is never anyone around to take our picture.

Jordy and Jolene...aren't they cute? It was such a nice party and Im glad that we could be a part of it.

These pictures were taken with the cell phone but came out pretty nice!

Halloween 2006

I took these pictures with my cell phone so they aren't that clear...

Isn't Spencer the most adorable little lion you have ever seen?

Amber was a rainbow princess...very fitting:-)
Lauren was a the girl from the incredibles movie but I can't find that picture...but she is beaitufl as ever on the swingset in the backyard:-)

Little Spencer wouldn't come near me the first few dyas but had NO problem cuddling up with Lee....sheesh, Im supposed to be the favorite here. Oh well I have the other three so he can have Spencer...hahahaha!

August 8, 2007

The Celebration Begins!

Alii's friends are WONDERFUL musicians and we went to see them perform at

two different venues that night! There is nothing better than good food, good friends and amazing Hawaiian music playing in the backround.

We had a cake ready and had the musicians sing "Happy Birthday" while we brought out his favorite "Chantilly Cake" . The girl in the middle used to be a Radio DJ and her name was "Mental Mele"...she is so funny and entertaining and we didn't stop laughing the entire time!
Both times these pictures were takne they were in the middle of a song and they fully stopped the song (with perfect timing) and posed then jumped right back into the song...it was PRICELESS!

Lee and I enjoying the beautiful music!

Waikiki Skyline

We dotn have a very expensive camera, but I think that the pictures came out beautifully!

Alii's 30th Birthday!

Lee and I on the balcony of Alii's hotel Suite just enjoying the beautiful Waikik skyline.

Alii's firend drive s a Robert's Hawaii Tour bus and picked us up for a little cruise...it was so hillarious that there were 5 of us in this huge motorcoach cruising through Waikiki:-)

This picture is horrible but the only one I could find of Alii and I together!

Once upon a time...

Mibi grew up in Laie and attended Kahuku High and Lee grew up in Haleiwa and Mililani and attended Mililani High. Mibi went to College at BYU-Hawaii and then served a mission in the Utah Ogden Mission before meeting the man of her dreams. After school, Lee jumped into the workforce looking for his career and eventually ended up working for Mibi's family flower shop at Turtle Bay while Mibi was serving her mission...and never thought that this job would lead him to his "Angel". We met in Septmeber of 2001 after I returned home from my mission. I came back to the flower shop to manage things for my Mom and Lee had left to pursue his education. Well a few months later, Lee's education path didn't take the direction he had hoped and instead life lead him back to Turtle Bay. The first thing he did was call Mom to get his job back and of course she said YES. So, I was Lee's boss and there was an instant friendship...it felt as if we had known each other our entire lives. We kept it strictly business for a few weeks and then one night I was gong to make a Wal-Mart run after work and called him to see if he wanted to come along. His phone was busy (the days before call waiting) and I almost gave up...but after a few more tries he picked up and from that night on we were inseperable. I think we told each other our life stories that night and we both knew then that our lives would never be the same! Over the next year, we formed a deep love and respect for each other which kept us connected through a few rough patches and across the ocean as Mibi moved back to Utah. Finally after a year of being best friends, we both realized that there is no one on earth we would rather be with than each other! We were a couple for about two years when Lee proposed to me and we tied the knot at the exact place we first met...the same hotel the flower shop was located when we worked there...TURTLE BAY. And to add to our JOY, we have a beautiful daughter Savannah (Lee's biological and Mibi's spiritual daughter ) who we just ADORE! She is so smart, funny, outgoing, a jabberbox like her Dad and just the cutest thing you have ever seen!!! We also are praying that we can give her a little brother or sister sometime in the next year or two!!! Until then we have a Doberman (Kayla) and a cat (Shadow) that we spoil rotten and of course all of our Nieces and Nephew's. It has been almost 8 years of wedded bliss and although we have had our ups and downs, each experience has made us grow more in love with each other and are still each others best friend!