I didn't take a single picture this New Year Eve. Eden took some crazy photos, but I didn't get one. I was too busy trying to just enjoy the moment and I loved it. Derek has been on such a crazy schedule so we haven't seen much of him. It has been hard. I finally realized if I don't just plan and do something I could be waiting around for a very long time. So I did! I planned my own New Years Eve party and we had several people from church come over to play with us to ring in the new year. We had a fun balloon drop, sparklers, pop its, games, and lots of playing and chatting and drinking sparkling cider. I'm so grateful to live in an area with other military families who get it. They know what it's like for a spouse to either be completely gone, or just not available. We have been so blessed on this journey!
The kids had a great New Years Eve and so did I. Poor Derek got the short end of the stick, but it all worked out. Our family is doing great things with many more to come. 2015 was a difficult but great year and we have a great outlook for 2016 with new goals and resolutions to work on!
Here is our Christmas Card.
Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas! I love being able to say that on time. This year has
definitely been a challenging year, but the one word that comes to our mind
when we look back at 2015 is BLESSED.
We were blessed with Connor Everett Bradley on April 29th.
Connor was born at 34 weeks due to premature rupture of membranes. He was
healthy and strong at 5 pounds 2 ounces and 17.5 inches. He was in the NICU for
3 weeks 4 days before we were able to bring him home. He is the sweetest little
boy and sure completes our little family. He is almost 8 months and has been
playing catch up just great. He loves to roll over and eat sweet potatoes and
applesauce.
We are blessed with our 3 year old Elara. She loves staying home with
Mom and helping with her new baby brother. She helps to change his diaper and
gives him lots of kisses. She is going to be a great Mommy someday. She loves
playing with friends and doing open gym gymnastics.
We are blessed with Eden who is 5 and started kindergarten this year
full day. She loves to write stories of all kinds and is becoming a great
author and illustrator. Eden loves going to gymnastics and is getting really
good at it. She is a social butterfly and is a friend to all.
We are blessed with Kael who is 7 and is in 2nd grade. We
switched schools to the military base and have made so many wonderful friends.
Kael loves to read chapter books, build with legos, play video games, and play
sports. Kael is taking karate and piano lessons and recently started playing on
a basketball team.
Derek was blessed to finish his surgical internship and has his
official doctor’s license this year. He started the anesthesiology portion of
residency finally in July and it is exciting finally getting to learn what he
is passionate about. The hours have been better, but there are always good and
bad rotations times wise. He is always really busy, but we enjoy the moments we
get to have as a family.
Sharice is blessed to stay home and take care of these wonderful
people we call family. Having Connor was pretty difficult, but we have been
truly blessed by all the help we received and that Connor is such a sweet baby.
I was recently called to serve with the young women at church and have enjoyed
being with teenagers and seeing their personalities. I feel blessed to not have
a teenager yet!
We were blessed to be able to travel to California and visit Derek’s
family there at the end of September. We were able to go to the beach,
Disneyland, and visit with family.
We were blessed in November to visit Sharice’s family in Southern
Utah for Thanksgiving while Derek had to work.
There are many challenges in life, and while they are difficult we
can let each one bring us closer to the people we love and care about. While
there have been many trials this last year what we have really seen were all of
our many blessings.
We are so blessed to call each of you friends and family. Thank you
for your love and support!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Bradley’s
Much love 2015! Until next year!
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