Sunday, December 21, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Ok! So, I realize it has been a while since we updated. So, we will attempt to briefly catch you up on the Bradshaw news! Since we last posted, I (Matt) went to France and the Middle East to visit missionary partners, Rosie, our new niece, and her mom, Jen, came to New Mexico for a visit, we had a Housewarming Party, we had a Turducken at Thanksgiving, I finished the semester and finals, and most recently, we somehow managed to find time to put up a Christmas tree and buy some gifts. To say the least, this Autumn season has been a whirlwind. We are currently trying to get in the Christmas spirit, although the vision of spending Christmas on a beach becomes more and more appealing. Charity is still working at Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Albuquerque, and I am still working hard for Sagebrush Community Church. Most nights, we spend recovering from active workdays and dreaming of a time when life isn't so hectic. We enjoy our "down" time more and more and are trying to find excuses to take naps whenever we can. We hope all is well with everyone and would love to hear how you're doing. We will try to do our best to update more often, while fighting the wave of popularity of Facebook and My Space. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that you will find time to stop and remember why we celebrate the holiday during this busy season. We love you all!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Our New Niece, Rosella Kay!
Our new baby niece, Rosella Kay, was born Oct0ber 6th at 2:58AM to her proud parents, Spencer and Jennifer. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20.75 inches tall. I had the privilege of spending a week in Portland just a few days after she was born. Wow! Let me first say that she is just precious! Having a baby, though, is a whole new world, isn't it? It really is true that there are 3 things that, if addressed, will keep that baby girl happy. Milk, diaper change, and sleep! I was amazed at how fast the days would go as I was there. Who knew that those three things would keep you so occupied in a 24 hour day?! My sister and Spencer are doing great! They seem to be adjusting to parenthood beautifully. Although the newness is challenging as they try to figure things out, their excitement outweighs every challenge that comes up! It's pretty neat to watch. They love that girl so much and already have so many hopes and dreams for both themselves and her as they grow as a family. From the sound of it, the love you develop for a baby as it's arrival comes near just grows more and more to the point that you just don't know how you could love him/her any more! But still, another day goes by, and your love continues to grow. It's beautiful!
Although Matt and I have not yet experienced the beauty of having a child, we have often discussed the fact that the experience would probably help us to more fully and deeply understand and appreciate God's sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. With so much love for a child He created, how did God do it? How did He knowingly allow His Son to experience such a brutal death on the cross? And even beyond the death itself, to allow His son to die on behalf of everyone else. Could we ever be so selfless with our child that we would allow their death for the sake of another's life? Wow! It's overwhelming and wonderful, and incomprehensible when you really think about it. It's so beautiful, too! The beauty of it is that before time, there was a greater plan in place. Acts 2:23 says that "This man was handed over...by God's set purpose and foreknowledge." Later in scripture, it says, "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" Isaiah 53:5. The familiar verse that many of you know sums it up so well. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17 Despite the fact that none of us are deserving of this gift, I am so thankful that God willingly offers it! Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Although Matt and I have not yet experienced the beauty of having a child, we have often discussed the fact that the experience would probably help us to more fully and deeply understand and appreciate God's sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. With so much love for a child He created, how did God do it? How did He knowingly allow His Son to experience such a brutal death on the cross? And even beyond the death itself, to allow His son to die on behalf of everyone else. Could we ever be so selfless with our child that we would allow their death for the sake of another's life? Wow! It's overwhelming and wonderful, and incomprehensible when you really think about it. It's so beautiful, too! The beauty of it is that before time, there was a greater plan in place. Acts 2:23 says that "This man was handed over...by God's set purpose and foreknowledge." Later in scripture, it says, "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" Isaiah 53:5. The familiar verse that many of you know sums it up so well. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17 Despite the fact that none of us are deserving of this gift, I am so thankful that God willingly offers it! Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Balloon Fiesta 2008 - Albuquerque, NM
Mark and Charlotte came to visit us at the beginning of the month. It just so happened to be when the Balloon Fiesta was happening. What a ball that was! Although it may sound weird to watch big hot air balloons rise up in to the sky and be intrigued, it's quite an amazing thing in real life. You wake up while it is still dark, pile up people in the car, find a parking spot, walk among thousands of people, both local and international, and enjoy the excitement of the experience as you sip on some tasty hot chocolate! Thought we'd post some pictures for you to enjoy!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
No news is good news?!
We have a saying in my family that "No news is good news." This means that by and large, the Bradshaw's are pretty bad about communication, unless of course there is an emergency. When something bad happens then we light up the phone lines and get on the horn. In fact, that is the sole reason we have a phone line, in case something bad happens. All of that to say that while we haven't posted in a while, everything is going pretty good.
Last weekend, I took 12 people to Juarez for 3 days. It was a very fruitful trip due in large part to the skill and willingness of the team members. I was excited to see how much we got done in such a short time. We even got to attend church service with 100 other people at the actual church we have been working on! It was awesome!
However, there is another side of the story. My poor wife DID NOT have a great weekend. She was part of a parade of bad events culminating in one stressed out spouse. In one weekend, she had to deal with a cable guy, a fickle router and internet connection, ran into my truck with hers, had the smoke alarms going off at all hours of the night, and tried to finish unpacking the rest of the boxes. While none of those things themselves seem too harsh, the culmination of all mentioned events, as well as those I left out, were too much to handle.
All of that to say that when I returned home after a glorious mission trip, I was not met with the love and affection I had expected. By far, the most difficult thing for us in this move and transition is adjusting to the schedule. Everything at this time moves SO fast, and just when I think I can let my guard down and recover, another event is right around the corner. SO, here is what we are learning:
Last weekend, I took 12 people to Juarez for 3 days. It was a very fruitful trip due in large part to the skill and willingness of the team members. I was excited to see how much we got done in such a short time. We even got to attend church service with 100 other people at the actual church we have been working on! It was awesome!
However, there is another side of the story. My poor wife DID NOT have a great weekend. She was part of a parade of bad events culminating in one stressed out spouse. In one weekend, she had to deal with a cable guy, a fickle router and internet connection, ran into my truck with hers, had the smoke alarms going off at all hours of the night, and tried to finish unpacking the rest of the boxes. While none of those things themselves seem too harsh, the culmination of all mentioned events, as well as those I left out, were too much to handle.
All of that to say that when I returned home after a glorious mission trip, I was not met with the love and affection I had expected. By far, the most difficult thing for us in this move and transition is adjusting to the schedule. Everything at this time moves SO fast, and just when I think I can let my guard down and recover, another event is right around the corner. SO, here is what we are learning:
- Even when we serve the Lord, we are at risk. We are targets when we are useful and must always be mindful of the struggle going on around us. I cannot pray enough for my wife when I am gone and now know that she is not immune to the attacks of darkness.
- Especially when we serve the Lord, we are at risk. Romans 12 reminds us to:"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." This is not just a reminder but should be a lifestyle.
- Even when we serve the Lord, we need help. Often, we believe we as Christians that we can do everything like John Wayne. But God has designed us to need each other. This weekend, Char learned to call for help and to not be too proud to admit when we can't do it ourselves. Thank you to Moses, Debra, Justin, my Dad and countless others who sacrificed their time to help when I couldn't. I greatly appreciate your help and you all serve as great reminders that we are not alone.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Hey everyone! How's it goin'? Matt and I just got back from a short trip to Farmington to visit the family! We were glad to be able to get away for a couple days and get a family fix. Everyone seems to be doing well. Just plugging away! Our niece, Micaylah, just turned 8! We can't believe she's getting so big! She had a quite enjoyable gymnastics party! Mark celebrated a birthday as well. We got to see his hot rod in the making. It's come so far! Looking pretty fancy! Kate turns "Sweet 16" today. Wow, how time flies! Happy Birthday, guys!
This Friday, we will be closing on and moving into our home! We are so excited! So, this week, we will be packing up the little that we brought to the apartment in preparation! The rest of our stuff is in storage waiting to be moved! We're looking forward to being into our new home! I can't wait to have you all over!
Church life is still wonderfully crazy! God is doing so many amazing things through the church. It's so fun to watch Him work. We are so grateful to be a part of it. We're involved in some type of mission event 3 of the 4 weekends of each month, but seriously, it's a blast! There's nothing more gratifying than serving! You get such a high from it! If you all ever want to join in, let us know! We'd love to serve with you!
Matt started his semester of online classes a couple weeks ago. It seems to be going pretty well. He watches DVD's of the lectures and has his assigned reading to do. The hardest part for Matt is finding time to do it. But...he'll get 'er done!
Gotta go for now. Hope you all are happy and healthy. Call or write when you get a chance. Oh yeah...if you want our new contact information, e-mail us. We don't really want to put that info up on the blog. Some crazies might just do something with that info. Ya never know!
Love you guys,
Char
Enjoy the pics! (Some of the words got cut off! Sorry!)
This Friday, we will be closing on and moving into our home! We are so excited! So, this week, we will be packing up the little that we brought to the apartment in preparation! The rest of our stuff is in storage waiting to be moved! We're looking forward to being into our new home! I can't wait to have you all over!
Church life is still wonderfully crazy! God is doing so many amazing things through the church. It's so fun to watch Him work. We are so grateful to be a part of it. We're involved in some type of mission event 3 of the 4 weekends of each month, but seriously, it's a blast! There's nothing more gratifying than serving! You get such a high from it! If you all ever want to join in, let us know! We'd love to serve with you!
Matt started his semester of online classes a couple weeks ago. It seems to be going pretty well. He watches DVD's of the lectures and has his assigned reading to do. The hardest part for Matt is finding time to do it. But...he'll get 'er done!
Gotta go for now. Hope you all are happy and healthy. Call or write when you get a chance. Oh yeah...if you want our new contact information, e-mail us. We don't really want to put that info up on the blog. Some crazies might just do something with that info. Ya never know!
Love you guys,
Char
Enjoy the pics! (Some of the words got cut off! Sorry!)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Busy at the Bradshaw's
Hey guys! How are you? Life has been very here...for both of us now! This is a long blog. So, get ready! As I said, there's lots going on!
As of July 28th, I officially began my job as a Presbyterian Hospital nurse. I had to take classes for about a week and a half before I was actually able to take care of patients on the floor. Since the second week of August, I've begun my 3 day work week on the unit and have really enjoyed it. Remember us mentioning the fact that I was going a tad bit crazy not working??? Well, I now realize that the longer I was away from patient care, the more I developed that passion to give patient care again! In Kentucky, I was beginning to notice myself having a lack of compassion with my patients, and experiencing a feeling of drudgery in going to work week after week. Now, thankfully, that feeling is gone! I'm so thankful for the Lord's goodness in bringing that desire back! Now, I can again do what I was created to do!
Matt has continued to keep his calendar full in planning and participating in mission trips week to week and month to month. He's doing such a great job! On August 9th, 250 church members went out and served the community via a couple different avenues. And yes, I did say 250! What a turnout! Thank you, Sagebrushers!
One outreach event was directed toward the homeless population in downtown Albuquerque at Coronado Park. So many church members came prepared with enchiladas, beans, and drinks ready to serve to the people. From what we hear, good conversations were had and good entertainment occurred while a talented band of church members played in the background. We finished the day off by preparing sack lunches for the people to take with them!
The second outreach project was with Gerald Martinez, a New Mexico pastor who sees his mission as one of hope to a troubled community as he has attempted to clean the crime-ridden area that housed the church he served in Albuquerque, NM. You may recognize his name when I tell you that his family was blessed by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in April of this year. Although Extreme Makeover helped the family do so much more than they could, they still desire to do more for the community. So, our projects were to 1)prepare his backyard for a place where he can marry the couples he serves and also to 2)clean out another house just a block away, with the goal of creating a medical clinic there. There was a lot of hard work to be done, but with all the generous volunteers, we got a lot accomplished! All for God's glory!
This last weekend, a group of 20 people from the church went to Juarez, Mexico. We are working with missionaries there, who are training pastors and preparing facilities for church services to take place. Although we did get so spend some quality time with the pastors and their families, most of our time was spent getting the building in shape by tearing down walls, removing some damaged sheet rock, replacing a roof, and cleaning up the property . You should see the joy and excitement in the eyes of the pastors and their families. They're thrilled! We would find them singing worship songs aloud on the property, smiling from cheek to cheek, and just expressing their appreciation to us because our coming to Juarez encouraged them to keep going! They shared what the Lord had done in their lives, and blew us away. We have so much and they have so little. Yet, they are the joyful ones! It's so interesting when you think you're going to bless someone else by doing something for them, and you realize afterwards that you are the one being blessed by the people you serve. We had a good time and are looking forward to our next opportunity to serve them!
One last praise!!! We recently had our 5 year anniversary! From never planning on getting married to thoroughly enjoying the journey of marriage, we are so thankful for the Lord's protection of and blessings on our marriage!
So sorry for the length of this post! Hope all is well in your world!
Love you,
Char
P.S. Pictures will be up soon. Haven't had a chance to download them yet!
As of July 28th, I officially began my job as a Presbyterian Hospital nurse. I had to take classes for about a week and a half before I was actually able to take care of patients on the floor. Since the second week of August, I've begun my 3 day work week on the unit and have really enjoyed it. Remember us mentioning the fact that I was going a tad bit crazy not working??? Well, I now realize that the longer I was away from patient care, the more I developed that passion to give patient care again! In Kentucky, I was beginning to notice myself having a lack of compassion with my patients, and experiencing a feeling of drudgery in going to work week after week. Now, thankfully, that feeling is gone! I'm so thankful for the Lord's goodness in bringing that desire back! Now, I can again do what I was created to do!
Matt has continued to keep his calendar full in planning and participating in mission trips week to week and month to month. He's doing such a great job! On August 9th, 250 church members went out and served the community via a couple different avenues. And yes, I did say 250! What a turnout! Thank you, Sagebrushers!
One outreach event was directed toward the homeless population in downtown Albuquerque at Coronado Park. So many church members came prepared with enchiladas, beans, and drinks ready to serve to the people. From what we hear, good conversations were had and good entertainment occurred while a talented band of church members played in the background. We finished the day off by preparing sack lunches for the people to take with them!
The second outreach project was with Gerald Martinez, a New Mexico pastor who sees his mission as one of hope to a troubled community as he has attempted to clean the crime-ridden area that housed the church he served in Albuquerque, NM. You may recognize his name when I tell you that his family was blessed by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in April of this year. Although Extreme Makeover helped the family do so much more than they could, they still desire to do more for the community. So, our projects were to 1)prepare his backyard for a place where he can marry the couples he serves and also to 2)clean out another house just a block away, with the goal of creating a medical clinic there. There was a lot of hard work to be done, but with all the generous volunteers, we got a lot accomplished! All for God's glory!
This last weekend, a group of 20 people from the church went to Juarez, Mexico. We are working with missionaries there, who are training pastors and preparing facilities for church services to take place. Although we did get so spend some quality time with the pastors and their families, most of our time was spent getting the building in shape by tearing down walls, removing some damaged sheet rock, replacing a roof, and cleaning up the property . You should see the joy and excitement in the eyes of the pastors and their families. They're thrilled! We would find them singing worship songs aloud on the property, smiling from cheek to cheek, and just expressing their appreciation to us because our coming to Juarez encouraged them to keep going! They shared what the Lord had done in their lives, and blew us away. We have so much and they have so little. Yet, they are the joyful ones! It's so interesting when you think you're going to bless someone else by doing something for them, and you realize afterwards that you are the one being blessed by the people you serve. We had a good time and are looking forward to our next opportunity to serve them!
One last praise!!! We recently had our 5 year anniversary! From never planning on getting married to thoroughly enjoying the journey of marriage, we are so thankful for the Lord's protection of and blessings on our marriage!
So sorry for the length of this post! Hope all is well in your world!
Love you,
Char
P.S. Pictures will be up soon. Haven't had a chance to download them yet!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Our Soon-To-Be Home!
Hey everyone! Just wanted to involve you all in the excitement happening here, specifically in the housing arena of life! Basically, as I've told you before, we are living in an apartment right now. Although we're not exactly sure when, sometime in September, our house will be ready to be moved into! We've been visiting the lot every week or two and each time we go, so much progress has been made! It's really exciting! I'm already looking forward to the good times we'll have there with you fine folks. Enjoy the pics!
Char
Sunday, July 20, 2008
How are you gonna spend your new life?
After countless pleadings, and begging me repeatedly, I have decided to please my wife by giving everyone an update from my perspective. SO, here you go...
Life for me has been VERY hectic lately. I usually work Monday through Thursday and take Thursday afternoons, all of Friday and Saturday mornings off. We have 5 weekend service at Sagebrush; so, from Saturday around 3 until Sunday at 1, I am swamped. It is so exciting to see the Lord moving among the people in the church but the sheer number of people is a bit overwhelming. I work on a great team who is supportive, active, decisive, and truly love what they do. As a result we ALL tend to be work-a-holics. There are even rumors in my office of beginning an accountability group, so that we can tell each other when to go home and be with our wives. The flip side is that there are some really amazing things happening because of hard-work and God's blessing.
One of the things I have been working on lately is developing a second international site where our church can reach Muslim-Arabs. Right now, I am focused on France and have been working on building a relationship with a missionary in Marseilles. I have spent a lot of time calling, e-mailing, and skype-ing this worker and he has been very generous with his time. Last week was our first 2nd Saturday even
t, in which we took about 80 people downtown and did some community service, a.k.a. mercy ministry. It turned out very well and was the culmination of many hours of hard work. Here is a picture...
My home life has been a bit crazy as well. Friday. I finally completed all my school work for my summer classes. My wife has been a saint as she has put up with me reading and doing reports every evening for the past two weeks. It has been quite funny to see her change since we have been here. She has never been inclined toward domestic duties but has found herself at home for countless hours over the past couple of weeks. She NEEDS to be working is what she tells me but I kinda like having her at home every night. I do not miss the days or nights of her coming home at 9:00 from the hospital. However, she is going a little bit batty. SO, if you ever think about it, give her a call and relieve her from her apartment-like prison cell.
All in all, we are doing well. I recently told a co-worker that I was just trying to keep my head above water, and she suggested scuba gear as a solution. I just might take her advice. Anyways, that's how we are doing, how about you?
Life for me has been VERY hectic lately. I usually work Monday through Thursday and take Thursday afternoons, all of Friday and Saturday mornings off. We have 5 weekend service at Sagebrush; so, from Saturday around 3 until Sunday at 1, I am swamped. It is so exciting to see the Lord moving among the people in the church but the sheer number of people is a bit overwhelming. I work on a great team who is supportive, active, decisive, and truly love what they do. As a result we ALL tend to be work-a-holics. There are even rumors in my office of beginning an accountability group, so that we can tell each other when to go home and be with our wives. The flip side is that there are some really amazing things happening because of hard-work and God's blessing.
One of the things I have been working on lately is developing a second international site where our church can reach Muslim-Arabs. Right now, I am focused on France and have been working on building a relationship with a missionary in Marseilles. I have spent a lot of time calling, e-mailing, and skype-ing this worker and he has been very generous with his time. Last week was our first 2nd Saturday even
t, in which we took about 80 people downtown and did some community service, a.k.a. mercy ministry. It turned out very well and was the culmination of many hours of hard work. Here is a picture...My home life has been a bit crazy as well. Friday. I finally completed all my school work for my summer classes. My wife has been a saint as she has put up with me reading and doing reports every evening for the past two weeks. It has been quite funny to see her change since we have been here. She has never been inclined toward domestic duties but has found herself at home for countless hours over the past couple of weeks. She NEEDS to be working is what she tells me but I kinda like having her at home every night. I do not miss the days or nights of her coming home at 9:00 from the hospital. However, she is going a little bit batty. SO, if you ever think about it, give her a call and relieve her from her apartment-like prison cell.
All in all, we are doing well. I recently told a co-worker that I was just trying to keep my head above water, and she suggested scuba gear as a solution. I just might take her advice. Anyways, that's how we are doing, how about you?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Our New Life in New Mexico
Well, thankfully, we're starting to get into somewhat of a groove here. With the help of our good friends, Moses and Debra, we moved into our apartment on the morning of July 4th. We didn't realize it when we got the apartment, but on the night of the 4th, we found that our apartment was a prime location to see the Rio Rancho firework display. We just sat on our patio, sipped on some sodas, and enjoyed the beauty of the night! It was wonderful...a very nice ending to a hard day of moving.
The day after we moved in, Matt's mom, Charlotte, came to visit. Her primary focus was to do an Extreme Makeover: Refrigerator Edition. So, that's exactly what we did. The three of us jumped into the car and headed to Wal-Mart and wow, did we shop!? We got some real goodies. What a treat that was! Thank you, Charlotte!
Our first house guests, my parents, came the next day! We were so excited to have them visit and stay with us! It's good to be close enough to family to be able to do that! To those of you reading this, know that visitors are always welcome! So, if any of you need a place to hang out or crash for the evening, please come over! We'd love to have you! We thrive on that kind of thing!
So, Matt has really been enjoying his new job at Sagebrush. In the short time he's been there, he's developed some great relationships and has learned so much from the people around him. Each day, he comes home with something new and exciting to tell me about. We're so thankful to be a part of this church again!
As for me, I've still been job hunting. The most action has come this week! I will have a total of 3 interviews this week. The different areas include Labor and Delivery, Post-Operative (after surgery) Care, and an Access Unit (basically obtaining information from patients prior to their admission into the hospital). We'll see what happens! Although I have been enjoying my time off visiting friends and family, I am eager to get started!
Well, I guess that's all for now. Please write or call when you get some free time. It's always good to hear from you.
Love ya,
Char
P.S. Just to let you know, I inserted some pictures onto the last 2 blog posts (June 16th and June 25th). So, have a look if you'd like!
The day after we moved in, Matt's mom, Charlotte, came to visit. Her primary focus was to do an Extreme Makeover: Refrigerator Edition. So, that's exactly what we did. The three of us jumped into the car and headed to Wal-Mart and wow, did we shop!? We got some real goodies. What a treat that was! Thank you, Charlotte!
Our first house guests, my parents, came the next day! We were so excited to have them visit and stay with us! It's good to be close enough to family to be able to do that! To those of you reading this, know that visitors are always welcome! So, if any of you need a place to hang out or crash for the evening, please come over! We'd love to have you! We thrive on that kind of thing!
So, Matt has really been enjoying his new job at Sagebrush. In the short time he's been there, he's developed some great relationships and has learned so much from the people around him. Each day, he comes home with something new and exciting to tell me about. We're so thankful to be a part of this church again!
As for me, I've still been job hunting. The most action has come this week! I will have a total of 3 interviews this week. The different areas include Labor and Delivery, Post-Operative (after surgery) Care, and an Access Unit (basically obtaining information from patients prior to their admission into the hospital). We'll see what happens! Although I have been enjoying my time off visiting friends and family, I am eager to get started!
Well, I guess that's all for now. Please write or call when you get some free time. It's always good to hear from you.
Love ya,
Char
P.S. Just to let you know, I inserted some pictures onto the last 2 blog posts (June 16th and June 25th). So, have a look if you'd like!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
More excitement...
Hello again! Well, in the last week, quite a bit has happened!
From the sound of it, Matt really enjoyed himself in Mexico! When he got home, although he was quite tired, he was very excited about the future in Mexico Missions! After Juarez, Matt had a one-and-a-half day break, in which we were able to get a lot done; specifically, we found both an apartment and a house! Basically, we will be moving into an apartment where we will stay for 3 months. Then, sometime in September, our home will be ready for move-in! Yeah! Yet again, God has provided! After that short break, Matt left for Louisville, where he is currently taking a week-long course at the seminary. I sure do miss my hubby!
My trip to Farmington was a ball. I was able to spend quality time with the familia, which was the goal! Since coming back from there, I've done a bit more traveling to Los Lunas and Las Vegas, NM. In Los Lunas, I was able to see lots of family at my sister Jen's baby shower, which was really special. In Las Vegas, I was able to go to my cousins, Pammy and Glenn's house, where I got to play with their 3 month old baby, Selah, feed and pet their horses, feed chickens, and collect chicken eggs. It was so fun!
In the last few days, I've begun applying for jobs. There's nothing I'm necessarily set on doing, although I do have a desire to do something a little different than what I've done the last 4 years. We'll see what comes of the applications! I'll do my part in applying and let God do the rest. Eagerly awaiting His plans!
Lastly, I recently joined a Bible Study with some women at the church, and boy, do I love it?! It's been a while since I've been challenged in a study, and I'm so excited about it. The study we're doing is by Beth Moore, entitled, "Stepping Up!" Basically, it's challenging us ladies to take the next step in our walk with Christ. Already, in the short time we've met, God has done some amazing things. It's so fun to watch Him work! I'll tell you more about it as the study goes on! God is so good!
Well, I've gotta go for now. Keep in touch.
Love ya,
Charity
From the sound of it, Matt really enjoyed himself in Mexico! When he got home, although he was quite tired, he was very excited about the future in Mexico Missions! After Juarez, Matt had a one-and-a-half day break, in which we were able to get a lot done; specifically, we found both an apartment and a house! Basically, we will be moving into an apartment where we will stay for 3 months. Then, sometime in September, our home will be ready for move-in! Yeah! Yet again, God has provided! After that short break, Matt left for Louisville, where he is currently taking a week-long course at the seminary. I sure do miss my hubby!
My trip to Farmington was a ball. I was able to spend quality time with the familia, which was the goal! Since coming back from there, I've done a bit more traveling to Los Lunas and Las Vegas, NM. In Los Lunas, I was able to see lots of family at my sister Jen's baby shower, which was really special. In Las Vegas, I was able to go to my cousins, Pammy and Glenn's house, where I got to play with their 3 month old baby, Selah, feed and pet their horses, feed chickens, and collect chicken eggs. It was so fun!
In the last few days, I've begun applying for jobs. There's nothing I'm necessarily set on doing, although I do have a desire to do something a little different than what I've done the last 4 years. We'll see what comes of the applications! I'll do my part in applying and let God do the rest. Eagerly awaiting His plans!
Lastly, I recently joined a Bible Study with some women at the church, and boy, do I love it?! It's been a while since I've been challenged in a study, and I'm so excited about it. The study we're doing is by Beth Moore, entitled, "Stepping Up!" Basically, it's challenging us ladies to take the next step in our walk with Christ. Already, in the short time we've met, God has done some amazing things. It's so fun to watch Him work! I'll tell you more about it as the study goes on! God is so good!
Well, I've gotta go for now. Keep in touch.
Love ya,
Charity
Monday, June 16, 2008
Safe and Sound in New Mexico
Hello everyone! Just to fill you in on the last week or so, our road trip to NM went pretty well. I was not looking forward to the long trip, but honestly, Matt and I had much more fun than I had anticipated. Along the way, we did get to spend some time with an aunt and uncle of Matt's, which really helped to break up the trip. We appreciated the hospitality!
The first few days in town, we hunted for a home. We looked at both houses and apartments and, at this point, are still unsure of exactly where we're going to live. Thanks to our good friends, Jay and Jessica, we were nicely welcomed in their home until we can make a decision. Thanks, Kennedy's!
Matt's family came into town for the weekend! What a ball! We got to spend some quality time with them which was a real blessing. We celebrated 3 holidays...Father's Day, Mike and Teri's Anniversary, and Matt's Birthday. The family was able to go with us to our first service back at Sagebrush Community Church which was a special treat! It was so nice to see some familiar faces, and get some hugs from those we had sweet fellowship with just a few years ago. It's good to be back!
I dropped Matt off at the church early this morning for his trip to Juarez, Mexico. He'll be returning on Friday afternoon. Please pray for all involved, that each will be blessed not only by serving, but by being served as well and that their ultimate mission, God's glory, will be accomplished!
Right after I post this, I'm on my way to Farmington to go visit my family. Looking forward to having some quality time with the familia!
Hope all is well!
The first few days in town, we hunted for a home. We looked at both houses and apartments and, at this point, are still unsure of exactly where we're going to live. Thanks to our good friends, Jay and Jessica, we were nicely welcomed in their home until we can make a decision. Thanks, Kennedy's!
Matt's family came into town for the weekend! What a ball! We got to spend some quality time with them which was a real blessing. We celebrated 3 holidays...Father's Day, Mike and Teri's Anniversary, and Matt's Birthday. The family was able to go with us to our first service back at Sagebrush Community Church which was a special treat! It was so nice to see some familiar faces, and get some hugs from those we had sweet fellowship with just a few years ago. It's good to be back!
I dropped Matt off at the church early this morning for his trip to Juarez, Mexico. He'll be returning on Friday afternoon. Please pray for all involved, that each will be blessed not only by serving, but by being served as well and that their ultimate mission, God's glory, will be accomplished!
Right after I post this, I'm on my way to Farmington to go visit my family. Looking forward to having some quality time with the familia!
Hope all is well!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Goodbye Kentuckiana, Hello New Mexico!
Greetings, everyone! Well, it's really happening! Except for the furniture, all the rooms in our house are packed and the trailer is in front of our house waiting to be loaded! Matt finishes his last day of class today. After that, we will begin loading! We will finish up tomorrow, loading all but our mattress and probably the TV in case we find some time to lounge! Anyway, Sunday, we'll go to church, do some last minute cleaning at the house to make sure it's is spotless for the new owners, and attend our Going Away party Sunday night! Monday morning, we will close on the house at 9:00am and begin the twenty-something hour long haul to NM. Road trip! As you can see, just about every minute is planned until we leave. Thankfully, amidst the busyness of it all, we've still been able to spend some quality time with the people we've grown closest to here which has been really special. Everything has worked out so wonderfully! God has been so good to provide every need we've had and to allow everything to fall in place perfectly. A few weeks ago, we were anxious to see how it would all work out, and it's been more than amazing to watch the Lord put every single piece together! He is so good! We're so thankful for the life the Lord's blessed us with, the people He's placed in our lives, and the experiences He's allowed us to have to bring us to where we are today. He is so good! Well, gotta go for now. We love you all!
-Charity
-Charity
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Moving Update...
Well, rather than throwing some burgers on the grill, Charity and I spent most of Memorial Day packing up our stuff. We have two weeks before we leave Indiana and as most of you know, we like to be prepared. We worked hard but still had time in the evening to watch a hockey game. The Lord has really blessed us in the last week. After having our house on the market for only 7 days, last Friday we received an offer and accepted it. Tentatively our closing date is June 18th. This is a HUGE answer to prayer and we continue to pray that everything will go smooth. Everything seems to be working out quite well. As Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Truly the Lord has led us so faithfully.
One of the wonderful parts of moving is changing addresses, so here is our new address information:
One of the wonderful parts of moving is changing addresses, so here is our new address information:
Matt & Charity Bradshaw
8201 Golf Course Rd. NW #D3, #114
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Thanks for all your words of encouragement and support. We are excited to begin a new chapter in our lives!
8201 Golf Course Rd. NW #D3, #114
Albuquerque, NM 87120
E-mail: mattandchar@gmail.com
Thanks for all your words of encouragement and support. We are excited to begin a new chapter in our lives!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Important announcement!!! We are not pregnant, but...
On Monday evening, Sagebrush Community Church in Albuquerque, NM, offered me (Matt) a position as their new Missions Pastor! After Charity and I did some yelling, hooping, and hollering, I have accepted the position and am so eager to get started on this dream job. Truly, talk about a dream come true. Listen to this. Three years ago, I had a class assignment requiring me to create a missions ministry from scratch. Who would have known that a very similar ministry would come to fruition in my life?! How soon will this happen, you ask? Sooner than you think, my friend! In the second week of June, the Bradshaw's will be returning to Albuquerque! We are so excited! Don't worry...I have not forsaken my education; I will be able to complete my degree online over the next year or so. We will be sad to leave the friends we have made over the past three years here in Kentuckiana, but also recognize this amazing opportunity to do something we have longed to do for a while now! With a heart for both Sagebrush and Missions, we could not have asked for more! God is so good! He truly does give you the desires of your heart when you seek Him. We are so grateful to Sagebrush, the elders, and the pastor Todd, who have been so generous, kind, and welcoming.We will give more info later, but for now, thank you for your prayers and support!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Happy Spring!
Hello everyone! Long time no write! Life has been pretty busy in our neck of the woods! In addition to the the usual commitments toward work, school, and church, our calendars have also been filled with travel and celebrations galore!
As you will see from the pictures, we've very recently gone to a few joyous occasions including 2 weddings, and a baby shower. The first wedding was a couple of our good friends, Nathan and Meg, who we have met since we moved to Kentuckiana. The other was for my cousin, Adrian and his new bride, Priscilla. The baby shower was for my cousin, Pamela, and her precious new baby, Selah Rose! Other exciting parts of our trip to NM/CO included getting to see my sweet Grandma in Durango, Matt's grandfather in Farmington, going shopping with my glowing, beautiful, and pregnant sister, Jennifer, watching a Spring Program starring our talented niece, Avery, and last, but not least, visiting our church family at Sagebrush Community Church. Although our trip was quite a busy one, we had a great time and enjoyed having the opportunity to see everyone!
After getting back from NM, we basically hit the ground running. Matt has been working very hard to meet all of the deadlines in order to finish out this semester well! Thankfully, this week is Matt's last week of classes, followed by one week of finals, and then, ahhhhhhh, a little bit of a brain break. I have been working a lot at the hospital! We're both very exhausted, but know that there is some time for rest in the very near future! Can't wait!
One last thing...this last Saturday night, we said good-bye to some very good friends, John and Kelli and their kiddos, Kate and John David, who are moving to East Asia as missionaries. We met them at the church we are currently going to and have gotten to know them pretty well because they have been our small group leaders for the last year or so. We're really going to miss them, but are so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through them!
Gotta go for now. We've still got lots to catch up on. We hope this finds you happy and healthy! We love you all! Write us when you can!
Charity
As you will see from the pictures, we've very recently gone to a few joyous occasions including 2 weddings, and a baby shower. The first wedding was a couple of our good friends, Nathan and Meg, who we have met since we moved to Kentuckiana. The other was for my cousin, Adrian and his new bride, Priscilla. The baby shower was for my cousin, Pamela, and her precious new baby, Selah Rose! Other exciting parts of our trip to NM/CO included getting to see my sweet Grandma in Durango, Matt's grandfather in Farmington, going shopping with my glowing, beautiful, and pregnant sister, Jennifer, watching a Spring Program starring our talented niece, Avery, and last, but not least, visiting our church family at Sagebrush Community Church. Although our trip was quite a busy one, we had a great time and enjoyed having the opportunity to see everyone!
After getting back from NM, we basically hit the ground running. Matt has been working very hard to meet all of the deadlines in order to finish out this semester well! Thankfully, this week is Matt's last week of classes, followed by one week of finals, and then, ahhhhhhh, a little bit of a brain break. I have been working a lot at the hospital! We're both very exhausted, but know that there is some time for rest in the very near future! Can't wait!
One last thing...this last Saturday night, we said good-bye to some very good friends, John and Kelli and their kiddos, Kate and John David, who are moving to East Asia as missionaries. We met them at the church we are currently going to and have gotten to know them pretty well because they have been our small group leaders for the last year or so. We're really going to miss them, but are so excited to see what the Lord is going to do through them!
Gotta go for now. We've still got lots to catch up on. We hope this finds you happy and healthy! We love you all! Write us when you can!
Charity
Friday, March 21, 2008
Body Piercing Saved my Life!
But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5
Today we are mindful of the price paid for our mistakes. God gave his best for our worst, on this day, 2000 years ago. Against our understanding and our nature, God gave his only son to be pierced, crushed, and punished, so that we might find life in him. By his wounds we are healed, can you believe it?! It is our hope and prayer that today you do believe, that you receive the payment made on the cross, that you come to know the Creator of the universe and understand what he has done. For it is Friday, Good Friday and we remember the sacrifice made on our behalf and we mourn the death of our Savior. But we know that Sunday is coming, and we know that Christ rose from the grave and that because of this we have hope! Have a wonderful day knowing that by his wounds we are healed.
*Picture provided by FreeFoto.com
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Adam's Family visits Kentuckiana...
We were so blessed to have Charity's sister, Jen, and her husband, Spencer, come to visit us. They came out the last week of February. We had a great time and made some great memories. Thanks for coming to visit, Jen and Spencer! We love you guys!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Trip to New York
This last October, we had the amazing privilege of going on our dream vacation. It was kind of funny how it all came together. We were talking about going there for the holidays, but after pricing it, we believed our dream to travel to NYC would not yet be feasible. Well, within a week of this realization, we got an e-mail from a church in New York that was asking for some help from anyone able and willing to go. We would be provided with lodging. No sooner than we got that e-mail did we start calculating prices, googling airfare, and making all the necessary arrangements to make this possible. Within two months, we were on our way to The Big Apple!!!
New York is one amazing place in so many ways! Not only are there hundreds of thousands of people from hundreds of countries speaking hundreds of languages, but it has so many exciting sites to see and places to go! We did almost all that we could. We had a great setup. We helped with the church in the days and lived it up in the evenings. From taking a tour at Ground Zero to walking through Times Square to riding the Staten Island Fairy to climbing stairs to the top of the Empire State Building, we made some great memories!
New York is one amazing place in so many ways! Not only are there hundreds of thousands of people from hundreds of countries speaking hundreds of languages, but it has so many exciting sites to see and places to go! We did almost all that we could. We had a great setup. We helped with the church in the days and lived it up in the evenings. From taking a tour at Ground Zero to walking through Times Square to riding the Staten Island Fairy to climbing stairs to the top of the Empire State Building, we made some great memories!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Why do we need a blog?!
Simply because we are so blessed to know so many wonderful people!!! With that blessing comes a curse, though. The curse is having the desire to maintain healthy relationships but not being able to do that consistently. So, for a time, we came up with the idea of sending out a quarterly newsletter, which we were only fairly consistent with. Now, in an effort to communicate more frequently and consistently with you all, we are becoming more technologically advanced by creating this "Bradshaw Blog." We know, we know that it is about five years after the blog revolutionized the internet, but, as the saying goes, better late than never! So, what you will find on our blog is everything that is going on in our world. Our hope is that you visit often, interact with us, and in the end, help us maintain our relationships that we cherish so greatly!
-Matt and Charity
-Matt and Charity
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