New Car

Hello team. Just a real quick update. I bought a new car today. 2008 Honda Civic LX. Pictures and details to follow. If anyone knows anyone who wants a piece of junk jetta please send them my way. Thanks.

Jars+Family=Christmas Miracle

I think that some of you guys may recall the Christmas Jar service activity the extended Bradshaw family participated in a few years back. Each individual family kept a jar in their home for a whole year and collected spare change. Right before Christmas we delivered the jars to a family in need. It was a wonderful experience to know that the small sacrifice we made had a large influence on a family who needed some extra support. Not only does the money help financially in providing a Christmas, but it also reminds people of what Christmas really is for. It provides them with feelings of love and gratitude. It was truly a blessing to be a part of this and it had a profound impact on me.

This year I decided that since I wasn't living at home and with my own family that it would be a good idea to do something similar with my Family Home evening Group here at school. It just so happens that I have the best husband and family EVER. This whole year we have really enjoyed spending time together and have had great success in getting most everyone to attend and bond with others. As the mother I headed up the Christmas jar service project. I did, however, have tremendous support from my husband and children :) We had small jars for each apartment in our group and for three weeks they left it on their counter to collect change. We found the good cause through Mom who had told me about a little girl in one of her classes that had had some recent trauma in her family. They were suffering financially. She was one of seven children under the age of 12.

When Adam(the husband) and I went and collected them on Sunday we were SHOCKED to find that there was $134.00 total!! It took a while to count but every second was a treat as each came from someone sacrificing just small change for such a good cause. We got a list of ideas for presents and hit up the nearest Wal-mart! We took several members of the family that were able to come (it's a busy time of year... finals) We ended up buying so much stuff! Get ready it's a long list: Diapers, teething rings, hotwheels cars, memory, baby doll, polly pockets, basketball, football, sled, Sorry!, Uno, Candyland, some books, crayons, puzzles, coloring books amongst several others!! We went over our budget a little bit but we got everything on our list and more! We came right home and wrapped them all up! It took a lot of time and effort from everyone in our group to accomplish what we did. I can't wait to deliver these presents to the cute family. I am still amazed at what a small group of people can do when they have a goal and a little determination.

I have truly enjoyed being a part of such a wonderful experience. It has been a pleasure to work with this group. I am grateful for this time of year and the opportunity it gives us to serve and remember Christ. Merry Christmas!!

Special shout out to Adam Porter and the best family ever!!

These are our jars full of coins after we counted and sorted!!

Out family at Wal-mart. We were going to take a second with me in the picture but an associate kindly warned us that pictures weren't allowed to be taken inside the store. Darn.This is part of the stack of wrapped presents. It's hard to tell how many there are because they are piled. But take my word for it. There was tons.

I have no idea how this picture got on or how to remove it... just ignore.

Taking a break :)

So, I thought I'd take a quick study break and tell you about my study break from last night!! As some of you may know, I am the FHE mother for my group. I LOVE this calling. My little family is the best and my husband is even better. Anyway, last night we went to see the Utah Flash (a lower division bball team- I don't really know how it works) take on Dakota (Funny because they never mentioned which Dakota they were from). Someone in our group managed to get 26 tickets for free. There were rumors that Michael Jordan was supposed to be there and play a little one on one with Brian Russell. They had announced the challenge on ESPN, but many of us doubted he would actaully show. At half time they turned out the lights and got everyone hyped up. Spotlights came out and they announced Brian Russell who walks out in a sweatshirt jacket and converse shoes. (we were suspicioius at this point). He comes out and is trash talking MJ saying, "Where are you MJ??? Are you going to show? Is he going to chicken out??" Yeah, that's right everyone he was trash talking a fifty year old basketball legend who crossed him over in that one game (and by that one game I mean the NBA finals game). Then, the lights go out again and they "present" MJ and some black dude walks out surrounded by four body guards. He is wearing jeans and sunglasses. Brian Russell starts laughing and taunting him and then the fake MJ picks up the ball, and turns around to leave. Brian Russell went on about how MJ wasn't gutsy enough to show and leaves himself.

I didn't really think he would come and I guess I was right. About 75% of the crowd left immediately because everyone was so disappointed. They really hyped it up. Our group was really sad but that didn't stop us from enjoying the game! Afterwards we went underground to find the team. We just happened to run into Brian Russell. I put my arm around his waist but couldn't reach the other side. It was a real treat.

Kelli's aunts threw Kelli a lovely bridal shower this week. Aunt Sharlan hosted the party at her house, we had soup and salad for dinner, played a couple of fun games and enjoyed opening gifts. Both of Kelli's Grandmas were there. Aunts Paula, Mary, Judy, and Kerry assisted with the shower and all the girl cousins that are in town came too. They are all so cute. Jake's Mom Debbie, and sister Diana also attended and it was nice to get to know them a little better. The shower was really fun and she got some nice things. Kelli is so fortunate to have such great people in her life that love and care about her!

Jane's Birthday Cake

I just made Jane's cake today. I thinks it is pretty obvious who Kelli should have gone with to make her wedding cake...

I'm engaged!

So, here's the story. Jake and I have been planning on getting married for awhile, so it really is no surprise. But, Saturday night (11/14) Jake picked me up and had the prettiest red roses (the picture doesn't do the flowers justice) and took me to dinner. We went to Carabba's. It was so good! I had never been there. Then we started driving and he took me to the Provo temple. We walked around there and then he sat me down on the freezing bench and asked me to marry him. I obviously said yes. He then said some really cute stuff, so that was fun and cute. And that's how it happened. It was perfect for me. I really didn't want a bunch of people around and so this was perfect. I really am the luckiest girl ever! Here are some pictures of that night. I really can't get a good picture of the ring. It blurs everytime or just looks like a big white blob. Oh, don't mind the fat fingers- it's a Bradshaw trait :) But, I am so happy and so excited so I hope you enjoy.

My most embarrassing moment. EVER.

So everyone, next time I go to a party and they ask what my most embarrassing moment is, I now have something to say.
A little background to the story:
I just happened to be "seeing" this guy, but that ended on monday. Yesterday, my friend Taylor and I were walking out to her car. We saw his car and I felt the urge to kick it. I'm not mad at him or anything but I just really wanted to kick it! So, I looked around to make sure no one was watching and ran up and kicked the rear bumper. All of a sudden I hear someone say, "Do you really just go around beating up peoples cars?" I look to my right and I see the Hollywood sign... (jk that was for Brad and Kelli) I look to my right and low and behold I see Blake and his friend sitting in the car right next to his with their windows down! Not only did they see what I had done but they heard me say "I'm going to kick it! I'm just going to kick it!!"
Now, I can't even begin tell you how embarrassed I am. How immature am I? I acted like a five year old!! Clearly I'm not old enough to be in college and living on my own. I just wanted to kick his car, but I guess I learned my lesson.
I hope you all enjoyed my story. Try not to laugh too hard like mom did last night when I told her. I thought she was going to pee her pants.

Walmart

As you all know I have been seeking employment and have had no luck whatsoever. I have tried many places but have only gotten a few interviews. Sometimes I sit and stare at my phone and say to myself "somebody call me, somebody please call me" as you can all tell that has not worked out for me. So I am telling you this that I am completely desperate because I have been unemployed for going on 2 months that I had to apply at Walmart. I did not want to do it and I have been dredding it for a long time. Who knows if they will even hire me (like all of the other places I have applied at) but I applied and now I get to play the waiting game that I have been playing for a long time. Katelyn Serafine

New news.

Hello folks. I thought I'd blog about some new things happening in the Serafine family! I only have a few minutes before class.

First of all, Riley had the swine. Or atleast we think he did.

Kelli got a fantastic promotion at work! We are very proud of her!!

I also was offered a full time position at my work starting in the summer. It has some more responsibility and I'm pretty sure there is a pay raise! The other day at work I was surprised to find two monitors sitting on my desk. I never knew how helpful it would be to have two screens. But it has made a world of difference, I now struggle with my laptop because there just isn't enough room to see everything! This job is great news because I won't be jobless for 6 weeks at the beginning of the summer, I won't be forced to play dodgeball and tornado and I won't get a summer tan.

I just aced my Biology test! So that is good news. Kate is going to take it in a couple hours! Wish her luck.

I also got 100% on my psych quiz.

But now I have to write an essay on Australia and prepare for a beastly chapter quiz on Northern Africa. Warning for anyone interested in geography: don't do it. Worst idea ever.

Well, I don't have anything else to announce! I think we need more updates from you out of state people.

Oh yeah! I got bangs. I'll upload a pic

Kelli's trip to Kansas

Well hello there everyone. I recently got back from a 4 day 5 night trip to Wichita Kansas. It was a very enjoyable weekend. I had so much fun playing with the girls, laughing with Mandy and Brad and sleeping in :) (I guess 6:30 is sleeping in to some people- but at least it was to Jane coming into the room saying, "Hey Aunt Kelli want to play games") The meals were delicious and the company was even better. Thanks Brad and Mandy for a fun weekend.


Below are some pictures from my phone-they aren't the greatest, but they'll give you an idea of the weekend.



I don't know if Brad or Mandy even knew that I took this picture. I think it's hilarious though. Jane in time out. Need we say more?