People say best friends are hard to find -- that's because the best is already mine!

I have been blessed with the best friends in the entire world! They are all very different from each other but I love each of them! This past August, 3 of these friends that are closest to me moved away to become teachers...all different sides of the country (South Carolina, Missouri and California) I was so happy that they were moving on and following God's leading in their lives but I was so sad to see them go. You see, we had never been separated up until that point. Our friendship started in the church nursery and continued thru elemetary thru high school and then thru college! Two of them are home for Christmas and I am soo happy to have them back in person again!! :) That is the reason for the timing of this post!

Michelle....my life long best friend! We have so many memories together and she has been there for me through so much! Michelle is my Maid of Honor!! I miss her so much! She is a 3rd and 4th grade teacher in California! I am so excited b/c after Julian and I get married we will be living in the same area again! She is my constant friend! I love her so much!

Tab and Nicole

These two beautiful girls are also my bridesmaids! I love these girls so much! We also grew up together and had ups and downs throughout elementary and high school but during the last couple of years we became super close and today they are two of the people that I cherish the most! Tab is teaching 1st and 2nd grade in South Carolina and Nicole is a preschool teacher here in our home town!

Julie

Julie, she is my long distance friend...:) Almost our entire friendship has been long distance! We met in 9th grade at a Youth Conference...she was from Baltimore, MD and I was from Chesterton, IN.....Since 9th grade we have only seen each other 5 times! The longest being 7 days! We kept in contact through all the drama of high school and then her two years of college (she went to school in Cali) and then 2 years ago, she got married (which btw is the last time I saw her) and since then has moved to Oregon... but our friendship continues! I am so thankful for her! She has been a faithful friend! A friend that I know will always be there! And by the way...looks like we will be living closer to each other than we ever have before, after I get married! She will only be 4 hours away from me!!! I'm so happy about that! I can't wait to see her again and I am so happy that she will be standing up on the platform with me on my wedding day!

Liz
This is my Liz twin! She just such a super sweet friend! She is the kind of friend that is always thinking of other people and would do anything to see the ones she loves happy! I love this about her! She moved to MO this fall and became a Kindergarden teacher! She is one of the most creative people I know! I love her to pieces! She is going to make an awesome wife/mom/homemaker...

Becca!

This is my next door neighbor/"big sister"! Becca and I have always been good friends...started about the time I was born...when I came home from the hospital and we became next door neighbors! We are both the only girls in our families so we always referred to each other as "sisters"! She is 5 years older than me so all growing up Becca is the one that I looked up to! She will also be standing as a bridesmaid...she will always mean a lot to me..no matter where life takes us! She'll always be my one and only "big sister"!

So, basically the overall point of this post is to say that I believe I have the BEST friends in the world~ There are more, of course, but these are the people that I consider my BEST friends!

Wow...what a rotten blogger I have been! These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy...school projects, work, work Christmas party, Christmas Concert at Church, Christmas Banquet at Church, FINALS.....those are all my excuses! :) I haven't even had time to read all of your blogs...time to catch up!!!

I hope all of you have been enjoying the Christmas season so far! I love it...ALL OF IT!!! I can finally enjoy it completely! As of 25 minutes ago I finished my last final of the semester! I am finally done! Only one more semester to go!!! STUDENT TEACHING here I come!! If I haven't mentioned it before, I will be student teaching beginning in January! I am so excited/scared/nervous.... The classes I will be teaching are....9th and 10th Geography and 6th Math!

I plan on posting pics soon of all my Christmas festivities so far and the exciting ones to come!!

I am very excited about this Christmas! This will be the first Christmas Julian and I will be together! He usually goes home to California for the break but this year he chose to stay with me!! YAY!! :) We will be traveling to South Carolina to spend Christmas with my Mom's side of the family!! We are all very close and look forward to making some more great memories this Christmas!!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas!!

I have something else...very important...to post about soon! I hope to get to it later today!!

21 Years Ago.....

21 years ago, on this day, December 7, 1988, Steve and Jane Brady brought into the world their third child...David Roger Brady! I can't believe my little brother is 21 today!!! Wow...what memories we have together!!! Starting with one that neither of us remember but our parents remember very well.... It seems that even before the first time we met we had it out for each other :P...Our parents always tell the story about that special day when they were to bring David (a.k.a...the BABY of the family...always has been ....always will be...) home from the hospital. This was also going to be the first time I (the 13 month old, at the time) was going to meet my little brother...haha...I obviously could sense that my world was about to be turned upside down because as my Dad was driving to the hospital I puked ALL OVER THE ENTIRE CAR....hahahaha...my Dad still says that he doesn't remember me ever puking that much any other time....it was EVERYWHERE!!!

Needless to say....I obviously wasn't all too pumped about having this new "person" around! :) But today I can honestly say that I am so happy that we brought you home from the hospital that day Dave!! I wouldn't trade you for any other brother.... Thanks for all the wonderful memories...good...bad...ugly...:) I love you!

Me visiting Dave at his school last Spring Break!

For those you of you that don't know him...this picture pretty much sums him up! :)

Navy Pier, Chicago

At one of his College Baseball games

Happy 21st Birthday to my funny-annoying-tall-loving-protective-opinionated-blonde-hilarious-awesome-crazy-melancholy-handsome-serious-never a dull moment-baby BROTHER!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

I saw this fun Christmas survey on Valerie's Blog and decided to take part in the Christmas Spirit...Enjoy!!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I like either... Bags are way easier and faster but paper is so much more fun to unwrap!


2. Real tree or Artificial?

I really love real trees! When we were younger we would take a whole day and travel up into Michigan and cut down our own tree and have hot chocolate etc... Those were some good memories! Once we got older we just went to having an artificial tree (and they are pretty too) but I definitely want to get real trees when I have my own family!


3. When do you put up the tree?

Well we always do it on a Saturday usually the week after Thanksgiving...

4. When do you take the tree down?

Usually the week after New Years...its always sad! :(

5. Do you like eggnog?

Well, I never did...or at least I didn't think I did b/c I had never tried it but then last Christmas I had some eggnog ice cream and I loved it!! But I still haven't had the courage to actually drink it...maybe I'll try that this year! Does anyone know if it taste anything like eggnog ice cream?

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I'm not sure...We always had very nice Christmas'!! Now that I think about it probably the best gift was when I got my very own American Girl Doll...

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My Dad...he gets himself anything he wants..lol..and he is very picky!!!! He has to pick out his own clothes, even his socks have to be these exact certain ones....so usually we have to listen to him when we are shopping and anything that he comments on in a positive way we get for him!

8. Easiest person to buy for?

My fiance...b/c he will like anything that's from me...LOL...at least he better :)

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Oh YES!! We have had the same one since we were little...I love it! My parents went on a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea a couple of years ago and actually got a new one from Israel..its really neat too (carved wood) so now we put up both!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

My Mom has always mailed them!! I am very excited for next year so that we can do our very own! I will be sure to keep up this tradition!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

hmm...I'm not sure....The only thing I can think of were these REALLY ugly slippers that my Grandma got me and my cousins one Christmas...they were really really ugly...lol

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Usually around Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

NO! THAT'S AWFUL!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

HAM!!! :P I love ham!

16. Lights on the tree?

Oh definitely!!

17. Favorite Christmas song?

I love most Christmas music...although that Mr. Grinch song really really really annoys me..lol...seriously! But I love Silent Night, O Holy Night, Little Drummer Boy, Christmas Shoes, The First Noel and many more.....

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Well..there are mixed emotions about this! We always traveled at Christmas but I think when I have children I want to be home for Christmas Day...its a hard decision though b/c I really love being with family on Christmas too! But I really want to have some fun traditions with my own family...

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?

Uhh...well I'll try...Rudolph! haha I know that one! ....Cupid, Comet, Dasher Blizten...I'm drawing a blank on the rest

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

hello...Santa doesn't come till the night before Christmas..lol...there aren't any presents till Christmas morning...:P

22. Most annoying part about this time of year?

That Mr. Grinch song...hahaha.....and I'm going to ditto Valerie...and in my own words say...It's annoying that it is such a big deal when we use the phrase "Merry Christmas"

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Every year since we were born my Grandma Meeker has gotten everyone on our side of the family a Hallmark ornament and I love them... those are my favorite type of ornaments...

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I'm not really the type to be picky..I love anything people give me! One thing I really wanted is to spend this Christmas with my fiance (he usually goes back to Cali for the break) and he is staying!! So YAY!!! I already got what I want..anything else will be a bonus!!

So close..but so far away...

Only 7 months from today is our wedding day!!! I am so excited! I can't believe it's already been almost 2 months since we got engaged! Yikes...I have so much to do!! Anyhow, just wanted to keep everyone updated on the countdown...SEVEN MONTHS!!!!

Belated Thanksgiving!!

I feel horrible that I didn't have any post about Thanksgiving...I love Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for! We were extremely busy this entire week and although I did have a few minutes here and there to keep up with the blogs I follow...I didn't have a large amount of time to sit and write a post... We traveled to Springfield, Ill. to visit with my Dad's side of the family this week. We had a very enjoyable time! I brought my groom-to-be along with and he was introduced to this side of the family for the first time!! Like I said...it was a great holiday!!
I'd like to dedicate this post to some of the things I am most thankful for....

• An amazing God!
• Being in love with the sweetest man on this earth!
• Wonderful parents who I know will always be there for me!
• Crazy, unpredictable, but good brothers
• Awesome friends
• Great church family
• Fun job
• Adorable toddlers that I get paid to hold, hug and kiss all day long!!
• Hilarious coworkers that are a joy to work with
• Warm house
• Food always on the table
• America
• Target
• Cars to drive
• Mountain dew
• Makeup
• Music
• Shopping
• Pictures
• The color PINK :)
• Wedding planning
• JULY 2, 2010!!!

....and I could keep going...:) I have so much to be thankful for! God has truly been great to me and my family and given me more than I deserve!

I can't wait till next Thanksgiving..I'll be able to celebrate it as a married woman!!

PHOEBE...

Phoebe...she is the best part of my work day! Around this time last year was when I was introduced to Phoebe... As you know I work at a local preschool.... This time last year I was asked to work in the Infant room and that is where Phoebe and I met! About the time she turned one I was then moved to the Toddler room and I was so happy because it gave me the opportunity to move up along with Phoebe and others that I had become so attached to! Anyhow, anyone that knows me very well has heard me talk about Phoebe...she is so special to me! I wish everyone of you could meet her! This is a picture of her about the time I met her!

Now, you are probably thinking that I fell in love with her because of her super sweet personality and loving hugs and kisses...haha...actually she was and still is the exact opposite! Lets just say..if she doesn't know you...she doesn't like you...AT ALL!! Now, as she turned into a toddler she did become a little better at being sociable...lol... It took a few weeks for her to warm up to me and before I knew it...I was the one she was clinging to when anyone that she didn't recognize walked into the room! :) She stole my heart!! I adore this little girl! Look at her blue eyes! This is what she looks like today....

SO ADORABLE!

Phoebe has grown up sooo much! She is even saying some words now! The first word I heard her say was..."Alright".... she still says it...when ever you tell her anything her reply is ..."alright"...now I am just waiting for my name to come out one of these days! I know its coming! Ill be sure to blog about it!! I love my job! I get to be right there when they do so many of their first!! First step, first word...its soo amazing! I love each of my kids but Phoebe for sure has a special place in my heart!

Flower Girl and Ring Bearer

So, recently I asked a close family friend's children to be my flower girl and ring bearer...I would like to share some very sweet pictures of them and me the night I asked them. They are the cutest kids ever!! We absolutely love their family! Also, I found these adorable cookies online and gave them to them when I asked them to be in the wedding...

Them with their cookies! You can tell Andrew isn't quite as excited as Nicole :)

Look at her face! :) This was right when she realized what the cookie said...awww..:) She looked up at me and said.."Yes!"

The supper cute cookies!

My People!

My Fiance Julian!

So, this is the man of my dreams!!! I know that that is a phrase that is way over used but how else do you say it? :) Julian was born and raised in Northern California and I am so happy that the Lord led him to INDIANA for college!! Our freshman year we had some classes together and this is when we first got to know each other...(although we were both dating other people at that time :) Over Christmas break of our freshman year we both ended up breaking up with our boyfriend/girlfriend at the time!! Which meant he came back to school (I live here in the same town as the school) and we were both "available"!!!! By February we figured out that we had mutual feelings for each other and the rest is history! :) On October 9, 2009, he asked me to marry him!!!!! We will be getting married July 2, 2010!!! (Only 237 days from now!!!) Our plans after our wedding are to move back to California and start our life together!

My Parents!

I have the most wonderful parents in the world!!! I truly do!! I love them so much and it will be so very hard for me when I move 2000 miles away from them! They have taken care of us (I also have two brothers ...see below..) and sacrificed so much to make sure we had everything we needed and more.... Not only that but they raised us in a good church where we learned about God from the time we were little! They mean so much to me..I owe them everything! I am so glad that we have a great relationship and I know that they will always always be there for me!!

My brothers!!

Here they are...the 2 people that I spent the first 19 years of my life making memories with. I have great brothers...not always perfect...but great! We had an AWESOME childhood together....there were times spent every fall raking leaves together, times chasing each other around the house, doing a paperroute together in the middle of the night, training for a marathon together (very early mornings), climbing in the Teton Mountains in Wyoming together, Christmas', Birthdays, them being over protective, them being annoying :), wrestling each other on the living room floor when Mom and Dad were out of the house, mowing other people's lawns, mowing our own HUGE lawn...and on and on.... I love my brothers! Now we all live in separate parts of the country....but I know they are always a phone call away!
p.s....I do realize that I look horrible in this pic...it is our most recent one together this summer...but it was taken verrrrrryy late at night...:)

Now, there are many other people that mean so much to me and I'm sure you will be hearing all about them in future post... but these are the people who are #1 in my life!

Have a wonderful night.....:)

Hello to the Blogging world!

I finally did it! I am an official blogger now!! There are a couple different reasons for my decision to start a blog... First, I read other people's blogs ALL the time. Some of them are my friends in real life and others (most) are people who I have never seen or met and these people don't even know that I read their blogs! So, I wanted to start a blog so that I can start leaving comments on those blogs that I read and love but can never comment on because I do not have a blog..:) Secondly, as a I stated in my "about me" post...I am getting married in July...after our honeymoon we will be moving 2000 miles away to California! I decided that it would be good to start a blog so that family and friends around the country could have a little better glimpse into my life even from far away. So here it goes...wish me luck! I look forward to the journey ahead of me in the blogging world!