Kerri Bradford Studio » Blog

Lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. Okay, more overwhelmed than usual, let’s say. ;) Somehow I’ve got too many major things going on in my life all at the same time. I’ve been having this feeling…this urge…this need…to simplify and focus on what really matters.

It’s just been constantly on my mind this past little while.

Then the other morning, I woke up, grabbed my iPhone and started perusing some sites–as I often do from the comfort of my bed. I was looking at blogs and being rather jealous (so to speak) at how much they are able to put into it themselves. Something I feel I’ve been lacking. And I just thought:

Now I don’t think of this in any kind of selfish tone. What I mean is, I need to focus on what’s most important for me and my life and put my efforts there and limit them elsewhere–or spread those occurrences out anyway. ;)

What’s most important to me is:
   My Family
   My Business
   My Home
   My Church callings

I feel so broken apart and scattered all over the place, that I’m not able to fully put the important part of ‘me’ into what’s important to ‘me.’

So how do I do that? 

Well, I think once I get my office back to where it should be, get my house cleaned and in order for company for graduation, and I get my new website up and rolling? That will be a huge start.

But what’s next? What do I see happening in the future?

Besides the personal life, on the business side of things I see new classes in the near future. I see a Friday Freebie every Friday this summer (yep, it’s true). I see more examples from me. I see more kits. I see balancing all that with keeping up with my home and family and church.

And that’s where I need to be. 

Woooooweeeee….. It’s been a crazy past few days (well couple weeks, really. :)). This morning my eyes are swollen and my feet are swollen and all I want to do is just lay around.

We left for HSN on Monday and if you follow me on Facebook, that started off with a bang when I lost my crown late the night before. So I had to go get that fixed before noon…along with all the other errands and packing that needed attending to.

Lots of ‘behind the scenes’ craziness and mayhem that always seems to accompany the HSN shows. But Lisa was super happy to see her new set, which included her new logo. Looks awesome, eh?

Lisa brought Collin to enjoy some Florida sunshine with her before he leaves for his mission in a few short weeks. 

Lisa was really sweet to accommodate my desire to see Jordan’s very last choir concert last night. To do that, I had to fly out of Orlando–rather than Tampa–to catch an early afternoon flight. Lisa and Collin were going there anyway for an extra few days, but it is an hour and a half away, so we had to book it after her 9:00 show to get to the airport on time.

All was well and I made it an hour before take off.

All I wanted to do was sleep on the plane because I was soooo tired, but it was not in the cards for me as a toddler was crying and screaming just behind me….for two hours. I usually try to have patience and understanding, but it was really difficult yesterday. All I wanted was some sleep. Headphones didn’t help either. Oh, and before the crying occurred, I had just drifted off for maybe ten minutes when the person next to me needed to get up and use the bathroom. Oy.

Then I reached Denver for my layover.

The 4:25 boarding time didn’t occur until almost 5:00–which was the take off time. While waiting, I see the lightening occurring out the window.

We got on the plane and  there’s no air blowing because apparently there’s something being fixed and they are trying to keep the noise down where they are working. Ugh.

After about 15 minutes or so we pull back away from the gate  . . . and then sit.

Another 15 minutes go by and we hear word that we can finally go out and taxi. That they had closed down all but one runway because of the weather and that all the planes that were circling were landing.

More time goes by as we sit on the tarmac and slowly roll here and there. Eventually I get to the spot where I can see (because I’ve got a window seat) the majorly long line of airplanes! I started counting, one, two, three ,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten…. and that was where I couldn’t see anymore but there were more in front of us and more behind the structures that I couldn’t see.

Then the captain comes on and says, ‘Folks, we’re about 20th in line for takeoff…..’ 

Oh my gosh!

So yeah, needless to say, our 5:00 takeoff time turned to 6:30, which resulted in me getting to my car by about 7:45 and only making it to the last two songs of the choir concert. We live 40 minutes away from the airport too.

I did see this on the way in though.

Today is a lovely day. It’s also bittersweet. While I have so many great women in my life like my mother-in-law and my stepmom–and I love them dearly, a girl would still just like to call and wish her own mom a happy mother’s day. It’s been…gosh…almost nine years since my mom passed away. And while every year is easier, there are some days, like today, when you just wish she were around.

One of my girls were asking me about missing my mom a few weeks ago. And I told her that it’s not that I think about her every day in the whole ‘missing’ factor, but rather, I often think, ‘Mom would have gotten a kick out of this’, like when I got to go to London with Lisa to do QVC. Or she would have loved seeing Zach give his homecoming talk. Or she would have loved taking photos with Kassidy. Or to hear that Jordan got to sing in Carnegie Hall.

It’s those moments she’s missing with us physically, although I’m sure she’s probably watching spiritually.

Still not quite the same though. ;)

Anyway, I just wanted to wish all you wonderful women, no matter what stage you are in life, a wonderful day today. And if you have children or a mother, be sure to hug or call them today and tell them just how much you love them. I love my kids very much and regardless of the bickering that occurs (lol), I thank my heavenly father–and my kids–for giving me such wonderful kids. I love them and am happy to be their mom.

And now I just thought I’d leave you with this little collage of my mom–a little memorial, if you will, on Mother’s Day. Love you mom.

p.s. I know I must have photos of Kass with my mom, but the only one I could find at the time is the one of her, Jordan and their cousin walking down the path at Heceta Head Lighthouse in Oregon. One of my mom’s favorite places to be. And it’s one of my favorite photos.

p.p.s. this is a collage from storyboard #8. :)