No More Coincidences

The word coincidence is officially gone from my vocabulary. I am convinced now more than ever, that every step we take is directed. Every missed offramp has a purpose. Every annoyance that slows us down was placed there with a mission. Curious as to why....here goes.....


Kathy, Letty, Cathy and I went to P.F. Chang's to celebrate my birthday the other night. We had a great dinner but lots of little things happened which seemed totally inconsequential at the time, but now I realize they were HUGE factors in the Holy Cow portion of the night.

Some of the little things - Letty hit every red light on her way to pick all of us up making us 20 minutes late for our reservation - the appetizer chef was backed up so it took us longer to get our Lettuce Wraps than usual - in all we ended up spending 4 hours at the restaurant but it was 4 great hours!

Now the little things on the drive home - Kathy had to pick up Ken's car on the way home(because she didn't have time to do it with him that morning) so we we're trying to figure out which off ramp to take. She said "take off ramp #1" I said "no it's off ramp #2" so we bypassed #1 and got off at #2, which of course was the wrong off ramp (#1 was right - oops!).

Now the Holy Cow! - As we started trying to back track to where we were supposed to be we came to a red light at an intersection of a freeway overpass. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something move, then the light turned green and I realized it was a person, over the fence standing on the edge of the overpass! I told the girls and they were like "are you sure?", "now way".....so we proceed to pick up Kathy's car and decide to drive back that way just to make sure that I was wrong. But I wasn't wrong - there was a guy standing on the edge of the overpass looking down, drinking a beer.....I freaked! I called 911 and we went and parked in an alley where we could still see him. It seemed like forever before the 1st sheriff arrived and even then the guy would not get off the overpass - he was a jumper! So we pulled out of the alley so we could ID ourselves to the police if necessary. They closed down the freeway...more and more police came....they were down on the freeway....on the hillside leading up to the overpass....around the guy trying to talk to him. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity - he got down! I can even find the right word to describe how this all felt!

Looking back on all the little things that happened I realize we were meant to be there. The red lights, little annoyances....if they hadn't have happened who knows...........


But leave it to Greg to be able to make me laugh last night - while we were in the alley waiting for the police to show up I called him. Told him what was happening and he says "Honey, you don't have to call and make up some crazy crap about why you're late. Just say you're late." Right about then the cops showed up and Kathy was yelling "there's the cops! they're going over to him!" Greg says, "See, I can even hear Kathy in the background egging you on."

Yesterday we found out that the guy is on a suicide watch somewhere. I'm praying for him, whoever he is, and his circumstances.

So my big point of the day.....Don't get mad when you hit all the red lights - there may be someone around the corner who needs you to be there!

The Birthday Tattoo!!

I did it!! Greg took me on my birthday for my new tattoo!!




Here I am at 36 with my first tattoo!! A 36 year old, Volvo driving, suburban mommy and wife - some might say this is one of my unpolitically correct moves -- but I LOVE IT!

There's a story behind this of course. I'm really tired of people being judged based on the outside. I have some really Godly friends that are inked all over....and just because they have tattoos they are preceived as being "less worthy of salvation"...hmmmm.....I have actually had a conversation with a friend who thought my tattoo was a sin....but then we talked, read the Bible and amazingly enough...not a sin! In fact, I think of my tattoo as a form of silent witness. Now, I haven't been to church since I did this so I'm sure there will be more to tell!!

We all just need to look at a person's heart and inside....not how they look on the outside!

Merry Christmas!

I saw a great sign today - it said "Merry Christmas Spoken Here" ... it struck me since it seems that 'Merry Christmas' is being replaced by 'Happy Holidays' in an effort to be politically correct.

As I sit here tonight and reflect on the day and who I am, I have decided I am probably totally politically incorrect as someone can come...but I am happy with me, comfortable and secure in what I believe...and my kids seem to think I'm okay! Greg only had to throw things at me a couple of times during the holiday dinner table to get me to zip the lip, but hey, he loves me anyway! :)

Some think I'm an enigma or oxymoron - (don't really like the moron part of that word!), I'll settle for woman of international intrigue and mystery.... well, I'll keep telling myself that anyway!

As this new year comes upon us I want to wish you all the Lord's abundant blessings and peace in your life. Seek Him and you will find it....it's not easy....but then again things worth having never are.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yes - today is the day......36 years!! Wow - where does the time go!!?? For some reason this birthday is bugging me....is it because I'm halfway to 72...move into a new age bracket....realize that when my mom was 36 I was 18... Who Knows!

Oh well, had a nice morning...got a fuzzy new robe, original artwork by Kade and knives, if you can believe it. Greg actually got me knives! I'm not even supposed to cut things if he's not home....to many sharp object accidents you know!

Here is a layout I did for the Junkitz DT Call about who I was at 35....who I was....yesterday.....still pretty much the same today....but I think an at 36 layout will be showing up in the near future!

I've Been Tagged!!

Got tagged by [url=http://deannakroll.blogspot.com/]Deanna[/url] so here we go!!

The rules for this particular tagging are as follows:

Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add yourself to the bottom slot.

1. Kdubs
2. Courtney
3. Beth
4. Deanna (View of Life)
5. Julie B

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.

1. Anita
2. Laura
3. Jill
4. Cynthia
5. Meghan

Now, on to the questions!

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Enjoying my first year of marriage!

What were you doing one year ago?
Same thing as today, living one day at a time!

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Nacho Cheese Doritos
2. Sweet Pickles
3. Almond Joy
4. String Cheese
5. Cashews

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1. Barney Theme Song
2. This Woman's Work by Kate Bush
3. Dora the Explorer Theme Song
4. We Will Rock You by Queen
5. Blvd. of Broken Dreams by Green Day

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Pay for my kiddos college education
2. Go on a shoe shopping spree
3. Donate $ to an AIDS Orphanage in South Africa
4. Help our the homeless in my own community
5. Vacation!

Five bad habits:
1. Potty Mouth
2. Paying no attention to my budget
3. Being a little judgemental
4. Buying to many pairs of shoes
5. Binge eating

Five things you like doing:

1. Scrapbooking
2. Sleeping
3. Spending time with family and friends
4. Enjoying a great meal
5. SHOPPING!!!

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get new again:
1. Lycra bike shorts
2. Leather Maternity Pants (yes I did!!)
3. Crop tops
4. Polyester
5. a really little bikini

Five favorite toys:
1. DSL
2. TiVo
3. Cell Phone
4. i Pod
5. Caller ID

This Guy!!

I have to give a huge shout out to my honey! He has truly kept the Bergman house in working order the last week. The kids have been gotten ready for school and bed, bathed, read to, prayed with, played with - (not sure what they ate ;) ) and my kitchen is totally clean!

Greg - I LOVE YOU! I APPRECIATE YOU! You are everything and that is enough!

Two Posts in One Day??

How could that be?? Well, when I was blog surfing I came across this fun quiz in Carolyn's blog. So which reindeer are you?

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form. Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up. Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

The Upside of Illness

Day 5 of being in bed with some viral nastiness!! Honestly I can never remember being this sick in my life!! I find myself wallowing in self-pity, missing the kids Christmas programs, holiday parties, a surprise party for my birthday that some friends at work set up......so to snap out of it I decided to list some of the good points!

1. 5 days of not eating - a great head start to the "lose weight" New Year's Resolution.

2. The kids are actually depending on Daddy to read goodnight stories, help brush hair, etc. Cool!!

3. My skin looks great! It's super hydrated since all I've been doing is drinking!!

4. Haven't done any housecleaning, laundry......but the house is still clean and the laundry is done - thanks Mom and Greg!!

5. People bring you soup. Delicious, homemade soup....my friend Lynette did this Chicken Enchilada Soup last night....oh my gosh...fabulous!

So I need to focus on these!! But still...Santa, could you bring me my health back??

Bleech!

Kade has had a funky cough for a week...he's been feeling fine other than that....yesterday morning Keira woke up with a 102.5 temperature.....very sick! Now this morning Mommy has the funky cough....lucky Daddy....he's out playing golf!

But sick or not....we've got things to do!! Our home has been missing one essential Christmas element - the tree!! So today is the day. Last year we did the Lowe's Christmas Tree Hunt. Here's the layout from that.






This year I think we'll be giving the Home Depot Lot a look!

the X marks the spot game

Okay - I'm getting hooked on these funny little getting to know you blog games. Got this one of Felicia's blog...after you've read mine....do one of your own. :)

Silly little thing, just put an X next to what you HAVE done

(x) smoked a cigarette - I was trying to get a guy to quite liking me, thought maybe this would do it
( ) crashed a friend's car
(x) stolen a car - but it was with my best friend and it was her mom's car
(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
( ) shoplifted as a chil
( ) been fired
( ) been in a fist fight
(x) snuck out of your parents' house
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend - big mistake!
(x) skipped school
(x) seen someone die - the most impacting moment of my life
( ) been to Canada
(x) been to Mexico
(x) been on a plane
( ) purposely set a part of yourself on fire
(x) eaten sushi
(x) been skiing - water and snow
(x) met someone from the Internet - all my SA friends!
(x) been at a concert
(x) taken painkillers
(x) love someone or miss someone right now
(x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) made a snow angel
(x) had a tea party
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
(x) gone puddle jumping - want to do it again if it will ever rain in SoCal
(x) played dress up
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game as a kid
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school
(x) used a fake ID
(x) watched the sun set
(x) felt an earthquake
(x) slept beneath the stars
(x) been tickled
(x) been robbed - at gunpoint - it SUCKS!
(x) been misunderstood
(x) petted a reindeer/goat/kangaroo/deer Goats...
(x) won a contest
(x) run a red light/stop sign
(x) been suspended from school - for coming to school drunk on a double dare
(x) had braces
(x) felt like an outcast/third person
(x) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) had déjà vu
( ) danced in the moonlight
(x) liked the way you looked
(x) witnessed a crime !
(x) questioned your heart
( ) been obsessed with post-it notes
(x) squished mud through your bare feet
(x) been lost
(x) been on the opposite side of the country - DC and CA
(x) swam in the ocean
(x) felt like dying
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently colored with crayons
(x) sang karaoke - cover your ears!!
(x) paid for a meal with only coins
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) danced in the rain
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) watched a sunrise with someone you love
(x) blown bubbles with the kids
(x) made a bonfire on the beach
(x) crashed a party
(x) gone roller-skating
(x) had a wish come true
(x) jumped off a bridge - not off a bridge but out of a plane


WOW! This makes me feel like I've done a lot of fun stuff! Some good and funny memories came back from doing this.

I'm Still Not Asleep......

Surfing my friends' blogs........Kim had this cool quiz......

Check me out!!


You're a punk rock mommy! DIY is probably your
motto, because you're a punk mama at heart.
Your kids are getting your independent spirit
and guts, and learning to solve problems
themselves. You love it when they show their
independence, even when it's breaking your
heart.


What kind of a freaky mother are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Fun quiz!! Try it!

I Can't Sleep!!

Doggone it! I am so tired..........so tired that I can't sleep....must be up in 5 hours....I'm sure I'll be sleeping well then.

Do you ever wonder why some people just seem to have a negative personality? Take joy in making others miserable? Complain about little insignificant things? I've been wondering about this a lot today - probably because a person like this has been affecting me today......probably another reason I can't sleep....trying to formulate some kind of response to this person.

What I really want to say and what I will say are two different things....so I'm trying to take the raw emotion and turn it into something that could become productive and not actually fuel this little insignificant fire. Oh I could go for the 5 Alarm Fire and blow this baby up! But we're really trying to teach Kade to let the small crap roll off his back....if I'm going to preach it I better live it!

So what do you think - I will see this person on Friday (along with about 30 others) and could do this face to face or I can email tomorrow and try to smooth out some of the rough spots. What would you do? What sucks is that this also is affecting a very dear friend who shouldn't have to be dealing with petty stuff right now!

Okay I've rambled enough..............back to my warm cozy bed........

The Sun is Going Down

on another Sunday. What a week! I have felt like I was chasing myself trying to catch up all week long. And yet....here I sit....definitely not caught up!

At church today our youth pastor taught and he was on fire!! He was so passionate about what he was teaching....but I felt sooo bad for him because I was feeling like a lot of it was falling on deaf ears. Greg and I were sitting in the very back and I was just not feeling the love...but then again, I shouldn't be judging because who knows what was going on in people's hearts.

That's a tough thing for me....not judging others.....it's in our (or at least my)nature to do it.....I really need to make a more concious effort to stop it! You know - whatever you judge by is the same measure you too will be judged.

So from now on I will try to make this a non-judgemental blog!

You're a Mean One!

Look who I met while I was out shopping..........

Why yes, the Grinch is out alive and well!! When I go out Christmas shopping I expect that I am going to have to wait in line. You know, some cashiers also may close their registers so they can go get something to eat....okay by me....I don't like missing a meal. But there was one woman, with a heart 3 sizes to small! She was not being very nice to cashiers or customers!

So, on the off chance she reads this.....

"Hey, woman who was shopping in Kohl's in Ventura tonight.....lighten up for crying out loud.....if you don't you'll be seeing a big ol' lump of coal in your stocking!!!!!"

What I Need

Okay - I was very intrigued by the "Put your name in the Google Search Engine followed by the word 'needs' and see what happens" fad...so I did it! Quite funny I must say....

According to Google, here is what I need

Julie Needs Cards 4 Hospital Visit 4 Transplant


Meet Julie - Needs Early Start


Julie Needs Your Help!Julie Needs Your Help! ... Welcome To the World Headquarters for Save Julie:
Campaign 2000. We here at SJ2K are working tirelessly to preserve a way of life ...
savejulie.tripod.com/savejulie/index2.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

Julie Needs a Last-Minute Fordham Hybrid I know it's rather late in the game,
but I need a partner for Fordham. I can run anything from sci-fi to con law ...


I'm ablogging: Meghan needs a savage beating
Julie needs to work on her parenting. (Oh, I BEG to differ!) Julie needs some
time and patience with a friend who is willing to work with her.


Julie needs to call the artist at Black Cat Typography


Julie needs to work on her parenting. Last night when Marissa stormed off and
there was a delay in retrieving her, I said to myself, "wouldn't happen with ...


UK Political Weblogs - Julie Morgan
Ideally, Julie needs to bite the bullet

Tara says, "Julie needs complete access in the hallway

The Sun Online - Fit Squad: Band aid
Tunic tops are also great although Julie needs to go for cotton styles with abit of structure rather than anything too flimsy like chiffon, which clings ...



So I think it's kinda funny that 2 of the 10 say I need help with parenting!! Also, I'm going to have to check out the site that is trying to preserve the Julie Way of Life!