Friday, August 01, 2008

More fun

Lots of fun at the beach.....my friend Mai Tai and I have been well acquainted.....Greg's gotten in 3 days of golf (I think it's getting progressively better!)

We went to a lua'a....it was fantastic....great food.....amazing show....Keira got to go on stage on do the hula and they brought her birthday cake and sang to her! And you know how the world is so small......well, our server's aunt and uncle live 5 doors down from my parents!




Took the kids to snorkel Molokini.....what a great day! We went on the Triology boat, if you're ever here you should definitely use them....what a fun crew, great food, just an all around fantastic day. Kade and I saw so much, tons of fish, different sea urchins, a spotted eagle ray and 5 sea turtles. The kids loved it when they turned off the engines and hoisted the sails. They were at the very front of the boat looking quite "Titanic I'm on Top of the World!" I was surprised they were totally fine in the water because all this week when we've been in the room they've been watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel so I thought we might have some issues!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES AGAIN! PICS LATER

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Another Day in Paradise

So the Chicago style pizza in Maui is not truly Chicago worthy but what do you expect? It was good....but about half the size of a true Chicago deep dish....that's okay - just going to have to go back to Chi town!!


So besides eating we have been doing some other stuff!

Here is the view from our room......




This is from the coast of the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua where we hung out with my parents.....




Kade took surfing lessons - he did great!




We took the kids to the Iao Valley so they could see the Needle and be in a rainforest. The other little guy is our nephew Cooper.




That's it for now..... :)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Aloha from Ka'anapali

Yep we're here!! Yesterday was excrutiating. Travel days are always a little wearing however when you are traveling as a party of 11.....and 3 of the 11 for some reason do not have confirmed seats on the plane.....and 4 of us (my family) end up having to pay for our luggage because our tickets weren't issued until June 23 even though the trip was booked in February.....and the airplane smells like cat urine....and not everyone in the party is booked on the same floor of the hotel....and the dinner restaurant does not have Hula Pie.....well, things get even a wee bit more complicated!

Today was better....got up and went to a 'presentation breakfast with Auntie Aloha. She is hilarious but of course they push the time share thing....not happening. After that we hooked up with my mom and dad who just happened to be here on the same island for a wedding. They're staying at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua so we went there and swam all late am/early pm and then had a great lunch of tempura mahi mahi.

Kade learned to body surf! Yeah!! I think he's finally overcoming his ocean phobia. Keira is practicing her swimming like a champ.

Tonight we are eating at a Chicago style pizzeria. Can't wait. I've been jonesing for deep dish since Kathy and I were in Chi-town last summer.

Of course I can't show you any pics because I forgot the drive to dump my camera card but I'll do a google search and see what I can find for you.

More later!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The Littlest One is Six!!


Yep - here she is - my baby turned 6 today!

She decided she wanted to go to the American Girl Store for her birthday so down to the Grove we went. We shopped and shopped.....and she finally decided on......




KIT!!

Now what you can't see in this picture is to her right, Adam Sandler, his wife and daughter are also shopping for an American Girl. When we were in line I heard this voice say "Hey Sadie look at this one!" and it sounded so familiar. I turned around and there he was. I said to Reece "Look - it's the Waterboy." And then he tells Kade "It's Zohan!" They wanted to get their picture with him but decided it would be nice to just let him chill and shop with his daughter. Of course when we were having lunch they decided they were so bummed they didn't take one with him. Here they are after lunch - Keira has changed into her matching Kit outfit by this time.



Now we're home and they're all tired and they are actually laying down and taking naps!!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What Have We Been Doing?

Lots and lots and lots!!

Mostly baseball. Kade played in the Tournament of Champions and on a 10U District All Star Team. I was awesome.....but it was weeks and weeks and hours and hours of practices and games. If they weren't practicing or playing it seemed like all the boys were over here and I was cooking spaghetti and meatballs for them!





Kade also turned 10!! We had fun with all the family over....bbq and guitar hero all night long!



Keira has been playing, playing and going to dance camp and she turns 6 in 2 days! Where has the time gone.









As for G and I....well we're just keeping up with the kids....

We're off to Maui in a few days....hallelujah!! Vacation is well overdue!

Saturday, May 03, 2008

So

I didn't blog in March.....I didn't blog in April....let's see what I can do in May!


Of course we have been incredibly busy - as always. Here's a few pics from the last 2 months.









Saturday, February 23, 2008

Today was the day...








that Keira played her first t-ball softball game! It was great. She had a really fun time, especially when she found out she was playing against her cousin Carly. They did good though, only hugged before the game, waved at each other on the field once during the game and begged for a sleepover after the game.









Her team is the Pink Angels and surprisingly they are the only girls' team that wanted pink uniforms. If you ever want to come out for some good laughs let me know and I'll shoot you a copy of her schedule.








Oh and yes, Greg is quite thrilled that Keira chose softball over spring soccer.....and Keira is excited to have Asst. Coach Daddy!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Again?!?!

Could it really happen again? Could these boys get robbed by the umpires two days in a row? Oh yes it can and it did!!




The first game this a.m. we had the same umping crew as yesterday and the one umpire (who informed us that his name was 'Ashton' not 'that guy')made about 4 blantantly horrific calls against our boys. Now it's no biggie if the bad calls are going both ways - it stinks but at least it stinks fairly.





So then we go to the second game of the day and guess who's behind the plate? Ashton. Are you kidding me????!!!! Right from the get go his calls were obviously completely against our boys. By the second inning he made a call that made grandma would've known was wrong and our coach just lost it. We knew as soon as we saw his hat go on backwards and he ran out of the dugout. Of course our coach was ejected and the boys were dejected. They played hard but it didn't matter - Ashton had decided our boys were going to have to work twice as hard. Again, I think it's a travesty that they umpire was able to take the ball out of the boys' hands and influence the games as much as he did.

At the end of the game Coach sat down with the boys, apologized to them for getting ejected, explained how he wants to protect them and let them play ball. It was great.


And I totally did the 'mom thing'. I waited until after the game and went over and Ashton to speak with him. The conversation went like this -

Me: As the mom of a White Sox player I have to say that I am very saddened that you screwed these boys every opportunity you had. It was bad yesterday and worse today.

Ashton: I am fair and unbiased.

Me: Um, no you're not and I am sure that fans from either sides of the bleachers would agree with me. (btw I already knew this was true because parents and coaches from the other teams had already approached us and apologized for how awful it seemed)

Ashton: I'm fair and unbiased.

Me: Well, no you're not and as a mommy I am very disappointed in you.

And with that I turned around and walked away.


So the boys will live to play another day - although it will never again be at Santa Susanna Little League in Simi Valley!!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

I thought I wasn't one of "those" moms....

but maybe I am....yep...I'm thinking I'm a "Little League" mom!



You see my Little Leaguer - he's 9. He loves baseball. He wants to play all the time. And today he and his 9 year old baseball team got robbed by hometown umps! So yes, I'm venting. I'm protective. I'm really irritated. I don't want to be "one of those moms", but when I see adults doing things to rob kids....I get pi$$ed!

So here's the story.........

We were warned by some other teams we know from all around not to play in this particular tournament because the umps always seem to go "hometown." You don't want to believe that though - for crying out loud these boys are 9 - why would an ump mess around with kids psyches like that.

Well, all of our friends can now say "I told you so!" Our boys played the hometown team today and had a rough start to the game. By the bottom of the 4th inning they were down by 9. But I gotta say these kids always save their best for the last innings so you never know what can happen. So sure enough during the last 2 innings they came back and ended up going ahead by 4 runs. Now all during the game the umps calls had been very questionable but the boys just played on

So we're in the bottom of the last inning. The other team has come back and are down by one. There are 2 outs. One more out and we win. Our pitcher pitches - the batter swings and misses - Game Over - We win!!!! Um, no.....the field umpire says "no the batter is not out. the pitcher balked" and he advances all the runners one base. Not good! First of all, I can't believe their calling balks on 9 year olds and second of all, if there is a balk you stop the play, throw your hands in the air and yell "balk!"....not let the kid pitch and then decide to do it. As you can imagine, our boys were confused - the coaches were irate and the fans in the stands, well, you can imagine.

So our boys pull it back together and know they just have to get one more out. The next batter hits it, my son gets it and throws a runner out...but in the meantime another runner scores. I couldn't tell if the run scored first or the out was made first - our boys must have thought it was the out because they came running off the field pumped up to go another inning. But of course the ump said the run scored first - game over - hometown team wins.

You should have seen the faces of our boys when the coaches had to tell them, "sorry guys, you lost." They just stared at the coaches in disbelief...first the bogus balk call and now another bad call in the boys' opinion. The boys will bounce back - of course they are very disappointed in the way it all went down - and I am too. I went to find the tournament director to ask her to have the umpires come over and explain to the boys why the made the last two calls the way they did. But of course that didn't happen.

I felt so bad for the kids! But Kade is out in the batting cage now, getting ready for tomorrow. I love how he can leave it on the field....wish I could be more like him! They have a double header tomorrow.....so say a little prayer of protection for the boys....and maybe for the umps....and definitely for the fans to remember we're there for the boys!

Friday, February 15, 2008

How am I?



So I've been trying to keep on the blog a bit better - and I got a comment from my dear friend Amanda that said, "but how are you?"

Isn't that a great question! Often times people will just say "fine thanks" and move on....I think we're too afraid to unload our "junk" onto others. But I think it's healthy to unload....at the appropriate times to the appropriate person. We've been talking about that in my women's group. We're reading a book called Truefaced and it's awesome! All about removing the masks we wear.

Okay - but that's still not about me althought it does tell you about my women's group.

I'm doing good actually. I started going to an accupuncturist about 3 months ago and it's been awesome. I'm actually bummed on the weeks I don't go.

Work is crazed and I have accepted it always will be. I work with many people who find their bliss in complaining about the way things are....instead of using that energy to teach the kids and try to change the way things are in a positive manner.

Church is amazing. We're part of The Living Room, which started as a Bible study in a living room, hence the name. But there's also a much deeper aspect to the name too. We're really living in community. In the last week there was some dissension and such amongst our eklesia (look it up) and instead of it becoming back biting or speculation or relationship damaging everyone came together in a garage and laid it all out...honestly....and it got heated....but when that happened Dara just yelled "stop! we're praying right now" and that's what happened. We were there for hours...but there was still paths to travel down in the discussion so it happened the next day. And everyone is still together....is everything perfect - maybe not? But will it get there - probably not? But what is perfect other than Christ? So I am blessed to be a part of this group and I am being filled.

I can see that I will start spending a lot of time in the car again - Little League and Travel Ball have picked up for Kade and Keira is playing T-ball Softball!! I just want to make sure we can still carve out that family time at the dinner table at least a few times a week.

Greg is an incredible husband. I just can't say enough about who he is and what he does for us.

I'm not getting to scrapbook as much as I want. I've put on some extra weight that I really want off but can't seem to find the motivation to do anything about it right now. We've been interviewing contractors for a kitchen remodel. My big goal right now is home organization (it only took 2 days to clean off my desk - egads!)

So there's a quick nutshell. I know I'm leaving something out. But I'll try to remember to share about me too. Now all of you go and do the same so I know how you are!

Friday, February 08, 2008

Oh the 80's

Can I just say I love my friends!? Even when they think the ecological footprint test is 'eco-nazi'? heehee! Seriously, I think we are truly blessed when we have friends that don't always agree with us....friends that occassionaly agree with us....friends that challenge us....friends that trust us.....friends that accept us....friends that are willing to tell us when they think we are wrong....friends that are there to help wipe away the tears....friends that are there to celebrate the moments.....friends that don't always have to say 'I told you so' (but you know they did!).....friends that you can be with and don't even have to talk....friends that you can call or that can call you at 11:30pm on a worknight and say "I need to talk".....

I have friends that fit all these categories and I can't imagine life without them. How sad and lonely it would be!! So let's start the weekend off by being thankful for our friends. Let a friend know how much you care!

My friend Glenn sent me this - brought quite a giggle - guess this was before Seinfeld since Jason has hair!

Enjoy!

The McDLT

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Our Ecological Footprint

I took this little quiz today to see how my living impacts the planet. I was pretty surprised. My results said that if everyone lived the way I did we would need 3.7 planets. EEK! So they have a little checklist on things you can adjust to make your eco footprint a bit smaller. Try the quiz. Hope you need less planets than I did!

Your Ecological Footprint Quiz

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Most Selfless Form of Recycling


It's ECO Wednesday some I am sticking with the theme - but in a different context - recycling yourself. If you don't get any further in this post (because it most likely will be long!) just take this - BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR!

I have an incredibly amazing friend....who today is #3 on the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) list for a double lung transplant. After I dropped the kids off at school I got a call - at 1:30am she had received "the call" - potential lungs.

So what happens next? The doctors take off, up to 1,500 miles away, to find out if the lungs are a match. If they are, then "the call call" comes. The lungs will be transported here for my friend and the process of the transplant will begin.

I was on my way to Target when I got the call and I continued on my way. But I got there and wandered aimlessly - for 2 1/2 hours with a continuum of thoughts and emotions. And then the next call came - the lungs were rejected. That set off a whole new continuum.

I cannot truly fathom what my friend feels right now....although I do know that at the heart of it all she has peace....peace because she has given this process to Him. She knows she is in His hands.....and there's no better place to be.

So I am sharing my feelings.....my thoughts. My way of working through. My ultimate thoughts are always with my friend and her family but there is so much more.

The doctors - they get a call....they hop a plane to wherever....they evaluate the organs....if they are compatible they hop back on the plane and prepare for an incredible surgery that will take quite some time. These are dedicated doctors....dedicated to the people who's lives they are helping to improve and save. They need to be covered in prayer....for supernatural energy....unmatched skill....thier own health so that when the time is right they are ready to go....and for their total discernment about the organ in question....and today that was the case....this wasn't the one and they knew it.

The donor - My prayer for them is that they know Jesus Christ and will be waking up in Paradise. And I am so grateful for them....that they realized there was a time when they would no longer need their bodies and they are willing to share and 'recycle' as it would be.....I have realized that....my driver's license says so....my family is well aware of my wishes.

The donor's family - In their hour of loss I would prayer that they have a ray of comfort...a comfort that the one they loved is helping a one I love. I'm also grateful to them....that they honored the wishes of their loved one.

So I have 2 challenges for you today - really I am heavily urging you to take these on....if you are not already...seriously consider organ donation...research it....read about....I will pray for you, that you would be comforatable and sure in putting that red sticker on your driver's license. Secondly, pray....pray for everyone touched and used in this process....

If you are interested in more facts about organ donation
UNOS you can find it at UNOS.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

ECO Wednesday - Plastic Planet

So with my sabbatical from blogging I haven't done anymore ECO Wednesdays so since it's Wednesday - let's go ECO!

Today it's all about the plastic bags. Did you know the average family brings home 1,000 bags every year. Most of those bags end up in land fills. That really adds up - 100 billion plastic bags are sent to landfill in the US each year.

In landfills, it can take up to 1000 years for a bag to decompose. Plastics don't biodegrade, they photo-degrade, breaking down into tiny toxic pieces that contaminate soil and water or harm wildlife.

Many stores, like Trader Joes, are selling reusable bags as a bandaid to this problem. Great idea! How can we get more people on board? The bags I have from Trader Joes are always in my trunk so that when I go grocery shopping I have them with me. But it would be great to have a bag I could keep in my purse for all of those other little trips. I have found some online and ordered some of the Chico bags today. I'll let you know how they are when I get them.

Baggu Bags
Chico Bags

The other pain is the plastic baggies for lunches! Greg and Kade both take sandwiches everyday. I found a reusable sandwich wrapper to try out for them. I've got one coming. As long as the boys don't lose it, not only we'll we be saving landfill space - we'll be saving money on those darn bags!

Wrap-n-Mat

So here's your challenge for the next week - should you chose to accept it - get some reusable bags and use them. Try to cut down on the plastic bags from the grocery store!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

God vs. Science

This is a great story Glenn sent me - the moral of the story - in the end God always wins!!

GOD vs. SCIENCE
A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students,
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new
students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can
cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could.
Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does
he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to
Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a
glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in
this world?"
"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything,
then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle
that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred?
Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.
"Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks
away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me,"
he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to
identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have
you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that
matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,
science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has
with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His
own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies.. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room
suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have
lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white
heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We
can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any
further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be
able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits
energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.
Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is
only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold.
Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the
opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding
like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of
something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing
light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called
darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness
darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a
good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start
with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you
explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You
argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can
measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be
ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death
is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes,
of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where
the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot
even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching
your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has
subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me
give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has
ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the
professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to
have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable,
demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due
respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face
unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll
have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,"
the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it
everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in
the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does
not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like
darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of
God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man
does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes
when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Egads!

Well it's been over 2 months! No way I can catch everything up. Here's a few pics of the end of the Bergman year.