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!

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.

Halloween!

So the kids had fun but I was quite the hag. I put on my witch hat and that was quite fitting. However, it got better....it was good to walk....talk with Marcia....see all the cute kids out in their costumes....watch my kids faces light up when they opened the overflowing candy bags!

Here is Kade and Trevor as beat up soccer players.....they've been planning this since soccer season started




And Keira and Jennaye as Daphne and a cheerleader

Fire Storm

Today is so eerie. It's only about 2:30 in the afternoon but it's like night.

All of the fires around SoCal and 60 mile per hour winds have created a very creepy atmosphere. Streetlights and headlights are on.

The air is so thick and glowing and orange red, beautiful colors but you know they are being created by disaster elsewhere. The pictures tell the story - I did no photo editing to these. Praying for an end to this soon.

More Catching Up

Soccer has started! Well it started like 2 months ago but since I haven't been keeping up, it's new here!! Kiki's team in the 'Pink Sparkly Puppies' and mommy is the coach. They are actually doing really well this year....and even though we're not supposed to keep scores or stats - we do have a winning record. hheehhee

Kade is on the Cyclones this year and they have an incredible team. Watching them play is exciting. These boys have skills!

But of course there is a little competition going on in my house between my kids. Who will score the most goals this season? Right now little sister is ahead with 4. Kade has 2 but has less of an opportunity to score since he's usually playing goalie or fullback. Keira has 2 more games......Kade does too but he also has playoffs to try and and catch up. We shall see who is victorious and of course the only prize is bragging rights!

Catching Up

So lots of things have happened this fall and I am way behind. So let's start with this one.

Kiki started Kindergarten!!

and Kade started 4th grade!!!



I cannot believe how quickly these 2 are growing up!!

Need to Talk - Don't Know What to Say

The above is one of my favorite quotes from Grey's Anatomy. Do you remember how great it was being a kid? All we had to worry about was making sure we were in by the time the street lights came on.....making sure we strung the right pattern with our macaroni beads....just all the random things that then seemed huge. I wish that was what was huge now.

But now we're grown-ups...and with being a grown-up comes grown-up crap....death, infidelity, divorce, disallusion, disappointment, illness, loss.....some of these have touched my life....some have not....some have in a round about way......

I look at my husband and my kids and I praise God for my life. And then I'm on my knees praying for the hedge of protection He can provide them from 'the flaming arrows of the evil one.' I am just overwhelmed lately about the spiritual battle that is raging around us.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world and

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:12

But I still am going to keep praise on my lips because there's hope. I am finding peace in reading the Psalms right now. Songs of sorrow and joy....and hope.

ECO Wednesday

I like to think that I am an environmentally concious person. My dad calls me a 'hippy' but I think that's a bit too far....I do shave under my arms and I can't stand bare feet. There are things that I do that I am sure are not fantastic for the environment so I try to make up for it So I have decided that on Wednesdays this will become ECO blog. Not sure what form it will take but I'm going on the ride nonetheless.

So for the inagural ECO Wednesday I thought I would share some of the things we do in my household to try and be good stewards of the beautiful earth.

Recycle! Yep, everyone does it I'm sure. But it should be more than the bottle and the can. We break down every cardboard box and container, toss in every newspaper and magazine....even junk mail!

Take your own bags to the market. Let's quit using all those plastic bags at the grocery store. I have some great canvas bags I take with me. And one of my faves is one I got at Trader Joe's. It's insulated so the cold foods stay cold.

Buy local. I know there's a debate on whether or not organic food is good for the planet in the long run. But I do try to buy meats and dairy products that come from animals that have not been treated with hormones. I just don't want to feed it to my kids. And I love buying our produce at the Farmer's Market. It supports the local farmers and nothing beats a tomato fresh off the vine in my salad.

Plant Something. Get that fresh oxygen flowing. Plant something in your yard once a month.

Okay - so those are some of the things I am trying to incorporate into my family's lifestyle. How about you? Any ideas I can add?

Who Am I?

So this is a blog challenge from Liz over at EBB Creations . It's supposed to be an introduction about yourself. I guess I assume if you read my blog you know me....but maybe there are some things about me you don't know. So I guess I will share some 'deep dark secrets'.

1. I am extrememly claustrophobic and have serious space issues
2. I can't eat food if it still has bones in it
3. I have owned 8 cars in the last 20 years
4. I have been rapelling - Australian style.
5. I've spent a lot of time in school....I have an Associate of Arts degree, a Bachelor's Degree in Business Managment with a Minor in Finance, California Real Estate License, California State Teaching Credential with a Clear Credential and a CLAD Credential and a County of Ventura Level II Technology Certificate.
6. I have a 3 inch scar on my right foot from getting my foot sliced open when I was 2....broken glass in a lake.
7. I am enthralled by clouds.
8. I could never be a podiatrist or beautician because other people's hair and feet creep me out.
9. I eat plain yogurt and granola for breakfast almost everyday.
10. My nickname in Jr. High was Ralph.

Now what about you? Tell me something I don't know about you!

12 Years!!

4,380 days , 105,120 hours, 6,312,600 minutes......that's us!

She's 5!!

Back from Chicago!!

G and I got home from the Windy City last night. It was weird...we flew in together, then he and I got into different rentals cars and went our different ways only to pull back into the rental return at the same time yesterday am! For G, his trip was many hours/miles in the car - Chicago to Champaign-Urbana to Indianapolis to Peoria and then the return. For me it was Chicago-Schaumburg-Rosemont but I also found myself on the tollroad to Milwaukee by mistake more than once!

G golfed and I went to the scrappers eye candy store - CHA!! Can you imagine it? A whole convention center filled with scrappers and their accoutrement? I picked Kathy up at the airport and we were off. Many adventures to share - I'll have to post those later. Here are a few of our goofier pics -

Kathy and the talented Tim Holtz ------




Self-portrait at the Cloud Gate in Milennium Park...I think Silver Kidney Bean would be a much better name!





Cruising downtown on the blueline during the late hours......




That's it for now. More later. Because in less than 48 hours this family is back on the road again and there is laundry and grocery shopping to be done!

Have a great day!

Champions!! And a plug for the power of prayer

Look at these boys!! Champions of the Summer Kick Off Baseball Tourney 8U!! What a great weekend of awesome baseball! Kade had some defensive plays that were unreal...in fact he caught a long fly to center to end the game which was amazing. Of course I got a little weepie!

But what made me even more weepie was the little guy in the back row on the right. Do you see him? With the patch on his eye? The fact that he is in this picture, standing with his teammates is a true testimony to the power of prayer.

At his first at bat of the day he was hit in the eye with a pitch. The boys had been clocked throwing between 45 and 50 mph that day. When he went to the ground he wasn't really crying, but the words that came out of his mouth were more terrifying - "I can't see." His mom, who is an ER nurse, and his dad scooped him up and took off for the hospital. His dad called me with updates all throughout the morning...broken nose....burst vessles....torn muscles....and the worst - the don't know if they will be able to save his eye.

So we prayed....and prayed hard...parents and fans for both teams....also for the little boy who had thrown the pitch. All the while we didn't want our boys to know how bad things could be. They won the first game and then were to advance to the championship game. They knew their teammate and friend was in the hospital and wouldn't be back so they hung his glove at the entrance to the dugout and touched it each time they went out on the field.

The game was a battle....and our boys battled hard. They got to the 5th inning and just busted it open. The hit and hit and hit and scored 9 runs. Then my phone rang again and it was Larry. The doctors were going to release Reese and he wanted to get back to the game. Did he think I could get them to hold off on the awards ceremony until they got there? I would sure try! The announcer announced to everyone that the injured player was on his way and could everyone be patient just for awhile. After a bit the other team started getting restless so they were beginning the ceremony and then I saw this..........

They were there!! Everyone went crazy! The players mobbed him...the parents and fans wept. An amazing day! Reese's mom said to me, "He shouldn't be standing here getting this trophy right now. With this kind of injury. If it weren't for the prayers on his behalf....this is all because of prayer."

So if you pray, you can continue lifting this family up. There are still many medical appointments in the very near future for this little guy. And there are still no definite answers as to his prognosis...but yesterday...prayers were answered...and tomorrow they will be too!

This is my kid!

I just was cleaning out my email inbox and found an email from Sara (thanks!) with a simple message "This is your kid" and this picture. Yep - he's all mine!! heehee

Happy Birthday Gram!

Happy Birthday dear Gram! I miss you so much. Even more so today. I'm wearing my Union Jack t-shirt in your honor today. Some will look at me like I'm unpatriotic....you wouldn't like that...with how much you loved your adopted homeland.....but then I remember that there is no sadness in heaven....and for that I am so glad....things have happened in the last few years that wouldn't have made you happy....especially between me and Pop.

Things have been said....by both of us....things that can't be taken back......you know the 2 of us are so much alike.....but we have completely different opinions about what's happened....and who is right or wrong....I've admitted my part but you know Pop better than anyone.....I haven't even spoken to him since Christmas....and even then he could hardly look at me across the table....I wonder if it's because he really is mad...or maybe feeling a bit guilty....sad....who knows....I want him to take responsibility for his part in this though....to feel that he should be held accountable.....

You would have been happy though to see all of us together....except Raymond and Pop....up at the beach house.....Mike & Amber and Hailey Lauren....Brian and Reece....my mom and dad...Eric and his fiancee Jen....Kimmy, Evan and Austin.....Greg, Keira, Kade and me....Keira made sure to remind everyone that it was your birthday! Dad and the boys were all out surfing....40 years since your #2 boy had been on a surfboard! We thought about you during all of the fireworks. Brian and Reece even went out to the cemetary and lit some off for you.

I miss you Gram............