Haiti

We leave for Haiti in less than 22 hours. I can't believe it.  This go around I have 3 precious children and so leaving is harder, much harder than it was in 2003. I am so thankful my husband will be with me, however, it makes the fear that grips me that much tighter.  I am having to pray and quote scripture constantly and would COVET your prayers over us, our trip, and my children. Tears well up so quickly as I am absolutely exhausted and emotional and I haven't even begun the trip. I know the Lord has big plans and I will come back looking more like Him, or with Him one or the other.  The needs are great there. I want to serve. I want to love and to love well. I want Him to be known, and all for His glory.  This trip is going to be life changing and I am ready.  Here I am Lord, send me....

Lord willing, I'll post pictures and details upon our return.  Please please pray for our trip every time you think of us.  THANK YOU.

Jackson's 6th Birthday DAY!

This was your very last picture taken as a 5 year old. We had a bible study until 11:30 pm and I went in to take the picture as soon as everyone left. I made it by only 9 minutes. :) whew. Sweet sleeper

 That's better.  Happy Birthday Buddy! I love you so very much.

 Your sisters want to be JUST like you.

 First time to use 2 hands for your age! :)

 Charleigh tried....haha

Creighton would NOT let you be the only one able to use 2 hands to say her age...thus to peace signs to indicate she's 4! :) Oh, Creighton I love you!

 You picked Daylight Donuts for our family birthday breakfast!  Candles in donuts...our tradition!

 We killed a little time at the park and had a ton of fun in 20 minutes...and got some sweet shots!

 You are looking way too grown up here!

 Your sisters and Mommy and Daddy LOVE YOU SO much!

 we did get a good family picture at the park!

 Thanks for always showing your sweet smile when I want it! :)

 You and me pal!

 Cars 2 came out today.  You wanted to see it in 3D so we did.  You loved it!

 You picked Carl's Jr. for lunch.  I think the playground was VERY fun. The food was DISGUSTING and we will never be eating there again...but I will take you to play.  Surely they have decent drinks...?:)

 Candles in your lunch, too!

 First present to open! :) A remote control Lightning McQueen....fitting just after the movie. :)

 You had another play time after we "ate" (no one really ate much of their food...really gross)

 And then the party began!  There were a few running late so we killed time with Poppers that you requested for your party. They were a big hit.  Don't last too long, but not too expensive and lots of laughter and fun had by all!  Who doesn't like them?!

 Then on the Bey Blade Tournament!  There were 6 boys old enough to participate in the tournament.  There were two rings (if not all 3) going at all times.  It was best 2 of 3 to move on.  Jackson and Eli made it to the finals!

 Jackson technically won 2-1, but Eli got to take home the prize! A bey blade of his own of course!

 The cake.  LET IT RIP. Happy 6th Birthday Jackson...way to go...fun theme!

 Nonna brought a cake too (she had a coupon that was expiring).  It was yummy because it was from Ann's bakery...the same place that did Mommy and Daddy's wedding cake :)

 Your TABLE! Pinata, plates, napkins, give away bags, 2 cakes, balloons, food, the whole works! ;)

 Opening presents was of course a circus. You got a million things.  1/2 a million of them being new bey blades and bey blade equipment.  You LOVE them, so you did NOT care one bit that you kept opening them~ huge hit!  You got new shoes and socks, backpack, Nerf gun, lots of dress up masks, a spider man costume, Ben 10 people, books, clothes, buckets, and all of that was just off the top of my head...seriously you are SO blessed dude!

 the infamous bey blades!

 you were pretty stinkin' excited about your new shoes! Ben 10 is your other favorite thing right now.

 The pinata was an epic fail.  I will make you one next time.  But you pulled the "right" string the first time and NO candy fell out.  So we had to destroy the thing to get it all out and it was a riot.  Tell me why I do those again? You ask for one every year....

 Beau, Jackson, Braden, Brooks, Chandler, Ethan and Eli.  (there were also 4 girls: Creighton, Charleigh, Brynlee and Mati)  So many friends from our new place and to think we've only been here a month! I am excited about how well you (and all of us) are adjusting to our new home and life!

 Some more bey blading!

 Jackson and Eli

 Jackson and Beau

 Daddy Jax and Papa John.  We tried to replicate a picture from your 2nd birthday....pretty good one this go around too! 3 generations of John Bergs!

 All the grandparents! You are SO loved

 Brooks, Jax, Mati, Charleigh, Creighton, and Chandler! Precious family and the kids get along pretty great! I love when they all get together. The dynamics are really funny to watch.

And then the best of the epic fail family picture at the end of a long (but really awesome and fun) day!

I love you buddy with all my heart. You are super sweet, super handsome, compassionate, loving, rough, all boy, tender hearted, and everything in between. You are the whole package. I am so thrilled of who you have become so far and can't wait to see what all God had in store for you.  You are a thinker, a doer and I know you will do big things! God has a big plan for you and has gifted you with specific gifts to bring Him glory! I love that I can already tell you are wired to love compassionately and that you have a true childlike faith with Jesus in everything.  You understand some things on levels that amaze me and yet, you are still only (just) 6 and so you still have so much life ahead of you and lots of growing to do in every way. You love your sisters and you fight with them. It's a toss up between what the dynamic will be during any given moment...But I love the tender moments watching you guys love each other well and play together.  You are an amazing big brother overall!  Your job has just begun and I know you will be protector (if Rae will let you).  You are really great at encouraging too.  I love hearing your heart!

Your favorite things are bey blades, ben10 and sometimes superheroes. You really like your tag books so you can read and you are actually learning. If I spent a lot of time this summer I am thinking you'd be reading before fall.  But (sorry buddy) I have no idea what I am doing, so I think I'll let your teachers do that for you :)  You are wearing a size 1 shoe right now and size 6/7 clothes.  You love to swim and you are pretty good at it!  You really like diving down to get the rockets off the bottom of the pool.  You love playing video games (wii, old school Nintendo, iPhone, computer)....you just like screens I think STILL like your Daddy. You love watching TV and movies too.  You love to get up early and sneak in some time with the TV before everyone else wakes up.  You've mastered the art of being really quiet while doing it....so we let you:)

You are everything and more that I could have ever wanted in a son, my first, a big brother.  You amaze me.  I love you.
Mommy

Family Picture Fail

I'll let the pics do the talking. Ridiculous

Seriously that's the best 3 of about 20+ taken....wow.

Random Photo Stop

Today I was visiting with a friend and looked over to find the kids like this!

It was way too cute not to stop my conversation and snap a few pics.  Later they told me it was their spaceship. I loved that they brought their monkeys, pillow pets, pillows, books and blankets into their boxes that they taped together!  PRICELESS for my heart...I love it when they are sweet and getting along...and so creative!

 Charleigh was sleeping in this really uncomfortable looking position...she's still my angel...love you boo bear!

 Jeff got back from falls creek and 6 kids got baptized. He was able to be there and be a part of it...so awesome!

 Happy Father's Day to the world's greatest Daddy! Sundays are crazy days for us but we made the most of it!  And Jeff's dad got to be in town to celebrate too, so that was a treat!

 Jeff's dad is opening up a Cherry Berry (which we LOVE) in Enid! They are excited and SO ARE WE! :) We got CB after lunch at Zios (yummy....)

 We got bunk beds and set them up!  Creighton was SO excited to sleep in them!  Jackson is NONE too happy that they are not in his room and that he doesn't get to sleep on the top bunk.  As soon as Charleigh gets out of the crib, we'll unstack them and both the girls will have a twin for awhile and then they'll probably go to Jackson and we'll come up with another plan for the girls...or buy another set...who knows!?

 My baby boy is VERY VERY VERY in to Beyblades right now. He plays them all the time and so does everyone else around here.  His party is Friday and this is the theme!  I can't believe he is turning 6!  He's one awesome little man.  It's amazing to me how fast he is getting so big....and so smart! He's really something!

 It's like 2000 degrees especially in the back with no a/c but he insists on wearing his dragon towel with the hood up/on the WHOLE car ride!  Oh man...I just love you boy!

 The girls were thrilled with the fact that we were going down a HUGE hill and when Creighton raised her arms, Charleigh's were no more than a second behind, both yelling "whhheeeeeee" it was pretty much awesome....and yes, I was driving and taking a picture, but I was safe :)

oh so random, oh so fun.  i love my kids and my family!