Charleigh Loves Mickey!

This sweet princess got to spend lots of one on one (or two) time with Mom and Dad over Labor Day weekend because the big kids went to Enid and split up to be having their own one on one (or two) excursions with the two sets of Enid grandparents.

 Mom and Dad have a fascination with Cherry Berry and went EVERY DAY the bigs were gone (we had a giftcard, don't judge :))  Charleigh thought she was in heaven!

 We went to the mall on Monday and Charleigh had never been to the mall before. You would have thought the kid was in Disney World.  SO much to see, do, places to run, hide, etc. She was thrilled. We bought her her first tennis shoes and off she went to the races.

 But then she found Mickey Mouse.  Just her size.  And never put it down.

I thought I was going to have to find a way to buy it (I had no purse) because she was not convincing me it was going to be possible to leave the store without Mickey.  But eventually I distracted her enough to let me hide Mickey and we left on a new adventure to find Daddy.  Good thing she has a Grammy that already ordered it for her birthday.  

I am not sure why this girl loves Mickey so much. The big kids didn't even really know who he was till we went to Disney World this past Christmas, but Charleigh didn't even go and she definitely knows! It's precious.

She got a Dancing Mickey for Christmas (so that's maybe why) anyway, the other day I captured her dancing with him in the kitchen.This girls got some moves :)

Waiting...

Our women's ministry is currently in the middle of Esther by Beth Moore.  I can't tell you how much I love this study.  As the weeks progress, it has only gotten better.  This week tops it all.  If I have ever needed a word from the Lord, then it was now, and it was this!  Get your pen!!

Habakkuk 2:3c
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Oh, how my heart needed to hear that promise, first and foremost.

But the TRUTH behind what her whole talk today was this: We will lose our strength when we wait on _________ (fill in the blank for yourself), but we will renew our strength when we wait on the Lord.

For me, for us, our blank is our baby.  To say we are waiting would be an understatement.  Although we have not waited long compared to many people, not to mention we already have two blessings with us, we truly felt that this was a God thing and that because we were so willing to step out in faith, that there would be no waiting.  But there is.

And you know what? It's good.  I'm okay with waiting, I am.  I'm just not good at it.  Patience does not come naturally to me, but I must say I am working on it--with the Lord's grace.  We only want what is best for our family and for this child.  Truly.  So, why was I so anxious and trying so hard to DO when I should just relax and stop and wait on the Lord, not on my child.  Wait on the Lord renews my strength. I am excited for that burden to be completely lifted from me.  Because I have been zapped waiting (thinking I could actually do something) about getting a baby here sooner.

Today's lesson was all about time.  When time is so different on God's left arm than mine, why would I choose to want to be zapped of my strength.  I know there is another (maybe more) Berg out there, and somewhere written in the pages of his/her life we get to meet.  Not only will our paths cross, but they will unite, forever.  We'll be completed all the more as a family, and I CAN wait for God's best.  I am so thankful that I serve such a loving, compassionate, all-knowing God. 

So, I am not anxious about the wait for our child.  I am still thrilled to be on the journey, but it's better now.  God has ever so graciously been giving us (me) his sweet gestures to not lose hope in the journey all along, just as I needed them.  I am so thankful for this one. 

So, as we wait on the Lord for our precious new addition, we wait with open arms, open hearts, and renewed strength.  Thank you Lord.

And there is a song that I just love out called While I'm Waiting by Josh Waller...listen if you'd like!

Impressional?

If you think kids are un-impressionable...check this out. Wow. He's a doll...and he's got talent for sure. But it makes me want to seriously consider who/what my children watch/hear...I mean he has got it DOWN--to the facial expressions and all!

Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Jackson and the Armor of God

So there is this lady named Kim Norton who founded Kingdom Kidz.  My kids recieved her CDs as a gift from Grandma Caroline and they love them (and so do I).  One song in particular they love the most is the Armor Song. I love that it is this one they love, because I love Ephesians 6.  And I so want that to be a part of their everyday routine...putting on the armor of God.

Well we sing this song almost daily, if not multiple times a day!  They love it.  I don't know that Jackson knew what to think of us trying to act it out with all his play toys/clothes, but I LOVED it.  Here's the picture of the completed Eph. 6 boy.

And priceless: here is the video

For my good friend Sarah! ;)

I wanted to post this on Valentine's Day, but who's counting?! This is for my friend Sarah who had Beyonce's Single Ladies on her website for the "occasion." The chorus lyrics, at least the ones that I 'know' are as follows...
Cuz if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on itIf you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it ...Cuz if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on itOh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!Whoa! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Apparently I went to Sarah's blog and left it on too often and this is what happens...

DISCLAIMERS:

1.excuse the messy house.

2. I don't love the lyrics that I JUST read on the website...but oh well...had to share anyway...

3. and yes, he still sings it around the house...I'm thinking that's not a good thing

Merry Christmas

So this year I am not sending out Christmas cards and I am quite sad about that. But, to make up for it, I went crazy with one on here...because length, pictures, price, and even time are all saved by doing it digitally and electronically!

Merry Christmas to your family from ours!

We had a celebratory year in many many ways this year!

Jeff was ordained as a minister in March. He has officiated 2 weddings and one endless counseling since! We then celebrated my birthday in amazing style as Jeff and I took a mini-vacation to Wichita, KS. Then, Jackson turned 3 years old and we had a fantastic day week of celebration for him and potty trained! August rolled around and it was a little nuts, as we celebrated our 5 year anniversary of marriage, Jeff's birthday, and Jeff's 5 year anniversary of being on staff at Grace! Creighton turned 2, so we had 2 parties! Last but not least, we had celebratory weaning of lots of things baby! No more cribs, no more binkies, no more nursing, no more baby anything!
Jackson and Creighton are going to school 2 days a week at Good Shepherd and I love it, and so do they. They are doing fantastic there and learning so much, as well, I get 10 hours a week to get things done or just relax if need be. Next year Jackson will begin pre-pre-K because I am holding him back a year. Creighton will have the teacher that Jackson currently has, whom we all love. I am hoping to put them into gymnastics as soon as Creighton is potty trained! I think it will be a really great fit for both of them and help coordinate them and expel some energy! :)

I am helping out in various places and I love it. I am staying very busy with youth ministry, the kids, the house, doing private volleyball lessons, playing ball, exercising, and odds and ends part time jobs. We also bought a minivan this year and so that has been a huge blessing to us! I am now a "soccer mom"!

Jeff still continues to work very hard to lead the youth in Bartlesville and loves it! He has an assistant this year and that is very helpful for all of us to ease the load and get more kids loved on. As each year passes, he loves what he does all the more! Besides doing youth ministry 24/7, he is serving in various other ways in our community as well. He stays busy, but when he isn't he still loves watching movies and playing games!

We plan to stay in Bartlesville until the Lord calls us away...so glad He hasn't done so yet. We love it here! Our home is awesome and we are SO very very blessed by so many people in our congregation.

Hoping that the Lord blesses you this coming year. Grace and Peace to you all!

Love,

The Bergs

Jeff, Courtney, Jackson and Creighton

Do you Believe?

This kid is awesome. I can't tell if he has a photographic memory and memorized his speech or if he is just a very talented young man, but regardless, I like him, and I believe in him. Do you believe in this generation of young people? Make a difference, whether you are a teacher, a parent, a friend, or just know a child/youth!

Way Awesome Video...I am Yours

I love this song anyway...but now even more so. I needed to reminded today Whose I Am and I was on countless occasions...this being one. Had to share. Hope you enjoy it too.

PS. Please pray for my friend Christy and her family. Their littlest one was diagnosed with Juvenille Type 1 Diabetes. So terribly sad for them right now. He is only 7 months old. They are still in the hospital for a few days

Snow Day!

Jackson loved eating the ice/snow. He did that for a better part of the time we were out there. His "flavor" was gwaape (grape) and mine was strawberry :)

Jackson had a BLAST outside in the snow...he LOVED it. Every part except the freezing hands (we didn't have real gloves for him, only the little knit ones and so we went through 2 pairs and called it a day).

Creighton wasn't exactly keen on being in so many layers and the fact that she was in boots (Jacksons) that were twice too big for her feet and pants that were also Jackson's that were too big (with several layers on underneath) sent her into a rage of tantrum shortly after she fell off the sled ride with me! It was awful. But I took her inside and stripped her down to her diaper and she within seconds calmed down...I guess my girl doesn't like winter....kinda like her mommy or doesn't like being bundled like her daddy.

We have several videos but this one took almost and hour to upload so that is all for today:)

Compassion answers...

My post about compassion received several comments both on the blog and out in public from other friends and today I received an email that I wanted to share the contents of. It is a video on YouTube of Rick Burgess preaching. In his 'weakness' God is so strong and that is evident.

There are 1-2-3 videos and I hope you watch them all if you have the time, but definitely check out the 3rd one if you don't have the time to watch all of them. They are each about 10 minutes (less) long and what he has to say is powerful.

Just in case you can't get it opened, I will try to attach the 3rd one here...

Trouble! :) and a Video

My kids have matching shirts that I bought them at Walmart. If you can't read them, they say "trouble is my middle name"...and with the two of them together, that is exactly true! :) They are fun, but man, they are so crazy some days.

Here is them using their Christmas presents (guitar and Star Station) to create a fun video. Excuse the undressed boy (atleast he still had a diaper on) and all the clothes and toys everywhere.



Oh yeah, and Happy Birthday Erin, Jenelle, Rachel and Robyn!

Bubba

***EDITED****

Jackson used to call Creighton "Bubba" and thankfully now he doesn't call her that anymore (he calls her one of the following: "Way Way" (Rae Rae), "Tate-on" (Creighton), or "sis-sis"). However, I was starting to realize that Bubba was beginning to fit more and more because of the mullet that manifested itself on her little head. Apparently this is called a CHULLET...check it out! How embarrassing! (same link as above, check out 3.7)
So instead of having her always wear a hat to hide it:

I cut it all off...and now she could still be Bubba, because Jeff claims she looks like a boy. (The reason that she now sports little Pebbles on top minus the bone of course).


I thought I had a better picture that showed the back but I can't find it right now. But here is a video of her pretty happy! :) Love these moments...

Date your Spouse and Comedians

Oh man, this video is hilarious and the post (by Dawn at 6 pack) is so true! I haven't really ever thought of the analogy of the airplane oxygen tanks. It is great though and so so true, that to be good parents to our kids, we have to take time away from them to invest (make deposits) into our marriage! Jeff and I sat down and nailed down some time with each other for dates twice a month, and working out once a week together, working out seperately, and then I get a girls night out and he gets a guys night out once a month! I am SO excited about it! I can't wait.

I love comdians. If you have never heard of Brian Reagan...you should listen up and laugh! Also, for the ladies, Chonda Pierce is another one of my favorite!

Creighton Teal 11 months

I wanted to talk about my sweet baby girl, who isn't so much a baby anymore.



She is 11 months old (as of two days ago) and on her way to being a very big and very independent little girl:

She is talking (babbling) constantly and LOVES to talk on the phone ("Hello" and "Hi" are pretty much all that I can understand at this point).

Her hair is growing long in the back, behind both ears it is to the bottom of her neck.

She got another tooth (on top this time) last night. It isn't really even "above" the gums at all, but it has broken through and is even with her gums...and her one on bottom is growing but still not visible often at all. I figure by Halloween she'll look like a Jack-o-lantern herself with how her teeth are coming in. The one on bottom is the bottom left and the one on top is top right! :)

She is WALKING about 90% of the time and is VERY good at it. She hardly ever crawls much anymore and when she does fall over she gets right back up. She has some incredible balance. (I can't wait to put her into gymnastics in a few years).

She is still in the infant carrier (I think we took jackson out at like 5 months) and has WAY outgrown it by several inches (she gets a new seat for her birthday).

She dances and claps and sings alot!

She loves to swing and be outside.

She LOVES to climb and ON EVERYTHING!

She adores her older brother and wants to do everything he does

About the only thing that reminds me she is still a baby is the fact that she is totally totally 100% in love with nursing...and thus, I am. I have no idea when I will stop with her...all along I thought I'd be done at a year, but right now, I doubt that. If ever she decides she is done, I will be fine with quitting but as long as she is okay with it and wants it (to a certain degree) I am okay with it. (It is much easier to be that way about it now that I can eat whatever I want and nurse at the same time).



It is weird, because I want her to grow up, but at the same time, she is my baby, my last one and I want to cherish this time. It is funny because the age she is at now, I was so pregnant with her while Jackson was at this age, I didn't really enjoy it nearly as much as I am now. (I am not a good pregnant person). She is beautiful and for themost part a VERY happy little girl...albeit a little (lot) spoiled. I love her with all that I am. She delights my heart, and brings me joy and I just can barely get enough of her. She certainly has her moments when she frustrates me too, like when she refuses to nap, when she HAS to be held all the time, when she only wants me when I have a million things to do and can't hold her, when she wakes up A LOT in the middle of the night...but she is my baby...my sweet baby girl! I never wanted a girl. Ever. But I am so thankful that God knew better. God made her so special...and then he entrusted her to me. (and Jeff too). I am so thankful for her. I am enjoying her so much.

Here is a funny video of her dancing in the beginning with a little bit of Jackson dancing and rocking and then of her walking and then at the end Jackson smacks her with his guitar by accident...she recovered quickly...she is SO tough...thank heavens! (excuse the messy living room, we were having a GOOD time!) :)

My Guitar Hero

Jackson loves his new hat his Grammy got him for $1. He wears it a lot and it makes me laugh! It suits his new Rocking persona...

Jeff made Jackson a guitar (or as Jackson calls it "tarrrr") out of wood and electrical wire. We've since added a "strap" with an old American Flag tie of Jeff's. he LOVES his tarrr....and plays wildly all the time. I am going to try to add a video of him...although the best one is on my phone and I can't add it to this (I have no idea how)....

His favorite thing to do with his tarrr is to "ROCK" and he rock he does....he rocks my heart!

this video is embarrassing of me trying to get him to rock by banging my head! and my unmade bed and messy bedroom (and I am certain that the reason I cover up my legs is probably due to the fact I had no shorts on....home videos...gotta love 'em)

Video

I can't figure it out, so I am trying this: Creighton It'll have to do for now...I have tried way too long and I am blogger dumb and video/youtube dummer.
I must say that this was way after she'd been doing it for awhile and I think she was very tired of walking by this point but she was still so determined. The first time when she came in my room, she was so smooth with it and it was natural, way unlike this video...but it was the best I could do, my first time!