Meet Harriett

Well... the kind people at Apple told us we had two choices. 1) pay to have poor Mac fixed and potentially have to buy a new computer in a year since Mac was getting old or 2) buy a new one. Since Mac was getting to be up there in age and rather than put out the money to fix him and then in a year or so put more money out to buy a new one, we opted to just buy Harriett. Actually, we really didn't name the new computer Harriett, but doesn't it have a nice ring to it? My vote is to keep the name Harriett. Harriett came to live with us on Wednesday of last week. So far, she has done us well. Poor Mac will continue to be in our lives, however. Apparently we are in need of a computer at church so they will be sending poor Mac away to get fixed and then in his new reconditioned state, he will provide the slides for worship at church. Good 'ole Mac!

In other non-boring news, we are in the midst of a "blizzard." Whenever I think of a blizzard, Laura Ingalls Wilder comes to mind and the stories of the blizzards they lived through. Now granted, I don't have to go out and feed any animals in this weather and I live in an insulated house, and nor do I have to run outside to use the bathroom, but this weather doesn't bring up "blizzard" type images. We have gotten quite a bit of snow but I guess what constitutes "blizzard" is the wind which we do have. So I guess for all practical purposes, we have ourselves a blizzard. Chris and several of the guys from church have decided this type of weather is great football playing weather. Almanzo would have been so jealous!

We had ourselves a pretty busy week here in the Berger household. In addition to Elianna's karate lesson, we also joined several of Chris' co-workers at the bowling alley Monday evening for them to bowl. I do not bowl. The bowling alley is a germaphobes nightmare. Technically it would be a person with Mysophobia (the fear of germs). Anyway... It's actually not the bowling shoe thing that creeps me out. It's the bowling ball thing that creeps me out. No one sanitizes the bowling balls although people put their fingers in the holes after they have: picked their nose, scratched wherever, used the restroom, licked the yummy cheese off their fingers... Need I go on? So disgusting! Elianna, however, had a grand time! They brought this ramp thing out for her to put the bowling ball on and then she pushed it off. She pretty much bowled for everyone else by the time the night was over.

In addition to Elianna's karate and bowling, we also had an overnight guest come in. The church planting leadership team from Berean, came into town and one of the gentlemen stayed with us. Because they were in town on Tuesday, Elianna and I meet them and Chris for lunch over in Glendale. Then we meet a friend and her family for dinner. Wait, it gets better. Wednesday a gentleman from New Jersey was in town for business, so we meet him for dinner. Dinner here - dinner there - dinner dinner everywhere!

Friday evening a few friends and I attended a women's self defense class at Elianna's karate school. We had a bunch of fun laughing and carrying on, but try to drag me away.... I got a technique baby! Seriously though, it was a great class to go and learn the basic techniques of self defense.

Saturday was the end of our big week. Chris' brother's twins turned 2 and celebrated with a circus birthday party. And then came the snow and here we are full circle in the middle of our "blizzard."

Cherry Creek Mall Play Place

Poor Mac

Another new week has begun and it's going to be a crazy one! Something everyday but at least the house is clean since we had an overnight guest last night. To add to the craziness, Mac (our computer) died. As in either send him away to hope he gets fixed or get yourself a new one ... dead. Seeing how Mac is around 4 years old with a DVD drive that is finicky, we are thinking a new one is in our future. Not really the route we - or our bank account - want to take but it's kind of necessary in the writing of newsletters and other church related stuff. And blogging... from here and now experience, it's kinda difficult to write a post via my phone - not totally unable but difficult. Plus I can't put up pictures and what's a blog post without pictures of Elianna doing crazy things? Just words. That's right. And that's not that exciting. So admist our crazy week, we may be at the Apple store checking out Mac's brothers and sisters to see if we want to bring one home with us. Poor Mac.

Lent

Today marks the beginning of Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.  Like Advent, I'd always thought of Lent as being a "Catholic" holiday.  The church we attend on Sunday evenings, follows the church calendar meaning they celebrate Lent.  They have a reading calendar each week and during Lent last year we read passages that strongly convicted my heart in how I viewed the season of Lent.  The Gospel Coalition had an article on February 11 ("Lent is About Jesus") and is offering a free devotional guide for the season of Lent.  

Complied by [Kendal] Haugh and [Will] Walker, Journey to the Cross is a free devotional guide for the season of Lent.  Each week focuses on a different theme (e.g., repentance, humility, suffering, lament, sacrifice, death), and each day follows a distinct pattern:  Call to Worship, Confession, Contemplation, and Closing Prayer.  "Lent is about Jesus," the authors contend, and with each element "our aim is to reflect meaningfully on His journey to the cross, so that we might take up our cross and follow Him."

Taken from TheGospelCoalition.org

I'm excited about going through this guide and having my heart challenged as I prepare for Easter.  Click on the links below to be taken to 1) the Gospel Coalition's article, "Lent is About Jesus" and 2) the free devotional guide Journey to the Cross.

1) "Lent is About Jesus"

2) Journey to the Cross

Picture from KaleoHouston.com

Toree's Birthday Visitors

Although it has been over a month since Toree's birthday, I didn't want to forget to post one more thing.  That's the thing with falling behind - you tend to forget stuff.  

On Toree's birthday I had 3 people call and tell me that they went to visit her on her birthday.  My friend Jeanne, PopPop K. and my sweet friend Karan (and son Kyle).  It made my heart feel so much better knowing people went to visit on her birthday.  Yes, I know "she" isn't there but it is still a special place to remember her.  Karan also took a beautiful wreath to put on her grave.  Blessed me more than I can describe.  Thank you my friends for visiting my little girl for me when I couldn't make it!  I am so excited to be able to visit her this Spring when we head back to Jersey for a wedding.  Can't wait!

Stock Show Parade {Toree's Birthday}

Each year for Toree's birthday we eat at PF Changs.  It's been a place to remember her at since the day we found out she would not live to term.  Exactly one week after Thanksgiving 2007.  No one felt like cooking that day so we headed to PF Changs.  The day of her funeral we ate at PF Changs.  And every year on her birthday we eat at PF Changs.  

This year Elianna and I were to meet Chris after he got off work at the downtown PF Changs.  There was so much traffic and we kept seeing these horses in the middle of traffic.  It was weird.  Chris had a terrible time getting through the horse traffic.  While we waited for him to find a place to park, Elianna and I stood on the sidewalk to watch all the horses go by.  Finally I got brave enough to ask a lady down the sidewalk from us what the deal was.  She said we were on the backside of the Stock Show Parade.  Makes sense.  Stock show = horses.  

I'm a little disappointed that I didn't know about the parade because you know what was on the front side of the parade besides horses?  Steer.  They let steer run loose down the parade route.  It would be like a not so scary version of running with the bulls in Spain.  Next year we will run with you steer.  Next year.

No idea who this guy was but he was following the parade with his own little parade

Groundhog Day 2013

Well Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this past Saturday.  While I am super happy about that (Spring is coming!  Spring is coming!), I also realize that this is not good for the very dry state of CO.  We need moisture and unfortunately right now that comes in the form of snow.  Also unfortunately, we need lots and lots of it in order for us to not have fire problems like we did last summer.  Right now our forecast shows snow over this weekend so maybe that will help.

That being said, we here in the P-berger household have never celebrated Groundhog Day.  Never really thought about it until I saw some Groundhog Day ideas on Pinterest.  Since we had our church partnership class pretty much all day Saturday, we did not get to do any of the crafts.  Guess we'll hang on to those ideas until next year.  However, we did get to make groundhog pancakes for breakfast.  They turned out cute I do believe!  Next year, we'll dig his "hole" a little deeper for his head to pop out of.  We're also looking at getting him some braces to fix his very crooked teeth.  Also ignore his "fall leaves" eyes.  Was trying to use what we had on hand.  Poor Phil.  He's a wreck.  Those teenage years are hard on a groundhog too.

Not that I believe in a groundhog predicting the next 6 weeks of weather (he's probably as accurate as the weatherman though), but it was a fun breakfast to make!  Thank Punxsutawney Phil.  

By the way, what happened to Punxsutawney Pete?  Maybe he had a problem with his orthodontist.

Karate

Last October we went to the Punkin' Chunkin at the Araphahoe County Fairgrounds.  While we were there, we received 2 certificates for a free month of karate.  Chris and I have always talked about karate for Elianna but didn't know where the best place to go was.  Since we got this free month, we decided to give it a try.  Normally Z Ultimate doesn't take kiddos younger than 4 but the Sensei (karate teacher) said she would do the free month and then assess at the end.  Elianna did a great job and since November has continued on with lessons.

She has a white belt and recently received her first black stripe on her belt.  She is doing a fantastic job!  She knows all of her 8 blocks, knows all her punches and kicks, and is working on her blocks in a half-moon stance.  Her Sensei is also working with her on not being overly shy with people, focus, coordination and respect.  There are so many other things that Elianna is learning from karate and we are so grateful she is able to take the lessons.  Right now she is just in private / semi-private lessons (sometime another little boy joins her) but will soon move into a group class also.  Her Sensei is so great with her!  Very firm but also very encouraging.  Plus Sensei has Elianna do alot of running around to help get out some of her energy!  Yay!!!

Waiting to receive her black stripe

Sensei has them kneel in front of the flag with their eyes closed