Birthday

Since my sister in law's birthday is the day before mine we celebrated together this year!!! We met Jon's brother, Jimmy, and his wife, Leigh Ann (birthday girl), and their two boys, along with Jon's sister (Holly) for dinner at Applebee's the weekend of our birthdays.

Sorry these pictures are from end to start, but you know me, I still can't figure this blog thing out!

Just us girls (Holly, Leigh Ann, me)


The grandkids (Ryan, Jared, Aliy, Joel)



The Sibs (Jon, Holly, Jimmy)


Here's me trying to get a good self photo of me and the kids



Everyone




The birthday singers



Jon and Jared



Holly and Ryan



Jimmy and Leigh Ann












This one has nothing to do with my birthday, but Aliya's Great Grandma Lucy sent her a Dora blanket in the mail a few weeks ago, I took this picture to send to her with a thank you card.

Thoughts on 30

Today I turn 30. I'm actually REALLY excited about it! I think the 20's (although tons of fun) are a hard age to be in the working world. In your 20's you are still too young to know anything, but you're old enough to know better?!?! Am I right? At least that's how I feel in my line of work. So today I embrace 30 and am ready to start this new chapter in my life! Some days I feel much older (esp when people assume I'm Joel's bio-mom and I see them doing the math in their head with our ages) and others I freak out when given an assignment at work, "I can't handle this, I'm way too young" but then I think, I'm really not that young and hey, they wouldn't be giving it to me if they didn't trust I could do it, right?!? So, it's not so freaky after all! So I welcome 30 and look forward to a great year!!!

Our Flyer

While We Wait
…Support for waiting adoptive parents…


A gathering of waiting parents looking for support and shared
wisdom during the adoption process.

Meetings held the Third Sunday of every month
7:00pm Oakwood Starbucks
Far Hills Ave
(back conference room)

Co-facilitated by adoptive couples:
Jon & Kelly Bergstrom
Mike & Diana Keller
For more information please email:
whilewewait@yahoo.com

No need to RSVP for the group, just show up!

Coming Together!!!

Just a quick update on the waiting parents support group I posted about earlier...

* We have coupled with another couple who grew their family through adoption to co-facilitate the group. (Diana and Mike)

* We've decided on a name for our group ("While We Wait")

* We've decided on a location (Oakwood Starbucks conference room)

* We've decided on how often to meet (once a month)

* We've agreed on the direction we want the group to go (group support for those in the waiting process. Our hope is that connections will be made within the group and couples will find friendship and support with others to connect with outside of our meetings)

* We have confirmed the space is available (for FREE)

* The flyers are made (can't print until we pick a date)

Now we just have to pick a day of the week to meet...

Once we pick a day, the networking will begin with local adoption agencies.

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to put all the pieces together with this!!

26 month update

I can't believe Aliya is 26 months old today... It amazes me how much she is growing and changing every day. Below are just a few things she's picked up over the past month.

*Putting 3-4 words together to make sentences, not always making sense, but talking more every day. Her new phrase is, "Aliya eat time" and "You stop it now" (of course that one comes through clear as day!)
*Completely transitioned into her 2/3 year old class at church and LOVES it! Her tears at drop off last about 3 seconds and then she's fine!
*Talks about church all week long, talks about her friends, the songs and the animal crackers...
*Her reasoning skills are improving and she's understanding time lines of events.
*Has started singing along with us, not just asking us to sing then screams for us stop once we start.
*Bowling (both at home with her toy, on the wii or at the alley) is her new favorite sport!
*She is naked at least 60% of the time (at least from the waist down) and loves to sit on her new Dora potty seat (that fits on our toilet), nothing happening yet, but we're on it enough sooner or later something's bound to happen!
*LOVES to talk on the phone to anyone who will listen
*Has started saying "Halloww" (Hello) every time she walks into the room, it's really cute!
*Is miss independent with EVERYTHING, "Aliya do it"
*Loves to help
*When looking for something that she can't find, she shrugs her shoulders and says, "daddy hab it"
*Still has her night night, but is doing much better about not taking it everywhere. :)

I'm sure there are a million more things she's doing, but I'm drawing a blank! New pictures to follow soon!

Asking for Prayer...

Okay, so about a year ago a tiny seed was planted in my heart for adoption awareness... then about 6 months ago that seed started growing into a desire to reach out to waiting adoptive parents...then a week ago that small flower started to open and today it bloomed!

Jon and I are starting a waiting adoptive parents support group!

We have no idea where to start or what to do, but I am speaking it out loud and asking for prayer for direction, guidance and discernment. I am SUPER excited and can't wait to get started!!

More details to come as we come up with them!

Happy Birthday Jon!!!

Happy Birthday Jon!! We love you!