Sunghee's baby shower

 So few months late on this but hey, better late than never! Kim and I threw a shower for one of our friends in the program, Sunghee. Sunghee is just the sweetest person, I have really admired her from the time I met her. Her parents passed away when she was younger and she then left her brother and friends in Korea to come to the US to get her PhD. I can't even begin to imagine how hard grad school would be without family & friends close by and then to add being in a new country, a new culture, and having to WRITE academically in a second language... wow. She is nothing less than motivated and determined and we have had so much fun together over the years. We have talked a lot about the differences in Korean and American culture and she has introduced me to some delicous Korean dishes and tried (rather unsuccessfully, my fault not hers) to show me how to make my favorites ones. I think my absolute favorite memory with her was at Molly's house when Sunghee was trying to show me how to do these stretches that were to have helped me with ballet (back when I had time for classes, lol).  It was just too funny, we were all laughing so hard. Sunghee and her husband Kim are expecting their first baby, a boy, in about a month. She finished her PhD a few weeks ago and they should be settling into their new home up in Chicago right about now. So glad we had chance to throw little shower for her before she moved.. here are some pics!

       Sunghee is so tiny that she barely looks preggers even this far along, she makes me sick!

       Burcu, Katherine, & Kahn totally called each other to plan their outfits, lol




  Had to have some gator gear for baby! Go Gators Go!

  Erin won the guess how big baby belly is game

       Lisa won the baby food game, her prize was the baby food.. lol

                             Molly & baby Jane with Sunghee

         Janie is one of Sammy's friends he plays with on Fridays, she is soo sweet& just turned 1
   Burcu was one of brave few who actually tasted rather than smelled the food..mmmm yummy!
                               Guess the baby food game was too funny! 
    Molly's cupcakes were a hit, too cute! The other half were little monkey cupcakes, just adorable!

A Nerdy Post

                Go Gators!!!          Congrats Berg Lab!!!

  Wanted to put up a few pics from our last lab meeting of the Spring semester. Sam calls us The Nerds b/c our lab is called "The Developmental Neuropsychological Research Team". When working on our logo, I said "well, I could put D.N.R.T." and Sam replied, "ha ha, you guys are Da Nerds!" and with that we were nicknamed Da Nerds. I just love our lab, we work really hard to create a fun, family type environment where a lot of hard work is accomplished. We are in fact training the next generation of professionals so is super important that they see that yes this work is hard BUT we don't have to be cut throat competitive and stressed to max to get things done. Each spring is always sad b/c we loose so many great RAs (research assistants) as they graduate and move on to the next chapter of thier lives. I have been so blessed to have had such an amazing bunch of RAs during my grad carreer. I am guessing I have had maybe somewhere around 45 or so total, give or take a few, that have worked with me over the last 5 years. Even more that have worked in the lab as Kim has her own folks to help with her stuff. Back in the good ol' days when our testing was going strong Joe & I had about 17 to 20 RAs at a time that would test consistently each day for us, but now that we are in our final year of testing I just haven't needed as many folks. So, as I see my little group dwindling it is sad but a good sign of the times that the END IS IN SIGHT and my own graduation is just around the corner! In fact, I have only interviewed two new RAs for summer so hopefully can get things finished with a super small group. 

   I have supervised several senior thesis students who are the undergrads that are really cream of the crop and need the thesis experience to apply to grad schools. I am so proud that every single one of my students received highest honors!! Kady, see below, was my last student and I must say I went out on a bang. She was just excellent (they all were, don't get me wrong) but she had the benefit of experience on her side, given she was my last. By the time Kady was ready to do start the thesis process, I had learned what management style worked best for me, how to really keep them on deadlines, how best to teach various aspects, and how to balance many other aspects of supervising. Supervising a thesis takes a lot of time, we help them develop their plans for their study, teach writing skills as we read several drafts and make many revisions of each section, teach them how to analyze their data and interpret their results, and then of course, their big defense presentation. It is great learning experience for them and for us grad students, helps prepare us for having our own grad students (if going to be professor which I really hope it doesn't come to that, I really do not enjoy teaching). I have thoroughly enjoyed each of these students and love hearing about all they are doing with thier lives now. I am looking forward to the publications that will come from each study BUT I will NOT miss those weekly meetings with each student! I have been given the gift of time, lol! Goodluck to each of you as you, remember us little people when you become big fancy doctors!! =)

Celebrating end of semester and many accomplishements with some of the lab members. Several missed meeting b/c finals week but can still see some of our super amazing RA's with Keith, Kim, and Me.. the cake was super yummy!

Janelle and Kady super excited that they were almost done.. Kady's defense was the next day and Janelle's was the day after.. Congrats ladies!!!!

                     Meet my left and right arm.. Adam and Amanda... I seriously don't know what I would do without either of these two, they keep things running and are just angels. I honestly could not be more thankful for them. Case in point- Adam is now in Austrailia doing research BUT is still heading up and coordinating all of my heart rate data processing from afar. Just wonderful!!!

    Congrats Naveen! He is done and off to med school to be ER doc, how weird will it be if I am ever in ER and look up to see Naveen is treating me?????                                                 

Congrats Melissa! Just finished last exam and is now graduated and starting med school too. We will miss you!!!!

Kim was so sad, Melissa is her right hand and she is still mourning the fact that Melissa graduated, hang in there Kim

Here is Kady doing last min prep before her defense!! She was simply amazing, I was so proud of her, totally rocked it.... See, I TOLD YOU HIGHEST HONORS all the way !!!! Congrats, I wish you all the best in life!

First Haircut!!

                      Check out his new do! So big!

Exhibit A: 12 mos
 That's right, we finally did it! It is crazy how fast our little bald baby grew hair over the last few months. For example, the first pic is when he was 12 mos, he barely had any (see exhibit A). Then, fast forward 4 months and his hair was so long and wild it had started to do this Elvis thing where it curled up in a giant wave on top, he seriously looked like a kid from the 50's (see exhibit B). 

 Exhibit B: 16 mos

   

Anyway, it was time and so Sam's parents came and we took Sammy to Geoff's mom who cuts Sam's hair and she was just so sweet and great, she even refused to let us pay for it! She said it was her pleasure We had Sam sit and she trimmed a little on his head to show Sammy what would happen then he sat on the ducky seat they had (it was kinda creepy looking) and was so brave. He was a little unsure of things, even "Conchita" his donkey Janet brought him from Columbia didn't help. He was so brave all the way to the very last bit when finally his bottom lip quivered so she finished his haircut with Sam holding Sammy. The grandparents were too cute- video taped every moment of it, I love it!   

I love this pic, Sam was congratulating Sammy on being brave and still for her and tossed him in the air, so sweet!

        

                He did it! They were so proud of him!

                                                    

           Well, apparently the Elvis thing is here to stay??

                                                     

OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!

 So two of our biggest prayer requests have been answered!!! I am just so excstatic I can't even begin to describe how happy I am and how much sheer joy it brings me to write this.... 

 1. Kylie America is comming home!!! Dave & Andrea got word that they are out of PGN which means she is now legally theirs and is now within maybe a month or two of coming home to states!! See below for more info and pics...

2. Sam has a job!!!!! Sam just accepted a position with Mercedes Benz where he will be the service writer. It is will be long hours and working weekends but IT'S A JOB so we are more than happy with this excellent news. He will be going today to fill out paper work and then will start in next few days!! WOOHOOO!!!!!  We can't say thank you enough for all of the prayers, support, and ecnouragement we have had throughout all of this. It has been such a demonstration of love, we are just so amazed at how blessed we have been by all of our friends and family. Thank you from bottom of our hearts.

Little Miss Kylie America Anderson

Most of you know how LONG we have prayed with and followed Dave & Andrea' journey through this adoption process. I met Andrea when we were both on short term mission trips at Casa, the first year Sam and I went to Guatemala.  The two of us had an instant connection and really bonded that week, it was like we had been friends forever! We talked a lot about how we both wanted to adopt children, we each fell in love with babies in the baby dorm, my little Estuardo nicknamed Blanco and her little Neimiah who God used as a stepping stone to Marlia Grace who was then used for Kylie. I can still remember one of those nights in our dorm when we were talking about our day and all we had done with the kids and Andrea was talking about little America (Kylie's given name is America Alejandra but now thanks to Dave & Andrea she is Kylie America, which is just adorable). Kylie was still in the baby dorm at the time and Andrea kept saying how cute she was and she went on and on. How fun to look back at that conversation now, if Andrea only knew then all God had in store for her and that cute little girl she was talking about!!! Kylie's adoption has been a very long journey that was unfortunately full of pain and dissapointments as it has taken 2 and half years to get to get out of PGN, but also filled with bittersweet moments during the many visits and fun times they spent with Klyie along the way. Andrea kept a babysite to document this journey to keep us all updated and God has used their trials and struggles as an example of faith and waiting on our God for His timing which has ministred to many who have yet to accept Jesus as their Lord & Savior. Dave, Andrea, and Kylie have all been so strong throughout this process and have allowed God to use them and their story to reach others. It was hard for me to spend so much time with and love on Kylie each time we have been in Guatemala and then leave her there knowing how many were praying for her to return. I mean really really hard and she is not even mine, so I can't begin to comprehend how difficult it has been for them. 

    Andrea and I have talked a lot about the day when our two  babies can play together and be friends so I can't wait for Kylie to meet Sammy. I always try to love on her and spend as much time with her as possible when I am there so it was really sweet when I was preggers and explained to Kylie that I had a baby in my tummy. She kept her hand on my tummy for so long and kept saying "tu bebe" and then would kiss my tummy. I even have a pic of her with her hand on my belly right when Sammy kicked her, which sent her into giggles. Last year I brought a photo albulm for her with pics of Dave & Andrea  and pics of Sammy and she was just amazed. She kept saying, "me see my Samuelito" and kissed his pic, it was just so sweet. She carried it around and showed all her friends she was so proud of him!

  I know many of you have prayed and are still praying for this sweet family but please continue to pray that the last few steps (pink slip, birth certificate, visa/passport, and plane tickets) goes smoothly and quickly so we can get this little girl home where she belongs!!! 

Andrea & Kylie

Dave and Kylie in Antigua -  Kylie was on phone with her grandma

Of course,  I had to put one of my sweet Cristina with Kylie, Cristina absolutely ADORES Andrea and so she does a great job of loving on Kylie and gave several of her teddy bears to Kylie, just so sweet. She writes in her letters sometimes that she is praying for "America to be home with her mami"  .. that's my girl!!!

Wonderfully late mothers day surprise!

  I feel like a kid in a candy store but guess what.. I got the best mother's day gift from my sweet Jesus in the mail yesterday.... a letter from Cristina! Most reading this know that Cristina is our sponsor child in Guatemala whom we have grown extremely close to. It was not just any letter either, this was by far the sweetest most sincere letter she has ever written us and honestly it brought me to tears. She is just so mature and is such a little lady now I could not be more proud. I say it was a late mother's day present b/c I am not sure why but for some reason over the last four or so years God has put two very special girls in my life who for very different reasons needed some extra mommy-type loving, Cristina being one of them. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying, there is no way I could ever fill the mother role for them especailly Crisitna since we live in two different countries, but what I mean is that I know God has used me to fill in the gaps where needed, if that makes sense. He has loved on them through me is the best way I can describe it. It is tough though and can really hurt at times to be so close to a child and have such a bond but then have to be separated. It is a longing I do not wish to describe. Cristina and I have talked some about this, she says her mom (who passed away when she was young) must have picked me out for her and that is why God sent me to Guatemala. Now I am not sure about all that but it did really touch my heart. She is just the best. It is neat to see how our relationship is unfolding, we have moved from her being this little kid I had to remind to obey and encourage her to do well in school to a great friend who we can talk about romance & boys with and ponder deep meaning of life type questions. I guess that is just how things go as kids grow up. I can't imagine that with Sammy.. ok moving on, can't even go there right now especially since we all know Sammy will always remain my little baby, no growing up.. no sireee. 

     So, this letter was just the best timing. Those who talk to me often know I always have the Casa kids on my mind but I tell you, last week I just had dream after dream about Guatemala. I often dream about it but the dream on Monday night was so real, so vivid and so strange! I described it to my friend Kelly and she actually laughed out loud! Cristina had a large role in it so it was just neat to come home and get this letter from her. Hannah & Krista had gotten the mail and when they gave it to me I was glancing through it and our playtime outside was cut short b/c I just couldn't wait, I had to run straight to Gloria's to have it translated. Cristina is such an encouragement, and is so sweet. Gloria laughed b/c when Cristina writes us she addresses the letters to "mi familia" or her family, and she was practically begging me to bring my mom & Richard, Sam's parents & Sarah, Sammy, Leslie, my cousins, and... GLORIA with us this year. Too cute! I always send pics of our fam to her and last year I recorded a video of Gloria speaking in Spanish to her. Cristina had one tear trickle down her cheek when she watched it for the first of many times and then she looked at me and said.. "you please bring Gloria to here, si?" So, it is cool, the two of them have never met yet have this sweet bond. 

  Anyway, I just had to share my big news, I know it may seem silly that I could be this excited about a letter but it seriously made me happier than a diamond could have. I will post pics and more on mothers day when I upload from my cam but for now I couldn't wait to tell everyone about my amazing letter. Only 2 1/2 months until we are back in Guatemala but that is too long as far as I am concerned. How on earth will I make it two more months? 

One of the blogs I have been following is a friend of a friend who has just returned from a mission trip in Uganda, Africa. She captured very well the feeling I struggle with to this day of wanting to be in two places at once. I am sure you can relate, those who have been on mission trips or simply had an amazing travel experience. It is typical for folks to say "I left a little peice of my heart in .....". Well for me, I left a GINORMOUS peice of my heart and soul in Gautemala. It is the weirdest thing though, because for me being that I am only in Guat once a year, I spend most of the year longing to be there again and try to calculate some way to stretch our money so I could possibly pop on a plane for a weekend visit (which has never happend) and many days think to myself hmm it is 2pm here, what are they doing there? Yet, the weird thing is when I am there, I miss it here. I miss my family and our friends and my little crazy dog Franklyn and yes, even Kobe our cat. I feel such mixed emotions when I am there, both dreading the day we head home almost to the point of feeling sick at my stomach b/c I don't want to leave and those who have ridden to the airport with me knwo I cry the entire way, yet I also count down the days until I can see my fam & friends again. I feel torn. Last year while there Andrea and I left before breakfast to share some special prayer time together, (by far one of my favorite memories with you ever Andrea- need more of that soon). We just sat there in front of one of the boy dorms and poured our souls out to God on behalf of those on that campus and our own husbands and sons who were back in the states as she too felt torn between Guatemala and home. I had often wondered if at some point way down the road Sam and I would be called into full time ministry and maybe even be called to Guat but then I quickly would push that thought aside assuring myself we could never do it b/c of how I felt while there, missing our family and friends so much. Well reading this blog kinda helped to clarify things.. here is how she described being caught between two worlds. 

" I think that at this point I will always be missing something.  When I am here, I miss Africa terribly.  When I am there I miss my friends and family here.  I'm trying to let this be a reminder of how my heart is meant to ache.  We are never supposed to be comfortable and at ease, but longing for a life of fulfillment t that can only be found in Jesus when we get to heaven.....I feel ruined once again.  Gloriously ruined for sure.  I will never forget or regret the experience of entering if only for a moment the suffering of others.  I will chose to remember their faces.   It may make me an awkward American and force me to live between two worlds and the tension that causes, but I believe it's worth it.  I can't pretend I haven't seen this.  I used to calculate everything in $7 increments. . .what am I going to do now that I know we can feed someone a meal for $0.17 ?  How do I justify that in my mind?  How do I comprehend that we have been given much. . . .and we aren't sharing very well with our brothers and sisters?  My heart aches.  Coming home isn't easy, I don't know where home is anymore"

  So for now,  I am at last content with my torn feelings and finally at peace with them. It is ok and maybe even just what God wants for me to feel caught between two places. I know we are right where we need to be for now and am forever grateful for all that God has done and is doing in our lives and the lives of our precious children at Casa. I am thankful for the change in how we live our lives daily b/c of what we were exposed to in Guatemala, we NEVER waste food and honestly try our best not to take all we have for granted. It has even helped us during our recent financial struggles. As we feel the pinch of no income, we are still eating (thanks to our wonderful Sunday School class.. more to come on that later too) and do not feel the pain of hunger as many in Guat feel several times a week. One of the families of kids that arrived at Casa a few weeks ago had alchoholic parents and were only eating a few times a week!!! So yes, our little struggles have been put in perspective and mostly b/c of our mission trips.  Thank you Kelly for sharing these blogs with me, they have been so wonderful to read and helped me a great deal. If anyone is interested here are links

http://www.poulsenstochina.blogspot.com/

http://rialeephotography.com/blog/

http://www.brandisthoughts.com/

Of course my all time fav blog that I am totally addicted to is Kate's blog Amazima Ministries International, just so inspiring but be forwarned also addicting and is one giant reason I want to go to Africa now =)   http://amazima.org/

Lastly... Job update: Keep praying! Sam has interview in am and we two other possible interviews.. something has to come through and fast! Thanks for all your prayers!

Happy Easter!! ???

Ha ha, a little late but wanted to get our Easter pictures up so a certain someone will stop nagging me about it. =) In all honesty I am just glad someone cares to see what our little family was up to on Easter so thanks for the nudging.  We had a great time with family, we were up in Orange Park at mom's house. Sammy awoke to his Easter basket set up just like I had when I was little and it was truly love at first sight between his Elmo or "Mo Mo" as he calls him and his ducky poop bag thing (that one was just thrown in at last min and was more for me than him but he was equally as excited about it, strange?yes in deed!). We had an amazing morning of worship at our old church and David's message was just so amazing, he is such a great pastor. I really miss everyone there, it is really like seeing old family when we visit there. All the fam came over for an excellent home cooked lunch and then the Easter Egg hunt was on! It was so much more fun this year. Last year Sammy had just learned to sit up but this year he was hunting for his eggs and did his best to keep up with his big cousins. He was too cute toting his giant basket around and pointing while exclaiming "that.. ggg!" which we think was his version of egg. He of course had to dump the entire contents of his basket out after each new egg was added and then sit to put them all back in each and every time.  His cousins were great helpers and were just too cute showing him the ropes. The funniest of all was when we handed him the chocolate bunny totally not expecting him to realize it was actually food.. but he proved yet again he is my son and bit the head off and almost ate half of it before we could get it away from him. So much for no sugar, huh? 

   This was of again one of those times where I coudln't help thinking how great it would be if our whole fam could be together to celebrate such a special day.  Seriously, so many of our loved ones are so far away now. You know, back in the settler days and in many other countries families still live very close to each other and spend most of their days together. I would personally love that but it is next to impossible in this day and age with everyone's busy lives. Guess that is one more thing about Heaven we have to look forward to, right?

  Quick update on Sam's job situation.. he has MANY applications out there right now so keep praying that doors will open and something will come through! 

Loved his chocolate bunny... this is totally Mom's fault all the way, her  and her "oh but everyone needs a chocolate bunny on Easter" love ya Mom, you're the best! 

With Katie, so sweet!

Making his now famous hugging move.. no worries she is friend of fam and NOT a cousin =)

Sammy just simply adores Julie & Brian

Brian found the golden egg!

And he's off!! 

Found another one Daddy!

So handsome! Thank you to Connor Shirey for Sammy's cutie hand me down Easter outfit! It was just perfect!

We love you Mom!

Smooches!!

My silly Sams are too much!

Ok, so I totally bribed him for this pic and gave him an M&M, another first for him and from this expression I think he liked it!

Playing with his MoMo, duckie bag holder, and eating an M&M.. can life get any better than this?

He FINALLY put Elmo down after literally 9 hugs but still couldn't help from rubbing his face, guess he has a new bff!