Visit to Nashville!

I just returned from another fun visit to Nashville to visit my college roommate Beth and her 4 adorable kiddos-Jude (6), Lucy (5), Ezra (3), and Annie (1). Since Jude was born I have come just about every December while Ben is on tour with the AP Christmas show and because of going to Africa I could not go this year...I really, really missed it. I have seen the kids at least twice a year, every year...once in Nashville and once in St. Louis at our roommate reunion and it made me so sad that I was going to miss out! You can read about last year's trip here.Beth and I were talking when I got back and it worked out to go visit this past weekend while Ben was gone working on AP's newest album. I LOVE Beth and Ben's kids...they are fun, happy, healthy, and hilarious and were just what I needed after my trip to Nigeria and being immersed back into the painful childhoods that I work with every day. I put in some pics from the past 3 years too...just for fun because they are so cute!!!

The striped pj photo shoot is my favorite...they are just too cute!!! Jude (6) Lucy (5) Ezra (3) Annie (15 months)

Last year's pic!!

First year with the matching pj's in 2007!
I can't believe how little they look!!!

Sister love!!Little Annie has grown so much!!!

Brothers!

I love that we have traditions and that we carry memories over from one visit to the next..matching PJ's from Carters and the Children's Place, Chuck E Cheese, and craft time!! I am amazed at how much they have grown since the last time I saw them...and how incredibly fun, smart, kind, and HILARIOUS they are! (especially Ezra...AKA ET or Peter Pan).

We played Beatles Rock Band on Wii...so fun and their daddy's talents are obviously apparent as well as my lack of!! We braved Chuck E Cheese on a Saturday and did lots of crafts! It is so fun to see them get to excited about new crafts!!! This year the hit craft was the plastic beads you put on peg boards to iron into a design...I loved doing that when I was little so it was a lot of fun!!!!

Jude, Lucy, and Ezra with their crafts...
and in 2007

Jude at Chuck E Cheese in 2006-Can't believe he was only 3!!

Saturday Jude and Lucy and I got to go on a special date during naptime since they are able to stay up now and picked out more fun crafts! It as so fun laughing with them and being silly racing around wal mart with the 2 of them squealing in the cart!!! I loved telling them about our college days...how we lived together in the dorms with daddy right across the hall, how him and mommy met, about all of our fun times at the 5th st. house...they were really fascinated learning about what it was like to live at "college"...I told them next time I would bring pictures of us from our roommate years!!! Lucy as "Grandma Rosie Dinosaur" 2006

I really got to enjoy Ezra this year since he is 3 he remembers our times together in the past and is just the most hilarious kid...declaring his name is ET and going out dressed up as Peter Pan! He is so incredibly kind and loving...not to mention made us laugh every other minute!!!

Ezra "painting" a banana 2007

Favorite picture of baby Ezra!!!

Lucy (2) and Ezra (5 months!) 2006

And baby Annie...what a doll...She is clearly the youngest of 4 and is carefree and of course I loved that she was willing to crawl into my lap within 5 minutes of arrival and read books. She is at such a fun age...copying everything and at the same time asserting her own independence!! I loved trying to teach her funny faces and to say "drea"...she is so sweet and easy going!!!

I am amazed at Beth's patience, love, and commitment to her kids and her family...I know it can't be easy all the time when your husband has to travel for his job and you are homeschooling 2 of your kids but it was just fun and laughter the entire time..and taught me a lot about what is really important when being a mom...

After the kids were bathed and in bed...Beth and I got to spend hours talking and watching Tivo... many late nights and early mornings but it was so worth it!!!

I love getting to visit their church and enjoyed a relaxing Sunday afternoon complete with a nap while Beth got out to do grocery shopping...Sunday afternoon I started to get sad, as I always do...I KNOW that I will be back, I KNOW that I will see them again, relatively soon even with our roommate reunion right around the corner...but I just hate to leave, always have. There is something so wonderful about being under one roof with 4 healthy, fun kids who are the picture of all a childhood should be...and also with a dear friend who has seen me through so many highs and lows over the years...and now the fun of being able to share all the good and exciting things going on in my life!I realized that I don't have a picture with me and the kiddos and so we gave it a try after church...you can see from the pic how well that went!!!

I made it to the airport and even onto the plane with no tears this time!! I can't wait to see them again!!!

Thank you Shive family for an amazing and fun weekend!!! I love you all!!!

The beginning of our journey...

I have been back now for a week and two days and I am just now getting my mind wrapped around how to document our amazing trip to Nigeria. I thought I would start at the beginning...

Christmas seems like such a blur as my mom and I were so focused on getting ready to go. I didn't really know how to get ready to go... how to prepare to go to a country across the world that was completely foreign to me. I had no idea what I would be experiencing. I just knew that I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to live out a dream to get to go to Africa. The night before I could not sleep a wink and I spent a lot of time reflecting...it may sound cheesy by but I came across a DVD of Michael Jackson's We are the World project at Goodwill right before Christmas and had to pick it up. The seed of wanting to go to Africa was planted as a 6 year old first grader, watching my idol Michael Jackson and the Aid for Africa program on TV. While seeing all of the starving children...I cried because I didn't understand and knew I wanted to help them. Fast forward to the summer after my freshman year of college when my dear friend Kate and I discovered our mutual passion for the poor and our dream of someday getting to love on kids in Africa. It has been something I have always wanted to do..a dream tucked in the back corner of my heart that I didn't really pursue because of feeling trapped by finances, work, etc.

Then, the opportunity was presented to me and it was perfect in every way. Little did I know then how amazing and life changing it would be.

We departed a cold and snowy Chicago two days after Christmas. We arrived at the airport to a flurry of fellow Hands and Hearts members...recognizable in our matching yellow-brown shirts. There was excitement and uncertainty and some sadness in saying goodbye to our families and friends. We had to weigh each of our 48 trunks and duffels making sure they were under 50 lbs. It was our first of many experiences with the large, awkward, cumbersome trunks that would be carrying all of our supplies to Nigeria.
Terri, Gene and Wendy working on getting all our luggage weighed and checked
Trunks everywhere!!!

Ready to leave for London!!!

We made our way to the International Terminal and were on our way to London before I knew it. I was exhausted from not sleeping the night before and slept the entire way there. We arrived in London early Monday morning. I made a bee-line to the internet and did not live it down the entire trip that while the entire team was waiting for me at the gate-I was on facebook for what I knew would be the last time in 2 weeks!!!

I slept again on the way to Lagos and was so out of it when we landed that I left my phone in my seat...those of you who know me well understand that losing my "security blanket" was quite difficult-but now I believe just part of the plan to keep me 100% focused on what I was doing in Nigeria.

We were met in Lagos by Uche, Dr. Okey's nephew. He was a stranger to the majority of us who had not been before, but now someone who I consider a dear friend and an amazing brother. He helped us get our trunks without having to pay fees by demanding airport workers, he made sure we were safe, and felt welcome in Nigeria. We waited for the rest of our team to come in on the KLM flight from Amsterdam and just sat outside with all of our luggage getting to know one another, the people we would be living, eating, working, and sleeping with for the next 2 weeks!Dr. Uche giving Teri the latest update on our trunks and transportation

Tired but excited travelers!!!

Preview

Silvia, keeper of the trunks!

I was so exhausted I don't remember much but finally our buses arrived...and there we were again pushing, hauling, and carrying all of our trunks to put them on the bus. Only a video camera could capture those moments of pushing those trunks on luggage carts, in the dark, in our first moments of being in Nigeria and then loading them on the buses, through the windows, through the back, anything to make them all fit!! We were on our way to our hotel for a quick sleep. We ordered some food at 10:30 at night-our first of a gazillion experiences with Nigerian rice!!! I barely remember that night and we were up at 5:30 to fly to Owerri, where we were going to be staying for the week.Chaos with the trunks...a common theme!!!

Ordering our first Nigerian meal

Our first cultural experience of the benefit of "Nigerian Time"...we arrived at the airport 45 min before our plane was supposed to leave and there was mass chaos as we unloaded all our luggage and put them on the luggage carts, hauled them into the airport...only to find out we were at the wrong airport! Apparently there are 2 domestic airports in Lagos and we were at the wrong one!! We assumed at this point that we of course had missed our flights!!! We were able to call one of our buses back and loaded again through the windows and doors and any way they would fit all the trunks back onto the bus. The majority of the team went ahead to start getting our boarding passes while the rest of us stayed back waiting for our bus to return.

Hustling to get all the trunks off the bus.....

....and putting them all back on 10 minutes later when we realized we were at the wrong airport!

The arrival at the other domestic airport in Lagos was pure chaos...and at this point our flight should have departed but because we were on "nigeria time" we were able to walk through make shift security (tried not to think about it given the recent terrorist incident) and before I knew it all 17 of us were on our way to Owerri!!!!A bit of culture shock at the Lagos airport...it was a miracle we all got on that flight!!! An hour after it's scheduled departure! They don't have the "you have to check in an hour early rule" Thank goodness!!!

Boarding our 3rd and final flight to Owerri!!!

A quick 45 minutes later we landed in Owerri and were greeted by Ngozi, Dr. Okey's wife and our dear friend!! We were also greeted by our driver for the week Uche (a different Uche-it's like the name John there) and our military escort!!! I was scared TO DEATH of him...it is not everyday that you see people walking around plain as day with AK 47's...but once I knew he was there to protect us, I felt much better!!!Finally in Owerri!!! Tuesday morning...traveling since Sunday night!!!Our military escort to make sure we were traveling safely...he was referred to as the "nigerian shrek!"

And then began our journey to Roosevelt Suites...our home for the next two weeks. When I look back I remember shear excitement-excitement that it was 90 degrees and sunny, ecstatic that we made it and we all made it safely!!!, anticipation for starting our work at Ohaji...and this was only the beginning!!!!!

First thing that caught my eye-the Nigerian taxi's...I LOVED them!!!

Where do I even begin??

I have been back in Chicago for 5 days...I am slowly getting back to my routine and coping with jet lag...I feel like I could write a novel about my journey to Nigeria....I do not even know where to begin. It was everything I hoped it could be and a million times more. I am forever changed by the people had the privilege of getting to help, the wonderful Nigerian doctors who are now like brothers to me, and the 16 other Americans who were on this journey with me. I want to blog about it all so I never forget! I just need to figure out where to begin...

Christmas 2009

Christmas has come and gone so fast as usual...we had a wonderful Christmas this year and I am blessed beyond measure by the love and generosity of my family!! I had a rough start to the day. I put in 45 hours of work between Monday and Wednesday trying to tie up lose ends at work, get all the holiday stuff organized for people to send thank you's and make sure my clients were in a good place...I hit the wall Thursday morning after sleeping through a doctor appointment and being deliriously tired. My family was great...took over making my appetizer for me...did all the work while I got myself in the Christmas spirit.

I LOVE our Christmas Eve traditions...It is always just our immediate family. We have gourmet appetizers for dinner before we head out to church. The service was beautiful as always...and always a bit sad as I remember how much my grandpa loved those services. When we get home from church my family breaks out the Christmas cookies, I beg everyone to stay in their church clothes for pictures, and then the fun begins. We sang Christmas carols with the Karaoke machine and played our annual trivial pursuit game. It is such a joke. I think Greg has all the cards memorized! Sha and I were on a team together and I am happy to say that I have a perfect match in the family so I am no longer the ONLY one who gets made fun of for not being so smart in the trivia department!! We did secret santa this year among the 5 of us and it was a lot of fun..and economical!!! My siblings and I always watch a movie from childhood while camping out in the family room-even at our age!! So fun!!!


Christmas morning was great! My mom still piles the gifts under the tree like we are still kids!! I got so many fun presents-gift cards to make my scrapbook for Africa, clothes, my mom's handmade fleece scarves and mittens, a whole bunch of little things that Ineeded for Africa and my favorite-Tae Kwan Do lessons and a registration for the Chicago Spring 1/2 Marathon!!

After opening presents we always head down to Naperville for Christmas Day. This year we had it at Brett and Rachel's house. It was so fun to see everyone again..especially my adorable cousins!!! We had amazing food and just spent time together the rest of the afternoon. Brady of course was the center of attention...when he came downstairs from his nap in his santa suit it was just too much! He is such a fun, happy, and good natured baby!!!


We headed home in the yucky weather and began packing and re-packing our trunks for Nigeria-trying to get them at 50 lbs...It made the whole thing real...but even as I write this-it is not real. I don't know if it will be until I land in Nigeria!!!

I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful and blessed christmas!!!

Merry Christmas From the Bercos'

Celebrating Sha's Birthday and Family Karaoke Night!!!

Tonight was such a fun night! I wish I wasn't so stressed by all I have to do to get ready to close up shop at work for 2 1/2 weeks, get ready for Christmas and NIGERIA!! I immediately noticed the change in atmosphere...our weekly Sunday night dinners are great but we are all usually bummed the weekend is over...then I realized everyone who is in the work force works at a school and is off for 2 weeks!!! No wonder everyone was so excited!! We had a yummy dinner and then mom let us open an early Christmas present-a Karaoke machine!! We had SO much fun! I thought I was going to pee my pants multiple time...especially grandma's rendition of home on the range!! It was fun to celebrate Sha's birthday too!! I can't believe it is already her second year of celebrating with us and that she is so much a part of our family!!

Getting ready to open gifts and have cake!!!

There was some Christmas preparation too...mom and grandma were wrapping caramels!

Alex and Grandma sing a duet!!

The only real singers in our family!!

This was priceless!!!

Alex and Grandma singing Oh Come All Ye Faithful!

Sneaky Santa 2009!!!

Last night was one of my favorite nights of the year!! Our yearly secret santa exchange with the girls!! We have been doing this since 7th grade!!! It was not the same without our Lecia but we were lucky to be able to celebrate with her on speaker phone and have her open her gifts with all of us there! We also got a very special christmas surprise present from Alecia too! ;) I'll have to update more on that later!!!

Lynn opening her gifts from Lecia via speaker phone!!

Mags and Stannie opening their gifts!

We had a great night drinking our Romance Red and eating wonderful food! We watched classic footage (our name for all videos from high school and college). This years choice was our last day of senior year, our trip to Baltimore, MD, and to a summer house in Galena. It is always such a hoot and so much fun to watch how silly we were and also some of our most treasured memories!

Lynn had me this year and I got super fun gifts!!! Stuff for my Africa scrapbook-near impossible to find, an itunes gift card to load up for my trip, and magazines for the plane!! I love this tradition and how meaningful it is to us!!!!

I will always look forward to this special time...and it means that christmas is geting very close!!

Happy First Birthday Brady!!!

Yesterday we celebrated my cousin Brady's first birthday!! I can't believe he is one!! It seems like yesterday that we met him when he was 12 days old on Christmas last year! Grandma and I had quite the time getting down there and missed the fun part at the gymnastics place but made it in time for cake and ice cream at Brett and Rachel's! It was fun to see him eating his cake and watch him walking all over!!! He is so big!!! I can't wait to see everyone again soon for Christmas!

Happy 1st Birthday little guy!!!