"He Inspired and He Gave" In Memory of My Grandfather...

James G. Bergera

April 13th, 1931 - January 12th, 2008

A year ago this past Monday my grandpa James Bergera passed away. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I’ve seen my grandpa. I was extremely close to my grandpa, he was like a dad to me and I miss him immeasurably.

Since I was young my grandpa taught me the importance of gaining knowledge, giving to others, and unconditionally love. I fondly remember grandma and grandpa coming over to visit when I was younger. Grandpa would grab a book for us to read, put us on his lap and we would read for hours. He had such amazing patience and wouldn’t get frustrated when we were learning to read a new book and couldn’t quite get through the pages as fast as he. He would sit there, help us sound out the words, and smile when we made it through a rough patch. He was always good about hearing our stories, helping us out with homework (number one priority!), and taking us out to our favorite little diner for lunch. On days when my mom and dad worked he would come over and take us to school so we didn’t have to walk in the snow and rain. He was that kind of guy, always willing to help us, teach us, and push us to do our best.

My grandpa was also the most unselfish man I have ever known and was consistently giving to others, including myself. Whenever we needed a little extra cash we knew we could always come over and clean his house, wash his windows, or mow his lawn. He would pay us so much more then we needed but that was my grandpa. Don’t even think about trying to pick up the bill when you went out to eat with him. And when you asked what you could order he would say, “Anything you want”. He was gracious enough to let my sister, brother, and I move into his house as soon as we graduated and we were so thankful to him for it! I lived with my grandpa for over two years I am so grateful for those years and for the relationship that I grew with him.

Reflecting on his passing makes me reflect on the atonement of Jesus Christ. I become elated to know that I can see my grandpa and my grandma again one day and this is not the end of life for us. My grandma passed away in 2004 and I am overjoyed to know that my grandparents are together again and happy and I can't wait to see them!

I will always miss my grandpa. I don’t think a day will pass that I don’t think of him as well as my grandma and the immense impact they have made in my life and all those they have touched. A truly remarkable man who brought so much love to me and my family. I love you grandpa!

California Dreamin...

So I couldn't be more excited because in one week from today Matt and I are taking off to California! I mean what could honestly be better then a whole stinkin week away from work, school, stresses of life, and of course snow! Over the Holidays we weren't able to visit Matt's family and so now we are taking advantage of the little vacation time we have both accumulated and we are taking off west to spend a whole week with the gang! We are going to open Christmas presents, crash at Thom and Sarah's house while we spend time with our cute little nephew and niece, and even go to DISNEYLAND! I mean come on, how stinking AWESOME is that! I really can't put into words my excitement, just be forewarned there will be a HUGE post about it all with plenty of pictures when we get back! Bring on the sunshine!!

Not another one…J/K!

8 TV shows I like to watch...
1. Prison Break
2. The Office
3. Grey’s Anatomy
4. SNL
5. Bones
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Pushing Daises
8. 30 Rock

8 Things I did Yesterday...
1. Drove to work and hit some major black ice!
2. Worked 7-4.
3. Did training with the “new guy” Joel.
4. Read a little bit of “Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War”.
5. Went to Wal-Mart and waited for Matt to get off.
6. Went to Café Rio with Matt for dinner…yummy!
7. Watched a couple episodes of “Numbers”.
8. Fell asleep with hubby! (my favorite part of the day).

8 Restaurants/Fast Food places I love to eat at...
1. Rubio’s
2. Rumbi Island Grill
3. Red Robin
4. Cafe Rio
5. La Dolce Vita
6. JCW’s
7. In ‘n Out
8. El Pollo Loco

8 Things I am Looking Forward to...
1. Getting a new cell phone today!
2. Getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow!
3. Cali trip in just over a week!
4. Seeing my cute little nephew and niece!
5. DISNEYLAND!
7. Our 3-Year Anniversary next month!
8. Any days off with my hubby!

8 things on my wish list...
1. Find a new job for Matt.
2. Pay off all our debt!
3. To see our family in California (and Michigan) more often.
4. To travel abroad.
5. To attend the Temple more often and continue to grow spiritually.
6. To finally graduate (both me and Matt) and get good jobs!
7. To always stay close to our family!
8. To have an AMAZING life with my AMAZING husband for ETERNITY!

8 People I tag...
EVERYONE!

Out of shear boredom...

High School Never Ends... Payson High School Lions!

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? Nope not really...I went out with a couple guys here and there but never really "dated" anyone until I was college.

2. WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? Oh wow...ya I had a White '91 Chevy Cavalier that I got from my uncle...it was a clunker and broke down several times (once on Main Street in Spanish Fork...it was so stinkin embarrassing!) but it was my car and I loved it!

3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? But of course!

4. WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? LOL...ya ask any of my high school friends this question and they would burst out laughing...NOT AT ALL!

5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Also LOL...I didn't even know how to flirt!

6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Neither...I was in band in 6th and 7th grade but that's it...although a lot of my friends were in Choir and a couple in band, I was the odd man out.

7. WERE YOU A NERD? Not really though we were all pretty nerdy in Payson (hehe).

8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? Duh! J/K of course not!

9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Nope...I was a good girl!

10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Not at all...I don't think I ever sang it in High School though...I do remember it had the words Green and Silver in it.

11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? I loved my art teachers Mrs. Burdick and Ms. Shuler...they were the best...made class just so low key and chill...very cool ladies!

12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? We would usually sit in the lunch room on the same tables (hard to explain where) some of us would eat some wouldn't...we would just sit and talk, it was cool.

13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Payson High School

14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Lions, Green & Silver

15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Yup, with Devin Rowley who actually just became a dad a couple of days ago...talk about CrAzY!

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? It would be fun to hang out with my chica's again but as far as the school part no thank you!

17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Being nervous I would trip or something...having fun with my friends, driving up to the graduation with my bud Kathy and just having a blast!

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I don't know if we even had one...

19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? Nope!

20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? I've actually lost some weight since High School :)

21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? My mom, sister, and aunt Cathy (hehe)...we actually went out to dinner all together at Los Hermanos and just had a girls night out, it was fun!

22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? We will just have to see...

23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Sort of, I had a seasonal job at Olson's Garden Shoppe and I worked for a little bit at World's Gym in Spanish Fork, and though I am ashamed to admit it I worked for about a month with my buds Ashley and Kathy at Western Watts (don't judge!)

In case you haven't heard it enough...