A Parallel Experience

For the last couple of months I’ve been engaging a practice called centering prayer. I have found this practice to be one of the most life giving disciplines I’ve ever tried in my spiritual journey. (if you’re looking for more information or some background on the practice go to www.centeringprayer.com/)
Anyway, I had a neat experience yesterday morning. I decided to do my 20 minute silent sit with Luke on my lap as he slept. At some point during the prayer Luke moved a little bit and I began to think that he & I lived in parallel experiences.
Right now, Luke can do very little on his own. He relies on Andrea & I to feed him, change him, comfort him, help him fall asleep…etc. It was this incredible feeling of responsibility and at the same time gratefulness for having the opportunity to parent Luke. There was a moment of being in awe at what Andrea & I had a part in creating.
I then connected this to my relationship with God. It was as if I had this picture of me laying on God’s lap the same way that Luke was on my lap…and God marveling at how He had made me and how I needed Him for most everything. It was a beautiful moment that I won’t soon forget.
Now onto some new pics…

Our first walk with the Chariot to Mark & Amy's

Nice profile shot by Grandpa Warren

Carter & Jaxon came for a visit...and Jaxon couldn't

get enough of Luke - it was sooo cute!

This is daddy's view in the morning

Good morning sunshine!

A Whole Lotta Love

As of 11:29 this morning it's been a week since little Luke was born. This has been the most amazing experience for both Andrea & I. Some things that have been great since his birth:
- watching Andrea totally embrace motherhood
- incredible support from our families allowing us to get some extra sleep where needed
- watching our families totally fall in love & be smitten with Luke
- more incredible support from our community with meal making, encouragement & visits
- seeing how his look has changed & developed in just a few days
One of the other things that I've noticed is how much I love him...and almost everything around me. A couple days ago I mentioned to Andrea that since Luke's birth there's been an increase in love for me. Things around me just look different. I see him and I'm overwhelmed with love...I see friends & family come and go and I'm struck by how much I love them...I go outside and sit in the yard and listen to the birds and I feel this incredible depth of love for nature and life. This son, our gift from God, has definitely given me a new perspective on love & life - and he's only 7 days old! I can only imagine how this will continue as he grows & develops.
Now onto some more pics...

Just hanging out with Daddy in the morning

Our first visit away from home
A visit from some of the Loewen clan

Shamus (pictured below) & Tirrell came by to visit "Luke

Skywalker"as Shamus refers to him. (check out the grin on his face!)

Getting some sleep in the morning sunlight

Welcome Home Luke...

First the stats:

Luke Samuel Donovan Bergman was born at 11:29am on Thursday, May 21st...weighing in at 8lbs 12oz with a length of 21". Labour started suddenly at 2:15am Thursday morning...and we were quickly moved to the Altona hospital when our midwife Karen came by at 8:30am and found that Andrea was fully dilated. The adrenaline then kicked in...
I'm not really sure what to write about the experience. Currently, Andrea & I are completely overwhelmed with love for this little being who (thus far) sleeps all day & fusses all night. We've been replaying the events of the last few days over & over with family & friends...and we always end up marveling at how quickly our baby was born and how amazing Andrea did through the whole experience. Now, before I go on I have to give some props: first, to our two amazing & beautiful midwives Karen & Mhairi and second to Amy, our incredible support & sidekick through the whole process. Without the presence of these people during the labour & delivery things would not have happened as beautifully as they did.
I'm sure I'll think of a few other things to post as time goes on...but for now, this little family of 3 is loving life in Altona.

Andrea, myself, and Luke with our midwives
Karen (left) and Mhairi (right)

Here is a picture where Luke is a few hours old.
It took him a while to come down the old birth
canal...so his face was a bit bruised

This is a snapshot of what our first two nights
have looked like at home

Here is some late night bonding between
mom & little Lukie

Here's an updated pic from late in Day 2

The Best Family Around

About a month ago my sister Amy asked Andrea & I if we would appreciate a work day at our house before the baby arrives. With no hesitation, we both answered with a resounding yes! So last week Saturday the crew arrived at noon and worked until supper. Some even continued on into the early evening. A ton of work got done both inside (by the ladies) and outside (by the dudes). Here are a few pics that documented the day for us:
Thanks to all for their help!

Uncle Mark clearing a much needed path

in the raspberry bushes

Grandpa Warren moving a rhubarb plant...or

should I say attempting to move a rhubarb plant

Grandma Ruth on a cleaning frenzy
in the bathroom

Auntie Amy visioning for how to organize the kitchen

(we're still trying to figure out where some of our stuff is)

Me with Uncle Paul & Grandpa Ken in the

finished compost bin (love it!)

The Birds of May

Sorry...for those of you looking for a baby update on this blog there's no news as of yet. We are waiting (mostly impatiently in my case) for the baby to arrive. It does give me some peace to know that at some point in the next 3 weeks the baby will be born. Until then, here are some more bird pictures taken this week. (Check out some of the colour!)
Just this morning I put out a couple of oranges on the yard and this afternoon the orioles arrived to check things out. This is the first spring where we've had these beautiful birds on our yard.

This is a Harris' Sparrow that's been hanging around this week.

It's a bit bigger than more of the other sparrows.

Female Rose Breasted Grosbeak
Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Male Oriole

Male Goldfinch

The Right Turn at Albuquerque

In late March, Andrea & I (along with 6 other friends from Altona) went to the Emerging Church conference hosted by the Center for Action & Contemplation (CAC) in Albuequerque, New Mexico. We had a great weekend attending the conference and spending quality time with good people.

One of my favourite parts of the weekend was getting books signed - I know I'm a bit of a geek. What's even better is that I was the first in line to get my books signed. The few minutes that we had while Richard Rohr signed a number of books for me was really cool. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan Priest and founder of the CAC...who thinks Mennonites are great. Over the last couple of years his teaching has given me very different eyes to see the world along with a greater attentiveness to those things that are around me. I could go on...but I'll save it. Here are a few pics:

Here's the panel of speakers (from L to R): Richard Rohr, Alexi Torres-Fleming,

Shane Claiborne, Phyllis Tickle, Brian McLaren

This is a picture of Mark in front of Maggie's diner - which was

also a spot where the movie Wild Hogs was shot
Me with Shane Claiborne

This is was a beautiful image at the conference -
a tree with all of the faith traditions present at the conference

Lastly...me with my little buddy, Richard Rohr