THE CALL

Tonight I got another CALL!
Last week, Pauline called and said would you like to go to Haiti?
YES, I said!
Your in.
Call Nicole on her cell and tell her you can go.

Nicole, this is Jill, I can go to Haiti.
Great, can you leave at 3pm today?
Yes I said!

What was I thinking! My husband was on a snowmobiling trip with the boys and I was packing for Haiti. I needed my passport, some money, to pack, so much to do...
Then Nicole called back and said there was a change of plans, ICU was going next, surgery would go later.
I was sad and relieved! I was on-call to go with another team, at another time.
I went to the Temple on Saturday, and prayed that I would have peace about this very difficult decision. My husband came home, and I got a Priesthood blessing on Sunday night. I finally felt better about not knowing what was going to happen...would I be able to meet the strain and stress of the catastrophe that occurred in Haiti January 12th.
Tonight I got THE CALL I am going to be leaving in two days! I fly out Wednesday, January 27th.
Leaving for Jimani in the Dominican Republic to help 350 patients at a small clinic with no electricity or water!
I can't wait!

This is how I'm getting through it all...

I love each one of these sweet ladies...
Each one has offered help, shoulders and food, some even said they would bring hammers and shovels!!
This photo is from our December luncheon (I stole it Laurie).
And I love them all!
Thank you girls...

Going Private

Not that I have that many followers but...
I have been writing about the fire that destroyed my husbands business the Bagel Bin. I would really like to post this story simply because I plan to turn my blog into a book, for my children to read someday. I don't want to share the intimate actions taken by others, on our behalf, with anyone who would choose to judge those actions as wrong.
There are those who may wish to place blame or make accusations...I'm only interested in sharing our family story with those who know us and understand that decisions were made during a time a fear and faith.
Plus there were some pretty dang funny things that happened...and I just gotta share those!
I'm pretty sure if your reading this, you will hear and understand our fire story...
Thanks, we love you~

Today our Bagel Bin went up in smoke (part 1)

I'm writing this post on Friday January 8th 2009, not sure if or when I will 'publish' this posting, but I wanted to write it while it is fresh in my mind!

At 10:08 Thursday January 7th my husbands cell phone rang. JD his night crew opener called and said the Bagel Bin was on fire.

The Bagel Bin is the only Kosher establishment this side of the Mississippi river, a burnt offering is sacrificed in the large rotating oven regularly. Scott's first impression was that these ingredients were probably smoking, or had fallen off the oven rack causing smoke. He was told his brother David was 10 minutes ETA and in route. Scott, was a little irritated he was woken from his limited sleep.

Not, 5 minutes later David was on the phone and said the Bagel Bin WAS on fire!

Scott, immediately started throwing on clothes yelling a few swear words as he put on double socks. I was following behind him putting on my own sock, saying I was going too.

"No, just stay here" Scott said.

I replied, I would just follow him if he didn't let me come along.

It was 6 degrees below 0 with a windchill of -30. I put on sweats, slipper boots, sweatshirt and jacket. I thought to grab my camera, but did not want to upset my husband (he HATES pictures).

We drove recklessly to 119th and Pacific Street. We arrived to find 8 firetrucks on scene.

Smoke was billowing from the roof and out the windows.

More firetrucks showed up, more firemen and women arrived. It was declared a two alarm fire. Soon, the fire hit the firewall, two businesses, ours and Invisible Fence were engulfed in flames. More fire trucks arrived and a fireman yells to me, "Mam, do you work here?".

"No, but my husband does" I said.

We quickly found Scott who was with his brother David and the other two evening Bagel Bin crew members.

The fireman was looking for the fire hydrants. We have had over three feet of snow and all of it was plowed against the parking lot curbs. None could be found! The fire dept. had to run hoses to Pacific Street!

Soon another call went out, a mayday. All firefighters were to evacuate the building and roof. The Assistant Fire Chief told us the roof collapsed SECONDS after the call was made.

Another alarm was issued, a three alarm fire was now raging within the business that sustained our family. Our health insurance, employees incomes, financial stability, our entire physical substance was in flames. We were in shock.

My mother in law arrived, I took her to our car. We parked behind the fire chief. Before we knew it there were 50 firefighters, 12 trucks, rescue vehicles...I have never seen so many resources used at once in my life!

Our dear friends arrived with a camera (cuz the first thing Scott said to me as we arrived at the fire was, "did you bring your camera"?) our Elders Quorum President and Scott's great friend arrived as did hundreds of Bagel Bin supporters, customers and friends. Scott's brother Glenn came with tears on his cheeks.

The ice was unbelievable, three overhead ladders with hoses and probably 10 hand hoses fired back at that freezing cold fire. I burnt my cheeks while standing outside in the sub zero tundra.

It would be a long night, we gathered at the only open establishment, the bar, to share our shock with each other. We went home at 2am and then the calls came.

The calls started at 10:08pm and...well I just answered another text!

Christmas with Tyler's family...finally

Since the snow storm (and many more to come) took out our Christmas day celebration with Tyler and family they came to Omaha to see us on New Years Eve Day!
It was fun to have lunch (pizza and cinnamon rolls) together and open a few gifts. It was exciting to see Grant/Tyler's reaction to the autograph and photo of Eric Crouch, 2001 Heisman trophy winner's gift. Perfect for Tyler's Husker room at his house!
The Berry's brought our college student the perfect birthday gift...thanks Berry's!
We played Domino's for hours! Tyler had never played before, it was funny when he turned to Valerie and said,
"Do we have this game"?
And she said,
"YES"!
Games are a big hit in the extended Berry clan, it was the theme for our family gifts to each other! Thanks Berry's for making the trip to Omaha to celebrate together!

Trevor turns 19!

Trevor tuned 19 on December 27th 2009! A milestone birthday cuz 19 is a special year! It's the year Trevor is of age to serve his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We're so happy for Trevor and the decision he has made to serve.

So when you see those sweet young men riding their bikes down the street, look closely, it may be our son!

We took Trevor to Outback Restaurant...for the first time! He ordered a FULL slab of ribs!

Trevor opens his only gift...so far, his card from Gramma and Grandpa Berry!

Thanks Berry's just what Trevor needed!

We love you Trevor...happy 19!

Christmas Morning 2009

The Snow storm heard round the world!! We were aware that a major snow storm was on it's way to Omaha...so we were lucky the Brezack family made it to our house for Christmas Eve...but NO ONE was making it to our house Christmas Day!
We stayed in our jammies ALLLL day! Well, I did! The rest of the family suited up and headed for the snow! Scott on his 4-wheeler with plow, Chrisi to the front porch with Harley and Trevor to the neighbors with his own shovel! We must have gotten 20 inches that day, with blowing snow and drifts that covered the mailboxes!
Each Christmas morning we have a tradition...we bring up the home made treasure box (that Christina made in 4th grade) and read what was written in years past. We write down what we were thankful for in past years and what we want to work harder on in the next year. We write down the year, but not our names. When we read each previous years we are reminded of the blessings we have received and how we have grown throughout the years.
This year was hard for me. Knowing that at this time next year my son will be somewhere in the world serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will be spending Christmas morning serving others and living as the Saviour would. Teaching, serving and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christina said we should spend next Christmas morning on the beaches of Cancun...I can't say that wouldn't be a bad idea!

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve has traditionally been at our house, each year. Spent with the Brezack family. It started when Scott and I were first married, we had the first grandchild, Christina. We wanted to celebrate Christmas and Scott's family was Jewish. So we decided we would spend the first night of Hanukkah with Grandma and Grandpa Brezack and Christmas Eve at our house. It was wonderful to expose our kids to both holidays. I remember buying a Hanukkah book and reading it to my kids to explain the importance of both religions and how it will be a part of the heritage of our family.
As the Brezack family has grown, we now celebrate Christmas Eve, but will always be grateful for our Jewish ancestors who suffered death at the hands of evil, while proclaiming their faith in God. And for those ancestors who fought to defect to America...who changed their birth dates and purchased train tickets out of Poland and sailed to Ellis Island so that I might have my family.
This Christmas I am thankful for the gift of family, and through the Gospel we have created a culturally sound eternal family.