Robert has had his 2nd chemo treatment of his 2nd round of chemo and is doing good. This time around seems to be a little harder on him but he is still doing great! Ryan & Renissa's families are coming home for Easter so that will be fun for everyone. It will be great to be with Camrea to celebrate her being an offical family member! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers! Happy Easter to each and every one of you. Love The Berning's

Papa & Nana finally made it back home! Horray! Rowdy was glad to see Papa! Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers!

WE ARE AT HOME!!!! Need I say more? There is no place like home sweet home.Rob and Brecken were here to help us unload and Jill and Shae had put the furniture back in the living room after Jason cleaned the carpets and Carl painted so part of the house is fresh and clean..... Was so good to step inside and see that all of that was done. THANKS TO EVERYONE! We love you and it is so nice to have love and support at a time like this.Robert went to pick up Rowdy. He was really missing him. I'm sure he will be excited to see Robert also.Our bed will feel nice tonight and with a couple of days at home I should have everything unpacked and maybe back to part way normal if there is such a thing as normal?What a journey we have had!I will go back to work Tues or Wed.I'll see how I feel.Thanks again to everyone who took the journey with us through prayer, spirit, phone calls, email, gifts, and food. We appreciate it all and words can never express our gratitude. We love you all!!!!!!!!Love and prayers, Robert & Roxie
March 14, 2009 6:28 PM

We are in KANSAS!!!! YEA! Made it to Kansas City last night about 8:30 p.m. Didn't get out of Rochester until 2:00 p.m. As we were coming out of Gonda building elevator, the piano player was playing "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and I thought what a great song to end our Mayo journey on. It gave me goose bumps and I thought it was a great send off....We clicked our ruby red slippers and followed the Yellow Brick road and it brought us to Kansas. We slept in a king size pillow top bed and slept like babies last night and then got to Augusta, Ks about noon today. Will spend the night at Ryan and Melissa's home and then on to Home Sweet Home!Renissa took the afternoon off so we could spend some time with them as they have baseball tourney in Oklahoma over the weekend and will be leaving in the morning. The grandkids were glad to see us and we got lots of hugs and kisses which we needed. After Papa gets up from his nap Nolan wants to take him bowling.It's great being here but we miss our wonderful friends from Hope Lodge. They have called to check on us several times. We were like one big family. Great friendships were formed. Seems strange not to have clinic appt schedules to keep. After six weeks of doing that it becomes routine.Anxious to see everyone when we get home. Hopefully we will be home Saturday sometime.Love and prayers, Robert and Roxie
March 13, 2009 3:12 PM

He rang the bell,He did it well,It will be a good day,When we finally get on our way!!!What an accomplishment! Mike, Melody, Kathy, her Dad and Judy were all there to see him celebrate 28 treatments over...We love you all for ringing the bells along with him.A few more appointments and we will be on the road to Kansas!!!Love,Robert and RoxieThanks for all your prayers!!!They really are being heard!

Robert will be ringing the bell tomorrow at approx 9:30.Ring this bellThree times wellThe toll to clearly sayMy treatments are doneIt's course has runAnd I am on my way!Please join with us by ringing bells at home three times to help us celebrate another part of our journey. What a journey!!!!!We will try and get to Kansas City tomorrow night and then on to Augusta on Friday and home Saturday! We'll follow the yellow brick road! I have my ruby red slippers ready to click and Dorothy and Toto will lead us home to Kansas! YEA!!!!See ya all soon!Love to all, Robert and Roxie

Can anyone hear me screaming?????Our last appt on Thursday is at 12:15 p.m. so we won't be getting out of town early like I thought.They still think he needs meds in his port for two more days and they messed up on todays schedule so that prolongs the stay. I guess better safe than sorry!Pot luck is tonight and it will be Bitter Sweet! We have made many wonderful lifetime friends and I'm sure some tears will be shed saying goodby. Goodby's have never been my best thing to do. I always like to say "SEE YA!"Sounds like the Spring like weather in Kansas has come to an end. Talked to Rod and he said it had turned cold. We'll feel like we are still in Minnesota.......Tomorrow night we will go out to supper with the two couples that make us laugh so will be fun to laugh again before we leave.Met a nice Mennonite fellow that voulenteers at the radiation department that has two sisters that live in Pence. He called and wanted to take us out to supper but our schedules won't work. It was very nice of him. His name was Leslie Amoth and his sisters are Mrs David Dirks and Mrs Robert Koehn from Pence. Fern and Frances. I'll have to tell our Mennonite friends at home about him when we get there. I'm sure he will look us up if he ever gets to Kansas.Hope to see you all SOON!Two more nights at the Lodge!Love, Roxie
March 10, 2009 2:03 PM

Didn't get to church yesterday so went this morning after Robert got his meds. Had breakfast and then he went upstairs for a nap and I went to Walmart and Kohls and a few other places. Haven't had any time to shop so just wanted to look. Really wasn't in the mood to buy much so mainly looked.It snowed about 4 or 5 inches this morning but has stopped. Boy, wouldn't we love that moisture at home!I have cheesy potatoes in for supper, will also do smoked sausage.4 more nights to stay here and then back to Kansas. Robert hasn't been feeling really well over the weekend so we have just took it easy and he has rested. He will be glad to get the chemo pump off.Pray for good weather and safe travel. See ya soon!Love, Roxie
March 8, 2009 4:29 PM

Most of the people from the Lodge went home for the weekend so it is quiet here. I made two pumpkin rolls and taco soup. Trying to use up all the food before we leave.Robert got his med's in his port this morning and then went back to bed for a nap. He is just so tired. I think the chemo is really starting to take it's toll on him.We might go to church over at St. Mary's @ 4:00 today as the time changes tonight and he has to be back over at the clinic tomorrow for more meds in his port.I'm trying to organize things so I can start packing the car on Wednesday while he is at his meeting.It's been nice to just have a day to rest and relax. Yesterday afternoon we drove around Rochester for awhile.Hope to see you all soon.Love, Robert and Roxie
March 7, 2009 2:24 PM

We are done at the clinic for today so Robert is up taking a nap and then wants to go do something.Not sure what???When we got back to the Lodge, I had good news. I had won the weekly quilt. It is a fleece tied blanket with dogs on it and blue.It will be nice to snuggle up with.Have a good weekend. Thursday we will head that way if the weather cooperates. See ya in Kansas!!!!Love, Roxie
March 6, 2009 11:34 AM

Today was busy but tomorrow we should be done by noon.We went out to supper with two other couples tonight. One brain cancer, Robert pancreatic cancer and the other Bob rectal cancer.We laughed so hard we almost fell off of our chairs. Bob was telling his Doctor stories. You can just imagine!!!! Laughter is the best medicine. The people at the Fisherman's Inn never would have guessed we were all from the Hope Lodge. The manager came out and said the laughter was contagious.Today Talen Shay turned one. Can't believe I was there last year at this time to spend a week and bond with him. Hope to see them next Friday.Diana Long sent us the Leoti Standard to read online so it's nice to keep up with the local news. We really enjoy that!Hope to have a laid back weekend.Most of the people from the Lodge go home for the weekends so sometimes it is quiet around here.Love, Roxie