On Saturday, May 30 at 9 a.m. at Tri-City Park in Placentia, hundreds of people just like you are showing their commitment to "adding tomorrows every day" to the lives of Joshua and Lukas and others with Cystic Fibrosis through the simple act of walking.

For the last two years, The Garberg Force GREAT STRIDES walk has been both fun and successful. Our team's dedication has helped GREAT STRIDES become one of the country's most effective and efficient fund-raising efforts. Since the first GREAT STRIDES walk The Garberg Force joined in 2007, our team has earned over $56,000 to support the vital research and care programs of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Our team has been blessed with 100 walkers in 2007 and an amazing 120 turned out in 2008 to walk along Joshua and Lukas in their commitment to rid the universe of Cystic Fibrosis.  We realize that difficult economic times make donations even more difficult this year, however, don't forget that you can make an incredible donation just by showing up and walking - and bringing friends and family.  Knowledge is power and the more people that know and understand CF, the better off our children are going to be.

Please join our team or make a donation:
www.cff.org/great_strides/kristengarberg

Be sure to check out The Garberg Force web site at:

www.thegarbergforce.shutterfly.com

With Love and Hope,
Chris, Kristen, Jakob, Joshua and Lukas

Thank you to everyone who has joined The Garberg Force this year.  In 2007 our team was made up of over 300 friends and family members all dedicated to helping Lukas (4) and Joshua (6) and the 30,000 other individuals in the US fighting Cystic Fibrosis!  Our team earned over $30,000 - in which 90 cents of every dollar goes to things that will directly help our boys. 

Here's some things to know for this year:
We will be meeting at Tri City Park on Saturday, May 31.
Please try and be there by 9:00 a.m. for a team photo. (Note 9:00 not 8:15 as previously sited).
We will be wearing "The Garberg Force" t-shirts from last year.
We will be selling t-shirts if you'd like to purchase one.  (They will be around $10 with proceeds going to CFF).
If you don't have a t-shirt, groups are encouraged to wear their team jersey, school t-shirt, etc.
PLEASE, PLEASE provide us with a list of anyone you have received donations from so we can personally thank them.

Here are some important links:
www.cff.org/great_strides/kristengarberg
www.cff.org/great_strides/chrisgarberg
www.cff.org/great_strides/jakobgarberg
www.cff.org/great_strides/joshuagarberg
www.cff.org/great_strides/lukasgarberg

We are so excited about this year's walk!  Joshua and Lukas are understanding more the significance of this walk and are thrilled to see so many classmates, teammates, friends and family.  You have no idea how much it means to our entire family!

While you are on this site, be sure to check out "photos" to see what our guys have been up to lately - and check out photos from 2007 Great Strides Walk!

Again, thank you, thank you, for helping us to help our little boys!

Lots of love and appreciation,
Kristen and The Garberg Force

The El Dorado High School Class of 1983 will NOT be having a 25th reunion this summer.  Based on input from our classmates, we think we'll have a better turnout at our 30th reunion if we wait until then.  Please keep in touch with us regarding your contact info, so we know where to find you when we start planning in 2012 - for the 2013 event! 

We look forward to seeing you!  Kristen 

El Dorado High School
Placentia, CA
Class of 1983

FINALLY!!  The big day finally arrived - and was it fabulous!  Words cannot begin to describe how phenomenal the day was - these photos will really tell the story!  Take a look at the handsome groom and his incredibly gorgeous bride as they become man and wife!  It was a great get-away filled with special priceless moments.  The rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the reception were all wonderful, but the ceremony itself was a special testimony to two wonderful people who truly love each other.  The declarations of love, the touching moments, and the personal vows made Todd and Marni's wedding one we will not soon forget! 

Take a look at the photos below and be sure to write comments!!  I'm sure Todd and Marni would love to hear any special memories you have from this special weekend!

With lots of love and hope for a happy and healthy future, we wish you well Todd and Marni Stitt!! 

The Wedding: What a beautiful, touching and personal ceremony!  Everything was gorgeous - but most especially Marni!   She was stunning!  To see photos - click here:

The Reception:  What a blast!  This was a fabulous event, unfortunately, for the unprofessional photographer, the lighting was a little tough.  I'm posting photos that might not necessarily be exceptional in quality - but they help to capture the beautiful moments the evening had to offer.  Click here to see the fun:

Don't forget the Rehearsal Dinner!  To see the beautiful summer evening event where family members and the bridal party had a chance to get aquainted, click here:

On Saturday, June 2 our family participated in our first Great Strides walk.  We did not walk alone.  In fact, we had nearly 100 friends and family by our sides.  YES, 95 FRIENDS AND FAMILY were there in support of Joshua, Lukas and every person living with Cystic Fibrosis.  Amazing.  We've been told that we broke the record for the largest group ever at any of the OC events!  Amazing. 

Of course, we should include our satellite walkers we had up at the "HUYA Cystic Fibrosis Walk" held at Lake Piru (see blog below for details regarding this fabulous event).  There were 60 walkers at that remote event held on June 2 as well.

Words cannot convey the sincere gratitude we have to all of you who were with us that day.  The Garberg Force had a combined 150 participants walking in support of our children's cause.  What an absolutely overwhelming thing that is to believe.  150 people.  150  people cared enough to take the time to bring awareness to CF.  I don't really know what to say to that.  It's utterly, fantastically, phenomenal.  It makes me feel as if everything IS REALLY going to be alright!!  How can it not when there are so many people in our corner???

And to all of you who made your very, very generous donations to our cause.  At the time of this blog, we are anticipating a total of approximately $27,000 plus going to the CF Foundation!  $27,000!!!  Unbelievable.  Unbelievable.  The day of our walk, we were informed that a new drug (VX-770) that addresses the basic defect in CF, had entered Phase 2 clinical trials.   It's got a long way to go before it is approved, but it is an exciting milestone.  The monies we earned goes towards things exactly like this.  In fact 90 cents to every dollar goes towards some of the nearly 30 potential therapies that are being funded by CFF!!  You made a difference!   You really did.  Thank you isn't enough.

With all of our love and our immense gratitude,
The Garberg Force
Chris, Kristen, Jakob, Joshua and Lukas

To see the many photos of this WONDERFUL event, click the photo below.
If you would prefer to see larger photos click on this link:

We've been so blessed by the kindness of others.  Here is an example of the kind of people we are blessed to be surrounded by.  The following is a summary of the event, written by our dear friend and neighbor, David Smith - also the chief of Jakob, Joshua and Chris' Modoc Tribe of the Great Huya Nation.  Approximately 60 participants joined in!  Check out the photos for sure below - what overwhelming support our family was blessed to have received by these fathers and sons. Thank you, David, for organizing such an amazing event - and thank you Indian Guides for being by our sides - if even many miles away!!  We are so very humbled by such a generous and kind gesture.

June 2, 2007

Guides Walk for CF . . . Remotely!

When Guides Can’t Get to the Walk, They Bring the Walk to the Guides!

Few things could keep Chris Garberg from an Indian Guides campout with his sons, but this was one.  With two of his three sons recently having been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, the “Garberg Force” needed to all be in town for the annual fundraising walk for CF at Tri-City Park. The walk was on the same weekend as Guides’ year-end campout.

But when some of Garberg’s Guides brethren learned of the unfortunate conflict, they were equally disappointed to not be on hand to support the Garbergs at the CF event.  Unwilling to just throw in the towel, when the Guides realized they couldn’t get to the walk, they brought the walk to the Guides!

There was no reason, thought the leaders of the Huya Nation of the Yorba Linda/Placentia YMCA Indian Guides program, that their group could not hold a “satellite” walk at the same time as the local event to support the Garbergs and the cause of CF generally. 

On Saturday morning at Lake Piru in Fillmore, about 60 Huya fathers and sons emerged from their sleeping bags and tents, donned “Team CF” t-shirts (provided by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation), and put their normal camp activities on hold. Perry Daskas, an Indian Guides father and tribe chief whose daughter has CF, shared with the fathers and sons what life with CF is like for both children and their parents.  Then the 60 Huya Guides headed out on a two-mile trek through the oak woodlands surrounding the lake.

In addition to raising awareness of CF in their community, Guides leadership estimates that the participants at Lake Piru raised approximately $4,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Unrelated campers at Lake Piru overheard the discussion and were so moved by the boys’ efforts that they also contributed to the cause.

To see the photos (with more coming soon), click here:

We're not even half-way through June and we've had A LOT of fun activities.  We were happy to have Gramma, Uncle Eddie and Marissa join us for the Great Strides walk, but we also had a chance to slip away for a day at the beach as a family.  It isn't too often that we have the chance to be together and the day ended up being very special. 

There's been lots of Brookhaven activities as well.  Jakob made Dossie's famous fudge (which is now Jakob's Chocolate Factory Fudge) for a special project at school.  Joshy had a fun field trip to the Fire Department and an adorable end-of-year musical recital as well.  Best of all, some of the Brookhaven moms got to sneak away for a breakfast celebrating another successful school year.

Of course, there's Lukey!!  It was his third birthday.  We had a fun family party for him while The Washington Garbergs were in town, and he also had a little celebration at his school.

And most recently, we had the Shetland A's baseball award ceremony!  We attended Cinema City for a special DVD presentation (by the Bangerts) and Joshua received his first Pony Baseball trophy!  We also got to see a private viewing of Shrek.  It was a fun family day!!  Go A's.

To see photos from any OR ALL of these exciting events - just click on the photos:

To see The Garberg Family Day at the beach, click here:

To see Jakey and the family making Grams' Fudge, click here:

To see Joshy on his field trip to the fire department, click here:

To see photos of Joshua's Kindergarten End-of-Year Recital:

Some Brookhaven Moms get together for EOY Breakfast, click here:

To check out Lukey's Birthday Celebration, click here:

To see Lukey celebrating at Pine Tree Montessori, check this out:

To check out the A's stay tuned...

We wanted to officially wish our postman the best of luck as he retires tomorrow (FRIDAY, JUNE 1).  After 35 years as a Placentia postman - 30 years covering some of the same routes - he's finally retiring!  He's been able to watch the neighborhood kids grow up - literally!  So neighbors, if you happen to see LAWRENCE KOSTURKO (our mail man for eons) - be sure to wish him well and let him know you have appreciated his service!  Thank you, Lawrence!!! 

The GOOD Family coordinated the 1st Joshua an Lukas Foundation Fund Raiser event which was held at Java Joe's in Yorba Linda.  There was a raffle for a Duck jersey, Angel photo and many, many gift certificates from local vendors.  Mike, Colleen and Heather Good had sold raffle tickets throughout the week - earning monies to put towards medical care and physical therapies for the boys!  The family presented us with a check for $4500!!!  That's on top of the wonderful price breaks their subcontractors have given us on our pool!!  Special thank you to the Osborn family for making an appearance and offering us emotional support to get us through an amazing night.  It was a very fun night - the owners at Java Joe's were so generous.  (By the way - go to Java Joe's - such a darling place, good music, good atmosphere, they have coffee and wine...). 

Words cannot express how completely overwhelming it was to see a room full of people wearing shirts with Joshua and Lukas' faces on it - and that were all there to help our family. It was amazing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mike and Colleen - it was a night we won't forget!!
Kristen, Chris, Jakob, Joshua and Lukas.

To see photos of the event - click on this photo here:

Jakob tested for his "Recommended" belt last night.  He did awesome!  He was on his form, he was breaking boards - he did great!  For those of you that don't "speak" Tai Kwon Do, the "Recommended" Belt is the last belt you receive before earning your Black Belt.  It typically takes 6-9 months to earn your black.  So - throw Football in there - we're thinking Jakey will be receiving his black belt by early next year!!  Way to go, Jakob.

There were also some familiar faces testing last night.  Cole Smith was taking a mid-term towards his Second Degree Black Belt and Caelyn Smith was taking a mid-term test towards her Black Belt!!   Special thanks to their dad, David, for taking the photos!!  Click on this photo to see more:

What a day!!  Thanks to our special angels at Masterpiece Pools (The Good Family), we had a very special meeting today with the Anaheim Duck's goaltender, #35 Jean-Sebastien Giguere - known to fans as "Jiggy" or "Jigger".  (For more info on Jiggy click here: http://www.anaheimducks.com/team/bio.php?id=3. 

Our friends at Masterpiece Pools had arranged a meeting with the Duck superstar with the help of Assistant Ducks Coach, Newell Brown (For more info on Newell: http://www.anaheimducks.com/team/coach_bio.php?id=29).  Newell coordinated time with Jiggy so he could sign a Ducks jersey that will be auctioned off at a fund raiser for the "Lukas and Joshua Foundation" established by the Good Family from Masterpiece Pools and Spas.

We were greeted by a wonderful woman named Jessie who held our hand through the whole thing and made sure things ran perfectly smooth!  The day then started watching the Anaheim Ducks practice and then we met Jiggy outside the locker room This sweet man has been very supportive of Cystic Fibrosis and signed autographs for the kids, as well as the jersey that will be auctioned at the fund raising event (schedule tbd).  After a brief photo session, he asked the boys if they'd like a tour of the locker room!!  (No girls allowed!)  They got to see the players in the locker room, as well as the work out room and even got to sit in the box on the ice!!!)  What a day!!!  What a memory!!

So much thanks to Jiggy, Newell, Jessie and the wonderful Good Family, for giving the boys such a very special day!!  It was a HUGE treat!!!

To see our day - click on the photo below to see all the great shots GrandDad took for us!  Thanks for your help too, Dad, by the way.

And - you can see the same photos in larger formats by clicking right here: Thumbnails and Large Format Photos

Our family has been blessed to have met Mike and Colleen Good when we decided to use Masterpiece Pools & Spas to do our new pool!   Mike learned that we were putting in a pool when we really hadn't planned on it due to the diagnoses of Joshy and Lukey with CF.  He appealed to his subcontractors to give VERY generous price breaks in an effort to provide the boys with a wonderful backyard.  Masterpiece Pools has been GRACIOUSLY generous as well!!  Even better - Mike's wife Colleen met the boys and decided that Joshy and Lukey were a great cause to focus on for her 26mile marathon in Scottland this May!! 

Oddly enough, CF has has also brought us many blessings - including these two people - and all of the other wonderful people at Masterpiece, as well as all of the subcontractors.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all of your generousity!

To see the recent photo shoot of the Goods and the boys - click on the photo below:

The boys are now entering their second half of swim lessons!  They are both doing so well!  Joshua can swim the entire length of the pool.  He can dive in and get something from the bottom of the pool and pop up!  His personal favorite stroke - the backstroke!  Lukey is also doing very well.  He will jump in from the side of the pool and will also go to the bottom to pick up a toy.  He is almost able to swim to the edge - but can already pull himself up and out of the pool.  Are they talented kids or what???  They'll be ready for the Garberg Swimming Pool for sure.  Special thanks to Miss Cerra and Miss Brittney for all of their support and guidance!

To see photos of the boys' most recent classes - click on one of the photos below:

Our friends with Masterpiece Pools are making progress!!  The brick, tile and concrete are all set - and the block wall too!  We're going to be swimming within the next few weeks!  Yippee.  Click on the photo to see all of the recent pool shots:

Skylar got to spend some special times with his cousins recently.  Here are some cute shots of all of the boys together.  Just click on this cute photo of Skylar:

The trampoline has arrived!  Here are some cute shots of the kids.  The close ups of each are when they are first seeing the trampoline for the first time.  As you can see, they had a ball as did all their buddies!!  Special THANK YOU to the Hazen family for the trampoline!!  Brigitte Hazen is Carolyn Krause's daughter who was kind enough to give us their trampoline to help keep the kids in good shape!!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

To see great trampoline shots, click on this shot of the boys:

Okay, so it isn't exactly a Harley...yet!  Here are some cute photos from Lukey's playdate with his friend, Kendall (Harrison's little sister).  If you would like to see them - just click on the photo:

Here are some shots of two of my most favorite subjects.  Both kids had a ball at the park feeding the ducks and exploring around.  I was practicing my photo skills (which obviously need a lot of work - especially on the lighting), but they were both troopers about all of the photos!  It's hard to go wrong with two cuties like these!

If you would like to see photos of Caelyn and Joshy at Eisenhower Park - click on the photo below:

Joshua and his date, proud Mom, attended the school's Fairy Tale Ball this past weekend.  It was WONDERFUL!!  After photos at GrandDad's, then with Caelyn and David, and then with our "dates", Patrick and Lori, we started our evening at a special Outback dinner with some of Joshy's buddies.  Special thanks to Tammy for organizing such a fun night!  Then - we were off to the ball.  There was dancing, face painting, crown making - you name it!  The Kindergarten teachers really did a phenomenal job.  It was truly a night to remember!  Joshy had a ball dancing the entire time - and mommy has been soaking her feet ever since!! 

It seems like only yesterday I was going to The Fairy Tale Ball '04 with my date, Jakob (and Lukas in tow in my tummy).  I knew it was a special night then - but I had no idea how "fleeting" this Kindergarten time would be.  Jakob has grown up so fast and I can't believe how much he has changed in this short time.  It made me appreciate this year even more - and can't wait for 2010 when I'll attend it with my date, Lukas.

Thank you to the teachers, once again, for giving our family these very special memories! 

If you would like to see photos of The Fairy Tale Ball '07 - click on the photo of Joshua.  If you'd like to take a trip down memory lane and see photos from The Fairy Tale Ball '04 - click on the photo of Jakob. 

Today Joshua went to his first skateboard park with his buddies Nolan and Patrick.  Joshy opted for his Razor scooter -or his feet most of the time - while he and Patrick watched Nolan do all of his fancy footwork!  Nolan is amazing!  After skateboarding the boys headed off to the playground for some fun - and some water fights.  It was a great "boy" day!!  Thanks Emily, Nolan and Patrick for such a wonderful time!! 

To see the boys and Nolan's skateboard talent (oh, and Joshua and Patrick's skateboarding skills too!) - click on the photo below:

Well...we're getting there!  It's moving along so well!!  We're going to be swimming in our new pool by April 10!  Yippee!  For the latest and greatest photos of the pool - just click on the photo below!  Thanks, Masterpiece Pools!

There are two more swimming champions from Placentia, California!!  Lukas and Joshua had their first swim class today with their teacher, Miss Cerra from Little Kicks Swim School www.littlekicksswim.com

Of course, mom is a tad biased, but both boys did great - and Miss Cerra was fabulous with the little guys.   Each guy got a half hour alone with the teacher.  Joshua was going under water, jumping from the side and diving under for toys!  He was a champ.  And Lukey just walked right into Miss Cerra's arms when he heard it was his turn!  He had a ball.  He went under water, did kicks and even "jumped" from the side!  The pool was inside and warm - the kids loved it.  It really was a great day!  Thanks, Miss Cerra!

For more pictures of Joshua and Lukas - just click on the photo of Joshy or Lukey!

Joshua had his first game today and we were THRILLED with what a good job he did!!  The rules of the game for Shetland Division calls for three pitches, if they miss they get to hit the ball off of the tee.  Joshua used the tee after hitting a couple foul balls on his first at-bat.  His second and third at-bat he hit it on the very first pitch!!!  YIPEEEEE!!  We were so proud of our Joshy.  He played right field, second base - and even catcher today!!  His old buddy Harrison (A's #10) was there - as well as his buddy from Kindergarten, Devyn (Padres #5).  Jakob hung out with Devyn's brother Dylan (a friend of Jakey's since Kindergarten) and Lukey was with Kendall - as always!

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Here are the long-awaited shots of Jakob in the play he did through Brea Community Theatre.  He had a great time and was a fabulous townsperson and little genie!  We were so proud of him.  It takes a brave boy to go in front of an audience - especially in a blue spandex outfit!  Be sure to check out all of the photos from the show. 

Congratulations, Jakob!  We are so proud of you!  Click on the photo for more shots:

The music world is in for a real treat!  This month a new band was formed!  The Silver Hawks are sure to be a hit!  Band members include (but not limited to):

Jakob Garberg (keyboards and lead singer)

Cole Smith (drums)

Gavin Houghton (lead guitar)

Luke Hembold (guitar)

Ryan Broadwater (keyboard #2)

Johnathan Grahm (guitar)

Dylan Valdez (guitar)

Jake Niemeyer (vocals)

Austin Paxton (vocals)

JT Robinson (vocals)

Natalie Horn (manager)

Joshua Garberg (head manager)

I'm certain our kids will be taking us to the Grammys and the AMAs next year!  Better start shopping for our dresses, girls! 

Attached is one of many songs the kids have started writing.