Finding Joy in The Journey

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”4

President Thomas S. Monson

H&M Twins

I heart AH!!! I showed up to church today and yes Adriana and I had the exact same dress on. We both looked smokin hot and I must say we have impeccable taste. This girl is amazing and I'd match with her any day!

HOT LADIES IN PINK!!!

KT and JB

There are very few people in the world that can pull off the pink tights, but among the few stands KT as their leader.
Pink Tights and Pink North Face Jacket. I bow down to KT!

Although those black leggings are something to behold. :)
PS: We did plan (after KT saw me) to match last night. ;)

Jess Berry Quote of The Day

"Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe, rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance." - Neal A. Maxwell

Reija's Take on Harems

So let's talk about harems.
Specifically, let's talk about scriptural references to men with harems.
First up. King Ahaseurus. (I might be making that spelling up. The husband of Esther.) He had a harem. He had a queen too, but also then a harem. He would keep women in the harem and then take them out and if he didn't like them he killed them. Then he tried to kill all of the Jews. Now we think, well he was a good guy, he chose and then didn't kill Esther. But let us not be deceived. Clearly the man had some issues.
Next up we've got Solomon. Now everything started out great with Solomon, but in the end he ditched it all. Temple. Wisdom. Etc. And went after gold and lots of concubines and wasted his final hours in riotous living, forfeiting some blessings and leaving his kingdom in dwindling states of being. We forget sometimes the end of Solomon, caught up in his original glory.
Lastly we've got King Noah. He's in the BoM, and his life ends with him burning.
All I'm saying is this: Men with harems cannot be trusted to make clear decisions.

Amen Reija!

Ode From Meredith

Ten Days Without Seeing You

Crazy

Makes My Life Seem Dark and Hazy

By: Meredith

Haiku For HC: Farewell For Now

What is she doing?
She's chasing eternity
Best of luck to her.
(Haiku By: Mer)

Sachi: What are you doing?
I heart HC and SJ!

Meredith attempting to bite my thumb off.

The result of her attempt!

Oh look, we all look halfway normal. Yes, I did some photoshopping. ;)

Oh yes, back to our normal selves. ;)

Yes, that is Mike's favorite face! ;)

Jess Berry Quote of the Day!

I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough. - Mark Twain

Opera: Elixir of Love

Sophia, Adriana, and I at the SF Opera.

Now I can say that I am cultured! I've attended an Opera. It was pretty intriguing (they had some footballs in this Opera so I felt right at home, almost a sporting event). :)

These two girls are great! I heart YB! They even humored a very long story on the way home and didn't fall asleep. I was impressed!

Mer comfortably herself in her natural habitat. ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JB (THE GREATER)!!!

I heart JB!

Besides having the coolest initials on the planet this girl in one word is SOLID! Check the letter "E" for All of the Above because JB has got it covered.

Adam, JB, Adam, JB

Yesterday I walked into ward council and sat next to Adam Richards. In came Adam Wilson and he proceeded to sit on my right side. The other JB (Jackie Ball) was there too. Adam R had the genius idea that JB move over. We couldn't pass up the chance to act as Meredith put it as "Asians" to take a picture. Oh then about five minutes later it got even better (but we didn't get a picture of it), Jefferson Bradshaw (JB) walked in and sat next to Adam Wilson. What a great ward council! This picture makes me smile! Thanks Adam R for the awesome thought!

The Brookester Turns Into a NY Fan!

Solid proof that even "had-been" Red Soxs fans can repent and come to the light that NY and the Yankees bring! We welcome you Brooke Trout into the fold! ;)

The JD Wants to Join the JB Club

Jes Deputy (JD) wants to join the JB club too! Now we did let Jonathan Blake in after a vigorous trial run. Yet the originals will remain the originals.

Now Jes' main case is she is a Jessica too, appealing to this Jessica. The "D" is also the un-accessorized "B" (no belt). It would be a lot easier to make this decision if her middle name was Betsy or Bertha or Bernice, or my all time favorite Jes "Bubbly" Deputy. Maybe it makes more sense to start another club for the J's? It would be a big club! I mean I have 40 J names just in my phone alone and those are just the coolest J's I know.

Vote Now: A JB for a Yah let her into the JB Club, A J for Nah, create a new J Club, or D for No Dice Deputy!

Adriana and Adriana (The Lesser)

I heart Adriana Higuera!

Just a few points of interest:

1. Hilarious!

2. In an email exchange one day she used the phrase in reference to a guy: Be Still My Heart and now every time I listen to Be Still My Heart by The Postal Service I think of AH! I call it her theme song.

3. Introduced me to Red Mango last night (seriously have I been living underneath a rock?)

4. A heart the size of Pacific Ocean.

5. One of the gchat staples!

The Real Adriana!
Adriana The Lesser!
Adriana and Adriana (The Lesser) at Take a Break '08. Will she still heart me after this post? ;)

Coolest Jess Berry Poser YET!

Let's be honest, Hannah would probably make a better Jess Berry! She at least has rhythm which is more than I can say for the original Jess Berry.

The Story of Prop 8

Best Halloween Costume EVER

For those of you that really know me I think Halloween is Pagan tradition that is an excuse for people to act ridiculous. Outside of Trick-or-Treating what is the point of this so-called "holiday"? This year I did dress up however. As The lesser "JB". Sorry Jonathan, that would be "Jackie Ball" not "Jonathan Blake". ;)

The criteria for dressing up as JB was: Solid color shirt, jeans, and looking Hot. Yep, I've got that covered! ;) I heart JB!