Averina and Little HR

Averina is quite the helper with little HR.

The Whole Foods and Trader Joe's of Men

(Benj and AR getting ready to shovel LOTS of dirt)

Only RM(R), AR, and MPR will fully understand the titles for these two men but that's okay (Benj, I'll explain next email). Last night I got emails from these two favorites of mine that made me smile and tear up (bless and curse that tender heart). AR, my Asian brother, my family away from family...even if he can't hold his own when I put him in a headlock. Benj, the Whole Foods for all women...they'll notice what the rest of us see already, a stalwart man that has always has actions to back up his best intentions. :)

Comforting Reality

Inner Workings Of The Stanford Junior Mind Part 9

Why I love Fridays…

This week is Homecoming Week at Stanford. We play Arizona State this Saturday. Go Card! This week also reminds me that some day I will have to graduate, bummer…

I love this week though, I love seeing kids holding onto bicycles as their parents walk the bike for them because the pedals are too far away. I love seeing all the cardinal gear. I love desperately avoiding adults as they jump out in front of my bike. I love to see people taking pictures of the main quad, Hoover Tower, and the Claw.

Actually the last one is a lie, that part scares me, it makes me feel like I’m living in a tourist attraction. I like to call it the Truman Show syndrome.

Homecoming week also fortunately reminds me of the blessings I have. There is a certain type of energy around homecoming week that is contagious. Speaking of the energy, today I saw a procession of Europeans. I assume that they were, I am totally stereotyping them... Hmmm let me start over, today I saw a procession of stereotypical dressed up Europeans. There were at least forty of them, walking from the back of main quad up to white plaza, right by my engineering classroom. Very vogue, very hip, and very paisley. One man had a paisley shirt on. Yes bright breeze, light berry, and dried orchid paisley-ed shirt.

I got those color names from the J. Crew website. I could have said a blue, pink, and purple shirt, but this man was above your average Crayola colors. He was fashionable in his tailored black pants and patent leather shoes. He was chic. He was self-assured. He was paisley.

As a mind exercise I tried finding an expression for the area of a square minus a circle while getting ready for bed. I think I have finally become an engineer.

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buddha

The Newest Berry

7 pounds 4 ounces, born 7:22 am MST. Happy Birthday little Berry.

(If the Yankees take the ALCS tonight then her nickname will be Yankee for sure!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE TROUT!!!

Top Ten Reasons Why I heart BT:

10. She secretly LOVES the Yankees more than I do.

9. She dances at any time of day (music must constantly play in her head)!

8. She lets you cuss, rant, rave all night long!

7. She sees the tenderness in others, even before they recognize it.

6. She finishes conversations.

5. Gives sincere positive affirmations at every opportunity.

4. Her family is legit! Kind, loving, hilarious.

3. Sacrifices time, energy, and emotions to do the right things, to be a good friend, to serve, to talk when a friend needs it.

2. Straight shooter, says it like it is-even when the truth isn't packaged in a nice blue bow!

1. Is constantly working to improve herself, even in the smallest ways-thus being a great example to all whom associate with her.

I love you Trout!

Lifting Burdens: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

It takes a deep commitment to change and an even deeper commitment to grow.

Ralph Ellison

Miracle In The Best Form: A Surprise Miracle

The last while I have been slacking on blogging, especially given that it is OCTOBER...the 2nd greatest month of the year, call it being busy, the post season of baseball, not feeling well, or simply being in a less than transparent mood. This morning I felt that the only constant was the Yankees in my life and while yes they lost in a close 11 inning game today I still know that while other things in life will fail us, whether that be health, people, the weather-the Yankees won't be breaking my heart this year.

Yet this post is not about a Yankees miracle but rather something of far more importance. (Yes you should be sitting on the edge of your seat if I made that statement).

At 10:37 AM this morning I received an email from my dear friend, Deborah, entitled "Surprise!!!!". Mind you that Deborah and Tyler usually aren't huge emailers so they could have had a subject line: cold in Rexburg and I'd still be curious. Tyler, Deborah, and I went to undergrad together. They really are two of my favorite people, they love each other deeply, are more patient amid afflictions than most people I've ever encountered, and they are constant in all they do.

Get to the point already Jess, what is the surprise!?!

After many years of waiting Tyler and Deborah are PARENTS! They adopted a little baby boy and to my surprise and delight kept it a surprise until he was born this morning. I can hardly express how excited I am for this blessing. I've watched my dear friends be faithful and patient for so long and now they get to share the love they so freely share with others with this precious baby boy straight from Heaven. No matter how bleak some days might seem miracles happen and they tend to happen just when we think all is lost.

See the Surprise Miracle here.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your miracle on a day where I needed the eternal perspective of life shown unto me yet again.

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

When we learn to deal directly with our complaints and difficulties, romanticized ideas about the spiritual path are no longer meaningful. We see that what is important is to take responsibility for ourselves, and to always be aware of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Tarthang Tulku

Wisdom From RM(R)

"People are the greatest gifts of the Lord, but sometimes-- in this life-- they are time dependent gifts. One of my band friends in high school would always say, 'People are like music notes. For the time you have that note, play it as carefully, as beautifully, as perfect as you can. And when the time comes, let it go.' "

RM(R)

Pining For Undergrad Redo

Last week JP and crew had Cec and I over for dinner at their "house"...that is a glorified fun house. It definitely made us yearn for yesteryear or rather rethink the undergrad experience we had. Clearly we missed the boat by not attending Stanford. They have a chef!! Not kidding here folks, really a chef. A fully stocked fridge, laundry on site, a pantry full of snacks that would please even the pickiest person, did I mention a chef? As I type I realize that all that seems rather familiar to my experience of having Dan and Pat's house at my disposal in undergrad. The only thing is I had two chef (one that makes Sloppy Dan's) and Pat would stock the fridge with my favorite juice, so I suppose I am just as lucky as these girls!

Dinner was great! Love those girls, love berry crisp (yes that was dessert), love M&Ms in the pantry!

Oh and Cec is moving in with these girls...see she fits in the closet quite nicely.

Mama Berry's Cinnamon Rolls Success in California

Made these for Leilee's Birthday and they were DELICIOUS!! Now that I've perfected the potato and cinnamon rolls in California outside of my family there is no need to go back to Idaho again. ;) Just kidding Dadio!

Awesome!!

Learning From Difficult Experiences

“Fourteen years ago the Lord took my wife beyond the veil. I love her with all my heart, but I have never complained because I know it was His will. I have never asked why but rather what is it that He wants me to learn from this experience. I believe that is a good way to face the unpleasant things in our lives, not complaining but thanking the Lord for the trust He places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome difficulties.”

Richard G. Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” Ensign, May 2009, 45

Overcoming Fear With Faith

“Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other. The simple fact is we all need to constantly build faith and overcome sources of destructive disbelief. The Savior’s teaching comparing faith to a grain of mustard seed recognizes this reality (see Matthew 13:31–32). Consider it this way: our net usable faith is what we have left to exercise after we subtract our sources of doubt and disbelief. . . . If your faith exceeds your doubt and disbelief, the answer is likely positive. If you allow doubt and disbelief to control you, the answer might be negative.”

Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2009, 40

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

There are two things you can do with your head down-play golf and pray.

Lee Trevino

(I do both at the same time)