I Don't Even Bother Trying To Fake It...

Until We Meet Again

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men's souls.

President Spencer W. Kimball

Mama Berry Wants A New Profile Picture...

For many months my most faithful reader, Mama Berry, has been asking for a new profile picture on my sidebar. As the author, editor, czar, and tutor of this blog I have felt inclined up to this point to ignore (albeit kindly ignore since Mama Berry is my Mama), said request. Now the time has come to satisfy my most faithful reader. ***Yes I'm admitting publicly that my Mama is my most faithful reader. Maybe it is because she really does thinks I'm funny, or maybe because it is the new way to keep tabs on your children, or maybe it is because she feels it is her motherly duty to humor her crazy child. Whatever her reason, today is her lucky day! The selection committee has narrowed down the options for a new profile picture, to a selection that includes a little slice of the real Jess Berry in each pic.

Your job: Vote by commenting which one you'd prefer. (Maybe this will get some of you blog creepers to actually comment). Please vote by Sunday. If you don't care, that's fine...you're vote doesn't matter anyways. ;)

Option 1: Big Eyes

Option 2: Big Glasses

Option 3: Big Smile

Divine Forethought

Saturday morning was a bright, beautiful, albeit windy morning in Oakland. Bobby R and RMR were sealed for time and all eternity in the Oakland LDS Temple. It was also a joyous reunion as friends over the past several years flew in and gathered for the great day. (Seeing Benj, SLO, and JEW for even just a couple of hours was wonderful!) And BC with his stellar camera took a few shots of KT and I. As KT and I sat in sacrament mtg the next day together we reminisced about how merciful God is in placing people in our lives that will be true and constant friends. He definitely knew what He was doing placing us together...even if we didn't realize it. What a true and honest friend The KT is! Divine Forethought in action yet again...

Oh and we are knockouts (stating that of course with much humility and grace)!

Miracle Saturday!

Congratulations Bobby R and RMR!

(Have I mentioned that I'm a little more in love with LOVE after Wedding Day 2010?)

Love Leads to Eternal Life

Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Great Commandment,” Liahona, Nov. 2007, 28

Team Hydro In The Mercury News!

With only a few weeks before race-day Team Hydro was featured here in the SV Mercury News! A great article. Team Hydro hopes to be able to fund a research grant this year. They need $55,000 to do so! As of right now $45,000 has been raised.

Join the cause. DONATE! Please. Every dollar counts towards a cause that potentially can preserve lives.

DONATE HERE!

Thanks!

Jess

Two Days Until...

I Get To Witness A Real Life Miracle!

The Man in the Glass

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

It isn't your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment which you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum

And think you're a wonderful guy.

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please‑ never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear to the end.

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

The Berry Bros

I love Matty and Joshy, even when they don't smile. Joshy is just a couple weeks away from joining the adult club...and graduating from high school!!! Does this mean we will have to stop calling him Kid? An early congratulations to Dadio and Mama Berry for surviving us all these years, thanks and good luck with your next adventure! :)

How To Make Tuesday The New Monday

1. Back to back meetings all day

2. Multi-task during those meetings by doing sit-ups while on mute

3. Stay up till 1 am editing and formatting

***Silver-linings

1. No Bakes cook off! Delicious

2. A little romance and milk to wash them down

3. Tuesday is one day closer to Friday than the real Monday

What A Cool Girl!

Wish I could be as cool as H. Rae!

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

Everything worth knowing leaves bruises.

Sound Advice

Guilty...In All Sorts of Situations...

I have a talent for daydreaming while even chatting. Maybe it isn't a talent? Hmm...

Yes I Sometimes (A Lot) Think This Way

Mostly add a little makeup here and there, curl the hair or cut the hair, add a little more color to the wardrobe, and the follow it up with encouraging them to come up with their Top 5 physical features...

Be Patient With Yourself

We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity, and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged nor in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Patience, a Key to Happiness,” Ensign, May 1987, 30

The More We Know of Jesus

The more we know of Jesus, the more we will love Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the manner of men and women that He wishes us to be (see 3 Ne. 27:27), while living now ‘after the manner of happiness’ (2 Ne. 5:27).

Neal A. Maxwell, "Plow in Hope," Liahona, July 2001, 7

The Only Way To Enjoy A Hospital Stay

Poncho Villa had a knee replacement this past week and while he's had to rough it in the hospital a little longer than we expected at least he's doing it with soft-serve! Not to mention the yellow flower tucked behind the cowboy's ear.

Like Mother Like Daughter

If the mothers are thrifty, so are their daughters. If the mothers are modest, so are the girls. If the mothers wear flip-flops and other casual clothing to sacrament meeting, so do their daughters. Mothers, your example is extremely important to your daughters—even if they don’t acknowledge it.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Read all of Mothers and Daughters here

This in a nutshell explains Mama Berry to a tee! It also explains two of the best lessons she taught me through her example of righteous living. Today in sacrament mtg at church there was a musical number of this primary song that my mom use to sing to us before I'd go to sleep, who knew I'd be a little weepy over it but I always felt her love in those moments and in all other moments growing up. Many priceless and last memories of my childhood include or are because of my Mama. Mama Berry is the best mother in the world. Some may try to argue that their Mama is, I have no doubt they are great...but this is my blog so obviously Mama Berry wins this title! The Mamas on the bus say...

Happy Mother's DAY! I love you. Thanks for your sound advice and constant example.

I Am My Mother's Daughter

What Happens When You Shop With Me (Take Two)

We all find general RS board-like skirt suits. I talk the girls into wearing their outfits to church and they looked rockin' awesome! One to three of these girls you'll see one day on the general RS board, when that day comes you can look back on these photos and see where it all started!

BE and LS could be Christmas in this take!

Why not take a hot pink and yellow pose?

I will have you know that the hot pink girls purchased those good looking outfits.

What Not To Do To Your Car

It blows my mind that people don't take more care. I found this car parked next to me one day and was in shock and awe.

Continue in Patience

Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Read the full talk here

A Little Bit of Sunshine From Idaho

Inner Workings Of The Stanford Junior Mind Part 13

The Few and Far Between: The Vices of Jess Berry.

1. Dr. Pepper. JB practically uses her many 12 packs as a bed frame. She can tell you the best way of drinking DP, warmed up from the California sun in her car. Which leads to her next vice...

2. Her car. JB often takes nap in her car. She has figured out the perfect level to lean back in the front seat and still be able to change the radio without leaning forward. Obsessed, perhaps?

3. Ten key number pads. Yes these do exist. I asked myself that question earlier. These pads provide bragging rights for accountants by comparing ten key typing speed. I will include her calculator that she carries in her purse into this vice as well.

4. Yankees. If I expand this section further JB might not post this, she is a little sensitive about this subject.

5. GChat. JB and I spend some substantial time talking on GChat or GChatting or "Pinging" I will extrapolate she spends a considerable amount of time chatting with her friends online. She often quotes GChats on her blog.

6. Lists. JB loves lists. If you ask her nicely she might tell you her list of her top five body features or her top five favorite cuts of meat. She probably has many Google Documents filled with various lists.

7. Self Explanatory*

I have given her two weeks to develop some virtues in order to create a comparing list. As Abraham Lincoln has explained, “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” When explaining this concept to Jess, she asked for a definition of a virtue. Here you are Jess:

Virtue: moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. (from dictionary.com)

*For those who didn't get this one. She LOVES the number seven. She will only wake up on a seven. Like 6:47 or 7:17. She is unique.

Mormon Message: My New Life

This is a beautiful, inspiring, and heartfelt story that can give each person hope that there are many reasons why we are allowed to experience mortality. For some of us that mortality may not come in a typical package, but mortality can and should be beautiful and full of purpose. I encourage you to watch and start to evaluate why you are grateful for your mortality here on this earth. Life is beautiful...no matter the circumstance.

Sweet Nectar From Heaven

In a Fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, an early-twenty-something guy said he was bearing testimony on two recent things, the first being how much he learned/got out of the scriptures one day recently after drinking two Dr Peppers that morning...maybe because DP really is 'sweet nectar from heaven'.

Amen Brother! Amen!

The Trio On MPR's Birthday!

It was her golden birthday, hence the LARGE birthday hat! We love her!

PS: Anyone else notice how much her ring shines or rather glows in the photo?