Tom Cruise on Home Teaching

Results Come From Doing!

When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Two Principles for Any Economy,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 56-57

What Is First In Our Lives?

• When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. …

• May God bless us to put [him] first and, as a result, reap peace in this life and eternal life with a fulness of joy in the life to come.

  
  

  President Ezra Taft Benson

Look At What Came Yesterday!!!

Just waiting for me to hit them! New golf bag coming tomorrow and the irons ordered and on their way! It is the simple things in life that bring true happiness!

Happy Pioneer Day!

MPR making her yearly trek to Taco Bell...a modern pioneer of sorts!

Love This Spaz!

What Happens When You Take Me To The Movies Late At Night

I throw caution into the wind and act like a ridiculous but adorable teenager...

and then I pose like a nice little girl for the camera (apparently Bena and S. Lloyd have a thing for the boy behind us...hence the photo shoot). :)

A Little Walk In Foothill Park

The BE and I have found a new pass time while we chat up a storm...and it is not only healthy for us, in the backyard of PA, but it is also very beautiful to behold.

This Is Sometimes How I Feel About Botox Injections

Then again, I don't get botox in my face (shocker I know, but all this beauty is natural folks) so my anxiety level is much lower than this lady's. Thank goodness for me, the doctor and MPR's hand. :)

High priest of good things to come

My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need. There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the “light that is endless, that can never be darkened.” 3 It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo’s reach, we say, “What light through yonder window breaks?” It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. 4 To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His “more excellent ministry” with a future of “better promises.” He is your “high priest of good things to come.”

Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland

Read full talk here.

It's Christmas In JULY...Really!

For those of you that have ever had a discussion with me re: Christmas music and my thoughts on when it should be played/sung vs when it should NOT be played/sung know my ideal policy is Dec 15th-Dec 26th. Obviously this makes me out to be worse than Scrooge so I'm constantly compromising to be okay with Christmas music from Dec 1st through Dec 31st. This is my hard line though, there are almost NO exceptions outside of this window to participate in Christmas music.

With this disclaimer, you are about to see the one exception I'm making to this policy. Saturday morning was a glorious morning, it started with me on the golf course and ended with me purchasing NEW golf clubs and a NEW golf bag (J.Monson would be especially happy about the latter). In the world of Jess Berry THIS gives rise to sing Christmas songs...at least Joy To The World! I am MORE excited about my Christmas present in July to myself than I've been about any Christmas in years! So for a limited time offer, you are all welcome to sing one Christmas song in honor of my awesome new purchase! (No more than one song RL!) :)

Yes I am getting a purple golf bag! Oh and I'm joining a golf league too...Merry Christmas to me!

Introducing-obama-bumper-sticker-removal-kit

Breakfast of Champions

1. Pumpkin chocolate chip bread (thank you SJ!)

2. Cold, flat DP!

I know how to start my day out on the right foot!

Love All God's Children

I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, ”You Are My Hands,” Ensign, May 2010, 68-69

I Would Probably Do This...

or use a BB gun...

Wow...very clever BYU!

Man This Kid Is Awesome

Like this face? I sure do!

H.Rae looks likes her Aunt already! hehe...she's going to grow up and be even cooler one day than I ever thought about being.

Best Thing I've Seen All Week

I heart my bed!

***To be fair I did really love looking at the Filet Mignon I ate night too...but anyone that actually knows me should obviously realize my list of loves include beef and this bed! ;)

Only in Texas...

Only in Texas do they have the wall of the restaurant covered in Chuck Norris shots from all his movies. This is for you Squashy, Chuck Norris makes cancer cry!

Only in Texas do you drive an hour into the desert to eat amazing steak that also has a"petting" zoo as part of the attraction. The goats were cute...the rest of the animals and critters not so much. I did see a rattlesnake (luckily it was in a glass cage).

Desert + Warehouse Auditing = Unwanted Critter

This NOT so friendly Tarantula came to welcome us as we performed an audit this week. I am proud to say I was the calmest in the group. No jumping or screaming, like the others...however I did high tail it out of there like I was a track star! Oh and then yes I came back to get a picture up close and personal. I am still itching though!

Welcome To The Middle of Nowhere

(That would be Texas)

Foothill Park

My buddy, Johnny, and JC looking at the "Bambi" deer

Persist In Prayer

Ponder deeply and diligently in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Persist in prayer for the Holy Ghost to reveal to you the nature of God the Father and His Beloved Son. Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray to give thanks for the opportunity to serve and to know what you might do next.

Henry B. Eyring, “Act in All Diligence,” Ensign, May 2010, 63

Our True Identity

BBQ Season Is In Full Swing

What is BBQ season you might ask?

Well here is California it is the season where you no longer eat at home or alone but rather you find an excuse to have a BBQ with any theme. For all you southerner that read this blog let me explain that when we say BBQ what we really mean is grilling or having dinner outdoors. Within the last two weeks I've attended seven BBQs. All have been delicious. All have been entertaining. All have provided me an opportunity to eat red meat. All have let me see some* of my favorite people back to back at said BBQs.

What are common BBQ themes?

There is the "beginning of the summer" classic BBQ, there is the celebrating [insert great accomplishment] of someone BBQ, the holiday themed BBQ, the birthday BBQ, the poolside BBQ, the lawn-side BBQ (for those throwing the BBQ that don't have a pool), the [insert sporting event/viewing of sporting event] BBQ, and my favorite the "because we haven't had a BBQ this week" BBQ.

What is served at your typical BBQ?

Well first let me say this is usually the only time of year where I see mass quantities of meat served in California. Meats of all types...it is as close to Idaho as one can get while still in California. This is followed by fresh fruit, salad, desserts, and since there are those who are lazy in bringing something creative there is a large supply of chips at every BBQ (Yes I've been that lazy person on occasion).

What else is present at your typical BBQ?

Beyond food other activities include but are not limited to: awkward social interactions, flirting for those in the singles circuit, swimming, sports, people watching/key observing blocks of time, and for me a DP (even if I have to bring my own). ;)

I heart BBQ season, my stomach heart BBQ season, and my little heart is excited for the next BBQ!

HAPPY 5TH! The Yankees Come To Town!

This game proved to provide me with a "first" in my Yankee fanship. Can you believe that I've never ever watched Marino Rivera close LIVE before? Believe it. Sad? Yes. Even Pathetic? Yes. This night was glorious in that he closed and he closed beautifully. I know he's a slight to behold when pitching but seeing it LIVE was unbelievably amazing! He has such grace on the mound. My heart skipped a beat, Jack Berry would have loved it!

I'm probably too serious of a fan sometimes. I will say this, it is important to respect someone's passion for the game when their team comes to town. I'll leave it at that.

No. 2 in My Heart!!!

KW and SJ with the Jeter jersey...

I already miss SJ!

At In N Out post-game with SJ and E.Lund (photo for SJ...needing to document her Stanford years)

I only include this photo because everyone needs one bad photo of themselves on their blog per year.

Patience Is A Virtue

Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. “Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Continue in Patience,” Ensign, May 2010, 56

Fathers and Sons

Very heartfelt message!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Definitely for Mama Berry and Granny E. ;)

Mostly For Mama Berry

***My parents could pay for medical insurance...in fact over the years I've put myself in situations where I bet they are glad they could pay and also probably wished they had never taught me how to play sports, hehe...I won't mention too loudly that I took another softball to the chin (it was a soft hop, not to worry).

Should Be The Desire Of Us All