Very Grateful For These Two!

This Thanksgiving I was privileged to spend the day with AR and MPR! There is something to be said about small and intimate Thanksgivings.

1. Plenty of food

2. You eat on real plates

3. Plenty of food

4. Less dishes to clean up

5. Plenty of food

6. Plenty of room for everyone to sprawl out on the couch afterward

7. PLENTY OF PIE!!! (THANKS TO MPR)

AR did an excellent job of the master carver!

MPR, the Pie Queen! Yes, she made 5 pies. 1.5 pies per person ratio. That is the best ratio I've ever experienced, even better than that 3 boys to 1 girl ratio in my business program in college.

MPR also made these awesome drinks, that not only looked festive but tasted delicious!

I really did appreciate such a delicious and low key Thanksgiving! I haven't felt well the last few weeks and it was a wonderful gift from MPR and AR to just let me experience the joy of the day by showing up with my charming personality. Thanks AR and MPR! You are the best PA family a girl can ask for!

You Know You're Loved When...

kt makes you your very own rainbow jello goblet...very loved indeed!

Don't Fritter Away Your Life

It is necessary to prepare, to plan, so that we don't fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success. The best definition of success I have ever found goes something like this: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never crossing the goal line.

Thomas S. Monson, "Three Gates Only You Can Open," New Era, Aug. 2008, 2, 4

Mini Me...Hairdo And All!

I sure love my Averina! I love waking up to find pictures like these in my inbox...she's definitely got personality and fashion and hair sense just like her aunt! Can't wait to see her in three(ish) weeks!

We Need To Be More Grateful

We need to be more grateful. It's one of the marks of strong character, to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings that are ours. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in church, everywhere. It's so easy to cultivate the spirit of appreciation.

Ezra Taft Benson, "All This and the Gospel Too," New Era, Nov. 1991, 4

Live in Thanksgiving Daily!

I Follow This Flowchart...(almost religiously)

Jess Berry Quote of The Day!

Some things don't matter much. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a person's heart - - now,that matters. The whole problem with people is - - - they know what matters, but they don't choose it . . . The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.

Sue Monk Kidd

Sneak Attack On The Water Filter!

There are very few people I'd stay out really late for, particularly on a work-day, but this water filter is deserving! She is no longer a teenager! Yet, her soul is old so I'd dare say she was done being a teenager at the age of 15.

AS and The Water Filter ready to toast, I mean roast to the BIG 20!

Ever Wonder What I'll Be Doing When I'm A Senior Citizen

(This is Barbara Bush at game 3 of the World Series, keeping score, intent on watching the game)

Replace the Texas pin with a Yankees pin and add a Jeter jersey and you're looking at Jess, silver hair, glasses and all!