Most Fitting Birthday Gift!

 The gals in our Tetonia office gave me this awesome t-shirt to me for my birthday...it defines me and my job well! Thanks ladies, you all are awesome! 

A T-Shirt Summing Me Up Perfectly

Aunt Jess = Coolest Aunt

The best part about being an aunt is you are extremely cool. At least in the eyes of my nieces. My coolness level increases with an afternoon like this...soft serve ice cream cones for everyone...before dinner!  

Jess Berry Quote Of Life!

Theme of my life...

Why do we fall? So we might learn to pick ourselves up.

Batman 
(Alfred Pennyworth says this to Bruce Wayne while the Wayne Manor is burning down)

Good News: He Is Risen

This week as my chronic aches, pains, and fatigue seemed at moments unbearable I watched this video and it gave me a needed reality check. Christ chose to be sacrificed so that He could rise again, providing each of us the opportunity to obtain a resurrected body. 

D&C 138: 14 states: "All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the ^ahope of a glorious ^bresurrection, through the ^cgrace of God the ^dFather and his ^eOnly Begotten Son, Jesus Christ." 

This is my firm hope as well! I yearn for the glorious resurrection day made possible through our Savior, Jesus Christ. The beauty however in this mortal life is that we do struggle, that we have aches and pains, to help us remember how much we are in need of a Savior, of His Atonement, of His Resurrection.  For many in my age demographic the gift of the resurrection, of a perfected body may not seem very significant right now while you're in your "prime". One day, maybe this Easter when you ponder the Savior's sacrifice, maybe when your 50 years old and you're needing bifocals to read, maybe when you lose a loved to death, it will prick your heart how glorious this precious gift is now and will be when we receive it. How this knowledge that He Is Risen is truly the firm hope that will increase your capacity to handle your personal struggles and will give you the courage and strength in this brief moment of mortality to be happy amid the aches, pains, and fatigue that may plague your body and/or your heart.  This I know to be true, from the very depths of my soul. Look forward with an eye of faith and a hope in the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Happy Easter!   

2011: Surviving Hard Times Plus Great Moments

My disclaimer: When I returned from my month in Idaho I was promptly welcomed by a cold that turned into a sinus infection, this in combination with a hectic month end my 2012 goal to pick up my blogging with more dedication has been delayed...by almost a month. I suppose that is predictable when you're busy living blogging takes a backseat.  


2011 in review:


It was a hard year: full of fatigue, sickness, anxiety, and loss. It was a year of survival, waiting upon the Lord. Luckily, my capacity to survive was expanded, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 
   

I could give a laundry list of the hard moments of 2011 and for historical purposes I have documented them but for purposes of this post I will be dwelling on the great moments that happened amid the storms of 2011. I believe it speaks volumes to the mercy we still receive from God even in the toughest of times.  While many of these may seem mundane to some readers, remember this past year was not about thriving but surviving and being physically ill for over a year (more than normal) even mundane moments become great moments if those moments allow you to focus on something other than the constant feeling of fatigue. 


(in no particular order)


Arizona trip in March with my family (spring training, golf, shopping)
Participating in the videoing of the Mormon Message, Our Hands His Hands, Our Hearts, His Heart.  
Watching my freshmen graduate
Lots of service (mostly received)! 
Opening day of baseball season 
Golf league with The J-Crew 
BS & BW's wedding in April
SJ & NJ's wedding in July
JBH & HN's wedding in July (yes, lots of weddings)
Gordo's wedding 
Spending time with SEC, parents, and BW in Utah in July
Going to Israel, a once in a lifetime experience (and 11 days of physically feeling okay to make the trip)
Spending time with AR and MPR before they moved
Golfing at Deep Cliff (great day)
 AC and NB's engagement surprise
Cook club
Spending time with the Carlstons 
Yankees in the BAY
Thanksgiving with The Ellwangers
Hot tubbing (lots of hot tubbing)
My birthday!
Mama Berry coming in October to help me  
General Conference
Parents and G-parents visiting in November
Purchasing my new bed! 
FMC
Post-Thanksgiving dinner with the Jarvis family
Being with my little girls
Spending the month of December in Idaho

Jack Berry would be proud that I'm still spitting in that "damn mitt". 

Here is to a better year in 2012. 

Lessons From The Pink Huffy

When I was a little (yes much smaller than your average little girl) riding my pink huffy bike kept me occupied. I remember breaking my thumb from crashes on that bike on numerous occasions, only I rarely could tell right away because of poor sensation on that right hand of mine yet sure enough when that thumb would swell like a sausage we knew I had broke it again. There were times I never thought I’d learn to balance on that bike but then one day the training wheels came off and after a lot of falling I learned to balance, not perfectly but enough to keep riding. Little did I realize that conquering that little huffy would only be one of the first of many obstacles that I’d be fighting with the heart of a giant while at times my strength was only that of a mouse. I also learned that like riding a bike I didn’t have to learn to balance perfectly everything in life, but just enough to keep riding. A stationary bike can’t stay upright; we must always be pedaling or rather progressing to balance the bike.

How Every Monday Should Be Spent

1. Sleeping in!

2. Exercising

3. Lunch courtesy of HN

4. Manicures & Pedicures with HN (preferably done by someone that has at least a week's experience on the job)

5. Light shopping trip to pick up the most comfortable jacket ever made

6. Closing the day with an email to RMR

7. Going to bed early!

Resilient Then...Resilient Still

Even as three year old I was geared up and ready for the pitches to be thrown my way! Seeing this spunky face reminds me that I'm still ready in the words of Jack Berry to "spit in that damn mitt" and not miss again!

Sadness and sorrow at times come to all, including children. But children are resilient. They bear up beautifully to shoulder the burden they may be called upon to endure. Perhaps the lovely psalm describes this virtue: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” ¹⁵

President Thomas S. Monson

See full talk here.

Making The Most Out Of Our Circumstances...

A couple of weeks ago I was with my friend, TB. She shared this poem with me. I can't possibly express how much these words spoke to my heart. As someone that has less than two functioning limbs I naturally have limitations, yet it is still up to me as to whether I allow those limitations to cripple me or whether I strive for a "wing" to fill in the physical gap by continually reaching beyond the so-called cap on my grasp.

Thanks so much TB!

A Man

While fighting for his country, he lost an arm

and was suddenly afraid:

'From now on, I shall only be able to do

things by halves.

I shall reap half a harvest.

I shall be able to play either the tune

or the accompaniment on the piano,

but never both parts together.

I shall be able to bang with only one fist

on doors, and worst of all

I shall only be able to half hold

my love close to me.

There will be things I cannot do at all,

applaud for example,

at shows where everyone applauds.'

From that moment on, he set himself to do

everything with twice as much enthusiasm.

And where the arm had been torn away

a wing grew.

- Nina Cassian

Learn How To High Five Folks

I actually have particular opinions (I know, shocking) about when the use of high fives are acceptable and when they are Not acceptable.

(this list is not inclusive but rather a sampling to help you gauge your high five etiquette)

Cheering during sporting events (acceptable)

While playing sports (acceptable)

While playing board games (acceptable)

While playing pool games (acceptable)

As a guy: Greeting a girl at the beginning of a date (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Dropping a girl off after a date (Not acceptable)

As a form of greeting when meeting important people, parents, professors, boss, etc. (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Greeting a girl in any social situation (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Saying goodbye to a girl in any social situation (Not acceptable)

***High Five Etiquette video courtesy of Classy Matty's GReader! Thanks Matty!***

Nine Years Ago Today...

I was in a car accident that should have been fatal on my way to work at the golf course, just two days before my 16^th birthday. I was speeding on a dirt road that was in washboard condition, not a very smart idea. I am just lucky that I made it to see my 16^th birthday. I think about that day often. I had actually rushed out of the house in a huff because I was late. I made almost an unconscious decision that morning to wear my seatbelt, it possibly was one of the most defining decisions of my life yet at the time I was blind to the significance it would have.

There were many miracles that morning. As I reflected on what should have happened that morning I was in awe with the hand of the Lord in sparing my life. The Lord deemed my life worth providing such miracles to give me the opportunity to live. This was miracle number seven of the day. As each year passes by my gratitude increases for the miracles that happened that morning to allow me to continually experience the precious gift we call life. I look at the many struggles, joys, successes, trials, pains, and lessons learned I have had in the past nine years and can’t possibly imagine not having had the chance to experience it all. Last week I posted a quote by Mary Oliver that asked: What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? The Lord gave me the miracle on that Saturday morning in September to ask myself that question every day. What my hope and prayer is each time I ask myself this question is that the way I’m living the one wild and precious life that God gave me and spared is pleasing to Him and that it is continually aligning with His plan for my life.

Life is good. Yes it is hard, sometimes harder than we expect, but our capacity to handle the hard is much greater (thanks to a loving Heavenly Father) than we realize most of the time. As this anniversary comes around again I am excited for the next year of living that I GET to experience because the last nine has been amazingly worthwhile. Life is wild and precious.

Activities That Make "Labor" Day "Labor-less"

1. Jogging the Dish bright and almost early (hey it is a holiday!) with HN

2. Eyebrow threading

3. Ab Ripper X (granted this activity happens every other day but it feels even better when you'll on holiday)

4. Frozen Gogurts for breakfast

5. Golfing in the heat of the day with CH (oh and receiving a free bucket of range balls since it is my BIRTHDAY week!!!)

6. An ice cold DP to follow immediately upon my return from golfing

7. Lemons...lemon cream cupcakes...lemon tarts...lemon frosting

Items To Always Include In One's Budget

***I've been re-budgeting this week and there a few items that I realized ARE staples to a budget (as long as your name is Jess)

1. Golfing (yes I do allot a certain percentage just for golf, it is too amazing to just group with "entertainment")

2. Massages

3. Dr. Pepper

Repetition or Insanity?

Life is a funny thing you know, it seems we do the same things over and over again hoping for a different outcome. Some would call that the definition of insanity. Much repetition is for the good of men. Repeatedly tying our shoelaces for example is a very good thing, otherwise how would we ever perfect the skill? I, for one was a little slow in the mastery of shoelace tying but I kept at it. I still remember in the 4th grade finally tying that first perfect loop (still one of my greatest accomplishments to this day...seriously).

After I finished my first managerial accounting course in college I was overjoyed with myself for overcoming that hurdle. To my dismay the next term I realized that I had to repeatedly use the same accounting principles in not one but two of my courses. Leave it to me to select a discipline to study that required repetition at every turn. We see patterns of repetition in the gospel, in the principles taught, in the way they are taught, and to whom they are taught. Repetition in this sense is in perfect alignment with the repetition of shoelace tying, both essential to help us along the path of self mastery.

How often though do we repeat actions or do we repeatedly settle on the same opinion or do we repeatedly make the same choice expecting a different outcome each time; where the repetition isn't helping us to perfect a certain aspect of our lives or helping us learn something that we'll continually build upon? This happens a lot in my life. From things as trivial as hoping each time I watch A League of Their Own that Dottie won't drop the ball when Kit collides into her at home plate, wanting that different outcome if I just repeat the scene enough times. To weightier matters of life, such as repeatedly making the same judgments based on pure assumptions to [insert you favorite futile repetition]. Depending on the nature of our repetition the definition could be called just that, repetition or if we aren't careful it could quickly be converted to the definition of insanity.

In Preparation For The Next Wedding

Below at T.Hammer's Wedding during the bouquet toss I demonstrate the proper way to conquer the bouquet toss. Girls please pay close attention so when you find yourself in such a situation that you'll know the most effective method to obtain your prize.

Step 1: Be in the middle
Step 2: Bear down, square up for the box out

Step 3: Use your hips for an effective box out with mouth open (most effective)

Step 4: Stiff-arm one of your opponents with the right arm while using the left to reach for the bouquet

Step 5: Continue to stiff-arm one opponent while the left reaches for the prize
Step 6: Use the left hip to continue to box out another opponent.

Step 7: Use right arm to take down one opponent while using the left to take the bouquet that barely is grasped by another opponent's hand (Bride blocking this visual).

A few additional hints:
Remove heels
Pull hair out of face
Make sure the strongest opponent is on your strongest side (i.e. my left)
Not tested but if soft surfaces surround the event tripping should be considered for added success

Next live event: Adam and Mike(y)'s wedding

What is Your Picket Fence?

Along Park Blvd there is a stretch of houses that I would deem “Picket Fence Lane”. In a car driving along Park Blvd you may not particularly notice all the picket fences as many are covered with greenery, flowers or far enough off the path that they aren’t visible to the unnoticing eye. Yet as you take a stroll along Park you find yourself on Picket Fence Lane, each stroll you find yourself noticing a new fence, a new color, blooming roses poking through, purple vines traveling along the fence line. You’ll find the traditional white wooden picket, the brown oil-strained picket, the vinyl white picket, the green metal picket (my least favorite), and then of course the hybrids (a white wooden picket gate and a light wooden fencing). Your first assumption may be that “Picket Fence Lane” must be residentially zoned to make it mandatory to have a picket fence. Mine was.

For weeks I’ve been strolling along PF Lane and pondering the picket fences, the variety, the similarities, and the question keeps coming to mind: What is it that makes everyone want the picket fence?

We have been hearing the familiar phrase of a “green house and a white picket fence” (or was it a yellow house or was that just my preference?) for years as the “dream”, the crowding jewel that you’ve met the American dream or hope. We all at one time or another have wanted the “white picket fence”, had a dream. Maybe you don’t want white anymore, maybe you want a vinyl one or a natural wooden fence, or even a chain linked fence (however ugly it might be)? Preferences change, people change, needs change. It doesn’t matter what kind of picket fence you want, what dream it is that you want, so as long as you still have a dream; a picket fence that you are hoping for and working towards. Even once we have obtained that “picket fence” we find ourselves looking towards the next “picket fence”. My “picket fence” has changed multiple times throughout my life as I’ve changed. While I may not want a traditional white wooden picket fence like I did when I was say, 13 years old, the hope for a picket fence is still burning within me. My picket fence may have orange daisies poking through or bluebells at the base, with a swinging gate. Your picket fence might be vinyl with a green hedge around it. The varieties, the similarities, don’t matter as long as you have a picket fence.

What is your picket fence?

2 Years @ HP Today....

I almost feel like a real grown up saying that. Where has all the time gone? The great thing is I still love my team. ;) Life moves quicker than we ever anticipate at 18....I for one could not be more excited for the "rest of my life" still.

I've been applying two conclusions as of late in my life.

1. As long as I play two sports a week I am happy/content with my week, my life, my existence. Pure Bliss! This week: ping pong, Frisbee, and golf. I feel the most at peace and close to Heaven on earth when I'm on the golf course, next to the temple of course. It is truly where I feel completely like Jess Berry.

2. Living is a PRIVILEGE whether married or single that should be fully appreciated not just in theory but in action. All too often single people view it as a death sentence but seriously it is not. (i.e. traveling, free time to become amazing people, experience amazing things, and most importantly an opportunity to serve the Lord, build up His Kingdom in a way that is only available when we are single...we can truly put our shoulder to the wheel and not worry about many other obligations that come when you become part of your own family unit). Life should always be worth living to the fullness.

Hearting Saturday

Worked on fulfilling two goals: golfing goal and personal history goal
Played Frisbee
Breakfast with my Favs!
Played Bunko
And....hit 28 posts for the month with 28 days!

What will you be giving up?