Mama Berry Blog

Two things: (And they do go together, I promise.) 1. A few weekends ago I went to Time Out For Women. Hilary Weeks was one of the musical presenters, and she asked us to write down one piece of advice from her next song, called 'Love Your Life'. It could be something that we felt impressed by or wanted to remember or work on. As she sang, a particular phrase hit me in a way I was not expecting. I wrote it down. 2. A few days after getting home from Time Out For Women I found myself with some kid free time and sat down to write. I came across something I had started writing months ago but had forgotten about. Some background information here: My oldest had just started kindergarten, and we were in the throes of a largely emotional, semi-rough transition to this new normal. He'd come home from school and fly off the handle at the most minuscule of things. I was going nuts wondering where my normally happy and calm boy had gone. Day after day I was left wondering what was ...

"Challenges" are constant in my news feed. You probably know the ones I mean. Different time frames, different aspects of life, different groups of people, but all encouraging improvement in some way. These challenges are great. I love goal setting and personal development. But honestly, if I participated in all of these challenges, I wouldn't have time to see straight. So when I saw a blog post entitled "The One Thing: 10 Week Challenge" I did not even click on it. Nope. Not interested. But it kept showing up. Over and over it appeared. It wasn't because multiple people were sharing it. It was just the same original post, showing up at different places and different days. Coincidence? I don't think it was. It took until maybe the 3rd or 4th (ok, maybe 5th) time that it showed up randomly in my newsfeed to read it. I'm so glad I did. Over on MultiplyGoodness.com, a 10 week challenge was issued (which was actually given to students at the...

I've been a sister almost all of my life, but I'm only just starting to realize the importance of that relationship. And you, my sisters, have been on my mind a lot lately. (And there's a lot of you, even not including the in-laws, friends, Relief Society, and roommates that become sisters too.) I sometimes feel a little bummed because I'm so far away from all of you. I am out of the loop when it comes to the day to day and week to week goings ons of your lives. I don't get to talk to you or get to know you as easily as I'd like. But I am grateful for Facebook and the fact that our mutual parents keep me up to date on the important things. I watch you on social media. I think about you, I pray for you. And there are things I wish I could tell you. But it would be completely awkward to just grab your face the next time I see it and say emphatically what it is I want to say (not to mention the time consuming-ness of that endeavor to each individual face), so I...

I was at work. It was silent aside from the buzz of my ultrasonic and the radio in the background. Warm tears fell behind my mask; tears I wanted to avoid explaining to my patient, or to anyone. They were tears I had done pretty well at hiding all day. And the day before. Though the tears were the only thing I hid well. Then my delicate balance was interrupted by the speaker on the radio. Testifying of God, like they often do on K-LOVE, she said something that's only comforting to those no longer grieving. (And I am certainly grieving.) "No matter what happens in our lives, we can be comforted that God is in control." Instantly, a little stab of anger pierced my heart. Because life is sometimes crushing. You know what would be comforting? Not being crushed. 'God is in control.' Don't they know I know that!? Because I do, I know that. I trust Him. I always have. I always will. But. But a piece of my life just fell apart. I wish it hadn't. I want...

                           Last week I finished reading the Book of Mormon again. I love this book of scripture. The Book of Mormon, like the Bible, testifies of the Divinity of  Jesus Christ and declares Him Savior of mankind. It teaches the things of God, and rejects the wickedness of the world. It was written by prophets called of God for that purpose. It has strengthened my knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon, like the truths testified of in the Bible, has changed my life for the better. That which turns us to God,  is  of God. And this book points all of mankind to God and His son Jesus Christ.  I have studied this book multiple times and have prayed to know of its truthfulness, as I have also done with the Bible. The Bible is the word of God. What a blessing it is to have so many accounts of the Savior's mortal ministry and the teachings of so many pro...

Every time I read the Book of Mormon I learn something (or several somethings) that is applicable in a whole new way. Having recently started reading it again, I experienced one of those learning moments within the first few chapters in the story of Nephi. Nephi's writings are well known to me because I have read them multiple times. But I am always amazed when I can learn something new from something so familiar. I'm grateful for the Spirit of God which testifies of truths in small, quiet, and unexpected moments. Over the past few years I've been taught such sweet lessons from Nephi in this way that he has become one of my favourite scriptural prophets. In this story (and I've summarized), Nephi is trying to do as the Lord commanded and acquire the plates of brass from Laban. The plates of brass are the scriptural record which also contains their genealogy, and Laban is the wicked man who has them in his possession. Twice Nephi, with his three brothers, has tried to ...