Mama Berry Blog

The other night I found an ice cream scoop underneath my pillow. Thankfully it was clean. However, I sure didn't put it there. I'm not  that  sleep deprived. When I walked out to the kitchen to put it away, I noticed our plastic ulu hanging from a light switch. I sighed and grabbed it too, then threw them both in the drawer. Honestly, it's amazing I can find anything when I need it. Raising four children is more miracle than I could ever hope to deserve; but sometimes, in my less than ideal moments, I feel the chaos that comes with it is more thorn than rose. My life is full of half eaten pudding cups tipped over on the table, blanket booby traps of death in the middle of the kitchen floor, thoughtful heart shaped notes glued (think Elmer's) to my bedroom walls and ice cream scoops underneath my pillow. This is called "entropy". Here, I'll save you the trouble of looking it up. Entropy: the unavailability of a system's energy to be converted int...

Two years ago we drove Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park for the first time that I remember. It absolutely took my breath away. I couldn't believe how high we were and how far we could see and the majesty of the mountain and valley and the waterfalls. Then just last week we drove through Glacier National Park again on our way to Alberta. While still amazingly beautiful, it didn't feel as breathtaking to me. At least, not like it did that first drive. Scrooge that I am. But my kids; my kids couldn't get enough. "Look at that waterfall! It looks like water stairs! And look at the mountain! Whoa! We're so high! Oh man, another waterstairs! Look at those rocks! Can we climb that? Look at that bridge! Are there more waterstairs coming up? Look at all the snow right there! Mom, Heavenly Father made all this!? For us!? That's awesome!" I got caught up in their childhood wonder and pointed out every single sighting of the 'waterstair...

The first Sunday of the month is our Fast and Testimony meeting at church. The congregation fasts together, and the first hour is given for individual members to come and share their knowledge and belief in Christ and His gospel. Back in January, on Fast Sunday, the Bishop shared his testimony and invited us to do the same as we felt to do so. He also asked that we 'be unrestrained' as we shared when and what the Holy Spirit directed. Though I was busy with kids and didn't make it up to the pulpit that day, that invitation stood out to me. In the weeks since January, I've thought a lot about that phrase that Bishop used; "to be unrestrained". Jesus Christ lived a life of unrestrained compassion, goodness, service and love. He lived the gospel, He fulfilled His purpose, He was about His Father's business, all unrestrained, unabashed, unashamed. And He asks us to follow Him. We must follow Him. The question then is 'how'? How do we live such an un...

When complimenting a pregnant lady (especially one you don't know), don't say weird things. There are so many weird things that people think pass as compliments to a pregnant mom or a mom with more than 1 kid in public. And really, they should think about the words that are coming out of their mouths. Why are moms such a target for weird 'compliments' about their appearance? I have heard (for instance) things like: "Wow you're so little (short/tiny/petite/pocket sized. . .)." (pocket sized? Really? Am I a button?) "You're so skinny!" (followed approximately 75% of the time by a joking "I hate you."...Thanks I literally can do as much about it as you can...) "You look like you didn't even have a baby!" (I always think this one's weird because I'm usually holding one in my arms, and how can that with or without the dark circles under my eyes not look like I've just. had. a baby?) "You look like y...

We had Stake (or a regional) Conference at church last weekend. I generally love these conferences. But that weekend I found the exhortation to be better exhausted me more than it should have. I feel a little ashamed to even admit that, as the leaders speak as directed by the Spirit, and it was mostly my attitude that inhibited my ability to enjoy their messages. The messages were replete with "we can be doing better" and "do a little more" and "stretch yourself outside your comfort zone". And I sunk down in my chair, feeling more indignant than inspired. It's just that I feel stretched so many different ways. It's just that I feel that I am giving my very best . And right now, I don't know if I know how to do better. How do I be a better Mom, a better wife, a better employee, a better follower of Christ, a better sharer of His gospel? How do I add one more thing to my to do list, even though I know it should be on the list? How do I imp...

"Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every indication would say hope is lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior's own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland- In recent months I've been praying for a specific miracle. There is so much to say about miracles: the ones that come, the ones that don't, and the One who is in control in either instance. Unless I'm looking it can be almost impossible to recognize the hand of God amidst the turbulence of daily living. It can be exhausting that even as I'm watching and praying fervently, the miracles I yearn for ultimately slip away. But I am also part of a family who has been remarkably and undeniably blessed with miracles. And there are just no words for the moments for when we have witnessed divine blessing. The the ...