Mary Christmas

I started a new calling last Sunday...Valiant 9 Primary teacher!
I LOVE Primary, Ok...I love Young Women's too, but this Sunday, my first in Primary in a llooong time, I told big fat lies to my Primary kids!
I'm sure when the Bishop reads this I'll be released...back to the nursery for me, I bet!
It's not fair that I happen to have THE smartest N9ne year old's in the whole body of the Church! We took out our scriptures, I started on the straight and narrow, just fell sideways about 10 minutes into the class.
Hands were up the entire reading of Luke 2 and Matt. 2, my first mistake was to call on one flailing young hand..
'What does a virgin mean'?
Silence...listening for the prompting...
'It means a young woman who has not been married...yet...??'???
First Lie
Continued reading...I barely look up, cuz hands and bodies are now up!
'What does espoused mean'? As in Mary was Joseph's espoused wife..
No hesitation this time (I'm good, I learn quickly)
'NEW' I said!
50 minutes of class time....really??

Merry Christmas Card to my Family

Family...

Although you are unable to comment on the blog, I still know you will be checking it out...

So here is my little Christmas card to you (of course I sent you a card in the mail, I just better be getting one in return?).

So enjoy our family photos!

This gathering of peeps would be my greatest wish for this holiday season along with:

World Peace

Mitt Romney as President

A world with a need for NO stents (kidney or heart)

Just a couple of more weeks off work

Bigger Ipod

Thinner thighs

And YOU! Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

Just Great Photo's to share...

Happy Thanksgiving from the Brezack Families!

I had so much fun at TWEENLIGHT

I had so much fun on this night with these girls! I admit I read all of Stephanie Meyers Twilight series. I enjoyed them...they weren't exactly Talmage...but fun none the less. I guess the best part about Twilight, for me, was the great night I had going to dinner then a show I knew all of us LDS women were going to feel comfortable watching.

No bad words, explicit scenes..just innocent love, something we all crave, but don't try to degrade.

Thanks to you Laurie, Wendi and Kimberly and a special thanks to Jennifer.

I had a wonderful time!

And YES, I was the oldest women in that theatre!

Maybe I'll Get You a Johny West Set for Christmas?

When I was a little girl, just a few short years ago, all I wanted for Christmas was my own horse! Ok, and maybe the Barbie house to go with my Johny West set.
But, having MY OWN horse would have been the ultimate.

In Houghton Michigan, where I lived, they didn't have horses...at all! It is way too cold in the Upper Peninsula. They measure snow by the foot; not,
"We are getting 3 to 4 inches of snow today."
They say,
"We are getting 3 to 4 feet of snow today."

Anyway...I would have loved to have my own horse as a kid.
My kid, Christina has her own horse, and until last year she had two horses.
Her Grandma Sue got her a horse for her 14th birthday. His name was Dallas.
Dallas passed away last year, he was Christina's barrel horse.

Now Chrisi rides Briggs. He is only good for a photo, pretty much. Briggs poses and Chrisi smiles. They make a great team!

Maybe this year I will get Chrisi a Johny West set for Christmas, since she has a horse and all...

Battle of the Bands!

If you want to see this sweet Boy:

Play with this Sweet Band:

Then come to BATTLE OF THE BANDS at Millard North High School Thursday night, November 13th, 7pm...

Cuz they rock!! And, we hope they WIN, it is their Senior year after all!

Join us if you can, and yes, Grandma Sue, I am bringing your orange earplugs!

My Daughter My Friend

What is the most important thing in my life...? This my family! Why take up time on my talk block about B. Obama and not this...? IDK! So I decided to post more important things (and honestly much more adorable than any of those politician, don't ya think) than our economy.

And here she is...my daughter my friend!

You have grown into an amazing, beautiful daughter of God and I am so blessed to be your mom! Thank you for being 'honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men'.

We love you Chrisi

My Political Thoughts

We'll I never really thought of my blog as a political venue, more in the light of a 'thought block'. Writing down my inspirations, a little journal with photos... you get the idea.


This past week my thoughts are nothing but political, so writing down my feelings seems logical (in this illogical political season).


I have been thinking about how much emphasise has been put on Barack Obama's campaign promises (and now for real promises) of economic reform, how 'socialism' is his underlying agenda. Those fears are not mine. The prosperity of the 1920s was unevenly distributed among the various parts of the American economy—farmers and unskilled workers were notably excluded—with the result that the nation's productive capacity was greater than its capacity to consume. In addition, the tariff and war-debt (which currently is astronomical) policies of the Republican administrations of the 1920s had cut down the foreign market for American goods. Causing the Great Depression!

The economic, agricultural, and relief policies of the New Deal administration under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Democrat) did a great deal to mitigate the effects of the depression and, most importantly, to restore a sense of confidence to the American people. This may occur again during this Democratic leadership...I'm up for a NEW DEAL!

Besides, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (as well as a registered Republican) I plan to live a higher law eventually! The Law of Consecration. Granted, the Prophet, under the direct leadership of the Lord, will determine my distribution of wealth (which by the way is very little, but toiled endlessly by, standing many hours holding hearts, removing colons, repairing ruptured retina's)...but still I will "give to those in need, by word and deed". Let the government use my contribution as needed. It does anyway. New taxes, they are going to be created, for what, I hope to revive this economy as the relief policies of the 1920's did.

My concern is this; if I were to under go Atrial Ablation surgery, would I want a Cardiac Surgeon who has volunteered many previous Atrial Ablations. Who had experience in Atrial Ablations and who could manage the team assisting in the Atrial Ablation.

That is how I felt about John McCain! During this time in our countries history we are involved in TWO 'Atrial Ablations', and I wanted John McCain to be our surgeon. He volunteered to serve this country as a member of our armed forces as well as sacrificed for you and me to defend our rights as citizens of a free country. He would have been an amazing Commander-in-Chief. He would have surrounded himself in other's who have done so much in serving this country, not themselves.

He's to secretly wishing I had a new bumper sticker that said Mitt Romney Secretary of the Treasury!

And that is my 2 cents worth (now only really worth about .87 of a cent)!

TOFW Omaha Oct 2008

Time Out For Women should be called Ton's Of Fun Women!! We had so much fun this year (but no Mac Make-up, Urban Outfitters Shopping or Marriot Hotel's, this time) going to the Deseret Book Company A Joyful Life Women's Conference.

We did go out to dinner before the conference at THE CHEESE CAKE FACTORY another favorite of the girls. Of course we all start out thinking a huge healthy salad is what we are going to eat and then you see those sneaky waiters bringing out the table to the left's meal and you now want PASTA!

Ton's Of Fun! The next day we started out early with our Large Diet Dr. Peppers (some caffine for your physical uplifting, TOFW for your spiritual) then we settled into our back row seats, cute bags in hand.

Now I could go on and on about how supper funny Mary Ellen Edmunds is (learned she's never been married no kids, but a boyfriend...her cute 3 yr old nephew) how Elia Gourgouris is such a successful relationship couselor because all his 'wife' clients are totally enamoured with his accent and will do what ever he says (loved his talk the very most) or how Pam Hansen has inspired me to run a marathon! I could write forever about how much I loved all their 'words of wisdom' but what I learned and felt the most was THIS.

Kenneth Cope was the master of ceremonies...he was irritating and annoying at first. Made me feel like I was at the 700 club Sunday night TV taping, and then the music began and he opened his mouth in song and the tears began.

I wasn't going to buy anything (feel I should also support our little LDS Bookstore in Florence too) until I heard this song Him, And Him Alone. I was in mid disscussion with my bestie Gal and stopped as I heard Kenneth's lyrics...

'How could I think it's mine to merit

Or speak of my share in it.

This saving work He wrought alone

I've been a fool to believe I'd earn it

Or suppose I could deserve it

By words and deeds I'd call my own

From this day on

I know I'm saved by Him alone'

I felt the attonement in that song, in those words while sitting in the back row, cute bag in hand.

I jumped from my seat, and bought that CD All About You by Kenneth Cope!

Love It

PS Go to his website and you can listen to a sample of this and all the songs on his new CD All About You

We had the best time at the Vala's Pumpkin Patch on the 20th of October! I was so lucky to have all the kids go...Christina, Trevor, Chrisi's friend Maria and the Twins A&A. All the kids had fun. I watched as Chrisi and Trevor stood by the Welcome sign that said 'how tall this fall' and tears came to my eyes and I thought of how long ago it was when I would bring by two little ones to Vala's. Now Trevor is over 6 foot and Chrisi is up in the 5's! We had a GREAT Day!

Yahh I got TAGGED

Well it took me a day or two to figure out what 'tagged' meant...but I think I got it.

My friend Julie 'tagged' me which I love the idea of getting to know others, I just couldn't think of SEVEN random things about myself.

I don't have SEVEN blogger friend to send this onto, but I do know that many of you lurkers who check out my rambles could start a blog and give this tagging thing a try! Thinkin of you Jodi W ;)

1. I once saved a patient in the OR by putting my finger over the hole in the aorta (I saw it first). I then stayed in that position for THREE hours while the cardiac surgeon sutured the hole closed...wheww...good thing, or I would have had to go home with the patient.

2. I love the smell of yews (evergreen shrubs) they remind me of my Grandma Millers' house on University Ave. in Provo, UT. The smell when we would arrive at G&G Millers' meant we were in store for Fresca, home made ice cream, Maggie and fried chicken, all smells I love!

3. I love to be scared (only good scared not for real scared) like scary movies my favorites: The Others, The Birds and I loved The Hardey Boys. My new favorite scared is watching Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi. Grant (lead investigator) is LDS and served his Mission in Italy, I love when he asks the ghosts if they speak Italian!! Scarrry

4. I love getting Christmas update letters in my Christmas cards, my parents say nobody ever reads them, but I do, then I save them and scrapbook them.

5. I really love Girls Camp! OK, just about everybody knows that about me, I've been going for like 20 yrs now ... I have gone as the Stake Camp director (not the funnest :), Ward Camp Leader, Nurse (for like 10 yrs) and now am the YCL Leader!! I love Girls Camp!! Like one big slumber party, Girls Camp is (I capitalize it cuz it's important)! You eat snacks, stay up late and go swimming, maybe a hike or two, unless you say you 'twisted' your ankle and then you eat more snacks!! Yaahha Girls Camp!

6. Not a fan of make believe, I prefer 'based on true events' when I watch or read something.

7. Love the Gospel and my family more than ... dare I say Girls Camp!

There's my TAGGED now I hope Laurie, Wendi and Dianna will carry on, check out their bloggs, they have ton's of friends. They'll TAGGED on..
Thanks Julie!

Happy Birthday Scottie

Happy Birthday to my one and only!

Could it really be that we have spent

• 21 birthdays as an old married couple.


• 25 birthday as best friends


• 30 Happy Birthday songs, one for you and one for Kris S. cuz, she has the same birthday.


• 5o birthday cards we have given each other (funny ones from you, sappy from me).


• 87 birthday cakes as a family!

Remember these birthdays....

Love You Honey!

I have a Testimony of....

My mother sent each of us an email that contained her testimony! I LOVED reading her thoughts and it gave me an idea...

I would share my testimony by this wonderful means of expression...blogging!

On Saturday and Sunday we listened to a 'Prophets Voice' and these are a few of my favorite things...

I loved Robert D. Hales talk on Saturday about Christian Courage.

I have a testimony of sharing the Gospel, how could I not, the Savior shared his testimony by his compassion and example. He defended his Christianity when confronted by money changers in the Temple, to Pilot, when betrayed by his friend, and while on the cross.

So I will share my testimony and hope to do so just as the Savior did...

I will say yes when I want to say no.

I will answer others as the Savior answers us, with concern, loving kindness.

Even when asked to be a WEBLOWS leader (after serving in Young Women's for SEVEN years, Weblows is testimony building experience above and beyond ;)

I will strive to defend Christianity by my example.

I also loved the quote President Monson used "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" this quote was originally stated by the winner of the NYC marathon.

I will remember this in all I say and do...

I will prepare my testimony so that I may win!

I am so thankful to have this opportunity, twice a year, to hear the leaders of our Church give us inspiration on: Unity, Service, Prayer, Revelation, Speaking well of each other, Returning to Virtue (love Elain Dalton), Missionary Work, Change, (Pres. Monson...he should run for US President don't you think:) and Gratitude.

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and hope my testimony will strengthen others, and sustain me.

Thanks Mom

Friday Night Lights

We love to go to Millard North Football games! We have been going since our kids started attending Millard Schools back in Middle School. Sometimes MN is GREAT sometimes they look like the HUSKERS trying to make a comeback!
This year is especially fun because our friends' son is a Freshman playing on the varsity team! This is unheard of at MN! This is a difficult team to get on, and even harder to get on the field, to play! This Freshman player is amazing (already scoring a touchdown in the rain this year)!
For Homecoming this year, Chrisi came home to watch the game too. We cheered for our favorite freshman and we're so excited when Trevor's good friend Collin won HOMECOMING KING! We cheered all night, till MN lost and we left to see a movie!

Congrats Collin!

Wheww A Day OFF

This is what I do on my days ON. Work is stressful, this week I was doing everything from Anterior Cervical Fusions to Carotid Endarterectomies. STRESS I tell you, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 17 years of days ON.

But today on my Day OFF I ran this! Gal and I headed to Lake Zorinsky to run the 4.5 mile trail. I have not run this trail in a while, Gal has. We chat for our warm up, again solving the world problems (Christmas decorations up at Hobby Lobby already, are you kidding me). Then we head around THE corner, turn up the Ipod, Viva la Vida for me, Meatloaf for her (we're sooo different and yet)now we're OFF. I am usually ahead of Gal, not cuz I'm better cuz my legs are longer. Then I hit some Josh Groban and come to a mere swagger, Gal passed me. Then I saw it, a little dirt path that took me SLIGHTLY ahead of Gal, I took it, she was ANGRY I could feel it thru the cement under my Asics. I was now in my ZONE. Running the back side of the lake doing the loop to the south of the park and I turned to look for Gal, she's nowhere to be seen (small smile)...surely I wasn't Kils. ahead or even yards ahead, she was nowhere to be seen. I panicked. Could she have stumbled, worse could she have hit FOOTLOOSE again and gone mad. I started to run backwards (not an easy feet or foot, whatever) she was nowhere! I head BACK! The worst possible scenario for me...back, calling for her, I check the bathroom, I ask the lady on the bike if she has seen Gal, then I turn towards the dyke about 1 1/2 miles ahead and I see Gal! Her arms all swinging, sweatshirt blowing around her waist she's running for the finish line...and I am FURIOUS! How had she passed me! Then I see it, the BIG dirt path that cuts out the entire section of the Park and heads straight for the checkered flag! I turn up Blue October and sprint! What happens next is the worst of all...I hit the hill and start to 'jog/walk' I look up and there is our friend H. Clark (who is a REAL runner, she can run with boys, wears name brand running gear, and an Ipod that wraps around her arm) she says to me,

"Gal says to hurry"!

"Hope Gal and I can still be friends after I break both her legs" I think to myself.

So much for a day OFF!

Happy Birthday A&A

Happy Birthday to my little guys! Four! How did they get so old so fast. I remember the night I headed to Lincoln to be with my sister as she went into labor. Lindsay was nervous and wanted her MOM, I wanted HER Mom! I was nervous, TWINS were on their way and I was armed with...my camera, of course! The boys were born late in the night, and 1 1/2 hrs apart, which made OUR mom nervous. But they came soft and sweet. Grandma and Grandpa Berry left St.G and headed straight for the blue blanket bundles. I was in deep conversation with Lindsay, when she shushed me and said 'shhh, is that Dad's voice?'. Lindsay could hear my dad out in the hall talking to one of the nurses and practically jumped out of her IV to get to the new twin grandparents!

We're so glad your FOUR! We had a great day at the ZOO for your BIRTHDAY! A&A were sooo excited to see all the ANIMALS. They liked the new BUTTERFLY Garden with it's MORMON butterfly (for real). They loved to hide in the CAVES and would say 'find me aunt Jill'! (Not funny when Grandma Berry comes). We walked it ALL! They liked the SHARKS from a distance and thought everthing was looking for it's mom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GUYS!