A Personal Plea from Jess

As you have probably heard the fourth and final installment of the Twilight series is coming out. I am super excited but after that is over I find myself without a clue on what to read next. Those that know me know that I am a veracious reader and I need to have something to read. And last nite in a fit of desperation I started Harry Potter again! So if you could please leave a comment of your favorite books or books that you would suggest me reading. I am including a list of my personal favorites as well!!

Books
Harry Potter Series
Twilight Series-Stephenie Meyers
The Host-Stephenie Meyers
The Pillars of the Earth-Ken Folliet
The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness -Caleb Carr
The Odd Thomas Series-Dean Koontz
Life Expectancy-Dean Koontz
Beauty- Sherri Tepper
The First Man in Rome- Colleen McCullough
Anne of Green Gables- L.M. Montgomery


There are many many more! I love books that can make you laugh and cry. In fact that's kinda my standard for a book. I love sweeping emotions and brilliant plots. I love pretty much everything across the board except romance. I'll be honest I need some action in pretty much everything that I read. So if you know any good books please respond and I'll head off to my local library!

NEW LAYOUT!!

I have a new layout!! I am really excited to bring you The Journey of Jess 2.0. Let me know your opinion, its a departure of my normal green but still fresh and exciting.

Like is still sweet. I don't have to move except downstairs!! Also there's a wedding boom among my friends and family! I have three weddings coming up in the next four months! I am married to a wonderful, giving, loving, and hot husband. I love his outlook on life and I promise his nonchalance of about life is rubbing of on me!

A few nights ago I was surprised to see the movie The Wizard of Oz on TNT. I love the movie for its beautiful contempt of reality and the sweet naivety of Dorothy. So this pic's in tribute of the good ol' Lollipop guild. Remember pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

I will write & post pics of my birthday celebration at The Roof later!!

The Twilight Saga-*Warning contains Spoilers*

I know that everyone is crazy over this series of books but I wanted to add my reaction. I love these books, I didn't think I would I'll be honest. I thought especially during the first 50 pages that it was a silly little high school drama that happened to include vampires. Having grown up on a regular diet of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel I had my extreme doubts on whether an English major from BYU could create believable vampire lore especially a love story. I was wrong. Stephanie Meyers has been able to create a wonderfully intricate story that entwines the best of both genres, the fantasy and the romance.

What I love most is her treatment of forever. The author is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, as I am. In our faith we tend to think of love and relationships in the scope of eternity more often than your average person. That is why I love these books. It isn't preachy, it isn't judgemental, there are subtle mention of having a sinful nature and still doing all that you can to be righteous. I admire Edward for his intention of doing everything right, of wanting to marry her before sealing her "fate." I love how they both recognize that what they have is forever. It makes for refreshing and uplifting reading.

I add my humble kudos for Stephanie Meyers. She has been able to prove herself as a writer who recognizes the goodness that mankind has, that is truly refreshing. These are books that I will read over and over.

I want to express my knowledge of the eternity. A little out of place I know, but as I grow I redefine my priorities and lately I have been impressed with the closeness of eternity. The mystical, spiritual feeling that there's more to life than meets the eye. I love my life, I love my husband and I am truly glad for the Atonement. Without it I would have no hope.

Strength to Light Up the Dark

Light Up the Dark

As I was reading my scriptures this morning I decided to read talks on strength. This week has been tough for me. I found out that my credit is trashed because my name is still on my ex-husband's home and he has hit some financial difficulties. Also I found out that its about 95% likely that I am going to have to move. Not out of Utah, no Ryan wouldn't allow that, but out of the home that we had hope to purchase, because my credit is not in any shape to buy a home. So, I was researching strength because I am going to need strength and wisdom to make the correct decisions with my husband about where we should go. I came across this talk by Elder Richard Scott. I love him he is truly one of my favorite apostles and is like the grandfather that I hope my husband will be :) So he posed these four questions for deep thought and I thought as my blog post that I would attempt to answer them. I figure no one reads this anyway so...why not?

What are some of the most fundamental priorities of your life?

To have a family where love is abundant. To be loved by others and to be respected by them. To raise righteous children who will love their parents and the Lord. To be educated and to have a closer walk with the Lord. To have a meaningful life that is more than fluff.

What challenges do you face in realizing your dreams and aspirations?

The resources to begin a family. My awkwardness around others, a lot of the times my social insecurities prevent people from noticing who I truly am. The rest of my challenges are ones that I have made myself, no one can determine if I live up to my potential, only I can make the choice to do that.

What are some of the obstacles that impede your progress?

My selfishness and my laziness. My constant desire for things to be easy as well as my huge penchant for procrastination. Also my judgemental and controlling nature, I am a blue personality all the way. I need to control my temper and take things one day at a time. I need to concentrate less on things of no importance and devote my time, energy, and resources to things that will benefit me now as well as in the future. I need to become a more caring and loving individual that listens more and talks less. That puts others before herself and is not jealous of the supposed "ease" that others experience.

What motivates you to overcome temptation and live righteously so that the Lord can guide and strengthen you?

My husband and future family. My desire to be a little less of an "unprofitable servant." My innate knowledge that I can be better. And most of the love that the Savior has for me, his sacrifice so complete. And not only his infinite atonement but the magnificent blessings that I have had here on this Earth, the personal purgatories that He has lifted me out of, His all encompassing grace.

I really enjoyed this exercise. It helped me to realize some important things about myself. Life is never simple. We often want to vilify the ones who wrong us, but if we look at the situation from a more righteous perspective we can always empathize. Oh wow I have learned this. If you would like the full details, anyone just ask through a comment and I will let you know. Thanks for reading!

True Meaning

I love to blog, its like emotional chemotherapy for me. Today I want to discuss true meaning. I realized an important precept for my marriage. That too often we let the most ridiculous things distract us from happiness and eternity. I noticed this especially Monday night. Ry and I had been snipping at each other all night. Ok I'll admit it I was being snippy and my husband was being well clueless like always. And we were fussing about cleaning the house or something nonsensical like that. Then the Spirit touched me and was like "Go for a walk." While on this walk my husband and I reconnected we talked like we can't talk with the Wii or the TV or the radio going. It reminded me how much I enjoy his company and how much I let the true meaning of my life get overshadowed by things that have no eternal importance.

I can apply this to my spiritual journey as well. Too often I let things such as the amusing story on the Internet or the great book I picked up at the library prevent me from feasting on the work of the Lord. I love my Heavenly Father and I want to learn more about him and his gospel. I too often let the non eternal things endanger the eternal. I'm going to make the goal of being more concerned with things of an eternal nature.

I am so grateful that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Since my conversion in 2002 I have been blessed beyond compare. I have been provided with true meaning, with my true purpose. I strive to be more grateful of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as well as the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I know that I have done the right thing. I know this church is true.

Discovery Channel: I Love the World

He Loves Me So Good and This Beautiful World

I love my husband. I love my husband dearly. Lately times has been tough for me. Not with my husband, but just in life in general. I have recently parted ways with a very dear friend and this has taken a terrible emotional toll. I try to "shake" it off and let it roll off my back like Ry suggests but I have never been good at that. However, the purpose of this blog isn't to lament the lost of who I thought was my best friend but rather to sing the praise of my husband.

My husband Ryan always seems to know the right thing to say when I'm blue. I have had a hard life. I'm not being facetious, it's just the truth and when I fall into "victim" mode he is always there with the perfect thing to say to lift me back out. He calms my fears when I doubt and he loves me so good. That statement was made by a wise lady named Sharron Huffstutler and though it is rife with grammatical error it truly describes my husband. He loves me so good.

Lately Ry has been out of town more days than in town. I have struggled with loneliness and anger, but Ry does the best he can to make me feel dear to him. It is a testament of his ability to love me so good that I don't worry or fret when he's out of town. I trust him and that is a miracle. He completes me. My life is just better because he is in it. I am truly glad to have made him my husband.

On a different track, life has been pretty routine lately. It's been a lot of reading, working, and cleaning. Saturday (June 14th) I was able to visit bridal veil falls. I am amazed at how much better shape I am in than when I first moved here and that short hike nearly did me in. Standing by the waterfall and looking through the canyon was a spiritual experience to me. I know that my Heavenly Father is a god of love. NO being could create this beautiful and awe inspiring world and not feel the deepest of love.

I am happy, I am on the right path, and I am in love.

The first 30 days of change

Hello one and all!

So I found a website that I wanted to share. http://www.thefirst30days.com/. It is a site that is designed to help people to change. Lately I have found myself in the typical newly wed "now what" syndrome. Honestly, I think that there should be a study done on the phenomenon. It has happen to me twice and to many others that I know so It is a really thing. As Ry and I approach our 3 month wedding anniversary and a bit farther out our year anniversary of dating we have both found ourselves in the "now what" stage. To explain it is when the hoopla of getting and being married dies down and life starts being...real. It's so seductive to wonder what is next. And being who we are, namely Mormons, our thoughts turn to children.

Now to set the record straight I can not wait until I am a mother. I think about my future children like they are here. I have their names and I even "know" what they are going to look like. However, I dream about my children because they are my future not because I want to start reproducing now. So the "now what" stage is really dangerous, because I don't want to rush the future. I want to live in the present.

That is where this website comes into the picture. This website helps to guide you through the first 30 days of many life changes. For example the two life changes that I chose to work on is getting in shape and becoming happier. I have spoken about becoming happier in previous posts and getting in shape has been a long time goal of mine. Having this resource to keep me going is such a godsend. I suggest that everyone go and check it out. Change happens, that's one of the axioms of life, but it doesn't have to be all that hard. This a wonderful site to help with that.

So my goals are to become a happier, less cynical more fit kick butt person!! I know that I can do it because I want it! And my life has brought me to this place for a reason. I have been given the tools for my situation and I will live my life on purpose!!

Juno and my humble musings

Hello all!

This weekend I finally got to see Juno! Such a great movie! I have heard many different opinions but I loved it for its accurate betrayal of teenage pregnancy and the stigma attached to it. Teenage pregnancy while regrettable and should not be encouraged sometimes happens. Everyone makes mistakes and there are no reasons to judge others for having their mistakes so prominently displayed. To me anything that brings the miracle of life into the world couldn't have been a "mistake." I cannot believe that with astronomical odds each fertilized egg has to making it to babyhood. I loved how Juno showed an intelligent young woman who made the right decision when faced with the consequence of her actions. It was also very refreshing to see movie parents be....real, idealized but real. I enjoyed this movie very much. I would recommend it to people teenagers and up.

I have been thinking of babies lately. It's natural I live in UT and there are about 5,000,000 babies per ward ;) Kidding kidding. But now that Ry and I are in a family ward its really hard for us to not get caught up in that baby craze. My guess is that all it's going to take is a good ol calling in nursery and primary to cure that ;) No, I don't imagine I'll be having Ry's babies anytime soon; but it's nice to think about. And never before have I felt that this is the right guy for 100%. Hmmmmm...well when they come I know that they will be extremely lucky kids to have a father like they will have. :D

Summer is now taking a break again, and it will be chilly for the next week. I knew that it couldn't last. Le sigh...I'm so ready for summer! I should learn to be grateful for the days that I have...not wish for different. Take Care...

Spring Musings and Thoughts on Life

So finally Spring has arrived! This Utah winter was the toughest that I have ever been through. It just kept going and going. I have to say that I did not really enjoy it and even grumbled and threatened to move a few time. Honestly, I have to say that I miss Alabama weather very much so. It snowed last week, that's right snowed in May and I have to say I was quite bitter about it.

The flowers are finally blooming in Utah and I think I have convinced my husband to plant one of my favorite trees whenever we can. It's called a tulip magnolia tree and I first saw it planted by the Birmingham Alabama temple. It's a beautiful tree that blooms in the spring with these gorgeous pink and white blooms. The funny thing about a long hard winter is that it helps you appreciate the spring all the more. I feel so blessed to be able to see Utah thaw out.

I want to offer my thoughts and prayers for the two enormous tragedies that occurred in Asia recently. The cyclone that hit Myanmar caused so much damage to an already impoverished people. I truly hope that their government will step up and allow international aid. I also want to offer my condolences to those unfortunate people in China. With all the China bashing that has been going on before the Olympics it was really easy to forget that they are people. I read a story on MSNBC speaking about parents grieving for their children and I guess that's when the epiphany hit me. It's so easy as a person to get so wrapped up in patriotism and stereotypes fed to us by society that we begin to believe that we are the only ones with the human emotions. When that is just not the case. We are all indelible spirits that love. I think that is what should matter most, love and families. How can we think people are THAT different from us if we all love?

So in closing I want to share a secret that really sparked my imagination. This has inspired me to make my life treat my life with a sense of wonder and to share it with those that I love best.