The Opening and Closing of Doors

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven”

– Orson F. Whitney

From the Article:

The Opening and Closing of Doors

This quote has meant so much to me while growing up...and even more so now.

Hearts have been broken.

Scabs have been torn.

Pain has increased.

And plans are always changing.

But enduring to the end and having patience has always been a struggle for me.

It is one of those virtues I have to learn and be tested for in order to have it.

Someday I will get it.

Maybe at that time

Hearts will heal.

Scabs will disappear.

Pain decrease.

And peace be found in change.

Maybe.

I Hope.

For now I have to do the best I can.

God would not have given me trials I could not face.

Trust.

Faith.

Hope.

Sincerely from the heart,

Dawna G Berry

P.S. Thank you to my husband, Nik, for standing by me through everything, helping me, and loving me unconditionally.

I love you!

The End of 2009.

Nik and I had an awesome opportunity to go to California for New Years. It was made possible because our friends decided to get married in San Diego and so we wanted to go support them and make it a fun trip.

Tuesday after Christmas we drove over from AZ to Oceanside, CA. (Sidenote: I drove the WHOLE way and that is a big accomplishment for me! Just sayin.) We got there around 7ish in the evening and met my good friend, Terri, and her fiance, Brandon, at Red Lobster. Being so close to the ocean made my cravings for seafood sky rocket. It was so fun talking with them and meeting Brandon for the first time.

That next day we woke up and walked down to this little restaurant for pancakes and eggs. It was such a nice walk right there next to the ocean. The weather was awesome and it was a great way to start the day!

After breakfast we went back to Nik's Aunt Macy's house (she was so kind to let us stay with her and Uncle Jim while in CA) to get ready for "Our Day in Oceanside." We went out to The Pier and walked around. There were fun little shops and food and we just...just had a blast being together with no worries for the day. There was a lite drizzle the whole afternoon which made for awesome cloud cover. Geez...it was just so fun! Here are some pictures of this fun day we had in Oceanside:

Me out on The Pier.
Look! Someone that donated money for The Pier has the same spelling as me! That is so awesome and rare I HAD to take a picture! woot woot! There were like 6 other Donna's on that pier...but mine was the best!

Us again. I love him!

Here is the Pelican Nik wanted as a friend. This picture was taken right before Nik almost got his hand bitten off. Pelicans are not friendly. whoops.

Nik and his new guitar we bought at one of the shops. Those are sprinkles in the picture so we had to hurry and capture this moment.

After we had fun on The Pier we were treated to dinner with Aunt Macy and Uncle Jim. We went to a pretty chill Mexican Restaurant for Happy Hour. It was nice getting yummy food for half off! They have really good nacho's there.

Uncle Jim, Aunt Macy, me, and Nik after dinner.

That next morning was New Years Eve Day so we were headed out for the wedding down in San Diego. Nik and I left early in the morning because we were afraid of rush hour traffic...but since it was kinda a holiday, there wasn't any. So we ended up getting to the San Diego Temple a whole hour before the bride and groom even showed up. It was a great day for Janessa and Travis and Nik and I were so happy to be a part of it!

After all the festivities were over it was time to ring in the New Year! Bring on Twenty-Ten. All us friends wanted to go out to dinner. There were 3 vehicles following each other around to find a place to eat...and when Josh's GPS sent us driving on the WRONG SIDE of THE ROAD...we lost one of the vehicles because they were actually paying attention to what was happening (unlike Nik and I) and made a quick turn to correct that bad decision. It was pretty scary seeing all these headlights coming towards us and a median to keep us from getting over easily to the correct side. So we did a quick U-ey. The other car with our friends decided driving around wasn't worth it and went and did their own thing. Josh and Kylee kept in front of us because they had the GPS with Sam and Bobbie...so we were following behind them thru 20+ minutes of driving and 8+ U-Turns trying to find a California Pizza Kitchen but the only ones around were at the Airport and Mall and we didn't want that. So finally we passed a Cheesecake Factory and decided that would end it all. No more driving! Well the wait was too long there so we went across the street to PFChangs. We waited about 30 minutes there and were seated. THANK HEAVENS. We had a FEAST and ate it ALL! What a fun night.

Josh and Kylee! (Thanks for the help, Josh in finding this place. It was quite the evening! Fun times in Cali.)

Sam and Bobbie!

Me and Nik!

The whole gang with our feast!

After dinner Nik and I went back to Oceanside and rand in the New Year there. That next morning we headed back home to Utah. It was a great trip. We had so much fun catching up with family and friends and we enjoyed getting away from the snow.

Look Back at 2009. April - July

Nik is home after serving an honorable & faithful 2 year LDS Mission in Tokyo Japan. April 29, 2009.

Our first hug in over 2 years.

Melissa and James got married May 30, 2009 and Nik and I were able to be there for them!

We were sealed (married) in the Mesa, AZ Temple for Time and All Eternity June 10, 2009.

Over at Paul and Mary's Family Party for Independence Day.

Out to Fireworks with Josh and Kylee.

Nik found Waldo!

Waiting for the Midnight Showing of HP6. Kinda bored?? Yep.

The Homecoming of Nik's Mission President...President Hill...

And his Mission Mom...Sister Hill.

Look Back at 2009. August-December

Out to Sushi with part of the Fam. We had a FEAST!

Our campsite...in our own little Living Room!

Hobo Dinners

Making S'Mores.

Out at Tucano's with Melissa and James. Great food. Awesome friends.

My first Homemade Apple Pie!!!

We began coupon clipping. We get 5 of the same Newspapers every Sunday. Crazy, yes.

First Haircut. Before.

After

Out to see New Moon on Thanksgiving Day with Amy and Sam.

Decorating Christmas Cookies with Christa and Camron.

In front of the Bellagio in Vegas!

Nik and I on the pier in Oceanside, CA.

Wonderful Families

This past holiday season...or rather the last 6 months has really filled my heart with gratitude. I am thankful for many things...but to list a few:

The family I was born into.
They helped make me the woman I am today.
I am sealed to them forever and ever and I couldn't be happier.
My dad has always been a strong father to lean on and he has my best interest in mind at all times.
My mom is my best friend. She is someone who will just listen to me and not give advice to "help" because at times I don't want it...I just want ears to talk to.
Caren is my little sister who has been there for me through everything. We have a lot of common intersts...i.e. a nice truck with a beautiful sound system. ;)
Baylee makes me smarter everytime I see her. She always has some piece of random trivia to share with everyone. She is so smart!
Hannah keeps me on my toes. She is always making me laugh and says the most random clever things.
I love them all.

The family I married into.
They stood by me the whole 2 years Nik was gone.
They accept me for who I am.
I can feel their love for me.
Brian has made me feel like family as his second daughter since Nik and I started dating.
Randee is so fun to talk to. She is a great mother to Nik and everyone that comes into her home. I love not having to fear my Mother-in-Law. :) She is great!
Jake is such a big brother figure. He has always been so kind to me.
Amy is another sister that I love. She is so fun to talk to and I am so happy to have another sister so close to my age.
Sam is a crazy fun little boy that keeps everyone moving. I have never had a brother so it has been fun to watch him grow up these last 4+ years.

The family Nik and I created.
It has been so fun to live with and be married to my best friend.
We have had so many laughs together as we try to get this married thing down.
Nik is a wonderful husband (as cliche as that sounds). He makes me laugh so hard and he watches out for me. He holds me when I'm sick. He drives me around in the snow. He opens the doors for me. He is amazing and treats me the way that every girl dreams.

I was talking to Nik about this on our long drives this last week...and I find it amazing how our families are so awesome! Nik has always felt like a part of my family and every member of my family shows it. I was telling him how blessed I am to marry into a family that takes me under their wings like their own. I haven't had to worry about any In-Law problems. I love them so much. I know that Nik and I were meant to be together and because of our choices to get married and sealed in the Temple we have been blessed in so many ways.

I love my life!