Merritt Memories

Last Thursday, July 23rd, we went out to the Day Break community and spent the afternoon playing in the sand. It was really nice because the kids love to play in sand, but I hate the mess. Here you have the best of both worlds. They can play all they want and then go wash of in the little lake. It's not the clearest water, but that is because it is so shallow quite a ways out. There was a dock the kids could jump off and be fine, that's how shallow. I liked it that way because I could relax a little. We brought our lunch and some shade and that's it. A nice FREE afternoon! Then the kids went to bed early because they were so worn out!

My kids know how to finish this saying. Yesterday I was having a pretty awful morning. I was NOT very happy. Grace realized this right off the bat. She got a little bee in her bonnet to fix me. I went to the bathroom and returned to a nicely made bed (as good as any 7 year-old could do), and I found this note lying nicely on a pillow: If you can't read it, it says: to Mom from Grace I hope you liked that I made your bed. I'm so glad somebody knows me! That made me feel better.

I realized I did not tell about this exciting event for me. Some of you may be wondering what a GRIN Pin is. Well, it is an acknowledgement that I have read my scriptures for 100 days. You don't have to read 100 days straight, just 100 days. So, why the excitement? I have been working on getting my first pin for 3 years! That's right 3 years. Pathetic, I know. To redeem myself from all patheticasy (is that a word?), it took three years due to my lack of keeping track. They make it easy enough. You get a little card numbered 1-100 and all you have to do is mark it off. I would, however forget to do this. (I guess that doesn't really redeem me, what idiot cannot make a mark through a number) Anyway, I didn't want to "guesstimate" how many days I had forgotten to cross off, so I just went by the days I remembered. But , I did it! Here's to many more lining my scripture bag! Hopefully, not every three years!

We have a few types of allergies in our family. I have terrible hay fever, along with Ryan and Aaron. Kate has her own definition . But Aaron woke up like this the other morning! The mosquitos think he is scrumptious! I always feel bad for him though. Those bites swell to 5 times normal size.

On Saturday, July 11th we took the kids to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. To prepare them we had a family home evening lesson to remind them how sacred and special the Temple is. We talked about being reverent and respectful and about the work we do there. We told them that we make promises to live a better life and we also do work for those who have died before their work was done. I was really excited to take them. I wanted it to be a neat experience for them. We dressed in our Sunday best. The girls were mad I curled their hair. The boys were a little upset that they had to wear a tie. I wanted it to be a BIG deal for them. I wanted them to understand this was a special event, a privilege, to go into the House of the Lord. They looked smashing!! Everyone complimented the girls on their dresses. When we got there they first have you watch a movie that explains about the Temple. I was worried the kids would be bored, but all of them paid attention. It was only 12 minutes! Wh...

For the holiday weekend we went to a family reunion for the Riding side of Dustin's family. It was located up Fairview Canyon at his Uncle Jon's land. It was beautiful! We right smack dab in the mountains! Since the selling of our motor home, we had to tent it! I thought it wasn't too bad. I was able to sleep on a cot. It was a little chilly, but once I fell asleep, I slept like a baby! I heard some coyotes howling as I was drifting off and thought, "Who brought their dogs?" That's what happens when you are in the middle of nature! They were really close! We were free of bears though! We got up there and pulled out the 4wheelers right away! The kids had a blast on them! It was one of the highlights of the trips. In the city they don't get to ride them much, so it was nice to see them getting used. Aaron, Ryan, and Jeremiah Grace Kate After 4wheelers we attempted to go to the lake with Cory and Adam. They brought their fishing poles, but we did not. Our b...

Officer Merritt!! Dustin's life long dream of being a cop is finally happening. We are all very excited for him. We know it will be an adjustment for all, but that's okay. We're happy to do whatever needed to make this work. He will be working for the Sandy Police Dept., the 34th safest city in the nation! I like that. I guess in the last 110 years there has only been 3 officer involved shootings. Sandy is a more upscale neighborhood , so not as much violence. He was getting ready to turn in an application for West Valley which is the exact opposite! The way this all came about was a huge blessing. It started about a couple weeks ago. For work he was entered into a golf tournament - tough job, I know. It was a celebrity golf tournament, so the Whose Who of UT were there. He could have been put with anyone, but he got paired up with Byron Jorgenson , the City Administrator for Sandy, he just happens to be over the police dept. Dustin was already going through the process...