Scripture Study in the Merritt Home

In our house we always try to do what is right and what is important. Reading our scriptures is something we try to do. We are not the best at sticking to it. I don't know what it is, why it's so hard.

We have tried illustrated versions, those worked well, but we finished them. Mom, I'll get those back to you one day! :) We have tried reading straight out of the scriptures. I think this is ideal. They become acquainted with the "lingo." And behold... And it came to pass.. thou, thee, ye, yay. You know what I"m talking about. Becca and Kate really struggle this way though.

I was trying to think of how to put some life back into our scripture study, a little excitement. After much thought and a little searching I found this:




I love this book! We use it for FHE too. We study 1 verse (they are all scripture mastery) for a week. You read it, memorize it, and discuss it. We print out activities from the cd-rom it comes with. I have been amazed of the outcome. My kids have memorized 3 verses so far,working on our 4th! Even Kate and Bec are memorizing them. Can I just say these are not short scriptures either!

I know reading our scriptures is important, and one day I hope for us all to sit with our scriptures in our lap and study right from them, but for now we'll be doing it this way. I'll make little scripture scholars out of them yet!

On Getting Older

Do you ever have those moments when reality hits you and you realize you have been living in denial. This month it has happened twice!

It is our civic duty to fill out the Census 2010. Well, I was filling mine out like the good American I am. I was doing fine until it came to that certain question. Your age____. I was ready to write 31. For some reason that didn't seem right. I counted the years and when I figured out that I was actually 33, I about lost it. 33?!! I then reminded myself that I was almost 34. I wanted to puke. Really. The last time that happened I was turning 25. Now-a-days I think I'm still 25.

Today was another one of those moments. Ryan gave his first talk in Sacrament meeting. He did a great job. He wrote the majority of it himself, we just made a few suggestions. HE talked of honesty, one of my favorite subjects to go over with my children. We need constant reminders in our home.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind getting older. I just wish my brain would catch on. Then i won't be in such shock when things pop up and remind me of my true age.

The Wii

I'm sure you might remember that I mentioned in my Jerry Seinfeld post that our kids were saving up for a Wii. Dustin and i agreed that they would each earn $20. After re-evaluating this idea, we decided the little ones wouldn't have to pay as much since the older ones would be doing all the playing. Kate and Becca were required to kick in $10 each.

I'm happy to report that they did it!! I'm happy they took this challenge and saved. Grace even had ten dollars left over! The boys will have $5 left when they earn back the money they had to pay me for cleaning up their disgusting room, it has stayed clean ever since!!

I"m proud of the fact that they did this without a lot of complaining. They seemed to understand that it was fair to help pay for it. When Dustin, Ryan, and Grace brought it home, the two of them even mentioned that it was "all of ours." In reality it was. Dustin and I couldn't say it was ours because we had an extra ten little hands working hard to earn it!! It was a proud mommy moment.

PS They played it for 2 hrs straight! Holy cow! And I think Kate and Becca played the most!! oops

The Law of St Patrick's Day

This morning all my kids woke up early to put on the color green. They, like most of us today, were excited for St. Patrick's Day. They also didn't want to chance getting pinched by anyone.

Does anyone know why we celebrate this holiday? According to Veggie Tales we celebrate it because a homeless orphan discovered the value of Christianity in his life and then spent the rest of his life sharing his religion with others, especially those of Ireland. The three leaf clover became a symbol because he taught the Pagans it represented God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Where did all the other stuff come from? Rainbows, leprechauns, pots of gold? And what is the fourth leaf on the clover represent? I don't know. (this paragraph has no point, just a history lesson)

I thought it was funny that Kate came to me after she was dressed and asked in a sad voice, "Mom, I won't go to jail because I'm breaking the law?"

"What law?" I wondered.

"I'm not wearing green today." I noticed that she was not wearing green. I really wasn't surprised. This is my girl who finds joy in being different and every now and then breaking the "law" - which is code for rules. She always makes you aware of the fact that she is doing it too.

"No, Kate. You will not go to jail today because you are not wearing green. Mom might not wear green today either." I planned on it, but now I won't. Us law breakers have to stick together.

PS This is a strange holiday!

Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be

Have you ever wondered if you were doing the right thing? I know I have. I have always wanted to be a mom, but sometimes it is so challenging I question myself. I can honestly say it is the HARDEST thing I have ever done. Some of you might think I'm crazy! I know there are those women who just think it is WONDERFUL. They are always able to focus on the positive and see the rainbow through the clouds. I'm not (always) one of those people. I try to be.

So is it a bad thing that motherhood is so hard for me? I don't think so. I think it was meant to be that way. We learn through struggle. I believe I will become the person I was meant to be just by simply being a mother. I realize there are some who will never have that opportunity in this life, but for me it was needed.

Why all this talk? I follow a family that used to be in our stake. I met Greg playing volleyball with other people from our stake. His wife is amazing to me, and I have never met her, just Greg. They travel the world with their family serving. You can read about them here. I would love to do this. I would love to travel, spending my days serving and taking in all the beauties this Earth has to offer. I used to get frustrated about this. I guess you could say I was jealous.

One day it occurred to me that while I was not going around the world serving strangers, there were people in my home who need me more. My kids, my husband. If I want to spend my days serving someone, SERVE THEM!! I could learn and be all I wanted to be by focusing on them.

I hope one day I will have the chance to go somewhere and serve in some far, distant, remote land (I'm hoping for a humanitarian mission when we are older), but for now I'm grateful for the blessing of being a mother and wife. They need me and I need them if I'm going to be who He wants me to be!!

Big Day in 'Cop Land' and Other Changes

Dustin is officially off training and all on his own. He is happy for that part of the job to be over. To be honest, so am I!! It was nerve racking for him to always be under scrutiny. We celebrated by having an ice cream sundae party.

Now that he is on his own, he is able to bring this home:



We have seen some benefits of having a cop car sitting in our driveway. People are more cautious as they drive by. We live on a busy road, so it is nice not to have people screaming by at 35-40 mph, especially when the speed limit is 25! The kids have been able to get a ride and even work the sirens. If I was really on top of things, i would have a picture, but I'm not so sorry!!

A week before he was cut from training, they told us he would be on the day shift. I was so excited! He would work 6 am - 4 pm. No better shift than that! We later found out that someone had quit and he would have to take his spot on the graveyard shift. this has been really difficult. He leaves for work at 7:45 pm and walks through the door at 7:15 am. I have had a hard time sleeping with out him. I went to bed at 3 am the first night. Realizing that wasn't going to work, I have been trying to get to bed at 11:30. I know it will take time to adjust, but I really can't stand it. I have to keep kids quiet till about 1 in the afternoon. In our little house it's rather difficult. He gets to bid for a new shift in April, so hopefully we will get something better.

The nice thing about this shift is he is home a lot more. The kids are all off track right now, so they see him and are able to spend time with him. It's nice having him home in the day, I just miss him at night!

I'm just grateful that he has had this opportunity to fulfill a life long dream. I know it requires a lot of change on everybody's part, but we're up for the challenge. I think it will only make us closer and more selfless. We realize it is important to him.