Merritt Memories

Every stay-at-home mom has those days (maybe longer) when you just don't feel as though you matter, make a difference, or even count sometimes (if you never do, please don't tell me). The monotony sometimes swallows me up and I assume I'm trapped, stuck, forever in it. Last week I received a phone call from a former employer. When I was 19, I worked for a daycare. I was the preschool teacher and I loved it! The kids were always so happy to be there, most of the time. The daycare was located in a lower-income area. Some of the kids' needs were not met as well as they should have been. I remember sitting and brushing their hair getting them ready for the day. On a number of occasions I would end up driving some home for the mom. I cared about these kids! Anyway, back to my story... She called me wondering If I would consider coming back for half a day, 8-12. I was flattered by the offer but quickly came up with reasons why I couldn't. She said she understood, b...

The busyness of last week is still fresh in my mind and I don't want to forget any of it. On the 4th we were called into our Stake President's office. Dustin was extended a new calling. We were both shocked! We were very comfortable with him as our ward's Young Men's Secratary. The perfect calling to fit his sometimes crazy schedule and it allowed him to be home. By Tuesday everything had sunk in. Our week was going better. Wednesday came and then Thursday. We went to dinner and did temple sealings with our good friends the Kimballs. They are always fun and we love catching up. Friday, I was excited! My family was coming into town for the mission farewell of my niece and nephew. My mom and sister, Robyn, stayed with me Friday night. We attended our annual ward Christmas party. Robyn really enjoyed a guitar solo of Jingle Bells. After it was over, she leaned in and said, "Larae, did you hear what he put in at the end?" I told her I didn't catch it. She said...

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love to wear sweaters, boots, and jackets. But, I also love Thanksgiving. I've always wanted a neat tradition for this holiday, but have always struckout. Most retailers skip this holiday, so not much out there for it. A couple months ago my sister-in-law, Wendy, called me and asked if I wanted to make a "Blessings Jar." I had never heard of this. She expalined it to me. This is a Blessings Jar: During the whole month of November you place this jar anywhere you want. At a specific time, or whenever, each day you write something you are thankful for. You do this until Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, you open it up and read the blessings. Simple. I was excited to try this. With Wendy's help, I made my jar. I chose to place it at our kitchen table. And every night at dinner, we each took a turn to write something we are grateful for. My kids looked forward to it and did it without being reminded. On Thanksgiving we popped it o...

On November 16th I celebrated 15 years of marriage. I am so grateful for my marriage to Dustin. It has been a happy marriage. We have had our trials for sure and I'm sure I wasn't happy going through them, but I am thankful for them and who they have helped me to become. I have learned a great deal being married to Dustin. I have said before how different we are. But his strengths are clearly my weaknesses. My strengths fill in the gaps where he is lacking. I feel this is what marriage is truly about. You work together to make eachother better and happy. It takes lots of work, dilligence, and a willing to sacrafice. The rewards in the end are worth it. If you do it right, you are better for loving eachother. I am so thankful for the children that have blessed our home. They each carry a little piece of Dustin and I. It is fun to watch those traits appear (most of the time). Because of them Dustin and I work harder to make things work. We talk about the things we will do after t...

This month I turned 35. I'll be honest, I was scared. I could no longer round down to thirty. I now had to round up. That made me closer to forty. YIKES!! When Dustin and I were new in our ward, I was 23 and he was 25. We were the young bucks. I remember going to dinner with some friends and they were talking about turning 35. I was thinking in my head, " Oh my gosh. That's so old!" I couldn't even imagine 35. I was trying to think of the things I might be doing, but I couldn't! It seemed so very far away. Well, here it is. I'm totally there. And I'm okay. My body, at times, feels its age, but mostly I feel as if I"m still in my 20s. And when people ask me my age and the age of my children, I tell them. They always respond with absolute shock and a, " You don't even look that old!" Inside my head I give a little chuckle and mutter, "Just you wait. You'll be here sooner than you think!" It comes so fast!!! I just hop...

This month seemed to scream by. I hate it when that happens because I feel like I never really enjoyed that time. Don't get me wrong, I try to find happiness in each moment, but it seems life quickly, and abruptly, carries me to the next moment, never getting a chance to exhale and relish in what just happened. Is it just me? Well, anyway here are some of the things we did in October: October 8th, I ran in my first ever race. A few friends and I had been running and getting ourselves ready for the 6K (3.72 mi) run. It was fun "training" -totally can't say I trained because it almost sounds like I'm professional or something, which I'm not - and I really enjoyed being with friends. me before we're a little excited, can you tell? Every fall the ladies in Dustin's family get together and celebrate fall birthdays. It's kind of nice because we are all in October, November, and May. So, in spring we celebrate May birthdays. We had lunch at Gardner ...

When my kids are off track, things are interesting. And hard. I don't want anyone to think that I don't enjoy having my children around because I do. They make life, like I said, interesting. In one day I will have nagged, plead, screamed, cried... and ironically laughed. Did I say in one day? Oh. Well, I meant one hour. Then it repeats over and over during the day. Trying to keep kids entertained is hard work. It gets trickier the older I get, the older my kids get. I can't even begin to count how many times I hear, "Mom, I'm bored. What can I do?" I think to myself, "How can you be bored? You're a kid. I don't remember being bored as a kid." But what I really say is, "Well, what would you like to do?" They follow it up with the old famous, "I don't know." Can I just tell you how much I hate that phrase? It accompanies EVERYTHING! "Who made this mess?" "I don't know." "Why did you ...

All my boys were able to attend the General Priesthood Session of Conference this year. I can't believe how old my boys are getting! This is the conversation as I was trying to take a picture: Me: "Boys, stand here and wait for Dad." Ryan:" Mom! Do we really have to take a picture?" Aaron: "Just wait and see. Dad won't let her take one." Dustin walks outside. Boys: "Dad, Mom wants us to take a picture." (most whiniest voice possible) Dustin: "Boys turn around and humor your mother." And I got my picture!

Grace turned ten! I promised her 2 years ago when she turned 10, she could finally have a slumber party. She never forgot that promise. She was so excited! That excitement faded, however, as one by one each mother called to let me know their family doesn't do sleepovers. After a little talking too, she was happy again. We made the most of her late night birthday party, and 2 girls were allowed to stay the night. That made her happy! sleeping bag race making a wish Grace is turning into such a beautiful young lady. She is such a big help around the house and with her sisters. I am amazed at her ability to be obedient. She is ten and never misses a night reading her scriptures and having her personal prayers. I can ask her to do something and she does it. She reminds me so much of her dad. She is very dependable and responsible. I am so grateful for her! Happy Birthday, Grace!

The month of September always sneaks up on me. I'm sure it's because of the summer rush. I'm always happy to see it, September that is, though it brings with it more busyness in the Merritt household. In this month we celebrate 3 birthdays. Not 1, not 2, but 3 !!! If I was a mom who threw my kids a friend birthday party every year, holy cow! No time, no money. Good thing I'm not that mom. It's not because I don't want to. If I had the means, and let's be honest, the ENERGY , I totally would. After recovering from school shopping, the idea of throwing a huge birthday party with screaming, wound-up kids doesn't thrill me. So, I do it every other year. And I like that. This year was an off year for Becca. She was so sad not being able to have a friend party, so we did this to cheer her up: Her own personal photo shoot. Who doesn't like feeling like a super model? And it was fun! She chose to bring cookies for her class to celebrate. Sugar cookies in the...

My kids are in year-round school. This has its advantages, but definitely comes with some disadvantages. One {dis}advantage is the short summers. We have three weeks before the next school year starts. I try to cram a lot into those weeks, hoping it's a successful summer. My plan usually includes two outings a week and then lots of park days. Our park days were few because of the crazy weather pattern this year. Our Summer actually felt like Spring. It would've been really nice if it had not been for the amount of rain we got. I'm not complaining, I know others were lacking in water, but when you're trying to fill the {long} days of Summer, it can be a little frustrating. We were able to do some fun stuff though. Our outings included: bowling, the movies, the library, and swimming. We went swimming every Friday and we would do one of the other activities on another day of the week. I always forgot my camera, so I have no pictures. We did however have two really fun trip...

I wanted to blog this on the Friday, but I ran out of hours in my day. I didn't want to forget what happened and how I felt though, so just pretend with me! :) Today has been a trying day for me. Dustin has been gone all week for SWAT training, so I have been really stressed. I have not felt good all week. Ryan has been the number one priority on my mind. He has been acting like a teenager lately. No surprise because he is one, but surprising to me because he has always been a good kid. He is a good kid, just annoyed by his family, I guess. Doesn't want to be with us much. It kind of hurts my feelings. I think we're a pretty cool family. He told his friend, Nathan, today that we embarrass him. Not sure how. I guess it is something I will have to get used to. I'm sick and tired of feeling yucky. I have had neck and back pain for way too long. I finally have an appointment to get checked out. Hopefully it is not too serious. It seems it gets really bad when I sta...

I have said before that I love quotes. I love them so much at one point my collection started taking over my half of the bedroom (yes, our room is equally divided). I think I love them so much because I am not an eloquent speaker. My thoughts get all jumbled in my head and they never come out of my mouth right. So, when I hear something so well spoken, I save it! One of my favorite quotes sits over our heads at the dinner table. "Be true to who you are and the family name you bear." ~ Gordon B Hinckley ~ It sits there so we see it everyday. We will continue to see it until we move. My thought in doing this was by reading it everyday, which we do, we might think twice before we choose to do something that goes against our family standards. When I first put it up there, it was the first thing out of my kids' mouths every morning and they would say it out loud at dinner time. I never told them they had to read it, they just did. Now, I just see them mouth the word...