Merritt Memories

My goal this year was to Live. I'm really trying. In really trying, I have realized that there are a lot of things in my life I have run away from because they were hard. A small example in my life right now: new ward, new calling, new job( and new side job), and still trying to figure out this baby. There was a point that I was running away from every one of these responsibilities. It was hard to move away from a ward where I knew everybody. I'm in the Primary now and feel like I know only a select few. That can make it hard to feel connected to a ward. Throw in  that I know no one in my neighborhood and won't be getting to know them anytime soon because I now work during the day. And the rest of the day I will spend taking care of my six kids! Not a whole lot of time to socialize! I was feeling so overwhelmed I shut down completely and had a little panic attack! I just couldn't see how I was going to do all of these things! Nobody likes to feel stretched beyond cap...

I can't believe Britten is one! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were looking at him, in awe that we now had 6 children. His first year has brought a lot of change to our house. We no longer get to sleep uninterrupted. He loses his binki 3 times at night, at least! Everybody knows when it happens because the kid has a great pair of lungs. We recently installed a gate at the top of our stairs. His favorite thing to do right now is scare us! He knows if he heads toward the stairs a bunch of people will get up and start running. He thinks it's a fun game. Little stinker! He also likes to throw anything down them. I'm sad that I have holes drilled into my banister and marks all along the walls, but I'd be even sadder if he took a tumble! The first thing people comment on when they see him is his big eyes! The next would be his cute smile and dimples. He's a little charmer and knows exactly what to do when someone notices him.  He grin...

I should have taken pictures, but I didn't. My kids had cousins over and they were all playing dress up. It's been a while since any of my kids have taken out their dress up bag. Yes. I still have one. Every house needs dress up clothes. I love dress up clothes! When else can a girl feel like a true princess? A fairy? Or in our case today, Cece from Shake it Up, or Harry Potter?  I guess you can always imagine it, but having a costume sure makes you feel the part.   I love that they chose to put down everything technological and  became someone different. I'm beginning to wish we had no TV again, iPods were non-existent, and game consoles would disappear. When your kids are using their brains, you get to see who they really are. Their personalities are so vibrant! Kate has told me that she might wear her Harry Potter robe to school, like she used to. I sure hope so! I loved driving by and being able to pick her out of the children playing on the play ground. It made ...

This post has been in the making for a while...in my head of course. I was hoping to somehow avoid it, but I don't think it's possible anymore. About a month ago, Aaron came home from school wanting to have a conversation with me that I know I never had with my parents. I don't think it's bad that I never had it. I think it wasn't necessary. I think it's necessary now. I'll tell you why, but first, the conversation... Aaron: Mom, a kid told me today that being gay is a race. Me: No. Being gay is not a race. It's not something you check when asked what your ethnicity is. Aaron: That's what I tried to tell him. Then another kid was trying to tell him the same thing. He was trying to tell us that because they don't choose to be gay, it makes it a race. I was trying to tell him you can choose to be gay. Me: Well.... I personally feel they they don't "choose" to be gay. I think all of us are born with tendencies. I think they ...

Ryan turned 16 earlier this month. I asked him if he felt different and he shrugged his shoulders. I guess not. I was so excited to be 16! I wanted to know why he seemed unimpressed. Here was his list: now he has to get a job if he wants to drive (we make our kids pay for their insurance, poor babies), he will now pay taxes, and when he goes on a date, he gets to spend money on other peoples' wives... WOW!! He sucked the fun out of that! Thanks adults that have been telling my child all of this! Mainly my husband. And a few leaders. I have decided to try to get this kid excited. I'm not sure yet, but I will. For his birthday, we took him to dinner and gave him his money- that's what they want now a days. Dustin and I filled him in on dating and what we do expect out of him. We want him to treat young ladies with respect and take care of them. We gave him our best advice: open her car door, don't pick you nose, use your best manners, be engaged in conversation, ...

I ' ve had a lot on my mind lately. I've been wanting to write it all down, but my current life has made that almost impossible. Our ward split a few months ago and I was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary. I love the Primary, but building one from scratch is quite the feat! I'm just glad not to be the President! I have been so busy that I have realized how much I miss being with my family- not having a calling for 6 weeks was like a vacation!! I've been gone more than usual and when I'm home, I'm not really "home" because I have things I've got to get done. It has been exhausting! Yesterday, Ryan turned 16. We took him to dinner the night before to celebrate. At dinner, I asked him if he had a 5 year plan. He surprised me with one- as vague as it was. But hey, it was a plan! He planned to graduate in 3 years and serve a mission at 18. When he got home, he wanted to get a job to pay for college. Pretty good plan. I was glad there wa...