Merritt Memories

I found some random pictures that I took. They are just snapshots of my family throughout the year. 

We had a quiet Christmas at our home. It was just us. We went to church and then we waited to hear from Ryan. They can call home on Christmas day. He finally Face Timed us at noon. We were able to talk to him for over and hour! It was great! The best present of all! We did open presents, of course. That was the second best thing!!

For my birthday, I bought myself a ticket to Time Out for Women. If you don't know what that is, it is a 2 day gathering of mostly Mormon women who listen to presentations to feel uplifted and inspired. It was just what my soul needed. I went with friends from my old Prairie 4th ward. It was so nice to be in their company. When you spend a lot of time with people, and you move, you miss them!! I didn't get any photos. But, I left with a better appreciation of my children and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am blessed!! Oh, I also got this really cool missionary tag that I gave to Britten. He's been sporting it around say, "I'm big! I can go on mission like Ryan!" Totally worth it!!

Today, Dustin and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. WOW! 20 years! Would you like to know what that looked like for us? Well, we started the morning off with an argument that left us not wanting to speak to one another when we left for work. And I might have left a sassy text for him on his phone. I checked my phone regularly at work to see if there happened to be a make up text, but nope. I came home, threw in some laundry, and was able to email my son who is in the MTC right now. I haven't been feeling well because the crazy weather can't make up it's mind if it's early summer , or late fall. For some reason, my body reacts to what the seasons do. It's quite annoying. So, I took a little nap. I got a phone call around 4:30. It was Dustin wanting to talk to one of our kids, someone other than me. It surprised me a little because I did happen to see his sweet tribute to me on Facebook. He hung up abruptly and that was the end of that. I hurried ...

I turned 40 today. The big 4-0!! I have had a little anxiety, but as the day went on I realized it was just an ordinary day in my extraordinary life. I might be a year older-and my body hurts more-but I'm still me!! I'm learning and growing every day and it's great to be alive! Life has gone by incredibly fast! I have a child who has officially left the nest...we dropped him off at the MTC on November 2nd. Ryan will do great things! Aaron is a junior in high school and doing his best to get straight As. That has been his goal. He works 4 days a week and it's weird that he's gone so much. Grace is 15. on November 1st, she officially became a woman... she was ecstatic! I'm sure that will change in the next few months. Kate will soon be 13 and it has been fun to watch her mature and change. She still loves her basketball shorts, but the other night she came home with curled hair, red lipstick, and mascara. Becca has always been beyond her years. She is star...

Nobody went to school today! It was time to take Ryan to the mission home! He had to check-in at 12:45. We stopped at Grandpa Russ and Grandma Lori's, so they could say goodbye. Ryan wanted pizza for his "last lunch". We got his favorite: Dominoes. We also took one last family snapshot for the next two years! We made the hour drive to Provo. We parked the car to walk him to the from of the MTC, but they don't allow that. They told us we had to get back in our car and drive him in. We drove up to the curb, jumped out, hugged, and they whisked him away! The missionaries were trying to give us words of encouragement and promising he'll be ok. I didn't cry because I knew he'd be ok. He was fine and happy Nd not crying himself. "Two years," I thought. I'm excited to see what's in store.

Another year of costume choices!! Britten has known what he's wanted to be for a long time. He is on a Toy Story kick right now He watches the movies over, and over again. He was Woody. He loves Woody! Becca and Kate went with a Star Wars theme. Kate has loves Darth Vader! She put her own costume together. Becca is a padawan(sp). They sure loved making and designing their own costumes. Less work for me too! 

Ryan's mission farewell was Sunday, October 23, 2016. A farewell is when the called missionary gives a talk to the congregation before he leaves. Family and friends come to hear him speak. Ryan talked about the scripture, D&C 135:3: "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world..."  I thought that was a huge topic for an 18 year-old boy! I was a little nervous, but Ryan did an awesome job! I knew he was ready for his mission after hearing him speak. We had many family and friends come to hear him speak and to say goodbye. It was heart warming to see so many people we love in the same building! I admit I got teary eyed! I was glad Ryan knew he was loved before he set off into the world. He knows there are people who are cheering him on!!