Merritt Memories

The holiday season is here! I have to admit that I love this time of year, but truly it is exhausting! We celebrated Thanksgiving here at home this year. It was the "in-law year" for Dustin's family and normally we make it to Las Vegas, but this year circumstances were different. I'm hoping to at least make it in a few months! It was a fun day. We had my little family, Dustin's mom and dad, and his brother, Spencer. His Grandma Nelson also joined us! I made some cute little turkey place settings, but forgot to get a picture, the table was so cute! We visited a few hours and then the day was done. I will say how lucky we were to have Dustin home for the holiday! It's a luxury, I'm finding out. Here's a picture of out cute center piece. I found everything on clearance at Wal-Mart and put it together. It only cost me around $12!I love good deals! I wish I had the turkeys, they were so cute! I woke up at 11:30 pm Thanksgiving night to make the best of ...

And I've officially LOST IT!! How the heck am i going to get through all of this!?!? Dustin switched to nights today. Maybe that's the matter. That's all I can say. Thanks for letting me vent. PS I did find these, they helped! Goota love Hilary Weeks. She is such a funny lady!

I realize I have been slacking on my daily thanks. Trust me, I have been thankful in my heart each day. I just haven't had the opportunity to stop, gather thoughts, and then write. It's a very time consuming process. My thanks today is expressed toward my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know my words could never do Him justice, but I would like to try. His example was was flawless! We are commanded to be like Him. At times that seems overwhelming and impossible to me. I am more "flesh" than I would like to admit. I lack compassion, love, and kindness at times. Obedience is hard to do without whining. How am I ever going to be "like Him" ? I know that if I try to become like Him on my own, I will never make it. I don't have to do anything alone. He suffered and gave His life, so I wouldn't be alone. He suffered ALL things: our fears, our infirmities, weaknesses, sadness, heart breaks, so He would know how to help us. I am so grateful for this. When we feel li...

I have recently come to understand why "thankful for my health" has made it to the top of the list. In our stake about 8 or 9 months ago, maybe even a year, a 41 year-old woman was diagnosed with liver cancer. The prognosis was not good and she passed away last month. She left behind her husband and 5 daughters ranging in age 17- 2. Dustin was on the high council with her husband and then worked with him in Stake Young Mens. I knew her, not extremely well, but I would consider her a friend. Our daughters played together, so we would see each other outside of church. I can't even begin to explain how my heart sank when Dustin came home and told me the bad news. I thought, "How unfair. Her baby is one. She will never have a memory of her mom. Her girls are so young!" It is then that I became extremely grateful for my own health. How lucky I am to have a body that works properly, for the moment. I learned not to take a day for granted. I don't know when my last...

Friends are so important in this life. I had the opportunity of spending the weekend with some good friends. Me, my mother-in-law (Lori), Wendy (sister-in-law), Tristan, and Camille all had a great time at Time out for Women. It was nice not to have to attend the function all by myself. I have done that before! I am so grateful for all the friends I have made throughout my life. I remember them so well. I think some people are a little surprised that I remember them. It has been fun to reconnect with friends on Facebook. What a great thing! I think Our Heavenly Father puts certain people in our lives at certain times to help us with what we will need. I love my friends Kellie and Kristin! They were my friends in Jr. high and high school. It was comforting to have friends who believe the same as I did. They always understood how hard being a teenager can be. While I don't keep in contact with them as much as I would love to, I know they would still do anything for me and I would do ...

I would not be where I am today if it were not for my belief in and belonging to tThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For this I am grateful. I am grateful to know what I know, that I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, my life here has a purpose, and I can have all that He has one day. I lumped all the blessings of the gospel into one post. I only have fifteen days! This means today I am thankful for: 1. prayer- how lucky am I to talk to Him everyday and I know he hears me! 2. scriptures- I know these contain all that we are to do if we want to live with Him again someday! 3. temples- I am so over joyed to know if we live right here, I can be with my husband and children FOREVER, not just "til death do you part" I enjoy going monthly to remind myself why I'm here and what I should be doing. 4. a prophet- in days of old the Lord had worthy men who were his "mouthpiece" it's comforting to know that has not changed, He has not changed. The ...

I was watching KBYU this afternoon. Marvin J Ashton was giving a devotional, reminding us to be a thankful people. I got lost in what he was saying. I started realizing that at times I am not as grateful as I ought to be. I have been blessed with many things, all given to me by the hand of the Lord. His talk motivated me to think of one thing I am truly grateful for each day. So, I thought I would share with you guys and keep track all at the same time. From now until Thanksgiving it is my goal to record one thing each day. What I am thankful for today: I am thankful for family. I know it sounds a little cliche, everybody is always thankful for their family. But I feel it is so appropriate for family to be #1 in our lives. The family plays a HUGE role in our becoming who we need to be. I am thankful for parents who taught me correct principles. They led by example. My parents supported me in all I ever attempted and in the end were my biggest advocates growing up (we don't ever rea...