I always anticipate the coming of the new year. I love the feeling of starting over, having a clean slate, renewed energy and strength. I also love the new year because I want to purge, put things in order and simplify.
Each year since I was about 12, I've made a list of New Years Resolutions. Many years have come and gone with minimal success. I always "shot for the moon" and missed every time. These are some quotes that describe my yearly attempts until THIS year.
Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown
So this year, I've done some soul searching. I've reviewed lists of years past and prayed over what to do this the bounty of this new year.
So with much thought I give you Resolutions 2011
1. Piano lessons for year
2. Increase math knowledge
3. Photography-full manual mode with great lighting knowledge base
4. successfully bake a 2 tier cake and successfully use rolled fondant
5. Christmas Advent-stop talking about it, put notes in order and finish the Merrell Family Advent Book
6. Send out family birthday cards to all with an Abraham Lincoln quote.
7. Cook and bake with confidence
8. Attend the temple quarterly
9. 100% visiting teaching
10. Play more games with the kids
11. Read the Book of Mormon
12. Read the Book of Mormon as a family
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
“Each of us has come to this earth with all the tools necessary to make correct choices.”
—President Thomas S. Monson
As the new year approaches, I'm taking stock of the "tools" I've got and one's that need to be sharpened. I love the new year for several reasons and resolutions is just one.
Making correct choices seems to be a given, but in these "the last days" it isn't as such. Standing up for what's right seems to come across as making the wrong decision or offensive in some case or another. If doing the right thing makes some people cringe and reject you, is it a reason to turn away from that which is right?
My answer is no. I'm not here to impress others. Just use the tools I've been given to make the correct choices to do what is right. No questions asked and NO turning back!
I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love knowing that Jesus IS the Christ. I love knowing that my family can be eternal, of course that depends on how we treat each other here. I love knowing that there is a God! He's all knowing but gave me agency to choose for myself. I love that I'm not here (on earth) alone. The Lord is here to guide and protect me. The Savior, Jesus Christ came before, set the example and died for us all.
As the new year approaches, I'm taking stock of the "tools" I've got and one's that need to be sharpened. I love the new year for several reasons and resolutions is just one.
Making correct choices seems to be a given, but in these "the last days" it isn't as such. Standing up for what's right seems to come across as making the wrong decision or offensive in some case or another. If doing the right thing makes some people cringe and reject you, is it a reason to turn away from that which is right?
My answer is no. I'm not here to impress others. Just use the tools I've been given to make the correct choices to do what is right. No questions asked and NO turning back!
I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love knowing that Jesus IS the Christ. I love knowing that my family can be eternal, of course that depends on how we treat each other here. I love knowing that there is a God! He's all knowing but gave me agency to choose for myself. I love that I'm not here (on earth) alone. The Lord is here to guide and protect me. The Savior, Jesus Christ came before, set the example and died for us all.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Card
The story behind the card.
I had planned on having family pictures taken in October. Then we spent half the month moving. I painted an accent wall in the dining room and bathroom, hung new lighting in three rooms and micro organized the kids stuff. During November I was in the middle of the Reflections Art Program at the junior high. Then we made two trips to Idaho...two weekends in a row. (totally worth it).
December began and the husband was no where to be found! C-sections, hysterectomy's, deliveries and my all time favorite......call shifts. Then one by one each of the kids banged up their faces. Not all at once BUT one after the other, after the other. I kept thinking "after this one heals". So finally in between photo shoots for others I grabbed the kids and snapped a few shots.
Minus the husband-he's been camping out at the hospital
Minus the mom- haven't had my hair colored since July (yikes!)
Train screamed the whole time.
Pumpkin kept pulling her arms inside her jacket and kept looking off to the side.
Train kept running away.
Paris was plain M.A.D that we were doing this.
What has been hidden:
Screaming Train
Ginormous bruise in shades of purple, blue and green on Pumpkins forehead
Some kind of weird rash above Paris' lip
Sheesh! If you didn't get your's in the mail. Email me and I'll get one to ya before the new year!
Despite all that has transpired at our place, we truly are grateful for this season to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our lives have been blessed, they are fruitful. We are happy.
Nothing could be better than having the gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing that Jesus IS the Christ.
May your Christmas be merry and bright. One full of family, friends and the true spirit of Christmas.
Love- The Merrells
Christmas Letter 2010
Family First(s)
This year was a year of many firsts for us.
The Husband is finishing his first year of private practice.
Paris is enjoying her first year of Junior High.
Pumpkin is loving the first grade!
We’re surviving our first year in Utah, along with our first winter.
We’ve moved from our first Utah home.
Train’s first obsession is Thomas the Tank Engine.
We made our first major purchase as a couple. We bought a washer, dryer and couch. (The couch is a sad story)
Julie’s first calling in our ward was not Emergency Preparedness but after our first year here, it is.
We hope that you are all well, happy and in good health. May the Lord bless you and yours!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Afternoon errands
Train's the anti-napper.
He's fighting it.
I'm fighting him.
It' s a NO win for everyone.
I have to get things done. Grocery shopping, Christmas shopping for the doc's staff, tying up loose ends. I either do it with a cranky toddler OR a sleeping one. The other problem is this way he falls asleep late in the afternoon for maybe an hour and then doesn't go to bed until well past 11pm.
How do you solve the problem of "I don't want to take a nap BUT I still need one?"
How do you get things done at home if they refuse to sleep as long as you're in the house?
How do keep your sanity? Mine's about gone. Any suggestions?
I'll take a sleeping one any day! We'll just put up the disco ball and have a fun night. (sometimes, as long as we get to sleep in the next day)
This too shall pass, right?
Christmas in German-Pumpkins Version
This is an e-mail I received today from Pumpkins teacher.
So, we talked about Christmas in Germany yesterday and I just had to
tell you what Pumpkin told me.
I was laughing soooo hard.
She told me how you guys celebrated the first day of the German celebration and
how the kids put out their shoes.
She told me what gifts they got.
Then she told me that her sister wanted twigs instead of presents in
her shoe so she could hit Pumpkin with them.
Then she said very matter of factly..."Yeah, we both totally hate each other."
I was laughing so hard.
It was funny and sad at the same time.
I'm sure those two will learn to love each other when they are older.
Ms. J
ME: The truth of the matter is, Pumpkin adores (with a capital A) Paris. Paris is annoyed and jealous of Pumpkin. For example Paris' grandmother send Pumpkin a gift that we pick up from our mailbox. Then later that night when Paris came home from an activity, another package on the front porch. Paris' reaction.............seething jealousy.
WHY would HER grandmother send something for a half-sister? WHY would said grandmother NOT send HER anything?
The answer: She's going to visit bio-dad and grandma next week and will be staying for two weeks. I'll post pictures of the loot upon her return.
So, we talked about Christmas in Germany yesterday and I just had to
tell you what Pumpkin told me.
I was laughing soooo hard.
She told me how you guys celebrated the first day of the German celebration and
how the kids put out their shoes.
She told me what gifts they got.
Then she told me that her sister wanted twigs instead of presents in
her shoe so she could hit Pumpkin with them.
Then she said very matter of factly..."Yeah, we both totally hate each other."
I was laughing so hard.
It was funny and sad at the same time.
I'm sure those two will learn to love each other when they are older.
Ms. J
ME: The truth of the matter is, Pumpkin adores (with a capital A) Paris. Paris is annoyed and jealous of Pumpkin. For example Paris' grandmother send Pumpkin a gift that we pick up from our mailbox. Then later that night when Paris came home from an activity, another package on the front porch. Paris' reaction.............seething jealousy.
WHY would HER grandmother send something for a half-sister? WHY would said grandmother NOT send HER anything?
The answer: She's going to visit bio-dad and grandma next week and will be staying for two weeks. I'll post pictures of the loot upon her return.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A&B Engagement shoot
Today was SOOOOO fun! I love photography! Today I meet with these great people and took their engagment photos. Too bad I've been SOOOO lazy that I haven't even done MY family photo's OR Christmas cards yet! Yikes!!
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