Prayers

So...I start blogging about all the hard things I have had to deal with in the last couple of days and decide that those that read my blog probably would not want to hear all my whining. So I erased all that I had written. Instead I will blog about one of the wonderful things that happened this last week that gave me gratitude. Gratitude to know that God answers prayers.

Our Cockatiel "Sugar" has been a member of our family for a very long time.



He was originally Alan's Grandmother's bird. (I personally have known the bird for 21 years.) When she got so that she couldn't take care of him, he became ours. He would whistle and talk. His favorite sayings, " Hello Baby", "Whatcha doing baby?", "Are you my baby?" His song would be one that "Nanny" had whistled to him from the moment she got him. Over the years in my attempt to copy her whistling, it has changed to my song. When he would carry on, Alan and I felt like she was near and he was chatting with her.

Sugar has been aging. (These birds can live up to 40 years. Serious thought has to go into owning one because of the many years they live.) We were gone to Utah for a whole month and he was doing fine. On Sunday he took a huge turn for the worst. I think he ended up with a broken foot and this caused him not to be as mobile. He went down fast. I knew he wasn't doing well and expected him to die while I was away from home on Tuesday. Wednesday he was worse. He was suffering. So for our evening prayer, the children and I asked Father in Heaven to take him "home" so that he wouldn't suffer any more. With in twenty minutes he gave his last breath and died.

I knew that God was listening to the humble pleas of our family and because of His love for all things, our prayers were answered and our loved pet was released from the pain. He cared about the cockatiel suffering in the cage and if He could show such love to a bird, he cared about me. I know He does. I know He cares about all his children. I am grateful to know this.

Hands

I have ugly hands. I have always. They are scarred with short nails that can never really grow because I have the thinnest fingernails ever. They rip off very easily. So I keep them cut short. I have envied beautiful nails and hands for awhile now, but have never been willing to do anything about it. And here is my reasoning.

In high school, I had the opportunity to be in the school musical "Once Upon A Mattress". I played the role of Queen Aggrivaine (not sure if that is the correct spelling but I am going to leave it.) For the role I got DRAGONLADY fake fingernails put on for the duration of the play. For those who have never had nails put on, I think they are the longest possible nails you can "put on". They stuck out from the tip of my finger about three quarters of an inch. A friend of the family put them on for me. They were a pain in more ways than one. For someone going from having no fingernails to having them so long, it put a lot of pressure and pain at the nail bed. They were now a lever. The guys liked them and would come up to me and ask me to scratch their backs.

But the other problem was that I could not button up the 501 Levis I wore in high school. I would get ready for school as well as I could, take care of the necessities and then not drink water all day as to not have to go to the bathroom. This is probably too much information. The point I want to make is that they were a hassle, in more ways than one. I will probably never get nails that long put on again, if at all.

Instead, I want hands calloused, and worn out in the service to others. Perhaps some day when I see my Lord, he will judge me by the appearance of my hands, knowing that I did use my hands to be His. That is what I dream of, what I long for. For "only in the service of your fellow beings" are "ye in the service of your God".

Family Reunion

During the summer, we attended the Merrell Family Reunion. My Siblings and their children and grandchildren. The event wasa wonderful success. Friday night the siblings and their spouses got together and had dinner. We each took a turn updating the others on our families, going over each family member. I personally think that it was the most enjoyable part of the reunion. I enjoy my siblings and their spouses. The family memories were shared around and we laughed so much. I watched a sister-in-law laugh so hard I thought she would pee her pants. Her laugh is so contagious! I loved that so that my heart took a picture. I will never forget it.

The next morning we met in a park with all the children and grandchildren of my siblings. I don't think anyone ever counted how many were there. Many came later and some left earlier but it was a wonderful time to get together and play. Kickball, basketball, and ultimate frizbee were some of the favorite games played. But most of all it was for the story telling and laughter and talking that was done. We had quite the variety of people in attendance.



Cousins were the biggest hit with my kids. They enjoyed seeing cousins that the most often only see once a year.







My siblings were a big hit with me. Shawna, the eldest of my siblings, lives in Salt Lake. She puts on a wonderful reunion.


This is Crew. The newest of the Merrell Grandchilren. He was 10 days old (I believe).



Spencer, shortly returned home from one of the Mexico missions. (currently teaching in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.)



Second generation cousins. Kenna and Maylie. These girls were so cute together I had to get a photo of them.



Tana, second oldest in the family with her newest grandchild Jack. She had most of her nine children there.



My eldest brother Ken and third in the family with his grand daughter Avonlea. I love to see these interactions of my siblings with their grandchildren. They are sweet. (Ken is the author I have told some of you about.)



This is Winnifred and Charlie. (They are the ones that work with the curtians and drapes in the Temples.)



This is Don. He is just older than I. He has a missionary in Mexico and is wonderful at making everyone feel welcomed and a part of what is going on. This is his grand nephew he is holding. He always has loved kids.



There was a lot of loving going on.




I am next in line in the family lineup.



Maureen and her family with three strapping boys and husband. She is the last of my siblings. The boys wore the red, white, and blue because it was the 3 of July.



This is some of the Merrell family that were present when we took the family photo.



And here we are being our crazy selves.



Is there anything better than family? I don't think so. They are the most wonderful people on the earth. I know that they would drop everything and come to my rescue at any time I needed them. One of my sis-in-laws was diagnosed with cancer shortly after this reunion. It affected all of us deeply. We have rallied around her, fasting and praying for a quick recovery. The outlook is better since that day of prayer and fasting in her behalf. That is what family is all about. I love them dearly. It is hard to be so far away from them all. I know that they are mine forever. And I thank the Good Lord above for that.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!

Need to blog

Don't give up on me, I will again return to blogging once I get the kids back to school and have a schedule and routine again.

Musical Theater

Megan had the opportunity to attend a Musical Theater class at MCC (Mesa Community College) for the last two weeks. She rode with three neighbor girls. They would talk non-stop going back and forth. They really did enjoy themselves. The last two days they put on three performances. These pictures clearly show that Megan is 'in her element'! She loved it so much I would not doubt if she went into musical theater or ended up doing a high school play. See you on Broadway Baby! :)

I must be getting aged!

I must be getting aged, like old cheese or wine (not that I know what aged wine tastes like but I do know that it is more pricey when it is older). Tessa is now officially a Senior. She received information on her Senior Portraits in the mail today. And she reminded me in the car that she is now officially a Senior. I am feeling a little sad at the fact. I remember when she was a Freshman and I was thinking how soon the four years would go and now I am entering that last and final year of High School with her. I am not quite sure how I feel about that. Sad and happy all in the same blink of an eye.



I remember when she was about 2 when she loved to dance endless circles around the room. She made me dizzy with the amount of rotations she did. I remember when Josh was just learning to crawl, how she would lay down on the floor and pat her tummy and say "On me Joshy, On me!" wanting him to wrestle with her. Then preschool and the multiple hair barretts she would put in her hair, thinking more must be prettier. Her hair would stick out straight from all those barretts. And the many nick names she wanted to be called; Cinderella, Pocahontas, Odette was the three we would have to call her at once. She finally settled on Belle as her favorite Princess.

So, time has flown by. Many told me it would but I didn't believe them. And now here I am faced with her growing up for good. I usually don't have such sentimental feelings for my kids moving on and growing up, but this is something she is moving to that I can't watch too closely because I struggle with her not being a part of me anymore. I know that doesn't really make any sense but she is so much a part of me. All my kids are, but to have my oldest making these real strides to adulthood makes me feel left out. I can only imagine what next year at this time will bring. I will bawl my head and heart out because all of it won't be in the near future, it will be in the past.

I also am so proud of Tessa. She gets to walk in Graduation tonight as one of the top 12 Juniors. They lead the Seniors in to their seats for Graduation ceremony. I am not sure where she came from (because her parents certainly didn't have those kinds of grades or the determination that she has to get them). I am proud that she has put so much effort into her schooling.

Tessa isn't the only reason I am feeling this way. Next year this time, I will have the same feelings about my Josh. And three years from today I will feel the same about my Megan. And 6 years about my Seth. Yes that is right, I will have three kids in High School next year. A Freshman, Junior, and a Senior. And my youngest will be the oldest in Elementary School. What was I thinking to have them all so close.







I cannot live in the past and I most certainly should not live in the future. I should live for the day. But this day I will reflect on where I have been and where I will go. Apron strings will have to be cut, but perhaps I will use a very dull knife instead of a pair of scissors so I can hang on a little longer.

Road Trip to Vancouver

I feel like I have the travel bug lately. Bring it on. I love traveling to new places and taking pictures with my camera of the beautiful sights. I had the opportunity to travel with my sister to Seattle and there drive over the border to Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She had some work to do on some of the curtains in the LDS Temple there. I got to go with her. She is good company! The weather was fabulous! It threatened to rain every day but didn't. The flowers were all in bloom!



Here is one of the Temple with the Tulips.



And here is one that I took later from a different angle.



After we finished our work in the Temple, we followed the GPS to a couple of Gardens. This picture was taken at a Japanese Garden near the city. So beautiful. There were flowers blooming all over the place and little waterfalls all over.



Someday I will go back and take Alan with me. As for now (only a little while) I will still be in town and then Summer road trips will begin and I will have more pictures and blogging to do. :)