Harrison's Award ceremony

Harrison I am so proud of your accomplishments. This year we started out a little rocky, but you have come such a long way. Your reading level is great, and look at the AR points you've received. I love you Harrison!

Wordless Wednesday

May and June Birthday Dinner

Happy birthday to Ryan 5/2, Skylen 5/10, Brian 5/17, Justin 5/31, and Eric 6/6. We had a great dinner and family night at my Mom's and Dad's house. We were missing a few, Crystal had to work, and our awesome marine brother Justin is away protecting us on enemy soil. We missed them both but we did have a good time. I hope each one had or will have a great birthday, and I hope all their birthday wishes come true.

"Good morning!" I love days when Brian and I are both off and we get to spend time together. Today we plan to drive to Richmond and eat at Olive Garden ( Brian's favorite) for a late birthday dinner for him. The only problem, just as I started writing this blog Harrison came to tell me his throat was hurting. I looked inside and sure enough looks like strep throat. So we will be adding a doctors appointment into our schedule. Then this evening we are celebrating May and June birthdays with a spaghetti dinner at my Mom's and Dad's. Oh I just love days like this! It may sound crazy and busy for some but I love spending time with my family, and I think running around like a chicken with it's head cut off is Great!!!

Time for a decision

If you read my last post you know by now all that Brian and I have been dealing with the last 2 weeks. Now it's decision time! Some decisions we have already made, they include Brian waiting 7 months and reapplying for graduate school where he will finish school a year later than original. That was an easy decision. A few other decisions; adoption process, job opportunities, not so easy. Our original plan regarding the adoption of a little girl from China, was to submit our paper work this fall and hopefully travel next fall to get her ( God willing), but now we are stuck with deciding to go ahead with our paper pregnancy or wait another year. My heart says "go for it what are you waiting on". But my mind says " What is best for the situation?" So I pray every night that God would just tell me what I should do.

The next decision is in regard to Brian's job opportunity. A position (that he has thought about before) is again open to him. And this is a job that doesn't come open very easily. It requires different hours, and more on his plate but I know he could do it, and do it well. I hope that he does what his heart leads him to, because where his heart is , so am I.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the women in my life. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children. Although things are very hectic around our house and sometimes I want to pull my hair out and scream, I still love being a mother. Now I never said that I was good at being a mom, I just said I love being one. I have good days and bad days, and some days I think to myself " Wow I really screwed up today" but that's the good thing about being a mom, you can get up and try to do better the next day. I pray that God will help me be the mother he wants me to be. I hope that my children can see him through me, and see what an amazing God we serve. I have so many wishes and dreams for my children, but the most important is that they love and serve God. It would be awesome if they found a love like their dad and me have, and get a job they love.

A time to laugh and a time to cry

Yesterday was a day to celebrate and to cry. My older sister Alison graduated from nursing school after a long and tough journey. I was so happy to see her complete this very rough task and I admire her for the determination she had in finishing what she started. Alison WAY TO GO !!!!! On a smaller note, yesterday was a sad day for Brian and I as we found out he will be graduating at a different date. Most people don't know this but when you are in a masters program you can't have a grade lower than a "B". Brian came just shy of getting a "B" in one of his classes, and when I say just shy I mean 1.4 points shy. I will have to admit it was one of his worst days ever, and for me it was pretty upsetting too. Merrick's don't give up you see, we persevere when it comes to reaching our goals and making our dreams come true. So quiting isn't an option, and I know with every bit of my being that my husband will finish school. This is something he wants more than anything, and not just for himself but for our family. I questioned God last night and ask him why now? We were so close! I have been hanging on for May 2011 for what seems like eternity. We had so many plans for next year including a once in a lifetime vacation, maybe buying a new van ( Lord knows we need it), and most important traveling to China to get our beloved Hadley. I am so honored to serve a God who always comforts me in my time of need. When I woke up this morning I knew that everything was going to be just fine. God has never given me anything I can't handle. God will take care of me now and forever! Brian will return to school next spring, we will go on a vacation, our van is going to keep running forever, and our baby girl will one day be in our arms. I have learned through this that God does things in his time, not mine. If I trust him I must trust him with everything! Now before I close I just want to let my husband know a few things; Brian I am not and will never be disappointed in you. You are a wonderful Father to our children, and the best husband ever. When I held your hand and said " in good times and in bad" and "for richer and for poorer" I meant it. Pick your head up and hold it high, you have nothing to be ashamed of. No one will ever be able to hold a candle even close to you in my eyes. I love you sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!

" For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Spring Flowers

Brian and I spent some time this week planting flowers around our house. Last spring with our schedule we didn't get around to doing any yard work, and you could really tell it this year. I'm not big on planting things since I don't like dirt, bugs, or the sun but I was proud of myself for doing most of it by myself.

May is here!!

Well it seems like it has taken May forever to get here. I hate to wish time away, but May brings so much this year and I have been waiting for it to get here for a long time. In just a few short days my sister Alison will be graduating from nursing school. I am so proud of her, she will make a wonderful nurse. May is also the end of the semester for Brian, Mom and myself and I'm so glad it's over. Now I'm just waiting for our grades to be posted so we will find out if Mom passes statistics. I am looking forward to getting together and celebrating Mother's Day this weekend and spending time with my family. Brian and I have spent more time together this week then we have in months and it's nice to do little things like planting flowers together and going out for ice cream in the evenings. I love that man so much!!!!! I have also got to do some much needed spring cleaning around the house and things are starting to look a little better. I am getting ready to redo the little kids bathroom decor, it is going to be so cute when I'm done. I have been thinking a lot about Justin this week, we found out over a week ago that he will soon be deployed to the middle east to serve his country. "God please keep him safe!" I have so much to be thankful for and I am most certainly thankful that May is here.