Days 9-14

Day 9 - For weekend getaways... Ok, so most of the time, as a member of our church, the weekend pretty much ends on Saturday evening. Even so, we were able to head out of town when Matt got off to go spend the night with some sweet friends who have moved away. The poor (childless as of now) folks were not expecting to hear the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teething from our little howler monkey ALL night, but they were kind enough to tell us the neighbors music kept them up instead. Lesson learned: don't plan overnighters while the baby humans are earning molars.

Day 10 - For modern technology, specifically cell phones. We seriously take these things for granted even though most people my age grew up without them. At most, our parents may have had a carphone, or eventually a pager, but I got my phone in high school and I'm not sure how life worked -logistically speaking- without it.  We spent Saturday at the Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, TX and it was super fun... except for the part where Mason and I got separated from the group so I could feed him. I had no map, no clue where I was, where I was going, where the others were, or how to get to them. Every text I sent... wasn't sent! It was horribly frustrating and it forced me to resort to the "stay in one place until they find you" trick.

Day 11 - For living close to our extended family. I love that we can just get in the car and go see any of them, pretty much anytime we want. We don't have to decide who we will and will not see on the holidays, or plan and schedule some huge production every time. Granted, its more work now with a baby in tow but when someone mentions that they're cooking something yummy (and big) for dinner, the Merritts flock. Impromptu Sunday/Anyday dinners are the best.

Day 12 - For lists. Is that dumb? Oh well if it is! I love a good list... and right now I'm loving making lists about what I'll be making for upcoming holidays, be it food, crafts, gifts, or otherwise.

Day 13 - For talents-- everyone's. Speaking of crafts... I decided to face a fear of mine and revisit the art/science/voodoo witchcraft of crochet. I had a pretty bad experience with it the first time I tried it, so naturally I've avoided it ever since. A super talented friend of mine gave me the courage (and youtube links!) to try it again and I ended up making Mason a pretty sweet little beanie. I've been quite bummed since realizing the one he got from his Aunt and Uncle last year no longer fit his big ol' noggin. But guess what... I actually found the pattern for the exact same one on Etsy! Score! After the practice one, I plan on making a few with stripes like the original. Then I'll probably take a few hundred pictures of a cute, screaming kid with an ADORABLE hat on his head. Because he'll love that, ya know...

Day 14 - For modern medicine. Mason is running fever tonight... He had one freak illness (thank you Children's Museum) his first year of life and now he's getting his second "something" in a matter of weeks. I know its flu season and all, but somehow I always feel sort of immune to it all, not much different than people think that natural disasters/accidents will never happen to them... or their kid, in this case. I'm sure grateful though that I can check his temperature relatively easily, give him some medicine, and know that if it doesn't help that I can take him to a doctor who will most likely be able to cure whatever ails him. We went without health insurance for the first 5 years of our marriage but I can't imagine having to decide whether to take him to a doctor because of no coverage. I know people do it everyday...

Days 4-8

How quickly time can get away... I've got some catching up to do! I've thought of these things each day, but went a few days on my phone only so they didn't get posted.

Day 4 - For the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity of salvation afforded by his atonement. There is nothing in this life or the next that I could ever be grateful for if it weren't because of a blessing from a loving and mindful Heavenly Father. I have no doubt that one day we will find out just how masterfully each second of our existence has been crafted, so that we can experience the most joy possible. We know so little about so much. I am grateful for the things that I do know, as well as the things that I don't need to know yet. My favorite part about the gospel? The eternal promise of hope.

Day 5 - For friends who look out for me and are honest enough to tell me, "Hey, let's go walking you fat cow." Okay, maybe she didn't say it like that, but Sarah and I went walking today in the cool, crisp 85-degree November weather and even though I ended up gross and sunburned, I was so glad we got to go. We had 3 kids under three (2 in strollers and one in a Moby wrap!) and a big, giddy dog with us but we STILL managed to have fun. I'm thankful for the company and the accountability.

Day 6 - Election Day... Thankful today to live in a country where you're allowed to be pleased or not with the outcome of government elections because you had the privilege of voting for your choice, and the freedom to express your opinion of the results. I am grateful for the founders of America who fought and died and were persecuted for standing up for their belief in what our nation could become. It wouldn't have mattered were it not for men and women much braver than me who continue to fight today so that I can have the freedoms I enjoy. There are a lot of things about the government right now that I do not agree with, but the beauty of it is that I don't have to. Come what may, I still believe that America is the greatest country in the world.

Day 7 - For the fall weather. I've mentioned it here before, but I love waking up to a chilly fall day! We don't get many around here so I've come to appreciate them when it happens, even if I'm sweating again by noon. The lazy college kid in me yearns for hoodie weather year-round.

Day 8 - For the luxury of of a comfortable living. Look-- I know its not all about money and "worldly treasure." But there is something to be said for the peace of knowing you don't have to worry about how the bills will get paid or if you can afford food or shoes for your kids. I'm so grateful for Matt's willingness and ability to provide for us. I try to be as responsible as I can with our money, because I know he puts up with a less-than-ideal job to earn it. Our home is no mansion but I've loved it since the first time I walked through the door. We (finally!!) have a nice, SAFE care that I'm allowed to drive despite my embarrassing driving record. I'm thankful that we don't usually worry about the basics because it means I can focus my energy on the things that truly matter, like time spent and memories made with my family. Priceless.

Day 3

Today, Nov. 3rd, I'm thankful for old friends.

Not that age has anything to do with it. Today is my friend Melissa's birthday.  We became best friends in first grade and have been through the best of times and the worst of times since then. People used to mistake us for sisters, a fact I still love since all I had were brothers to resemble. Do you know how fun it is to be told you look like your brothers? They're good-looking and all but what girl wants to look like a boy?! Anyway... whatev.

There's just something special about having someone who's known you pretty much as long as you've known yourself. There's no faking, no fronts. It keeps you honest. Real. Humble.

She's not the only one. There have been others along the way that I share history with. We helped write each others' story, even if our roles aren't as big anymore. One day I hope to be able to let go of some of the guilt I always feel when I think about how some of us have grown apart. Either that, or I'll do something about it and pick up the phone. Part of me knows that things change, no matter how hard you try to keep them the same.

I'm just grateful that the important ones don't need apologies or excuses, and we can just pick up where we left off... after some harassment, of course.

Day 2

Today (like most days) I'm grateful for the sweet little guy that joined our family a year ago.  Mason has brought such meaning and purpose and joy to Matt and me as well as our entire family.  It has been one whirlwind of a year, for sure.

Most people, if they remember the beginning through foggy, sleep-deprived memories, they don't usually tell me how fun the brand-spankin-newborn phase was. For me it was pure bliss. I fell so madly in love with that baby so frighteningly fast! He was so relaxed, slept "through" the night at about 3 weeks, and loved to snuggle.

Then before I knew it, he decided to wake up. He turned into the real Mason and never looked back. Now, that's not to say that I don't love the new Mason just as much if not more, but he is definitely not the easy, chill baby he came here being.  We had our months of colic (p.s. I hate that term), reflux, rivers of spit-up, screaming, allergies and intolerances, and cardboard diets, but we all survived. Somehow during all that the child figured out he could sit up and crawl, but little did we know that the early mover would decide not to walk until he neared his birthday. My big plans for making all his baby food myself, much of it grown in our own backyard, completely and utterly backfired when the precious darling refused to eat any solid food for a full two months after we introduced it. He chose to eat such baby-friendly foods as celery sticks, olives, rice cakes, cucumbers, beans, apple slices. Applesauce? No way. He had to be in control of the situation and any spoons that tried to airplane into his mouth were flung across the room as he sputtered food in your face... and on the blinds... and in your hair. Good times.

So far, I think the biggest thing I've learned from the little person, besides selflessness, is that I really am not in control. He made sure that I started that lesson early. It's not about me at all, at least not for now. It's not my job to force him to do anything, even at such a very young age, but rather to show him the way, teach him about things (everything), and hopefully guide him to being able to control himself. You might think I sound crazy talking like that about a baby, but even at 6 months old this boy not only knew when he shouldn't touch something, but actually showed that he was learning how to resist the urge to do it anyway. Most adults I know (ahem, me!) can't even do that! I'm not saying he never does things he shouldn't, quite the contrary, really. But I'm often reminded that he is a person who is learning just like the rest of us, not a pet that needs to be "broken" of things.

The craziest part of all? The fact that we've just barely gotten started on this adventure! Words can't express how much I love that kid and I've only known him for a year! I'm so thankful that he and Heavenly Father decided to let us be his parents.

Let's hope we still like it as much when he starts talking ; )

Gratitude

So, a WHOLE bunch of my people on facebook have started their "30 days of thanks" thing for the month of November and I just can't get on the bandwagon. Not because I'm ungrateful -I think- but because that sort of thing usually makes me want to do the opposite just out of defiance, I guess... healthy, no?

Anyway, I have SOOO much to be grateful for... especially considering that yesterday was my dearest Little Dude's first birthday. I promise I will post pictures and write something mushy for posterity and all that but for now, I just want a place to be able to come and write a few things, probably more for my benefit than anyone else's. Something longer than a status update and without everyone feeling like they must "like" it or add their two cents to every little thing I write. If you want to comment, by all means do so because I really do like reading what you have to say, its just that I know my audience here is not so broad or, well, annoying... So with that I must say that for Day 1:

I am most grateful for my Matt.

He really, truly is my world. Everything I hold near and dear and meaningful in my life can be traced like a Kevin Bacon movie, right back to him. Even the parts of my life that were there before he came around are better for having him there now. He's my very bestest friend and I just love him. Everything about him... well mostly, but I love him just the way his is, no matter what. I'm grateful that he is soo dorky sometimes and doesn't care. I'm grateful that he is gentle. I'm grateful that he works so hard and with such real integrity. I don't know anyone else like him. I'm grateful that he is kind. Genuinely kind. I'm humbled (no easy task I assure you) by the fact that he chose me to co-pilot this wonderful journey through life and beyond. And I love that he's okay with having to buckle up for the ride!

Eye Luff Ewe Babe!