eight years

married.

to the best guy on earth.

and here's why

1. no matter where i go with you,
it's always a great adventure

2. you love to play with your girls

3. you walk humbly in your greatest accomplishments
(plus you're still sexy when you're bald)

4. nothing will stop you from putting
forth your best effort (even the
supervision of a five year old)

5. you're always happy to watch the kids

6. your family is your greatest joy in life

7. you make beautiful things with your own two hands

8. you're not afraid to dream big

You inspire me to be a better person.

I love you to the moon and beyond.

"If you live to be a hundred,

I want to live to be a hundred

minus one day so I would never

have to live a day without you."

~Winnie the Pooh~

birthday love

 

It's been eighteen years since I first met you.
It was at that very moment I first felt true love.
It was the day that my world was completely changed ~
I was given a purpose beyond myself.
Only eighteen myself when you were born,
I had no idea what it meant to be fully
 responsible for another life. 
But I purposed in my heart from that very day
that I would give you all that I had.
You would be my first priority.

And now here we are.
Your childhood has come and gone
in what feels like the blink of an eye.
I look at you as you prepare for graduation,
college, life on your own and my head swirls
with visions of:

sit & spin on the kitchen floor
beeth-oven
hairbrushing tears
dance parties
pedicures
movie nights
lonnnggggg talks
sunrise walks on the beach
popcorn & milkduds
thriller dance
young life
heartache
doritos
france
& so much more

I look at you now and am amazed
at the young woman you have become.
You have a heart of tenderness,
and a beauty that runs deeper than
any photo could portray.
There is a spirit of giving in you
that is felt by those around you.
You are gifted with the ability
to draw others to you,
and to love on them in the
way they most need it.
You bring joy to the hearts of
those that know you best,
those that call you family
and those who call you a friend.

Today I celebrate who you are
and who you are yet to be.
May you always know the love
I have for you
wherever you go,
whatever you do,
even when we disagree.

You will always be my first true love.

mom

Daisy

Our pastor's daughter is once again

battling cancer in her little body.

For the third time.

She just had surgery to remove

 a tumor today which also resulted

 in the removal of her spleen.

And through it all the Merrick family is

Trusting

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

(Psalm 91:1-4 NLT)

I ask you, if it is in your heart,

to join our entire church community

in prayer for this dear family.

To find out specific prayer needs

click the link on the side of this page.

Love to you all.