RASPBERRIES

It is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting at the kitchen table having some lunch. Grayson is in his high chair next to me, squealing with excitement while eating his lunch too. Lilly is upstairs taking a nap and Matt is at a Baptism that was at the Stake Center right after church today. I am having a nutritious lunch. Avocado, Cottage Cheese, MultiSeed crackers, and fresh raspberries! Yum! Raspberries have always reminded me of being at Grandma & Grandpa Perkins' house. In their back yard they had a great garden and my favorite thing to pick with Grandma were the delicious, juicy raspberries. They were always so perfect! I have such good memories of my Grandma & Grandpa Perkins. While they died when I was only around 9 years old, I still remember how much they loved me. I remember having sleep overs at their house and sleeping in a "big bed" all by myself, which was such a treat since I always shared a bed with my sister Makelle.....only until I was like 13! haha! Their front yard seemed huge, and I remember many times playing "Simon Says" and "Red Light, Green Light" out there with my sisters. I remember playing with the toys and dress up clothes that Grandma always had stored in a closet in the hallway. My favorite item to try on were the fancy red high heeled shoes....I guess I can blame Grandma Perkins for my shoe obsession! Today is Father's Day, and while I am thinking about my own father and how wonderful he is, my husband and how he is such an amazing dad to Lilly & Grayson, I am also thinking of Grandpa Perkins and what a good father he was to my mom. My mom was adopted when she was a baby. Grandma & Grandpa were older and had always wanted children. I'm sure that when my mom, little Marsha, was brought into their family, that Grandma & Grandpa had every bit as much joy in their lives as I did the day I became a mother. They were able to adopt 2 more children - boys named Layne & Gary. I am very grateful to my Grandma & Grandpa for the way that they raised my mom. She is absolutely the nicest person that I know and I am blessed to have her as a mother. From what I know, they had a simple life. My Grandma was a school teacher and Grandpa was a long-haul truck driver. It makes me sad today to think that my mom lost both of her parents at such a young age...she was not much older than me when they both passed away. I will never take for granted the time that my children are able to spend with my mom & dad. They are wonderful grandparents, and do their best to make my children and all their grandchildren feel loved and important. I feel blessed to live only a few miles away from them. We see them often, almost weekly, and I am so glad that my children will have happy memories of their time with their Mum & Bepa. We should be seeing them sometime later today. I found a book this week that I am giving a copy to both Matt and my dad. It is called "What Are Little Boys Made Of?" It reads, Every great man was first a boy. What are little boys made of? Snakes & Snails & Crazy Tall Tales...and hopes and Dreams...And Strength & Courage...& Imagination & Daring...and Gifts & Talents...& Yearning & Learning...and Faith & Optimism...And Purpose & Meaning...& Warmth and Tenderness...& Adventure & Enthusiasm...& Caring & Understanding...& Honor & Integrity...And Family and Friendship...& Love and Loyalty...And Joy and Laughter...& Moments & Memories...& Success and Satisfaction...& All Things Possible. That's What Little Boys Are Made Of.

Happy Father's Day - Feliz dia de Padres! : June 19, 2011

At church today I had the primary kids make a simple craft for their Father's titled "FELIZ DIA DE PADRES" with an outline of their hand and their name in little foam letters. Because we were missing several teachers and leaders at church today, the Nursery kids were able to come into Primary. Lilly was so good! She listened to the lesson, participated and sang the songs and was very obedient.

This is the letter that I wrote to Matt for Father's Day.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Dear Matt,
It is 3:13am on the morning of Father’s Day and I am just finishing up baking bread for the sacrament, getting the Nursery “Singing Time” activities complete, finished making a “Father’s Day Craft” for the Primary kids, just booked flights and Rental car for the Lyman Family Reunion, and a few other household things…in between all of this I realized that I forgot to buy you a Father’s Day card, so instead, you are getting this letter. It has been nearly 8 years that we have been married and almost 3 years that you have been a father. I couldn’t have hoped for a more amazing man to have spent my life with, and to be the father of my children. You are incredible, you are sweet, you are thoughtful, you are gentle, you are funny, you are sincere, you are compassionate towards others, you are handsome and charming, and I am so in love with you.  I love to watch the way you are with Lilly and Grayson and the joy that you find in being their daddy. They know that you love them, and it is so comforting for me as a mother to see the confidence that they have in knowing that they are truly loved by their dad. The example you are to them will have such a huge impact on their lives and will influence the way that they treat those around them. Thank you for the amazing example you are to them. Thank you for the way that you serve others. While it is sometimes a challenge to be alone with the kids while you are so busy with your calling as Branch President, I know that what you are doing is serving our Heavenly Father, and that our lives are truly blessed because of the sacrifices that you are making. Thank you for the 

selfless person that you are Matt. Happy Father’s Day to the greatest Father in the world! I love you!

Love - the proud Mother of your children,

Merrilee