Houston Eateries a la our firstborn      
2010-07-05            
It would seem one of the things (besides family, of course) that Audrey misses most about H-town is the coveted restaurant food. Although she threatened to make us eat Mexican all weekend, here are a few of the places on the most-wanted list:

1. Berry Hill (fish tacos--what else?!)
2. The Kolache Factory
3. Papasitos (fajitas)
4. Lupe's (green enchiladas)
5. Beck's Prime (burgers)

Apparently, no visit will be complete without these essential eateries. So much for the low-carb diet plan...

It was a fun weekend once the rain stopped. Nice fireworks last night and even spotted some dolphins from the Kemah Boardwalk on Saturday. Hope your 4th was just as special.
      
June!      
2010-06-30            
Where has the month gone? It occurs to me that I must bog today or totally miss out on this month. This week is Music Camp at Veritas, where I am team teaching with my new friend Janell. Good thing we are partners--it is difficult to keep those little darlings engaged for two hours at a stretch. Today is their field trip day, so we are off and after this I will play catch up at home.

Which is basically what I've done this entire month--even washed windows, which ended the drought in Houston. Of course it didn't hurt that I washed the car and watered the lawn that week too. We all know what to do when we need rain, right?

The family also made a road trip to back to Greenville to help Audrey get moved and settled into her first apartment. She loves her new job, which is such a blessing. Friday she will fly in for the 4th of July weekend. We are all looking forward to being together!

Oh! And speaking of together, Aaron and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary! We have decided to "renew our contract"--as my parents always joke. And hey, they celebrate 50 years together in September, so maybe they're on to something. Aaron took me shopping for a beautiful anniversary band, which looks especially lovely next to my original set. Sparkly is good. :)

Considering the first week of June was spent at school for Inservice and this week is camp, I suppose it is no wonder the time has gone quickly. July promises some out-of-town trips and a few days with a dear friend from Colorado who has conspired with me for a theater-packed weekend, so I guess I'm ready to move on.
      
Graduation      
2010-05-11            
It's that time of year. And this year our Audrey graduated from college. The whole family (yes, even her grandparents) trekked out to South Carolina for the big day. It was a whirlwind four day weekend, but we loved every minute.

With our own graduation (a mere 26 years ago) from that same august institution still in our accessible memory banks, there were many chances for "remember whens". I am sure Audrey doesn't think there is anything on campus remotely the same, but she does not seem to tire of our stories.

What's next you ask? Well, even her mother couldn't have written a better plan. This fall Audrey begins a master's degree program in composing and arranging--studying with the likes of Joan Pinkston (still on my hero list) and that young upstart Dan Forrest(!). What an incredible opportunity. All of this while working at Soundforth, the music publisher there at BJ. We are still pinching ourselves.

The only downside is the GA position begins soon so we will see less of our firstborn this summer.
It's good to know that Houston to Greenville is still a direct flight.

Happy May, all!
      
Where did it go?      
2010-02-04            
Time flies. I, for one, am pretty tired of seeing the same blog entry here. Much has happened over the last few months--we went to two family reunions, a new school year started, I served on a criminal jury (for the first time), grandparents and friends have come down to visit, we celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas here in Houston (a first EVER), Robert became a teenager, Audrey gave her Senior Piano Recital, and the first semester of this school year is over. Way over. Many opportunities for blog subjects, and I even wrote a few in my head, but my fingers never touched the keyboard until today.
To summarize, a few life lessons come to mind:
1. Family comes first. Before everyone else here on earth.
2. I am blessed.
3. Perhaps slightly over-committed, but I love my life.
4. My teaching contract for next year needs a makeover.
5. I still love to travel. Schedule more time for that!
6. Even Houston can experience winter. Acclimating?!
7. God is good--all the time!--and He knows best.
Keep watching and I will get my IT support group to post that holiday letter that we never sent...
      
Summer      
2009-07-14            
...is here in a big way. Houston is hot and dry this summer--no rain but still humid. Go figure. At any rate, Robert and I have managed to spend large chunks of time outside of Texas, which has been wonderful. Lists are my favorite, so here we go again. (Hey, at least I'm blogging)

1. Old friendships are worth keeping!
2. Colorado is a LONG drive from Texas
3. but it's cooler there.
4. Family reunions are fun and interesting.
5. No school for weeks on end is a fantastic plan.
6. Rocky Mountain wildflowers are well worth photographing.
7. Picnic food tastes best eaten out-of-doors.
8. Never take life for granted.

Enjoy the rest of your summer--I know we will! We still have one or two trips up our sleeve, but this time I think we'll fly.
      
Merricks No Like Ike      
2008-09-20            
Houston had its first hurricane in 25 years and of course, we were here for Ike's arrival. Nothing like a natural disaster to teach you gratitude. Here are 10 things we are especially thankful for:

1. Our great God, who is stronger than any storm and always able to protect us, His children.

2. Time to prepare. Modern meteorology is a good thing.

3. Candles. And matches.

4. New home construction.

5. A son who can sleep very soundly. No need to comfort someone who can sleep through a hurricane!

6. Peanut butter is non-perishable.

7. Batteries.

8. Hurricanes that are followed by Canadian cool fronts. Sleeping without A/C is much easier this way.

9. The chance to reconnect with friends.

10. Restored electricity.
      
September      
2008-09-05            
is here, although in Houston it is hard to feel much of a change. Natives tell me that the worst is indeed over, and while it is a tad less humid and the morning temps dip down into the 70's (gasp)it is still pretty pickin' hot most days. At least the hurricanes are skirting around us.

School has started and since 3 weeks are gone already, it is time to get progress reports done for my classes. It does not seem like I have made much progress, but as a more experienced teacher reminded me last night, "on the good days, we teach something!"

Aunt Elinor is off to Fort Wayne for a visit with Robin and Audrey has started classes at BJU, so the three of us (for the 1st time since April)hardly know what to do. We'll figure something out.


Finally, and best of all (to quote Sendak) the Veritas Art Show at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston opened last night! Those little squirts produced some really nice works and we are all so proud. Kudos to Marilyn for getting us the wall space and fame--it was a special evening.

Guess asking for a good frost to kill off these ants would be a little much... I'll settle for a lower power bill from the decreased AC use and call it fall.
      
Oooopps      
2008-08-04            
really, I had every intention of updating this at least monthly! Somehow the entire month of July slipped me by. Well, let's try a top ten list of the things I learned as I turned...another year older last month:

1. Senior care is demanding. (Aunt Elinor is at our house for the summer)
2. Teachers really do work during summer break.
3. Not everyone remembers your birthday, and
4. some years that's more than ok.
5. Planes are faster than cars.
6. The Mojave Desert is pretty hot in July.
7. My daughter is amazing.
8. Camp Ironwood is a special place.
9. Weight loss at 40 something is hard work.
10. "Good friends are like stars; you can't always see them, but you know they are there."
      
MacBook Air      
2008-06-25            
It would seem that getting a new computer of my very OWN (!) meaning, not previously owned by a family member, would be blog-worthy. Since the "big crash" I have had no success with posting blogs, but here goes.

My sweet husband of 23 years (also known as this family's original Mac addict) bought me a brand spanking new, wickedly fast and incredibly light MacBook Air! It was an early birthday gift disguised as an anniversary gift, but I am thrilled nonetheless.

It will no doubt revolutionize the way I surf, email, blog and most importantly, leave home with a Mac.
      
Who knew?      
2006-05-24            
That it was so easy to do this?

Or that so much could happen in four months?

I just came from the post office, where I overnighted the paper work (AND some funds!) to buy a house in Houston. Well, it is past time for this branch of the Merrick clan to live in the same house, and if that house has to be in Texas, then I guess it's time to move!

Can't help but think of the verse about not knowing what a day will bring forth...
      
New Year?!      
2006-01-26            
Since this is an historic day (I have never written a blog!) it seems there should be something momentous to write...but mostly I am struck by these facts: normal is a state of mind, God's grace is sufficient, and given His help, we can adjust and manage the challenge each new day provides.
Philippians 1:6 says "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Maybe I will even get the hang of this blogging business...
      
Sunday Afternoon      
2005-11-06            
My lovng husband took me to a Peter Fletcher guitar concert this afternoon, having decided he has enough books. It was a wonderfully relaxing occasion.

(ghost written by said husband.)
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