Thanksgiving in October

Yes, Thanksgiving is in November but it is never a bad time to give thanks.  It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions in the Merrick house lately.  The grandparents came at the end of September and stayed for two weeks.  And I say "the grandparents" because even though they are Nick's grandparents, they adopt everyone as family.  They become "the grandparents" to pretty much all of our friends.  That alone shows how wonderful they are!  Grandma was great help with the cleaning and the cooking!  I can't wait to get to Iowa and copy all of her recipes!  Grandpa was amazing with helping with Sydney and Chuck!  He would watch Sydney so I could get more sleep or take a hot bath.  He would even take Chuck out for walks. They would both help feed and entertain him.  We didn't do much traveling except on their last day here, we went to the Black Forest.  No words can describe the beauty of what we saw!  It was a great trip!  They left the first week in October and I wasn't the only one who missed them!  Chuck searched the whole apartment looking for them when we got back from the airport.  And Sydney got so used to Gpa's arms, she didn't like laying down by herself.  The grandparents definitely spoiled all of us and I am so grateful for their trip here!  It was so sad to see them go but I know we will see them again in January.  :)  Thank you, Lord for providing us with wonderful family and great help!

September 26, 2010 was Nick and my 1st wedding anniversary.  Sadly, we weren't able to celebrate together and it's the first of many that I'm sure we will celebrate apart.  But it doesn't make the occasion any less special.  This past year has been like I mentioned earlier, a roller coaster ride of emotions!  We got engaged in August, got married in September, Nick graduated in November, we got pregnant in November and then we moved to Germany in February.  In February, we started our new lives in a foreign country.  Nick officially started his new job and in the first 6 months of living here, he was gone for 3 of them.  We got our first dog in April then had our baby August.  Now, Nick is gone again.  Like I have written on my facebook, I am a proud mother and wife.  I may not have the easiest life but it's definitely the most rewarding.  I love my family!  Though it grew more quickly than expected, I regret none of it.   I have a wonderful husband, beautiful baby and great dog!  All happening in just a year!  Thank you, Lord for my family and yet again proving that your timing is perfect!

And last but definitely NOT least, I am very thankful for my friends here in Germany!  I am so incredibly blessed to have the support and love from a good circle of friends.  Moving here was one of the scariest things I have done in my life because it was full of unknowns, especially knowing how much Nick would be gone.  I was scared of being alone but God did not let that happen!  Starting from the friends we met in the hotel that we stayed in when we first got here, to the team wives that I have gotten to know over these months.  I won't name any names but they know who they are.  And of course, I cannot forget my friends back in the states.  I love the fact that if I need to talk to someone, I still call friends that I haven't seen in almost a year.  Military friends are like no other friends!  There is a special bond that we all have since we know moves are common and most friends come and go with the distance factor.  But making a true friend because of the military, that friendship is likely to continue even when an ocean separates you.  And though I feel lonely without Nick (no one can replace that), I feel all the love and support from my friends who don't give me the chance to feel lonely.  Thank you, Lord for my circle of friends.

Thanksgiving is almost a daily holiday in this household.  So much has been provided for us that a day shouldn't go by without giving thanks!  And not only should I give thanks to the Lord but to my family and friends who have done so much for me and my family!  Thank you!!

On My Own

After 3 wonderful weeks, my mom left today.  I can't even describe how much of a help she was here.  It was even better having her here when Nick left.  Now that they are both gone, I'm on my own!  The house seems so empty and quiet...well, sort of.  Now, I have a dog and a baby that both need my attention.  So, there are a lot of whines and cries in this house.  It's definitely an adjustment!  But I am SO thankful that we have such a good dog and a baby that sleeps well!

I am also thankful for the amazing support that we have!  It's comforting to know that we have so many people praying and supporting us, even if some are across the ocean.  As lonely as I feel sometimes, I know I am never alone in spirit.  We are so blessed!

Gpa and Gma Carney are coming to visit at the end of this month!  WHOOP!  I can't wait to see both of them and I can't wait for Sydney to meet them!  They will be here for a couple of weeks.  

Sydney is doing excellent!  She's growing so fast already!  Already a month old!  I'm looking forward to her next appointment to see just how much.  She gets more and more beautiful each day.  It's amazing how much your life changes when you become a parent.  Not only physically but emotionally.  She is fully dependent on me and it's very humbling.  She's so pure and innocent.  She is my world!  <3

And so it begins...

I have always debated having a blog and now that my life has taken a huge turn and seems more "interesting," I figured it's is a good time to start.  A lot has changed in the past year or so.  I moved from Texas to North Carolina...got married...got pregnant...moved to Germany.  All in a year's time.  Now, we have our wonderful little girl and Nick is gone just as much, if not more, than he is home.  Being a military wife is never boring, there's always something going on.  It's definitely not a life for everyone.  It's not easy and sometimes feels harder than I can handle but not a day goes by that I regret this "job."  And yes, I call it a job because it's what I do 24/7.  Handling the household, the bills, all the problems and issues that happen while he's gone, acting as a single mom...it's one of the toughest jobs I can think of.  That's now in full affect with the Merrick family!  I must add, I'm very proud of my husband and that I am called to be his wife and support at home!  


For those of you that want to know details about Nick's deployment, I'm sorry but I cannot post anything about it.  He's alive and well which is all that matters.  Having my mom here has been wonderful!  She has been great help!  It also helped lessen the blow after Nick left.  Poor Chuck already misses his best friend.  I can play with him over and over but will never replace Nick.  Hopefully he'll adjust soon along with the rest of us.


I want to thank everyone for all the love and support.  It's really comforting to know that we have such a good support system, not only back home in the states but here as well.  God always provides!  I will try to keep everyone updated with life the best I can.  Hopefully I will keep up with this.  :)


"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13