When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
Wayne Dyer
Welcome to our world. Here is a little window into the the lives of Jay, Tarrah, Haleigh, Haden, Madison and Bowen. We have lots of fun and enjoy each and every day together, in the air or on the ground.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thank You
I just wanted to say a great big thank you to all of our family!! Our kids had such a wonderful Christmas!!! Being that we are a blended family it means so much to Jay and I that everyone has just accepted all of the babies so lovingly. Your love and support and acceptance means sooooo much. We love each of you and are so thankful to have you in our lives!!!! Here are a few pics of all of our Christmas's and our day at the snow. Again THANK YOU!!!!! xoxoxoxo
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of our wonderful family and friends a Merry Christmas. All of you mean so much to us. We are so very thankful to have all of you in our lives. We love you all so much!!! The Mercers
Monday, December 22, 2008
Happy Birthday Grandma!!!!!
This last Friday night we celebrated my beautiful grandmother's birthday! We all met at Big Bubbas a Tredway favorite and partied it up! :) We always have so much fun when we all get together. This year my grandma turned seventy nine. I just want her to know what a wonderful example she has always been to me. She is a faithful christian, devoted wife, loving mother and a spoiling grandmother!!! :) I love you grandma more than you know, I hope that I can be half the lady that you are. Here's to many more years... xoxoxoxo
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Our Newest Member....Fiona Marie Mercer
A month ago our dog Nikki happened to get out and run away. The kids we devastated and made the cutest posters and passed them out to our neighbors. They were truly heartbroken. So we decided to adopt a smaller dog that the kids could have inside. We went to the SPCA and fell in love with this cute little mutt right off the bat, she was to be ours! The kids were very upset that we couldn't bring her home that day but we explained to them that she had to be spade before she could join our family. In the mean time she developed a cold and had to be put in isolation for ten days...torture to kids that are wanting their new puppy!! So after about three weeks of waiting, she is here. Fiona Marie Mercer you poor little doggy you have no idea the adventure that lies ahead for you with this family!!! :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Little Missy's
Here is a pic of the girls wearing their adorable ponchos that our dear friend Maxine made them, I thought they just looked to cute!!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
I Love This Song.... Slow Fade by Casting Crowns
"Slow Fade"
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
True Faith
I recently heard the new verse that Steven Curtis Chapman added to the song "Yours" after the death of his five year old daughter. I was instantly moved to tears. This man's ability to have clarity and faith during this horrible tragedy blew me away. What a true testimony of faith!!!
Singer Steven Curtis Chapman's Daughter Dies in Tragic Accident
By Rennie Dyball
Originally posted Thursday May 22, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
The Chapman family
Photo by: Chapman Family / AP
Grammy-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman suffered an unthinkable tragedy Wednesday when his 5-year-old daughter was killed in an accident involving her brother.
Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of her family's Franklin, Tenn., home by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, the Associated Press reports. The brother, whose name was not released, apparently did not see the girl.
Several family members witnessed the accident, according to the AP. Maria Sue later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.
"It looks like a tragic accident," said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. No charges are expected.
"Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago," Chapman's manager Jim Houser wrote on a blog dedicated to Maria that was set up for condolences. "These words are unthinkable to type."
Longtime advocates of international adoption, Chapman and his wife adopted three daughters from China, including Maria, and have three biological children as well.
"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing – our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman said on his Web site.
The singer also wrote a book about being a father titled Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.
Singer Steven Curtis Chapman's Daughter Dies in Tragic Accident
By Rennie Dyball
Originally posted Thursday May 22, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
The Chapman family
Photo by: Chapman Family / AP
Grammy-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman suffered an unthinkable tragedy Wednesday when his 5-year-old daughter was killed in an accident involving her brother.
Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of her family's Franklin, Tenn., home by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, the Associated Press reports. The brother, whose name was not released, apparently did not see the girl.
Several family members witnessed the accident, according to the AP. Maria Sue later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.
"It looks like a tragic accident," said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. No charges are expected.
"Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago," Chapman's manager Jim Houser wrote on a blog dedicated to Maria that was set up for condolences. "These words are unthinkable to type."
Longtime advocates of international adoption, Chapman and his wife adopted three daughters from China, including Maria, and have three biological children as well.
"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing – our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman said on his Web site.
The singer also wrote a book about being a father titled Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.
So True
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
I MissThem
Today I am missing these little faces!!! No one is asking for a snack, or riding their skates in the house. The girls aren't asking to go play at Andreas, and Haden isn't asking for Brycen to come over. Bowen is not wanting to ride his vroom vrooom outside in the cold and there is no fighting or crying or requests for drinks. It's so quiet and peaceful. The first two hours are nice, now not so much! :( It's funny how the little everyday things that can be so tiring, and leave me longing for bed time are the things that I never want to imagine my life without!! Ever.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving
Here are a few pics from Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for!!! God has been so good to us!!!
Letter
Tarrah,
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." - Isaiah 40:8
As I sit at my desk on this foggy morning, I felt compelled to write about a couple of important things. Today I have found the true meaning of life. As the song says, I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow. I have the love of God, a loving wife, and the position of “hero” for four little babies who are growing so very fast. What is important in life? Cars, houses, power, position? I say no! What’s important is what I have truly found. The end of the rainbow stops at my house.
I woke and thought it was still night
The sky was dark and clouds of turmoil loomed
There was no end in sight
Then the sun appeared and the flowers bloomed
God once again, had made it right.
He took my hurt and pain and cast it to the wind
That my friend was the end of night!
Tarrah, thank you for being a loving Godly wife. You and God have taken a broken vessel and given it life again. I cannot say enough what you mean to me. I don’t know how else to say it other than, BABE, I LOVE YOU!! Thank you for being a lady and my best friend.
Jay
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Happy Endings
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."--Carl Bard
Change
Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.
We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.
We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.
And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.
We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.
And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life—If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life—and it all begins with your very own power of choice.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
I thought this was so cute!! Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family!!
Remember Your Friends this Thanksgiving
To: God.com
Dear Lord,
Every single evening
As I’m lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:
God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm
and safe from harm
For they’re so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.
Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.
You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scraps of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits ’send’.
When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to God.com
Amen
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Everything
Jay, in two days we will celebrate our first anniversary. Just a reminder that you truly are my everything!!!!!!!! Love you!!!! xoxoxo
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Update
We meet again!!!! :) For the few people who read this I thought I had better update. Well...life has been extremely hectic. We had Halloween, the stomach flu, birthday parties, trips and lots of other things going on, so this has taken a back burner. The kids are doing very well in school, we are so proud of them. Jay's business is off the ground and running smoothly and his blood pressure is now normal. I am busy with my normal wife and mother duties and getting excited about the holidays.
A couple of weeks ago Jay and I were able to go to Arizona for some training he was doing and see where he grew up. Jays grandparents and two Uncle's and Aunt's live there also. We were able to visit with them which was so much fun!!! They are all such sweeties. We were able to bring Jay's grandmother back with us for a couple of weeks. It has been such a joy being able to visit with her. She is an incredible lady with many wonderful stories!! :) So that's an update with us. Jay and I next weekend will be celebrating our first anniversary. Time has sure flown. I'm still thanking God for him everyday. Here are a few pics of miscellaneous stuff over the last few weeks.
A couple of weeks ago Jay and I were able to go to Arizona for some training he was doing and see where he grew up. Jays grandparents and two Uncle's and Aunt's live there also. We were able to visit with them which was so much fun!!! They are all such sweeties. We were able to bring Jay's grandmother back with us for a couple of weeks. It has been such a joy being able to visit with her. She is an incredible lady with many wonderful stories!! :) So that's an update with us. Jay and I next weekend will be celebrating our first anniversary. Time has sure flown. I'm still thanking God for him everyday. Here are a few pics of miscellaneous stuff over the last few weeks.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Beach Trip
After the wedding on Saturday we had planned to take the kids to the beach for a few days. We stayed in our trailer at Pismo Coast Village and had an amazing time. The kids lived on the beach and went out in the ocean on the boat with Daddy. We ate some wonderful food and had a camp fire and made smores. It was such a much needed break for all of us to get together and spend time with each other. Enjoy the pics..
Phillip & Natausha Rodriguez
Well October 4th the countdown was officially over. My dear friend Natausha finally wed her prince. I could not be happier for the both of them. Natausha has been a friend of mine for many years and Phillip a friend of our family. When these two met and started dating I was so excited being that I knew they were both getting a great catch! :) Although I am going to miss her living right around the corner, walking with me every night and sleeping over when Jay is flying, I know that she has found happiness. Congrats Phil and Tosh we are so very happy for the both of you!!!
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