Christmas 2010 Garrett and Cheryl Merrick

 Christmas 2010

We hope that you have had a good year filled with peace and love.

Our big event for the year has been to build a garage. Our son, David, and Garrett enjoyed working together on this project. We just had our first snow and we are spoiled already!

Though Garrett could retire anytime, he continues to work for the Post Office. Not only does he enjoy his job doing the building maintenance, he doesn’t want to quit his job in these insecure economic times.

As I have come to better understand how to care for my Addison’s disease (little adrenal function), I have been able to enjoy being more active. It has been fun to go for walks again and help keep up the yard. Of course, I still continue to volunteer at our local elementary school where I teach a third grade class creative writing two afternoons a week. My family history project for this year is working on converting old 8mm family movies to DVD format. I still have a lot to do, but it is coming!

Besides spending time with our four children and three grandchildren who all live within an hour of our home, Garrett and I enjoy serving for our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in a student ward at Brigham Young University. Garrett manages and trains students to handle the records for a ward (church group of about 100 students). We enjoy the enthusiasm and energy of the young people and their spiritual strength. It has also brought back many memories of our college days and courtship. It is hard to believe that we graduated from BYU nearly 40 years ago!

A little about our family. Our oldest, Julene, continues to manage the deli department at a local grocery store while she looks for other work.

David, though unable to find work as a construction manager, has been able to finish a couple basements. He and his wife, Amy, live about half an hour away with our three grandchildren: Becca 7, Logan 4, and Lexie 1.

Laura still works in advertising and her husband, Theon, as a stock broker. They live about an hour away in Salt Lake. This year they made a trip to England with his parents where they spent a week traveling canals in a barge.

Dan continues to work in computer support and is buying a home about half an hour from us.

As we appreciate all that we have, we feel that our family has been very blessed this year.

Accomplishments of Cheryl Merrick to 2006

 Besides raising our children, I served for many years in the Primary as a teacher and teacher development teacher, was editor of several ward newsletters, assistant editor of our stake newspaper, editor of Mapleton City Newsletter for five years, organized a support group for parents of children with learning disabilities, tutored children, taught creative writing to third graders at Mapleton Elementary for eight years, worked on compiling family history, had four articles published in the Ensign magazine, sponsored a family of Cambodian refugees in our home, served in a BYU singles ward giving support while Garrett was the ward clerk, recertified, and coped with failing health.

1976-1980

Making pretty tucked dress for Julene

Preschool with neighbors; Doing my own preschool twice a week and do some tutoring

1979

Julene begins kindergarten at Mapleton Elementary School.

Cheryl teaches pre-school for David and neighbor boys.

1980

I teach in Primary; but not get not show our new baby to friends in ward.

1983

Taking portraits of children- G portrait lens

1986

Making farm quilt for Daniel; tiger suit

Primary teacher & Inservice leader; Decorating for Primary party; allergic to bee sting

Starting writing poems; Family history and pictures; Display case in church foyer

1988

Cheryl does the Ward Newspaper.

Cheryl begins tutoring at the elementary school, organizes a parent group on Learning Disabilities; writes our Ward History, does the Ward Bulletin boards, and is the Primary Inservice Leader.

1991

Cheryl------------allergies basically in control; called to Primary as 1st Counselor; left Primary;called to Stake newspaper

1994

called with wife. to be Blazer A teacher (Dan's Sunday School class)

2003

Both of us are asked to be ward Family History Consultants.

I begin Teaching creative writing at Mapleton Elementary in Mrs Eddington’s 3rd grade class and Substituting for her. I take summer classes to recertify my elementary teaching credential.

I taught that Summer at the Springville library teaching writing.

I had Four articles published in the Ensign magazine.

I Teach a personality class for the Community School in the evening.

2006

Tutoring neighbor girls in reading

March 2007 I quit teaching at school - ill; reading at home writing

Things I like to Do

8 hours a week Church Service Mission on lds.org

2 hours a week volunteer writing for Church

Keep up email correspondence with about 100 people each month

includes cards to 8 widows

emails to all ward missionaries

visiting teacher to 6 sisters (4 are missionaries)

Family History (about 30 min a day)

putting into FamilySearch Family Tree

data, photos, stories (writing some), documents

Gospel Study

morning study 1 hr; scriptures and seminary manuals

evening 30 min manuals and Church magazines

Business

partner - communication, planning, advertizing

Adrenal Blog- 100,000 page views in four years

Write poetry- over 500 poems so far (is my journal of thought)

Visit with mom and friends several hours a week

Study daily

personality, world culture and history, health, art (this week)

Also I exercise, clean, cook, decorate, organize, order online, and do research online

Church Service in Mapleton in 1990's

 by Garrett

We initially attended the fifth ward in Mapleton, then the sixth, second, eleventh (1995), then the third ward beginning January 1996, when the eleventh ward was moved into the new building where most of us could not tolerate the new building smells, such as adhesives. The new building was still unacceptable by the end of 1996. We did stake missionary work in the sixth ward, and edited the second ward newspaper, after I served a stint as elders quorum counselor. I was also Second Ward clerk for a couple years. Glen Calder ordained me a high priest on 16 September 1990. Sherry and I taught Daniel’s Primary class together in the eleventh ward.

Accomplishments of Garrett Merrick

I really admire that these were all new things that he had never done before. He studies, asks people, and watches videos online and keeps trying until he learns how to do it. by Cheryl Merrick

1976-1980

Building Construction Degree before Laura born

Garrett graduates in Building Construction; grows beard and keeps

Garrett works days at Provo Post Office

1978

Garrett graduates from BYU in April with a degree in Building Construction.

Garrett becomes Training Technician at PEDC (Postal Employment Development Center) at Provo, Utah.

1980

Garrett Ward clerk;

1981

Garrett becomes the Training Manager at Provo Post Office.

1984

Ward clerk; Primary teacher;

1988

Garrett became incharge of training at new East Bay, Provo, Post Office.

Garrett is our Ward Membership clerk. 

1989

Garrett Postal has had postal training and is the second counselor to the Elders Quorum Presidency.

1990

Garrett organize a new CFS (Computer Forwarding System) at the Provo Post Office; plus his normal training job; sent to Dallas, Texas for CFS training ;

Garrett - Ward Clerk

1991

Garrett------------began running exercise program; began weekly swim with kids; ski at Sundance; learned to copy pictures on the computer; portrayed Columbus on Columbus day at elementary school; Ward Clerk

1994

Garrett - completed 50 miles swim 

worked a lot of overtime ; "Delivery Bar Code Sorters" had to program; called with wife. to be Blazer A teacher (Dan's Sunday School class)

2003

Garrett is called to lockup out church each night.

Both of us are asked to be ward Family History Consultants.

Garrett cuts his beard when he is called to serve in the Provo Temple on Saturday mornings for two years.

2006

Garrett still runs on 24th Fun Run

Garrett takes more Postal Training classes in Norman Oklahoma but I stay home

Garrett serves as clerk at BYU 72 ward; Ron Coppieters bishop; Mike Deming 1st Counselor

1998 Activities and 2003 of Garrett and Cheryl Merrick

 Cedar City plays

1998

Trips with Garrett: Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah.

Visiting Dad Merrick and family in Akron, Ohio; Kirkland Ohio and the , Goodyear Mansion in Akron, Ohio.

Going on postal training trips to Norman, Oklahoma with Garrett and see the Cowboy, Science, Hands-on Museums there. I used the gym, writing, & health evaluation.

2003

We went to Conley family reunion in Akron, Ohio.

2009 Christmas Letter of Garrett and Cheryl Merrick

 Christmas Letter 2009 of Garrett and Cheryl Merrick

I'm trying to get up to date, so here is my first attempt to send our Christmas letter by e-mail. Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season and have a great new year.

Garrett and I both made some decisions this year. Garrett decided to continue working at the Provo, Utah Post Office doing the building maintenance. Though he could retire, he doesn’t feel this would be a good time to retire. I decided that in spite of my improved health, I really don’t want a full time teaching position.

What we both enjoy is spending  time with our children who all live nearby, and especially with our three grandchildren. Garrett loves his job, and still skis at the nearby ski resort. I enjoy volunteering at our local elementary school teaching creative writing, tutoring children, and doing family history research.

We are both thoroughly enjoy spending Sundays at Brigham Young University where Garrett serves as a ward clerk in a student ward. (A ward is group of about 150 people in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Garrett manages the financial and membership records.) I love the students’ enthusiasm and, it brings back memories, for this is where Garrett and I met.

Our daughter, Julene, continues to manage the deli department at a local grocery store.

Garrett and our son David, who lost his job in construction management last spring, have begun a FixIt Fellow business doing home repairs. Besides other jobs, they are currently building a garage for us. Garrett is happy to have a garage at last!

David and his wife, Amy, had a baby girl, Lexie (Alexis Rachelle Merrick) who was born on September 12, 2009.  Their daughter, Becca (Rebecca Daniele Merrick, age 6) was thrilled to have a sister, and their son, Logan Patrick Merrick (age 3), is enjoying his new role as a big brother. We are grateful that they live nearby so we can see them frequently.

Our daughter, Laura continues as Senior Analysis Marketing Manager for Omniture, a web analytics company. Her husband, Theon, who is a stock broker has now become a Principal of the Firm and can Represent E-Trade in stock market trading.

Dan, our youngest son, works in internet services.

We enjoyed visits from Garrett’s brother Mel and his wife, Cathy, and their two granddaughters in June, and by my mom and stepfather, Lew and Arlene Pearson, in October. In May Garrett and his brother, Ken, were able to make a visit to Akron.

Garrett and Cheryl Merrick History 1990-2015

 1990

Julene is now a Junior in High School; afternoon job cleaning the elementary school; lives to dance and is in the High School Orchestra.

David is a Sophomore in High School; Bass.

Laura is in 5th grade. loves to read

Daniel Kindergarten

Garrett organize a new CFS (Computer Forwarding System) at the Provo Post Office; plus his normal training job; sent to Dallas, Texas for CFS training ;

Family goes to Dallas with Garrett for CFS training for week; hotel; Carlsbad Caverns, Indian ruins

Garrett - Ward Clerk

1991

Daniel-------------in school all day; learning to read

Laura--------------in middle school; learning to play the viola, improving ice skating

David--------------got drivers licence; wisdom teeth pulled;helping Gary Calder build his home

Julene-------------legally an adult; voted in town election; received Young Womanhood Award; wisdom teeth pulled

Garrett------------began running exercise program; began weekly swim with kids; ski at Sundance; learned to copy pictures on the computer; portrayed Columbus on Columbus day at elementary school; Ward Clerk

Cheryl------------allergies basically in control; called to Primary as 1st Counselor; left Primary;called to Stake newspaper; wondering what to do with all kids in school;

Home------------made first ice rink on basketball court; new bathroom sink; bought boom box (radio); recorded our records

Fluffy died in July; got a new cat "Scamper" who ran away

Grandpa John Groom visited in September;

Cheryl called and talked to brother, Jim Groom

1992

Julene moved out of small closet room and into Daniel's room

Daniel takes Family room as his room

bought Epson printer

make Julene's room into an Art room

worked on family history;copied Crane family pictures and returned them to Mom

Anderson's moved- Fishers bought their home

Dan summer school

Mark Merrick got married

cut down favorite tree mountain ash- side of house- allergies

Julene graduate from high school; graphics program;Institute programs committee

David helping a friend remodel his house; Commended Student in the 1993 National Merit Scholarship Program

Family did publicity and signs for 24th

visited Temple Square

Garrett and David took out old linoleum and refinished kitchen and hall- another coat on living room

almost Thanksgiving - Daniel advanced into 3rd grade

Mom and Lew came for Thanksgiving

bought van just before Christmas

Me released from Stake newspaper reporter calling- ill

beginning of December, Daniel found "Misty" kitten in our yard

trouble with neighbor's dogs so Garrett and David put fence around front yard on Christmas day

1994

Julene, now 21, apartment Provo ;Institute activities ; graphics classes; cafeteria worker at college

David, 20, missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in Columbus Ohio ; broke wrist

Laura, 14, is in 9th grade; High School Chamber Orchestra and area Honors Orchestra; honors student; braces on; 2nd Counselor in the Mia Maid Presidency; sewing clothes; allergies construction at school

Daniel, 10, is in 5th grade. reading, baseball, digging a fort in the back yard, and playing super Nintendo;cub scout pine wood derby slot car races; thumb guard put in mouth; won 4th grade read-a-thon; left field on baseball team; working for Br. Calder irrigating; running to school and home

Cheryl vitamin and minerals intravenously. very ill

Garrett - completed 50 miles swim ; went to credit union meeting in Salt Lake on April 4th; family went to 30 year High School reunion in Licking Missouri; (Nauvoo) became infected with mites on legs; worked a lot of overtime ; "Delivery Bar Code Sorters" had to program; called with wife to be Blazer A teacher (Dan's Sunday School class)

Manti Temple pageant; ice rink-new washer; 8th

Lew had heart surgery main artery was nearly blocked,

fire on Maple Mountain

new Heritage chapel Main street