The Mergenthaler Family

 Letters From the Nest, April 18, 2025 https://lettersfromthenest.substack.com/p/potholes It’s pothole season. Did you know that? In early spring, potholes are at their worst because, throughout the winter, roadways have been exposed to water seeping into cracks in the pavement, expanding and melting, causing widespread destruction. Some websites name Michigan the state with the worst reputation for potholes, but we have our fair share of potholes here in Pennsylvania, too. Have you ever been on a back road littered with potholes? I remember girls' camp whenever I’m on a poorly maintained road. I have attended many girls’ camps over the years, both as a participant and as a leader, and it seems like a rule of life that the last half-mile or more of the drive to camp is pitted with potholes. Imagine this: you’re nearing the end of a couple of hours in a cramped car. You have drunk too much soda, and each bump reminds you that you really should have used the facilities when the chanc...

Penn State usually schedules spring break around the 2nd week of March. It's still pretty cold, so staying in town for the week isn't always delightful. This year, I was determined to find a beach with temperatures at least in the 70s.  I used a website with short descriptions of family-friendly beaches along the East Coast to choose a place to go. I searched along the coast from north to south, checking each location's weather forecast during the week of spring break. I determined that we could reasonably drive down to South Carolina to catch some warmth and sunshine. So, that's what we did! First, we prepped the van. Gavin and Brooklyn were so excited for their week off; they were good helpers.  They're cute in their matching-ish outfits. I did not spend much time on my appearance, and it was COLD in the garage where we were working, so I had my hoodie up. When I finally came in the house, Sean told me I looked crazy. It was just messy hair from my hoodie, but, ya...

Letters from the Nest: https://lettersfromthenest.substack.com/publish/post/159570004 Who am I? What is my purpose? My seminary teaching partner wrote those questions on the board today. You would expect to see these thought questions posed to teens in a religion class, but you might be surprised at how often these questions come up for people worldwide at all ages. I came home from the lesson with a lot on my mind, so I will pour some of it out for you to read someday when you miss having me around. I hope you’re not disappointed to find out that even as a 46-year-old almost grandmother, I sometimes get stuck on the idea of my own identity and purpose. I know the generalized answer, and with your religious background, you can probably guess what I mean. The young women in our church recite this definition of identity and purpose on Sundays: “I am a beloved daughter of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.” I believe that. In fact, it’s more than belief. It’s a tr...

 I have had a good attitude about the weather this winter. The gloom hasn't weighed on me. The cold hasn't cut me. Not yet. But I'm starting to feel my mood shift. It's been icy and windy, and I've had enough. To brighten my afternoon, I'm reviewing some snapshots of our family adventures over the past few months. I might feel grumpy right now, and maybe for a few days now, but I haven't been grumpy ALL winter. We've had some fun. To prove it, I have to go all the way back to December because I can't believe I didn't share some of these delights. I'll write about some of these pictures so future generations will know the context, but some of them speak for themselves. Snowflake-making competition in seminary. One of the kids accidentally made a creepy face. Went to visit Mom at her new house in Arizona. We spent some time at the Mesa Temple Visitors Center. Fun to see Grandma Della. I like how Gavin and Brooklyn get along most of the time. Yo...