"Don't Worry Be Happy", people...posts from the Millers will return. We have been busy gardening and playing outside..hopefully the camera situation will be resolved soon, but until then I will try to post some things we missed along the way...Happy Day!

A Tribute to my Mom on Mother’s Day

There is hardly a way that I can describe my mom in a little blog. She is an amazing and unique woman who loves to have fun and who you just have to meet. ;) But I do want to give you a glimpse at the person who has so much to do with the woman that I am today and the woman that I am aspiring to be…

I don’t know if growing older makes you more sentimental or if the gifts of life just overwhelm you sometimes, but in recent years my family gatherings (especially around the holidays) have become markedly more emotional. Well, this Thanksgiving, all of us gathered at my parent’s house for dinner (Mom, Dad, Me and my family, my 2 sisters and their families). Before we ate, we went around and gave thanks to God for something He had done or taught us that year. My mom was one of the last to go and she referenced the song that is printed below by Mercy Me called “Bring the Rain”. Through tears she thanked God for all that He had done in her and others close to her even, and especially, through difficult times. The amazing thing about the story is that only God in His providence knew that more rain was about to come for my Mom. The next morning we were awakened by an early morning phone call from my Uncle telling us that my Grandmother, my mom’s mom, had passed away. Although, she was in a nursing home, her health was pretty good and her death was not expected (not that the “expectation” of someone dying lessens any of the pain). But, my Mom had been praying and making plans to move her to Iowa, so she could be closer to family. The next two days that I was home, we cried together and we laughed together as a family. I saw my Mom testify to the faithfulness of God that we were all there, so we could remember Grandma by telling stories together -celebrating her life and memory. My mom lived before me, again, the words of the song that had come to mean so much to her and in turn she allowed her life to bring great glory to God.

I thank God today for the great blessing of my Mom. There is something about a mother- something that makes her more beautiful with each passing year. My mother adamantly refuses to get her picture taken (I have to sneak up on her), but she is one of the most beautiful women that I know. God in all of His wisdom knew that there could be no better fit for me than her. She is not perfect, no Mother is, but she is living her life, learning as she goes and loving with all she has. Thanks Mom!

Happy Mother’s Day!

BRING THE RAIN

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me what’s a little rain

He doesn't have to, but He does it anyway....Sweet thing!

My camera broke last week. I am totally frustrated by it and today Tori's class put on the "3 Piggy Opera" at her school. She has been singing and practicing for weeks, so the fam headed up to the Washburn gymnasium and I watched as all the proud parents and grandparents snapped pictures of their cute little piggies. I told myself it was no big deal that there would be one big event in Tori's life that was not covered in pictures--there are worse things that could be. WELL, after the play Jamie offered to take a picture with his phone (sad, I know), and as I was waiting to congratulate Tori I ran into one of the mom's that I have become acquainted with from Tori's class. Her daughter Abegail is one of Tori's best buds and when I told her my camera wasn't working she took a bunch of pictures for me and e-mailed them to me. She had even taken a picture of Tori during the play saying her part just because--before she even knew I would want it. So here are some of the pictures from Sue, but in my mind I also know they are a sweet thing to me from my Gracious Heavenly Father. Thank you to you both!



My cute piggy- she designed her shirt by herself on the computer--too cute!


This is the crew...they jump rope together every day at recess...they are inseparable! (These are the sweet girls I jumproped with last week!)

Well, for the sake of closure--Jamie came home last night. Lisa and I made an event out of it and after a yummy dinner at her house, we made signs (Lisa's was even in German) and headed off with the girls to wait in baggage claim for our boys. They were expecting us to just do the drive by pick up that we normally do, but Lisa and I felt an overseas trip merited paying for parking. It was so good to see them come down the escalator. I think they were pleased with our decision.

So, Jamie did a "one thing" for his Germany trip on the Consumed website and so I will end this little journey in the same way. I have learned a lot actually in the last 10 days--mostly stuff not related to Jamie being gone--just stuff that God continues to teach me. But the thing that I have learned from him being away is this...many people have commented that the girls and I were busy or wondered if we always did such fun things. The answer is "yes" we stayed very busy and "no" we aren't normally that active. I do try to hit community events just because they are fun, but never that many in a week. The thing that I realized this week is the reason I have to keep us so active while Jamie is gone is because without him the regular routine just doesn't seem to cut it. With Jamie around I don't find much need to "go out" for adventure because when he is around the ordinary routines of life are an adventure. He makes dinner more fun, nights at home watching tv cozy and all of life just more interesting. So, when he is not there our "home" just doesn't feel complete. So, there you go--gag if you like (I am sure Jamie's sisters are), but that is what I learned and it makes me so thankful for him and for the life that God has given us together. I am so thankful that he got to go as it renews his passion and encourages his heart, but at the same time I am so very glad that he is home so that we can live out the adventure of life together.

Sweet Day!

A few shots from the weekend in Iowa. I did not get very many, because sadly my camera is not working. :( But, we had a great time going to the Circus and enjoying a Cinco de Mayo Celebration and just enjoying each other's company. I am blessed beyond blessed with a great family and I am reminded of that each time I get a chance to see them. A personal highlight for me was hearing Gracia Burnham speak, but I will have to blog about that another time. It is very late (for me), so I am off to bed.

Sweet Dreams!

Day 8:

So I am posting a little early today. The girls and I have had a great week, but I figured it is time to call in the reenforcements- we are off to MumMum and Papa's (a.k.a. my parent's house). I would appreciate your prayers as the girls and I drive down to Iowa. We will be leaving this afternoon and coming back on Sunday morning. I would like to say that I will post while I am away, but....

1. My parents don't have the greatest internet connection and...

2.

Happy Friday!

Day 7:

Today was a really quiet day. No petting zoos, carnivals or dinners out--I didn't even take one picture today. We had homemade pizza and the girls went to bed early. And after they were all in bed, I got to enjoy one of my favorite things--the company of a good friend. Katie from my church came over and we watched The Office and 27 Dresses. And then I got online and spent some time instant messaging with Abby. I am so thankful for the great women God has brought into my life, especially my GC Ladies. Sweet Dreams!

Day 6:

Did I say I didn't like "stuffed" animals? Well, I don't really get along that well with real animals either. And today was all about animals. Isabelle, Macie and I walked to the mechanic to pick up our car (it was a beautiful day for a walk), but it was about 2 miles, so I told Isabelle if she did it I would take her somewhere special. She did awesome- didn't complain once. So, I took her to a petting zoo that I read about in the paper. It was set up between the Kohl's and the Herbergers Department Store just down the road (I know random- life in suburbia). It was just in a tent and I was glad to be on the outside and let Isabelle and Mace feed the probably inhumanely treated goats, sheep, and donkey from behind the fence. But Ponsi noticed that you could go in the pen with the goats and the sheep and so I conceded to go in and figured I could get some cute pictures of the girls with the cute little goats. But these animals were crazy. I don't think they got fed except for the pellets that kids buy out of the dispenser things. And they know that when you come there, that is normally what you do. And I did. We gave out two rounds of gross pellet food, but apparently that is not good enough for the gluttonous little goats. This goat (with horns) comes up to me--looking at me with crazy eyes--bullying me to hand over food. And I didn't have any food left and by the look in his eyes he did not seem to believe me. Then the goat jumped up on me--it jumped on me!!!! I was freaking out. I grabbed Ronsi, who was a little freaked out herself by that point and then we had to drag Macie out who was just looooovvvvving being in the middle of the pen with the crazy goats. She was seriously so mad to be leaving. I will no longer visit petting zoos that let you in with the animals. I will only say hello from the outside.




Macie and her goats...she is so nuts!!!!



Isabelle also got to go on a pony ride at her Scooter's Carnival tonight (Tori was feeling anti-animal today--she must get that from me)

Day 5

1. Dropped Tori off at school
2. Dropped the Corolla off at the mechanic
3. Worked for Anna Worner & Associates
4. Got Subway (thanks again Phil and Sue) and brought it to Tori's school for lunch
5. Jump roped on the playground with Tori and her friends (I still got it baby) =)
6. Picked up some groceries--(Macie needed more milk, of course)
6. Talked to Jamie (and Eric sort of) on Skype
7. Folded some laundry
8. Picked Tori up from the bus
9. Chatted with a friend I have been wanting to catch up with
10. Took the girls to Bar Abilene in Uptown for dinner (kids eat free- our bill was $9.59 before tip and we had chips, salsa, mac & cheese, chicken strips, fries, hickory burger, onion rings, fresh fruit and 2 sundaes with cherries on top) AMAZING!
11. Stopped at Lower Penn Lake Park to look at the water and run down the hill Little House on the Prairie style (Tori's words- "That was so refreshing")
12. Watched American Idol with the girls
13. Voted for Jason (for Jamie), David Cook (for Tori), Syesha (for Isabelle), and Brooke (for me) Sorry David A--as Isabelle put it after the "America" song- "he is so- 'oh brother' ".
13. Put the girls to bed
14. Lost my temper (this is total access) cuz the girls were not going to bed easily
15. Said I was sorry and kissed them good night
16. Uploaded pictures and Updated the blog
17. Sweet Dreams. =)

See you tommorrow.

p.s. Can you see why having a normal dinner is so difficult...



...we should have never gotten Macie that gophone!

Tori in her Drama Club t-shirt (she refuses to wear her sweatshirt even though it is very chilly).

Day 4:

Mondays are about getting back into the routine of the week: work, school, drama club, laundry and all that good stuff. I find keeping routine to be one of the more difficult things to do when Jamie is out of town. I sort of flounder, especially when it comes to cooking and eating. So far we have done pretty well, so hopefully we can keep that up.

Macie finally talked into the microphone today so that Jamie could hear her. She normally justs stares amazed at the computer screen that somehow has her Daddy's voice (what an interesting world our kids are growing up in). But today she held the mic and said "Da-Da" and "Whazzat?", which is pretty much what she says all day anyway.

Shout out to my wonderful in-laws who sent us girls a "packadige" (that is miller language for package). They sent a rubbermaid container of M&M's (among other things) which prompted the quote of the day from Isabelle: "those M&Ms from Grandma changed my life". Who knew that little bags of candy coated chocolates could have such an impact. Anyway, thanks Phil and Sue...you spoil us.

FYI- only one munchkin entered my bed last night and I think she probably would have fallen back to sleep if I let her cry a bit longer, but truthfully I don't mind the company (as long as it is just one and as long as that one goes right to sleep, no kicking or stealing covers) =)

Sweet Dreams!

Day 3:

Whenever people go away on a big trip or adventure there is always a part of me that wants to go, to be where all the exciting action is, but being the homebody that I am there is always another side of it that I am so thankful for. Today, I was thankful for the fact that not only has Jamie been given a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus in Germany, but I have been given an equally great opportunity right where I am. Today I took a walk with the girls and stopped to talk to an elderly man walking a dog, who said he used to have 3 little girls running around his house before they all grew up and moved away....Today I had a conversation with one of my girls about a 17 year old that died in our community last week and how as she put it "17 is not very old"...Today I made tissue paper trees and flowers (so fun!)and interacted with 5 great kids about who made the trees and why Jesus was so great that people wanted to share Him with others...Today I sat with friends who have become family, sharing pizza and talking about life. It was a good day (well, except for when Isabelle got a sliver--we're not talking about that--let's just say if you live in a 25 mile radius of my house you probably heard her screaming as I tried to get it out). But anyway, I love the fact that the same God who ministered to my heart today, ministered to hearts in Germany, and in every other corner of the world for that matter. So, I hope you have great adventures in your life--near and far. And I hope you are inspired by the adventures of others as they carry out their God given callings. But I mostly hope that you have found great joy in your own calling and that this post finds you blooming with the love of Jesus wherever you have been planted.

On a side note, last night had 1 girl screaming with a nightmare, 1 girl claiming to be "lightheaded", and 1 girl demanding a drink which added up to a not-so-great night of sleep for me. Let us hope that 3 little munchkins sleep soundly this evening or they will have 1 grumpy mama in the morning.

Sweet Dreams!

Day 2:

Well, I woke up this morning (alongside 2 munchkins) with snow out my window. This is a personal record for the latest snowfall that I have seen, but it didn't damper my spirits. Now my sister-in-law texting me to tell me she was out in the sun catching some rays, that may have dampened my spirits a little, but she ended up getting burnt so there is some sweet justice. =) Anyway, I have a long list of spring cleaning to do--and I got a ton accomplished- I even pulled out the refrigerator to clean behind (Muy Macho- I know). A special thanks to Abby for taking the girls and their friends from church on a lunch outing to the Mall of America...they had a great time. =)

So, I tried to start our girl time off on a good note. I took the girls for donuts at a new to us bakery in Chaska--very good. And then I went for all the gusto and although, I am pretty much anti-stuffed animals, the girls added two more to their collection today. It is Webkinz Extravaganza Weekend (if you don't know, just think beanie babies with virtual lives--somebody is making millions). And the girls still had some money that they assured me they really, really, really wanted to spend on new Webkinz. So we now have a chihuahua named Cutie and a persian cat named Beautiful (they are in the pictures).

I did get to talk to Jamie this afternoon. Well, at first, I was talking and he was typing which was incredibly weird, but Yay for Eric who fixed that problem in a jiffy and we are no longer in radio silence. Now I just need to figure out this time difference thing and we will be golden.

The comment of the day:

"Mom, you are like a widow." (This made for a nice teaching conversation)





Macie really just wanted to read her book, but then I told her the picture was for Daddy and she perked right up.



Sweet Dreams!

(two posts today...read the other one first....please)

Day 1:

We all deal with our emotions in different ways. I have been mentally blocking out this trip for one reason or another. I do pretty good when Jamie goes out of town, but overseas seems to be a little more difficult for me. I am a cell phone user and although I do not always answer it or even know where it is, I can normally call and Jamie's voice is right there. This is not so with overseas travel. We have set up Skype, so we should be able to talk while he is away through the computer (that's amazing), but as of today he could hear me, but I could not hear him. So, hopefully Eric can figure that one out or we will be in what I am calling "radio silence" for the next ten days and that will be unfortunate.

Now the girls on the other hand have not given much thought to the trip until today. As we drove away from the airport I was holding back the huge lump in my throat and then I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Tori trying to hide behind the seat, tears flowing down her face. I heard her give a little sob--my lump now started flowing out my eyeballs--but then I had to laugh, because Tori looked at Isabelle who was happily singing a song and said, "You don't even miss him". So, that made Isabelle start to cry and argue "I do miss him, I'm just not crying, Tori said I don't miss him, but I do". Tori will sleep with his picture every night and Isabelle will probably draw him 100 pictures. Macie probably won't have any idea what is going on, but she will be really excited to see him when he comes home. We will all miss him, but we will just show it in different ways.

p.s. pictures tommorrow- I promise.

In today's world it is all about "total access". We get behind the scenes looks at everything from the homes of the rich and famous to how they make movies and tootsie rolls for crying out loud. So, I made an executive decision...brace yourself..this week we are going behind the scenes.

Background:
Jamie is in flight to Germany as I type. He and Eric Beavers are headed there for a book tour/ speaking trip with one of Consumed Ministries' authors- Rob Stearns. You can stay updated on all that is happening on their trip at Consumed's website (www.consumedministries.com). But I am here in good old Bloomington with the girlies and it is my sincere intent to give a daily update (hopefully with pictures) of all that is going on at home. "Why?" you may ask...well, one, I have had a good number of people express that they are praying for me this week (THANK YOU!!!!) and so I thought I would give you a more accurate picture of what you are praying for....and probably give you a few good laughs. Two, Jamie will not get to see our beautiful faces for the next 10 days, so this way he can keep caught up, too. And, three, I expect I am going to be bored, so....here we go...A behind the scenes look at the family behind the scene- Germany 2008.

Here are the girls are snuggly buggly for Friday night's showing of Enchanted--complete with popcorn and peanut butter m&m's.
I just love 'em!

I hear we may get some snow today...Maybe a song will cheer you up...

http://www.noggin.com/shows/spring.php

Believe in Spring! =)

Jamie's bowling league career was cut short when he broke his ankle playing basketball and could no longer hop on his release. (this is absolutely true)



The Miller fam went bowling for Family Friday Night...It was quite fun. We have never really gone bowling with the girls, but I got a coupon in the mail (of course). Tori had gone with us once when we went with the Alumni Department at BBC during Volunteers week, but that was many moons ago- she was about Macie's age at the time. This time, the girls actually bowled, so against Jamie's wishes we used bumpers. Isabelle was all over the bumpers (otherwise she may have scored a 4). Instead I think she scored an 80 and is now under the false assumption that she is a very good bowler. Oops. Tori, on the other hand didn't actually use the bumpers much at all--and she did pretty well. But Isabelle ended up beating her "technically", which made Tori not so happy and not so cooperative for my photo shoot. I, admittedly, may have used the bumper one time, not on purpose, it just happened. My puny little arm has a hard time staying straight after a few frames. =) Jamie, for the record, did not use the bumpers at all and he won--in case you thought I did. I am not ready to join a league or anything (Jamie may have said something about that---ay-yi-yi), but I do think we will go again sometime.

Did you note that Jamie has a different outfit on in some of the pictures? See the ones of him in his black "Go Bucks" shirt...well, that is our little Tori girl with him at the aforementioned PA bowling trip...Can you even believe it? Where has the time gone?

I am the first to admit that I am totally gullible and believe many absolutely absurd things that I am told. But I was told that the size of the squirrels in the fall is a good way to determine the length and severity of the winter to come. You know, because God provides extra nuts for them to eat in the fall to survive the winter. (Go ahead and mock me--I can take it) =). Now it may be coincidence, but the creepy albino squirrel that lives in my neighborhood was so chubby this fall and now it is March 31st and we are supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow. I don't know...seems kinda interesting to me...
Heed the squirrels people!

The simple joys of the past couple weeks...

Take the time to smell the roses....even if they are buried under the snow. ;)

So sorry...I have been getting spammed and so I had to add the word verification thing THAT I HATE onto my blog. Darn spammers! Sorry for the inconvenience.

I wanted to introduce you to some new residents in the Miller household. We got them last Friday night for Family Friday Night, Yeah Family Friday night (Columbus people you can sing it with me--to the tune of Football Friday night). Anyway, I thought I should introduce them now before, well...you know what happens to fish.

Here are our fish--Tori named hers "Buckeye" and Isabelle named hers "Shakey" and then changed his name to "Bunny". They are Male Betta fish and we had a wonderful and informative worker named Kevin help us get them all set up.

It was Jamie's idea and the girls were actually squealing when we told them. I was not thrilled about the idea, because I am not interested in going down the slippery slope of pet ownership. I am just not a pet person...sorry. I am taking good care of the fish...at least I am trying to take good care of the fish.

It is a GLORIOUS day here in Bloomington, MN and I have total spring fever. So, Isabelle, Macie and I went on our first walk of spring. Isabelle rode her scooter through every puddle and I pushed Macie in my "made for the mall, not for the outdoors" stroller through an ice slushy. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if we would have stuck to the streets, but if you have seen Ponsi ride her scooter you would know why it is much safer for us to stick to the sidewalks. So despite the bottoms of our pants being covered in mud (actually Ponsi fell twice so she was completely covered in mud) and my arms being a little sore, I feel so refreshed to have felt the sun on my face and to have breathed the fresh air into my lungs. Ronsi, however, lost her steam after about 3/4 mile and made me carry her scooter home (well, she didn't MAKE me--I gave in--she had fallen twice for goodness sake)and she is now taking a hot bath and expecting hot chocolate when she is done. Oh well. Happy Spring!

(p.s.--I fully realize it is not technically spring yet and we may get a snowstorm in a day or two, but I am relishing my spring day today--that's all.)

Macie was not happy when I made her come in. Temper, temper. ;)

Jamie was having deja vu last night...good deja vu of attending a choir concert for one of his sisters. =) Tori was a lovely ladybug in the 1st and 2nd grade production of "BUGZ". She has been excited about it for weeks and I have heard the songs rehearsed over and over and the motions practiced (in secret) until she got them just right. I realize she was one of 200 children up on the stage yesterday, but I was beaming with pride because, of course, she was the cutest little ladybug I have ever seen! ;) And Isabelle soaked up every glorious moment vicariously through Tori--dreaming of the day when she, too, could be a ladybug. Those of you who know Ronsi well can imagine the squeals of delight when Tori let her wear her antennae after the show. Bravo Victoria!

Jamie was not the only one having some "Mardi Gra" fun this week. Today we girls went to Tori's school carnival that was all done up in Mardi Gra decor. Isabelle played all the little games-- winning a bag full of notebooks and bracelets and plastic frog treasures. Tori decided that the game prizes were junk (Thank you Jesus--we are making progress) and spent her tickets on hair extensions and food (I said progress, not miracles). So, maybe it was not exactly the French Quarter, but we had fun!