The summer is always full of new discoveries and adventures. Macie's recent discovery is the swing. She loves to swing in the baby swings at the park, but she can also swing on the "big girl" swings in our backyard.

Happy Summer Discoveries!!!!

Well, the Miller family is all back together again. TOri and Isabelle spent an extra week with their grandparents and family in Ohio and I did not think they would want to come home at all, but each girl surprised and "warmed my heart" (to quote Tara) today....

THe Mace did not seem to notice that her sisters were gone this week, but this morning I brought her into the room where they were sleeping and she just started pointing back and forth at them saying "Whazzat? Whazzat? Whazzat?" and then she climbed up on the bed gave them hugs and started playing around and laughing with them.

Ronsi woke up, saw Macie and gave her three very distinct hugs. She told me that she had to do that because Grandma had told her to give Macie a hug from her and Papa and then she said she had to give one for herself.

And finally, Tori, the one that insisted she DID NOT want to come home and DID NOT miss us saw the Minnesota sign and exclaimed, "Minnesota, My Home"! and when we came over the hill and saw the Minneapolis skyline she yelled, "I can see my city"!

ANd both TOri and Isabelle started chanting about a mile from home for all the red lights to be green and for me to "go, go, go..." so they could get home to Daddy.

It is good for them and us to have gone, but it is good to be home....together.

Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.
--Henry Miller

























I have come to discover a world of beauty on my visits to Ohio. Beauty in the places I visit, beauty in the traditions and history that have played such a big part of Jamie's life, and most of all, beauty in the people. As Jamie calls them "his people". There is not enough space to post all the pictures of the beautiful souls I have come to know there, but it was good to be with them this past week. Thanks Ohio for a great week!

Two times this week I have had conversations with the girls about how to make a friend. Once with Tori and her friend who stayed over this week as we discussed the possibility of them not being in the same class next year (I don't even want to think about it). But trying to prepare them I asked if they remembered how they became friends...their answer "we just said hello". And today Isabelle made 2 new "friends" at the pool and Tori made a new "friend" as well. Tori was telling Isabelle that she doesn't make friends as easy as her and Isabelle told her two ways to make a friend...1. Find someone you think you like and go up and say your name to them--or (if that doesn't work apparently) 2. Find someone doing something you think you would like to do and do the same thing right next to them, and then apparently they will start to play with you.

So, there you have it. Say Hello, Say your name, Just Invite yourself right in and you will have a friend. Would that we all were that willing to make a new friend. ;)

Happy Father’s Day to the two most important men in my life—my Dad and Jamie (in case you weren’t sure). Most people would say that these two men are not at all alike. But I would have to disagree. Yes, there are certain things about them that are very different- like my Dad’s love of Iowa and butterflies and Jamie’s love of Ohio and the Buckeyes. But they are both incredibly competitive, they can both take down an ice cream carton no problemo and, of course, they are both the father of 3 daughters. But there is one thing that I have seen in both of their lives that is very similar, and it is one big reason, among the millions of other reasons, why I love them.

During our wedding ceremony, believe it or not, Jamie was the first to shed a tear. (I know, it’s shocking) And the first tear he shed was not at me coming down the aisle or because he couldn’t get through his vows….He shed a tear as Pastor Cortner shared about Jesus and told our friends and family gathered there that our greatest desire on that day was that they all come to know the Jesus that we knew. Jamie’s eyes filled with tears since he had been up late the night before talking with his friend Mark about God. Mark was a friend who had been introduced to God several times before, but did not yet seem to want to follow Him.

During a recent visit to Iowa, I sat in the middle of my parent’s (yes, right in the middle) during their church service. The whole family was there (minus Jamie) and I could not help but notice my Dad wiping his eyes with a tissue several times during the singing of the songs and throughout the teaching of the speaker. I am not sure if he was tearing up because we were all there together or if the words of familiar songs struck his soul with a fresh wind, but his heart was moved by the Spirit and the tears began to flow.

You see, these are not individual instances in my life experience with these incredibly important men in my life. I have witnessed both of their hearts be moved reading the nativity story or praying over someone they love. I have watched them study the Bible and search for truth. I have been a part of 2 cross-country moves, as each one followed God’s voice to a new assignment. I have always been convinced of their love for me, and I have always been convinced of their love for their Savior. Their influence on my life is immeasurable and I am blessed beyond blessed to not only have grown up in a home with a tenderhearted and passionate lover of God, but to know that my girls will grow up with that as well.

Thanks Dad and Jamie for choosing to be God’s men first and foremost. Your passion and love for your Savior and others inspires and challenges me. I love you both! Happy Father’s Day!

I always seem to miss when special visitors come to see us...I guess we are so busy having fun, who has time to be on the computer. These are from Emily, Ava, and Mum-Mums visit to MN. We went to the new Nickelodeon Park at MOA, Bachman's Garden Center and the Richardson Nature Center--all Minneapolis Area Classics!!!


Emily got the girls all dolled up and ready to go (you didn't actually think I put that bow in Macie's hair did you?)





We saw the Backyardigans!!!






My mom doesn't actually let me take her picture, but she would let me take one of her and Tori's matching mary jane crocs.



Doesn't that look like fun? Who wants to visit MN now?

Another school year in the books for Tori. She wore green shorts, because green is Mr. Suzuki's favorite color, and she wore a shirt with Hawaii stuff on it, because his grandma lives in Hawaii and he sent everyone a postcard from there when he went there over spring break. You could say she likes her teacher a lot. ;) Yesterday was "clean out your desk day" and she came home and set up all her school stuff on her desk at home. I could not be more thankful as a parent for the great year that she had. She learned great "school stuff", but she also learned to jump rope, do hand jives and be a good friend. I think first grade is a year she will always remember. They are off to the Children's Museum today for their final field trip and then they are ordering Papa John's for lunch and their end of year party (Tori's favorite). I get to see her for a brief time until she packs up to go to a sleepover at her friend Abegail's house tonight. Family Friday night will feel a little empty this evening...where did my little girl go?

This is a picture of our family (taken by my good friend Bethany) right after we moved here to MN almost 4 years ago....Tori was 3 1/2.

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message you understand, Rejoice..."- Eleanora Duse (Italian Actress)








and in case you were wondering...

"Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa." ;)

"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