shapes......

These are some of the "special shapes" that you might see each year.  

balloons.......NOT!

Well......we hoped to see the balloons this year - but due to weather the last 2 days of the Fiesta were cancelled.  Not to worry!  Last year was beautiful so I am posting those pictures to remind us of what a great time it was!  These pictures are from the field early one of the mornings we went.

chasing Fall

We are experiencing a taste of fall here - but only a little.  I've kept the windows and doors open for a short while in the mornings - but only a few hours - and it is cooling at night into the 60's and 70s maybe?  Of course we can tell it is fall by the sunlight in the afternoons - and then on Saturdays when I see college football everyone else in the country is wearing sweatshirts!  It is playoff and World Series time for baseball (our family's favorite) - which is also an indicator that fall is here.  After Halloween I think it will be officially cool enough to call it fall.  So the kids and I are leaving Phoenix for New Mexico where fall is actually happening!  The International Balloon Fiesta is happening, trees are changing, and the temperature in the day is below 90 degrees.  We are going primarily so my mom and I can attend my sister in law's 1st baby shower.  We are really thrilled to be going - and then will visit lots of other family very rapidly over the weekend!  Short visit - but worth it.  So tomorrow it is into the car - we'll see how many times Allie asks "when are we getting there?" and how many times we stop for the bathroom.  

The above pictures really are of fall in Arizona - just up North in Payson from a fun trip to a friend's cabin this same weekend a year ago.  (Raspberries, apples, and fall leaves along our hiking trail).  When we get back I'll post more fall pictures from our trip so those of you in Phoenix  can "taste" it too!  

more butterflies

Had to post these pictures.....After Madison's enthusiastic butterfly endeavor, Ryan was inspired to catch some caterpillars of his own.  He named them Robin Hood, Indiana Jones, and Davy Crockett.  All 3 spun their cocoons and turned into beautiful butterflies as well!  These photos are of our very last one - not sure which of the above named.....but Madison took the photos!  I guess all but the last one of Ryan - but I must say she did a great job!  So now we have moved on from butterflies to radishes.  Yes, radishes - and let me tell you I never knew one could do SO MANY experiments with radish seeds......hours worth.  Somebody thought of too many ways I'd say but either way - we are conducting many hours of observation and testing here at the Miller laboratory.  I'll keep you posted on that.

my caterpillars

One day I was with my friend in her front yard when we found two caterpillars.  We put them in a butter tub and named them Spike and Daphne.  I took them home.  I put dirt in a jar and some sticks, leaves from where the caterpillars came from and a net on the top.  I put them in and waited.  A couple of days later they made cocoons, it was really cool!  A week later while I was sleeping, my brother Ryan had just come out of the shower, and came running into my mom and dad's room naked and yelling: "The butterfly came out of its cocoon!!!!!!"  Back in my room I was awake.  I got up to see what was going on.  Sure enough there was Spike, a butterfly.  We let him go, and about a week later my mom was doing laundry and walked by the jar and noticed another butterfly.  It was Daphne, we let her go too.  I had fun catching caterpillars, but letting them go as butterflies was fun too!

By:  Madison Miller

Age: 9

Date: 9/19/08

battles

Many of you may find it hard to believe that I am at a loss for words at this time.  I have too many "musings" floating around in my head!  The last few weeks it seems I have been so distracted with the trivial things of daily life - consuming way too much of my energy - things that in the light of eternity do not matter at all yet they seem so important I can't even teach math!  Sometimes I really annoy myself.  Anyway I haven't felt very much like writing because my struggles seem so ridiculous when I consider my friends who are fighting cancer, illness, broken marriages, and other heartaches.  I pray the Lord would give them courage and joy in their battles.  I pray too that I might figure out how to look more intently into the eyes of Jesus rather than living so much in my own flesh! 

to yell or not to yell

Here's what happened one day this week when I was on the phone.....you can argue amongst yourselves about whether I was "on the phone too long" - or whether I should be on the phone at all!  With this guy I am not sure it is really me not paying attention.  I am realizing if I turn my head at all he is capitalizing immediately and into something!  In this situation however, there were accomplices.  I have reason to believe his brother Ryan "mixed the mud" and maybe Allison helped to smear it on Jonathan.  Crisp and clean Madison just enjoyed posing for the "after" shots.  When I realized what was going on and quickly hung up the phone I was ready to really yell big time at the group - but when I got outside I thought - hmmm - I think I'd better get the camera!  I actually think that me taking the time to stop and take pictures gave me enough of a time out that by the time I was done I was laughing instead of yelling!  May not always work but it worked in their favor this day!