it's been awhile

Well I know it has been a real long time since I have blogged much at all.......why is this?  I have been examining it and thinking it over for some time.  When I started the blog I did it for several reasons:  1) to keep family and friends updated, 2) spend a little time journaling (an outlet for me), 3) and just have some fun.  I personally read all kinds  of blogs - personal, political, some that follow famous people, etc.  I didn't want mine to be negative, divisive, etc.  So I tried to keep it to our family news, some of my thoughts and observations and great pictures of our daily life.  Over the last month or two though I have been pouring over political information - trying to read all I can about candidates, propositions, and the implications of election results, etc.  I have transformed from a complete political illiterate (when I was in my 20's) to someone who is really passionate about most of the issues out there.  

Sooo......I have strongly been resisting the unending urge to blog about the issues at stake in our country this election.  I know that many of you fall on completely different sides of the fence......some the same as I and some different.  I still love you all - please believe me!  But it has been painful and driving me crazy not to blog!  You know me - Miss passionate, give her opinion even when not asked - but I am realizing that I really don't think I would be able to persuade or increase anyone's knowledge.  And I definitely did not want to hurt anyone with not well thought out words.  (Something I struggle with in real life conversations).

Honestly I am really just stumped.   I have a hard time understanding sometimes why people believe the way they do.  I am NOT saying people should just think like me - I am honestly saying I wish I understood the rationale behind their thoughts or where they were coming from.   I am realizing that no matter who is elected Nov. 4 - we are a country divided on what America should be.  That grieves me.  I am grieved mostly for my children.  But.....

The whole political scene has been a real distraction for me away from Kingdom endeavors (Matthew 6:33).  "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "  As one blog I read said:  "Life is too short and the gospel too important to be carping back and forth in ways that do not persuade or are not increasing knowledge." Hmmm....I have been doing a lot of carping back and forth with various ones, but I have spared you....Oh blog readers!  You can thank me anytime.  

Just know this - I will not stop being passionate about what I believe.  No surprise there probably.  I will not stop trying to be informed.  I will be a nut case until after the decisions have been made Nov.4.....then I will finally rest in the sovereignty of God - and try to put in practice Matthew 6:34.."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Maybe then my mind will be clear enough to resume life as usual!

private viewing

Merl's family lives just a few miles from the balloon take-off site.  You can walk right out the door in your pajamas and wave to the balloonists!  Well I was taking pictures in my pajamas.....It is amazing.  Do you see Ryan chasing the balloons there on the ditch bank and then right on Merl's street?!  Fun.  Well - maybe next year the skies will be blue and the wind calm again.

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