ABC boy

Most days I question if any learning really happens around here......it seems like such craziness. Every once in while I see a ray of hope.  While Allie and I were working on her ABC's and letter sounds, Jonathan was trying to repeat what we were saying.  It was so cute we had to video it.  When we got the video out he would only do it with Madison.....

aquarium and botanical gardens

Today we went to the Aquarium/Botanical Gardens here. What a fun day with cousins, aunt Valeta and Grandma! Jonathan ran through the aquarium yelling, "Ahhh! Ahhh!" I guess that is "look at all these fish!"

The gardens were interesting with flowers, a farm, and Japanese garden. Every few yards Allison would stop and pose saying to aunt Valeta and I...."Take my picture....I'm going to need some pictures because I am going to start a blog soon!" Oh boy, watch out world!

oh fair New Mexico!

Long time no blog......I know it has been awhile! Seems like it took us at least a week to recover from the wedding and then I was preparing to leave town. The kids and I are in the middle of a 10 day trip to Albuquerque, NM. We came for lots of good reasons - the only down side was we had to leave daddy at home to work. (Someone has to pay the bills!) Last week we arrived and I immediately began spending time at a 3 - day homeschool convention for the state here. I was working with my friend who is a rep for our writing curriculum, Institute for Excellence in Writing. I spent about 16 hours talking about the curriculum to attendees coming through the curriculum hall. 16 hours of talking! Even for me that was a lot! It was fun. After it was over I had convinced myself I am even more sold on it and spent more than I earned....oh well.

Now we are spending the week visiting Merl's parents, sister and family, brother and family, my brother's family, and my cousin and his family! Fun! Not to mention it is in the 70's! Coming here is always a nice "getaway" - away from cooking, cleaning, running around, etc. We do miss daddy, however. He would make the trip complete!

the happy couple

wedding blessings and fun.....

We spent the entire weekend celebrating the marriage of our dear friends Jeannie and Steve.  We have known "Miss Jeannie" for over 10 years and supported her for many years on the mission field.  What a joyous occasion to see her marry the man of her dreams after all these years of waiting (for both of them).  The girls and I attended a "Turkish Kina Gecesi" for the bride on Friday, our family then had the rehersal and dinner on Saturday and wedding festivities all day Sunday.  Madison was a junior bridesmaid, Allison a flower girl, and Ryan a junior usher.  What fun  it all was.  Merl and I got to two step and we always enjoy the ceremony parts of the wedding - like renewing our vows.  I ALWAYS cry while Merl looks at me like I just came down the aisle or something.  The kids enjoyed every minute as you can see from the pictures.....but most of all the dancing and party afterward!  We are still recovering from the busy weekend even today.  It was all worth it.  What a great example these two have been to the kids of what God intends for marriage and that "love is worth waiting for".    It was overall just a great cultural and spiritual experience for our family.......a blessing.  

happy birthday, to me......

Well yes, it is my turn - no cute baby picture or even current picture to share with you!  Of course there are very cute baby pictures I just don't have any with me....as far as current pictures - well I am the photographer (main one I should say now that Madison is getting into it) so none really interesting ones.  

I will tell you I am on the very edge of 40 - but NOT there yet!  I used to wonder what the big deal about turning 40 was but now I am understanding.  I am seeing more gray hair everyday.....and Ryan told me he was going to "get some of that stuff for gray hair" for me for my birthday.  How thoughtful of him!  

I am thinking that around the time you turn 21 years old we should celebrate birthdays differently.....we should honor our parents!  It is pretty much thanks to them you are still alive!  Think of all those times you almost rolled off the changing table, or were about to run in the street, or when you wanted to go out to some outing as a young teen that was not safe.   I have reflected a great deal on all the ways my parents have contributed or shaped who I am.

The Lord shaped and formed me and has blessed me in many ways but I do appreciate the way my parents loved me and encouraged me in school, my faith, and early involvement in track.  Of course now I have so much more of an understanding of what it takes to do all that they have.  I am sure there were a lot of times they were not sure what they were doing - but seems like I made it out ok!  

I just want to say THANKS MOM AND DAD for all you've done for me.  I know you made an endless number of sacrifices and big decisions in relation to my life.    Growing up in a small town was hard at times but I think a good thing for me.  Life as a pastor's daughter was good - I appreciate all the time you invested in introducing me to a life with Jesus Christ.  

You traveled to give me the opportunity to compete at a national level at just 10 yrs. old - a thrill I will NEVER forget.........  One of you was always at my games, meets, or school activities (Steve's too).......  There were the late night tears over homework and social struggles or times you might have had to say no.......   Thanks for our 2 big vacations I'll never forget - the one to Florida you saved so long for and then the year we went to the '84 Olympics.  You so carefully researched and found the one day of track and field when I could see my "heroes" compete........   All those years of games and meets in the victory and ugly defeats (100 - 25 basketball games - yes that is a score  - or lost races when I was so hard on myself - you always were in my corner)..........  You let go of me physically but still fully supported me through 4 tough years of college - missing most of my meets and injuries because of distance - but always patiently supporting me in track and academics on the phone and with visits when you could.  ( I should insert at this point that my brother, Steve deserves high praise in this support area as well as I cried on his shoulder for many years and he was carted around to all my games and meets as a youngster.)

And then there was the day you put your "little girl" of 22 on the plane to move across the country to Florida to be with the man you had only met one time.  Looking back now I can't believe you did it so gracefully.  I understand now why you were so surprised when I called just one month later to say we were engaged.....

Sheesh - I know those first 22 years were way hard work on your part - thank you so much.  I can only hope that 4 beautiful grandkids are halfway paying you back for that!  But on this birthday I just want to say I love you, mom and dad - thanks for giving me life!  I had been a great ride so far.

the end of spring cleaning

Well, spring break is over......the house is a little more organized and slightly more on the clean side.  Nice.  While it is great to have a clean and organized home I know it is not the most important thing.  What happens inside this home is of much more importance......

Interesting that this week my personal bible study touched on some aspects that went right along with my "spring cleaning" theme.  I have been working through the Parent's Handbook for Shepherding a Child's Heart and reading through a lot of scripture relating to behavior and our heart.  God is not simply concerned with the externals of behavior, he is concerned with the heart.  These are some of my reflections/notes from the following verses:

Proverbs 4:23:  the heart is the wellspring of life - it should be guarded and focused on Christ.

1 Samuel 16:7:  The Lord does not put such an emphasis on our outward appearance, but our heart.

2 Chronicles 16:9:  the Lord strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13.....We are to serve the Lord with all our heart and soul - it is for our own good.

Ezekiel 14:1-8.....idols are linked to our hearts - it is a problem in our relationship with the Lord and causes separation from Him.

Joel 2:12-13.....Return to the Lord with all your heart - he wants our full attention and focus.  Be sure our attitude toward the Lord is correct - not just our outward actions.

The Bible also has a lot to say about the relationship of behavior to the heart:

Matthew 5:28....wrong desires lead to wrong action.

Matthew 15:18...the things that come out of our mouths come from our heart - it is who we are deep down.

Mark 7:21-23.....it is from within our hearts that come the evil behavior and make us unclean.....dwelling on evil thoughts leads to sin.

The Bible also teaches that when the heart is cleansed, the behavior will care of itself. (Tripp)

Matthew 23:26....."Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."   Yikes!  I was thinking about how much better I feel when my home is in order, clean, and organized.  Sometimes it even looks neat - but I know all the dust and filth in the corners, ceilings, and things stuffed in the closets.  Our house gives the appearance that it is "clean".  

When I read the above verse I felt like such a fraud.  So much of the time on the outside I look "fresh and clean" - I am chipper and "together" when we are out and about and I am appearing organized and whatever.  I physically appear where I need to be to serve or fulfill my duties.  But much of the time am I really "clean" on the inside?  Am I truly cleansed?  The evidence says no when I am short with my kids, lose my temper over something silly, or have a judgmental attitude toward someone else.  Often times I have been so frustrated with myself as I've tried to change my behavior on my own - without changing my heart first.

How much time do I spend "spring cleaning" my heart?  How much time do I dedicate to focusing on how great God is and thanking Him for what He has given me?  How concerned am I with keeping my own heart "clean".  "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean." When I am clean on the inside my cleanliness on the outside will be genuine.

Psalm 51:10,17 David prays, "Create in me a pure heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.....The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Ezekiel36:25-27 is encouraging as well....."I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And  I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and  and be careful to keep my laws."

There may not be hope for a clean house......but there is hope for me....not by anything I can do - but through the Lord Jesus Christ he can fix my heart that makes so many mistakes to be more loving, more joyful, more gentle, more self controlled!

Spring cleaning may be over for the Miller house for now - but the "spring cleaning" on my heart keeps going.....