BIG DAY IN THE MILLER HOUSEHOLD!!!!

I thought I should let you all know that our lives are going to be changing in the next few months. Yesterday, you dad signed a Letter of Intent with Parkview Physicians Group. What this means is that over the next few months we will have a lot of work to do, but by Jan. 1 your dad will be an employee of PPG. Our lives at that point may not look too different or may change completely. I will not have to work at the office at all, as all of my current work will be done at the corporate level. (i.e. payroll, bill paying, etc.) Hopefully it will also cut down on your dad's after hour work. However, that being said, there may be times when we will not be able to flexible, because your dad will not be calling the shots.
Continue to pray for us! There is much negotiating to be done yet and details to work out. What we signed is not binding as of yet. We have the process of Due Diligence to go through before we close. These are just a few details, if you want to know more, just ask.
On a lighter note, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO RYAN AND KRISTI! Two big years. I love you all!

Mom

Labor Day Weekend

Hey family,

Guess where I am at right now... On my couch at home. Yep, we finally got Internet at home. We bundled it with our cable with Comcast. I even added a sports package to our cable programming so now we get Tennis Channel, all sorts of ESPN's, and NFL Network and Redzone. I installed the modem and router yesterday and we're all set up.

On to more important things... Like wife time. We were planning on going away for a few days but instead we are hanging at home. We aren't just doing nothing, I made a schedule cause I am the new plan man. Stuff like couples massage, golfing, Pizza Shack, reliving our first date, picture time, arts and crafts time, movie time, etc. This started last night and will continue tonight and tomorrow. The golf course is called Bear Slide and is one of the best in Indiana.

Then were on to Angola to spend Monday. Can't wait for golf again, time at the pool, and Matt's birthday dinner. Seeing the family again will be great. Seems like we've all had busy months since the vacation. I bet Judah changed so much already!!! Anyways, just wanted to quickly update everyone. I am going to blog more now that I have a great computer, time at work, and now can at home. I challenge us all to blog more...

Andrew

PS: We looked up that if Madison Elaine was born today she would have only a 50% chance of living but next week she would have nearly an 80% chance of living. Hope to make it at least another week... Today she is around 14 inches and 1.66 pounds. Amazing to me!!! Keep praying for her. Love you all.

Life Update

Family,

Life is good...God is great. As all of you know, the past few months have been a whirlwind. It was just in April that Kristine and I were enjoying an amazing Spring Break in Mexico both excited to be on vacation but stressed about our unknown future. Now were approaching the end of summer and our lives have been flipped upside down...

First the pregnancy. Kristine and the baby are doing great. Kristine can easily feel Madison moving, and recently I have been able to feel her kicking. It's awesome. The only problem is that it seems like whenever Kristine grabs my hand and puts it on her stomach, Madison stops moving and I can't feel it consistently. I guess I have the calming touch. The only problem so far with pregnancy is the back pain she is starting to experience, but I am learning better methods for massages... Giving her the card and letting her go get one professionally! Ha

Second the house. It is amazing to me how many more expenses there is when you own compared to when you buy. Also, how much more work is required to keep up with it. As those of you have been there know, we have a big house. And although we basically hang out in only half of it, we still have to keep up with all of it, including the outside. The recent rain has brought color back to our lawn but that means I have to mow more. All in all we are in love with our house and the extra work and money is worth it. I can't tell you how much we love relaxing on the nice new couch in the basement and chilling. Once football starts, Sunday afternoons are going to be a dream.

Third the jobs. Kristine is back at work at school and assistant coaching. Her team sucks but she cares less about that as the assistant. She is having a great attitude this season about helping out but not feeling the pressure and stress she did last year. She is letting the head coach worry about more. Her new classes are great. She loves teaching and her pregnancy has not been hindering her at all. My team is not great either (currently 1-2 but have a winnable match tonight) but we are getting better. It's frustrating that I have nobody on the team that is like I was in high school. No true leaders nor people that refuse to let themselves and their teammates lose. And of course, I have started at the church. It is great. It is both easy and hard as I have complete freedom but that means I lack direction at times. Things are progressing though I just got my first commitment for an upcoming retreat. MOM AND DAD AND MATT AND COURTNEY, I would love for you to attend a retreat. I can get one scheduled for maybe even a family one. Just let me know. Follow me on Twitter: PreservesAndrew. Also go to preservemarriages.com to find more out about the ministry.

That's all for now. A complete life update. Love you all

Andrew

ODE TO VACATION

Now we are home and the busyness begins. Not only for us but also for you. For a week we were connected by closeness and closeness. Now we are separate by miles. Tell me because I need to know what your good memories are! I love you all!
MOM

From my friend's blog....

I was reading along in my friend's blog this morning, and read this section of his entry. I love this description of the way life is supposed to flow...and of how to connect with God's will for our lives (such a difficult concept!) I was very inspired by what he wrote and really connected with his words. I thought you'd all enjoy them as well!


Life is a funny thing. I believe everything in life was created with a rhythm that it needs to return to. At coffee a friend of mine asked me to explain my concept of God’s will. A huge topic that could take hours to explain, but I only had 1-2 mins, and it had to be simple. My answer was rhythm. I believe God created the world to function within certain rhythms, and the more we live into those, the more satisfied we will be that we are in God’s will. It’s less about particulars and more about living into His larger story. God created us to function a certain way within our vocations, families, the way we eat, the way we vacation, it’s safe to say…everything. The Hebrew people had maybe the best term for this called “Shalom” (Peace, completeness, whole). Christians are called to be people who try to find these rhythms within their lives and live into how God has called us to live. When we are doing so, we will see and hear the beautiful rhythmic beat. When we’re not, and we’re choosing to live into the rhythms we create or create, our ears and eyes will know that our hands are just striking the drum with no rhyme or reason while more chaos ensues.


Love,
Kristi

Brothers

This song came on my ipod today...and it made me think, obviously, of my brothers! I miss you both dearly. If I wrote a dance song about you, this would be it! Enjoy the video (CLICK HERE) and the lyrics.


Brothers, I can take it if I know I'll see my brothers
And just step back when I'm dancing with my brothers..who are dancing with me
Brothers, I would give my life for my brothers
When we're driving and its late with my brothers, they sat next to me

It's a wild love that I have for my brothers, for my brothers

Brothers, I can play 'Xbox' with my brothers
It's not about who won or lost with my brothers
We play to be free!
Brothers, I will drink my fill with my brothers,
And if one of us is ill then my brothers will watch over me

It's a wild love that I have for my brothers, for my brothers

Brothers, when will we be three again my brothers?
The way we used to be again my brothers?
Now I bounce you on my knee again, my brother
We should be together now my brothers
There's three of us and what is more my brothers, my brothers, my brothers

It's a wild love that I have for my brothers, for my brothers


See you guys in about a month!

Love,
Sisti

Updates!

It has been way too long since the last post--so I thought we'd send out an update on what is new with us.

Ryan's new job has been amazing--he loves going to work (or at least doesn't mind it), and has been kicking booty in all sorts of ways. We are continually thankful for this opportunity and very happy that he decided to make that career move.

My job is super busy--we are preparing to move into a new building that is much larger. My program (Partial Hospitalization Program) will be splitting off from our Inpatient unit to develop our own space. We will still be part of the Eating Recovery Center, but will have more freedom to develop on our own. I am excited for the move, but also feeling a little lost about my place in the career world. I really enjoy my co-workers, but there are many times that if I get asked one more time to find someone a pen, I am going to burst! I feel like I have so much to offer, but just not sure how to do that. I'm researching new jobs, although I don't know if that is the answer either. How many times have I come to this exact same place? I wonder if I missed the boat on going back to school or choosing another profession. I wouldn't change anything about where I've been or what I've done, but still....

We are amping up for a very busy summer, beginning with our trip to Michigan in just two weeks for David's wedding. I wish we had more time--I will only be there for about 72 hours! It will be a great wedding and we are looking forward to spending time with his side of the family and celebrating a wonderful couple.

We've got a couple of concerts coming up throughout the summer, a few awesome camping trips planned (some with friends, some just us), lots of visits from family & friends, our 11k race, and of course Ryan's 30th birthday! We are definitely ready for summer.

We recently purchased a little glider that sits on our front porch (Mom & Dad, you will love sitting out there now in the mornings!), and we plan to spend most of our summer nights sitting out there and reading our books, rocking away next to each other.

Well, that is a little update...we miss you all and are counting the weeks until we all are together! Also, we just downloaded Skype on our computer, so we'd like to start doing some video chats with you guys (especially with Gid & Judah & Kristine's belly!)

Love you all! Give us some updates!

Kristi & Ryan

NCAA TOURNEY WRAP-UP

Well for the first time that I can remember we had no one score any points in the final four. Maddening! So as I announced before, the winner is Kristi!!!!! A first time winner, I believe, but at least she is a Hoosier. For the final standings see the last blog because nothing changed, nor did my comments. I personally had a great time this year with all the uncertainty and upsets and I also had a good time poking fun at all your stupid picks! Unfortunately my were even worse! I at least beat Matt who out thought himself again (best player never to win the family pool yet) and our defending champ Kristine who choked on her own saliva and did not do such a good job in backing up last years performance. I guess we will see if Kristi can do any better next year and become a repeat champ like, that's right you guessed it, her DAD. I am sure if you want to start filling out your brackets for next year speak to trash talking Andrew (I thought you were supposed to win if you trash talked), because he is already working on his. What a knucklehead!
I do hope that,now that the fun is all over, we will all continue to share with each other our lives and what is going on in them. I do value your prayer concerns and how I can pray for each of you. I love you all and thank you for letting an old man ramble on. Have a great rest of the week. Pray for mom and I as we finish up the "Hole in the Gospel" this weekend and how God wants us to respond. I will be interested in your thoughts as you read it as well. One closing thought-
"if you think you are to small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito"

DAD

Done and done! The tournament is over will our blogs be done? I love looking forward to comments and stories! I love you all and look forward to hearing about your everyday life. What spoke to you today? Your dad and I went without shoes (barefoot) to highlight world poverty. This day coincided with what Toms shoes had planned. I made signs for your dad's office talking about poverty facts and why he was doing this. As today dawned I wondered how I could have an impact. I wanted to get groceries, but knew that they would not allow me in, oh, well I'll get them tomorrow with shoes. I wanted to meet a friend for coffee, not without shoes, they would not let me in, oh well, I will do it Thursday. Then I decided to exercise without shoes. I normally walk for at least an hour. I go at least at 4.2 to 4.3 mph. I managed 1 mile at 4.2. The rest of the hour were at 3.5 then 3.0. I have HUGE blisters on my feet and could not move very well. What about the people that never have shoes. I know that their feet become hardened, but do their hearts as well? How are you helping those without shoes or Christ? I ordered two pairs of TOMS. One for one. You can see about the Day Without Shoes, April 5, 2011 on their web site. I know that we are responsible for those less fortunate. Challenge: What are you doing?

NCAA TOURNEY ROUND FOUR

OK it is no longer march madness it is march INSANITY! Round 4 is over as is almost all our picks! Believe it or not there are only 2 people in the whole family to actually get a final four team right. Yes we all know one of them is the Gid man with his cinderella pick of VCU, but did you know the only other one is his baby bro the Jud man with his pick of Kentucky. The babies of the family get one right and the know-it-alls get none right ( "from the mouth of babies" ). Yes it is insane! The only person who has a chance to get any more points is Gideon. And I was making fun of Court and Kristine for their final four picks. OK they did stink but in the end so did mine.

With Kansas choking on their saliva and not advancing that eliminated me and any chance I had of winning. Gideon is the only one who can gain more points, but he is too far behind to catch our winner- drum roll please- KRISTI!!!!! Guys we just got beat by a girl and that makes 2 years in a row!! Can we go find a hole to crawl into? In all seriousness congrats to our winner!! That means in July when we are all together Kristi will get to pick one of the nights we go out. No help from her spouse please (yes knuckles I am talking about you Ryan). In all fairness I am also going to let Kristine pick one night because I pretty sure she did not get that chance yet either from last year. Yes dad will pick up the tab those nights as long as it's not too outrageous. And no help from her spouse either (yes knuckles #2 I am talking about you Andrew). By the way, Drew and Kristine are leaving tonight to drown out their sorrows on not winning by going on vacation to Mexico. Yea I know we all want to feel sorry for them-maybe it will rain in Mexico. OK here are the point totals and standings- the only change will be if VCU wins then Gid will move on up!

57 points (and the winner)- Kristi

53 points- Judah (unfortunately for him can get no more points- great showing for first year would be considered a front runner for next year- picks were made by setting two blocks in front of him in the school colors, which ever he picked first was his choice- the higher seed was always set at his right hand since he is right handed- let me be the first to say it, I am doing that next year- I mean how much worse can I do anyway? Beaten like a drum by my 9 month old grandson, Yikes!)

51 points- Andrew (any more bragging and trash talking son? Or are you still trying to get your foot out of your mouth?)

50 points- Courtney (early leader could not stand the heat- I know I never even got close to the heat)

48 points- Robin (good grief I got beat by my wife- oh the shame! I still think she is hot though!)

46 points- Berry (yes Ryan I know we tied but if you think I am listing you first you are crazy!)

46 points- Ryan (for his feelings see comments made after Robin- and I think he thinks his wife is hot too)

44 points- Kristine (2nd to last place- I think we now all know last year was a fluke- come on girl you got to do better than that if you want to be taken seriously as a contender)

44 points- Matthew (see comments after Ryan)

36 points- Gideon (has a potential of 11 points if VCU wins it all- could drop daddy and Kristine into last place with a little help from VCU- that is still amazing!}

Ok sports fans that's all for now! Have a great week I will blog one more time after it is all over. Love you all so much!!!!!!!

DAD

NCAA TOURNEY ROUND THREE

O how the mighty have fallen! The pretenders have been separated for the contenders. As far as I can figure the saying "it is down to you and down to me" now applies. Round three has narrowed the possible winners down to Kristi and yet again Dad. Oh how the trash talking younger son must be feeling now! Court's stock has fallen faster than the Dow Jones market and the Gid man's unbelievable pick of VCU is still alive and kicking. Our defending champ has been mathmatically eliminated and almost every one of us is trying to figure out how OSU did not make the final four (except Kristine and Gideon). Most of us are now saying "wait till next year" as round three trashed almost all our brackets. Ok enough of the intro here are all the standings and stats.

57 points- Kristi (she has clinched at least a tie for first- I know it is not fair since she didn't care or watch any BB all year until now- the madness strikes again!)

51 points- Andrew (can finish second depending on the Butler and Florida game- second place is for losers-sorry my son winning is everything, at least when it comes to our pool)

50 Points-Courtney (but the downward spiral will continue as she has no remaining teams left-ouch the Vandy, Texas and BYU picks have left their marks)

48 points- Mom (she is not only hot, but smart or maybe lucky as well-definately hot though)

46 points- Dad (and yes with a outside chance to tie with Kristi- needs Butler to win today and Kansas to win it all- it's not how you start, but how you finish that counts)

46 points- Ryan (yes he is tied with me but picked OSU to win it all-moron! OK not really, but again no non-hoosier has ever won)

44 points-Kristine (having a good showing and will move up if Kansas wins it all but will not gain enough to catch Kristi- I guess how you start and finish does count)

44 points-Matthew (for my comments ditto Kristine-will tie with her no matters what happens)

32 points- Gideon (VCU is alive- I think we are all cheering for his pick- GO RAMS!)

? points- Judah (will someone send me his picks please, thanks)

Ok, there you have them as they are and as I see them- what a fun and unpredictable year- I guess that is why we all love the tourney. Thanks for letting me poke fun at you all- I don't

mean it and I hope you all know it is only in fun! I love you all so much and wish you where all here with mom and I at Kristi and Ryan's- it is cakey saturday with bacon as well! Post again after round four.

DAD

NCAA Tourney Round Two

The time is called March Madness and it is easy to see why. We have Drew and Kristi talking trash with their heads stuck so far up their butts they don't even know that they are wrong! Hello, you two knuckleheads, you are not in first place!!!! The madness continues because the leader is none other than Courtney and the usual front runner Dad is almost bringing up the rear! And yet more madness Gideon's pick to win it all, VCU, is still in the running! And our defending champ concludes the madness by correctly picking Richmond to advance to the sweet sixteen (makes up for her pick of Belmont to go the final four). All this is enough to make an old man go crazy! Or crazier! OK here are the standing after round 2

44 points- Courtney (but with an ugly pick of Vandy in the final game)

42 points- Andrew and Kristi (both looking foolish with misguided trash talking but looking good with their final fours intact and the same)

41 points- Kristine (our defending champ but with a lapse of focus, while eating a bag of chips, picking Belmont to go to the final four)

40 points- Ryan (not bad for a non-hoosier)

39 points- Mom (good grief my wife is kicking my butt- I'm choking on my pride)

38 points- Matthew (ya son I know what it's like to have your wife beat you)

37 points- Dad ( I'm already picking my brackets out for next year- just kidding Drew)

29 points- Gideon (but the VCU Rams are still in the running- thanks for letting Papa beat you and save me from last place- at least someone respects their elders, Drew)

? points- Judah (will someone get the stud's picks in please he might be winning- it is madness you know)

OK there you have it so far- still to close to call! Enjoy the third and fourth rounds this week as the point total get bigger and remember the lesson we've learned this week- if you are going to trash talk have your head out of your butt and get the facts right first! No one likes a trash talker that is wrong to begin with! Love you all so much!!!!!!!

Dad

Trash Talk

Wouldn't you know it, I am on top again. Couldn't let this moment pass without a little trash talk.

My siblings would agree, dad always used to brag about beating us in the bracket challenge, but we were just kids. Beating a 10 year old that loved the idea of a 16 beating a 1 seed isn't something to take pride in. I am now a college graduate and officially an adult. Since that time I have won the bracket challenge, inspired my wife to do the same last year, and now am in first place again. I even correctly picked Butler to beat Pittsburgh. Dad, I am grown up and am obviously capable in kicking your butt. Prepare to be destroyed forever!

As for the rest of the family, I don't take as much enjoyment out of beating you down but I still take a lot. If I win, the restaurant I pick will be unbelievable. I will take suggestions though...

I love you all. Hope March is treating you all well. Kristine and I today have now been married for 33 months. Quite a long time. We are getting geared up for Mexico next Thursday. Secret Silversands is the resort. Look it up! That's all for now, I will respond again soon giving plenty of excuses of why I lost my lead....

Andrew

NCAA TOURNEY ROUND ONE

It is officially in the books-round one is over! The leaders are as follows:

24 points-Andrew, Matthew, and our surprise so far Courtney

23 points-Berry and our defending champ Kristine

22 points-Kristi and her lover Ryan (nice job Michigan State-NOT!!!!)

21 points-Robin

17 points-Gideon

? points-Judah (picks are yet pending)

Just some obsvervations-Congrats to Gideon the only one in the family to correctly pick the Morehead State upset of Louisville. In the not looking good category Court with the pick of Vandy to reach the final game and Kristine with her pick of Belmont to reach the final four. Sorry ladies no soup for you! Gideon also not good with a final game showdown of VCU and Northern Colorado ( although VCU is still alive). Still to close to call otherwise- love you all and I am having a ball watching all your brackets as well as mine! Will keep you all posted!

Dad

Great Song

Hi all! I was on my way to work when this song came on my Ipod. Although I've heard quite a few songs from Muford & Sons, I hadn't heard this one and the lyrics really hit home with me. It is quite a moving song--about how we are never alone in anything we are going through. It speaks of family and I'd love for you all to watch the video!

I am hoping the video works--I don't have speakers at work, so I'm not really sure what the sound quality is. If it's not good, look up Mumford & Sons, Timshel.

I love you all and am so glad we have each other amongst all the changes occuring in each of our lives!

Love,
Kristi

Thank you to Matthew and Courtney for sharing a little bit about their lives with us and we always love photos! We are experiencing a dreary rainy March day today. The good news is that it will keep us in doors and we do not have any big plans. That means I can spend the day with my best friend. We will probably do very little. Exercise, snuggle, (after Berry showers of course) and relax together. It would seem that many of us are going through some transitional times as we look at new opportunities that God brings into our lives. Some are big exciting changes, and others are those that are taking place in the quiet places of our hearts and minds. Let's make sure that we are lifting eachother up in prayer that God would have His way with each of us. I miss you all and can't wait to spend time with some of you next weekend and some other's of you in a few weeks. Have a good weekend everyone!
Mom

New Marriage Venture

Courtney and I started a new blog. We're writing together. We're still developing it, but we figured you could go check it out if you want to. We're basically just going to celebrate the gifts we receive everyday.

It's called These Gifts to Us.

Love you guys!

Cakey Saturday : Feb. 26, 2011

Cakey Saturday
Miller Family : Goshen, IN : February 26, 2011

Playlist
A Perfect Family : Bleach
Screaming Infidelities : Dashboard Confessional
Baby Boy, Baby Girl : The Dark Romantics
Best Of : Furthermore
Momma's Boy : Chromeo
I'm Not the King : Audio Adrenaline
Jesus is Just Alright : DC Talk
I Feel It All : Feist
Jobs
Daddy : Coffee making and Judah feeding
Mommy : Cakey and bacon cooking
Gideon : Cakey mixing and dancing
Judah : Eating cereal and horses
Favorite Things This Week
Daddy : Reserving romantic bed and breakfast weekend with mommy in March, I'm really looking forward to it! (We're going to Prairieside Suites in Grand Rapids, March 17-19)
Mommy : Ordering our Nook! (That's right, we're going "mom" in the eBook revolution)
Gideon : Playing "Rockstar" in the basement! (aka Guitar Hero)
Judah : Grandma, Mommy, Daddy and Gideon saying "Woof, woof!" (It always makes me giggle!)

Thanks for joining us for Cakey Saturday, see you next week!

The Non-Year of Crap!

Hello all!

We have some exciting news to share...and I will let Ryan's e-mail he wrote me today do most of the explaining!
_______________________________________________________________
Hello My Queen,

I just wanted to send you a quick note and let you know how thankful I am for your support as I try and figure out what I am destined for in this crazy world. There are always things that we would like to do…Own a beachfront brewery and Lobster tail grill….but then reality hits and sometimes small steps are better than large leaps into uncertainty. I have always done things differently than most and for the most part I have learned a lot about myself as an individual and taking different paths has not always worked out. Case in point being how I chose my jobs after leaving college. It really has put a burden on me as the world does not hire on personality and drive. They hire on experience and specialization! I made choices in my past that have limited me on where and how far and fast I can move throughout the workplace. Knowing this now it is imperative that I stay with a company building my skill set internally, making connections and looking for or creating suitable positions. In short I will be able to climb the corporate ladder, not as fast as most, but climbing none the less.

Today I climbed a few rungs and was offered the position of Returned Goods Coordinator! I am literally the perfect candidate as we discussed last night and I am very excited at what this position will offer. Again, Baxa’s pay raises and promotions are based on a “Talent-Reward” style system where we as employees need to be able to justify our worth by keeping track of our goals and objectives and how efficient we were in meeting them. With this position being brand new I will have no shortage of objectives and goals to conquer-- thus letting all of the management in this company know that I am a “go getter” and can handle whatever comes my way! Really and truly exciting stuff! I am sitting at my desk filled with energy and excitement for what this will mean for me and our future. It isn’t a huge pay raise but a pay raise none the less and the truly exciting thing is the fact that I will be once again in control of my own destiny!

I love you so much and can’t thank you enough for your support and willingness to understand my sometimes scatterbrained needs. You are my queen!

Love,
Ryan
______________________________________________________________

As you all know, Ryan had been in hopes for breaking into the sales department at his company. We thought this change would be happening even before Christmas break. However, he still doesn't have a clear answer on if or when this would occur, so he began considering something else. A new position has been created called the Return Goods Coordinator, and he was offered this job today. He had seen the posting, but wasn't really considering applying for it due to his hopes of going into sales. After thinking it through, he decided that making some sort of movement and building on his skills was better that being frustrated in his current job and waiting for the sales team position which may never happen. He applied last night and when he got in this morning, his new boss, Brett (who we LOVE!) met with him and immediately offered him the job. Ryan will still be working with customers, but will be his own team with a new boss. No more being tied to the phones and other people's schedules--he will be able to truly create how this new job will work and is excited to take on this challenge. It will be a key position for the company, so he will continue to build his resume and move up within the company.

As a bonus, he will be getting a pay raise (not huge, but more $$ we can put into savings!), and in addition, our landlord agreed to lower our rent by $100 a month! We re-signed our lease for another 18 months at this fantastic rate.

We are feeling very blessed and we trust that the Lord has his hand directly on this promotion. We always wonder why things don't work out, and perhaps it was just not a good fit for Ryan to be in sales at this time. Please pray for him and celebrate with us as he moves in this direction! This transition of roles will be coming very soon--probably within the next two weeks!

Thanks for your prayers and for loving us!

Ryan & Kristi

I have been contemplating for a long time how and what to write and post on our site. I seems as though we have all let this form of comunication just fall along the way side. Either we have talked or it seems too much of an effort to bring up this page and organize our thoughts. Since the end of 2010 I have been wanting to challenge each of us with a thought, a prayer, a motto. I am not sure what I would call it. And when I have finished this post it may only be to let you all know where I am in my walk with God and with all of you.

Last year your dad had the spiritual goal of giving God control. Because I had not taken the time to figure it out for myself, that became my goal by default. By mid-September and beyond I had dubbed 2010 as the year of "crap". Yet as I reflected back on the year I began to see that my "crap" became God's glory. He took what I could not carry and used it to bring glory.

So that brings me to the end of 2010. Let me share some of my journal....
"Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anythin in me that offends You,
And lead me along the path (Your path) of everlasting life".

Dec 27...
Lord it is over! Christmas time 2010. It has been a good one for us and many of our prayers were answered. Or rather we SAW the answers! My prayer is that You would continue to take the foundation that we have layed and build our family upon it. Again, rather would You be that foundation? Not of our making. Show us Your path for each of us. May our motto this year be COURAGE TO FOLLOW. Give me more insight and help me to cast a family vision on our family blog!

Dec 29
Lord will You be our guide? Not just mine but the family's! Matthew talked about the "Year of Joy", help me to challenge us to also give the mottor "Courage to follow". Strengthen us for what You ask. Set my feet on Your path and may my journey take me to a place of great joy and beauty. Only You know of the future. May You walk feside me, walk before me in the fog, walk behind me to push in the distress, but keep me moving along Your way.

Dec 31
Fill me Lord with your Holy Spirit. Not just today but each day. Equip me to follow You. First open my eyes and ears to see and hear You. Then give me peace of mind knowing I am in Your will. Finally give me courage to follow and in doing so, may I find true Joy!

I don't know what each of you are facing. I only know that I needed to write this. I don't know when each of you will read this. I am placing that in God's hand. That as you need it to encourage you, you would be lead to read this. I need your insight and encouragement that (or if) this was meaningful to you. You all fill me with joy! Know that each of you was prayed for today! Sorry this was so long and so long in coming!

Mom