Miller Christmas Letter 2008

Here is the Miller year at a glance in blog form:

Mattie is now 4 and sometimes I think she is going on 20. She is a second mom to Ches, never letting her get away with anything. She wants to help me make dinner and bake and sometimes even clean. She is very responsible. She always needs to know what the plan is for the day and she gets concerned when we are driving if she doesn't know where we are going. Sometimes I worry that she can't just be a kid but I love the help that she is to me. My best friend just had a baby in October and has come to visit us and Mattie just loves helping with her. She holds her, watches her sleep, puts her binkie in and helps change her. Pretty soon she can babysit and start making money! She loves to read and learn and do anything art oriented. She says that she wants to be an artist when she grows up. Matthew and I are amazed at the things that she can do. She colors better than most 4th graders. We have been talking about school next year. We aren't sure what we are going to do. I am thinking of home schooling for a while but we shall see.

Chesnie is a bundle of energy as always. She is two and every bit the boy we never had. We were just at a Christmas party and all the kids were sitting nicely watching a movie and there was Ches running down the hall into one room and out the next. Someone asked if she always had that much energy and I said yes, even in the womb. She just never stops. Matthew and I laugh when she tries to sit and watch a movie, something always has to be moving, her leg, her arm, her hand, something. She got her first big owie (many more to come I am sure) in August. She split her head open clear to the skull. It was quiet the dramatic incident as it happened at Office Depot. She had to have 12 stitches, three on the inside and nine on the outside. The doctor even had to pull paint chips out of her head. She was very brave and did exceptionally well. She has a large scar right in the middle of her forehead but oh well, she will have a story to tell. She also loves to read. You can often hear the girls reading books to themselves, word for word. Chesnie may be little, and that she really is, but she is full of energy and keeps us laughing and on our toes.

Matthew continues to work at the pool company. He was not able to find a full time teaching job again this year and has very little sub work. We are considering a move since we are on year 4 of no teaching job for him. We are thankful that the pool job has kept us afloat but we don't know that we can make it another year like this and Matthew really wants to teach. God has been stripping us of a lot here in Redding and we are beginning to think it is so that a move will be easier. Our best friends moved away to Salem, OR about eight months ago and that has been really hard, especially for me. We also decided to leave our church. A number of other friends have moved out of state too. So we are in a waiting period to see what God is going to do. It has been hard but we are anxious for the revealing of His plans in this next step of our lives. Matthew is a gifted teacher and we are both looking forward to when he can do it full time. We have no clue as to where or when and if we will move so please be in prayer with us and we will keep you posted.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas with many blessings!

Matt, Corrie, Mattie and Chesnie Miller

The New Hair

So I have a great and wonderful friend who knew that I wanted to get my hair cut but couldn't afford it. So for my Christmas present she brought me to get my hair cut! Truthfully the only time that I have gone to a salon to get my hair cut is when my friends pay for it. Sad I know. But I wanted to get it chopped off, short and fun and different. Here are the pictures. It is a little more froish than it normally would be because the hair dresser kept messing with it but if you know me you know that I have a fro. So it is shorter than ever, curlier and bigger than ever and a lot of fun. Matthew likes it and says that it is cute, although his mouth dropped when I got home. Both of the girls just kept looking at me. Mattie finally said that she liked it better down, which meant she liked it better when it was long. Oh well, I love it and that is what matters. I needed something different, something a little more spunky. Honestly I needed a change.

Christmas Letter?

I have been debating about our Christmas letter this year and I think that I have come to the conclusion that I am going to take a year off. Mostly it is due to the fact that we just don't have the money to spend this year. We are really trying to be better managers of our funds and since they are really slim I think the letter is one thing that I am going to have to cut. It makes me a little sad but it is our reality these days. But I was thinking of posting a letter/blog here. So don't look in your mail box but stay tuned and maybe there will be an update here with some Christmas pictures too.

Thanksgiving

Woke up and walked in the 23rd annual Redding Turkey Trot. It was a beautiful day, sun shining but not too warm. I walked 6 miles in 1hr 38min 40 sec. I enjoyed talking with my friend, enjoying the beautiful trail and exercising. Walking for me is soul cleansing and I am so glad I did it! Maybe next time I'll run.

We were a relaxed bunch so we weren't in any hurry to cook all the fixin's. I took the whole gang over to my friends where Matthew and I got adjusted by her son, chiro in training. Then my mom and I got to take home some potted plants because they are moving. My mom was thrilled.

The girls helped my mom make the pumpkin pie. We got the turkey in the oven and then I went shopping with my parents while the girls took a nap and Matthew watched football and the turkey. While we were shopping I got a phone call from him saying, "The turkey is done, you aren't home and nothing else is cooked!" We all hurried home and mom and I whipped up the rest of the food in no time. We even had purple mashed potatoes. We were ready to eat by 5 o'clock. We enjoyed lots of good eats!

Dad and I decided to head out shopping on Friday while Matthew went to work and mom stayed home with the girls. We looked at the ads and just couldn't help ourselves. We headed out at 8 o'clock to the donut shop and the bank and were home by 1 o'clock. We got some great deals and the lines were not bad at all here in Redding. Dad came home with a mattress set and a new stove, those were just the big items! I think he forgot he had to get those things home. Actually they were too great of deals to pass up, we will figure out how to get them to the Bay later.

Then on Saturday we headed up to Mt. Lassen and we cut down our Christmas tree. It was fun to have my parents along although they didn't want a tree even though they are only $10! Not big enough to hold all their ornaments I guess. We had a picnic lunch at Manzanita lake and the girls got to watch a new Christmas movie from Papa on the way home.

All in all a fun, successful Thanksgiving weekend!

House Arrest

I have been under house arrest for 4 days now due to my girls being sick. I want to first say I am thankful that my girls rarely get sick (hopefully I don't get cursed for saying this). But now that I am on day four I think I can do a little complaining. Every time Chesnie's nose runs, which is like every 5 seconds, she cries. I tell her that when she cries she only makes it run more. This does not even phase her. She has also rubbed her little nose and upper lip raw. She wipes with a vengeance. I keep telling her to pat her nose but she still wipes it like she needs to wipe her lip off. Again, this doesn't phase her. So then she cries and whines because her nose is hurting her. Mattie also tries to tell her not to cry and to be careful when wiping her nose. She doesn't care to listen to her either. Surprise, surprise. Mattie is such the little mother sometimes I wonder who really needs me around? She has more compassion with Chesnie than I do. Maybe I should just leave them to their own devices and go for a cup of coffee, I could use the break. Mattie does keep saying that she wants a turn at being the mom. Yesterday I told her that I would gladly be the kid if she wanted to be the mom and deal with two sick crying kids. She didn't take me up on the offer. Even though Chesnie is sick she still can't sit still. Most kids would just like to sit on the couch and veg, not Chesnie. She wants music on to dance to. But nothing lasts for more than five minutes when her nose is running again and she wipes it and it hurts again. The distraction is only in five minute increments. I am sure that my husband, who is now sick, isn't thrilled to come home for the fourth day and see us all in the same pj's. By the way, why is it that I am around the sickness 24 hours a day, wiping noses and getting coughed on and he is the one sick? I am glad that I am not sick because I would still have to do everything that I am doing now, taking care of three people, but while being sick. Moms don't get the luxury of being sick and sitting on the couch or laying in bed, we still have to be mom. So to all the moms out there who are put under house arrest this winter due to sick children, I feel your pain.

Husband

Matthew turns 35 today and I just wanted everyone to know how blessed I am to call him mine. He is so good to me and the girls. He has been a blessing beyond measure. He is so selfless and is always making sure that the girls and I are first. I am so proud of all that he has become. He is a man of God to the fullest. He wants to follow Him and does his best daily to do this. He loves me fully and completely. I never thought I would be loved like he loves me. We have faced many challenges in the last 7+ years but he is ever positive and he does always make me laugh. He continues to work on being a better father and husband. He may be a quiet soul but his life speaks volumes to who he is, what he stands for and what is important. So today I want to say Happy Birthday and thank you for the example that you are to me, to our girls and to those around you.

I love you beyond measure Matthew!

Child Like Questions

Mattie has been asking a lot of questions about heaven and how to get there and Jesus being in our hearts. She has two children's Bibles that she loves to have read to her. We read them just about every day. Matthew said the other night that he wanted her to understand what she was doing when she asked Jesus into her heart. My response was that she will understand as much as a four year old, or however old she is when it happens, can. Doesn't He ask us to have child like faith? What does that mean exactly? I am not sure of the answers but I do know that I want Mattie and Chesnie to have Jesus in their hearts as soon as possible because we never know what tomorrow may hold. And I don't want to squelch the Holy Spirit or say it wasn't for real because they are too young. Is there a too young?
I was talking to Mattie yesterday about how daddy and mommy have Jesus in our hearts and we will go to heaven when we die. She said she wanted to go to heaven too. I said that anyone who has Jesus in their heart can go to heaven. I told her that she just need to pray and ask Him into her heart and that she could do that whenever she was ready.
This morning she came into my room and asked if I had heard her praying. I told her that I hadn't but asked what she was praying about. She said that she was praying for us to have a good time at Rhett and Keely's house (we are visiting Matthew's best friend this weekend) and for Jesus to be in our hearts. I didn't ask any more questions. I don't know if this means she asked Jesus into her heart but I am excited that the curiosity is there and if this wasn't "it" the time will be soon.
I am thankful that I live where I can freely talk to my children about Jesus. I am encouraged by Mattie and her questions. I pray that both Mattie and Chesnie will choose to have Jesus in their hearts at a young age and continue to walk with Him all of their days. Nothing, absolutely nothing could bring me greater joy.

Halloween

It started out a little rough here in Redding. It was raining and the girls weren't too sure about going out in it. We had Chesnie dressed as an elephant with rain boots and Mattie as Tinkerbell. Matthew and I carried umbrellas to keep us all dry. When we were in the driveway Mattie started to cry and say that she was scared. I had to convince her that rain isn't scary and that we were there with her and this was going to be fun. It seems that I am always trying to convince Mattie that there is fun to be had. After a hug and a pep talk from mom and daddy picking her up we were ready to head out. Thankfully the rain subsided and was only a mist for most of the night. We live in an older neighborhood so there aren't many trick or treaters and we were the first to come around. The old ladies think the girls are just adorable. Mattie even said, "Bye-bye I love you", when we were leaving a house. All in all it was a success. The girls enjoyed it and we didn't get too wet. When we came home they spread out all their candy and chose what they wanted to eat. Now they are a little confused as they have had it drilled into them that candy is bad for you and here there have a whole bucket full. After much deliberation they each picked out their candy and proceeded to enjoy. As you can see from the pictures Ches immediately got a sugar rush. After they went to bed mom and dad confiscated half of the candy, ssh don't tell!

The Last 24 Hours

My last 24 hours of consisted of this:

Mattie hitting her head so hard on the coffee table that we thought she had a concussion. Her pupils remained dialated. I was putting Ches to bed and heard a loud thud and heard her scream and Matthew say oh my gosh! I came running at a full sprint to see what happened. She seemed to be fine but I called my mom as she is my support when my children hurt themselves. We kept Mattie up for a little while longer and she had no other signs of being hurt so we put her to bed.

I pick Mattie up from class this morning and the teacher tells me that she is trying to catch up to Ches in the injury department. Mattie was picking something up from under the table and came up and hit her cheek. She had a big red welt on her cheek.

The girls and I were at church this morning for bible study. We were walking to the car all holding hands. Mattie's flip flop fell off and Ches decided to let go of Mattie's hand and get it. I turn around and there is a car coming with Ches bending down to get the flip flop. She is small enough already but the car really couldn't see her when she was bending down. Mattie screamed and I grabbed Ches.

Both girls are fine. I think though that I have aged a few years in the last 24 hours. Does anyone else have days like this with their children?

Alright!

Alright, here I am trying to be trendy and start a blog for those of you who want to keep up with this little Miller family. I am not making any promises that it will be good or worth your reading. But I do promise that I will do my best to keep you up to date of our goings on. And I do promise that there will be cute pictures of our girlies. So if that is enough to keep you interested, stay tuned!