Whiskeytown Hike

My parents came to visit last weekend and we were all going stir crazy from being cooped up due to the rain. We had a sunny Saturday and decided to go for a hike at Whiskeytown. We walked, explored and discovered, played in the snow and had a picnic. We live in a beautiful place and I don't know for how much longer so I am glad the we got the chance to be in nature to see and enjoy all that God created. The girls love to be outside. They loved the fact that we found snow and enjoyed throwing snowballs at daddy. They made a mini snowman and stomped on it when they were done. They collected many treasures that they brought home. I am thankful for two beautiful, healthy girls. I am thankful for my parents and the break we get when they come to visit. I am thankful for where I live and the chance to get out and enjoy it.

Snow Day

A couple of weekends ago we went up to the snow at Mt. Lassen. The girls had been asking to go sledding and make a snowman. So we headed up to Mt. Lassen about 45 min. away. When we got there we were the only ones in the parking lot. We thought it was a little strange. Then we got out of the car and there was a chilling wind blowing. Well, maybe that was why. I looked at Matthew and I told him that we might just have taken a drive to turn around and go home. I didn't think the girls were going to go for it as it was so cold with the wind. We got them all bundled up and walked to the hill. Amazingly where the hill was we were surrounded by trees, there was no wind and the sun was shinning. We ended taking off layers because we got hot and we were joined by many others as the day wore on. The girls enjoyed the time thoroughly. We even sat in the snow and had our lunch. Chesnie gets extremely attached to her snowman. She did the same thing last year. When I told her it was time to go she said that she didn't want to leave her snowman. She said, "But it makes me so sad mom. I will never see him again." I don't know why she gets so attached, I mean it's snow for goodness sake! She even had me make a tiny one that she held in her arms and carried around all day. All in all it was a success. We are thankful that we have snow so close to our house and that we were able to enjoy a beautiful day in God's glory.

My morning

I wake up at 5:30 to Chesnie crying because she has lost her binkie. Just to let you know we tried taking it away from her but it took me 3 hours to get her to sleep and she wouldn't nap. When Matthew told her that we were giving it back to her she said, "You and mommy were not nice to take away my binkie. That was not nice." So she has her binkie back and sometimes she looses it. So I go down the hall, find it for her and put her back to bed. Then at 6:15 I hear her crying in the bathroom. She didn't make it to the toilet, peed right in front of it. Don't ask me why she couldn't wait one second longer, I don't' know. So I get that all cleaned up but meanwhile Mattie has woken up. I get both of them back in their beds so that I can take a shower. I cut myself in the shower which I didn't know know until I saw the water was pink. Gross, yes. I had to turn the shower off and grab a tissue. I went through too many tissues to count as it bled for three, yes I said three, hours. I had to hold a tissue on it or it just dripped down my leg. I tried to elevate it but it really didn't do any good. I thought I might have to cauterize it myself if it didn't stop. I couldn't even get dressed! So I am sitting next to the fire, trying to keep pressure on it. I need to put wood on the fire which I accomplish as I burn my arm on the wood stove. Great, now I need a tissue for my left leg and ice for my right arm. Meanwhile Mattie and Ches are playing hide-n-seek. Then I hear screaming. I hobble into the kitchen, tissue, ice and all, to find that Ches has a gash on her back from scraping against something when Mattie was trying to pick her up. Mattie is crying because she thinks she has just totally injured her sister and Ches is screaming because her back hurts and I am at a loss at this point as to what else is going to happen on this eventful morning. We are all fine now. The bleeding has stopped, the burn has left a definite mark but is going to be okay and Ches has another battle wound but not as bad as her head. This is what it is like to be a mom. Oh, and did I mention that I was supposed to be going to bible study? Needless to say we didn't make it this morning, the mere fact that I couldn't put pants on for three hours! Although the girls thought that we should go anyway, who needs pants?!

Hoopla

It is hard to not get wrapped up in all the hoopla with our new president. On the one hand I am so proud that in my lifetime I was able to witness a black president. I took a black history class in college and I am amazed at how so many suffered just because of the color of their skin. I believe that is why God blessed blacks with such beautiful voices, because of the suffering they endured. So many were touched yesterday and it was touching to watch the rejoicing tears of so many. But on the other hand I am scared for all that is to come. Scared that all Bush did to preserve the sanctity of life and marriage is going to be lost. Truthfully I don't even know how to pray for Obama. I know that he has many hard decisions to make on the road ahead and I don't believe that he is going to consider asking God for wisdom. But I will pray, if for nothing else that we as believers will stand up and fight for what we believe and not be afraid. I think the times are coming when we will be called to risk more than we ever have and I pray that I will be willing.

Lonely

Ever have one of those days where you just feel lonely? Lonely even when you are with people. I had one of those days today. Just lonely. I went to a bible study and I was amongst people but I didn't really know anyone, lonely. At home all day with just the kids, lonely. Husband at work till late, lonely. None of your family lives in the same town, lonely. Some of your best friends live far away, lonely. So lonely that even those you love that are no longer on this earth you miss. Just a deep in your heart lonely. Like a elephant is sitting on your chest, heart hurts, lonely. But I have found that the girls love to watch cooking on TV. We don't have cable or anything but we get a PBS (public broadcasting station) channel called "Create". The girls, mostly Mattie as Ches can't sit still for anything, sit and watch with wonder and amazement. They ask questions and want to make whatever they saw. With my girls sitting on either side of me for a half hour I didn't feel lonely.

Christmas 2008

Christmas is past and this Miller family had a lot of fun. The girls and I left for the Bay on Monday before Christmas. My brother and wife and kids came in on Tuesday morning. The girls had so much fun playing with their cousins James and Kylie. My parents were thrilled to have the whole family together. Matthew came down on Christmas Eve which we spent with his family. Mattie got a new scooter which she loves and rides all around our house. Chesnie got a new bike that Uncle Rick pushed around for her. Christmas morning all the kids told the story of Jesus' birth with Gma and Papa then it was time for presents. One after the other. Mom and dad spoiled us all, especially the kids. Mattie loves Tinkerbell so everything she got was Tink, including her wrapping paper. Ches loves little mermaid so that is what she got. They all had a blast. They also got to make a gingerbread house with Uncle Chris and Gma. My parents took Matthew and I and the girls miniture golfing, Mattie is pretty good and Ches just picks the ball up and throws it in the hole. We had our own little Christmas morning on New Years Day. Chesnie loved her doctor kit and Mattie is our budding artist with her new easel. They also both love the Fresno State bulldogs thanks to their daddy so we made a shirt for Mattie and Chesnie got a hat. Now they can match daddy! Who needs a boy? All in all we had a great time, we were blessed with many gifts, lots of family and great food.

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