Christmas 2011

This year our Christmas adventure led us to the beautiful Northwest.  Ever since I met Chris, he has talked about traveling to Eugene, OR to walk in the footsteps of some of his running heroes.  Because we were going to California for Christmas, and the baby is coming soon, we decided the timing was perfect.
We arrived in Portland, OR first and spent a few hours exploring downtown...Texans, if you think Austin is weird, go to Portland, they've got you beat for sure.  Chris also had the chance to meet Grandma and Grandpa Tonissen at dinner our first night.  The next day we enjoyed a day of exploring in Eugene at the University of Oregon.  First stop, Heyward Field, where the Bill Bowerman (co-creator of Nike running shoes) statue stands.  However, we were one day late, because the stadium was closed for resurfacing.  I don't think I've ever seen such a disappointed look on Chris' face, I even contemplated walking away so Chris could jump the fence.  BUT...God definitely knows the desires of our hearts (even small ones) and shortly after knocking on the door to the field, the cleaning lady turned the corner and allowed us onto the field as long as we promised not to walk on her mopped floors.  Basically, we had the field and statue all to ourselves!!
Second stop, a goose-hunt to find the Steve Prefontaine memorial.  We only knew a general area, so we drove, and drove, and drove...and then we saw it, a sign that pointed us in the right direction as we were leaving, what a blessing.  Our third stop was running Pre's trail at Alton Baker Park where many famous runners and olympians have tread.  Chris considers it the best trail he's ever run...checkout the pics.  The rest of the day we enjoyed some much needed rest, delicious food, and relaxation.  We loved Oregon, the weather, the mountains, the beauty!
In order to see more of the country, Chris and I drove down to Grass Valley to spend Christmas with the Tonissen/Morrish family.  We surprised Mom and Dad by arriving a little earlier than expected and had a great few days to just hangout before Christmas.  One of the greatest gifts I received was quality time with Melissa, Charlie and Jack...I have missed them a lot this year and it's a joy to watch them and learn from them as parents. During the week our activities included time with baby Jack, Christmas lights in Roseville, gingerbread creations, Cornish Christmas, quality family time, and a play date with Hannah and Elijah. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is having the entire family together (we missed Stefanie, Robert and the kids)!  Especially, getting to surprise everyone with the news that we are having a baby girl!!!  Chris and I are excited, blessed and praise God for His incredible gift to us.
Christmas day began with a delicious breakfast of Mom's homemade quiche (yummy!!!) and a fun-filled day of worship, presents, visiting and games.  Family time is so precious and I am thankful for the amazing family God has blessed us with on both sides.  It is a joy to know we are loved, supported, and prayed for continually as God leads us to fulfill His purposes.
One other highlight of our trip was a photo shoot of pregnancy pics with Alan...we are so impressed with his ability, his heart, and thankful for him giving us his time.  I put a few pics below, but for more you can checkout facebook.
Thanks for letting us share our journey with you and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration.  We praise God for another year ahead and look forward to how we can be used by Him as parents and in ministry. Love to you all...the Millers

Pre's Memorial

Bill Bowerman statue (standing on a waffle iron)

Stockyard Ginger

Packer Stadium

Pregnancy and Perspective

I never know how to begin a blog, but thought it would be fun to share the story of our new journey.

 Summer was almost over, so Chris and I decided to visit family in Tennessee.  We loved every minute of quality time with the Robinson and Miller families, spent time enjoying the beautiful outdoors of the TN mountains, and Chris was blessed to preach at his home church. 
  When we got back to Fort Worth, I had a hunch I was pregnant, so Chris decided to get a pregnancy test.  For those of you who know us well, everything in our house tends to be hilarious in some way.  You see, the test was a little unclear.  A positive showed two solid lines straight up and down, but a negative only showed one on the right-hand side.  I took the test and it showed one solid line on the left with a tiny hint of line on the right.  I turned to Chris..."what does that mean?"  As a result of wanting to be certain, Chris volunteered to take the second test...we waited....waited more...and then a solid line on the right showed up telling us Chris was definitely NOT pregnant, haha!  Yes, the excitement was overwhelming, we were having a baby.
  The first few weeks were great and I felt wonderful, but week 8 hit and I felt like I'd been run over with a truck.  Morning sickness was an understatement.  For about two weeks the bathroom and I became great friends, all the while Chris was amazing as he cared for me and came running each time to make sure I was ok.  You know you have a great man when he stands by your side rubbing your back while your puking out your guts!!  The sickness was bad, but what made it difficult was the lack of excitement I felt because I felt so bad.  The doubts of whether I could raise a child as God would have me.  Slowly, but surely I began to find an eating routine consisting of saltines, bagels, sourdough bread and gatorade that seemed to ease the nausea.
  Week 10, Dad and Mom came out for a visit and we decided to go camping.  This was my first real outing other than work in a few weeks, for which I was extremely thankful.  However, another surprise came my way.  The day we were leaving for camp, I was called into my boss' office and told my full-time position was being terminated.  I cried lots of tears and processed through many emotions, feeling like everything I had planned was ruined, wondering how we could make it through the next year of a new baby and Chris trying to finish school.  The what if scenarios circled constantly in my mind.
  The weekend away came at the perfect time, allowing me some time to process and pray.  I wondered why all the doubts, sickness, and job stuff came at the same time.  I needed perspective, and I needed it desperately!!
  God amazes me most in the fact that His Word is always revealed to us at the perfect time.  I've been doing a Bible study with one of my girls and we started the book of James the week after this all happened.  James begins..."Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." WOW, I have read this verse so many times before, but in the midst of my current trials, God provided a new perspective.  These trials did not come to ruin my plan or to cause doubts, but to grow my faith so that I can be mature in Christ, lacking nothing...nothing.  God cares so much about me and my relationship with Him, that He wants me to have an even deeper faith in Him than I have now.  God, who knew I would lose my job position, entrusted to us a baby to raise to follow Christ.  He knew I would be sick and have doubts, but He is the One who will strength me, the One who will give me the wisdom I need to be a mother, all I have to do is ask!  This is the God I serve, the God I love and truthfully, I am sooooo excited to share this journey with our child one day, to worship God and remember His faithfulness.
  I am now in week 12 and so excited because the sickness is gone and I actually have real food cravings!!  I have started a part-time position at LifeWay and will continue to pray for wisdom regarding future job decisions.  Most of all, however, I am thankful for the perspective God has given me and excited to grow and nurture our child, and teach our child about a loving God who cared, even while he/she was in the womb.

Smiles and Miles

So...I've realized I'm not the best at keeping up a blog considering it's been a couple months.  However, it is the beginning of a new endeavour, and hopefully, the habit will come with time.  What's entertaining is the fact that most of my blogging ideas come when I'm away from the computer.  Maybe I'll start writing ideas on a post it. =)  Anyway, for all you wondering if we Millers fell off the face of the planet, or buried ourselves under a bunch of books, here's an update on the past couple months...

February began with a BLAST not only because Chris' dear Packers won the Superbowl (did I mention I went to elementary-high school with one of the players), but our nephew, Jack Wyatt Cazin was born!  Phone calls and pictures over text filled the next few days and we planned a trip out to see the little guy in March.  We got to spend a week with everyone in Grass Valley, visiting a snow-covered Tahoe, enjoying quality time with the family, and I definitely got my share of baby time!  Melissa and Charlie are amazing parents and it made me feel quite old sitting as a married woman next to my sister with a baby!  Even Alan spent a day with us before heading to his new job.

We celebrated our 1 year anniversary early so we could eat our cake...it was delicious!  really, it was!

Our return to Texas began a month full of training for the 5K Zoo Run with the middle school students from Morningside (an inner-city school where Chris works).  Most of the students have never participated in a 3 mile run, or even had any type of training.  For about four weeks, Chris trained the students twice a week, and raised support for their entry fees.  Last Saturday, we ran the race through the zoo and part of the community around it.  It was a beautiful day and all of the kids did awesome! 

To finish out the weekend, we went to the Arts Festival in Downtown Fort Worth, which reminded me a little of the good days at the Nevada County Fair.  Although we both miss the mountains, the nice thing about a big city...there's always something to do!  So now, you're all caught up with our lives...and yes there have been a ton of smiles and miles!  Love to you all.

This ones for my sister...

As little girls we dreamed we would be
Together forever...you and me
We'd share all our stories and memories too
But we'll never share the same pair of shoes

We laughed lots and we talked
We took many walks
Fun times filled with camping and hanging with friends
Led to some traditions that will never end

Our journeys grew longer, the miles increased
But following the Lord brought us much peace
The missing continued, and love it grew stronger
It is true with distance, the heart grows fonder

You told me you were pregnant, I couldn't help but cheer
But sadness came quickly cause I wouldn't be near
It hasn't been easy, pictures had to do
Trusting the Lord is what I turned to

And now as you await this little one to come
I miss you more than just some!!
What a great mother and nurturer you'll be
You holding your baby I can't wait to see

So know that I love you, it's hard to be away
But my heart rejoices for the day
When I'll be by your side, seeing this new gift
For when I think of it, my heart always lifts!!

Congrats to you both!! I love you tons and am so excited to meet this new little one who will call me Aunt!!!  Praying for you this month!

Baby Cazin is coming soon!!

Tender Tennessee Christmas

1,032 miles was the distance of our first journey to Tennessee to celebrate Christmas with the Miller family.  We traveled along the prettier part of East Texas, the rocky roads of Arkansas and the entire state of Tennessee.  And of course, we listened to a small bit of country music just to make it feel like home.  We arrived at 3am not so bright-eyed nor bushy-tailed, but praised the Lord for a safe trip.  The green machine (Chris' truck) was faithful til the end of his days and we were glad to give it to Dad.

Visits with Mom and Dad, Harry, Stacee, and Ross filled the next few days, with a special trip to Yamato's...Chris' favorite restaurant.  For anyone passing through Johnson City, TN...it's worth a stop in for their sesame chicken with shrimp sauce.  Sunday gave us a chance to visit with the Antioch church family and share some special memories and stories.  A hike up Buffalo Ridge in the snow brought us to the spot Chris wanted to propose and after he did for the second time, I said YES!!

One of the greatest parts of the trip included the walk down memory lane of Chris's childhood.  We visited the oldest town in Tennessee, Jonesborough, which reminded me of Nevada City. Also, the park where they had baseball parties was the same place Davy Crockett was born.  We stopped by Mamaw Miller's and I met the oldest living member of Chris' family...what a precious woman.

On Thursday, we had a chance to meet up with the Robinson family in Asheville, NC.  It was a great time of reconnecting, laughing, drinking coffee...it was guud.  Later that afternoon we braved the 22 degree weather of the downtown Asheville streets and found a cute little restaurant and cupcake shop to enjoy.  Our drive back over the mountain gave us some amazing sights to see on the snowy, smoky mountains.

Christmas Eve came quickly, and led to the Miller Christmas Eve party.  I wasn't sure what to expect since I was warned some uncles might show up with underwear on the outside of their pants, but found out they went easy on me for my first year.  In other words, it was a blast and I loved being inducted into the family!  We spent the night with Harry, Stacee, and Ross and woke up to a beautiful white Christmas!! YAY!

Christmas was a wonderful, fun-filled day of presents, delicious food, hikes in the snow with Ross and great family time.  It was such a joy and blessing to celebrate Christ's birth, reflecting on the incredible ways He has blessed my life this past year, especially with such an amazing husband!!

The snow continued to fall through Monday, keeping Chris from preaching at Antioch, but allowing us to enjoy some quality time with Mom and Dad and each other.  Sledding, walks in the snow, movies, football, and cooking brought relaxation and refreshment.  We headed back to Fort Worth on Tuesday after a wonderful meal at Cracker Barrell and walk on the river in Pigeon Forge with Mom and Dad.  Our first Christmas together was all I hoped it could be, and we are looking forward to many more!

Can you tell it's his favorite??

A view on a clear day shows all Johnson City and Mom and Dad's house

Jeff, Mama, and Justin Robinson

Millers

Merry Christmas

Chris and I are enjoying our first Tennessee Christmas together on a beautiful snowy morning.  Thought it was a great time to start a blog, giving you all a glimpse into our journey together...our miller mileage.  This one's short, but hope you all have a very merry Christmas celebrating the birth of Christ with friends and family.  With love