7 weeks and counting...

Due September 28th and oh so very excited!

10 Point Manifesto for Joyful Parenting by Ann Voskamp

1. Today, I will make our home a house of prayer. I will pray at set times. And I will invite our children to come move into an interior space that lives with God.

2. Today, I will transfigure all things into beauty, and I will refuse to see anything else.

3. Today, I will not have any emergencies. There are no emergencies! Only amateurs hurry.

4. Today, when stress mounts, I pray to dismount it with gratitude. My stress management plan will be intervention with verbal thanks. I can only feel one feeling at a time, and I choose to give thanks at all times. Fight feeling with feeling!

5. Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong. Grace words. Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words I breathe are death words.

6. Today, I will pray to be consistently consistent. I will create safe rhythms that our children can find security in. I will create daily ceremonies because everyday we are CELEBRATING the gift of now!

7. Today, the moment when I am most repelled by a child's behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.

8. Today, I will hug each of my children as many times as I serve them meals -- because children's hearts feed on touch. I'll look for as many opportunities to touch my children today as possible --- the taller they are, the more so.

9. Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.

10. Today, I will laugh! And I will let the little children laugh! I will create a culture of JOY!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/10-points-of-joyful-parenting-printable/

I have a God given purpose in life...

I am re-reading Created to be his Help Meet, by Debi Pearl.  I don't agree with everything the Pearls say, but I LOVE their insight on child training and marriage!  I would recommend this book to almost every woman I know.  Today I was reading all about being sober as a wife.

To be sober:  To do one's duty, be moderate, self-controlled, thoughtful, and to learn to make wise decisions and judgments.

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.  Isaiah 33:6 

Some things that really stuck out to me personally are...

PLAN AHEAD!

SIMPLIFY!

PLEASE MY HUBBY!

Traits of a good help meet

• A good help meet provides an oasis for her man.
• She fixes meals that please him; she does not cook to suit herself.
• She plans and prepares well ahead of time.
• She exercises self-discipline.

"As wives, our life's work should be to perfect how we may please our husbands."

"...resist taking offence, and never give our husbands a 'piece of our mind'."

(That's a VERY tough one for me!)

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.  Proverbs 12:4

This was the "Getting Serious with God" part of the book.  A wonderful challenge for any Christian wife!

Think of an occasion in the recent past when you became angry or were hurt because your husband responded in a way that you felt was wrong.  Keep in mind that the other side of the coin of being angry is being hurt.  It is one and the same coin, and it buys the same results: a bad marriage and a strained relationship.  How different do you think the end of the struggle might have been if you had kept in you mind that your job was to please that man?  Write your own story.  First, write the one that ended in a big fight, and next, write the story as it should have ended.  Remember, he doesn't have to be right or kind for you to react in a godly way.  This exercise will help you see the rationale for honoring your husband in a different light.

"Your relationship with your husband is the single most important role you will ever play. If you fail here, then you have failed at your life's work and have missed God's perfect plan."

Are you married to a man who can be a rude, insensitive jerk? Two wrongs do NOT make a good marriage...

I pray this was a blessing to you as it has been for me.  I am very much in love with my husband, and I want a glorious marriage.  That will only come with God's help and hard work.  I cannot be my husbands 'Holy Spirit', all I can do is my best as a christian wife, mother and friend.  That means for me, putting aside hurt feelings and anger and choosing to do what is right in the Lord's eyes.  Will it be hard?  Most definitely.  Who said life was easy?! :)  I am so thankful for the bible, and Jesus coming and experiencing life as a man for me.  He now knows every emotion and trial known to man and can petition God the Father on our behalf.  I don't have to go through trials on my own, PRAISE BE TO GOD!    

Randomness

• Woke up feeling worse.
• Watched Survivor on Hulu.
• PBJs + veggies for lunch.
• A dear friend had her sweet baby boy today! Welcome Matthew!
• My husbands boss quit..
• still waiting to hear if he gets the promotion.
• Trying to resist all the cookies in my house, sugar is so NOT good for me right now.
• Elijah happily flying through his schoolwork on his own today.
• Ethan and Lyla Jane sleeping peacefully.
• Had such an amazingly fun time crafting with some more dear friends..
• and now I can't stop thinking about it..
• and I really want to do it all the time..
• and I think I NEED a sewing machine!
• Working on box #2 of tissue since Sat..
• hoping my nose decides to stop running so I can re-invite our friends over for a playdate later this week and make it to church and both bible studies and finish up some more Christmas shopping :)
• So, so excited to see our friends and family this Christmas..
• praying it doesn't snow too much before then.
• ONLY 13 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!!!
• LOVE listing to the playlist on this sweet friends blog.
• Lyla Jane keeps referring to herself as 'Mr. Hayden'...
• no idea where it came from but it is hilarious!
• Talked to my cousin Cody yesterday for the first time in years.
• Really loving these freezing days when the sun is brightly shining.
• Hoping for some snow...
• but not too much.
• Have slowly been reading Created to be His Help Meet again..
• So many good things in that book.
• Almost finished with Christmas cards..
• just need a few more addresses and lots of stamps!

Here's to keepin' it real...

From a little girl who won't use the potty but doesn't like a wet diaper...

Dinner dishes, and breakfast dishes...

Unmade and messy...

And last but definitely not least...

A VERY clingly little lovey that has been following me around for days...

Whining...

You know how sometimes when you're blog hopping and your feeling a little envious...well here is to keepin' it real!

Boys...And an eventful day.

Ethan Landry. He turned four.                                              

Elijah Alan. He lost his first tooth.

Some Autumn Fun...

 Pumpkin farming..

Puddle jumping..

Bread making..

Apple picking..

Rubber boots..

Preaching!

Beautiful colors..

Playtime..

Stories..

Rain tasting..

Leaf piles..

20 bags of fall leaves!

Story Time...

What kid wouldn't like story time with this great guy?! I mean really :) We all love him and his funny voices so much.

{Don't forget to scroll down and pause the music}

Our Idaho trip pictures...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2456376333610.2141600.1378166655&l=590af8fbc8&type=1

Ladies retreat pictures!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2456344452813.2141597.1378166655&l=7c21a67b07&type=1

Miller Family Photos 2011

Here is the link for our family photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2431370348476.2140767.1378166655&l=2cfef80414&type=1

 My dear friend Andi took these for us. Check out her website at andimaephotography.blogspot.com

First day of {home}school 2011-2012

Today is our first day of school :) We happen to be on lunch break right now, so far it's going great. Elijah is in 2nd grade and Ethan is starting pre-school. Lyla thinks she is doing it too. She is learning her ABC's. So I guess that counts. I feel so blessed to be able to home school my kids, I know it's not for everyone, and I am not sure how long I will be able to do it. But, for now it works and we love it! Here are a couple photos of our day thus far...

Camping Pictures!

To see pictures from our Hiller Annual{kinda} Family Camping Trip 2011 click the link below! Was an awesome trip with awesome friends!!! Can't wait for next year!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2376197969201.2138969.1378166655&l=d5cfafde92&type=1

Blighted Ovum

Dear friends and family,
This is so hard to type, but I can so much better explain things in writing than in voice right now. Well, I went into the midwife today, due to some spotting that I have had this past week. I have just been feeling very uneasy this whole pregnancy. And I have had several friends have miscarriages just recently. But I had a terrible feeling on Sunday morning, when the bleeding was a bit heavier. So I was hoping I could get in today instead of having to wait for my appointment on Thursday. Sure enough this morning they called me and said the midwife could meet me at 11. So off I go, shaking and feeling rather sick to my stomach. My dear friend watched my littles for me so I could go. When I got there we were unable to find a heartbeat. So we headed upstairs to the ultrasound room and started up, only to find...nothing. She called it a blighted ovum, which she explained is a type of miscarriage where the baby either never develops at all or stops developing at a very early stage. She said she didn't believe it to be any further than 4 weeks, if that. And the body doesn't recognize that the baby has died. So oddly enough, even though our baby died very early on, I still became sick and tired and sore and all the other "normal" pregnancy symptoms. I am so, so sad. Sad that around March 1st I won't be holding our new little bundle of joy that we were all so very much looking forward to. Sad that I have to tell everyone. Sad that this has happened to me. I do not understand why things like this happen. But what I do know is that I serve a great God, who not only knows what is best for me and my family, but knows exactly what and how I am feeling and can and will help me to get through it. I covet your prayers at this time, and so you know how to pray more specifically. I just want to be able to get through this little storm still praising my God. And physically that my body will do what it needs to do naturally to "let go" of this pregnancy. Thank you for praying, Love you!
Love, Talia

PS Sorry if I haven't actually answered the phone if you've called. I am just not really up to talking quite yet.

Lyla Jane and her GIGANTIC birthday bear!

*Remember to scroll down to the bottom and pause the music*

My beautiful littlest

Lyla Jane turned 2 today! Even though she is my third baby, I can not believe how fast 2 years just flies by. She is so funny. So sweet. Ultra sensitive. But don't mess with her because if she feels like you've crossed the line...you and everyone around will know about it. She is so messy but tries to be clean. She is potty trained. Not poop trained. Hopefully this will come soon! She is the girliest girly girl. Loving all things "pretty". A mama wannabe. Treats her babies very well. But she loves the dirt. Especially if it is mixed with water :) She LOVES to swing. Loves to talk and jabber. Loves to hug and snuggle. And loves to run away and have you chase her. She loves her OWN bed. Her OWN blanket and her very special and quite disgusting stuffed monkey, Lulu. She has a little particular streak, which she comes by very honestly. And her stubborn streak only shows once in a while. She is happy. And silly. And so pretty. And smart. She is independent. She is a lover. A lover of her brothers. Her dear, dear Papa. Me. And all her family and friends. She is so special to our hearts. And we are so thankful the Lord has given us 2 wonderful years with her. We look forward to the years ahead. She is Lyla Jane and she is 2.

Lyla Jane

March First Twenty Twelve...

...or somewhere around there, Lord willing we will be happily adding another sweet member to our little family! And I can not tell you just how excited we all are about this!

Memorial Day Weekend!

Well, we had big plans to meet up with the Schusters and go camping...it stinks being a girl sometimes, if ya get my drift. We {I} had to cancel...and since little baby Schuster is due in 2 months, that puts any camping together off until next summer. We were all so bummed. So as Krystal said...we made lemonade out of lemons! We camped in the backyard! Was so much fun. BBQ'd hot dogs. Had s'mores and sang around the fire pit, and cozied all together in the tent! {Well except Lyla, she has a little bit of princess syndrome...and screamed for "LYLAS BED, LYLAS BED!!" so she slept inside, yes all alone.} I woke up to bright sun and thought it was probably around 8 o'clock. When I came inside it was 6:59! So I decided to get breakfast ready for the guys and...gulp...suggest a hike ;) We ended up going to Riverside State Park and doing a little 2 miler, it may have been longer but the Lord knew what we could handle and covered a chunk of the trail in water, so we had to turn back :) It was perfect. Perfect weather. Perfect distance. Perfect company. Afterwards we drove to Starbucks for their $2 Frappuccino and then went exploring. We found amazing country 8 minutes away from our house. And when I say country I mean farming land and mansions. The kids were all tuckered and sleeping so it was a nice quiet drive. Thomas and I were dreaming! It was so fun!!

Easter weekend!

Well this Easter was a bit different for us, as Thomas was down in AZ hiking 29miles in the Grand Canyon {in one day!} with his brother Justin! He had a wonderful time, and so did we! He was spoiled. Yes, SPOILED! Sitting poolside in wonderful company, BBQing in 85 degree sunshine...we had sun too, only we had cool sun. A whopping 60 degrees :) I went all out for the kids this year, we decorated sugar cookies, colored eggs, had an egg hunt and did surprise Easter buckets! Saturday we spend a good part of the day at a farm in ID, the kids had a blast! This is when it was confirmed in my mind that we NEED a farm! The kids slept most of the way home, stayed sleeping in the car when we got home, I woke them up dragged them in to tell them we would do our egg hunt and have a really awesome surprise, only to have Ethan go straight to the couch an sleep, and Elijah just laid down on the floor! I woke them up again at 7 and put them in bed...they slept all night long!! We went to church Sunday morning, I had nursery but all I heard was how wonderful Pastor preached, and 2 people got saved!! To make it even better it was a father and daughter! It was overwhelmingly wonderful! Then we had a delicious ham dinner with friends! It was so laid back and relaxing. I. LOVE. That! My friend Karen and her 6 girls came over later and spent the night. It was so fun! I think my most favorite times with friends are when you can hang out doing nothing and have a wonderful time! Our weekend was fun and full. I was so excited to go to the airport to pick up Thomas on Monday that from 12-4 it felt like forever!! Thomas came home bearing gifts from AZ, and the kids were ecstatic! It was a great weekend!