Well, after not using my blog for the last year I almost couldn't even log in! But I did, so you will get to read about all that the Lord is doing :) Be sure to read to the very end for a special announcement.
On the first day of the year, the Miller family got together for Christmas at Kyra and Nate's. This year was a first with some Wii Rock band! It was pretty funny to see some family members show their musical talents :) - especially little Jacob! We always know we are blessed when we spend time together!
As I did last year, I will go month by month to chronicle the different events of the year! Enjoy! Our God is a BIG God :)
January 2010
On New Year's Eve, Sean and Debbie came to Pam and John's for our family Christmas. We had a fun time opening presents and playing Noah's new Ticket to Ride game. Little Miss Miriam Tseganesh even had some presents - even though she wasn't there to join us yet! Always fun to spend some time together!
On the first day of the year, the Miller family got together for Christmas at Kyra and Nate's. This year was a first with some Wii Rock band! It was pretty funny to see some family members show their musical talents :) - especially little Jacob! We always know we are blessed when we spend time together!I was able to join Pam, John and the boys in Florida at the end of the first week of January. They had already been at Disney for four days when I got there. Florida had un-Florida like weather so it was pretty darn chilly to say the least! We were all bundled up! We spent Friday at Disney and then spent Saturday through Monday in Sarasota with our dear family friends the Flagg's!
Caleb celebrated his 16th birthday on January 24th and got his license in February! A moment he had been waiting for!
February 2010
This year I had the amazing privilege of getting to go to the annual biblical counseling training conference at my church in Lafayette. It was so great to hear all of the speakers and to spend time with some very special friends. As everyone had told me before I went it was like drinking out of a fire hydrant - so much information! There were so many things that I learned and I am so thankful!
During the week of conference, Miriam's adoption was finalized! Then there was the wait for her birth certificate and visa! The Miller's gave a baby shower for Sean and Debra. Debra couldn't be there so Sean got to be the guest of honor :)
March 2010
In late January I made the decision to leave my church in Lafayette due to the 45 minute drive. I had attended Faith for 10 years. It was a very hard decision to make, as I love that church for so many reasons - the way the Truth is preached there, the wonderful people and for the incredible way the Lord used them to help me after Mom and Dad died. I will always be thankful for all that God taught me while I was at Faith and for all the truly incredible friends I will have for the rest of my life. The choice in a new church home was an easy one, however. In March I started attending Harvest Indy West. A former pastor from Faith is now a pastor at Harvest. Harvest is a church plant from a larger church in the Chicago area. We meet in a movie theater on the west side of Indy. I am part of a small group of ladies that have been such a blessing in my life! It is a great church where God's Word is preached unashamed! I love going each Sunday to be a part of wonderful worship and to be challenged by God's Truth! Looking forward to many more years with my Harvest family.
School continued on and I was ready for a much needed break by the end of the month! Once it was likely that Miriam would not be home until April, I decided to make plans to visit my cousins in San Diego! I had a great time with Joy, Kevin, Mary, Kyle and Jason. All I really wanted to do was to relax and get some sun! I got that (even though it wasn't super warm)! Joy and I spent our days taking in the sights and spending time together. I even got to go kayaking for the first time! Thanks California family for a sweet time!
April 2010
Sean and Debra left for Ethiopia on Easter as the rest of got together to celebrate our Savior's resurrection.
On April 16th - the moment we had been waiting for arrived!!! Miriam Tseganesh FINALLY came HOME! It was definitely worth the wait! She was so pleasant and such a blessing from the first moments. She gave Sean and Debra big smiles on the first meeting (caught on video!) and has made a great adjustment! Debra's parents, sister, and nephew came for the weekend. Pam and Daniel joined us on Saturday as well as many other visitors. We were overwhelmed with this special blessing! I told Sean and Debra that they had better get used to seeing more of me and they have! What more could an aunt want - four handsome nephews and a beautiful niece!
June 2010
July 2010
My friend Melissa and I went on a Canadian/New England cruise! It was beautiful and very warm :) Prince Edward Island and Bar Harbor were favorite places! Melissa and I had a great time hanging out with each other and seeing lots of new things. The food was good of course :) but the company and sights were better! The only problem was missing Noah's 12th birthday.
Connor started his freshman year at Indiana University! So excited for him! I've been able to go down and take him out for dinner one evening. It has worked out to my advantage as well...I went to my first IU football game and will get to go to my first IU basketball game (at IU) in February!
September 2010
I went to Ottawa, IL for my fall break at the end of the month. It was very fun to see Miriam in her Halloween costume. Wayna, Debra's niece (18 years old, also adopted from Ethiopia) is now living with them too. It was great to be able to give Sean and Debra a night out for Debra's birthday! The aunt gets to do fun things like that! :)
November 2010
On November 6th I got to go to my first IU football game! IU played Iowa. My friend Lori, from Iowa went with us :). Unfortunately, the Hoosiers didn't pull off a win but it sure was a beautiful day and a fun time! (But it should be noted that they did beat Purdue at the end of the month :) ). I LOVE this picture!
May 2010
May brought us the realization that Connor would be graduating! So hard to believe! We were all very proud to see him graduate with honors - then preparing for his freshman year at Indiana University! Pam did a great job planning his party and we all had a fun time celebrating :) Another moment that we had been waiting for!
Oh and I did visit Miriam for Mother's Day - a great way to spend the day that I always miss my mom!
June 2010 I went to visit Miriam at the beginning of the month. It was very nice when she recognized me!
John and Pam went on a cruise from June 10-23. I got to stay with the boys! We had a great time and did lots of things together. Much to Pam's dismay Daniel celebrated his 6th birthday while they were gone. We made sure it was special day for him. I went through withdrawl when I had to go home!
July 2010On July 3rd Henry and Marilou Coussens had there annual 4th of July party. Sean and Debra came for the first time. Almost all of the Miller side was there (minus John, Caleb and Noah ): ). Carol Hilborn, a family friend, also joined us. We also were happy to see Gene and Gloria Flagg at Burr Oak Church (the church I grew up at). It was a fun weekend! As you can see Miriam was pretty tired and didn't quite enjoy her first picture with her cousins :)
My friend Melissa and I went on a Canadian/New England cruise! It was beautiful and very warm :) Prince Edward Island and Bar Harbor were favorite places! Melissa and I had a great time hanging out with each other and seeing lots of new things. The food was good of course :) but the company and sights were better! The only problem was missing Noah's 12th birthday.August 2010
Unfortunately this year I didn't get to go on the Schoonveld family vacation due to school starting so early. (Don't get me started on that!)
For the last five years August has been a very difficult month for our family with the anniversary of mom and dad's accident. Well, really it has been hard since 2001 when Grandma Miller died and Pam and John lost their fourth son, Jonah, before he could even be born. This year, however, the Lord blessed us with the 1st birthday of our newest family member! We had a great time in Ottawa, IL celebrating Miriam's birthday! (Check her out with her Bitty Baby that Aunt Jodi got her and a tea set that Aunt Pam got her! Debbie says she still loves them!)
The end of August through the middle of October was football season for Daniel and Noah! Both of them had good seasons - although the little guy didn't get to play as much as we would have liked. He had fun so that is the most important thing, right? :) Daniel was #2 for the Colts (white and blue) and Noah was #4 for the Buccaneers (black and red).
Connor started his freshman year at Indiana University! So excited for him! I've been able to go down and take him out for dinner one evening. It has worked out to my advantage as well...I went to my first IU football game and will get to go to my first IU basketball game (at IU) in February! September 2010I have been blessed with a great Kindergarten team to work with this year as well as two WONDERFUL classes. I have never had two great classes like this at the same time. My students are very well behaved and have made AMAZING progress! I am so thankful for them :) To God be the glory!
These are my two classes on a recent field trip to the Children's Museum!
October 2010
At the beginning of October I went to a concert called "A Night with the Chapman's" with my friends from work - Becca, Hannah and Shawn. It was put on by Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. They shared about how God has worked in them through adoption and the loss of their little girl Maria. We had a very fun time and it was very thought provoking for me as you will find out at the end of this blog :)
The middle of October brought the end of football season! I admit...I enjoyed being able to sleep in again but I had a great time going out each weekend to support my little Colt and my little Buc!
I went to Ottawa, IL for my fall break at the end of the month. It was very fun to see Miriam in her Halloween costume. Wayna, Debra's niece (18 years old, also adopted from Ethiopia) is now living with them too. It was great to be able to give Sean and Debra a night out for Debra's birthday! The aunt gets to do fun things like that! :)November 2010Daniel lost is two front teeth!!
Thanksgiving was a definitely a great time to be with family! We had great food, played a great game and spent time with great people :) Unfortunately Pam, John and the boys do not join us for Thanksgiving :(. Check out Miriam posing for the picture! I bought that dress for her two days after Sean and Debra found out about her!
December 2010
I get to go to a Colts' game on December 5th! I'm going with my three dear friends - Melissa, Lori and Rose! It wasn't the outcome we would have liked but it was a great game!
I'm looking forward to Christmas with my family and to a cruise to the Bahamas the first week of January! Going to pray for lots of sun and warmth!
Now for the big announcement. Well, on November 22 I sent my registration to begin the process to adopt. I NEVER thought I would be doing this as a single woman but I really believe that this may be where God is leading me...if it weren't I wouldn't be doing it! I know adopting as a single women can be controversial but I need to step out in obedience. I have met with my pastor and his wife and have also sought advice from other godly men and women that I highly respect. I will continue to step out in faith until the Lord shows me that it is time to stop. There have been days when I am afraid that it won't happen and other days when I am afraid it will! I am going to trust that He won't let anything happen that won't be good for me...so here goes! Please pray for wisdom and grace to be patient!
I love each one of you and am so thankful that God is so BIG and very much in control. I pray that this was a year that had you growing in the Lord and trusting Him more! May we attempt each day to live out our VERTICAL relationship with the Lord in our HORIZONTAL lives! If you have never started a relationship with Jesus, I pray that today would be the day you set things straight because in the end EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! It is better to bow today before it is too late! It will bring great joy and peace to your life! I don't want to know where I would be if I didn't have a relationship with Jesus. Even when the going gets tough we can say as Peter said in John 6:68-69 (when asked by Jesus if they would leave Him to as other "followers" had), "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
BELIEVE! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
