Hard to believe another month has flown by. The kids had their demonstration concert with the Oberlin Choristers...was a great experience and neat for them to do - the mini concert was somewhat patriotic in the old episcopal church with all the singers dressed in red, white and blue. It's on video tape if you really want the visual.
We had our round of stomach flu recently - the slow moving kind that lingers and effects everyone differently. Glad to see that past and the end of cleaning it up.
We're already nearing the end of the 3rd 9 weeks of school, which means the summer is on the horizon.
Korrin's driving has come a long way since January...even Steve is getting more comfortable as a passenger. She's talking about a summer job and has plans to visit some colleges in the spring with the youth group.
Our niece, Emma, (Lydia's brother Steven's 3rd) arrived a few weeks ago safely. She's a "good" baby (meaning she's sleeps a lot and eats well) and is adjusting to her two older siblings (age 3 and 19 ms.) We've yet to see her in person, but have plans this week for a visit.
Read a picturesque verse in Ezekiel 1 recently about how the rainbow is a glimpse of the glory of God. It's a good reminder as spring nears to look for Him at work in our lives and the world, in spite of the things we see all around. God bless.
For us all....
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Greetings, mid February.
The three elder children and Steve went on a missions trip to West Virginia this weekend. They did some cleaning for a small mission and ministered through music, testimony and preaching at three services. This was a first for Alayna and Clay so we'll see how they did.
Otherwise, things are going pretty good. Alayna has really begun to play the drums quite a bit, some with the church praise team and every week with the teen praise group, Clay Souljers. Micah is really taking off with Bible quizzing, finally getting "into it", memorizing all his verses and loving it. His big accomplishment recently was mastering the multiplication tables. We're all glad about that (especially his teacher).
All four of the kids are in a homeschool choir group with the Oberlin Choristers. It's only a 6 week program, but a great opportunity for them to participate in a large choir and learn some things about singing and such. Their program is March 8th at 3:30 if you want to attend.
We're all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new neice or nephew ...could be any day, maybe any moment. Steven and JJ are expecting their 3rd, due Feb. 12th.
Steve is still dealing with a lot of forearm/upper arm pain and weakness. He's seen 3 different drs/specialists trying to get some relief...all to no avail so far. We'd appreciate your prayers. They've eliminated it being a nerve problem...and it's not carpal tunnel or tendonitis. It's bilateral, muscular.
Ohio is still cold and dealing with snow flurries and some ice. Like the rest of the world, we're awaiting spring!
Love to hear from you...
The three elder children and Steve went on a missions trip to West Virginia this weekend. They did some cleaning for a small mission and ministered through music, testimony and preaching at three services. This was a first for Alayna and Clay so we'll see how they did.
Otherwise, things are going pretty good. Alayna has really begun to play the drums quite a bit, some with the church praise team and every week with the teen praise group, Clay Souljers. Micah is really taking off with Bible quizzing, finally getting "into it", memorizing all his verses and loving it. His big accomplishment recently was mastering the multiplication tables. We're all glad about that (especially his teacher).
All four of the kids are in a homeschool choir group with the Oberlin Choristers. It's only a 6 week program, but a great opportunity for them to participate in a large choir and learn some things about singing and such. Their program is March 8th at 3:30 if you want to attend.
We're all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new neice or nephew ...could be any day, maybe any moment. Steven and JJ are expecting their 3rd, due Feb. 12th.
Steve is still dealing with a lot of forearm/upper arm pain and weakness. He's seen 3 different drs/specialists trying to get some relief...all to no avail so far. We'd appreciate your prayers. They've eliminated it being a nerve problem...and it's not carpal tunnel or tendonitis. It's bilateral, muscular.
Ohio is still cold and dealing with snow flurries and some ice. Like the rest of the world, we're awaiting spring!
Love to hear from you...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Christmas Letter
Merry Christmas from the Millers – 2007
Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
`“Are you happy?” Josiah asks. “Yes, I’m happy” we answer. Those have been some of his most used words this last year, mostly related to potty training. They’ve brought a lot of smiles to our faces and have now become a family phrase we use a lot when something good or even frustrating or bad happens. It’s like when the mess is over and we’re all back together the way it should be we can be happy again. Thanks to God’s work in our lives, we can say that.
Josiah just celebrated his 3rd year of life at the beginning of December. He certainly keeps us all on our toes around here. As the youngest, he is kept in line verbally by the older four, so his verbal skills are pretty good. Otherwise, he’s doing all the things to keep us smiling and “happy”.
Micah started Bible quizzing and the 3rd grade this year. We’re hoping he nails his multiplication tables before the year is over and maybe a quiz out at a quiz meet. He’s sharing a room with Josiah now and loves every minute (ha). He’s still plugging away at learning the piano and has a big pile of friends.
Clay added the guitar and senior quizzing to his 7th grade year. Steve challenged him with some kind of game system if he made the national team, so that’s been real motivating to learn his quizzing verses. He’s played a few times in church on the guitar and seems to have picked up a real love for it. Korrin and I keep him on target with tuning and notes, but he is pretty much learning it on his own.
Alayna has joined the teen praise band, Clay Souljers, at church and is enjoying singing and has recently begun teaching herself to play the drums! Shocker to me since that is way outside of my realm. She is doing pretty well with it – she started with a Drums for Dummies book from the library and just jumped in and tried it. The band is a great outlet for that. She’s keeping up with the flute too. She turned 14 in November and is in the 8th grade.
Korrin is only a month away from her getting her temps…we get the countdown most every other day or so. In the 10th grade, she is loving biology (ha). In year two of playing the violin, she stays pretty busy with that (church praise team) and the band (Clay Souljers with Alayna) playing keyboard and singing. She’s been babysitting two days a week for a mom in our church with a preschooler, so she’s had a steady job that has been nice.
We have participated in a home school co-op the last two semesters with some other families from our church and one from the community. We’re pretty small, but it has allowed us to incorporate some other classes like music theory, sewing, government and creative writing.
At the end of October, Steve’s dad lost his battle with lung cancer. That’s made it a real tough year for the family since he was diagnosed last February. We had a great trip to North Carolina with him just a few weeks before he died – it’s a great memory. We’re adjusting to family life without him.
Steve developed some bilateral (same pain, both arms) forearm pain this year, we think in part to the large garden he put in with a tiller. We love the produce, but it’s been a high price to pay. He’s supposed to be “broke” until Christmas (the doctor said 6 weeks of rest). Another big project he finished this year was our room addition or maybe we’ll call it a porch annexing. We enclosed our front porch and knocked down two walls to make it part of our living room/dining room area. Since we heat with wood we needed the more open area to allow better heat circulation. It was a pretty big undertaking, but has really improved our space and the heat is great!
Lydia still keeps the home school moving along and got through potty training Josiah (yeah!!!) She’s still involved with the music ministry at church and was busy all late summer and fall putting up all the produce that Steve planted as well as being the redecorator of the new room.
We have a lot to be thankful for in the lessons God has continued to teach us and ways we have grown and seen Him working. We draw confidence that He lives and Bethlehem was just the beginning of a revolutionary, but short time He existed in human form.
We hope to see many of you in 2008 – please come visit us in Amish country ANYTIME. We can tour the cheese factory and visit the shops or just walk down the quiet country lane. Our home is always open to you. We extend our wishes for your family to have blessed Christmas,
Steve and Lydia, Korrin, Alayna, Clay, Micah and Josiah
Josiah just celebrated his 3rd year of life at the beginning of December. He certainly keeps us all on our toes around here. As the youngest, he is kept in line verbally by the older four, so his verbal skills are pretty good. Otherwise, he’s doing all the things to keep us smiling and “happy”.
Micah started Bible quizzing and the 3rd grade this year. We’re hoping he nails his multiplication tables before the year is over and maybe a quiz out at a quiz meet. He’s sharing a room with Josiah now and loves every minute (ha). He’s still plugging away at learning the piano and has a big pile of friends.
Clay added the guitar and senior quizzing to his 7th grade year. Steve challenged him with some kind of game system if he made the national team, so that’s been real motivating to learn his quizzing verses. He’s played a few times in church on the guitar and seems to have picked up a real love for it. Korrin and I keep him on target with tuning and notes, but he is pretty much learning it on his own.
Alayna has joined the teen praise band, Clay Souljers, at church and is enjoying singing and has recently begun teaching herself to play the drums! Shocker to me since that is way outside of my realm. She is doing pretty well with it – she started with a Drums for Dummies book from the library and just jumped in and tried it. The band is a great outlet for that. She’s keeping up with the flute too. She turned 14 in November and is in the 8th grade.
Korrin is only a month away from her getting her temps…we get the countdown most every other day or so. In the 10th grade, she is loving biology (ha). In year two of playing the violin, she stays pretty busy with that (church praise team) and the band (Clay Souljers with Alayna) playing keyboard and singing. She’s been babysitting two days a week for a mom in our church with a preschooler, so she’s had a steady job that has been nice.
We have participated in a home school co-op the last two semesters with some other families from our church and one from the community. We’re pretty small, but it has allowed us to incorporate some other classes like music theory, sewing, government and creative writing.
At the end of October, Steve’s dad lost his battle with lung cancer. That’s made it a real tough year for the family since he was diagnosed last February. We had a great trip to North Carolina with him just a few weeks before he died – it’s a great memory. We’re adjusting to family life without him.
Steve developed some bilateral (same pain, both arms) forearm pain this year, we think in part to the large garden he put in with a tiller. We love the produce, but it’s been a high price to pay. He’s supposed to be “broke” until Christmas (the doctor said 6 weeks of rest). Another big project he finished this year was our room addition or maybe we’ll call it a porch annexing. We enclosed our front porch and knocked down two walls to make it part of our living room/dining room area. Since we heat with wood we needed the more open area to allow better heat circulation. It was a pretty big undertaking, but has really improved our space and the heat is great!
Lydia still keeps the home school moving along and got through potty training Josiah (yeah!!!) She’s still involved with the music ministry at church and was busy all late summer and fall putting up all the produce that Steve planted as well as being the redecorator of the new room.
We have a lot to be thankful for in the lessons God has continued to teach us and ways we have grown and seen Him working. We draw confidence that He lives and Bethlehem was just the beginning of a revolutionary, but short time He existed in human form.
We hope to see many of you in 2008 – please come visit us in Amish country ANYTIME. We can tour the cheese factory and visit the shops or just walk down the quiet country lane. Our home is always open to you. We extend our wishes for your family to have blessed Christmas,
Steve and Lydia, Korrin, Alayna, Clay, Micah and Josiah
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