We reap what we sow...

"We sow an action; we reap a habit.

We sow a habit; we reap a character.

We sow a character; we reap a destiny."

Robert E. Armes

*Best Summer Memories*

1. Kenny Chesney concert

2. Moving into a new apartment with a wonderful friend

3. Billy Currington concert

4. Swimming & water-gun fights at the Boat club

5. Swimming, laying out, and relaxing in the hottub!!

6. Long Sunday dinners at grandma's...

7. Jim Miller Classic

8. Camping at Miller Lake

9. George Strait concert!

10. Jason Aldean concert/weekend trip!

11. Rhino rides

12. Learning to be a better sister, friend, teacher, & role-model...

This was after Bri's impacted teeth surgery- she's probably gonna kill me :) haha!

I start my 3rd year of school on the 31st! Where has the summer gone?! As you can see, I've had a wonderful summer with lots of good memories to last me another year:) I'm so excited to finally be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel in school!! I'll be way past ready to graduate in '11.

Hopefully I'm completely healed by the time I head back. This past Thursday I had my wisdom teeth pulled out and that night I felt fine... but Friday, Sat., & Sunday I formed this huge knot on my left cheek that wouldn't go down... so I went in for a check-up on Monday and it turns out that I got hematoma. That means that while they were working on my teeth they busted some blood vessels in my cheek!! The knot is slowly draining and the swelling is finally almost done; hopefully i'll be problem-free for the rest of the process:)!

Hope everyone had a wonderful summer!!

~JM~

25th Anniversary

It broke my heart for this day to arrive; a day that I had been planning to celebrate for quite some time... It's amazing how so many hopes and dreams can go up in smoke in only a matter of seconds- a part of me was taken in those seconds, a part of me that I will never get back. I want to go back, I want to relive, and I want to undo... but I can't. For some unknown reason that I will never understand, I'm supposed to go on. I'm being told to put one foot in front of the other and walk, while the one that taught me to walk is now missing. And after 9 months it's still hard; I still hurt, I still grieve, and I probably always will, but instead of always carrying the pain around, I want to learn to live again. It's going to take a lot of prayers, encouragement, and probably a little nudging, but I want to learn to live... only this time for 2! I want to stand for what he stood for, and build my life like he did- on solid ground.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad.. I love you both so very much!!

I miss you more than ever...

~JM~

9 months without you...

We had our backyard engraved on the stone with Briona, Baleigh, & I, my willow tree that he planted in October, and of course our puppy:)

Last night marked the 9th month that you've been absent from my ever so different life. Sometimes I wonder if my heart will ever be able to love fully- without the fear of losing again. Everyday seems to mark a lifetime without you and there are days that the struggle seems suffocating, like it's going to pull me in. I know that I can't live in the past forever, but right now that's the only place my heart can seem to find rest. I still see you when I close my eyes at night, and when I wake in the morning. In my heart there will always be a place for you, for all of my life. I love you, daddy...

~JM~

A week's post in fast-forward!!

Saturday night I celebrated a good friend's birthday!! She cracks me up :)

We had a great time decorating/celebrating!!

Cherlyn & I at Adam & Allison's wedding...

Some good friends at George Strait's concert in Indy!!


Last Monday, mom's side of the family went on a trip to Holiday World!! We had a 3-car caravan:)

Most of the grandchildren!!


Again with grandma!
Grandma on her scooter:) We all laughed that she paid $30 to enter the park only to pay $40 to ride a scooter for 11 hours!!

This summer is flying by- only 4 more weeks of summer break left for me!! I have more posts coming soon; we finally got dad's tombstone set and we couldn't be any more in love with it.

Hope everyone is having a blessed summer!!

~jm~

Bible School '09

This past week I had the honor of teaching these lively, energetic 3rd graders at Providence's Bible School. As the week progressed, it was neat to see the individual personalities shine through their actions and words, and bring life to me that I hadn't lived before. I was truly touched by their smiling faces and big hearts, and on closing night I felt a little sad knowing that I would not be sharing time with them the following evening. The week assured me that I was following the plans God has for my life and the hope that someday soon teaching kids will become my everyday- I know that the energy and joy I felt from that week was only for me to run with :)!!

_JM_

Jim Miller Classic

Team Prayer..

Jim Miller Classic wristbands..

The tourney held 20 teams that consisted of 8U, 10U, & 12U. We got to welcome each team and explain why the tourney was named the Jim Miller Classic.

We passed out wristbands to each team player and coach... We went thru about 400!!

Mom explaining what the bracelets stood for..

Remember- forever & always.

Mom, Grandma, & Me

When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder- who stands a chance against us?

Dad's display..

I loved capturing the young ones gazing thru the memories..

Daddy's little girl- Baleigh Jalene Miller

12 & under champs & runner-up... Barr-Reeve & Knox County Krushers.
Memories that will last a lifetime...

Describing this weekend brings me close to breathless. Words will never amount to Baleigh's "Angel in the Outfield" catch that saved the game, the pouring rain that was supposed to come,but didn't, or the win that we almost gave up on. I truly feel liked I was touched by an angel.. On the way home I saw the most beautiful sunset (it was too late to capture it all, but I tried:)) and it reminded me that no matter how far the east is from the west, I will never be seperated from the love of my Father and the miracles that He continues to bless my family with. As I looked at that sunset I pictured my dad standing in awe of Our Father and the weekend that He allowed to happen. Even though some days feel like years since I've felt the arms of the man that I miss so dearly, I know that I will never be able to outrun the love that he showered on my life, or the love that he will continue to pour on my life- no matter the coming months and years that continue to seperate us.

Thank you to all who were a part of this weekend! Your dedication will never be forgotten...

Loving you,

-JM-