Christmas Treasures

Merry Christmas!! What treasure we have been given through our
precious Lord!

I had the joy of sharing in some very special Christmas moments this
year. Esther is a 92 year old woman from my church. She has been 'shut
in' at her home for over 2 months now. She is perfectly spry and well
enough to continue to be in church and play the piano, but she must
stay home to care for her mentally ill daughter whom she cannot leave
alone.

So twice this week I got to see Esther. Monday a bunch of us from
church went caroling at her home. That was a treat for us! As we sang
the songs about our Savior's birth, Esther stood there, hands raised
in worship. My eyes filled with tears at the beauty of it. I will not
forget caroling at Esther's!

Then yesterday I shared a Christmas Eve communion with Esther at her
home. We read the story from Luke and talked about what stood out as
precious to us from the story. Then we read from Isaiah 9 as it was
foretold that He would be our Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace,
Mighty God, Everlasting King . . . Then we reflected on what He has
been for us in all those ways! It was a communion memory I will always
treasure.

So Merry Christmas to you. May the richness and beauty of our Lord,
who set aside His majesty to become like us so that we could be
righteous like Him, make this Christmas a time for you to treasure as
well!

Snowman factory!

We are having caroling in the church neighborhood on Tuesday. Everyone
is supposed to bring 2 dozen Christmas cookies to share when we get
back. So we turned the kitchen table into a snowman cookie factory
this afternoon. It was fun - but I like making turkeys better. So - I
don't think we started a new tradition - unless they have unbeatable
rave reviews. Time will tell!

Marmalade Makin' Mama

The title of this blog is compliments of Kara's creativity. Credit
given where credit us due!

I got busy making my annual batch(es) of jam yesterday. I did a double
batch in TN at Thanksgiving. Yesterday I did 4 batches. I have enough
cranberries left to do 2 more batches. So I will have done 8 batches
when all is said and done.

How can it taste just as good every year? I don't know, but I'll keep
making the annual cranberry banana marmalade until that changes!

I just wish all of you were here to enjoy some!

It's begining to look . . .

a lot like Christmas at the Miller home. Kara and I decorated as soon
as we returned from Tenessee (literally as soon as!). Thought you
might like to see what our place looks like.

It has been a flurry of activity since. Most of the Christmas shopping
is done. I just need to get my annual letter out now. I will have a
few extra days off over the holidays, including time the first week of
Jan when Kevin, Jenn and the girls will be here! Can hardly wait. You
can tell what is Emery's under the tree because all her things are
wrapped in Disney Princess wrap. :-)

On our way home :-(

What fun we had! It's hard to leave. But we are on our way home. We
will board here in Nashville in a few minutes. So glad they come to
Albuquerque in month! :-D

I am thankful . . . .

for grand-daughters!

We are on our way!

Shari got us to the airport in great time. We will soon board!
Clarksville - here we come!

Thanksgiving!

We are bringing treats to share at work next week. So I had fun making
something traditional to the Miller family tonight. Had my Christmas
music going too! Emery and I will have fun making these in Tennessee
on Thursday! I've never packed Oreos before. I love fun traditions.
Maybe packing Oreos will be a new tradition!

Costume day

Friday we were supposed to dress up like a patient. Since most of ours
are pregnant, I really had no choice! It gave me great empathy for the
9 months Jenn just went through. After 8 hours I was really tired of
being pregnant!

She's got the cutest little baby face!

In case you haven't seen Adalyn laughing in her sleep, I had to pass
this on. It is just too cute and gets a laugh from everyone I show it
to!

Laughing Adalyn

Kevin posted this on the web, but I had to be sure you all got to see
it. Adalyn is laughing in her sleep!

Fun at Curves

In honor of breast cancer awareness, my Curves is having a contest
this month. We were supposed to make a purse using a bra somehow. So
below is my creation and the bunch of others that have been turned in.
We'll vote on the winner next week. This is what I did instead of
studying yesterday. I knew with a new grandbaby on the horizon I was't
going to be able to concentrate on reading! This was a lot more fun!

Tennessee Trip

Well, I had a fantastic weekend in Tennessee. Got there on Friday afternoon and got to see the church that evening. I was shocked at what an impressive place they have. Go to AwakenChurch.org to see lots of pics of before and after and the first service that I have not been able to include here. Saturday was some more work and errand running. We were ready for the service in plenty of time.

Jenn and her brother Jordan lead worship. Kevin gave the announcements and a great kick off sermon. We all went out for dinner after service.

Sunday was a lazy day. Dennis & Kara spent the morning with us until they left for the airport. We managed to get in a game of Nertz much to Kevin's dismay. I got to enjoy chicken enchilada casserole with the family and a relaxing evening that included Jordan. Emery learned how to play ragdoll blaster on my phone. She is amazing the way she navigates around on the phone.

On Monday Jenn & Emery and I drove a short way to Kentucky to try out a couple of Amish stores. We got some great baked goodies. I found the book "Scuffy the Tugboat" which I got for Emery. Couldn't resist since I remembered it from when I was little. We read it several times over the next 24 hours until I left. :-) Em and I also played for a while in her room. She is quite the entertainer. She made me 'bacon' and 'muffins' and 'tea'. We were almost too full for dinner. :-)

We got in a couple games Monday evening after homemade chicken noodle soup. We had sourdough bread (from the Amish store) with triple berry jam that Jenn & I had made while Em napped. What a treat!

Tuesday I packed and read Em her book a couple more times. Then it was off to the airport. On the way Jenn asked Em what they were going to do without grandma. Em said, 'cry'.

I have to tell a few cute things Emery said over the weekend. She has a tape measure like her dad's. She carries it around and calls it her 'taper'. If you ask what she does with it she tells you she measures walls. There are 2 ostriches near the road to town. She calls each one ' an oscritch'. I told her Donna got bit by one when she was little, so she was careful to remind me each time we drove by that Aunt Donna got bit by an oscritch. When she has fun doing something she'll say, 'Let's do it amore again one more time and see what happens!'

I am sure you can't guess that I miss Em. We had fun making up for some lost time. She assures me she'll help her mommy with the baby until I come back at Thanksgiving. It made it a little easier leaving know I would see them all in just a couple months.

An encourager

Emery spent 3 days with me just before they moved to Tennessee. I decided her gift is encouragement. And gratitude too. All weekend long she kept saying things like - "Good job driving Gramma." or "Good job making pancakes Gramma." or "Thank you for Emmy helping with cookies!" or "Thank you for finding ice cream man, Gramma." Life is pretty rich when she is around!

I can say goodbye, because . . .

I haven't blogged in a while. Technically this isn't a blog, but it sums up some recent thoughts, so I share it with you as well as Kevin.

Written for Kevin on June 15, 2009

I Can Say Goodbye, Because . . .

When you were just born and it was time for you to go back to the newborn nursery,
I could say goodbye because I knew in just a few minutes you’d be back in my arms. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And on your first Sunday home with us, we took you to church and dedicated you to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When you were my precious growing baby I would leave you in the church nursery while we were in the service. I could say goodbye because I knew in just a couple hours you’d be smiling at me again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And I prayed with you the day your name was written in the Book of Life when at the age of three you asked Jesus to come and live in you.

When you were only four I took you to nursery school so you could play with other kids. I could say goodbye because I knew it wouldn’t be long and you’d be home with us again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And at home and at church we did our best to teach you the ways of God.

When you went to school each day I could say goodbye because I knew we’d see you again at the end of the day. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And from grade school right up to high school I saw you grow and struggle and love your Lord and become more like Him.

When it was time for summer church camp I could say goodbye for the week because I knew in just a few days you’d be home again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And in your senior year I watched the call of God begin to take place in your life.

That summer you left to be a counselor at Lone Tree Bible Camp. I could say goodbye because I knew in just a few short months you’d be home again. I also knew that you were in the arms of God.

And I watched you grow in the strength of the Lord as God confirmed His call on your life.

Then you left home to marry Jenn and I could say goodbye because you were still in Albuquerque and our family had grown to include your beautiful, wonderful wife. I also knew that you both were in the arms of God.

And I watched you grow to become a man of God. A man who loves your wife and your daughter with the love of the Lord. A man who seeks to serve his Savoir wholeheartedly. A man who is courageous and strong in the might of the Lord. A man who is willing to forsake all to follow the call that God has on your life in Clarksville, Tennessee.

So tomorrow you leave Albuquerque and the times that I can be with you will be rare and precious to me. But I can say goodbye because no matter how often or how little our paths cross in this life I know you are in the arms of God.

And I know that we all are in the arms of God. His plan is unfolding, marvelous and rich and glorious. His plan for you and beautiful Jenn and precious Emery and wonderful Little-One-On-the-Way. And His plan for me. You have taught me much about the love of God, His richness, His endless pursuit of us and His awesomeness throughout your life Kevin. I am blessed to call you son. I am blessed to have dedicated you to God and come to see that He has done exceedingly abundantly above all I could have asked for or thought of in my prayers for you. May His Name be praised forever!

1 Cor 16:13-14 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

My kids!

I am very blessed to have kids who serve the Lord! I went to Calvary Chapel the last 2 Wednesday nights. One of the girls I work with goes there so I hitched a ride with them from work to Calvary and then home. They live in the east mountains so it is sort of on their way home to drop me off . That left the car for Kara to use each evening.

Last week Jenn led worship. She has such an amazingly beautiful voice. She also plays the guitar so well! Her voice is such a nice range to sing along with. That makes it very easy to be lost in worship while she sings. What a blessing she'll be to Kevin as a worship leader at Awaken Church!

Then this week Skip interviewed Kevin briefly. Skip informed the church that Kevin & Jenn were moving to TN to plant a church. There was a brief but noticeable gasp. Apparently many people had not heard the word yet and were sorry to hear he is leaving. I got teary eyed. Kevin got to tell a bit about how they came to the conclusion that is what God wants them to do. I even learned a couple things I did not know! Kevin told who would be taking his place. Skip assured Kevin that they are going with the blessing of Calvary and that he (Skip) is excited to see what God will do through them. Then they played a video montage of slides from Kevin's early days at Calvary to now. I forgot how long his hair was! While the slides displayed the Monkees song 'Last Train to Clarksville' played. It was great.

This coming Sunday at my church David Nowell, president of Hope Unlimited will speak at my church. Kara will help lead worship in Portuguese! We are both very excited about the service. Kara will help me out with a meeting after the service to see who all may be interested in our mission trip to Brazil in June 2010.

Thanks be to God for His amazing goodness toward me. What wonderful kids I have in spite of all my short comings. He really blessed the what I did right, and took care of what I did wrong!

My little Em

Emery stayed with me all weekend since Kevin & Jenn had so many commitments. She would have lived in the nursery if not with me. What fun we had! She talks CONSTANTLY! I get a running commentary on everything we do. She does some of the cutest things now. She wants to pray before meals. Her prayer is very quiet and goes something like this: "Jesus, food. Mommy. Daddy. Kara. Nyaya. Tiffy. JoJo. Papa Dennis. Gamma. Amen." Then she wants me to pray too!

When she hears something worth really listening to she makes a little gasp, her eyes pop wide open in surprise and she holds her had up to her ear and says, "Wisten!" We heard the ice cream man briefly so we went chasing after him in the stroller. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Ice ceam. Are you?" No luck finding him. But we found a pine cone (which she calls a pineapple or applepineone) and a cute pet rabbit. So our search was not entirely in vain, and very low cal!

At church on Sunday we sang happy birthday to Teresa - Pastor Eric's wife. When I went to get Em she said, "cake?!". Lynette told me she'd been asking for cake ever since she heard us sing happy birthday!

At last . . .

My last blog was exactly a month ago - Feb 8! Time flies when my daughter is home!

It was such fun having Donna here. Coffee with frinds, birthday dinner, long talks, Em to keep us entertained. The only disappointment was that Kara arrived 4 hours after Donna left.

Since Kara sold her car before she moved to Brazil, we share my car. I got a bus pass. She drops me off at the park and ride in the wee hours of the morning so she has the car during the day. She has been picking me up at work in the evenings. She drops me off at Curves. She stretches inside Curves and then goes for a run . We're both dome exercising about the same time and then head home. So that works out well.

And of course I am excited that I'll be grandma again in October!

I have re-evaluated my school work. I don't see any way possible to be done in August so that I can graduate in Sept. But I continue to stay focused and should done about this time next year. So that relieves a little pressure and lets me enjoy some family time since Kara is home & we like to get together with Kevin & Jenn & Em from time to time. Plus we are planning our missions focus month at church. David Nowell from Hope will be here April 18 & 19. That is one week out of 5 that will focus on missions.

So that's life in the fast lane here!

Nice weekend so far

I got a course finished! I got to have Em for a while on Saturday. The monthly missions prayer meeting was at my house on Friday evening. Saturday morning I went to a meeting at church for Prayers and Squares - a quilt ministry (Mom I'll send you info). So lots of fun things.

Donna comes this week to celebrate her birthday with us. So I have been showing Em pics of Donna and telling her she's coming to visit. I showed her pics again yesterday. So when Em saw her mom she told her "Donna coming". Em's favorite friend, Nicky ('Dicky'), turns two today. She sang happy birthday to him for me - "Happy birthday to you Dicky's birthday cake!" I'm sure she'll sing happy birthday to Donna this week too. Can hardly wait!

That was easy!

Kara was given a sleep number mattress for her bed before she got home in December. Once we got the mattress set up for her, the old twin mattress has been sitting in my bedroom making my pretty room a bit less pretty (as you can see in the last photo). I kept trying to think of a way to get rid of it that would be easy. So I texted Kevin today to see if craigslist is easy to use. He said yes. He was right! I posted an ad for a free twin mattress if someone would come pick it up. The ad posted at about 4pm. By 6pm the mattress was gone - as you can see in the nice little before I included! Neat!

The pic of Em is from 2 or 3 weeks ago. She really likes coming to 'Mama's house'. She is decorating a snake I made for her. I had lunch with Em & Jenn last Tuesday at Dion's. When lunch was over I told Em she was probably going to go home for a nap. Her response, "No, no nap! Mama's house!" Mama's house didn't happen that day - but Donna and I get her most of the time Donna is here in a couple weeks. Kevin & Jenn will be with their own youth group on a winter retreat that weekend. Yay! The only thing that would make that weekend more perfect is if Kara happened to show up to. With that girl you just never know! :-)

What a week!

I have now completed 2 weeks of work at my new job. I am feeling pretty comfortable with my role with Dr. Stuart since that is what I have done most of so far. She is patient and a great teacher. I am learning what she likes so I can anticipate how to be prepared for what she will do with each patient. It will get faster and smoother each week I am sure.

I started orienting to triage a couple days last week. Dr. Stuart is on vacation most of this coming week so I'll mostly do more orientation to triage. Cheryl, who I am learning from is a walking/talking OB/GYN encyclopedia! I will learn a ton from her! Evedryone on staff has been very helpful and supportive. I am SO THANKFUL to be where I am at! I am hearing horror stories about what PASS is like now that they closed Kaseman PASS where I used to be. So it makes me especially glad I had to leave that job. I would not want to do it the way it is being done now!

The first week on my new job I only managed to get one question done for school. This week I managed to get the last 3 done, so I will turn in the Marriage and Family course this week. Woo-hoo!! I'm moving down the tunnel. One of these days I'll see light!

Orientation

Today starts my second week of orientation on my new job. I found out last week when I showed up that she wants me working Mon thru Fri for these 2 weeks, no week day off. I was surprised but I'm okay with that so we can get orientation accomplished. I really like the people I am working with. They are a friendly staff and very helpful. I have already learned a lot! Today I start orienting to triage. My triage days will be very different from the days rooming for Dr. Stuart. The variety will ne nice. I really like Dr. Stuart! She will be so good to work with.

What I had not bargained for the the long work week last week and this week. I am so used to only 4 days of work each week - usually about 36 hours. Last week I did almost 50 hours and it will be similar this week. So I slept in and even took a couple naps this weekend! I did manage to get some school work done, but not the volume I am used to. That's ok - it'll come.

Reflections

After returning Emery to her mom & dad I had a quiet afternoon/evening at home. I have had some time to think and reflect on the amazing God we serve. A month ago I thought it would be my first Christmas without Kara. I thought my job was secure at Kaseman. I have talked to God (sort of complained) about not having a friend to just be a spur of the moment let's-go-do-something-friend. I thought I'd get plenty of school work done even in the midst of the holiday busyness. Instead Kara was home, I've not done any homework since the week of Thanksgiving, I closed the Kaseman PASS unit and start a new job tomorrow. I had a great dinner on the spur of the moment with a new friend on Friday!

I read Kara's blog from today. I spent a little time talking with Kevin & Jenn this afternoon. I'm reading a book about Jewish history that takes place in the time of the end of World War 2. We live and breathe and move because God allows us to do so. Apart from Him, life has no meaning. I pray that as 2009 progresses I will be very careful to tune into Him, listen for Him throughout each day and carefully walk the path He sets before me. He has a plan that I really can't fathom. He has ways of making His plan happen in my life that I would never expect. I want to cultivate joy in myself and others at the little (and big!) miracles that happen day in and day out. If I'm not looking for for them, I might miss them. Lord enlighten my heart and eyes that I will be sensitive to your working in my every day life!
Eph 1:18-19 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

By the way - the pictures are of Emery wearing my "Elmo socks" as she calls them. They really don't have anything to do with the blog except perhaps that she is a little miracle in my life!

I stand amazed

Some of you know most of this, but I really thought I ought to write it all down. I blogged in early December that my dream job was going away as of Dec 31. I have called this job my dream job because it is no evenings, no weekends, no holidays, no call and only 4 (9 hour) days a week. When I went to HR to see what I could apply for there was absolutely nothing like it available. I either had to work full time salaried (my definition is free overtime) or go back to 12 hour shifts. I knew God was in control, but I was feeling a little discouraged. I thanked God for the 2 incredible years I have had at Kaseman and told Him I knew He was in control and He would have to guide my choice because nothing availble looked anything like the hours I have had. I told Him - "I don't know what you are going to provide or how, but help me be open to what you are doing." Then I began interviewing. I interviewed for a full time (free overtime) postion in care coordination that I probably would have enjoyed, but it would be hard to get school done with the hours I would put in. I also interviewed for a position in urgent care, which would have been interesting, but the 12 hours shifts are often 14 - 15 hour shifts and it would be back to working weekends. I also agreed to an interview in a OB/GYN clinic for a full time (get paid for overtime) position. I told her before I went that I was more interested in 4 days a week, but since I like OB/GYN I was willing to consider it.

When I showed up for the interview one of the first things she said was, "There has been an interesting turn of events. They won't let me hire for the position you came to interview for today." Then she proceeded to tell me that since I was interested in 4 days a week, she had a 3 day a week LPN position posted that she could try to get upgraded to a 4 day a week RN position if I roomed for Dr. Stuart 3 days a week and did triage 1 day a week. I met the people working at the clinic and and got more excited by the minute. Long story short (sort of!) I was offered (and accepted) a job they (God) created especially for me - four 8 hour days a week, no evenings, no weekends, no holidays, no call!!

I really do stand amazed at the hand of God and how He took care of this for me. It is a cut in hourly pay and a cut in 4 hours a week. But I am debt free! so it will be ok and I will still be able to be committed at church, work on school and be gramma. What an astounding miracle!!

So Wednesday Dec 31st I shut down the Kaseman PASS unit and left my keys on the desk for Wille. This Monday, Jan 5th I will report to work at my NEW dream job! Happy New Year!