Christmas photos & hiking photos
Monday, December 29, 2008
Proverbs 8:22-31
The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there was no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills,
I was brought forth-
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world's first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.
Following the Star Home for the Holidays...
I am so thrilled to be here in East Tennessee for Christmas, in the house I grew up in and with the memories flooding our time together! My journey to the South was long and "hurry up and wait" was the theme...(I will upload some photos as soon as I figure out how to take pics off my phone.) I stayed in the Seattle airport overnight because the weather was so crazy. John Kopp drove me to the airport and on the way there cars were turned backwards and in ditches along I-5. So I wasn't about to potentially miss an open spot. (I felt like the mom on Home Alone...tempted enough to ride in the back of a U-Haul home)
I met a group of fellow travelers amongst the masses who were forced to sit still and wait on the weather to calm. I was so entertained by our airport "Breakfast Club" :) The stories told were everything from sailing to the Galapagos to having Lucky Jeans, Elle Magizine, and Southern Living feature a collection of cowboy boots from Bill's store in Texas. The stories of travel were fairly similar but it was the level of positivity and stresslessness that made our group fun!
We took up a few tables in the Starbucks, watched each others things and checked on the status of each others flights. We had a checker tournament with Spenda and Equal packets on the tiles of a table. Bill collected water bottles for the group and found us cardboard to sleep on. We laughed so hard about setting up a cardboard city and selling it to folks that were forced to stay in more nights :) We were entertained by the girl that pulled out her fiddle to play for those waiting in line all night.
I felt like I was living the Census in Bethlehem. There was no room on the planes and no room in the inn's. I was so amazed how strangely silent it was at 2am, when I got back in line, and at 5'2 & 1/2 I was towering over a pile of sleeping soldiers. I thought where soldiers lie sleeping, there is "Peace on Earth and good will towards men."
I was so tired but I was so intrigued by what the Lord was showing me. I stood wondering what would happen. The front desk the day before told me "No flights for five days" I wouldn't get home til after Christmas! But I felt like I had won the lotto! I made it through with a five hour delay! I WON!!! I got through security and I couldn't stop crying...after a nap at the gate. I woke up still so overwhelmed that I had the "golden ticket". Tears started flowing again and I giggled to myself, but as I looked up I saw these miming elves making there way through the exhausted crowd, trying to cheer folks up...or weird them out...I don't know! Then as I moved out of their entertainment path, to stand in line to get on the plane, Santa came down the main hall, singing Jingle Bells. I looked at him in surprise and wondered if I was dreaming. He was the ugliest Santa I had ever seen...with a weirdly pasted on beard. He hugged me from the side, still singing, and me with tears still flowing down my face from exhaustion, and he urged me to sing with him. I sniffled and said..."Dashing through the snow...." and he moved on. I could not believe that this had just happened.
I got on the plane still tearing up...tucked myself in a blanket and fell asleep...
I met a group of fellow travelers amongst the masses who were forced to sit still and wait on the weather to calm. I was so entertained by our airport "Breakfast Club" :) The stories told were everything from sailing to the Galapagos to having Lucky Jeans, Elle Magizine, and Southern Living feature a collection of cowboy boots from Bill's store in Texas. The stories of travel were fairly similar but it was the level of positivity and stresslessness that made our group fun!
We took up a few tables in the Starbucks, watched each others things and checked on the status of each others flights. We had a checker tournament with Spenda and Equal packets on the tiles of a table. Bill collected water bottles for the group and found us cardboard to sleep on. We laughed so hard about setting up a cardboard city and selling it to folks that were forced to stay in more nights :) We were entertained by the girl that pulled out her fiddle to play for those waiting in line all night.
I felt like I was living the Census in Bethlehem. There was no room on the planes and no room in the inn's. I was so amazed how strangely silent it was at 2am, when I got back in line, and at 5'2 & 1/2 I was towering over a pile of sleeping soldiers. I thought where soldiers lie sleeping, there is "Peace on Earth and good will towards men."
I was so tired but I was so intrigued by what the Lord was showing me. I stood wondering what would happen. The front desk the day before told me "No flights for five days" I wouldn't get home til after Christmas! But I felt like I had won the lotto! I made it through with a five hour delay! I WON!!! I got through security and I couldn't stop crying...after a nap at the gate. I woke up still so overwhelmed that I had the "golden ticket". Tears started flowing again and I giggled to myself, but as I looked up I saw these miming elves making there way through the exhausted crowd, trying to cheer folks up...or weird them out...I don't know! Then as I moved out of their entertainment path, to stand in line to get on the plane, Santa came down the main hall, singing Jingle Bells. I looked at him in surprise and wondered if I was dreaming. He was the ugliest Santa I had ever seen...with a weirdly pasted on beard. He hugged me from the side, still singing, and me with tears still flowing down my face from exhaustion, and he urged me to sing with him. I sniffled and said..."Dashing through the snow...." and he moved on. I could not believe that this had just happened.
I got on the plane still tearing up...tucked myself in a blanket and fell asleep...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The gift of an old dear friend
Yesterday, was a hard day, good but hard, I met with 5 leaders for coffee or breakfast, to help plan a Campaigners Bible Study, talk about where to lead in the area, debrief the All City Club and just catch up. I spoke with 3 donors about giving to NW Seattle and including them in what is happening here. I made a contact with a parent at Lakeside and through her I know of many more advicates in Lakeside. I moved through the day pretty gracefully with a lot of energy building. I have so much to be thankful for but with one phone conversation I spoke sourly with a leader through frustration about the pace that Lakeside is moving. Despite the forward motion, I was cornered to believe it was nothing without club. My insecurities overwhelmed me and I believed it. I wrestled most of the night, thinking and wondering how to move this along faster and encourage leaders to find joy in the waiting and have great victory in the small step, because these steps are more than what's been there before.
As I woke up this morning, I was delighted to go spend some time with a leader, Ashley Holder, and get to know her a little more. This leader is so inspiring to me and her heart for kids is enormous! The strength and hope I recieved from her in this little time was beautiful. I left coffee with her and realized I had been wearing the same thing for a few days now and had not showered (if you know me, you know that when I get too excited about people and when they fill my day I forget to shower and often sleep in my clothes on the couch). I laughed and thought its spa time...which is a ten minute shower and blow drying my hair. :) I was going to be fresh and clean today even if I didn't feel so inside. :)
My friend and fellow intern, met me to spend some time thinking outloud and reading together at coffee shop. I thought I would love to go to the Greenlake Zoka's, because even though Becca and RT are not in town (California & Chile) I want to sit with their arm chairs. (They were always there last spring-just sitting and reading) I just really longed for someone who knows me in & out of ministry and still likes me :) I needed a hug and a conversation that did not involve Young Life. So sitting at Zoka's was as close as I could get to being with RT and Becca.
As I followed Hannah in the door, she stopped to look around for an open table or chair. Her glance was quicker than mine so she turned to walk back out. As I backed out slowly, I took a look for myself and as I glanced I noticed a familiar face, but I knew it could not be him in front of me now...I must be tired and this can't be him. I continued to move backwards out the door but couldn't stop staring at him. He looked up and with mouth opend in surprise, stood and walk towards me smiling. I kept saying to myself he's not real, he's not real, even as he hugged me. Midway through the hug I realized I was not dreaming and he, in fact, was real! So I hugged him and through tears looked to see if he was real, making this the longest hug I have had in a long time. And we stood there in the door way the whole hug, with folks walking in and out around us, and folks seated smiling and laughing at this moment. I couldn't say much other than, I can't believe it, Danville! and cry some more and laugh and then hug him again! :) I was so excited, shocked, emotional, and encouraged by even just his presence. I wanted to be encouraged and wanted to feel loved! This was way better than sitting with RT and Becca's arm chairs. I couldn't believe it, oh and I cried out of pure joy through my study morning, that I had seen Danville, the guy who always makes me cry and laugh so hard. :) Danville has been gone a year living in Africia and I have had to distract myself from how much I missed him so much this whole year. I'm just so glad that he recongized me because I would have just backed out of Zoka's and thought I was going crazy.
I told Hannah afterwards that I have been feeling like Jesus is romancing me more than ever and I have great anticipation and I feel like something so good is coming! Her response was you are living in Advent! I thought that was pretty cool!
Thanks Danville for letting me cry on your shirt and thank you just for being you! What a beautiful gift to have today! :) I have been thinking recently how much I miss being bear hugged by Andrew, RT, EJ, Ponch, and Danville! I love Danville hugs! :)
As I woke up this morning, I was delighted to go spend some time with a leader, Ashley Holder, and get to know her a little more. This leader is so inspiring to me and her heart for kids is enormous! The strength and hope I recieved from her in this little time was beautiful. I left coffee with her and realized I had been wearing the same thing for a few days now and had not showered (if you know me, you know that when I get too excited about people and when they fill my day I forget to shower and often sleep in my clothes on the couch). I laughed and thought its spa time...which is a ten minute shower and blow drying my hair. :) I was going to be fresh and clean today even if I didn't feel so inside. :)
My friend and fellow intern, met me to spend some time thinking outloud and reading together at coffee shop. I thought I would love to go to the Greenlake Zoka's, because even though Becca and RT are not in town (California & Chile) I want to sit with their arm chairs. (They were always there last spring-just sitting and reading) I just really longed for someone who knows me in & out of ministry and still likes me :) I needed a hug and a conversation that did not involve Young Life. So sitting at Zoka's was as close as I could get to being with RT and Becca.
As I followed Hannah in the door, she stopped to look around for an open table or chair. Her glance was quicker than mine so she turned to walk back out. As I backed out slowly, I took a look for myself and as I glanced I noticed a familiar face, but I knew it could not be him in front of me now...I must be tired and this can't be him. I continued to move backwards out the door but couldn't stop staring at him. He looked up and with mouth opend in surprise, stood and walk towards me smiling. I kept saying to myself he's not real, he's not real, even as he hugged me. Midway through the hug I realized I was not dreaming and he, in fact, was real! So I hugged him and through tears looked to see if he was real, making this the longest hug I have had in a long time. And we stood there in the door way the whole hug, with folks walking in and out around us, and folks seated smiling and laughing at this moment. I couldn't say much other than, I can't believe it, Danville! and cry some more and laugh and then hug him again! :) I was so excited, shocked, emotional, and encouraged by even just his presence. I wanted to be encouraged and wanted to feel loved! This was way better than sitting with RT and Becca's arm chairs. I couldn't believe it, oh and I cried out of pure joy through my study morning, that I had seen Danville, the guy who always makes me cry and laugh so hard. :) Danville has been gone a year living in Africia and I have had to distract myself from how much I missed him so much this whole year. I'm just so glad that he recongized me because I would have just backed out of Zoka's and thought I was going crazy.
I told Hannah afterwards that I have been feeling like Jesus is romancing me more than ever and I have great anticipation and I feel like something so good is coming! Her response was you are living in Advent! I thought that was pretty cool!
Thanks Danville for letting me cry on your shirt and thank you just for being you! What a beautiful gift to have today! :) I have been thinking recently how much I miss being bear hugged by Andrew, RT, EJ, Ponch, and Danville! I love Danville hugs! :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Hard steps? Yes Please!
My steps, I often want them to be so valuable, so significant. I want each step to count, as each counts in climbing a mountain. I learned this summer paddling at Beyond, that each stroke will not always take you forward. The wind, the current and the tide most often determine your pace. In the mountains, the elements can slow you down too but your feet are planted on solid ground and if you stop you are not losing ground. On the water, if you stop paddling, you are still moving whether forward or backwards (seemingly most often backwards), which makes for some real awkward and frustrating lunch stops or water breaks.
My dad has always said, "One step at a time!" and I, in turn, always remember that when something is hard. :) And thanks to Becca and Tessa, I am learning to identify whats hard..."This is hard!" :) I have been known, a bit, for enjoying hard things and the reason why I love carrying a 80 lbs pack and still taking more weight or that I love the story where I lead 7 guys to Aslan's Howl in 1 hour & 15minutes on a recon (& I wanted so bad to help carry that girl down the mountain...short kid), is not to prove anything, but as a reminder that hard steps are worth taking!
I took my first real hard steps last night on the campus of Lakeside. I went to a co-ed wrestling match, you know those sports where no one goes to watch but parents, yep this was it. Before I got there, I imagined stands filled with kids cheering and me wondering around with a small bag of popcorn trying to ask kids what the rules where, or how the score was kept. But instead, Sarah (Young Life Leader) and I sat, singled out with the trash can, on the floor, eye level with their shoulder blades. My eyes scanned the bench searching to find a new friend of Kayln's (Young Life Leader) but was surprised to find several girls on the team. Wow, talk about a hard step! I was so impressed to see the guys on the team taking these girls under their wing, teaching them quick stances to help them beat the other team. I was blown away by these tough girls, so much that this hard step of speaking to them afterwards, became so genuinely simple.
"Way to go!" started conversation which lead to an invitation to All City Club on Monday. I invited 6 kids just out of pure enthusiasm for wanting to get to know these kids. I felt like I was on the moon taking a small step for Young Life but a huge step for Lakeside or that I was passing the end of the Shier. My heart was like a crowd of people cheering, my face had to have looked like I had just won a huge victory! And today, I know that this is why I love the hard steps! Jesus by your side, really, truly, you can take on any hard step!
Keep Lakeside in your prayers! Thanks for reading!
My dad has always said, "One step at a time!" and I, in turn, always remember that when something is hard. :) And thanks to Becca and Tessa, I am learning to identify whats hard..."This is hard!" :) I have been known, a bit, for enjoying hard things and the reason why I love carrying a 80 lbs pack and still taking more weight or that I love the story where I lead 7 guys to Aslan's Howl in 1 hour & 15minutes on a recon (& I wanted so bad to help carry that girl down the mountain...short kid), is not to prove anything, but as a reminder that hard steps are worth taking!
I took my first real hard steps last night on the campus of Lakeside. I went to a co-ed wrestling match, you know those sports where no one goes to watch but parents, yep this was it. Before I got there, I imagined stands filled with kids cheering and me wondering around with a small bag of popcorn trying to ask kids what the rules where, or how the score was kept. But instead, Sarah (Young Life Leader) and I sat, singled out with the trash can, on the floor, eye level with their shoulder blades. My eyes scanned the bench searching to find a new friend of Kayln's (Young Life Leader) but was surprised to find several girls on the team. Wow, talk about a hard step! I was so impressed to see the guys on the team taking these girls under their wing, teaching them quick stances to help them beat the other team. I was blown away by these tough girls, so much that this hard step of speaking to them afterwards, became so genuinely simple.
"Way to go!" started conversation which lead to an invitation to All City Club on Monday. I invited 6 kids just out of pure enthusiasm for wanting to get to know these kids. I felt like I was on the moon taking a small step for Young Life but a huge step for Lakeside or that I was passing the end of the Shier. My heart was like a crowd of people cheering, my face had to have looked like I had just won a huge victory! And today, I know that this is why I love the hard steps! Jesus by your side, really, truly, you can take on any hard step!
Keep Lakeside in your prayers! Thanks for reading!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
June 4, 2008 Growth Ahead!!!
As I sit still in "the breakfast nook", wiggling my naked toes in the morning light, listen to the elephant sound of the bus driving by my window, avoiding the massive bin and pack of gear waiting for me to organize, I am flooded with thoughts from the last two weeks and anxious for the weeks to come. I leave on Sunday, with my car singing friend, for the Sunshine Coast. I have come to discover that our Maker places phyical distance in our lives for reasons. For example, I come to know the drive up the coast (4 hours to the Canadian border crossing "I am on Malibu workcrew", 2 hours to Vancouver, 2 hours to the Horseshoe Ferry, 45 min on the ferry to Langdale, then 2 hours to Egmont...or something like that) to be a time of heart transition. I find that time flying 5 hours alone from home is a strange and neat time with Jesus. He always puts a warm sense of confidence in my heart. I am alone and insignificant but with Jesus as my traveling guide, it is incredible how free I feel from myself. to be continued...
New Staff Training 2006
Yes! I have rediscovered the love of being read too! I have always appreciated a great story but without a great storyteller is just not as...well great! So besides Ms. Akins, my second grade teacher, Anna Carter and John Moye are my new favorite story"readers", if you will...and I will! :)
With that said...
Being at New Staff Training for YL is daily becoming a huge priviledge!
I got here two days ago and many of you will understand when I say that I was like the camp golden retriever! The moment we stepped off the bus, everything was like being at Disneyworld with your closest friends :) Wait, wait, wait...back up this started befo
re I even left the hotel. Okay, I was sitting in the hotel lobby (finishing my amazing paper) :) When all of a sudden, THE Sara Doughty walked through the front door...I sat there stareing in disbelief. I couldn't believe it really was her. (The last time I had seen her(co-guide for "the city" that we took up One-Eye at Beyond) was at Cindy's house in Seattle a year and a half ago and heard from her before Christmas when I got the update letter of her commiting to MCYM-YL on military base in Germany) Anyways, I GOT to sit by this sweet sister all the way to Fun Time Ranch :) Yippee! But it just kept getting better! I got off the bus turned to my left and there was none other than THE Susan Greene (aka "Wrangler Susan" and co-superstar laundry folder with me at Trail West) and as soon as I finished hugging her, I turned to my right and there was none other than THE Jessica Ann Cofer (co-student staffer for Chattanooga YL-we love to cry together for kids). I was like a kid in a candy shop. I found my room and Sar
a Doughty is my "bunkmate" (Beyond, you understand the depths of what this means ) :) Yep..I pretty much WON! :) Then I go outside to find Chris, Josh and Mark are still here from last year working as Guest Services :) Then...it gets even cooler...I walk into the snack bar to find Michelle Trissler (Sea Kayaking guide at Beyond '02-'03) yeah..she is interning at Frontier for the year :) Okay, so then after dinner the first night, I am in the dining hall and I hear this very very high pitch scream..yep its none other thanTHE Bethany Christin Dayton and she is so excited to see... ME!We hug and la
ugh so loud, of course everyone is looking at us jumping around. Mal McSwan, had to come and talk to us about our volume, but not b/c we were a bother but b/c...if you know Mal, he LOVES stories and he has to know the story behind the screams :) (I LOVE that man!)...okay okay even more... Then that first morning at Chapel I turn to leave the amazing time in worship and find no other than Kelly (co-lover of laundry at Malibu for two summers!...yep Hof..I WIN!) So great! I love being here and I love meeting new friends and I can't wait to see where else GOd takes me! If this is not a foreshadowing of even just a taste of what Heaven will be like than I don't know what will.It is almost day three and I am still so thrilled to be able to be here with so many great folks that are beginning the journey with me :) PTL! I am so very Blessed! :) Thank you Jesus!
Courthouse Rock Thanksgiving 2007
Yesterday, Emily, Ben, Dad and I went to Gatlinburg to hike with Nana and Pop. It was tourist time, like always, but us Miller's pride ourselves in knowing "the short cut" aka Back Roads :) We even went hiking off the map and beaten trail. My favorite look from tourists is the where did those folks just come from look. We hiked to Courthouse Rock and Nana was worried we would have to bribe the judge with one of our snickers. One snickers! you say, well if you think that is no big deal then you have obviously never been hiking. :) It's like GOLD to hiker's! Until, my next adventure.
Remember:
"It is for freedom, He set us FREE!" -Jimmy Neman, John Wood and Galatians 5
Remember:
"It is for freedom, He set us FREE!" -Jimmy Neman, John Wood and Galatians 5
Thanksgiving 2007
Thanksgiving Day!
Turkey, dressing, yummy non-dairy mashed potatoes :), football, movies, bonfire in the backyard, taking pictures of Uncle Kevin on his motorcycle for his Christmas card, Spiderman, King Kong, Jurassic Park and a great bunch to celebrate what we are thankful for. I love Thanksgiving! We get to eat, sit around, enjoy each others presence and don't have to give gifts. We get to be exactly who we are and be thankful for the simple things!
"Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart." Philippians 1:3-4
'God gave you style, God gave you GRACE, God put a smile upon your face..." -Coldplay
Turkey, dressing, yummy non-dairy mashed potatoes :), football, movies, bonfire in the backyard, taking pictures of Uncle Kevin on his motorcycle for his Christmas card, Spiderman, King Kong, Jurassic Park and a great bunch to celebrate what we are thankful for. I love Thanksgiving! We get to eat, sit around, enjoy each others presence and don't have to give gifts. We get to be exactly who we are and be thankful for the simple things!
"Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart." Philippians 1:3-4
'God gave you style, God gave you GRACE, God put a smile upon your face..." -Coldplay
rediscovering BALance :) written Monday, February 11, 2008
The move to the NW is more than a physical move; its a move towards balance. When you excerise balance is dependent on your core strength. When you take a photograph balance is found in the light. I am trusting that the path before me is a journey towards a strong core and the Light! I have already been so inspired by a breath of fresh air. The morning after I arrived, I woke up went
downstairs, enjoyed a hot cup of coffee with my sister, Lauren Miller. When we took a moment to step outside we could smell the ocean! Then we turned on the News to discover that the passes to the East of us were closed due to feet of snow covering the roads from avalaches. I can't believe that I am here again. I love it here so much, all the mountains around and the sea so close. This place brings back so many good memories of growth and yet there is anticipation within me for the new adventures and the growth that lies ahead. I am so excited to be with donors that are here and meet the donors God is going to invite to join our efforts in ministry. I have been challenged to "Find the joy in the waiting". Thank you all for your support in seeing me stay healthly, regain core strength and dance in the light!
downstairs, enjoyed a hot cup of coffee with my sister, Lauren Miller. When we took a moment to step outside we could smell the ocean! Then we turned on the News to discover that the passes to the East of us were closed due to feet of snow covering the roads from avalaches. I can't believe that I am here again. I love it here so much, all the mountains around and the sea so close. This place brings back so many good memories of growth and yet there is anticipation within me for the new adventures and the growth that lies ahead. I am so excited to be with donors that are here and meet the donors God is going to invite to join our efforts in ministry. I have been challenged to "Find the joy in the waiting". Thank you all for your support in seeing me stay healthly, regain core strength and dance in the light!
Where I live...
Seattle. This is where I live. I have learned that there are days here and even months where it just seattles all d
ay. My best description of seattling is walking through the mist at 
a theme park. I get to wear cow patty boots (for us country folks), or galoshes (for those from England), or gum boots (for you Canadians). I have learned to layer and thanks to my roommates I can make this more of a fashionable system rather than a camping system.
I am so happy to get to live with these girls. Let me introduce you to them. Lisa (on the right) loves fish, she will watch Gilmore Girls with me :), and is an incredible cook. Lauren (on the left) loves to go for walks, graduated with psychology so she loves to listen, and is an incredible photographer. I am so blessed to be sharing my life in Seattle with these girls! I mean I WIN! :)
ay. My best description of seattling is walking through the mist at 
a theme park. I get to wear cow patty boots (for us country folks), or galoshes (for those from England), or gum boots (for you Canadians). I have learned to layer and thanks to my roommates I can make this more of a fashionable system rather than a camping system.
I am so happy to get to live with these girls. Let me introduce you to them. Lisa (on the right) loves fish, she will watch Gilmore Girls with me :), and is an incredible cook. Lauren (on the left) loves to go for walks, graduated with psychology so she loves to listen, and is an incredible photographer. I am so blessed to be sharing my life in Seattle with these girls! I mean I WIN! :)
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