Congrats

Well it's official you are out of michigan! Congradulations, and see you guys in a couple weeks,

nice picture bye the way. I found this in a box of garbage in your garage. Ha ha ha ha.

rm

IKEA

Well, here's the pictures from last weekends excursion...

thank you Adam for driving...













Good thing we took the bus...










And here's everyone but the person w/ the camera (amy)...

Pursuit of Holiness ch 1-2

What's the point, especially for "once saved, always saved" believers? People that trust in Jesus for Salvation and cleansing of sin are already considered holy by position. So, what's the BIG deal with little sin? What's even the BIG deal with BIG sin? Is there a percieved moral distinction between the two based upon consequence? i.e. the bigger effect the sin has upon the people around me, the worse the sin? OR if that sin has no percieved effect on anyone around me, is it still a sin (i.e. the fleeting heart/bitterness/ inward unholy thoughts?) OR is it because the Lawgiver is BIG and HOLY that we're to respect even the percieved small sins?

We're reading the book the Pursuit of Holiness in our small group through our church, and these seem to be the major questions I encountered in reading the first 2 chapters. I am curious to know your observations as well. These questions aren't namely the biggest points of the book, however they stood out to me the most, for whatever reason... possibly that I justify WAY to many little things.
There's a quote on pg. 20 that says "it is the comprimise on the little issues that lead to the great downfalls". So a dogmatic/skeptic question (if there's such a thing) I would raise is this: Is it the avoidance of the great downfalls that we abstain from sin? OR is it pro-active... i.e. Out of thanksgiving for our salvation and desire to imitate (not take the place) of God that we try with all our hearts to be Holy? "but just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do: for it is written: "Be Holy because I am Holy". 1 Peter 1:15-16.

Solved Mysteries, Case Number 3987479303

WRONGLY ACCUSED
warning - to the extreme graphic nature, some of these photos may not be suitable for all audiences.

It was a hot July day, when Mr. Miller came home to be greeted by his dog Frodo. Where was Mrs. Miller, but upstairs sleeping the hot monday afternoon away. Mr. Miller proceeded to repair the vacume, setting up his tools on the coffee table next to an empty candy dish. This bowl, to his knowledge had been empty for a couple of days, so he took no notice of it.

Little did he know, earlier that day Mrs. Miller had allegedly filled it with starburst and werther's original candy. He finished repairing the vacume and his wife came into the room, sleepy eyed and looking to finish off her afternoon relaxment with a game of yahoo trivia on her laptop. She set up her laptop right next to this mysteriously empty bowl. After about a game or so of trivia, her sweet tooth began to beckon her to the dish, only for her to realize it was empty. Mr. Miller was hastily finishing his work on his computer, when Mrs. Miller shouted "What did you do with the Candy? This isn't Funny!"

Unable to keep a straight face, for whatever reason besides a guilty conscience, he claimed his innocence. Mrs. Miller did not believe him for a second, for her nap was only about an hour, and Mr. Miller had come home at the half hour. This led investigators to believe the candy was unattended for about a half an hour, with NO evidence to be found. The couple resumed thier search for the missing candy, with the allegations of deceit darting about. Moments later (close to 10min), an allegation turned to the only other possible suspect. After Mr. Miller had taken Frodo (the family dog) for an afternoon poop, to see if there was any evidence of candy, thier hopes of finding the missing candy was growing dimmer by the second, as the scat revealed no clues.

Finally in desperation the couple accused the dog with a harsh tone, and out of guilt and a full stomach the evidence was spewed forth in an instantly grotesque fashion... on the floor.

Case Number 398747303....closed.

-rm

Mika Wedding

What a great time we had at Katie and Dana's wedding!! There were so many friends that came from out of town that made the day even more special. We couldn't be happier for them!

Sandy, Jen, me, Katie, Tara, Megan, Katie, Jenny

This one goes out to Chase: "You can dance if you want to..." Love you guys!

Meredith, Angela, Jason, Matt, and Russ.

Welcome Home!

My time in Wisconsin was absolutely fabulous! Although I missed Russ terribly, it was great to be "home" and nice to see everyone. It was especially nice to see Rene' (who is home on a 3 week leave from Kuwait) and Emma- our newest member of the family.

Welcome home Rene' and Emma!

Here are a few other pictures of the fam...

Bradley, Zachary, Dad, and Emma

One of our nieces, Kayla

Nathan, Dad ("Grandpa"), Kristy, and Austin

Kayla and Kristy at the parade.

That's all the pictures for now! If you want to see more, let me know! -am

Miller Mania '06

Miller Mania '06 as it is called was great. I, unfortunately, had to go alone because Amy is still visiting the fam in Wisconsin, but i had fun none the less... plus some great food. Well, i didn't go alone, i just didn't bring Amy. Rachel Chase and Whitney came with me and Frodo stayed on my parents porch. Bye the way, if any of you ever see whitney tell her to put the frosted flakes back in the box!

Anyway, It was great to see all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, 2nd cousins, and of course Grandma. (who was able to spend some time away from the hospital to see us all) Love you Gram.! Anyway there was a bit of a controversy over which was the accurate count, but we're all pretty sure it was between 48 and 52 people. We had people there from San Diego, Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis and a whole slew of michiganders/locals. Great to see you all again!

On the activity list was food, a slip and slide, food, soccer, bocce ball, food, cards, and the biggest hit - volleyball (which lasted until 11:00 pm thanks to the glow in the dark ball which is the coolest thing ever... well, at least when you want to play volleyball after dark it is).

That night we threw up tents and spent the night in Grandma's back yard... and next year I've learned to go to bed last, otherwise your tent just may happen to collapse with you in it!

Monday we took 12 canoes out to BIG BEND canoe rental (note not "river bend" canoe rental)... Yes, I did get lost in the smallest city in michigan... no really it is the smallest city in michigan... look it up, it's called Omer (it's between standish and the williams farm off 23). It has a blinking light and a real light... it also has 2 canoe places with strikingly similar names. I was supposed to turn at the real light, not the blinker... oops. Anyway, to make a long story longer everyone waited for us, we missed our bus to the drop off and a 2 hour trip turned into a 4 hour ordeal. Lucky for us Uncle Bill B. bought us ALL ice cream TWICE! He IS nice, i don't care what everyone else says about him! :) jk.

I hope to post some pictures from the weekend as soon as I can "bum" some off of someone w/ a camera. Anyway, Love you ALL, can't wait to see you again,

rm.

p.s. my shoulders are fried from the canoe trip!!!!

Meat and Potatoes

Just thought I'd let the world know what I finally decided on for din din...
yup you guessed it, or you read the title of this post... Meat and Potatoes!
(Actually chilidogs and potatoe chips). Yum. Anyone got a tums?

Home Alone

Welp, Amy took off to go see her family in Wisconsin, so it's just me, Frodo, and stupid. I know there have been some concerns out there about how I would survive w/o Amy to feed and clean up after me, and i do have to say it's been tough, but i've been able to perservere. Yes, she does do all that wonderful stuff, but I'm more domestic than you all have been lead to believe.
For instance, I will give you my food schedule since she's been gone (as has been requested)
Thurs: Breakfast: coco puffs, Lunch: a (1) corn dog, Dinner: 2 hot dogs
Fri: Breakfast: coco puffs, Lunch: a Tina's Burrito (yum) Dinner: Big Mac meal w/ Hi-C orange
Sat: Breakfast: coco puffs, Lunch: tator tots, applesauce, and garlic bread, Dinner: I don't know, i'm starving though - I ate all the "good" food in the house!!!!!

I don't know what i'm going to do for breakfast now either since the coco puffs are pretty much gone!

And anyone who would care to read this post and/or care what i eat has got to be a nut case. I say that affectionately, of course.

p.s. I feel a little lightheaded
p.p.s. Stupid is the Cat. :)


rm