2011 Miller Nativity

Each Christmas we do a little "nativity video" with the kiddos. They really look forward to it. :) This is this years. :)

Ok I don't know if it is working. . . please let me know 'cause I don't think it is showing up . . .

Halloween Left Overs

So I got this lovely comment from my super sweet sister on my previous post :

whats the matter with you? post your kids in their halloween costumes.
don't be such a glory hog

Well, first of all the Pic of hubby and I is from a party TWO WEEKS before Halloween. It seems like after that life got crazy, so I haven't updated the blog :) I mean so I just wanted to be a glory hog! :)

For the Trunk or Treat Miss Kaylee was a Witch and Mia was a Ballerina. (I am afraid I don't have pictures! )

For REAL Halloween Mia changed her mind 20 times. I had to talk her OUT of being a mommy. I thought it was cute but she wouldn't put her hair in curlers or anything so I am not sure that a little girl showing up with a doll would quite be an understood costume. ;) So she eventually settled on a cow girl. (even though I had loaned her boots out to our neighbor SORRY! - in my defense she was going to be a witch for the last month! NEVER mentioned cowgirl!)

Kaylee decided to be Rapunzel and since you all know I am super cheap and don't spend money on halloween costumes. . . I of course fashioned her a wig from curling ribbon. :) Turned out ok. :)

And for Mr. Talin I scored this Crush the Turtle costume at a garage sale when I was getting the kid clothes he desperately needed. :) Super cute.

In case you aren't a facebooker -

In case you aren't a facebooker - you might have missed our halloween costumes for our "adult" Halloween Party :)

I wanna win -

I have the perfect little place to put this in my bonus room. Been wanting one - but I am too cheap (or broke?) to get one. . .

so maybe I could get lucky and win this?

If not - maybe you can enter - and win.

No, I like the first idea much better.

Here is her website

http://www.dandelionsquare.com/blogs/articles/4350242-let-the-fun-begin-giveaway

so you can see what she has!

For Me. . .

This is more for me than for anyone to have to read. This is essentially a talk I gave on the sacrament a few months ago. I am feel that it will help me later on to reflect back on so I am putting it on my blog. :)

What is the Sacrament to you?

(For me lately it has been a time when I am more wrestling kids and trying to keep them quiet than a spiritual experience. - So this is my chance to refocus... Sadly I can't blame it all on my kids. . . as I sat on the stand (KidLESS), doing my best to focus the entire 10 min or so I found my mind wondering - just moments before giving this talk. OBVIOUSLY I needed this!)

In my studies I found: (emphasis added below)

1. Sacrament meeting is the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. (Elder Oaks - talk Sacrament meeting and the Sacrament.)

2. It is very personal, as we bring a broken heart and contrite spirit there. (Elder Nelson Ens. 8/04) If we think of the words of the Sacrament - All we are asked to do is to turn our hearts and thoughts to our Savior who gave us so much. We are covenanting to "always remember Him." Sadly, as I am making the covenant I am often "Violating" it as I make it, as my mind wanders. . .

3. For the Young Women and women who may not know the significance of the white shirts being worn to pass the sacrament; "a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirts (dress) you will wear into the temple" (or on your missions for the YM.) (Ensign 11/95 p. 68) I appreciated the gentle reminder of my baptism as I observed the white shirts today.

4. It is a chance to "Pause from the hectic pace of our lives and to reflect upon things sacred and divine." (Pres Hinkley, talk Reverence and Morality)

4. We are on Holy Ground. Have you ever thought of that? President Hinkley reflected on a time that he brought some investigators to a sacrament meeting while on his mission. "There was the usual convivial spirit in the hall, with the members talking noisily one with another. When this family came into the room, they quietly moved toward some chairs, knelt for a moment, and closed their eyes in a word of prayer. They then sat in an attitude of reverence amidst all the commotion.

Frankly, I [Pres. Hinkley] was embarrassed. They had come to what they regarded as a worship service, and they behaved themselves accordingly."

He went on to explain that socializing is an important aspect of our program as a church. But that all of these things should take place in the foyer, and "when we enter the chapel we should understand that we are in sacred precincts." He then recounted the story of Moses and the burning bush. "And the Lord said, "draw not nigh hither: Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5) He continued that although we are not asked to remove our shoes, the same reverence for the chapel and should abound when we walk through those chapel doors.

I though of the song "the chapel doors" and how I need to teach my children better of the sacredness of the sacrament meeting. Perhaps I should pause before we walk in, make sure all their wiggles are out and they remember to be reverent in that room. (I feel a FHE coming on! :)) I remember as a small child learning of the linens representation as they covered the sacrament. I remember often picturing our Savior being covered by those clothes in the tomb; and of course His Triumphant Rise. Do my children know of the symbolism? How long has it been since I have really pondered those same thoughts?

7. We are renewing covenants. One would reason that if we are "renewing" our covenant of baptism by taking of the sacrament worthily, then certainly the effects of baptism would also be renewed. THAT IS A POWERFUL THOUGHT (by my dad). I never felt so clean as after I was baptized. I never wanted to tarnish that clean feeling. (of course I did) But I was excited to feel just as clean and that same desire the first time I went through the temple. If I make the effort, that same clean feeling can be renewed each week as i partake of the emblems of His Atonement. There is Power in the Sacrament that I believe even I don't fathom.

But the GREATEST Power is in His LOVE. Born of both miraculous and humble circumstances, He lived a life of service. . . always thinking of others. He HEALED both body and SOUL.

Before he gave the ultimate sacrifice, He taught his apostles of a comforter he would send. Because he would "not leave them comfortless." He gave them a new commandment to "love one another, as I have loved you."

When I read this I thought, wait, this isn't a NEW commandment he asked them to do this before. . . I then studied to find that before he had asked them to "love your neighbor as yourself". Oh how much more beautiful the commandment to "love your neighbor as" HE loved you. For no one would have a more perfect love.

[ There is an AMAZING talk by Jeffery R Holland entiled "I Stand All Amazed" I so suggest you read it I didn't use it all in my talk, but below are bits and pieces from it.]

In the Sermon on the Mount he reminds us "love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matt. 5:44)

His words mean even more considering what happened shortly after this sermon.

"And when [Pilate] had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of throrns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him."(Matt. 27:26-31)

And after all of this, He did as he asked us to do, as He proclaimed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He took no thought of his own suffering, in the hour when surely he could be "selfish" he was not.

My favorite hymn is such because of the lines "the very foes who slay thee, have access to they grace." For even those who most evil in this world, will have the chance to repent. Even those who crucified Him, would be forgiven BY Him, if they would repent.

Elder Holland recalls seeing a group waiting for their missionary to return off the plane - after being gone for two years. As he watched, he was able to point out the girlfriend who was an obvious reck. :) A Father, with shoes well worn, obviously put off getting new clothes for himself because he made sure that his son had the best on his mission. The mother who held in her hand a tissue of sorts that had been held so tightly and nervously crumpled. A rowdy brother who jumped around nervously. Who would it be to run up to the newly returned elder first? he thought as he watched.

"Somebody couldn't take it any longer. It wasn't the mother, and it wasn't the girlfriend, and it wasn't the rowdy little brother. That big slightly awkward, quiet and bronzed giant of a man. . . just simply ran out . . . and swept his son into his arms. . . . He just held him and said nothing. "

"And then I thought of God the Eternal Father watching his boy go out to serve, to sacrifice when he didn't have to, paying his own way, so to speak, costing everything he had saved, all his life to give. At that precious moment, it was not too difficult to imagine that fater speaking with some emotion to those who could hear, "this is my Beloved Son, in whom i am well pleased." . . . Even in my limited imagination I can see that reunion in the heavens. And I pray for one like it for you and for me.

My prayer is that I can remember each Sabbath day, to Remember Him, as He asks, and as i covenant so that I can have HIS SPIRIT to guide me (and all of us) back to our real home.

3.

9/11 10 years later

I sat to write in my journal today and couldn't write the date with out turning my mind to 10 years ago. I was one of the lucky ones not to know anyone who passed away that day. So sometimes I feel like I don't have the right to connect to what happened. But I love how America comes together and stands together on this day each year. More so than we do on July 4th, Memorial day or Veterans day. At least that is how I feel. So here is my recount of the day, small and simple as it may be.

Dustin came over to the apartment to pick me up for school and asked if I had seen the news. We watched and I was shocked a plane could be that bad of a driver. I believe that as we were watching the news the second tower was hit right before our eyes. There were things I way I hope no one ever has to see. Things that I am glad they don't replay in the footage. I thought of my grandfather's words. (below) Many professors had a moment of silence. Some were tearful. I was more in shock - and very un aware that is was a terrorist act.

My thoughts go to those people who gave their lives to help others - those on the 4th plane and the others that helped people escape or be rescued.

There is a man that moved into my ward recently who lived in Africa. He had to escape because he was a wanted man for trying to fight the gorilla warfare there. He left his wife and kids for 5 years to come here. Recently they have joined him. However, on July 4th his children were frightened by the fireworks and noise - afraid that they were being attacked as they had been in their country in Africa.

I forget that everyone isn't free as we are. My grandfather served in WWII he said that he would go to war ANYDAY to KEEP what he saw off the doorsteps of his children. I am grateful that my children have never had to face that fear. Thankful to live in this free land no matter how messed up the political part is.

I am grateful for the reminders to count my blessings. My thoughts and prayers to any who may have lost someone that day. We all lost some of our innocence and security. May we never forget.

My Random crazieness

Holy cow the whole summer has been a whirl wind.

Did dresses for my sisters wedding (just for the flower girls and baby)

Did other things for sisters wedding.

Here is one picture of the reception place. Can't believe we pulled it off in 2 hours of set up. There is much not seen here - but if you look in the corner you can see the close pin line of pictures of them hanging. For the sign in book peps signed a card and attached it to the line.

I thought it was super cute. Then again it was my doing :)

If you wanna see pics of the bride you will have to go here.

My Father in law loves me so much he spent TWO days sanding and painting 11 cute shutters for me (for the wedding too not pictured! AHH!) and please cross your fingers I can fit them in my new house!

While I was in Utah with the wedding my hubby bought me a new house. Well at least he put an offer in on one I had never even seen. Gulp.

Turns out he did good. Turns out they are wanting to close a week earlier than planned.

So here I am blogging trying to keep myself from packing on the sabbath. I can't believe I only have 5 more days!

I need to rent out my house. . . anyone?

I need to get my house ready for renters.

I have been so hecka busy I can't even think straight. It's like I am pregnant (but I am not yet. . . hopefully soon . . . AFTER the move. :)

Gave a talk in church today. Finshed in 7 min so I wasn't that woman how takes all of her hubbies time. (PET PIEVE of mine) did i even spell that right?

I bought some beautiful new shutters for my sliding glass doors they make me SOOOO happy. New house doesn't have a sliding glass door. Sad. Friend wants to buy them from me. I could get double what I paid for them on C.L. . . . My friend better love me because I am only gonna make $50 off her. (shhh don't tell her) Who wouldn't pay $300 for these.

I would. But I talked the guy down to $150. :)

Buying things for the new home. Scaring my hubby a little. . . kinda like when I bought our current house before he had even passed the test to be a PT. (I say it was a vote of confidence - he said it was mega pressure! :)

Talin is "walking" at least with a push toy and 3 steps on his own. Well, I better go play with my kids for maybe the last time in a month while I do this move!!! :) Fewwwwww.

HAIR FLOWERS FOR SALE and more. . .

I had a friend get stopped by a few people wanting to by the bows I made (in her daughter's hair) so I am creating this entry to show what I have :)

Fabric Flowers $3 each

average size is 3 - 4 inch in diameter

~For a limited time I will offer buy 3 get 1 free~

(unless you custom request something - the normal price please)

(and you may mix and match)

This one is my favorite but it doesn't really picture that well. I wear it (along with others) all the time. Great to dress up a pony tail!

"Full Flowers"

A few hair shots so you can see what they look like in hair. . .

love this white one too!

Flatter laying flowers. . .

The black pok-a-dot, the green swirl and pink below have an in-lay of tule.

The striped does not have tule in-lay. The circle does.

These are simply fabric no tule.

These are a more "full" flower most do not lay flat as above.

Pig tail fabric flowers $2 each or $4 pair

average size is 2 - 2 1/2 inch in diameter

~ buy 3 get 1 free~

(and you may mix and match)

I have sets of two. Just put one of several in a picture so save time.

(if you like just one that works too)

As you can see some I put pearls in some I put fabric in the center.

(The piggy tail flowers all have Matches though)

This set only has the tule under lay.

Flower Rings $2

~ buy 3 get 1 free~

I have them to match ALMOST any flower above.

I think these are super fun!

The ring itself is an elastic.

Hair Bows $2.50 each

average size is 2 1/2 - 3 inch long

~ buy 3 get 1 free~

If you are in need of baby head bands that are interchange-able let me know. :)

Hair Flowers

$1 each

all of the flowers on the left shutter only* (two panels)

the right shutter are the pig tail flowers pictured above ($2 ea.).

*The four flowers like this: on the left shutter are $2 each.

I also have some bib clips, nursing clips and pacifier clips. The bib clips are wonderful. You simply stick it in your purse and anywhere you go (grandmas, restaurants, the park . . . ) you clip the bib clip to a paper or linen napkin (or wash cloth) and you have a bib. And you don't need to carry around a dirty bib afterwards!

The nursing clip works the same way - only it is longer so that mom can simply use a blanket to help cover up! (I was not one to cover around a hooter-hider - I had ENOUGH to carry! :))

Bib clip, Nursing clip or pacifier clip $2.75 each

(for a mam or button pacifier adapter add .75 please)

I haven't made a business out of this or anything (yet?) but I made them for a little block party sell and obviously went a little overboard! :) Thanks for looking!

(If interested please contact me via email (because I won't have your email if you just leave a comment) at krisndusty@gmail.com