The Miller Saga

Kate has been growing and filling out nicely.  The day before Thanksgiving she started smiling in response to our smiles, a beautiful sight that never ceases to delight me.  Yesterday I heard her laugh for the first time. She really is a happy baby although she is crying now as if to discount what I am saying.  :)

This past weekend we went to see “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Acacia Theatre in Milwaukee.  Kate sat on my lap and watched the show instead of falling asleep as expected.  She is a little night owl.

Yesterday morning Brennen awoke and began to sing from his crib. Gratefully, he does this many mornings. I could hear him as I was getting ready for work as quietly as I could. The thought occurred to me that ideally every morning ought to begin in song. Brennen has it right, and I have much to learn.

Tonight we went Christmas tree hunting as a family in the midst of a significant snowstorm. It was fun and we bought a tree from Charles, who stakes out a corner of the local Menard’s parking lot. We bought our tree from him last year as well. Brennen helped me pick out the tree, which is a fine little tree for our cottage. After getting Brennen to bed, eating a late dinner and having a review of the budget, we were too tired to deal with getting the tree in a stand. Since I had some work to finish, Danielle and Kate went to bed and while they were sleeping I cut the tree, brought it in the house and set it up in the dark. (No telling how crooked it is until morning!) Well, friends, if you’re reading this before everyone here awakens, it will be our little secret. :)

Tags: Brennen, Christmas, Song

Although we are sad about not being with our extended families this Thanksgiving, I am glad that we’ll be able to attend our church’s Thanksgiving Service on Thursday morning. I am very thankful to God for this particular community of believers, and for the many years of faithful witness to the transforming power of the Gospel and the truth of the Bible as God’s Word. The church began as a small group church plant in a living room and has expanded to over 200 people who actively identify themselves with the church community. This is an exciting time as we step toward 2009. It’s a joy to be part of what God is doing here.

Yet, I still long to be more actively a part of what God is doing globally. I am learning that we must take one day at a time. God is with us and our role is to abide. Let us give thanks to God for his love and for the love present among us for one another. Let us abide in his love.

Tags: John 15, Thanksgiving

Kate is one month old as of Saturday.  We celebrated with the ladies of our church (Church of the Redeemer in Highland Park).  The church had a gathering called A Celebration of Life in honor of three of us and our new babies.  It was a special time with prayer for each of the babies and food and fellowship.   Our thanks to all who planned the gathering!  (It might be my imagination, but in this picture I see a hint of red in Kate’s hair :)

mamas and babies

Brennen Dancing

Brennen has discovered a new form of exercise.  He loves to turn on the music and dance!  We had fun capturing this on video.  Enjoy!

Play Video of Brennen Dancing

Tags: Brennen

As Danielle and I were singing last night, Kate was sleeping in her reclining chair. Near the fireplace, which was blazing with our first fire of the season, I watched as Brennen tried to position his hands on either side of Kate as if he wanted to pick her up. He kept shifting his hands as if he was trying to figure out just how it works to lift her out of the seat. I’m not sure what his motivation was but it was very cute. 

Brennen loves to kiss Kate’s head and occasionally he tries to climb into the chair with her, which inevitably means climbing on top of her. Needless to say, we’re not allowing him to do that. We’ll upload some photos soon…

Kate is three weeks old today!  This has been a big week for her.  It started with a family reunion with all the cousin’s on the York side.  She had her photo taken at the studio (thanks for coming Aunt Amy!).  And Kate also got a chance to hang with Daddy while he was working from home.

 We are doing well and love visitors.  If you haven’t met Kate yet feel free to stop by (call first :).

We have survived our first week back to normal (no extra helpers staying with us).  I quickly realized, Monday morning actually, that I am not sufficient to take care of two under two.  God has watched over and protected us. Brennen seemed to be better adjusted this week.  He likes to talk about “Baby” and is thrilled (laughs for delight) whenever he can help Mommy take care of her.  After one attempt to sit on Kate (I’m not sure he realized what he was doing) he has been pretty gentle.  “One day at a time” is our mantra right now. 

Tags: Brennen, Kate

Kate is doing wonderfully, and we could not be happier with her presence in our family. She is now beginning to gain weight and is feeding extremely well. She seems happy in our home. Brennen’s adjustment is a bit slower, I think, as his concept of the world has been radically changed in an instant. He is doing well, but it’s a process. Danielle and I had many months to transition to the reality of Kate, but no matter how much we may have talked to Brennen about Kate’s arrival, he could not have imagined what this change would mean. We don’t often ask for our world to be upturned unexpectedly, but such moments remind us that we are not in control. For Christians this is a hopeful thought, although not usually a comfortable one. We know that a loving, all-powerful God is ultimately in control and that realization frees us from trying to be responsible for the way things turn out. Still, I am sure I am not alone in struggling with this sense of responsibility. 

It is difficult to watch Brennen reel from these changes, but I am convinced this is for his good. Ultimately, I pray that God will help Brennen to learn to love Kate as God does, and that he will come to understand that God is in control of his life, as well as ours, and that this will bring him peace and joy.

It is a wonderful thing to be a father. Right now it is also a tiring thing, even though Kate is sleeping very well. Thank you all for your continued prayers for us. We are very blessed and thankful.

Tags: Brennen, Kate

Yesterday we welcomed our baby daughter, Kathryn Joy, into the world. We are so grateful to God for his great grace and help, for bringing life into the world is always a battle against the forces of darkness. Danielle and Kate are doing very well. Kate slept much of her first day in the world, but is growing increasingly alert and interested in her surroundings (or at least the blurs of light we’re told she sees at this stage). Please praise God with us and pray for a quick and joyful recovery for us all. We are looking forward to spending the next several days together focused on the some of the highest priorities of life, namely family.

Kathryn Joy means “pure joy”.

Tags: Kate, News