it's done!

Huge sigh of relief... the interview day is finally over! Thank you all so much for praying, etc. I really felt at peace today and I can't imagine how things could have gone any better. Everything went off without a hitch. I was a little nervous during my first meeting with the search committee but I calmed down after a few questions. I had a great lunch courtesy of MSU at the Kellogg Center, and I had to cheat and eat some creme brulee for dessert!

I will post as soon as I find anything out.

golf...

We had quite the adventure last night. I went golfing for the second time in my life. It was pretty scary (my "playing," that is.) Denise and Bambi took Justin and I out on the beautiful course where she works (Forest Akers West) and I made it about 5 holes before I was afraid missing the ball or hitting the ground one more time would throw out my back for good! I decided to sit back in the cart and enjoy the gorgeous evening while caddying for Justin, who on the other hand, was quite the pro! I think it's a pastorly requirement to be good at golf. Denise and Bambi were hitting some pretty good shots too. I, however, am a lost cause.

My favorite part was driving the golf cart around. Justin remarked that my Bunin genes were coming out when I started tearing around the corners. It was all I could do to keep myself from trying to get some "sweet air" off some of the little hills. I'm surprised I didn't get kicked off the course for reckless driving! Denise was nice enough to let us play for free so I figured I'd try not to get her in trouble by tipping one over. And I am still in awe of the fact that the putting green was real grass. I had to lie down on it at one point to make sure.

countdown

Three more days until the big interview. Please pray that I continue to trust God to help me prepare and that I would be diligent in doing so. I really need things to come together in my mind a little more than they are right now. Thanks so much to you all for keeping me in mind.

out for blood

I'm not sure I ever remember the mousquitoes being this thick. Last night was the first intended youth camping trip of the year, and we lasted about two hours before we packed up and went home! I was wearing jeans and sitting directly in the smoke from the campfire, and I still had about 20 on my pantleg at one point. It was insane. Anyhow, despite the bugs, the evening was absolutely perfect and we had a great time for the few hours that we were there. Click here to see the photos .

We saw Kevin off to Mount Pleasant this morning. He'll be back tomorrow and then on Wednesdays and Sundays for a while. I'm praying that the ministry at CMU takes off and that the students will benefit from his faithfulness.

a scorcher

It was so hot this weekend that we stayed inside in the AC most of the time. I miss the beach and the cool ocean breeze when it hits 90 like that. I did manage to finish the baby blanket I've been knitting for Holly and started the finish work on the purses I'm making for Alison's wedding. We also managed to fit the Lord of the Rings trilogy in there.... probably why I got so much knitting done!

the big day

It's official, I'm going to have my interview on Thursday, June 29th. It's all day, including lunch. If you feel inclined to start praying now I would not object!

peeps

This seems to be the weekend for people photos. They came in from all over. I also had my camera at church on Sunday and Kathy was warning people to look out or they were going to end up on the blog! I must say that she does have the gift of prophecy. :-) Look out Kathy, you're next!

Alison and Taure are approaching the final stretch before the wedding. Here they are in Wickford, RI. My summer homesickness is kicking in... I wish I were hanging out by the ocean too!

Joey and Jolee are posing on the right. Joey was in the middle of yelling "American Cheeeeeeeese!" Apparently plain cheese isn't good enough anymore. :-)

Here is a bunch of us hanging out before church on Sunday morning. I had a "getting old" moment the other day. We have been having a lot of those around chez miller lately. Kevin was recently mistaken for the "dad" of one of the 20ish LCC college students (who was in turn mistaken for being 12). I heard through the grapevine yesterday that I was referred to by one of our high school students as "pretty hot for an older chick." Ouch, or thanks... I think????

Speaking of Kevin, good news for him as he has found a house to rent in Mount Pleasant. He will be moving up there most likely by the end of the month to take over the directorship of CMU's Christian Challenge group and hopefully start a new church. We will still get to see him though as he will be commuting back and forth for a while. Chelsea is going to miss him the most I think!

This cutie with the balloon is our friends Kevin and Kara's daughter at a chucrch fair in Oklahoma. Justin was getting a little homesick for the wind sweeping down the plains when he saw these photos too. He spent several years in their town as a kid. After all, Bartlesville is the home of a Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper, the Murphy's Hot Hamburger, and a grocery store that got leveled by a tornado... among other, far less cooler things.

ikearific

Yay, we finally have an Ikea in Michigan! Gretchen and I went down to Canton today to go to the new store (it opened last Wednesday). It was packed as you can imagine but we were so excited that we couldn't wait another month or so for things to calm down. It was so weird to go inside without having been driving for 4 hours beforehand.

They had all these sheepskin rugs there that for some reason I was fascinated with. Not like we have any place in the house to put one but I thought it might make a good stole as in the photo. Gretchen and i both managed to get out of there without spending more than $15 each. One of the many reasons we love Ikea.

good news

I found out earlier this week that I am going to be officially interviewed for my current job. That is a huge relief. I have absolutely no guarantees of retaining it but I'm glad that I actually have a chance this time. The interview lasts an entire day in which I have to sit down with various committess, give a presentation to the library staff, schmooze at lunch, and speak in Librarianese for 8 hours straight. I'm actually looking forward to it... I've already created a very cool powerpoint background for my presentation. First things first, of course! Having substance is, like, SOOO overrrated! ;-) I'm not sure of the interview date yet but it will be in July. I will keep y'all posted.

new look

I finally designed a template! I'm not sure how to make the background go all the way to the bottom (everything I've tried messes up the rest of the page) but at least the top half looks good. :-) The picture was taken by my mom (see credits). I have to go now or I'm going to be late to work! I am a little OCD when it comes to web projects...

it's justin's birthday!

a birthday greeting for you! smooch! :-)

more fire pics

I'm so short I could stand under the driver's
side mirror...



I really liked this one of the cab...



BTFD has door to door service!

stop, drop, and roll

I won't steal Mattie's thunder with all the fire photos that we took tonight that he is about to post on his blog, but I did have to stick a few of my favorites up here. (the rest are on his blog and at my Flickr page.) We went out to his fire station to snap some shots. The reflections off the shiny fire trucks in there were pretty awesome. I joined a Flickr group dedicated to photos of reflections, so I noticed them a lot more tonight and got some decent shots. I need to get to know the settings on our new camera a little better, however.

didden

Stopped over at Chez Rometti last night and China (otherwise known as Didden) decided to take a little nap. Chelsea was quite jealous when I got home.

Wrote a whole bunch yesterday. I have to be more disciplined to put stuff down on paper (or virtual paper). One of these days it will all come together. I wonder why we write sometimes... it seems like people have said it all before. Like Ecclesiastes says, there's nothing new under the sun... and one of my favorite verses... " Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." (12:12) Someday I want to frame that one and stick it on my office wall at the library.