Click the link for a fantastic pic of the storm on Flickr.
Barn Storming on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
8.27.2007
tornadicism
At about 5:30 PM on Friday night we had a tornado come right through Lansing. I happened to be working late that night and was at the International Center on campus, and got herded into the basement with everyone else who was there. Of course I was freaking out as my cell signal cut out in the basement and Justin and Ellie were at home, about a mile north of the damage. There were a few hundred people crowded into the MSU Bookstore sitting and waiting it out.
It turns out that the storm produced an F3 tornado in Potterville, southwest of Lansing, and was still rotating by the time it got to the city. The rotation went right through the South Side, within a block of some of our church members' homes. Luckily no one was hurt and there are just a lot of trees and branches down in the path area. Our favorite Fazoli's restaurant had its windows smashed in by a flying billboard.
8.21.2007
the end of an era
It's official: last night I packed up the oboe, went to the UPS store, and sent it off to RDG in Los Angeles to sell on consignment. I have to admit, I did feel a sentimental twinge although it's been sitting in my closet for the past 10 years. There's nothing like that distinct oboe smell when you open the case... although the romantic sentiment rapidly turns south when I start thinking about reeds.
I forgot how much I always had to explain to the general public about what an oboe is. The guy in the UPS store got that faintly amused look when he asked why I needed so much padding and I explained it was an instrument. "What kind of instrument?" I told him a wooden one that could crack with big temperature changes. Look of amusement deepens... then changes to incredulity as I tell him I need to insure it for $4000. "What, do you play in the Boston Pops?" he asks, still laughing. I tell him no but the people who play in the Boston Pops play this type of instrument. I then told him it was an oboe, and then watched him type O-B-O into his form. I politely added the E on the end for him and after laughing at me some more he promptly charged me the $83 I needed to ship it. I just hope it gets there in one piece!
I forgot how much I always had to explain to the general public about what an oboe is. The guy in the UPS store got that faintly amused look when he asked why I needed so much padding and I explained it was an instrument. "What kind of instrument?" I told him a wooden one that could crack with big temperature changes. Look of amusement deepens... then changes to incredulity as I tell him I need to insure it for $4000. "What, do you play in the Boston Pops?" he asks, still laughing. I tell him no but the people who play in the Boston Pops play this type of instrument. I then told him it was an oboe, and then watched him type O-B-O into his form. I politely added the E on the end for him and after laughing at me some more he promptly charged me the $83 I needed to ship it. I just hope it gets there in one piece!
8.11.2007
dad is hilarious!
Here's a video Justin made while I was gone last week... I'm glad Ellie was having such a good time.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8544935170061197192
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8544935170061197192
7.23.2007
catching my breath
Ellie napped a lot Saturday and Sunday which gave me snippets of time to finish reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Quite a satisfying conclusion, although I wish we had seen whatever happened with Hagrid and Madam Maxime...
This month has been a whirlwind. I'm taking a short breather to write a blog entry - will probably randomly type on it most of the day before posting, as I'm sitting here at work, back full-time already, and purposefully swamped. Keeping busy here is helping me to keep my mind off of how much I want to be at home with Ellie. I'm trying to stay grateful... that I have such a good job and tons of new opportunities at work, that Ellie is receiving such great care from family and friends and not strangers, that I'm here and not halfway around the world like a friend of mine whose nine-month-old is in Korea while she is here finishing her studies. I'm glad that I started consciously trusting Ellie's life to God's perfect care as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It doesn't make it less difficult to do so now but I have such a peace that she is in His hands, whether I am present or not. The last thing I want to do is make an idol out of her upbringing or try to take an inappropriate place in her life. I know we will always have a special bond as mother and daughter... but I want her to know that her heavenly Father is the One that has perfect love for her.
This month has been a whirlwind. I'm taking a short breather to write a blog entry - will probably randomly type on it most of the day before posting, as I'm sitting here at work, back full-time already, and purposefully swamped. Keeping busy here is helping me to keep my mind off of how much I want to be at home with Ellie. I'm trying to stay grateful... that I have such a good job and tons of new opportunities at work, that Ellie is receiving such great care from family and friends and not strangers, that I'm here and not halfway around the world like a friend of mine whose nine-month-old is in Korea while she is here finishing her studies. I'm glad that I started consciously trusting Ellie's life to God's perfect care as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It doesn't make it less difficult to do so now but I have such a peace that she is in His hands, whether I am present or not. The last thing I want to do is make an idol out of her upbringing or try to take an inappropriate place in her life. I know we will always have a special bond as mother and daughter... but I want her to know that her heavenly Father is the One that has perfect love for her.
7.17.2007
7.12.2007
as if I needed a quiz to tell me this...
| What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.) | |
| Literature Nerd | |
| Artistic Nerd | |
| Drama Nerd | |
| Social Nerd | |
| Gamer/Computer Nerd | |
| Science/Math Nerd | |
| Anime Nerd | |
| What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace | |
6.16.2007
6.12.2007
Ellie is asleep, tentatively, in her baby seat for the moment so I'm taking advantage Iof the time. The speed with which she is growing and changing just floors me. This week she's been "talking" to us... babbling and making the cutest sounds back and forth. As soon as I get a good video I will post it. She's also a lot more interested in her toys and is awake for longer periods.I'm starting to gear up for the inevitabe return to work. I go back July 2 and will fortunately be able to start back at half time, at least for a week or two. That will help me ease back in to the swing of things. I have such a strong peace from God about going back... He knows that I need that or else I would be even more of a mess than I already am. :-) He keeps reminding me that His hand is all over me having my job. It's so obvious that He wants me there and has continued to provide so many opportunities for me, both personally and to do well at my profession, not to mention giving me a job that I enjoy so much. Believe me, if I wasn't absolutely sure that God wanted me there, I would be going down to the welfare office in a heartbeat and gleefully signing us up for food stamps in order to stay home with Ellie! I am really coming to know Him more as my Rock that I hold on to during this time. I'm so thankful that Justin is going to be able to take care of her when I'm at work. He may need some help, but we'll know that soon, and we trust that God will provide.
In other news... we had Teen VBS last week, and had a teenager come to Christ on Sunday night! Praise God for that one! Please keep him in your prayers as our kids from this neighborhood face huge obstacles to their growth. We're gearing up for regular VBS next week. We had an awesome turnout last summer and are hoping to build on that.
6.08.2007
6.02.2007
how time flies...
Yesterday, if you can believe it, Ellie turned 8 weeks old. She is just now starting to do well if i put her down in her bouncer or bassinet for a nap so I can get a few things accomplished, hence the lack of blog postings and the poor correspondence with many of you. She is finally beginning to act a bit more like a normal baby! Her reflux is much more under control, and she is having much longer periods of alertness. She's starting to be fascinated by her toys, our ceiling fans, and anything with a high contrast. She is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen.We have had a parade of family for the last month. It's been great to see everyone. This weekend my dad and Lynne are here, hence the pic of Ellie and her Poppy. The last visitors were Mom and Richard two weeks ago, and the Millers came out two weeks before that. Next on the list are the aunties... Alison and Deena. We hope to see them this month sometime.
I have been keeping my Flickr site updated at the very least. For pics of Ellie, you can click here. Until I go back to work, large chunks of time are rare for me to post (Ellie is asleep in her bouncer right now, hand up in the air) but I will try and get as much up as possible.
4.12.2007
She's Here
Sorry for the late post but it has been just a little hectic!
Elinor Ann Miller, otherwise known as Ellie, was born at 6:33 PM, Friday, April 6. She weighed 7 pouns 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.
Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/praise711/sets/72157600063233155/
More to come soon!
Elinor Ann Miller, otherwise known as Ellie, was born at 6:33 PM, Friday, April 6. She weighed 7 pouns 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.
Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/praise711/sets/72157600063233155/
More to come soon!
3.26.2007
latest update
Today Ellie weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces, according to the ultrasound. Her head is getting farther down and much more difficult to see. Good news.
the beginning of a long break
Today is the first day of my 14-week vacation. I guess it will really only be a vacation until Ellie gets here but I am enjoying these last few days, however many there may be. It's shaping up to be 75 degrees here today - extremely warm for March, and Ive already got all of the windows open.
It's a nice luxury to sit, sip my coffee, have my quiet time, and plan out what to do for the day... or just stare into space! I do have a bunch of thank you notes to finish. Here are some photos from the church shower as I mentioned before.
Lots of gifts from everyone!
Kadee and Jessica
Carolyn and the chow!
It's a nice luxury to sit, sip my coffee, have my quiet time, and plan out what to do for the day... or just stare into space! I do have a bunch of thank you notes to finish. Here are some photos from the church shower as I mentioned before.
Lots of gifts from everyone!
Kadee and Jessica
Carolyn and the chow!
3.23.2007
counting down
I have pictures of the church shower to post, which will occur as soon as I get to my laptop. The shower was last Saturday and a wonderful time. I have been really overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and their excitement for Ellie to be born. This is the hardest waiting I have ever done. I thought it was hard to wait for Justin to get back from Cambodia before we were married, but at least I knew when he was coming! I still feel like Ellie's not going to come out and I'm going to be pregnant for the rest of my life. I guess that's first-time mom jitters.
The weather has been turning warmer here and it's wonderful. We'll still probably have a cold snap before it breaks altogether but we've been enjoying lots of 50s and 60s. It's finally been warm enough for sandals and I celebrated by wearing a (very large) skirt for the first time since the early fall. I have felt very skirt-deprived all winter. It will be nice to wear normal clothes again eventually.
Today is my lat day of work until July. It really doesn't feel like it at all. The longest I've ever been off of work since my first job has been 2 months - first to go to China and then summer unemployment in Kansas City. The thought of being off for 14 weeks is insane. Wonderfully insane, but I still can't wrap my brain around it. I have a feeling that I'm going to miss and appreciate my job a lot more from the time off - which is a nice feeling. In the past it's been much more of a "good riddance" when I have some vacation!
We went out and got a camcorder last night! It's funny, the last time I owned a video camera it sat on my shoulder and popped out full-size VCR tapes. This one has only a hard drive and fits completely in the palm of my hand. It's insane. I know I sound like an old lady... "Back in my day..." but I guess I am getting pretty old. :-) Seeing that making home movies and recording in general was one of my all-time favorite activities when I was a kid, I'm suspecting that some interesting video blogging might result from this latest purchase! Look out YouTube. I've had to promise Justin already that I won't stalk him with the video camera as is my natural tendency. That will take a lot of self-control on my part.
The weather has been turning warmer here and it's wonderful. We'll still probably have a cold snap before it breaks altogether but we've been enjoying lots of 50s and 60s. It's finally been warm enough for sandals and I celebrated by wearing a (very large) skirt for the first time since the early fall. I have felt very skirt-deprived all winter. It will be nice to wear normal clothes again eventually.
Today is my lat day of work until July. It really doesn't feel like it at all. The longest I've ever been off of work since my first job has been 2 months - first to go to China and then summer unemployment in Kansas City. The thought of being off for 14 weeks is insane. Wonderfully insane, but I still can't wrap my brain around it. I have a feeling that I'm going to miss and appreciate my job a lot more from the time off - which is a nice feeling. In the past it's been much more of a "good riddance" when I have some vacation!
We went out and got a camcorder last night! It's funny, the last time I owned a video camera it sat on my shoulder and popped out full-size VCR tapes. This one has only a hard drive and fits completely in the palm of my hand. It's insane. I know I sound like an old lady... "Back in my day..." but I guess I am getting pretty old. :-) Seeing that making home movies and recording in general was one of my all-time favorite activities when I was a kid, I'm suspecting that some interesting video blogging might result from this latest purchase! Look out YouTube. I've had to promise Justin already that I won't stalk him with the video camera as is my natural tendency. That will take a lot of self-control on my part.
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