The Miller Memoirs

BEST OF MOMENTS

In celebration of our 13th Anniversary, I wanted to reminisce in our glorious moments. After searching through hundreds of pictures, I cannot help but feel grateful for the beautiful life God has given us. I am speechless as I remember each of our children's births, our fun outings, and simply being together. What started as a way of expressing my undying love for you has brought me to tears with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all my many wonderful blessings.

Remember when…

I remember when you proposed to me in front of the Salt Lake Temple. I had had a suspicion that you were going to propose, but I wasn’t completely sure. I had called a few friends that lived in Provo, and told them of my excitement, and asked them to meet us in Salt Lake. (I’m not sure what I was thinking in inviting friends to what I suspected to be a proposal. I simply felt excited about the possibility of a proposal, and the anticipation of seeing dear friends... whereas, you felt unsure of following through with your plans, because there were so many people.) Somehow, we stole away from the crowd, and you knelt on one knee, and asked me to marry you. You stayed on that one knee, and—feeling somewhat uncertain of what to do—I knelt beside you, and hugged you as I cried “yes”. Bystanders stopped and stared. I didn’t care. I was marrying the man I loved, and I was thrilled.

Remember when…

Our wedding day. It rained all week leading up to our “big day”. The forecast said that there would be rain on our wedding. After talking to the photographer, he said he would meet us at a later day to photograph our wedding if he needed. I was distraught. I have always been about the “day”. There is something about remembering the MOMENT when it is happening, and I didn’t want to look at my wedding pictures, and always remember that it wasn't really the MOMENT. I prayed all week for there to be "no rain" on my wedding day. Our wedding day arrived with no rain. All day we enjoyed clear skies. We were able to photograph our MEMORIES and the MOMENTS. The next day…it rained.
Although I am grateful for my prayers being answered concerning the rain, the actual wedding was the most magical experience of my life. Being married in the temple, to my best friend, was an answer to a prayer from my childhood.  I love you, honey.

Remember when...
We went to stay with friends in McCall. It was an adventure just reaching the cabin. After several hours of searching, we fell asleep in the car. I loved playing with you on the beach, and simply spending time together. After so much time in the sun, I was sunburned from head to toe. It was the most painful sunburn I have ever had, but the hours in pure contentment--made it worth it!

Remember when…

Hailey was a miracle. We didn’t know just how much of a miracle until years later when we tried to get pregnant again, and the doctors told us that our first child was a miracle, and that we needed help in order to get pregnant again; however, that wasn’t the only reason she was a miracle. Just prior to Hailey’s conception Grandma Cora got sick. The doctors said she was going to be just fine, but I felt that we still needed to visit her. She was my shining star. I loved her with all of my heart. I looked to her for so many things—Grandma Cora had to also approve of you for us to get married (I am so grateful she did)! When we drove to Idaho Falls everything seemed fine. Grandma was lively, and definitely on the mend. My heart felt at peace, and I was able to leave knowing Grandma was in good hands. The following week Grandma died. I was devastated. The only light I found at the end of a dark tunnel was the fact that I had just found out that I was pregnant with our first child. I felt that it was God’s gift to me to see me through my heartache. I vowed right then and there that our child would be named after Grandma. I had no doubt that it would be a girl, and I knew she would share my middle name, and Grandma’s first name “Dorothy”. What a miracle, and a blessing in our lives!

In 2001, We moved from Logan, Utah to Austin, Texas...

TEXAS FOOTBALL--Your obsession then, and now...

Remember when...

I was making lasagna and I spilled the container of sugar… I was in such a hurry that I didn’t take the time to clean up my mess. I became even more distracted when in the midst of my cooking, I received a phone call. When I finally got off the phone, I found Hailey sitting in the sugar shoveling handfuls of it into her mouth.

Remember when…

We lived in Texas, and going to the temple took a lot of foresight and planning. The temple was two hours away. In addition, we had a daughter who needed our constant care. Yet, despite being extremely poor—somehow we managed to go the temple every month. We started going with the Howell’s, and we switched. The Howell’s would attend one session, and we would watch Lydia; we would then attend the following session, and they would watch Hailey. In order to be sure that we attended the temple each month, we would plan our trip weeks in advance. I’m not sure how we afforded the drive; however, the Lord provided a way. This simple act created within my heart an undying testimony of the importance of attending the temple—even when it seems impossible. And like all blessing from the Lord—I was blessed more by attending the temple, then I felt I put into it.

Remember when…

We went to the Gulf of Mexico with Rachel and Derek Howell, and Annette and Roy Fuller. The wind blew like crazy. At times I thought our tent would tip over from the sheer force of wind. The next day we spent hours playing on the beach…even through the wind. I loved going someplace new. I loved being there with you, and experiencing God’s handiwork—even if it meant suffering through the “wind”.

In 2002, we moved from Texas to Seattle...

Remember when…

We loved the beach on the Puget Sound. We would hike to this spot quite frequently. We loved the beautiful hike in reaching this spot of beach! I remember feeling like this was one place I would truly miss when we left Seattle.

Remember when…

I walked up a huge hill, several miles from our home, all the while praying to deliver Amber, and succeeded in starting my labor? Remember how my body went into shock from the epidural, and how my blood pressure plummeted? Remember how the doctor yelled at you to keep me awake, and how I simply couldn’t keep my eyes open? And then, remember our relief when the counter medicine kicked in, and I was in the clear? I was so grateful for the priesthood and the power of priesthood blessings. I was grateful that our doctor was a member, and that he could assist you in offering me a blessing. This picture was taken just a few days before she was blessed. Do you remember how we went to the tulip festival? I loved the flowers. There were miles and miles of tulips. I have never seen such a sight—then or now.

In 2004, we moved from Seattle to Boise, Idaho...

Remember when…

I absolutely loved our time in Hawaii. I loved the turtles. I loved swimming. I loved snorkeling and playing on the beach. I loved eating strawberries, watching luaus, and flying over the volcanoes. I loved walking along the beach holding your hand. I loved watching our girls experience the beauty of God’s creations. I loved exploring the Polynesian Cultural Center, the LDS Temple, and Pearl Harbor. I loved scuba diving with you (although you made me so scared when you would choose to “push” your limits just a bit). WE had so many experiences in Hawaii that simply leave me wanting to return.

 Remember when...

We would spend all of our free time with the Carroll family. Remember when we went to Lake Owyhee. I could barely get up on the board, and I found that I was completely exhausted at every attempt (do you remember how I was pregnant…I just didn’t know). We have made amazing friends in Boise. I am so grateful for the gift of friendship.

Remember when…

Granma Schuldt was a regular at family conference. How she would dote over our children, and sew rags for each of the moms. Remember how she would offer her opinion on everything and anything, and how we now miss hearing it?

Remember when...

Jake was due to arrive on the 25^th of February, but when February 25 had come and gone—I was beside myself with expectations shattered. On the 28^th we were induced, and Jake was born just 4 ½ hours after we began—our easiest labor ever! We thought that, even with induction, our labor would be somewhere in the double digits. We were so sure that it would take us “forever” to deliver Jake that we made a bet with our doctor that it would take longer than 4 hours (she thought we would deliver in less than 4 hours). She bought us a sprite after we delivered—we only won by a mere 30 minutes. IT was AWESOME! Remember how Jake slept through the night at 3 days old!

Remember when...

We went to Disneyland with the girlies, and how we spent every day playing from sun up to sun down? Remember how there was no whining or complaining? Remember how our trip was simply blissful, and we wish we could go back? My favorite memory from Disneyland was when the girls were picked to be Jedi pad wans, or maybe it was when we went on the Tower of Terror, or maybe California Screamin’, or maybe when Chip picked up Amber and wiped her tears away after she took a spill… No, no…I think my favorite part was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or Space Mountain, or Princess Fantasy Land… NO…my favorite memory was my obsession over MR. POTATOE HEAD! 

I also loved going to Sea World, and watching you and Amber in the Dolphin Show. I loved how Amber wiped her hands on her dress after the trainer told her to do just that. I loved that I was sad that you were “presented” by the people who ran the show as a husband of another woman… That was a good jealousy.

I also loved the beach, and our final stay at Pacific Terrace. Good Memories. Good Memories.

I am so grateful for my memories. I am so blessed to be married to you, and to have created so many wonderful memories. I must've done something pretty amazing in the pre-existence to deserve a man like you! I love you, Honey! Happy 13th Anniversary!

To Be Continued...