Camping!!

Okay, so my family really enjoys camping. It is like a mini vacation to just get out of town and spend quality time together. The peace and quite, animals, streams, afternoon rain mists, and beautiful green just cannot be beat. And it doesn't cost much to go! (always a great perk in the Miller household!) The camping trip we went on last week was planned for almost 2 months because we were so excited it was camping season again! There was so much stuff going on in those short 2 1/2 days from squirrels, wild turkeys, cows, to warm camp fires and a 6 mile bike ride.

So the picture you see here actually has quite the story to it. Starting on the car ride up to the site, for some reason I wanted a 'perfect' picture of a squirrel/chipmunk. (don't ask me the difference) By the end of the second day I thought it was going to be impossible because every time I came across one they got startled and ran way to quickly. Well then I spotted one on the other side of the camp grounds from our fire pit. I started zooming in and taking (pretty blurry) pictures while quietly sneaking up on it. By the time I got the last snap in I realized it had been about a 5 minute process and I was only about 10 feet from the animal. Mission accomplished!!

On the second day we also adventured out on our mountainous bike ride yet as a family. We took the forest 'road' (a dirt path) up toward the entrance of the National Forest from Resimandero camp site. What I thought was going to be a leisurely ride turned into 6 miles that I felt for days! I truly enjoyed it though. More the downhill as opposed to the uphill, but loved it none the same. We were able to find some amazing views that reminded me of how awesome and huge our God is. He makes such beautiful vast land, but still knows the number of hairs on our head. Absolutely breathless I was! On our way up a certain area we actually scared up 2 wild turkeys. We had no idea what they were until they were almost gone, but we were all still able to see the beautiful birds.

Nothing to dramatic happened besides our daily visits from the cows. And that's how I like my trips, uneventful. We have too many that went array. Though they made for great memories, I think this one goes in the vault for awesome family time, and you can't get any better than that! Next time we plan a camping trip, don't be afraid to jump in, the more the merrier! Oh, and don't forget to check our all the other pictures I posted on facebook, like the one of the flowers my son's picked specially for me!!

Music to my ears!!

Alrighty, well most of you know how much I love music. I am not musically inclined what-so-ever, but I have to listen to music all the time! I continually have a radio on in the morning while getting ready, in the car while driving, and throughout the house while doing my chores. I even have a portable radio to drag around so I can have music in any room at all times. It is so bad I even listen to music when I am having conversations with other people and will easily get swept away in the lyrics as opposed to the conversation. Sad I know. The only thing I am waiting for is an IPhone so I can have the K-Love app so I can listen no matter where I am!

I really enjoy many aspects of music. I am the type of person to actually listen to the lyrics (unlike Adam) and try to think about the story behind it or the feelings it is trying to portray. I also like to think about how it could relate to me and my life. I love the different instruments and sounds that are made to make a song unique. I also like to know about the artists and see what their inspiration is and what they were thinking. I love to watch music videos to see the songs come to life and I absolutely love, love, love to see music played live, whether it is at a concert, and church or my hubby playing guitar in the living room!

When it comes to the types of music I listen to, it is quite the variety. My parents taught me to appreciate it all, and my grandfather found it necessary to take me to at least one opera. I can say though I am just not patient enough to sit through orchestra, jazz or opera. For random reasons like I need instant gratification and I can't really stand music without words for very long, unless it is soundtrack to a movie or something. My 2 main types of music that I listen to are country and christian. But I could definitely spit out lyrics to ICP, Snoop Dogg, Avril Lavigne, Vanilla Ice, The Monkey's or Bush. Some I prefer to keep under wraps. That also reminds me, I love to memorize lyrics, it makes me feel a part of the song and I think it brings greater appreciation to the song as well.

I do keep up on country as much as possible, but in order to make it through my day and week I must continually play christian music. And I know what some of you are thinking, no it's not all boring and gospel, slow stuffy music. It's amazing, inspirational, keep you grounded kind of music. There are some awesome (local and national) artists!! First off, I love to listen to K-LOVE (105.5FM). They have great D.J.'s, good news information as well as continuous (no commercials) music all day and night. I have come to love a lot of musicians such as David Crowder Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, Echoing Angels, Big Daddy Weave, and Casting Crowns just to name a few. When it comes to 'local' bands I can thank Calvary of ABQ for introducing most of them to me. I have enjoyed groups like MOI, and Kendal Payne that have stopped by and now I can't live without their c.d.'s in my car at all times. Some outstanding artists have come straight from Calvary (who's c.d.'s are also in my car) like Jennifer Santiago and Nick Crespo (who had the best concert last night at Calvary.). I love feeling the relationship these artists truly have with God and it inspires me to walk closer to HIM every time I hear them.

So if you ever need a partner for a good concert or just wanna hang out and swap music, please let me know. I'm always available for that! Also, if you have any other suggestions of good bands/artists that I should check out please leave it in the comments. Thanks, and until next time, TURN UP THE MUSIC!!!

My First Post!!!

Okay, so I first off have to thank Nichol for leading me to blogging. If you know me at all you know I am never short of things to talk about so this is a great way for lots of people to hear me (or at least lets me think that way).

Secondly, I have to give you all a fair warning. I usually don't type fast enough for my brain and I am not good at grammar (thanks De) so be prepared for lots of mistakes. Thank God that He knows we are not perfect. I prove it every day!

Thirdly, I would love to hear your comments, maybe even ideas of what I can blog about.

Okay, so i was contemplating on what to write about because like I said, I could go on for forever about anything, but what better thing on Mother's Day to talk about then my amazing boys. Usually my 'boys' includes the hubby but today I want to focus on Johnathan and Zackary. If you do not know this by now, my world revolves around my family and my 2 boys are the main focus.

Johnathan is the oldest at 8 years old and is in 2nd grade. He started off life at 2 lbs. 8 oz and has been growing ever since. He is an avid reader (Adam and I don't know where that came from), loves to play sports, can run for days on end and is the best big brother any person could ever ask for! He is so compassionate and worries about everyone else way before himself. He's newest habit is running and has run in 2 5K's. His first time was 28:42 and his second was 27:39, so he is improving and has another race this Sunday. I can already see God's gifts of children's ministry and evangelism. He made sure to say the sinners prayer with his (then 3 year old) brother, just in case anything happened 'even though Zackary didn't know, he would go to heaven!' I can remember doing finals in high school (yes I had him on my 17th birthday) with him sitting on my lap at the computer. Life wasn't always easy at that point in time, but he has always been one of my best friends. He makes me laugh all the time and it's kind of scary how much his attitude is like mine. I guess I better start paying attention. He is also amazing at school and keeps almost perfect grades while making sure to be friends with everyone and help them out in any situation.

Okay, I know, blogs are suppose to be short so I will move on to my second son Zackary. He is now 4 years old and quite the fire cracker. He loves to smile and laugh and do anything his brother is doing, including going to school. He started out this world even smaller than his brother at 1 lb. 12 oz. He had a harder time coming out of the NICU but we were so happy to have him home once he was finished. He is the strongest person I know. What other person can go through 5 surgeries in less than 1 1/2 years (on his hip)and still have a huge smile on his face and be walking in no time! God has truly blessed him with strength, healing and wisdom beyond his years. He loves helping anyone do anything. He can do laundry with the best of them and can plant a killer garden! He will be starting preschool next year and I don't know what I am going to do with another one of best friends being gone everyday!

I am so blessed that I have been able to stay home and spend so much time with these 2 amazing miracle children of mine. I love them with all of my heart and they truly made this a wonderful Mother's Day by all their hugs, kisses, pictures and love. God bless the little children in this world, because I know he has blessed me with mine.