Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Hello family and friends,

These weeks foretell change as temperatures slowly drop and leaves continue falling. The chill of winter is in the air, creeping ever so slightly into our everyday lives. Clothing consists of more layers than colors, and function trumps form more and more often. Yes, my friends, it's going to be a bitter one. Time to face the harsh reality of a New England winter!

The Red Sox won the World Series - Jimmy and I take full responsibility for being the good luck charm in this. But seriously, it's really fun to be in a city during a World Series win! Unfortunately, we aren't familiar with that feeling....(ahem, 2010 and 2011 Rangers...).

One big blessing of being a seminary family is the opportunity to cook homemade meals almost every night. I've always felt semi-comfortable being in the kitchen, but now that it's become a way of life for us, I enjoy de-stressing after long day of work over a pot of simmering stew, baking chicken or chopping vegetables. An obvious byproduct of eating at home more often is meals are much healthier! Jimmy and I love sitting down and recounting our days over a home-cooked dinner.

Turkey chili with a side of cornbread

While we've been good about eating at home six days out of the week, we like to carve out one day for a date night! Lo and behold, Jimmy and I found an On The Border about 30 minutes away! On The Border may be a 6 on a scale from 1-10 for TexMex, but up here it's right about a 9. We've been craving enchiladas, tacos and fajitas and got to eat to our heart's content. It tasted just like home!

On Halloween, all of the cute kiddos in Bell Hall walked door to door and Trick-or-Treated. We were so excited to pass out candy like grown-ups! There were tiny strawberries, a hotdog, princesses, Batman, a flower and a fox who came by to visit us! Some of the kids weren't too thrilled about Jimmy answering the door....

My Cowboy Luchadore 

Saturday was one of the warmest days this fall at around 70 degrees! We explored Chebacco Lake and Trails about 2 miles away. I hadn't been to the Trails yet, and on the heels of studying Psalm 104, it was such a worshipful experience! The beauty of the sun peeking through autumn leaves left me speechless.  The psalmist puts it best -

"Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

covering yourself with light as with a garment,

stretching out the heavens like a tent...

 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot;

he rides on the wings of the wind;

he makes his messengers winds,

his ministers a flaming fire." 

(Psalm 104:1-4, ESV)

The Lord has been faithful in teaching us just how much he loves us and how faithful he is to His children. Friends, you are indescribably loved and cherished! Let these words minster your soul like it has to me - 

"And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to hisspan of life?" (Luke 12:22-25, ESV)

Friends, we are sad to say we won't be going home for Thanksgiving. Although it's hard not to go home, we are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with the wonderful families and friends in Bell Hall. We are learning how to cherish holidays as just the two of us as a family. It's hard, yet very good for us! We've grown as a husband and wife together and are thankful for times of loneliness, for they lead to fruitful dependence on one another as a God-glorifying family. 

To sum it up, Jimmy and I are settling nicely into Massachusetts, loving the beauty surrounding us and excited to see God's faithful in the continuation of this season. Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. We can see God's guiding hand in our lives! 

In Him,

The Millers

My Texas Top 10

Hello friends and family,

Let's face it. There's no place on earth like Texas. The culture, smells, sights, sounds and tastes of Texas are one-of-a-kind. 

As the temperatures continue to drop, I am reminded of how much I'm missing warmer weather. Don't get me wrong - I love the changing and falling leaves, wearing riding boots and infinity scarves, gorgeous sunsets and crisp cool breezes! Experiencing fall in New England is a breathtaking daily adventure.

BUT....

This Texan is getting concerned with how cold it's starting to get; and it's ONLY OCTOBER! Ergo, here is my Texas Top 10 List of things I miss about the great state.

1. TEX-MEX

Just look at the beauty. 

2. Warmer Weather

I feel this explains it all...

3. Awesome Highways

Needless to say, they let cows forge the path that is today's Boston roads. Yikes. 

4. MARGARITAS

A yes, a proper margarita. 

5. State Pride

Texans are one loud, proud bunch. I am now one of them. 

6. Cowboys Football

The days we get a Cowboys game on local TV is a very, very good day. 

7. Christ Fellowship

Who wouldn't miss Christ Fellowship?

8. Drive-Thrus

And more specifically...Whataburger. 

9. Sprouts Farmers Market

I'm surprised this crept up to #9, but it's true...this place is a diamond in the rough!

10. FRIENDS and FAMILY

We miss our wonderful friends and family, but all in all, we're happy we've made a home in Boston. We'll forever love you, Texas, and will forever claim Texas as our HOME STATE! 

In Him,

The Millers

Sights and Sounds

Hello friends and family,

Wow - I am extremely overdue for a blog post! Life has been a big bundle of traveling, new adventures and starting a new job. Needless to say, I haven't spent much time writing and contemplating on the happenings of late.

Where to start...

Two weekends ago Jimmy and got the opportunity to visit Portsmouth, NH with our dear friends Alex and Annie Kato! They invited us to explore New Hampshire them on a Saturday morning. The sea town is so adorable, and there are lots of great restaurants and boutiques!

Eating a fish and chips lunch with the Katos. 

Portsmouth is so charming!

In front of the Portsmouth harbor

The beautiful town square

A few days later, Jimmy received two tickets to the Celtics/Raptors game in TD Garden! Seeing that this is a bucket list item for us - we had to go! We had SUCH a blast! 

This past weekend, I got to have an amazing GIRLS WEEKEND with my best friends! Caitlin and Lindsay met me and my sister in NYC for a weekend in Manhattan, and it was just what I needed! I had really been missing my dearest friends and sister, and I'm so thankful we got quality time together to talk about life and upcoming adventures and changes. 

I arrived on Friday, and we had dinner reservations at Gallow Green at the McKitrick Hotel. It was a family-style restaurant with "fancy" versions of southern food. It was a rooftop garden restaurant, and the ambiance was so nice. A live jazz group was playing throughout dinner, too! 

The next morning, we decided to walk around SoHo, visit my brother at Warby Parker and see the J. Hilburn pop-up store (Lindsay works for J. Hilburn!). 

The girls at lunch

So happy to see my best friend again!

James hooked me up with some awesome new shades.

I love my brother!

Sporting our new Warby sunglasses. 

That evening, we met up at Maritime Restaurant and enjoyed a yummy dinner with LOTS of sweet friends in NYC. There is nothing better than good conversation around a table. Mmmmmm....

Sunday morning I went for a jog and snapped a beautiful view of NYC along the Hudson River.

We enjoyed brunch at The Park, walked throughout the city and went to Trinity Grace Church in Chelsea. It was a great way to end my trip! My Amtrak train departed Sunday evening and I said goodbye to the BIG CITY! 

I love NYC, but Boston was a welcome place to be headed. I'm falling in love with the city! 

Tonight, my sister comes into Boston to see my home for the first time. I can't wait to explore the North Shore with her and show her my new world. I'm so thankful for family close enough to come visit!

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

- Psalm 25:6-7 -

In Him,

The Millers

When Rubber Meets Road

Hello friends and family,

The Lord answered prayers in a big way this week.

As many of you guys may know, I have been looking for a job for a couple months. Before we moved, I had been applying to various jobs in the Boston area for a couple months hoping I would have one secured when we got here. I had gotten to the last round of interviews for a job at Gordon College, flown up to Boston during a week in July and used two vacation days on this last-minute trip only to find out I did not get the job.

I was frustrated. I was bummed I didn't get the job I was sure I was going to get, and I had put a lot of hope and expectation on this. Why would God not give me a good job when we were obeying him to come up here? We had sacrificed a lot to move across the country, and I was sure He would answer my prayer. That's the way it works, right?

Wrong. The Lord knew I needed to learn what dependence and trust were all about.

Upon officially settling into our new place, I began searching for jobs. I joined CareerBuilder, Idealist.org and Monster.com to find jobs in the area within my field. Many companies reached out to me, but they seemed to be pyramid schemes masked as marketing firms, insurance agencies, or entry-level administrative positions. I was dismayed and frustrated, yet I had an assurance throughout it all. The Lord had called us to Boston to follow where He was taking us, and I knew he would provide for us like He has our entire lives.

On October 1st, our bank account officially reached $50. Jimmy and I experienced a subtle fear we never had before. What if we had to take out loans while I searched for a job? What if we had to call our parents to help us make it through the months without work? What if I had to work a few part-time jobs to make rent until a job worked out?

"Lord, October is the month in which You will move in mine and Jimmy's lives. I come to you in humility and hope asking that you would financially provide for us. You promise to provide and take care of us...I pray that you would show up in a miraculous way!" - journal entry, October 1

Tuesday, October 2, we both separately spent time in the Word and with the Lord. Unbeknownst to each of us, we had gone to the throne, laid down our worries and cares, and felt a calm sense of peace.

That afternoon, I received a call from St. Mary's college preparatory school. They offered me the Development Associate position!

Upon hanging up the phone, I fell to my knees, wept and cried out thanking Jesus for His faithfulness and perfect timing! He knew I was used to "controlling" my circumstances and asked me to trust Him rather than panic.

He didn't have to answer my prayer this way. He could've taken us down a hard road of financial difficulties, yet He chose to bless us! This isn't because of anything Jimmy and I have done, but because of how good our God truly is. He is a loving Father and our Sustainer!

I wanted to write this story out to tell you all about how great He is! He answers our prayers: Sometimes the way we ask, but sometimes he answers them in another way. How He answers us doesn't mark the character of God. Ultimately, He is more concerned with our conscious need and dependence on Him rather than creating a comfortable environment.

Friends, be encouraged. You can trust our good God.

"Give thanks to the Lord, He is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever." 

- Psalm 136:1 -

In Him,

The Millers

Parents Weekend

Hello friends and family,

This past weekend, my parents came to visit us!

Truly, I may have the best parents in the world. Their love for Jesus Christ pours into everything they do. They love adventure and trying new things, as well as meeting the locals and learning about their life. They're active, love biking and exploring nature, and are always down for grabbing a glass of wine or a beer to reflect on the day. I pray that someday I'll be like my parents! They raised four kids with different interests and personalities extremely well, and Jesus was always in the center of our lives as a family. Seeing them this weekend reminded me of how much I've learned and grown under their love and protection.

Now that I am a wife, it's neat to see how the parental dynamic has shifted to believer-to-believer and sinner-to-sinner rather than parent-to-child. I'll always be their daughter and for that I am thankful!

Enough of this sappy stuff, right?

My parents flew in on Friday night and rode the trains out to the North Beverly station a couple miles from our home. We picked them up and drove them to our little place on the Gordon-Conwell campus. I cooked dinner and made Balsamic Caprese Chicken. It was lovely catching up on life's latest adventures, curveballs and happenings around our table in the kitchen.

Saturday morning, we woke up and hopped on the 9:15am train into the city!

Our first stop was the Freedom Trail starting at the Boston Commons. We visited the grave sights of Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and John Hancock. To think that this much history is right in the middle of the city is mind-blowing!

Benjamin Franklin's grave

We also explored the Old South Meeting House, the first public school, Paul Revere's house and saw many beautiful statues along the way. My mom loves history, so this was a really neat thing for her to see and experience! 

Afterward, we ate at the Cheers restaurant and bar in Quincy Market! David, Jimmy's younger brother, and his girlfriend, Jeanine, was visiting Harvard University the same weekend and met us for lunch! It was the first time my parents met David so it was nice for us to all be together. 

We proceeded to explore a little bit of Quincy Market, then headed up to the North End to see the beautiful harbor and park. 

In front of the harbor

Walking around the north end area, we peeked into some shops and walked the beautiful streets. We then proceeded to head back to the Boston Commons area to see Newbury Street and explore the sights and designer stores! 

 Warby Parker in Boston. James currently works at the NYC store! 

Newbury Street

While mom and I walked around Newbury and Boylston Streets Jimmy and dad watched college football at M.J. O'Conners, a local Irish pub. I'm so thankful that Jimmy and my dad get along so well!

For dinner, we decided to try a delicious Italian restaurant in the North End called La Galleria 33. I ordered seafood ravioli (the best I've ever had!) with vodka cream sauce and we all (except for Jimmy) split a bottle of wine. We laughed about the day and had wonderful conversation. Going out to eat is my favorite things to do!

There's nothing better than conversation around a table with family you love!

Overall, Saturday was an incredible day of exploring the city. Needless to say, my parents loved Boston and how walkable the city is, the beautiful the colonial architecture, quaint cobblestone streets, historical buildings and sights, sprawling parks, wide streets and the many trees throughout the city! 

Sunday started with sleeping in, homemade blueberry pancakes, and long chats over cups of coffee. Church didn't start until 11:00am, so we had plenty of time to get ready! We met David and Jeanine at First Congregational Church of Hamilton and worshiped together. The sermon was on Deuteronomy 8 and it was a really sweet service. My parents loved the history attached to the 300-year-old church; did you know the first wagon headed west left from there? That is mind-blowing! 

David, Jeanine, me and Jimmy in front of First Congregational Church of Hamilton. 

After church, we went to Nick's Famous Roast Beef for a quick lunch. This place is affordable and renowned on the North Shore for having the best roast beef in the city. It is a staple place for a quick bite to eat. David and Jeanine headed back to DC after lunch, and it was so great seeing them for a bit and catching up. So thankful we live close enough to take a day-trip to see them!

On Sunday afternoon, me and mom went to Crane Beach and walked the trails for some exercise. It is so beautiful and was a great workout in the sand!

While mom and I explored, Jimmy and dad played racquetball. Sunday night, we went to the Black Cow to watch the Cowboys take on the Chargers. Unfortunately, we know how that game ended...BUT, we had a great time watching the boys lose!

On Monday, my parents and I explored Crane Beach and Ipswich together. Jimmy wasn't able to come with us because he had to read for class, but we had fun playing Frisbee and seeing the Crane Estate on Castle Hill! Here are some pictures from Monday morning. 

Russell Orchards farm store

The Grand Allee on the Crane Estate leads all the way to the beach

After we explored the area, we snacked for lunch and then slowly made our way to the airport. On the ride to Logan International, my heart sunk a little when the reality of them leaving for Texas hit me. I have been gone from my parents' home for more than seven years, yet it never gets easier saying goodbye. Thankfully, I will see them for Thanksgiving in Texas with the entire family! 

They blessed us with this fun trip, and I am thankful to have shown them a piece of my world in New England. I couldn't have asked for a better time. 

This verse has been my comfort since they've left: 

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

- Psalm 121 -

I find out tomorrow if I get a job at a private school in Lynn. Please be in prayer that God would provide financially for us as we wait to hear back from jobs for me. It is a very hard, vulnerable position to be in yet we trust the Lord will provide for us. 

We love you all!

In Him,

The Millers