Getting Ready for Year II

Hello friends and family,

If you can believe it our second and final year at Gordon-Conwell officially kicked off last week! Although it feels like yesterday we moved up here, we are already prayerfully looking ahead and preparing for the next season of Jimmy's studies. This fall, he will take the GRE, continue his thesis, and meet with faculty at schools he'd like to get his PhD at. Fortunately for us, his top choices are all in the New England and northeastern region, so he's able to travel if needed!

Folks, it's been a while. Often I think to myself that there's nothing interesting going on these days, when in fact the truth is that there's a lot Jimmy and I are up to and praying about!

For starters, this summer was a BLAST! We traveled down to Texas to spend time with Jimmy's family for the Fourth of July and see all of the aunts, uncles and cousins! It was the last holiday spent in Bruce's parents home in Dallas, and we had a sweet time catching up and swapping stories. Let's just say -- the Millers KNOW how to do brunch right (hint: Mattito's Sunday brunch is the bomb).

As a sweet bonus, all of Jimmy's siblings were in town! We spent time playing ping-pong, making yummy meals together, celebrating Tamara's birthday and jogging in 100 degree weather (that last one was my idea and it was not the smartest). Although David is in DC, Ben's in San Diego, Melanie, Jake and Arabella are in Austin and Bart is in Dallas, we somehow all made it back to McKinney for a few wonderful days!

...Not to mention we got to eat Thai Noodle Wave with awesome friends who we missed dearly (shout out to Andrew and Monica McKinney and Lindsay Page!)

We also were able to meet up with the Mays and Beaty's from Gordon-Conwell! Both of these amazing families are serving churches and ministries in Austin and Dallas. I'm so blessed in having sweet, deep friendships with them. As I spoke about earlier on my blog, seminary wives have a bond that can't be duplicated! Seeing them at Breadwinner's in Plano rather than Massachusetts was such a fun treat!

Jimmy and I then traveled to FLORIDA with my family to stay in Destin with my aunt and uncle and cuzzies! It was five days of beach lounging, swimming, eating, drinking, game playing, air boat touring and greyhound racing watching. It was seriously one of the best weeks of my life. My whole family got to fly down to Florida as well, which is a true rarity.

I was also able to visit NYC to help my brother James move out of his apartment. I got to stay with my sis, clean my brother's filthy bachelor pad (he paid for my meals so we're all good), and have a few days to myself soaking in the beautiful, exciting city. I love being so close to Manhattan! Having my sis close is seriously a blessing. We haven't lived in the same place in almost 10 years and being 4 hours away seems like a breeze. Thank goodness for the Megabus!

OKAY, now for an update on what's going on now....

As I said earlier, Jimmy is looking at a few schools to do his PhD at starting in the Fall 2015. It's exciting, scary, nerve wracking and completely unknown. We don't know when or if Jimmy will be accepted into a program, so our entire life will be drastically changing in less than a year. It may mean moving to another state or just moving down the road to Cambridge or Boston.

Please pray with us as we continue to walk in faith toward the calling and ministry God is calling us to in New England and academia. He is continually showing his faithfulness to us, and now we have found our 'groove' up here and are enjoying the steadiness of Him. Our church has been an immense blessing of community, teaching and serving His body. We're thankful to have a home up here at First Congregational Church of Hamilton!

Let us know how we can be praying for you guys and THANK YOU for not forgetting about us quite yet :)

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,

in the midst of your temple.

so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

As your name, O God,

Let Mount Zion be glad!

Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

Walk about Zion, go around her,

Let the daughters of Judah rejoice

because of your judgments!

that you may tell the next generation

number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels,

He will guide us forever.

that this is God, our God forever and ever.

(Psalm 48:9-14 ESV)

Love,
The Millers

Changed and Thankful

Hi friends and family,

It's been a few months since I've written on the blog. My hiatus has been for wonderful reasons -- I'm learning to be present HERE and NOW to soak up each little moment with the beautiful people with which God has surrounded me. Many of my friends are moving to start the next chapter and it has been hard. But I know He has an exciting plan and purpose for each and every one of them. Many tears have been shed as we wave goodbye, or 'see ya later', to our dear, dear friends.

[For an amazing blog my friend Melissa wrote about her time at GCTS and saying goodbye, check it out HERE. Warning: it may move you to tears!]

The Lord has changed me deeply in ten short months. I'm excited to share with you the ways He has moved my heart.

1. Seminary Wives are Strong
Being at GCTS has been a true delight for my soul. As an extrovert who craves people, I've been surprised by just how much I need community. This amazing group of women are wonderful wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends from all over the world. Some of these women have been missionaries to Nicaragua, China and Puerto Rico. Some work in the marketing field, pediatric physical therapy or teach first grade. A few women don't speak English as their first language and have moved to a foreign country with their husband and children to follow God's call.

These godly, servant-hearted ladies are the future supporters and encouragers to their husbands who will pastor the global Christian body. They have been called to labor alongside their families for the sake of His gospel and kingdom.

And they are strong. They are the backbone to their homes and will be their husbands constant source of strength and renewal when ministry undoubtedly gets hard. I cannot wait to see how God uses them for His sake and am honored to be their friend.

2. STUFF ≠ JOY
I used to think that having a big house or nice things would help supplant my happiness in day-to-day life. I focused on the things of life rather than the people in my life. The comparison game would come on hard and strong with each morning of driving down the Dallas North Tollway or walking around the Shops at Legacy. (Not to say either of those things are bad in any way...)

But I've learned the STUFF will never produce joy. Sure, the 'stuff' is fun for a moment, but then it ages and cracks, becomes stained and eventually collects a layer of dust in the corner of your closet. Living in a place where families of five share two rooms and one bathroom has taught me that joy can never be found in how nice your furniture or TV. I pray that I would always be content with exactly what the Lord chooses to give me and, whether in times in plenty or want, my soul would sing His praises.

The stuff that matters is relationship; with Jesus, family, the body of Christ and His world.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:18-21

3. Living in community is how God designed it
The house doesn't need to look perfect, the table doesn't need to be set and my hair doesn't have to be done to understand the importance of being with people. I'm learning to just live life with those around me rather than host, or put on a "show".

There's something beautiful about being in pajama pants during bible study with women and not feeling out of place or shame! Granted, it helps that I just have to walk down the hall rather than hop in the car, however the point is to come as we are and learn to love others before looking put-together on the outside. We are quick to share ingredients in pantries, watch each other's kids and monitors for date nights and fold each other's laundry. We are one body and need each other to coexist. 

I pride myself on being Miss Independent (always have since I was little -- just ask my momma).  I am quick to say "I can do it on my own...I'm okay, I don't need you to do it for me..." Although this is something I'll struggle with my entire life, I'm learning that it's okay to be dependent on others when I'm weak. It's okay to ask for encouragement, prayer or wisdom.  My heart has softened to being teachable rather than insisting that I know what's best.

There is something beautiful and unique about living in an apartment with thin walls and nowhere to hide. We are accountable with one another and are there to pick each other up when some of us aren't strong enough on our own. I'm thankful for the deep community and commitment these families and us have to each other as one body.

"But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together, if one member is honored, all rejoice together." - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

4.  God has a place for us
God knew that Jimmy and I must go to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Although we could sense the Holy Spirit directing us there, there was a big part of us thinking, "what have we done!?!" as we left our home and family.

Today, we see His faithfulness in leading us here. Our marriage has strengthened, relationships with others have deepened and our faith has grown. We've seen him provide through unplanned monetary gifts and jobs. We've watched Him work in our relationship with each other. We've felt his faithfulness in bringing us to a great church where we can serve.

Yes, my friends, He knew we needed to be here. We can trust Him.

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him." - Acts 17:24-27

In Him,
The Millers

What Jimmy's doing all day

We've had this blog since August 2013, so I guess it's high time that I contributed.

Of all my classes this semester, the most challenging has been CH812: Historiography. This class is all about the academic discipline of History, how and why it is studied. Throughout the course, my classmates and I have been exposed to numerous methods, but last week we were presented with a challenge: present our own.

What lies beneath this body of text is a modified version of that presentation. I don't ever want my work to exist solely for a small class and a professor (after all, what's the point of work if you can't share it?). I hope it makes sense...

(a brief) Philosophy of History

            In order to engage non-Christians in thoughtful discussion about the philosophy of history, it is important to utilize common terms and categories while simultaneously remaining true to the divinely revealed eternal perspective. From a secular perspective, the presented philosophy of history will be addressing the period between the first appearance of consciousness to the future date if human extinction.  This extinction may come at the hands of man, or by the natural entropic nature of the Universe. Appealing to the same ‘bookends,’ with theological verbiage, the Christian historian will write: History is the story of humanity in the period between the creation of the perceivable universe and the second coming of Jesus Christ. With the parameters of time set in place, the question becomes – what is between the ‘bookends’ of time?

            As with all stories, the narrative of human history is set in motion by conflict. Defined here as the struggle between two or more forces set in opposition to each other by the desire to achieve unequal objectives, conflict is easily perceived at both the micro and macro levels of the universe. The root of all conflict is found when objectives (both conscious and unconscious) are outside the will of the Creator. Where the secular might label this struggle “competition,” Christians define this struggle against the telos of the universe as “sin.” The reason being that there can be no competition if only one side of a struggle (in this case, God) has the ability to win. As the object of any struggle is to be the winner, all sin must therefore be self-seeking. In order to uncover historical narratives, the historian must discern what it is people seek.

            The task of discovering the self-seeking objectives of humans is vast. However, like the mathematician, the historian is not without his/her formulas. Biblical revelation provides a framework by which the historian can discover and sort human patterns. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 states, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.” This seems to imply a cyclical understanding of history, but that cannot be.  The assumption that humanity has an ultimate end means the perceived repetition is not purely cyclical, but more akin to circling a drain. The statement that there is “nothing new under the sun” must not imply replication, but archetypes. The historian perceives these archetypes acting out similar conflicts, but always pushing the ultimate narrative of history toward telos. 

 Archetypes in action: The hero, the princess, the rogue, the villain, the robot...

            The concept of archetypes is not meant to imply that there are only a few types of human characters walking the earth, but rather to suggest that the similarities displayed by types of humans support the assumption that all humans, when presented with the option to sin, will do so.  The historian can examine the evidence of the past to sort certain humans into these archetypes. For example, Christopher Columbus, John Glenn, Bob Ballard, and Edmund Hillary are all “explorers,” men who assumed great physical risk to push the limits of human understanding. In categorizing the past in this way, the historian can better examine what human factors play into the physical act of exploration. Furthermore, the historian can amass evidence to display that the author of Ecclesiastes was correct in asserting, “What has been is what will be.” In the case of the explorer- where there is a frontier, there will the historian find an explorer.

            The role of archetypes is not limited to the role players, but includes situations as well. In pop culture, commonly used plot lines akin to character archetypes are referred to as “tropes.” History has similar patterns, such as the first contact between cultures, droughts, revolutions, etc. As with the ordering of archetypes, the historian can collect and categorize these tropes. This non-linear categorization of archetypes and tropes will bring greater clarity to the story of humanity up to the present, and allow for better contextualization of current events. 

TV Trope: Put a monkey in an urban setting

 

Practical Research

The practical question that must be asked in response to this approach must be, “how can the historian accurately pinpoint the objectives that humans seek?” Without the answer to this question, humans cannot be categorized into archetypes. Human objectives can be found in a variety of places. In order to find what people believe to be important, the historian can follow the trail of money. Not unlike Marx in the belief that money is extremely important to the story of history, it is in economic investment that the historian can place accurate percentage values on goals of individual people and groups. For example, in the breakdown of a household budget, the historian can attribute value to the percentage amount of currency spent on different goods and services. Similarly, the historian can discover the objectives of a nation by analyzing the investment of that nation’s GNP.

Not limited to the study of money, the historian can also discover objectives in how humans treat their time. Like money, time is also quantifiable. How a person chooses to manage their hours, days, weeks, and years reflects their short and long term objectives. These objectives can range in size and scope from eating lunch, to raising a child, or, at a national level, the acquisition of property. Time is common to all humans and events, which makes it an attractive lump of data to mine.

 Thanks to the Atlantic for this fun little graph. It appears we just work to watch TV.

In the search for clear answers, the most obvious place for a historian to look remains primary sources. It is in books, essays, letters, journals, etc that the historian can find personal revelations. While it is important to always approach primary sources with a critical eye, there are many instances of personal revelations revealing accurate personal objectives. Whether it is Amelia Earhart declaring, “"My ambition is to have this wonderful gift produce practical results for the future of commercial flying and for the women who may want to fly tomorrow's planes" or Google’s famous company motto, “Don’t be evil,” personal revelations provide the historian with the self-perceived objectives of the people they are studying.

Clearly stated objectives

            Each of these strategies provides data with which the historian can catalog and organize into archetypes and tropes. These are not the only strategies, as this philosophy is meant to be flexible in its data collection. Other places in which historians might look could be demographics, student test scores, or energy use. The possibilities are vast.

The Christian Historian

            A Christian historian must pursue truth without fear or hesitation. If it is believed that God is the root of all existence, then there should be no effort to shade results, or fear the research of secular parties. In regards to that which is studied, the telos of history must always be kept in perspective.  That is to say, people and events in human history that appear evil may be evil, but nothing is beyond redemption. If the culmination of history is the second coming of Christ, then all that remains is the story of conflict awaiting resolution in the form of judgment, condemnation and redemption.

            In regards to divine providence, a Christian historian may not be able to precisely pinpoint God’s providential works in history, but he may be able to see God’s redemptive works amidst the conflict. If it is believed that humans tend toward sin, then any moment of goodness must require divine influence. If this is the case, then any beauty found in tragedy may be cautiously labeled as providential. Brad S. Gregory has challenged the assumption that the event of the Reformation was “good.” He questions whether or not the long-term results of a very large event truly have the value generally attributed to it. In response to Gregory, this philosophy would argue that it is not up to the historian to place value on the totality of an event, as all human events will never be without sin, nor to label any event as entirely providential. Instead, the historian can point to aspects of an event, which are good, and label those as providence in the form of redemption. For example, the human lives lost in the name of theology during the Reformation are lamentable, but out of that suffering came an exodus of Christians to North America, who then spread the Gospel to unreached people groups. On either side of this exodus, the historian can find evil in the form of murder. Yet, the historian can also find goodness. This goodness found is tragedy redeemed.

Evaluation

             To function, this philosophy assumes that history as a telos, which is the Christian God. It assumes the entropy perceived in the universe points to both the ultimate end of history, and the sinful nature of humanity. This means that humans will tend toward selfishness even when attempting altruism. The final assumption is that humans are always seeking personal advantage, or objectives. If an historian can discover the objectives which humans seek, than they can categorize historical narratives. The driving force behind this philosophy is the thesis that history is not the story of how humans have changed, but rather how we have remained the same. The narrative of history will remain an unpredictable pattern of archetypes and tropes until the second coming of Christ, which for some will be extinction, and others, redemption. 

 Obviously this is not all encompassing, but it points in the direction I hope to go. Thanks for reading, pretending to read, or clicking the youtube links.

In Him,

Jimmy

A Bigger Story

"Sometimes I forget that there's a bigger story being told here rather than my day-to-day scheduled life."

These words stumbled out of my mouth this morning as I slurped my coffee during the dissection of my soul…a.k.a. my quiet time. You see, lately I've been in a funk. It's the kind of funk that can easily be blamed on the weather, poor eating habits, our lack of extra funds, or missing my family. This funk has been sitting and stewing in my heart for weeks now, and I've just now mustered up the courage to expose and discover what's really going on in my heart rather than push the feeling to the corner of my mind.

I have an excellent knack for distracting myself. Whether it be by exciting adventures and the hope of a road-trip or shopping sprees and fabulous dining experiences. When life gets mundane and not as fun, I can easily set my eyes on something to look forward to as a distraction. Eventually, I develop unhealthy thinking habits or patterns from which I glean my happiness.

"Gosh Emily, how could you not see unhealthy signs of idolatry in your life before you got in the funk?" 

That's a great question. And the answer is quite simple.

I have become a master of distraction. I can distract myself from what's really going on in my heart by simply focusing on my day-to-day living rather than taking a step back and looking at my walk with the Lord.

Throughout my day, I feel great if I spoke to my boss kindly, opened the door and smiled to fellow coworkers and made Jimmy dinner. Chalk that up as a good day, right? Absolutely, except my motivations for all of these things have completely missed the mark. I spoke to my boss kindly today so that I could look really good. I opened the door and smiled to coworkers because I would've felt guilty had I not done that. I made Jimmy dinner begrudgingly because we can't afford to go out which turns into me mentally complaining about it the entire time…

I can easily let the idolatry of experiences creep in because I'm not honest with myself and where I place my joy. 

Friends, I'm still figuring this thing out. As my father once said, "Emily, the Christian walk is not a sprint. It's a marathon." These words mean more to me today than they ever have before. This is a season of open brokenness that I'm happy to share with you because I know I'm not alone in seeking distractions from what's going on in the daily Christian walk.

You're not alone, and there's even better news; He has covered me and you with His grace. Praise the Lord that the Holy Spirit has made me and you painfully aware of sin so that we can continually come crawling back to the cross. His faithfulness can look different depending on the season, and this is an instance of Him being faithful to the sanctification, or molding, of my soul.

"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sing, have become slaves of righteousness…the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." 

- Romans 6:17-18, 22 -

In Him,

Emily 

This suits me

"Boston looks like it suits you". 

This comment was said to me today and I couldn't agree more. As much as I try to deny it, I really do love the northeast! It's beautiful, full of adventure and the culture is stretching. 

I am refreshed by the people here. They tend to be true to themselves, to the point and painstakingly honest. I find it incredibly wonderful. Texans can be flowery and will candy-coat every word -- who has time for that? It's like pulling teeth to get someone to express how they truly feel or what they really think. I am prone to be honest myself, so it's a breath of fresh air to receive honesty right back up here.

If you've never experienced four seasons, I encourage you to do so! The beauty in every month is breathtaking and you see the hand of God everywhere you walk. Praise the Lord for creating more than one season - what would life be like in 105 degree weather everyday? Miserable. But He had better plans! 

The rich history up here is a breeding ground of knowledge and curiosity. When I step off the train to walk into Boston, I sometimes have to fight the tears welling up in my eyes because I'm just so thankful and happy to be here! I've always dreamed of being a "city girl" and I'm getting to live this adventure. Thank you, Lord, for letting me experience this time. 

My Favorites in Skin Health

For the past couple months, I've taken a heightened interest in my skin care and what products I use to cleanse and hydrate my face and body during these dry winter months. The cold wind can easily whip against me leaving my hands cracked, lips chapped and hair brittle.

The way I see it, the more I invest in taking care of my skin and hair now, the more thankful I will be in 20 years! Just because I'm still relatively young doesn't mean I can slack off and use harsh chemical products that are quick and do the trick! Rather, starting healthy skincare habits now will benefit me greatly in the long haul.

Here is a quick list of my favorite products I've incorporated into my daily regiment:

1. Enfuselle's Hydrating Cleansing Lotion

Enfuselle, a Shaklee brand, has a fantastic hydrating cleansing lotion. It doesn't dry out your skin and leaves it still feeling clean! My mom has been using it for years and I finally hopped on the Enfuselle bandwagon. 

2. Aesop's Fabulous Face Oil

My brother got me this for Christmas and it is simply miraculous. I apply this oil (just a few drops) before bed and it keeps my face hydrated but not oily. It has a nice scent, too!

3. Enfuselle's Moisturizing Cream

Whether it's overcast or sunny outside, I love to apply this moisturizer cream to my face before heading out the door. 

3.  Biolage's Fortifying Leave-In Treatment

This leave-in treatment is perfect for protecting and strengthening my hair against the cold winter wind. It smells clean and fresh, and helps to untangle my hair, too! 

4. Aesop's Aromatique Hand Balm

Aesop's hand balm hydrates wonderfully and doesn't leave my hands slimy or sticky. It has a woodsy, earthy scent, and a little goes a long way.

5. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Moisturizer

Since we all know the winter months bring on chapped lips, why not keep them protected and looking nice? This lip moisturizer is perfect and very practical, giving my lips just the right amount of color for a complete look.

6. Bath and Body Works' Stress Relief Sugar Scrub

This fantastic sugar scrub exfoliates gently while leaving my skin moisturized. I prefer the minty and natural smell of Eucalyptus Spearmint!

Hope you've enjoyed a list of my favorite products! I'm always in search of new ways products to try out; let me know some of your favorites! 

In Him,

Emily

No Longer a Slave

Friends,

My heart is burdened this morning for those who feel they must constantly be striving to become the perfect person and Christian they think they should be and for their heartache that comes when they realize they will always be struggling with one thing or another. Let Paul's words to Galatia comfort your souls. You are no longer enslaved by the law so that we might be adopted as sons and daughters, and as heirs of His kingdom through God. Yes, our calling is to be the hands and feet, salt and light, fishers of men here on this earth, yet this is borne from a heart of thankfulness and obedience to our Savior, Jesus. Echoing Paul's words in Philippians 1, "and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

"In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God...For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

- Galatians 4:3-7, 5:1 - 

If you are wrestling with the sadness or frustration of seeing yourself fail time and time again (or that life's not getting 'easier'), Jesus loves you, accepts you and has died for you knowing full well you won't and can't live this life perfectly. This world is never where we can find our satisfaction and comfort - ultimately, it is when we'll be united with our Father in heaven. 

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." - Edward Mote  

In Him,
Emily 

Our 2014 Word of the Year

2013 was all about TRUSTING the Lord.

Let me show you how we got there...

On January 1, 2013, Jimmy and I celebrated New Years Day with our friends the Shuttlesworths at their lake house at Canyon Lake. It was a wonderful getaway from life in Dallas, and we were honored to have been invited for the holiday. After breakfast, Jimmy and I decided to hop in the car and head back to Dallas due to having to work the next day.

Since Canyon Lake was about five hours away from Dallas, we were geared up to make the trek back home. Ten minutes after hitting the road, our car decided to stop moving. The more Jimmy pressed the gas, the more we felt like something was terribly wrong with the engine. 

Seeing that it was New Years Day and every auto body shop was closed in our 20 mile radius, we decided to call a tow truck and be taken to a place about 25 miles away to be worked on the next day. During those three hours of waiting for the tow truck, a sweet couple we had met earlier in the week staying at the Shuttlesworths drove past, saw us, turned around and asked if we were alright. By this time I had been crying (because girls have that right when the car breaks down...) and we told them that something was terribly wrong with the engine. They were so sweet and let us sit in their warm car as we waited for the tow truck. Jimmy and the nice gentleman chatted outside while looking at the engine, and I was blubbering to the sweet woman (I seriously couldn't stop crying). 

Eventually, the tow truck came, we thanked the nice couple and waved goodbye, rode with the tow truck driver to the shop, had our dear friend Oliver pick us up and were driven back to the lake house to stay put another day until our car was fixed. Little did I know the nice gentleman had secretly given Jimmy cash to help cover the tow truck costs. What a blessing! ALSO - throughout this car saga, we found a $100 dollar bill in my purse. We don't know who put it in or WHEN they did, but we see it as a anonymous gift from the Lord to help cover car costs...Whoever that person was at the time, Thank You for helping provide!

To make a very long story short, we eventually made it home to Dallas after being towed two more times along this trip since one of our gaskets kept on blowing out. It was a hard, hard day, but somehow we made it home by borrowing my brother's truck while my parents had our car fixed at their shop close to home. Luckily we were close enough to Waco the last time it broke down to have my dad come meet me and help assess the engine situation! 

Why do I tell you this long story? Because we know God was teaching us to TRUST him. 2013 was about learning how to trust our sovereign Lord when the future was unclear. The verse we kept on writing on our chalkboard was "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

So, as this 2014 year is already one month down, Jimmy and I have thought hard about what our word may be this year. Responsibility continues to come up in our conversations...so I believe the Lord is teaching us how to be responsible this year. Whether it's our finances, health, relationships, work/school efforts, etc., we both feel that this year's area of improvement is in a much more practical light. We're called to be good stewards of what He has given us.

Although it's overdue, let's raise a glass and say "Happy New Year!" Who knows what the Lord will teach you in the months ahead. Isn't life exciting?

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:6-8

In Him,
The Millers

Top 8 Winter Essentials

Many of you reading this blog have never experienced a New England winter: The biting winds, the chill that cuts to the bone, the constant change of of precipitation, the process of having your car scraped, shoveled out, defrosted and unstuck each morning...

To be fair, I haven't entirely experienced a full winter in Boston either. However, if you have any plans of coming to visit the northeast during the winter months, here are my top eight must-pack items!

Before I jump in, let's get one thing straight: Function over Form during winter...always. If you try to be a fashionista in -15 degree weather, there's a 2% chance you'll be able to pull it off (and if your name happens to be Jennifer Aniston). Winter isn't the time to bring your style A-game - that's what spring, summer and fall are for!

Okay, back to the list....

1. A Down, Long Winter Coat

 

 

You could wear a skimpy swimsuit underneath one of these babies and be toastier than freshly baked cookie. They may not be flattering on your figure, but they're a MUST for survival. 

2. Warm Gloves

Although you may feel like you have LEGO hands while wearing them, the warm 'ski' gloves will keep your fingers from hating you. I'm a fan of the fashionable brown leather gloves - are they the warmest? Nope, but I'd rather have slightly cold fingers than not be able to hold my Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

3. Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

It is definitely  gross coffee, but there's nothing better than sipping medium (not grande, this isn't Starbucks, people!) coffee with cream and two Splendas during my morning walk from the train station to work. Bring on the watered-down brown water! I digress...

4. Leggingz 

Thankfully, for Christmas I got 4 pairs of black leggings and I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER! I wear these under my pants almost every. single. day. They're also more comfortable than you even know. 

5. Wool Socks

They may not be the prettiest, but wool socks are a MUST. When wearing these, you'll be glad to know you can feel your toesies all day!

6. Waterproof Boots

For my birthday in June, my dearest mother got me these exact boots with fleece liners. They are perfect for tromping through snow and rain, and keep me super warm! I DO feel fashionable in these guys. Thank you, Hunter boots!

7. Infinity Scarf

I LOVE my new collection of infinity scarves. Not only are they cute, you can wrap them around your entire face to protect it from the wind (this is an odd sight to see, trust me. I get a lot of stares)! Sipping coffee can be a hazard, so beware. 

8. Winter Hats

It's amazing how warm your head can be with a wool hat on. I may have hat hair for the next two months...but at least my brain won't be frozen. 

 Happy Winter, folks!

Love,

Emily 

The Ups and Downs of being a Realistic Dreamer

I like to refer to myself as a Realistic Dreamer.

In my own words, a "Realistic Dreamer" is someone who is content with her surroundings and situations while waiting in expectation for what's around the corner. She is learning to be thankful for every season while not settling for the monotony of a regimented schedule or routine. She has high expectations of herself while understanding  (and wrestling with) the Lord's timing in all things.

Yes, my friends, I am a Realistic Dreamer.

There are some serious downsides to this. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald puts it well.

“It was always the becoming he dreamed of, never the being.” 

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

Oftentimes, it's hard to stay still long enough to reflect on the past and present. I tend to meditate on what God has for us on the horizon rather than savor God's faithfulness today and in my 25 years on earth. Always reaching, waiting and hoping for the next new adventure, I struggle with peace and contentment in all things. If I'm not in His word, I can get disappointed quickly. I can hear Satan say, "How does you life measure up with your friends? You're not starting a family...you don't even have a home...you had to start your career ALL over, poor you..."

Shut up, Satan.

Needless to say, this is an area of my life I'm constantly learning to lay at His feet.

SEGUE ----
My dearest best friend whom I look up to and admire shines in this. She is always at peace with where God has her. She doesn't compare herself to others and is full of JOY always. I thank the Lord for placing her in my life as a steady example of a godly woman who exemplifies peace and absolute trust in Her father. 

Where was I? Oh yes...

Did I always envision myself living on a seminary college campus and unsure of my husband's exact career future at 25 years old? Definitely not. Did I know God would place me with a man who didn't quite have his "career ducks in a row" and a serious cash flow (isn't that hilarious?)? Nope. Did I assume I'd be starting a family right about now and planning for that next chapter? You betcha.

But God, in His sovereignty, knows exactly what my life needs to look like in order for Him to be at the very center.

He is the one who gives me ultimate satisfaction and peace, not man. He is my provider and solid rock. He is the Giver of Life, not a Giver-of-what-my-petty-heart-wants-today God because, frankly, I am an utter mess when it comes to the "What I Want" department (Burberry scarf, anyone?). My wants tend to shift and change depending on the seasons!

He is a faithful God who has provided a loving, godly husband who pursues our Father with every fiber. Jimmy is seeking after where God is leading Him, and I am honored to run the race with him. God has also placed incredible family and friends in our midst who support, uplift and encourage us. We are totally and completely blessed.

So, is being a Realistic Dreamer a bad thing? No, it's part of who I am in Christ! Yet, there are movements in my heart that can push and prod me out of contentment in Him that I must always be aware of. Satan can be more powerful than I sometimes think, yet praise Him that we have a God who is our Rock, Refuge, Shield, Salvation, Stronghold, Savior.

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; 

you save me from violence.

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.

- 2 Samuel 22:3-4 -

I love you all dearly. 

In Him,
Emily

Excuse the Hiatus!

Hello friends and family,

Let me begin by apologizing for the void of new blog posts during the past two months. Holidays, events and travel happily consumed November and December, and my attention was directed towards finishing 2013 well and strong! 

These past few months have been a tremendous blessing. We've been provided for and blessed by family and friends in humbling ways. Never in my life have I seen His love and kindness through the church body and family more plainly. Whether it be unannounced checks arriving in our mailbox or plane tickets paid for, we feel loved and taken care of by the people God has chosen to put in our life. Thank you for being a constant source of sustenance and encouragement. 

My prayer and hope is to someday bless young couples in our life who are living the "Seminary Life" for Jesus. Experiencing this humbling season excites me for what our future holds! 

November was a month full of steady thankfulness and loving community. With December feeling as if it was still in the distance, we learned how to be thankful for the place we were in and find beauty in our every day lives. We missed our family dearly and were sad to not be home, yet didn't feel all alone in this feeling. Most of our community stayed in Massachusetts, and celebrated the holiday with our Bell Hall community on campus.

Our Thanksgiving feast consisted of foods from all over the culinary spectrum: Fried Alabama turkeys, Californian stuffing, Georgian mashed potatoes, Coloradoan cranberry sauce, Japanese sushi, Korean kimchi, and a Texan pecan pie (to name a few). It  was quite a memorable plate of food! True to Thanksgiving food form, it all somehow tasted delicious together...

The beauty of living with many different cultures is experiencing life (and holidays) together. These are sweet memories we'll never forget and are thankful for. 

These incredible women have been a God-send!

Our Thanksgiving Family (minus a few)

December seemed like a blur of Christmas cheer and plane schedules! Mine and Jimmy's families blessed us with tickets home for Christmas. We were definitely ready to be home for the holidays. We couldn't have been more excited to be on Texas soil!

To start the month off, Boston experienced its first snowfall! At one point, snow seemed to be over two feet tall! Y'all, that's a lot of snow. We learned how to maneuver our cars in the icy, snowy conditions, and Jimmy became a shoveling stud by the end of our first encounter with the White Devil! Snow is all fun and games until you try to drive or walk to work in the morning...

Jimmy, the ice scraping stud

However, snow DOES promise the adventure of SLEDDING! Our sweet neighbors, the Mays, invited us to sled with them and we had an absolute blast! Did I mention they're fellow Texans? 

Me and "Coco" about to sled down the hill!

It just kept fallin'...

Our Christmas break was kicked off by landing in Dallas on December 22 and seeing our wonderful lifegroup. It was refreshing catching up with sweet friends who continue to pray for us. It was a time of fellowship, storytelling and the celebration of new babies! We also got to meet our sweet niece, Arabella! I was in baby heaven...

Me and Arabella - the best niece of all!

Can you tell I didn't want to let her go? :)

We had a breakfast feast at the Griggs the next morning! I also got to see sweet friends and coworkers from St. Jude the next day, as well as have Christmas with my family at my Uncle James & Aunt Laura's house in McKinney! I treasure seeing my grandparents, cousins and entire family all together. It's always a riot when we get together. It made me realize how much I miss going to my aunt and uncle's place - they are two incredibly kind, gracious people. Jimmy and I feel so blessed by them! 

Christmas Eve was a special time to see everyone at Christ Fellowship during the Christmas Eve service. It was an interesting feeling walking back into church - it felt like no time had gone by! Had Massachusetts been a dream? It was a funny feeling getting back into the Texan swing of things...

Christmas Eve night we drove to China Spring to surprise my family by coming in a day early! Our family loves fun traditions, and Christmas morning is a really special time for us to be together. None of the McMeans kids live in Texas anymore, so it's rare to have us in the same room!  

We celebrated Christmas lunch with the Millers at Grammy and Granddad's house. This year marks the last Christmas at the house on Willow Lane. The Millers have lived in this house for more than 20 years - it was special to get to be there! 

Posin' in the backyard at Grammy and Granddad's

These two people bless us beyond measure!

The remainder of our Christmas break was primarily spent in China Spring seeing family and relaxing at home. There's nothing sweeter than snuggling up by the fire pit singing songs to Jesus with my family! What a blessing it is to share our faith in Jesus Christ together. I often take this for granted, but am learning to appreciate the beauty of God's faithfulness in my family's lives. 

Eventually, we drove back up to Dallas to drop my siblings off at the airport and spend some time with Monica, Andrew and Eleanor McKinney before flying out on Sunday morning back to Boston! Can you say WHIRLWIND trip to Texas!? It was a joy seeing everyone - but we could have spent a few more weeks and still not seen enough people!

Bruce and Tamara came up to Boston the following day, and we loved exploring the city with them! We got to see the Freedom Trail, Quincy Market, the North End, Harvard and Harvard Square! Showing off our fun city is something we love to do - especially to our family!

Outside Quincy Market

Unfortunately...this is about the time I got the SWINE FLU! Jimmy was able to spend good quality time with Bruce and Tamara will I recovered. 

On January 2, the four of us bundled up and drove northwest for Vermont for the Miller Ski Vacation Extravaganza (coined "Ski-Market Ver-Montgomery...inside joke). The ENTIRE Miller fam was able to fly/drive to Vermont and stay in a wonderful condo right by the mountain. To say there weren't any hiccups during the trip would be an oversight, yet it was sweet to spend time together.(This deserves an entirely separate blog post)

Uncle David and Arabella concentrating on playing dominos

Arabella fell asleep on Uncle Jimmy - she looooves Uncle Jimmy!

Mount Snow in Vermont was a beautiful ski resort, and we loved skiing together! I was still recovering from being very sick, but I still had a blast. Jimmy was able to ski all three days (even in -27 degree temperatures)! I had forgotten how much I love to ski! 

"Mountain Selfie"

The past two months have been so eventfull with family, friends and travel, but we're glad to be getting back into our routine. Needless to say, we are already missing our Texan family! The spring semester ahead promises warmer temperatures, new adventures and continued blessings from Him. 

Taken during our first Sunday back from break. We've missed our sweet church!

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Please let us know how we can be praying for YOU! 

We love you all.

In Him,

The Millers