New Van

Well, goodbye faithful friend! Our van bit the dust . . . on our way to Omaha. Monte's dad graciously came and rescued us off of the side of the interstate. We stuffed ourselves and our luggage into his car and drove the rest of the way to Elmwood, NE where they live. That was the last time we saw our van. *sad* Well, when it was time to head home, Monte's Aunt Connie lent us her S.U.V. and Monte's mom drove us the three hours back home then headed back to NE. Praise the Lord for family who loves us and is willing to help us out!

So . . .

We got a new van! Monte found a '03 Toyota Sienna online that was priced way below blue book, so after checking it out, he drove to Wisconsin to get it. It's great. It has TWO sliding doors (one of which is electric)! It also has cruise control (now Monte's foot won't go to sleep on our long trips) and a working fuel gauge! Plus, it just looks nice, ya know-- no rust, a non-cracked windshield and interier carpets not yet caked with crushed cracker crumbs. I feel so spoiled. It is a very nice vehicle. Thank you, Lord.

Andy and Angela's Wedding

Andy's big day finally came. The whole family gathered in Colorado Springs for Andy and Angela's wedding. Since we got there a little early, we took a day to see the sights also. We all went to a museum, at some ethnic food (pizza), and hiked in the hills behind Andy's house.

The day of the wedding we all got ready, divided up in cars, and took off into the mountains. It was about an hours drive, and after several wrong turns, we arrived. The wedding was held in a really beautiful ranch in a valley with streams and lakes around, and mountains on all sides.

The ceremony was short but nice, ending with the expected result (marriage). Then the real fun began. There was horseshoes, ladder golf, fishing, canoing, and several rounds of eating. We're Miller's after all.

That evening we all took off back to Andy's house, but for some reason Andy and Angela stayed at a hotel, so we didn't seem them again. Then it was back to the cornfields and humidity of Iowa.

Mountain Men

Spring, that magical time of year when a young man's fancy turns to mountain climbing. Monte and Tim, being young men, heard the call of the Rockies and answered, visiting Andy in Colorado Springs in late April.

They spent their time jeeping, climbing, throwing rocks off cliffs, playing poker, and helping Andy put up awnings at his dental office. It was also a good time for them to get to know Angela, who Andy was recently engaged to. Monte got home sore, sunburned, and with a new respect for 8,000 feet (don't laugh, Andy), but he had an awesome trip.

Camping- what are we thinking?!!

Are we crazy or just stupid? Yes, I'm one of those people dumb enough to try camping (in tents) with two little kids and a baby. Well, believe it or not, I actually enjoy it. It's great to be outside around nature, and it's impossible not to think about the majesty of God when you're looking into a night full of stars. Monte humors me and agrees to one camping trip per year.

This year we were invited to camp with our good friends, the Petsche's, at Red Rock Lake for the weekend. Here's the synopsis: We got lost on the way there, arriving with barely enough light to set up our three tiny tents (cuz that's all we own). Nienna didn't go to sleep until 11:30pm, but all three kids were up bright and early with the light (the sun wasn't actually up yet) at 5:00am. Lorien asked a million questions and learned why outhouses don't have "flushing handles", why we don't litter, why spiders crawl on tents, why we don't run around the fire (her explanation: because we might die!), and why we don't hit our brother.

Saturday breakfast was a gourmet meal. By the way, though it sounds gross, pancakes cooked in bacon grease are actually quite tasty. The kids had an absolute blast on Saturday! They made Carolyn and I many a "flower" bouquet. Beren's were mostly made of grass and dirt. By mid morning, it was HOT! Unfortunately, we'd picked the hottest weekend of the summer. We all decided to go for a swim in the lake. Our kids are . . . well . . . clumsy. So, they each took turns slipping, going under, and having to be rescued by Mommy or Daddy. After Nienna had, had enough of the beach, we headed back for lunch. Later that afternoon, we decided that it was just too darn hot, so we headed in to Pella for some ice cream and air-conditioning at Dairy Queen.

So, for those who know what I'm talking about, it was a lot like "hobo breakfast" everything "went wrong", but it was still so fun! I'd do it all over again! And, we probably will . . . next year.

-Galadriel

Kids at Grandpa and Grandma's House

We had fun at Monte's parents' house over the 4th of July weekend. The kids (especially Beren) had fun splashing in a little pool and playing with their cousin, Bree. We got to see Great Grandpa and Grandma Rikli, play with aunts and uncles, and take a trip into Elmwood to visit Great Grandpa and Grandma Miller. The rest of the time was spent enjoying Grandma's cooking and hearing many a good story from Grandpa. They didn't want to leave. As we drove out of town, we got to see all the fireworks going off in Lincoln. Praise God for a nation where we are still free to worship Him without persecution! God bless America!