44 at 10:23 a.m. on 10/23!!!

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a simply wonderful day and actually a terrific birthday weekend! I got back Saturday night from the most fabulous getaway! A 3 day arts & crafting retreat! That post is yet to be finished! Back to my day tho...Jim made me breakfast in bed...veggie egg scramble, sausage and toast with ya know... the crust cut off! Just the way I like it! I relaxed and visited with my family since I had been gone for 3 days and the retreat was located where there no cell phone service.  We had lots to catch up on!

At 10:23 a.m. my mom called me...you see that is exactly when I was born!!!  AT 10:23 ON 10/23!  I look forward to that call every year!  Then at 1:00 it was time to head over to our friends for my birthday dinner.. OH MY! Lunch was s0000000 yummy...ham, potato with pea salad, tomato's,  brocolli salad, orange fluff salad, special Grammy Pats green salad...we did not leave that table with empty bellies.

Don't these look so delicious?  Grandpa Al grows the B*E*S*T* 'maters ever! At the beginning of season he always brings me one of the first of these simply yummy little guys! Then throughout the season, I'm allowed to pick them to my hearts content along with many times being supplied whenever he sees me. He & I sure do LOVE these! I can eat these just like they are candy...to me they are just that good!!!!!

So when I asked where I was to sit...grandpa Al said to take a look at the table and I could probably figure out which chair they had intended for ME! My very own bowl of 'maters! Oh...I did share however I made sure that bowl ended up back by my plate so I could pop those yummy candies anytime throughout dinner my birthday girl heart desired!

Time for dessert...WOW! Grammy Pat made a new recipe...Turtle Cake!

This cake had LOTS OF CHOCOLATE! LOTS OF CARAMEL! LOTS OF YUMMY TASTINESS!

Me 'n My Natterbugs!

I HEART this girl!

Pat & Al Nave...known to our family as Grammy Pat & Grandpa Al!

These 2 wonderful people mean so much to our whole family! I will never be able to thank them for all they have done for all of us and all they have meant to all of us! I'll do a separate post on these amazing folks another day...just so you get an idea tho...

The first time they had our family to dinner after church back in February of 2000, Nat (4 at the time) climbed up onto Grandpa Al's lap and asked if she could call him "GRANDPA"! Of course he said she could without hesitation! Melted my heart and from that day forward we have been family! Adoption is a pretty nifty thing! Another great part is my mom absolutely loves them both also and was so glad we had people like that in our lives since she didn't live here yet!  I just love how the Lord brings people into our lives and hearts at just the perfect moment! Do you kinda get how much I love them???? :)

It was a very nice "low key" birthday!  I have so much to be thankful for and I would never be able to convey that in my blog however you can get a glimpse into my life and see just how very blessed I am! Later that evening Nat asked if I would make them chili dip...promptly Lauren stated that she shouldn't ask me to do that as it was still my birthday! Jim has trained these girls so well! Needless to say, I did make them the dip and was reminded as I did so & listened to them laughing and talking how truly rich my life is...

and just how much I do cherish my family & my friends!

What's 4 Dinner...It's Special Request Night

Tonight at the our home was SPECIAL REQUEST NIGHT!  I noticed after I was in the process of cooking that there were alot of carbs in this meal...not very balanced...guess it doesn't matter for special request night! Nat requested cauliflower and orange jello salad. Lauren requested scalloped potato's and a family friend Brittany requested meatloaf and corn casserole! Sure was delicious! Especially nice because I'm going on a 3 day retreat tomorrow so there is plenty of leftovers for Jim while I'm gone.

My favorite tonight was corn casserole. I remember growing up I didn't like it at all! I can't even believe that!!! Now as an adult it's an all time favorite! The only ingredient missing tonight in the corn was pimento's...couldn't find them at the store last night and finally gave up. I missed having them for their added flavor and color.The orange jello tastes like an orange creamsicle! Yummy good! I was remembering tonight also how Nat when she was about 4 yrs.old  used to ask for "that white broccoli stuff"...finally figured out it was cauliflower!

I told Jim after dinner he hadn't made any requests tonight...he said no worries...it ALL would have been his special request. I do notice when it all is on his plate that there is no green and without the pimentos in the corn casserole I must admit the presentation and color is not as "Martha Stewartish" as I would have liked! Rest assure that didn't affect the taste! :)

Still miss you sweet sister of mine...

It's been 23 years since my precious sister Laura Jennifer Miller went home to be with her Lord and Savior.  She and 4 other girls were in a car accident on October 17, 1988 and Laura passed away on the morning of October 18, 1988. Jamie Dittmer and Karena Palmer were killed instantly and Wendy Whitlock and Susan Ikel were injured and spent several weeks in the hospital and many months in therapy. My life was changed that day and never the same. I never "got over it" however I did learn to live with it and the changes it brought to my life. The road of grief and recovery is a long hard road and I'm so thankful for so many people who walked faithfully with me through that journey.

My sister and I had always been so very close. Our family had been close. I think too because our dad was in the ministry alot of times and in different situations Laura and I only had each other. I grew up knowing she had my back and she was my very best friend. Many years, we shared a bedroom so the talking and giggling would go into the wee hours of the night. Even after we had separate bedrooms, more often than not Laura would come get in bed with me. We both loved to play the piano and sing. We loved to sing together. That was something I was not prepared for after her death...I couldn't sing. I could still play the piano but every time I tried to sing I would fall apart so I quit trying. It wasn't until 5 years ago the Lord gave me my voice back. I have sung a few times in the past 5 years with my sweet little family. That was a blessing!

Somedays it still seems so real and I can recall the events around that time so clearly other days it seems so unreal and I know that's Gods way of protecting me and healing my heart. Things still 23 years later can catch me off guard and I miss Laura tremendously. I smile whenever I remember her and how she could make me and so many others laugh. She continues to live on through my children which is such a gift. My middle daughter Lauren, who is named after Laura, looks alot like her and has so many of her same features and mannerisms. My youngest Natalie has the same carefree spirit and sense of humor as my sister. What's so amazing is they never knew my sister yet I think the Lord allows some of those sweet reminders in our life to help in the healing process.  My oldest son Tyler was just 3 months old when Laura was killed and I KNOW he was my gift from God. Because of him I had to get out of bed everyday as I needed to be mom and care for my precious son. I was always so thankful that Laura did get to meet Tyler and spent many hours holding him and loving on him. 

Someday we will be reunited in heaven and for that I am so grateful! Laura knew the Lord as her personal Savior and her faith was such a  real part of her daily life. I know my faith in the Lord is what has pulled me through...I could never have imagined living my adult life without Laura. There are many times when I'm still frustrated as I long for my sister...to hear her voice and see her beautiful smile and I'm sad I never could be an aunt or my children didn't know their Aunt Laura. It was hard becoming an only child. I do not pretend to understand God's ways however I can rest in Him and know He will always be with me and continue to mend that part of my heart that was so broken after my sister died.

The picture at the top of this post is her Western Baptist College ASB card picture that my parents received in the mail after her death. It is one of my very favorite pictures of her. She was such a beautiful vibrant person who loved life and especially loved her family and her friends and most of all her Lord Jesus Christ. The outfit she's wearing in this picture was something I bought for her that summer she started her freshman year at college. I loved it on her because it made her pretty green eyes stand out!   

She will always be in my heart and I will cherish forever every moment I had with

my sister...my Laura-padora!!!

Jim's mom makes the best Paella

When Jim was young he lived in Spain. His dad was in the Air Force. An absolutely delicious meal his mom, Lynda learned how to make was Paella. We hadn't had in years and when Lynda and Shannon (Jim's sister) came to visit this past summer that was the dinner Jim requested. Good thing he asked his mom ahead of time as she had to bring a special pan for it and a cookbook that has the recipe in it. It is ALOT of work to make this yummy dish and we're so glad she took the time to do so. Also another tricky part they ran into was finding saffron! Which fortunately they found! Shannon made Gazpacho so it was just a perfect appetizer before the big main course!  The paella has seafood, sausage, chicken, veggies and lots of other yummy ingredients.

To be honest I wasn't sure I would like gazpacho...however...

it's a good idea to try new things because I loved it! :)

This cookbook has travelled the globe through the years...

so glad Jim's mom hung onto it and still was willing to make this yummy

feast for our family!

Lynda & Shannon making the wonderful Paella

.

 

 Grandma Lynda & Lauren

Thank you to Jim's mom and sister for making us

such a wonderful dinner! It was alot of fun and tasted

ever so good! 

Natnat & Littlebit

These two girls just absolutely bring so much happiness to my life! Saylah Grace is our friend Samantha's baby and she is almost now 11 months old. To say Saylah loves Natalie is an understatement! I just love it when Saylah sees Nat walk in the room and she just squeals with delight. It also just melts my heart now that Saylah reaches for Natalie whenever she sees her however on the other hand Saylah cries when Nat leaves the room! Saylah Grace has meant so much to our whole family...she's like a grandchild to Jim & me and a niece to Lauren & Natalie!

Natalie calls the baby Littlebit...and to Saylah, Natalie is Natnat! So SWEET!

I have some pictures over the last few months that just perfectly capture

the love that my Natalie and little Saylah Grace have for each other...

Too cute...Saylah in her pink pelican suit & sunhat and

Nat in Saylah's  hooded towel!

Sleeping peacefully with Natnat! So precious!

This was the best ever...Lauren and Nat hopped in the pool with Saylah...L & N even had their clothes on...what they won't do for that sweet baby girl!

PURE LOVE AT IT'S BEST!

This is quite possibly my most favorite picture of summer 2011!

Natnat & Littlebit...Littlebit & Natnat

best friends 4ever

Flashback Friday...

Natalie and I were cleaning out a room in our basement last

week and found a stack of pictures from the year 2000.

They just made us smile and laugh and we enjoyed

reminiscing about them so decided to share for my flashback friday!

This was Nat's 5th Birthday May 2, 2000

Her BESTEST buddy Khalil Newbill is to her right and

let me tell those two were inseperable! I can't

wait til Khalil's mom, Melissa sees these pics!

We had Nat's 5th birthday party at the Base Pool on

Fairchild Air Force Base and I guess she was showing us her

version of "pool surfing"! :)

Nat with her pals Aaron & Khalil...

One thing I miss from those days is living on base and

the closeness and friendship with neighbors.

This is something I had forgotten about...Nat building

her forts with couch cushions and chairs, etc...ya know

what's funny is I remember thinking that I would never forget...but I had!

Nat's other favorite play place...her tent...

Ok...this one I just couldn't resist...This is Victoria Newbill...

Khalil's baby sister. Kayla, their older sister was Lauren's

bestie and Khalil of course was Nat's best friend AND

Victoria was my frienny!  She loved to come to my house and

play and I remember she would stand at the back of our church and yell

up to me as I was up at the front

after playing the organ and tell me "don't you worry

FRIENNY  I'm gonna go home and eat and change my clothes and THEN

I AM COMING TO YOURS HOUSE to play!" That girl melted

my heart and now still when I look at pictures on facebook 11 years later she

still melts me! Kayla, Khalil and Victoria along with my kiddos have

all grown up to be such beautiful people on the inside and outside!

Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me...

Praising God for protection of my precious girl...

On Tuesday morning 10/11/2011, my daughter Lauren was a in a car accident on her way to school. When I got "that" phone call I will admit I couldn't breath for a moment until I heard the words "she's ok". Although it was bad it could have been so much worse.

There is an area of construction on our interstate and there have been many accidents at that exact spot. She is bruised and scratched from the seatbelt and had some burns from the airbag deploying and also a very stiff neck and body. I know MY GOD was watching over her and taking care of my precious girl at that precise moment. There was also 2 angels whom I will never know that stopped and helped my Lauren. They were in the car behind her so they witnessed the entire accident. The husband called 911 and sprinted across the freeway to help Lauren and his wife came over and comforted my daughter and waited with her till the police got there. The women also called Jim and told him that Lauren had been in an accident.

 I received a call from Jim and I happened to be getting in my car to go to bible study. Instead of bible study I went to try to get to Lauren. Of course the traffic was very backed up due to her accident. Jim couldn't get to her either. That's where our youngest daughter came to the rescue. She lives with my mom and her way of getting to the accident site was accessible unlike Jim and mine. I am so thankful Nat got there first...she's so calming and knew exactly what to do to help her sister! She's just good like that!

Lauren went to the ER and had lots of X-rays...thankfully no broken bones. Her arm and wrist were sore and swollen so we worried about that due the fact she's in cosmetology school and definitely couldn't do hair with a broken wrist! Minor detail! :) The seatbelt did leave burn marks and abrasions on her chest and the airbag also left some marks and bruising however I'll take the marks it left as it saved Lauren's life! Today she is incredibly sore and stiff and moving pretty slow but she's alive! I know from living through the loss of my beloved sister from a car accident what's it's like to get "that" phone call and not have the outcome be such as this was!

God was protecting my girl and I'm so thankful for that! I'm so thankful for the many prayers and calls of concern that we have received since the accident. I'm so very thankful for the 2 angels unaware that helped my child in her time of need as she waited for her dad and me to arrive.

Just has been a reminder again of not taking life for granted 

and cherish every moment you do have with your loved ones.