#Miller6Pack

I have a list of topics I want to blog about, but it has seems like by the time I get home after being on the computer all day long configuring email servers, spam filters, content filters, print servers, user profiles, answering help desk calls, listening to vendors, and a myriad of other technology related conundrums, that I can't muster up the brainpower to craft anything readable or interesting. Additionally, I'm married to an English major, which makes me hyper-sensitive to typos, run on sentences, fragments, and ending my sentences with prepositions! Nonetheless, I know that this blog post is long overdue. A combination of the aforementioned fatigue and equal parts of frustration and disappointment have created an ache inside that makes it tough to find the time and energy to creatively write about it. As the title of this entry suggest, this is an update on our adoption process for all of you who have asked many questions, prayed, and even shared in our frustration. ...

It is hard to believe it is December already. The cliche' "it seems like yesterday" seems so appropriate, but we find ourselves saying it far too often. We have had a very blessed and memorable year and pray that you have too. We have received some fantastic Christmas letters from some of you thoughtful cards too. We enjoyed reading every update, and looking at every picture. We are thankful to have such wonderful friends and family. This December, we are going "green" and rather than sending out a card to everyone, we figured it would be fun to do a quick blog that contains some brief highlights/updates as well as some links to pictures. With the emergence of "Social Networking" we estimated that about 85% of our friends and family are using these digital tools to keep in touch. OK, so I'm not totally sure if the electricity my laptop is burning is less than the postage and paper for the cards of a traditional Christmas card, but it sounded cool,...

I realize it has been about a month since my last blog post. That post was in memory of our dear pup Griffey who we had to put to sleep after many years of his faithful companionship. In the weeks that followed we struggled and remembered Griff very fondly. We missed all his little habits and mannerisms, but most of all we missed his companionship. As the days went on, we decided that we wanted to get another dog. We checked the dachshund rescue site as well as some other sources. Nothing materialized, but I received a text message from my friend Ken Lagerquist with a website he had seen. I went to the website and called the number. From there I got some great direction from Wendy about a lady who had 2 black/tan mini dachshunds in Coeur d' Alene. I called and we went over Wednesday the 28th! I've posted on Facebook and uploaded a few pictures, but I haven't officially introduced our new addition yet. Dolly the Doxie is now officially part of our family and I am now the onl...

I just wanted to share some news with you all as I cannot form the words verbally without breaking down. As you all know our beloved Griffey has had a heart murmur since he was a puppy and up until a few months ago has done just fine. However the last few months Griff has struggled with some congestion in his lungs due to his heart condition. We have had him on medication since then. Labor Day weekend at Griffey's favorite place of all time, Griffey had a stroke after being his normal feisty self with Scott and Ruth's new puppy Maya. It was merely Griffey getting riled up like did with every other dog only this time it was more than his little heart could take. (Ruth and Scott know about his heart and know it was not Maya's fault in any way) Anyway as I sat there in the grass that summer evening with Griffey I felt it in my heart for the first time that the poor little guy couldn't go on like that. Additionally, I feared he was dying at that moment. His eyes were non re...

Yes sports fans, my beloved Irish fell to the Wolverines of Michigan. Yes, people are saying it was a great game. I'll admit it was exciting, but great, not overly so from my sideline. Call this a "sour grapes" post if you wish, and I'll admit, sour grapes are probably an influence, but compiling this was actually a little bit fun. Bottom line, Michigan won, Notre Dame lost. I can deal with that. But I don't have to like it. Yes ND had plenty of blown opportunities to win the game I can deal with that. Yes in the 2nd half the Irish failed miserably in major facets of the game (Run Defense, Kicking Game, Playcalling in final minutes of the game.) As a coach, I always tell my kids that blaming referees doesn't change the outcome of a game. You can't control the referees and you have to learn to play through a bad call, but what I witnessed Saturday at "The Big House" was one of the most one sided, blatant, inept refereeing jobs I have ever seen. N...

5 Years ago we officially became a family of 3. I have already told the story of our "Gotcha Day," which is a phrase used by adoptive families to mark the day that the parents and child "got" each other and became a forever family. It wasn't until just a little bit ago, that I realized that this seemingly innocent phrase was so controversial in the adoption community. I won't go into the details but if you Google "Gotcha Day" you will find the strangely heated discussions. Honestly, I am continually amazed by how certain types of people look for something negative in anything they can. Well, for the Millers, "Gotcha Day" is an endearing and powerful phrase that we use to celebrate our union as a family. It doesn't cheapen the bond, it doesn't imply any selfish desires or motives. People who want to be miserable and nitpick everything under the sun can do so, but it won't stop us from celebrating one of the most amazing days o...

Well day 4 is in the books and everything went pretty well. No, I don't plan to post a blog for all 180 days of Kindergarten, rather I figured I would finish off the week just because. Today, I still had a little "heart tug" moment, but not as intense as the past few days. I have been trying to explain to Gracie that I will eventually drop her off in front of the school and not go all the way in and she says OK. So today I figured I would take advantage of the moment and when we got in the double doors I said "OK I'm going to let you go find your room and go play by yourself." Gracie gave me a little bit of a look like she wasn't sure how to deal with it, but once again I sucked it up and said, "you'll be fine, you know where to go." As I walked out to the car, I had twinges of "I hope she's OK," and "was she ready for that?" but they turned into being thankful for how far we had come. When I told the story to Amy sh...