Cass Miller Blog

Remember me?

By Cass Miller on July 31, 2017 in Personal

Hey.

Remember me?

Cass Miller.

That girl who loves being a mom and sharing funny stories about her life and kids?

The one who thinks her husband is a super-hunk.

The one who bought that 1950’s cottage a few years ago and has been slowly remodeling it (and has impeccable taste, might I add.)

The one who had four kids in 7 years and is busier and happier than ever before?

Oh, she’s still here somewhere!

This summer picked up in intensity and I am white knuckling it to the end. Actually, the responsibility of making everything happen is the white-knuckle part. I’m actually dreading school starting and my kids going back to school. BUT I do every year, and every year I’m just as excited about school starting when it actually does. I need to lean into embracing the present and not worrying so much about the past or the future. Don’t worry that it’s going by too fast, don’t worry about what’s next, just enjoy RIGHT NOW. Right now really is the best anyway. (Especially for me because I have two sleeping toddlers RIGHT NOW as I’m writing this. #embraceit)

The truth is: When I am here, I am on my best game. And when I’m not here, it’s likely that I’m struggling with juggling it all, or dealing with depression (like recently), or just like everyone else – life is pulling at me, too. Taking me away from sometimes what I want to be doing instead (connecting here with y’all!). So, remember if I’m not here writing I’m still HERE LIVING, and I’ll be back soon to chat about it. xoxo

I actually want to start reflecting and writing about the topics that keep me moving day to day – like spiritual practices, and being present, and daily mantras, and self care. I am working on something like that, and so that is what has been taking away some of my writing time as well.

So all this is to say, I’ll get back on a regular writing schedule when school starts. I am spending the last two weeks of summer packing in as much summer into them as possible, if ya know what I mean (water, sun, naps). I try checking in on instagram every day, so go ahead and give me a follow over there if you haven’t already – #thankssamuch.

Clearly I woke up on the spicy side of the bed today, so I’m off to calm a crying toddler (she’s awake now), and snag a too-late lunch for myself. I’ll be back soon!

Kiss kiss!

Cass ♥

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building our tribe

By Cass Miller on July 14, 2017 in at the miller manor, I'm a mom, Our Home, Personal

Last week, for the fourth of July, we had our second annual holiday bash at the Miller Manor.

I had posted about the night on instagram, and someone messaged me and told me how she envied the group of friends I had, and how lucky I was to be raising my children alongside my best friends.

This touched my heart, and I’ll tell you why. Because I had a season in early motherhood with little to no friends in the same season I was in. I felt loneliness and craved something more. I felt an answer to my prayer was to be patient, focus on my family and not worry about friendships – they would make their way into my life later. And they did.

A couple years later, by divine placement, I had some precious friends in my life. These women were strong, and wonderful, and real, and loving wives and mothers and friends. The only problem was, most of them didn’t know each other. In this season I had a strong impression that I was to bring this group of women together. So I started a book club. I invited a few friends, they invited a few friends, and before we knew it we had a big ol’ group of awesome ladies discussing books and life and all that entailed. Best friendships formed, we learned from each other, grew with each other, showed up for each other, and felt our loads lighten by the friendships we had formed.

This very inspired idea of bringing this group together may be one of my most treasured blessings in life. I genuinely have the greatest group of women surrounding me. REAL women. Women who aren’t interested in gossip, and materialistic accomplishments, but that are coming and putting it all out there, and accepting every one else doing the same. These types of friendships are rare, I know this from experience, and I am so grateful to have these women in my corner for life.

Upon our purchase of the Miller Manor, one of the main things for me was to have a place for our tribe to gather. We kept this in mind with every renovation we did. We don’t have a ton of space in our 1900 sqauare foot home, but we have created places for our community to come in and feel loved.

The 4th of July is just a reminder of all we have built with this community. I love that my yard is big enough to hold alllll our kids, and that our families continue to grow. I love that our kids are raised more like cousins, and that through our friendships have become a sisterhood unlike anything else. Each of us have built this community up, and I am forever grateful. (only the friends in town on the 4th pictured — but you know who I’m talking about even if you weren’t here!)

Are you in a season of loneliness? Perhaps your tribe is just on the other side of inviting a friend or two over for a BBQ, organizing a book club with a few women you think would hit it off, arranging a weekly playdate with other moms, whatever you like to do. Sometimes it’s just about gathering up your people with food and love to fill your soul.

In my experience, my willingness to invite and host has given back to my family 100 times. Who can you love into your tribe? Who can you cook a meal for? Who can you invite to a park and pick up pizza on the way? Build up a community you love being a part of. I promise it will be worth it.

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priorities

By Cass Miller on July 12, 2017 in I'm a mom

I’ve been away from this space for over a week. This always makes me a little anxious (see also, crazy).

We had a busy week last week with holidays, family in town, and half of us millers out of town. I was being pulled in too many different directions.

I want to write here every single day, but in this season of life I’m in right now, that’s not always possible. I think it will be one day, but that day might not be today and that’s okay.

I have recently been in a season where opportunity was bubbling up every which way, and I had to decide which opportunities to say “yes” to and which ones to painfully say “no” to.

I had to make the decision, YET AGAIN, how to align my priorities. In this season, my young children take much of my time, and that is my priority. For me to do more work than I am doing now would require me to bring in help, and for now that is not what I want to do. Because this season is so short, and I want to choose THEM in this season. A few years will look so different for my young family, I will have a lot more time to do work when they’re all in school in just a few short years, so I am embracing this season now with little ones in my home. I’ll keep my passions on the side, and let my work as a mother inspire my passions. When the time comes to soar, I’ll know.

Until then, I’ll be right here, tidying up my kitchen table, finding dory all day every day, cooking dinners, baking treats, rocking babies, smooching my husband. Because this season is the one I’ve always dreamed of, and I am going to embrace it with everything I have.