Home Again

By on June 19, 2018 in A day in our life, Harlo, I'm a mom, Personal, Stella

Let me tell you that nothing feels as good as coming home from nearly 6 days away.

I missed my babies like the desert misses the rain.  I even may have had Brady check to see if we could move our flights just a day or two earlier.

But in the end, I was brave, and so were they. (They actually had so much fun without me, Harlo admitted she didn’t even miss me that much!)

I DID talk Mr. Miller into driving the last leg of our layover to get home 3 hours earlier than we would otherwise – so I could kiss my four children and rock my baby to bed.

He agreed.

We rented him a convertible Camaro because it was Father’s Day, and we drove through the Arizona dessert to our cozy little home, where the hot terrain kisses the beautiful red mountains.

I loved every minute I had with Mr. Miller ALL TO MYSELF for more days that we’ve had together in ten years, but I’ve also loved every minute of being back at home in the life we’ve built together.

There is so much good sprinkled in to every bit of our lives when we sit back and really see it.  Time away always brings that perspective right to the surface. ♥

The girls thought it would be SO FUN to go to starbucks in a convertible, so early the next morning before we had to give it back, we made it happen! (It was pretty fun!)

Mercy me, it’s good to be back!

 

 

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Paradise

By on June 13, 2018 in Our Love Story, Personal, Travel

It’s true, I’m writing you today from Paradise.

Mr. Miller and I celebrate being married TEN YEARS TOMORROW!! Can you believe that?  I seriously can’t.  But I can, but I also can’t.

Sometimes me and Mr. Miller laugh about how our marriage started – so young, so clueless.  But we were certainly in love, and God bless us, that love has lasted us through thick and thin over the years.

No one, including us, would have guessed our lives would have ended up looking this way.  But God knew, and he placed us perfectly together with what he had to deal with.  I sometimes feel like I was created to be Brady’s wife, and he was made to be mine.

But seriously, I confessed to Mr. Miller recently that even I had my doubts about our start.  I mean, the cards did seem against us.  But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even though I have been dealt some tough hands in this life, I’ve somehow had all the right cards since Mr. Miller walked into my life.  So, who’s to judge what marriages and love stories will work out?

One thing I know for sure is that I’m glad we prioritized our anniversary this year to celebrate all we have accomplished this past ten years.

Ten beautiful, wonderful, full, colorful years with the one I love most in this life.

Cheers, baby.

 

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pink eye-yi-yi

By on June 8, 2018 in A day in our life, at the miller manor, Personal

The first week of summer was a success… if you consider 3/4 of my children having had pink eye is a success, then yes it was a success.

I honestly didn’t mind TOO MUCH having to stay home, cooped up inside (I’m also off the gram for this challenge – just what my soul needed, I think!).

We have had cousins staying that have had to brave the “pink eye apocalypse”, and that has kept our time busy.

Mr. Miller and my brother-in-law, Uncle Marv, have worked endlessly building an EPIC patio awning, and it looks so good I hardly even recognize my own backyard.

I have been snuggling babies, praying pink eye skips me, and making meals, and snacks, and serving popsicles around the clock.

So, like I said… it’s not TOO BAD.

Next week I might be on a certain beach, with a certain someone, celebrating a certain anniversary.

That’s all the motivation I need to get through this last bout of double pink-eye, double molars for my little Maj.  (He is a pooooor little pudge today.)

 

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we painted our house! | exterior renovation in full swing

By on June 1, 2018 in at the miller manor, Our Home

What a couple-a weeks we’ve had here at the Miller Manor.  The girls all finished school, the exterior of our house renovation got a major jump start (thanks to BP custom paint in St. George who were so fast and efficient!) we had a little kick off to summer getaway in Vegas, and we celebrated my dear sister Angie’s birthday – all in the same week.  Whew!  I’m trying to get it to it all, so bear with me!

Back to the house –

When Mr. Miller and I bought this house, we had quick plans to re-paint the exterior.  There were a few reasons (original stucco that was 20+ years old, chipping, cracking, needing to be sealed), aside from just the updated look… but I can’t say I was mad about that perk.  Not one single bit.

I loved the bones of our house when we bought it.  So European-inspired, so cottage-charm with all the roof peeks and pained windows… I knew we could do her some favors, and I think we’re off to a great start!

Here she is BEFORE:

DURING:

And here she is TODAY:

I call this a “progress pic” because we still have quite a ways to go on our plans.  We are working hard this week on some shutters, I think that will make a huge difference!  I just couldn’t wait to share – this has been such an exciting process!  We’ve done plenty of remodeling inside our homes, but this is our first major exterior reno, and I must say it’s a lot of fun.. not to mention more comfortable.  It was so awesome to just live my life inside then pop out from time to time to see the progress the painters had made.  Much unlike living IN the renovation mess. (PTSD flashbacks from our kitchen remodel)

So let’s see that again…..

What do you think so far?? Does it look anything like the inspiration board I made?

DETAILS:

Paint colors we used:

Sherwin Williams – Alabaster (white)
Sherwin Williams – Colonnade Grey + Pavestone

Mr. Miller and I took a day trip yesterday to pick up the materials to build our covered back patio.  We’ll be working on that this weekend, as well as getting shutters up.  It will be busy here over the next little bit with home projects going on, but it wouldn’t feel like home without SOME sort of project… Right, Mr. Miller?? ;)

 

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