Today has been one of those days that I wish could start over again. It was a rough start with the kids before they headed out to school. I hate when days are like that, it sort of sets my mood. So, I needed a little something to give me a big smile. I decided to take the kids out early and ride bikes since it seems to get pretty hot and muggy later on in the day.

Elizabeth came smiling and wanting me to see the new animal Bear was eating. You see, Bear (our dog) seems to like delivery "presents" to us on a daily basis. The only difference was that he must have just recently killed this one and was chewing on it before he left us what was left. She wanted me to look closely at it, but I just really wasn't up to seeing the animal close up :).

Elizabeth handled that well, put her bike helmet back on and came beside me to begin riding again. Then she looked at me as serious as could be and said "Daddy and Bear are stinkers!". I giggled and asked why. SHe replied "Daddy is a stinker because he doesn't buckle and Bear is a stinker because he kills animals". Then she smiled, proud of her statement and added "Daddy and Bear and animals are stinkers. Daddy is a stinker because he doesn't buckle, Bear is a stinker because he kills animals, and the animals are stinkers because they die." It was very funny to watch the animation in her voice and body as she shared with me the "facts" that she observed.

On another note, a precious friend stopped by this morning. He is the one who dug our pond. We realized a few weeks ago that the pond has a leak. WE asked him if there was anything that could be done. He came by that same day and checked it out. He said he would get it fixed for us as soon as he had permission to get on his equipment again. He had neack surgery a few months ago and will be having back surgery tomorrow morning. He stopped today just to check if it had reached a point where it had stopped leaking. He was hoping to see exactly how it was leaking. I am confident that God has brought him into our life for a reason. There is something that has drawn me to him every since he dug our septic system 13 years ago. I think God has put him on my heart so that I would faithfully pray for his salvation. So I am asking those of you that know the power of prayer, will you please pray for him to come to know Jesus CHrist as his own personal savior? And, I promised him that I would be praying for him during his surgery tomorrow. Would you please add him to your prayers for me as well?

Emily's last performance of her high school year was this past weekend. It ws so much fun to watch her. She radiates her beauty with her smile. I had the joy of watching her both nights of her performance. The first night, she presented us with a rose. It was precious. I was fine and handle it all like a pro... no tears. I felt very little of that sad emotion of the "last time".... until my brother-in-law asked me the next day how I was doing, on the phone no less! I broke down like a baby. The emotion came from no where! It totally caught me off guard. The entire rest of the day I found myself choking up with tears. Oh how I am going to dread graduation day!

Well, yesterday was a big day for Ri; but it was a pretty big day for Elizabeth as well. For some reason, I looked at Elizabeth's bike and got a huge desire to take her training wheels off. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I did. Elizabeth has always had a natural atheletic ability and an incredible balance, so I figured I would give it a shot. Ri insisted his get taken off as well. I knew he wasn't close to be ready, so I kept putting him off. Finally, after several times of Elizabeth trying, I gave him a shot. One or two pedals with me holding on and he was convinced that he did NOT want his training wheels off. He really hasn't ridden a bike much at all because we never had one with good training wheels for him to ride. He just hasn't had much opportunity, so I knew he needed to practice and perfect riding with training wheels first. He worked on it everytime we were outside yesterday and by the end of the day, he was pretty proud of how much he could do WITH the training wheels on. Eventually, we will work on removing them. But for now, he is thrilled with them on.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was thrilled with trying to accomplish it without the training wheels. At first, she was very apprehensive and scared for me to let go. We practiced for about 20-30 minutes. By then, she could ride 20 feet or so without me touching her. Last night, she surprised Daddy and the kids by riding without training wheels. SHe could ride a long ways, but still wanted us very, very close. Today... she is very confident and riding all the way down our drive and back without me touching her! She is beaming with pride. It is very cute.

Happy "Gotcha Day" Ri

Two years ago today, our lives changed as we walked into a cold room and saw the face of a scared little boy who had no clue the things that were about to happen. I can't imagine the fear that must have overwhelmed him as he saw this huge family of strangers, who spoke a foreign language, come in and head towards him. I am confident that God's hand has been holding Ri from the moment he was concieved. He has given Ri a strength that often amazes me.

That day, 2 years ago, seems so distant now. As I watch the video of our little guy, so many emotions overwhelm me. The transition wasn't easy for either Ri or I. I look back with such sadness at the struggles we went through. I have such an admiration for this little guy. DEspite all that he faced, he never once let it stop him. He has a strength and characater that many adults do not have. I think it is something God instilled within him in order for him to be able to make it through all that he had to go through in his young life.

Today, though, is a much different picture. Today, I am so in love with my beautiful son. He is such a joy and treasure. There is no difference between him and any of the other 5 kids... he is as much my child as any of the others. Oh how thankful I am for this day and all the memories it brings back. I am so thankful that on May 20, 2007, Liu Ri Chen became our son: Paul Liu Ri Chen Miller. We are so blessed. He has truly changed our lives for the better.

Ri is full of life. He has an ability to forgive and forget very quickly. He has an ornery streak in him that cracks me up (but it can also set me off). He ADORES his little sister; she truly is his very best friend. He LOVES reading books and coloring or writing. He has a very creative mind that, when put with his best friend, can be quite comical. He is very hesitant when it comes to some physical things but he never gives up. He sees Elizabeth breeze through them, so he tries as well. He doesn't have the stamina or the coordination she does, but we don't tell him that. He tries anyway. He gets tired out easy, probably due to his heart. He loves playing in water, especially muddy water! He loves baths, pools, mud puddles and the pond (despite how cold and muddy it is). He absolutely loves being loved by so many people. He reminds us quite often how many "peoples" love him. And he is very quick to tell us how many "peoples" he loves too. His favorite "peoples" are his immediate family. He lights up when the boys come home or when the girls walk in the room.

Ri knows all his letters and numbers. He can count almost to 30, though he struggles with forgetting some of the teens. He can write just about any letter and draw many different things. He can read many three letter words. He listens and obeys very well when he is told something. He loves having friends and the ability to play with them. He loves his one day at preschool and has no problem staying all by himself when Elizabeth and I leave. I is always making things for Elizabeth because, as he tell her, she is his best friend.

There is so much about Ri that is so very, very precious. I wish that all of you could spend time with him to see what I'm talking about. I can't wait to watch and see what God does with this little guys life!

There are times when I get frustrated with the day to day chores of being a mom, times when I really, really get frustrated with the stages a few of my kids are in, there are times when I lose my temper to a degree that I am ashamed of even contemplating let alone actually living it. There are times when my tongue lashes out, totally oblivious to the fact that I am a child of the King. And yet, despite all my inadequacies... despite my failings, ... despite it all.... my Lord and Savior has never given up on me. And it's when I can remember His love that I can let go of my frustrations, my anger, my temper, and move forward .... letting go of whatever it was that made me feel that way to begin with.

This weekend, I was reminded ... again.... that my Lord is not the only one who loves me with a love that I am so undeserving of. He is not the only one who loves me despite my failings. I was reminded of the love of my husband and the love of my children. And they are the ones who see so many of my failings. They end up being on the other end of my lashing out. And yet, they still look at me as the "best mom in the whole world". I am blessed beyond where my imaginiation could even reach.

There is nothing deeper or richer then when your child... in the midst of your anger, reaches out and says something to remind you that they love you. There are a few times when one child in particular was catching my anger. They deserved some of it, but often we butt heads with fierce intensity.... so fierce that I lose it and say things that I ought not to say. It is then that this child has set an example for me (far too often) and apologizes, unexpectedly... and reminds me what a good mom they think I am.

There are stages in each of the kids lives that are particularly hard on me. Two, maybe three are going through those difficult stages right now. When I am hit with all three at the same time, it wears me out. Oh how I wish I could be patient and have a tongue that is like soothing salve on a wound. I have to stop and remind myself that I am blessed and despite even the most difficult moment of a heated conversation or battle with a child.... we truly have been blessed with 6 wonderful kids. They are normal, kids who are going through very normal stages in their life. Far too often I put the demand of perfection on their behavior and get angry when they fail. If only I could remember how often I have fallen.

Anyway... God has been working on me (for years it seems) in these areas. It was this weekned that blessed me with another one of those "wake and smell the roses" momeents..... when I could step out of the daily routine and the teenage (and preschool) moments and see my children through the eyes of Christ. I saw a picture of beauty and blessing. Oh how wonderful my children are and oh how I take them for granted. I love them so deeply!

This morning, Mark and I were standing at the pond and my breath was taken away at teh beauty of it. The reflections were incredible. I just got a brand new phone, so I took it out and took a picture using the phone's camera. I was very impressed with the quality of the camera on the phone.

They love walking beside the pond looking for anything they can find.

Elizabeth was so proud of herself for finding AND catching this toad all by herself!

I guess I am officially in hot water with my eldest daughter. She isn't all that happy that I have taken over a week to update. Our computer is having some real slow issues and I just haven't wanted to sit down and deal with them. On top of the frustration of the slowness, I have been finishing Emily's graduation book. It hit 280 pages and easily could have gone much more, but my time has run out. I really need to order it so that it is in time for her graduation party.

It is hard for me to imagine that my little girl will be officially graduated on June 7th. We are having an open house for her on June 6th from 1-4 at our church. Christy, Evan, Sam, Noah, Faith, & Luke.... and Tamara, TJ, Cheyanne, Cassidy, Colton and Carson.... she would love for you guys to come! You all hold a very dear part of her heart. But, she realizes that California is just a tad bit too far from our little town!

I'm not very good at etiquette nor do I really have a clue how to be the perfect host. I am just now beginning to think about the party (just a little late, don't you think?). We never ordered announcements, so I just came up with a quick invitation that announces our open house. I haven't sent any out, though. I really do need to get on the ball. It is starting to stress me out a bit. I am glad to have the book off my back (though I have been unsuccessfully able to upload it to my site, so it is still weighing on my shoulders).

Now I have to figure out the appropriate means of invitations and what to serve and how to decorate and all that kind of stuff. Give me a few words to write, and I can soar.... but give me a task of being a classy hostess... well... I seem to have missed that gift. Classy just isn't the best description. Down to earth, maybe... but classy? Nope!

Our invitation is for anyone who would like to join us in honoring our baby girl in her accomplishment. We are so very proud of her! She is officially enrolled at Baptist Bible College and will be leaving August 21. She will have her class schedule on June 15th. Things are certainly beginning to roll. I sure hope I don't get rolled over in the process!

She is ending her high school career with a bang. Monday night, she will recieve an "academic varsity letter" for her academics. She just scored a 96 on her senior project. She presented it this past MOnday and did an excellent job. The little ones and I had the privlidge of watching her. I was very, very proud of her! She was confident, poised and seemingly at peace. The presentation lasted the entire period. She timed it down to the last minute. What a great job!

Well, I have to head to bed. I hope to post a little bit more tomorrow.