10 Years Ago Today

 Ten years ago today, on a snowy day on a black diamond ski rum (Riva Ridge) in Vail, Colorado, my boyfriend asked me a question that would change both our lives forever.  And I gave an answer that would change both our lives forever.  

Best day ever.

Old Pictures

 I create calendars for our families as a gift each year.  This year, I was looking through some old pictures to add some variety to the calendars, and I came across these gems from December 2010... nearly ten years ago.

These were Hubby and my engagement pictures taken around my childhood home in Michigan about ten days after he proposed.  We look so young and well rested.

Best Decision

Five years ago today I made the best decision of my life when I agreed to marry my wonderful Hubby.

He asked me to marry him on a snowy day on Vail mountain on a black diamond ski run.  He pulled out the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen... and held it above the 16" of fresh powder snow we were skiing on... and I think I said, "DON'T DROP IT!" even before I said Yes.

  

Thank you for asking me to be your wife, Hubby.

 

You are the perfect match for me.  We make such a great team, and we are a good balance for one another.

I can't believe God has entrusted us with a beautiful little girl... and the new blessing of two more babies on the way any day.  I am so glad you are my partner, my spouse, my husband in this crazy, wonderful life and through these new blessings and challenges.

 

December 18

 Five years ago today, I went on a first date with a man who changed my life.
Four years ago today, that man asked me to be his wife...

December 18 is a great day.

A Few Years...

A few days ago I came upon some of the engagement pictures Hubby and I had taken a little over three years ago.  One picture immediately reminded me of a picture we had taken recently for Tracey Ann's six month pictures... and no, we didn't plan this...

Oh, what a difference a few years makes...

4 and 3 Amazing Years

4 years ago today, the most wonderful man in the world (although I didn't know he was the most wonderful man in the world at the time... I just knew he was pretty interesting, and worth getting to know) asked me out on our first date.

3 years ago today, the most wonderful man in the world offered me the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen (in a snowstorm, with 12 new inches of snow beneath us) asked me to be his wife.

Today is a very special day to us... and both memories feel like yesterday -- and ages ago.  These have been 4 and 3 amazing years, and I am more in love with my husband today than ever before.

I cannot put the last 3 or 4 years into words except to say I love being married to this man.  We grow closer together every day, every week, every year.  There is no challenge we cannot face together, and we become better at loving each other with every challenge that comes our way.  I see God's love in this man every day, and he challenges me to be more like Jesus every day.  I love every day with him, and I can't imagine forever being enough time with him.  I am so grateful and humbled that God chose him for me.

Treasuring the Present: Our Growing Family

This is a unique season in our family in that it is growing.  Hubby and I are not growing the family at the moment... but others in our family are expanding it, and we are happy for them and preparing for a changing, larger family.

As I shared a few months ago, Chris' sister and her husband (Becky and Daniel) are expecting a baby in July.  This is the first grandchild on that side of the family and everyone is OVER THE MOON excited for them.  They have been married seven years (if memory serves... almost eight?) and they love children.  Becky is almost finished with her medical residency (she's scheduled to finish three days before her due date... we'll see how that goes), and Daniel is a firefighter.

Hubby and I bought them this ornament last Christmas

They live in St. Louis and recently bought their first home.  They don't know if they're having a boy or a girl... but everyone in the family seems to think it will be a boy.  She is due in early July and I'm sure the highlight of our summer will be meeting, loving, and getting to know our newest little family member.

Sister Becky as she literally grows the family

Here's the little peanut ETA: July 2013

Chris' brother, Nick, decided to expand the family this year as well.  Nick met Mandy this past February and proposed less than two months later.  They have set a wedding date for December 2013 and we are really happy for them.  They both live in St. Louis, so while we're getting to know the new baby this summer, we also hope to get to know Mandy.

Nick proposed a few weeks ago

Soon-to-be-Sister Mandy and Brother Nick

What a wonderful season in our family full of such joy. 
Because I have experienced seasons of sorrow -- years of sorrow in the past with my family, I especially treasure this season of such joy, blessing, and happiness.

Chris and I are the only Miller children not expanding the family this year... maybe we should think about a plant?

December 18th - Wonderful Day!

December 18th is a wonderful day!

Three years ago, Chris and I had our first date...

Two years ago, Chris asked me to marry him...

December 18th is a wonderful, wonderful day!

I don't have any pictures of our first date... but I have pictures of about ten days after our first date... have we changed much?

So, Chris used to shave his head... he was voluntarily bald when we met.  Luckily, in no time, Chris decided to let me see him with hair, and he hasn't shaved his head since.

I think he looks SOOO handsome with hair... but I don't think I would appreciate his wonderful, thick, handsome hair nearly as much if he hadn't been bald when we met:

 We had so much fun on our first date.  My toast at our rehearsal dinner, and Chris' toast at our wedding entirely focused on special moments and memories from our first date.  Here are a few:

• We saw a local play for free BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by the Eagle County Porchlight Players
• We ended up going to help a high school girl who I had gotten to know through our church's youth group; we spent time with the high schooler and tried to get a toddler to sleep
• We went for a drive into the mountains and nearly slid off the side of the snowy mountainside... you've heard of a 3-point turn... Chris made about a 37-point turn to get us down the mountain
• I complimented Chris on his nice truck and he told me that he specifically was thinking about car-seats when he opted for the 4-door option :-D
• The next day, we went to lunch... so not officially our first day, but in our first 24 hours of knowing each other, Chris prayed over our meal and he said, "Lord, we give You all the glory for what You're going to do."... I remembering thinking as Chris was praying.. "WHOA!  Does this guy know something I don't know?  What's God going to do?"

One year later, this wonderful man was proposing to me!

Chris surprised me on Riva Ridge on Vail Mountain while we were skiing, and got down on his knee and pulled out the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, and told me that he had my parents' blessing to ask me, and he asked me to marry him.

What did I say?  "DON'T DROP IT!!!!"
I have seen entire skies get lost on Vail mountain in a snowstorm... and when he opened a jewelry box, there was 12" of fresh snow under our skies.
I eventually managed to say, "Yes!" and the ring safely made it from the box to my finger without falling into the snow. 

The first people we told we were engaged was the staff at Lodge Tower, where we changed and showered in the spa before beginning our drive to St. Louis for Christmas.
We called our parents from the road.

And I took about 100 pictures of my hand with my new engagement ring on the drive.

For a FULL account of our engagement story, you can read every little detail here.

Happy December 18th!

Lord, We give You all the glory for what You're going to do... and what You've done!

Happy Anniversary, Hubby!