Couldn't Be Better

Headin' out!

Fantastic Fourth

Well, we have definitely been busy. The 2010 Touring Season has come to a close, and so now it's time to spend quality moments with our kids and grandkids. Rather than go backwards, let's see if we can stay somewhat current. (Our kids don't even read these blogs because they think we died years ago.) We were privileged to have Maryanne and Christy and their husbands over in Bend for the 4th of July. Of course, Porter came along, and we had a ball. The pictures that accompany this blog chronicle our assault of Black Butte. We (Glenda and Jim) climbed until the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches called for us to eat them. We made it three-fourths of the way up, had lunch, and headed down. We are so pleased that our kids have not given up on us and encourage us to trek along with them. What beautiful views we were treated to while we ascended the butte. Porter was treated like royalty and screamed the directions to Tobin.

Just before our kids came to visit, Jim worked in the yard pulling weeds, fertilizing, and planting new plants. He gets to enjoy the spring flowers and foliage in Washington, DC but misses out on the spring in Bend. Every time he goes to a store with new plants, he just has to remind himself that summer is right around the corner with plenty of growing opportunities.

The weather has finally turned hot, and the fertilizer is having its desired effect on the grass so the opportunities to mow are plentiful.

Oh Where, Oh Where Have the Millers Gone?

A spring day in Gettysburg!

Magnificent flower gardens at the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.

The Rotunda in our nation's Capitol.

Vertigo from looking up the Washington Monument--555' 5 1/8"

World War II Memorial at night.

Well, I doubt we have any readers or followers left. But, just in case... The winter and spring have come and almost gone, but one thing is sure: God has been faithfully keeping us and encouraging us. In December I turned 62, but I don't feel a day over 38. I began leading student groups in Washington, DC again on March 15; and for the first time I had four schools aboard one bus. Boy, did that take coordination! Then on my next trip east, I had two schools on one bus--one from North Dakota and one from Hawaii. I have been so blessed to have this tremendous job! Unfortunately, on my trip with the schools from North Dakota and Hawaii, I developed an infection, which made my time touring difficult. Thankfully that is past now.

Glenda is doing well and continues to love her job. This is quite a blessing for me because I can stay semi-retired and continue to lead tours in Washington, DC. We stay in touch by cell phone. (It would have been more difficult 15 years ago because we would have had to use carrier pigeons or telegraph.) Anyway, Glenda has enjoyed using her new sewing machine while I've been gone and making things for others. She has seasoned well, and I really find it hard to find a gray hair on her head.

I so enjoy flying back and forth across our great nation. It gives me a chance to meditate on all the wonderful things God has granted us. Our three children and their spouses are doing so well. Just thinking of them brings tears of joy to my eyes and smiles to my face. God has ministered to them, and they have responded which has enriched their lives. The time in the air gives me so many opportunities to pray for each of them. Anyway, as long as I have health and can walk, I want to continue to minister to the school kids as they travel to the East Coast.

So to wrap up this update, we are alive and well and still living in Bend, Oregon. Mocha our dog still roams our backyard and visits us inside at night. I am looking forward to the end of my season when I will once again have the opportunity of working in our yard and planting things. I actually mowed the yard for the first time before I left for Washington last week. All in all, God is magnificent, majestic, and faithful. I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.

California, Here We Come!

Patience...Patience. What a virtue we all need and I seem to demand of you (whoever you are that still enjoy reading my once-in-a-decade blog for our family). Well, enough of that... After Glenda and I returned from Orlando and our time at Mickey's house, we prepared for our trip to Southern California to visit Christy and Tobin and my sister Cathy and her husband Don. Of course, without their son Darryl we would have never gone to the huge Glendale Mall. (My brother-in-law told me that this was another place he wouldn't go on vacation.) Well, we had a wonderful time all the way around. We went to a ghost town near Barstow, California, Medieval Times in Anaheim, the J Paul Getty Museum, Boogie boarding in La Jolla, shopping at Farmer's Market, and to my brother's home in San Diego. Whew! I must say that it had been awhile since this old whale (I like the term in the KJV Bible better--great fish) spent so much time in the ocean. It was so much fun. (Thank you, Tobin). We celebrated Christy's 28 birthday early and played on her Wii that was given as her gift. Our visit with Christy and Tobin were the bookends to our visit. In the middle we traveled to Santa Clarita to visit my sister and her family. Don took the week off, and he was able to enjoy our adventures with us. He had to lie low the first day because he was sick. (He really just wanted to avoid the 2 1/2 hour drive to Calico Ghost Town.) My sister hosted a BBQ with all my cousins, which was truly a delight. It was good to get all the Miller boys back together again; it's just too bad that we are not young enough to be wreckless again--not really. A good time, I think, was had by all. We even got a ride back to the airport on a flat tire. The time was too short, and soon we were on the plane heading home.

Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho, It's Off to Disney World We Go

Every fall Glenda and I make every attempt to go somewhere for vacation. When our fifth grandchild, Porter, was born this spring, Glenda was able to spend a week with Maryanne and AJ and little Porter. She had a wonderful time, but that altered some of our plans where we wanted to go on vacation. When I returned from my last trip to Washington, DC on June 21, I began looking at various possibilities. We want to travel to the East Coast sometime in the fall to catch all the leaves changing colors. I looked into a cruise at that time, but the cost was prohibitive when the airfare was added in. I considered a couple other possibilities, but then my eye caught a vacation plan offered by Alaska Airlines to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Well, the more I looked into it, the more inviting it became.

We did in fact go on that very vacation on September 17. What a remarkable time we had; Glenda couldn't say enough good things about it. We picked one of Disney's off weeks, so the plan was inexpensive when considering it included airfare, lodging, all meals, and a park-hopper pass for 5 days. Now we both agreed that this is a one-time vacation at Disney World. Boy, we enjoyed the two days spent at Epcot, the day at Animal Kingdom, the day at Hollywood Studios, and the day at the Magic Kingdom. We walked and walked and walked and walked.

When I made the reservations, I was asked if we were celebrating anything special. Since Glenda and I had just celebrated our 39th anniversary, I told them that. When we arrived at the resort, we were given Happy Anniversary pins which we wore everyday. Boy, did we get the "Happy Anniversary" greeting from all the workers and characters throughout Disney World. It was a great way to celebrate.

Here are a few pictures starting with a couple I know our grandkids will love.

More Sights We Saw

Hope you enjoy these pictures. We surely had a fun, relaxing time although our feet and legs ached at the end.

A Few Pics from the Oregon State Fair

What's a fair without the animals? You're right; it's not a fair. The corn dogs were hot and soooo good!