Summer III Continued (More Pictures)

Porter and his soon-to-be sister, Magnolia, were enjoying the Sunday at the park as well. And here are the pictures of Christy's yard.

Summer III

Ah, summer--that time of ease and fun! For our 40th anniversary Glenda and I traveled to Corvallis where all our kids were getting together on that Sunday in August to help us celebrate. What a treat for us because we got to hang out with our five wonderful, energy-bursting grandkids. Christy and Tobin took us to a park that was simply wonderful for all. The kids biked, climbed all over a train, climbed a rock-climbing wall, swung on swings, climbed monkey bars--oh, you know, everything that was fun. Of course, on the Saturday before, Glenda and Christy went to garage sales while Tobin and I assailed the front yard and the noxious weeds--ivy!

At the conclusion of the weekend, I offered to come over in the not-to-distant future and help groom their front yard. Well, that took place just last week (see this blog is not that old), and I thoroughly enjoyed the three days I got to spend with the kids. They went to work, and I went to work on their yard. Juniper tams, ivy, and blackberry vines were in my sights. When it was done (at the least the part I was able to complete in those three days), Christy and I took three loads to the green refuse landfill. Sorry I don't have any before pictures, but let's just say it was the way Daniel Boone found it when he got lost traveling over the Cumberland Gap. Now he would not even recognize the place. Christy and Tobin were indeed gracious to let me have my space tearing into their plants. Now their ferns should have room to grow, and through my efforts they got to know their next door neighbors when I extracted a blackberry vine from their property. They are so blessed to live where they do especially with their hectic schedules and Tobin's neverending work.

Summer II

Well, as summer progressed, Glenda and I were able to visit our kids and grandkids. We enjoyed visiting Christy and Tobin's new home in Corvallis. Since they were going to remodel and replace some doors in their home, Tobin asked me what size doors we had. When I got home and measured them, Tobin said they were exactly the size he was removing. Their doors were 300% better than ours, so instantly I had another project. Now the problem--the doors were 125 miles away in Corvallis. Solution--Christy was going to be running in a race in Central Oregon, so Tobin offered to bring them over when he came to pick up Christy. The doors arrived, and with the help of a friend within two weeks the doors were installed. Then I bought new baseboard molding and learned the fine art of angles and how to cut them for each of the corners I encountered. I replaced all the molding in the hall and bathroom. Glenda's remark about this was, "The bathroom is finally complete" because ever since we moved in 21 years ago some of the bathroom baseboard molding was missing or in need of repair. We didn't want to replace it until we did a makeover, and the doors afforded that opportunity.

The very first picture of this group shows the remodel of our living room window. I framed it totally in wood in preparation for the new shades that are soon to arrive. I think this was the highlight of the small remodeling we have been doing on the inside of our house. Glenda was overjoyed to finally get rid of the 24-year-old drapes. The new wood will definitely showcase the new shades.

Our Summer

Since finishing my fifth year with WorldStrides, I returned home to enjoy working in the yard as well as other activities. My first love was to work in the front and back yards and get things in shape. Since my springs are spent in Washington, DC, I can only drool when I come home and go through a garden center, knowing that I can't really buy flowers and plant them in the short time I am home between trips. I also re-stained the deck and added pavers in various places around the yard.

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.