What's up with the MILLER tribe?
The Nugget is growing leaps and bounds, and Lauren and I are
always amazed with the developments that are taking place each week with such a
‘lil person. Caroline is nearly 16 months old. She’s communicating more and
more, and she even pretends to read her books by herself, which is quite the silly and awesome sight. Of course, her
favorite words lately have been, “No, No, No, No,” which can mean a lot of
things she just doesn’t want to do at any given moment. She is a willful
booger. We’ve also noticed that she takes after Lauren in the CAUTION
department. Lauren is not a risk taker, whereas I would love to go skydiving
tomorrow! Caroline processes a room, reluctantly moves forward and often gives
newbies a “mean mug” and stiff-arm. Still, she has a tenderly beloved spirit
once trust is built. She loves to
cuddle, kiss and love on Hercules and Maggie, our 10 and 11-year-old
dachshunds. She loves to see her friends in the neighborhood and at playgroup.
She even says some of their names. It’s precious – beyond words – when she
notices another buddy on our walks down S. Pearl St. or treks to the park. Caroline enjoys stacking blocks, putting stickers on daddy,
dancing, destroying the living room like a Tasmanian Devil in 30 seconds flat;
she loves Elmo, Cookie Monster and always enjoys eating, eating, eating and
eating!
Dr. Lauren is doing well in her intern year at St. Josephs Hospital,
which is always the most difficult year of residency. She only gets 2 elective
months the first year (elective month, meaning, a “normal” job with 5 days and weekends off!) In fact, she’s
halfway finished with her 1st year. Woo Hoo! However, she is working
such long and tiresome hours that her main goal for ’14 is simply to survive
and enjoy time with her family when she is at home. We were able to take
Caroline to the Denver stock show on Monday. If you ever see Lauren out in public and
she exemplifies a Zombie, please, know her schedule is to literally “die for”…
. Lauren completed her last night shift rotation of the year (brutal), and
switched to a new month of daily ICU shifts today. This means that we get to
see her at nights for dinner (sometimes) before Caroline goes to bed, and she
gets 1 day off a week (or 4 days/month). Needless to say, we long for the day
when we will have a social life with friends again. All of this being said, we
knew this season was going to be difficult, and I’m really thankful that we
have 12 year of marriage under our belt as this is definitely a team effort!
I’m very proud of Lauren on many levels! She's an awesome doctor, excellent wife and a great mother!
I’m beginning a new season as well. As some of you know, my
days consist of changing diapers, laundry, a bit of cleaning (Cleaning is relative to me.
Just ask my wife or mother!), cooking and keeping Caroline on a good schedule. We try to
make it to 2 play groups/week, 2 library “book baby” groups/week and have our
weekly Taco Tuesday routine and now, Sexy Pizza – Hump Days (Yes, as awkward as
that sounds, we DO have a $1/slice place called “Sexy Pizza” in our ‘hood that
we frequent with another Stay-at-Home dad on Wednesdays/ Hump Days! 
A new hobby
I am really stoked about is learning how to home-brew. I bought my first brew
kit and aim to get my first batch of IPA started Wednesday night. I only wish I paid more attention in Mrs. Carrie's Chemistry class. In addition
to my full time, Stay-at-Home dad gig, I’ve enrolled at my alma matter, Denver
Seminary, for another degree program (6 year plan, at best! No rush...). I’m only taking 1 online class/ semester,
and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience last fall.
I’ve also finally committed to
a church for this season (New Denver Church, a smaller community that values
missional communities and shared leadership – See 3DM model!), which was a big
decision considering the fact that I’ve never gone “church shopping” and
haven’t chosen a church outside of pastoral work since college. I’ve become friends with
one of the pastors and have committed to a small group with him and a few other
guys; something I realized I needed. New Denver Church has, what I feel, one of the healthiest leadership structures
and philosophies of ministry I’ve seen within the local church. If you are interested, I'll tell you about it on the side. Amway, I received an email from my new friend in
December, saying that their part-time youth pastor left for a full time
ministry job, and they needed an interim they could trust for a season for this
small youth group (literally, 8 students max). After prayer, conversations with some trusted friends and nailing out some details, I’ve committed this season working only 5
hrs./ week as a consultant-mentor-pastoral-youth guy, so to speak. My ultimate
goal is to train up a young, Denver seminary student and hopefully give him the
reigns at some point this year. Please, if you pray for us, be in prayer for
this element of our journey and the families we will come to know as well. Also, I’ve been asked to speak again at a local
Christian high school next week (It’s always a good sign when someone invites
you back to speak! For those that know me and have heard my messages, what's your favorite message? They've already heard the Rabbi/ discipleship "Follow me" and the "Other Side" bit BTW. Email me.). In all honesty, there are times when I do miss local church ministry and teaching every now and
then, but I have really embraced this special season for a number of reasons. Some days I
get misty thinking about Caroline growing up and sending her off to school. She is my 'lil buddy, and I love her like crazy. I wouldn’t
trade this season for the world!
Lastly, my latest crowning achievement as a parent is that I
taught Caroline the beloved, “Hook “Em Horns!” Yup, she a smart one, indeed!
Peace
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