Big News

Well, I know I need to start this off by saying that our BIG NEWS is not that we are expecting another sweet Mills baby. I am not pregnant. However, we are moving... and we are moving out of the great state of Texas.

I am thankful that the Lord has prepared my heart for so long for this upcoming adventure. Over a year and a half ago I remember feeling like He was putting change on my heart. We prayed a lot and waited really. Then last summer Jason really felt a desire for change too. He put out some resumes around DFW and also had his dad put some out too. Jase ended up interviewing for a company up in Arkansas several times last summer and then nothing came of it. Again, we waited and prayed, and started Gracious Legacy.

Randomly, the middle of August, we went to pick up our girls from Jason's parents in Rogers, AR. They normally spend a few days each summer by themselves up there. Well, we hadn't been there too long before a neighbor called over saying he saw our car and was wondering if Jase still might be interested in interviewing up in that area. His company was hiring and he already had called the gal doing the interviewing who agreed to meet and interview with Jason on that Saturday. We had to run out to get pants and shoes since Jason had only brought shorts and flip flops. The interview went well and over the next week and a half he had 2 phone interviews. The following week he was asked to come up and give a presentation. And three weeks ago today he was given a verbal offer.

We again, prayed. This is huuuuge for us. We have lived in Dallas for almost 11 years. When we moved here we hadn't been married quite a year, had no children, and moved from one apartment to another apartment. This is where our family has grown tremendously...in numbers of course, but also emotionally and spiritually. People here are like family to us. Still, we clearly hear God calling us to make this move. We are so excited. It's beautiful in Arkansas....heck, they actually have seasons there, but the good news is it's not drastic changes weather-wise. This warm weather girl couldn't handle being in snow for weeks and months on end. Plus, we will live by Jason's parents. It will be a blessing to be near the beloved Mimi and Papa D.

On the other end, we are so sad to leave the people here we love deeply. I have used quite a few tissues and even told people at church they might not see me wear mascara again until we move. I am so thankful to have God's direction in this and feel His presence. Otherwise, the emotions would probably be too much for me.

I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family. I have said many times over the past week that I have no idea any of the details other than that we are moving. I don't know where we will go to church, where we will end up living, what hopefully, part-time ministry position I might have, the schools the girls will go to, etc. Normally, this is a very uncomfortable position for me. But since I feel like we are in the center of God's will I'm okay to be on this ride where I don't have any idea what is ahead.

Please pray for everything that a move entails. An easy transition for our girls with sweet friendships to come quickly. That our home would sell quickly and for a great price. That we would end well here and love well until we leave. That we would be completely sensitive to the Spirit's leading on where to live, where the girls go to school, where I might work, etc. I love in Scripture where Christ is called the Author and Perfector of our faith. I am looking forward to seeing where this amazing Author has written for our lives to be. We appreciate your prayers.

And for the record, we will never be Arkansans...simply Texans living in Arkansas!

2 years ago today...

This time two years ago my baby girl was fresh out of open heart surgery. She had tubes coming out of her body in many different places. I was in the ER after fainting from seeing her in such a state. Yet, we were so grateful for God's graciousness of the outcome. Her heart was fixed and she was alive and on her way to great health.
I will never forget that time in our life. As I was praying over Reese before going to bed last night my mind flashed back to the night before her surgery when I was doing the same thing, praying. However, I was pleading the Lord for her life. As a mom, I have never been more scared. As a child of God, I had never felt God's peace so fully. It truly felt like I was being carried.

And so two years later, when we go back to this amazing hospital that holds a special place in our hearts, we also take Gracious Legacy bags, for families going through the exact same thing that we went through. We pray that it is a piece of Christ's love, graciousness, and peace to the families.

We won't ever forget the Lord's graciousness, and we want to leave it as part of our own legacy.

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

Jesus, I will never forget the way your hand felt that day. Praise be to You alone!

The Last Hoorah of Summer

The weekend before school started we headed to Tulsa. Jason and his dad play in a golf tournament every year raising money for cystic fibrosis, and a little boy in Arkansas, who has it. This year it fell on my birthday weekend. We decided to surprise the girls and take a little out of the way route on the way up there. The surprise stop: Norman, Oklahoma. Here we are about 30 minutes outside of city limits and Ashlyn is reading out loud their surprise. Wanna see how excited they were?
Wanna know why? Because we were going to have lunch with our favorite babysitter on the planet, Lauren. Lauren has watched the girls for the last two summers and they are absolutely in looove with her. Me too! She loves Jesus and my girls so well!

Lauren is an RA at OU and so the girls were uber excited (that means beyond excited for all you grammatically correct people out there) to go see her room!

Just making themselves at home on her bed.

Then we went onto Tulsa to stay at a hotel and see Mimi and Papa D.

That night I was treated to a fancy birthday dinner. Here I am with the love of my life. Not too shabby, is he?

Me and sweet Reesie:

Me and precious Ashlyn Jean (both a little blurry):

Me and giggle-box Laney Hope:

Reese loved the obnoxious birthday hat that Mimi gave me. When you press the purple candle it sings happy birthday to you with a voice that sounds like Alvin from the Chipmunks. She wore and pressed that candle over and over and over again throughout the weekend. I can't wait to pull it out for her birthday.

The Mills clan.

Summer 2010 was a good one!

...And now Reesie's Turn

Oh. My. Goodness! Can I just tell you how much this little girl melts my heart? And isn't she one of the cutest things you've ever seen in your whole life? This week it was cutie-patootie #3's turn to start back to school.
Seriously, all could be wrong in the world, and this grin would help right things again!

Reese got the amazing Miss Leslie. I am telling you....she's phenomenal. Laney had her a few yers ago and she is one of the most fun, creative, loving teachers I have ever met. Truly gifted by God....I am so excited Reese gets to share some time with her.

My sweet girl and I before I head off to church. We're praying sweet blessings for this school year for all 3 of the girls. And can I just tell you while you're still reading...I am so thankful that my God is present with my daughters even when I can't be. It brings comfort to my soul.

First Day of School

All of the excitement for school actually began the Wednesday before school started. At 5pm all the class rosters were posted. Here is Laney-bear looking for her name.It really has been so fun seeing Laney's excitement for school. We've spent many hours eating lunches with Ashlyn, being a part of class parties, cheering everyone on at Field Day. And now, for my precious middle child...it is her turn!
Ashlyn and her best friend, Avery, were pleasantly surprised to be in the same class. They were in different classes last year, so it's a fun treat to be back together again!

The whole gang (minus baby Phillips in utero). Arranged marriages look better and better as the years go on. The parents are trying early to get Brady and Reese together...so far it's working! They are so cute together.

The following day we had Meet the Teacher night. Here is Laney in her desk. She has a teacher new to the school, Ms. Brown. We already like her!

And my 3rd grader (WHAT?) sitting in her desk in Mrs. Eicke's classroom.

Finally, the big day arrived. Here is cutie-patootie #1 all ready for her first day of kindergarten (sigh).

And cutie-patootie #2 on the first day of 3rd grade (sigh and another WHAT? 3rd grade?!)

Cutie-pattotie #3 couldn't miss out on the photo op, so here are all 3 precious girls on the First Day of School in 2010!

Laney was a shy giddy about the whole thing so it was a ton of fun to be a part of. I didn't get teary at all...

until Reese and I walked out of the school, just the 2 of us. Then the lump formed in my throat and the tears pooled in the bottom of my eyes. Sometimes, I wish time would slow down a little. Please, Lord Jesus, may I cherish these moments and keep them close in my heart!

We celebrated at the end of the day with a little frozen yogurt action. It's going to be a good year!

A Gampa and His Girls...

The week leading up to Ashlyn's birthday, my dad came into town. Gampa and his girls packed in about as much as you can in one week's time. They swam, they ate, they saw horses, they shopped, they read books, they made their traditional trek to IHOP for breakfast. I'm just not sure if they love him quite enough...what do you think ?

She's 8!!!

In so many ways it seems like yesterday I was hugging my mom at 6 in the morning ready to go deliver this precious gift of a daughter. I had no idea that early hour how much my heart could love someone. And now, the girl, my big girl, is 8 years old.

We started off the day with Ashlyn opening up some presents from her MiMi and Papa D and great-grandparents. A cute dress that will be perfect for school. Seriously, how beautiful and grown-up is this girl?
Gampa was in town for the whole week and they had planned early on for a Gampa/granddaughter date full of breakfast at IHOP and shopping! Here is the handsome couple before heading out! I warned him that our sweet girl definitely has her Nana and Mimi in her when it comes to shopping...she likes every minute of it.

FIVE hours later (!!!) they arrived home and we got ready for her party which this year she chose to be a bowling party.

You know those little crane machines that supposedly people win stuffed animals from, but you never see anyone actually win? She won! And not just once, Ashlyn won two different stuffed animals, completely on her own, from 2 different machines. It was a fun treat for the birthday girl.

Here is the birthday party gang.

My precious Ashlyn Jean, You are not just the daughter of our flesh, but the daughter of our hearts. We simply could not have asked for a greater gift from the Lord than you (and your sisters too). I'm so thankful for your selfless heart, for the kindness with which you treat people, for your sensitivity to the Lord and the things that make His heart joyful and also His heart sad. You are a blessing in every sense of the word. We love you, sweet girl!