Kayla's 19th Birthday

Such a special day for this girl, as she was surrounded by so many friends and family that love her  She was especially grateful for the beautiful sunset on her special day!

She spent the morning attending another church service to hear one of her friends speak in Sacrament Meeting.  She then spoke in her home ward Sacrament Meeting followed by a normal Sunday afternoon at the Miller household.  Once Dad joined us, she opened a few presents and we all enjoyed cake and ice cream together.  Happy 19th Birthday Kayla!!!!

                                                   We LOVE you!!!

Kayla's Sacrament Talk

Kayla's Sacrament Talk

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19RZoq-RmOEVqTLB04bD-hxX1lyhKI8rtkIU9vH9HgwE/edit?ts=5bf8cbe1

Click on the above link to read her talk.

I love that we can read and reread this talk while she is gone. She had lots of friends and family come to support her and hear her speak. It is a Birthday she will never forget!

Grandpa & Grandma Webber

We were not quick enough to get a picture with Papa & Grandma Miller

Cousins Katie & Logan

Cousins Jacob & Rachel

Running with Izzy

Izzy is Aubrey & Elan's Australian shepherd/Lab mix.  She is full of enjoy and LOVES to run.  Kay was headed out for a run this morning, so she decided to take Izzy.

She got quite the Workout!

Jett the CEO

Meet Jett - the quasi CEO of Sunny Decals

He likes to run the show from the big comfy couch

while we all work.  It's quite the life!

K & kids

Kay has found time during this mission prep to spend time with kids she knows (especially the Jones kids and Presly) and well as kids she does not know through non-profit groups and organizations.  She loves kids, and loves to play and help them .  One day this week she had Grayson over for lunch, backyard fun, and playdough

 Another day she went over to play and hold Ezra.  I think her sisters who were at school were very envious!

These kiddos are going to grow a lot while she is gone, she just hopes they remember her when she gets back.

And Presly Jane, she will miss her.

They have become great little friends since Kayla's been home.

Homecoming LB & Ben-jamin

Benjamin & Lindsay have been friends since 1st grade - and he claims he had a crush on her from the first time they met.  Their friendship has continued through the years with lots of dates, group activities, study sessions and endless hours of 'hanging out'  He is a good friend and we always enjoy having him around.  It was fun to see the 2 of them go to a dance together their senior year of high school.

Thumbs up on a fun night with Benjamin!

Dick & Judy

Tonight we had such a pleasant surprise.  We returned from taking pictures of Lindsay's homecoming group at Benjamin's house and soon the doorbell rang.  We were expecting anyone, and to our surprise it was Dick & Judy, my great aunt and uncle from Ogden.  They had misread the invitation for Kayla speaking in church and small gathering the night before, and had driven down a week early.  I knew right away this was a tender mercy as we were able to sit together, just the 5 of us and visit together.  

These two special people have been so good to our family, as we have lived in Utah over the years without much extended family.  They are always generous with their time and we enjoy keeping up on their ever growing posterity of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  I was so glad we were home and that were able to see Kayla again before she goes.  We appreciate all of the wonderful people that have supported our family throughout the years.

Homecoming Game Halftime

Minerette's performed at Halftime.  You'll want to enlarge the video - Emily starts in the middle back, but they change formations a lot so she's hard to follow.  Shortest one - often near the 47 yard line.  They are all meant to look alike and dance in-sync, so enjoy the dance

Shortest Minerette (Emily) Leads Out

Fam Fan Club

Great job tonight Em!  So fun to see you perform!

Aging Jordan

We have had Jordan for over 15 years, and he was already a full grown cat by the time he arrived in our doorstep on Christmas Eve and joined our family.  He is starting to slow down and seemed to be running into things as of late.  

When we took him into the Vet today, our thoughts were confirmed - Jordan is now 100% blind.  The vet sees no signs of diabetes or any type of infection or illness, it just seems that in the past 2 weeks his vision has deteriorated and is now gone. 

With the remainder of his health still in tact, we were advised to just love him and keep him comfortable the remainder of his life.  There were lots of tears shed, but also a renewed commitment by all of us to spent more time with him and make sure he feels love. ❤

Service is a Way of Life - HUMANitarian Girl

Serving others is a way of life for Kayla.  It is completely natural and she is always seeking out opportunities to serve and connect with others.  Since her early teen year, she has always talked about being a HUMANitarian worker.  She was able to find lots of opportunities while in college through the Y Serve program, like watching special needs children on Friday nights to allow their care takers a small break very week, community gardening, putting together hygiene kits, sewing little dolls for hospitals to use with children before surgeries, etc.    Since returning home to prepare for her mission, she has found all sorts of new ways to serve people in the communities around us.  

One important lesson she has taught me about service is not taking pictures, so there will be very few of those.  She likes to record her experiences in her journal to remember the people she has met and feelings she's had, but does not take pictures unless she is asked. 

This photo was taken by a dear friend of mine who invited Kay to help her teach English classes to refugees at the Humanitarian Center.  She said Kay was a natural and I believe it.  One of the main reasons she chose to be a Public Health major at BYU is because she strongly believes in teaching and educating those she serves.  Not to simply give them a fish that will last one meal, but to teach them HOW to fish, so that they can provide fish for themselves and others their whole lives.  

Today she made arrangements to serve lunch to the homeless at the Catholic Community Center and I joined her.  We washed dishes, scrubbed pots and pans, prepped the dinner food, served the lunch food that had been prepared earlier in the day, bused and cleaned tables, shared smiles and positive words. 

This summer she has also volunteered watching refugee children while their mothers take English classes, volunteered at the soup kitchen downtown, taken on 2 shifts a week serving as an Ordinance Worker in the Jordan River Temple, and will soon leave for a Public Health internship in Rwanda.

For as long as I can remember, Kayla has wanted to be a HUMANitarian workerKayla was born with a giving heart and I know she will always seek out ways to help and teach others throughout her life.  

Powder Puff CHAMPS - Lindz

I can't believe Lindsay is a SENIOR playing in her last Powder Puff game!

She was quite the star in both games tonight - offense and defense. 

Her speed, competitiveness, and lacrosse cleats allowed her to play an integral part in her team winning the coveted Powder Puff Championship this year.

Lindsay making yet another 1st DOWN!

Lindz with Benjamin - her date for the Homecoming dance this weekend

Her young women leaders and friends that came to support her

Her biggest Fans!

                                       Congrats Lindz & 'Seniors Grey' on a great win tonight!

Dinner with Isa

Tonight we were treated to another authentic Philippino dinner, this time at the home of Trenton & Rily Stewart with Isa.  Rily met Isa when she was serving as a missionary in the Philippines and was able to teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and be a part of her conversion.  Isa recently moved to Salt Lake City from Cebu with her husband and these two women were so kind to make us a dinner and tell us all about Cebu.  I enjoyed hearing them talk to one another in Cebuano.  It's hard to imagine that within a few short months, Kayla will also be able to speak that language and communicate with those she meets on the islands.  We have been so blessed by the kindness and generosity of others in helping prepare Kayla and our family for her upcoming service. 

Family Pics 2018

We've been looking forward to doing Family Pictures out at the Salt Flats for a few years now.  One year it was too flooded, another year it was just too late in the season to get out there before sunset.  Finally, this year we got it all coordinated and it was the craziest WINDY day ever!  There was a uwildfire burning just across from where we were so it was totally smoking and just crazy.  We would sometimes have to huddle together and turn a certain direction so the sand would pelt us from the back versus the front.  It was an adventure and we got all sorts of funny pictures - Kayla's hair blowing to form a mustache over Aubreys lips. It was hair, hair, everywhere.