da da da da.... our new home!

Here is the new arrangement at our place!

One more thing...

I forgot to mention that Nathan and I rearranged our house yesterday. It looks great and as soon as I vacuum I will post before and after pictures. For those of you who have seen our place you will be very impressed. We don't have a ton of options.

Our trip home from Missouri

We had a great Christmas break and I'm for one was not ready to come back just yet. Here are some fun pictures taken in Chicago with Alex and in Whitefish, Mt.  

I will try to explain them in order...

Alex in the rainforest of Union Station

Me in a locker at Union Station, Nathan looks like he is going to shut me in.

Me and Alex in front of the Opera Building

and finally our car in Whitefish after being gone for a month.

the moment giver

I just watched Princess Dairies 2 with my niece Kiersten. Its a cute movie. My favorite part is when they are in a parade and the Princess gives orphans a moment. She lets them be in the parade with her as princesses.

So I decided thats is what I want to do with my life. I want to be a moment giver. Unfortunately this is not a real job. So I guess I will have to it at any moment I have. 

Adam's Birthday

Yesterday, January 8th, was my cousin Adam's birthday. Last year we spent the day at the Haven celebrating. The Haven is a great restuarant on the Nile river run by a German guy. It doesn't seem that long ago to me.
For 7 more days I will have memories of Adam from just a year ago. January 17th I won't have that anymore. I'll only have memories from the past years, which I don't remember a lot. Its come so fast and a lot has happened this year. I guess we'll just make good out of what we can.
My Uncle Terry is still in the hospital recovering from surgery. He had his prostate removed Monday. They thought he would make it home today but he has lost some blood and has to have a transfusion today. Hopefully tomorrow he will be back in his home.
Yesterday, I got a call from my brother, Alex. He broke his nose at play practice while catching another cast member. He got it set and says it looks pretty straight. What a day!
Nathan and I will be returning to Missoula next week after being gone for 4 weeks. We look forward to it but will miss the great times we had with our families.
Please keep my family in your prayers.

Make em' fly boys!

Nathan and I shot clay pigeons with Adam yesterday.  It was so much fun.  I got two and a nice bruise.  Nathan shot pretty much all of them.  Also I put in one of the clay things that I shot. I loved it and will take it up when I heal.

So I've been thinking...

Last night I tried to stay awake until Nathan fell asleep.  Which for me can be hard. Usually I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.  So last night I tried hard to keep my eyes open and concentrate on prayer while my sweet husband fell asleep.  I got a lot done this way, although I have to admit I was hoping he would sleep fast so I could start my slumber.  

I've had a main prayer lately for me to speak with a purpose.  Its not something I'm great at. But today I think God told me something that will help me.  I need to stop assuming.  I think everyone does this a lot.  We assume somebody says something or that they will act some way.  I'm not sure where this comes from, but I plan to only assume the best.  I assume that I will do good with this new life lesson.

I'll share some MO with you Aunt Kathy...

Christmas in MO part 2

Christmas in MO part 1

Merry Christmas!

Nathan and I have been talking about how it doesn't really seem like Christmas here. Not many people decorate up here. And no one really talks about Christmas time. Today in our high school bible class we were going to have the kids tell us the Christmas story. But that didn't help much either, it was interesting. But then it started to snow, a lot. Nathan asked me if the snow helped and I started to say yes, but actually the majority of my life has been without snow around Christmas time. Some people in our small group told us about a great house that goes all out. So we drove by and it was amazing. But I'm still not quite there yet. Nathan suggested that tomorrow at school I tell people Merry Christmas! So I'm practicing on you. Merry Christmas.

Our first Christmas tree

Nathan Surprised me Sunday night with our first Christmas tree. My new boots are way fun. Up close of Papa's Santa. Nathan decorates with candy canes yum!

I did it!

My niece Mo likes to say I did it! This is what I was thinking yesterday when I got a paper back in my technical writing class. Finally I received an A on a paper. My teacher in this class likes to tell the class that I am a great writer just not a technical writer. So finally I feel like I did one thing right in her class. Too bad its the end of the semester, but not to worry I have 2 more papers to turn in.

Our cute niece Mo and my new coat

Snow continued...Morgandy and ThanksmasChristmas

So we had a lot of fun in the snow: snow angels, mini-snowmen, snow balls, porch couches, snow bears, and hyper Lana.  Our niece Morgandy is super cute like whoa.  And we all got new Christmas stockings.  Much love, and here is to ThanksChristgivingmas.

Meatloaf and snow

Nathan cooked a great meatloaf and we had just enough for a meatloaf ball.
The leaves on our tree fell off and it was like day light in our bedroom at night with the street light shining through, so I bought new curtains.
Lana packed clothes eventually for Flordia!
Snowing at our place around 7 p.m.

It's dark outside

So it's 5:30 and its dark outside.
We don't have much going on here in Missoula but our families do so I'll share their stories with you...
My niece is ONE.
My sister is 30. It sounds older if you type it out, so I just put the number.
My new nephew is 9.
My mom-in-law had a birthday.
My new sister-in-law is turning 31 on the ninth along with my Uncle Jim Bob.
My brother just got a lead roll in West Side Story. He will be Riff. So anyone who is closer than we are should go see him!

Aunt Cool and Uncle Nate Dogg from afar

This Friday my first niece(only my first because she came before Nathan and I admitted we were in love) will be 1 years old. Morgandy Skye Moran is so stinkin' cute. Since we live in Montana, we can't go to her party. But we did send a toy that I hope to get for myself one day. It a barn with farm animals that have fun facts, tell colors, and a frog that plays 5 different banjo songs. It was so fun to play with and it took everything in me to 1. send it and 2. not open it up and play with it. I was just on Myra's blog and got to see some of the cutest pictures of Mo. Thanks for sharing Myra. I will share with you too... www.myramoran.blogspot.com
Enjoy!

We are not so much desperate as... we miss you.

So fall in Missoula is beautiful, and we are having a wonderful time in God's creation. Hope you all are well, and hope this inspires some.

Adam's comforting words

Lately I have been struggling with bad dreams of Adam. I close my eyes and replay the last night I was in Uganda. Its so hard because that is not how I want to remember him. I don't want to be scared of my cousin.
Last night I had a dream about him...kinda. For some reason both Nathan and my family were together at a sports store. It was kinda like a reception for us. I was with Nathan's mom and Morgandy. Morgandy was talking to Peggie, asking her if she could borrow some crayons. Ben came up with a Mvule tree. He sat it down and gave me a hug. Then he said that Kym and the boys were here with someone else. I went to find Kym and when I did I saw Adam. I kept my distance because I didn't know if he was real or if this was going to end up bad again. I hugged Kym and went over to Nathan. Then Uncle Terry came up and said,"can you see Adam?" I said yes but stayed next to Nathan, still unsure. Adam walked up to me and said,"Congratulations, I like him." Then he hugged me and said,"you don't have to be scared anymore." And then he left.
I feel like I can have some peace now. When I woke up from my dream I told Nathan that I had talked to Adam. This may be weird but I feel like it was real. I prayed for a peaceful rest for everyone last night. I hope this helps!

A fun chain

A few weeks ago Nathan decided to make a countdown chain for his sister and her son, who had a hard time adjusting to school too. So last week we decided to start on them since October was coming up. I started making one chain and had lots of fun doing it. I decided that is other sister, Leslie and her family needed one too. Just the thought of counting down the days until I didn't have to come to school made me so excited. So I had Nathan make me one too. Its hanging in our kitchen and I've gotten to take off 4 rings so far. Its so much fun. I think there should be a countdown chain for everything. By the way I'm doing much better with my attitude towards school. I won't tell you that I like it because I am way to stubborn to admit it, but its not as hard to go in the mornings like it use to be.

Our Log Bed

This is a picture of our log bed. Its really nice and big.

Missoula Reception

Last night we were totally blessed to have a reception here in Missoula. Lots of great people came to see pictures and the video of the wedding. We also got lots of gifts, gift cards and hugs. It was so fun to watch the wedding and see everything that the bride doesn't get to see. Next time I get to be the groom and Nathan gets to be the bride. He was so cute and looked very nervous. I am extremely annoying and talk the whole time.(sorry grando!)
We are so thankful for everybody here and all their help with the reception. I'm glad that we were able to share the best day of my life with everyone here. Thanks so much Missoula family.

PS still to come... pictures of our log bed.

Were half way there...

Today Nathan and I have been married for one month. Its been the best month of my life. When I woke up this morning I told Nathan how happy I was to be married to him for a whole month and he said, "yeah were half way there." I'm not sure what that means. Then he surprised me with a Snapple Peach tea and flowers he had stolen from someones yard. My husband is so romantic! I am the luckiest girl ever!

Glacier and wedding pictures...

This weekend Nathan and I have been married for a month! Its gone by so fast but been so much fun.
Saturday morning we got up around 8:30 and got ready to go to Glacier national park. We had to first stop by Wal-mart cause that is the only place around here that sells Peter Pan Peanut Butter. So we grab two jars(Nathan really likes this brand and goes through about 1 a week). Anyways we headed to Glacier which is about 2 hours from here. We got there and drove over going to the sun road and did a really cool hike. I was really hoping to see a bear but didn't. We did see lots of goats and a coyote. It was so great to spend the day with each other and be in God's beauty.
When we got back to our home at 1 in the morning, there was a surprise. Jess and Jen had arranged for our wedding present to be a log bed. And a kid from the youth group at our church, Scott who is only 16 built it! Its really nice and big. I'll try to get a picture up sometime.
Also, just to let you know, our photographer is sending us our pictures from the wedding. So we will be getting them this week some time. I'm still not sure when they will be on the website but I'll let you know!

Starting School

I started school yesterday. I'm not excited about it right now but working on getting there with help from my loving husband. Its not the work or the going to class that I have a problem with. There are so many times that I have had to take a brake that I'm just tired of it. I can't help but think that I should have been finished so long ago. But here I am still in school trying to make my way through with a good attitude.
Nathan has been amazing. Constantly encouraging me and giving me tough love, I know that I can do this with him. He loves school and thats a big help. Nathan has helped me realize that going to school is a blessing and like everything else in life I need to use this as an opprotunity to show others(or be shown) Christ.
I am constantly amazed by my husband everyday. It just keeps getting better. We had many people tell us the first year of marriage is hard. I'm sure, just like everyone's life, there will be hard times. But I think the hardest part so far is waking up in the middle of the night and trying to figure out if I'm dreaming or not. I am so thankful for Nathan Miller and can't wait to wake up again and realize that I'm not dreaming.

August 11, 2007

This is my first blog to you as Lana Miller! I just got married on August 11th. I love it. The last and first person I see everyday is my husband, Nathan.
Our wedding day was so fun. I got to spend the most part with my best friends and family. We had some great times and as always lots of laughs. I wasn't nervous the whole day, just excited to see Nathan. The girls looked great and my 24 year old flower girl made me laugh everytime I looked at her. I'll try to post pictures soon. The best part of the day was seeing the love of my life at the end of the aisle. I couldn't wait to talk to him. And we did talk through the whole ceremony!
The reception was so fun. Lots of guests dance and had a great time.
I have fallen more in love with Nathan that I ever thought possible. Everyday is so much fun and I can't wait to get to the next day.
I look forward to sharing our new life with you.
Thanks again to everyone who was a part of our special day!
Love
Lana Miller

Tagged by Myra...

First memory- Combing my papa's hair...he didn't have any but I loved to do it anyways. And this was not that early on but I couldn't think of anything.

First real kiss- Nathan Miller, no joke. Well there were others but they weren't real. Ok so the first kiss was a guy that I worked with at Dominoe's Pizza, I don't remember his name.

First love- Nathan Miller. I have never loved anyone else.

First Concert- Besides the ones at church, New Kids on the Block

First thing you think in the Morning- "I can't wait to see Nathan!" and "I'm getting married"

First pet- probably some kind of hamster that Myra and I let out and is somewhere in the basement at 9211 Apple Orchard Place.

First book you remember loving- Sand Cake its about a bear who goes to the beach and makes a cake out of sand and well, I'm not going to spoil it its at my mom's house if you want to read it.

First question you'll ask in heaven- Well I'd love to know when story time is cause I bet there are some great ones. But I want to ask God to tell me about the creating the animals, I think He was laughing a lot.

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation- I'm getting Married

First best friend- I think it was Kyle Rhodes, but I have a lot of best friends.

Last time you dressed up- for our church Christmas party last year I wore a designer gown from Good Will.

Last thing you ate- I just at some peach yogurt.

Last CD you bought- I bought a Celtic CD for my friend Jess Marie.

Last good book you read- River Teeth by David James Duncan. Adam introduced me to Duncan He's great.

Last time you told someone you loved them- Last night to Nathan when I was leaving our new apartment, Our New Home!

Last funny thing you did- I'm not really funny, but I would have to say cooked.

Last thing you watched on TV- the All Star game

I tag Mom, Jen and Kim Hensal. This will be fun cause two of you don't have a blog(get one)

Lovin' like Jesus

One of my favorite things that Nathan and I do is saying I love you.
We have this thing where we say we love each other in a way that Jesus loves us too.
For example, we may say I Matthew 5:16 love you. Look it up. Thats part of the fun to see the love that Jesus had in Nathan too. Its really been great for my spiritual life as well.
I am so excited to marry that kid. He has helped me grow so much. I look forward to sharing the rest of my life loving like Jesus did.