Little Mari

Many of you know that my brother and his wife Cindy adopted a little baby girl with numerous handicaps when she was months old.  She was born the day before their 5th child Eathyn, so Mariela & Eathyn have always been "the twins."  This was when they were about 2 years old.

This past March Brett & Cindy told us that little Mari was soon leaving us.  We knew she had been having lots of medical problems for a few months, but we also knew that her time on earth was not going to be long.  We were all sad, and waited for the call.  Brett absolutely loved Mari, he loves all his kids, but Mari was special to him.  She always smiled when he walked in the door.  You knew she was happy and good when she was smiling.  This was one last picture I have of Brett & Mari, the day before she passed.

Cindy's parents had already come in, and my sister Holly had already bought her ticket from Utah.  The funeral was going to be Saturday, and Holly was going to speak.  This was already planned before Mari had even left us, but her body was shutting down, and hospice had been brought in.  Just before she died, Cindy called Holly to tell her that it was time, and asked if she wanted to speak to her.  Cindy held the phone up to Mari's ear, and as soon as Holly began to sing a sweet song to her, her eyes lit up.  Holly always loved to hold Mari and would sing sweet songs/coos to her.  She was an angel that had been sent to our family.  

The call came to say she had passed.  Her family was around her as her sweet spirit left her earthly body and earth life.  She was sealed to her family in June 2010, so we all know we will be able to see her again...

running in the daisies!!

Is it winter or spring?

Only in the south and Texas can you ask
that question because...

Eleven days after Lindsey was baptized, and being spring-like weather, it snowed.  The winter had been a very mild one, so a lot of us were shocked when snow was predicted.  But sure enough, we woke up to snow.  Schools all over the area were cancelled except our district.  My kids stayed home.  Shawn was also home from work that day.  That was February 13th.

By February 17th, kids were outside like this:

And the birds were starting to come out and play, and be a bit crazy.  This one flew into our front door, and Jacob heard it.  He went outside to see what it was, 

and there the bird was on our porch.

The bird whisperer.

Lindsey's Baptism Day!

February 2, 2012  I don't know how I forgot to blog about this, but I did.  Her birthday was on a Thursday, and Shawn just so happened to be off that day.  I wrestled in my mind as when it would be the best time and if I needed to tell Shawn way in advance to ask for a Sunday off, but in the end I chose her birthday day.  My Mom came up for it.  Dad was just to busy with work.  Josh was home too.  We always take the baptized child out to eat afterwards of their choice.  Lindsey chose Chick-fil-A.  I tried to get her to go elsewhere, but she insisted.  Lauren took the other kids home, and the 3 of us plus Josh and my Mom all went out.  Afterwards we went home for cake and presents.

A great day to be 8!!

Together Forever!!

The big day arrived!! April 6, 2012 was the day 

Joshua & Amanda decided to be married!

It was a beautiful day at the Dallas Temple.  My sister, Heather, came to take the pictures for me.
Everyone was so excited for them.  The ceremony in the Temple was very nice.  Those that went on our side of the family was, of course Shawn & me, his parents, my parents, my brothers Brett, Chad & Scott, Chad's wife Kimber, Scott's wife Val, and then friends from church and Josh's first missionary companion who lives in Lufkin, Texas and another missionary friend who lives in Dallas.

Just married!!!

Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Miller

Walking to the front of the Temple.

So happy!!

Oh ya!!

Give me a kiss!!

My family & my parents

and with Shawn's parents.

Our whole side of the family that came to the Temple to see this happy occasion!
11 cousins were there, my sister Heather, and Shawn's sister, Shelly.
Notice Joey's hand!  So cute!

Shawn & me with the cute newlyweds!

Our 8 children now. :)

Couldn't resist making this picture bigger!

Lindsey giving the "thumbs up" to Amanda!

The original 7

The boys

With the girls

OMGosh!!

In front of the Temple.

Wedded bliss...

What a cutie!!  Couldn't help but play in the water.

More pictures will be coming as I get them edited from Facebook and on to here.
The happy couple now reside in Monroe, La.

Look what was in the local paper!!

Buckelew – Miller engagement

Published: Monday, March 5, 2012 5:52 PM CST

Shawn and Heidi Miller, of Ashdown, are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Joshua Alan Miller, to Miss Amanda Brooke Buckelew, daughter of Randy and Bonnie Buckelew of Winnfield, La. Josh is a 2008 graduate of Ashdown High School. He served a 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pocatello, Idaho area, 2009-2011. He worked at Wadley Regional Medical Center before and after his mission. He now works for Aaron's in Monroe, La. Amanda is a 2009 graduate of Winnfield Senior High School. She is currently attending University of Louisiana at Monroe, majoring in speech language pathology, where she will graduate in 2013. The wedding will take place April 6, 2012 at the Dallas LDS Temple in Dallas, Texas. An open house for the couple will be April 26th, 6:30pm, at the Texarkana LDS Church building on Moores Lane. All friends are invited to attend.

Happy 5th Birthday!!

The day after Christmas we decided to make a quick 3 day trip to College Station to visit Laura & Dwain, since Shawn hadn't seen them forever, and then 2 days to Killeen. We had a good visit with L&D, and on Tuesday (27th) we headed up over to Killeen. It also was Joey's birthday.
He was so excited for turning 5!

I was suppose to make a cake after we got to my parents, but I was way to tired. So Mom and I were going to go to the mall to get a cookie cake for him. We went to Walmart first, and they had all those Christmas iced cookies on sale, so Mom bought a lot...

and we came home and stuck 5 candles on one of them...

and sang Happy Birthday to him. He was happy because 1) we were at Mimi & Grampa's house, and 2) his bestest cousin Jared (only 6 weeks younger) was there, and he got to go spend the night at his house.

This picture was suppose to be first. For dinner we ate at Chick-fil-A... his favorite place to eat in the whole wide world! Even better than McDonald's!!

But this cute little boy has not forgotten that I told him I would make him a Cars cake (I have the pan), so I guess I better get myself siked to do that soon!!
Happy Birthday Joey!! We love you!!

Nativity

On December 22nd, our family did the Nativity again at the church. And I had these pictures in order, but they didn't come out in the order I wanted. We did this last year too, and Krissy made front page of the newspaper on Christmas Day. It was pretty cool.
Kayley, Lauren & Jacob as the wisemen.

Amanda just so happened to be visiting Josh and us for a week (left the next day), so she was able to be in it too. Here they are as Mary & Joseph.

The wisemen again.

Krissy, Lindsey, cousin Maddie & Joey as the cute shepherds.

And Mary & Joseph again.

Shawn had to work this year on our scheduled night, so I opted not to be in it. I took the pictures with my BlackBerry, thus not the great so looking pictures. And this was it for Christmas pictures. I wasn't good with the camera this year, but we had a great day.

Parade & YW in Excellence

The parade in Ashdown, that I had mentioned in a post or 2 below that Lauren was in, was rescheduled for the Tuesday night instead of that 1st Monday. It poured rain on Monday. Joey was also in the parade with his pre-school. Their float got best over-all, as always. :)

It was cold that night. Joey had on his PJ's, clothes, coat, hat, gloves, and 2 blankets wrapped around him.

Young Women in Excellence was the Wednesday night after the parade. This is Kayley's cute table with her cute self...

And this is Lauren's cute area...

And I don't know why this was the last picture. It was suppose to be the 3rd one. This was Joey's whole float. He is the very last under "Express." Kids were also on the other side.