A Warm Welcome Home!

So we are home! We got back last night after hours and hours of driving. After ten days of sleeping in unfamiliar beds, we all deserved the comfort of our own beds. Although, we did not feel quite at home when we walked through the front door. The house was freezing!! As it turns out, we had run out of propane and could not get more until the next day, which meant no heat and no warm water. My Mom put the electric heater in my room and everyone piled in there with their winter pajamas and sleeping bags. We were having a sleepover party whether we wanted to or not.

Today, we are getting propane. We all can’t wait to be warm!!

-Tess

Hello From Texas!

Hey Everyone!

Okay, so Marie has already told you a little bit about our road trip to Texas but I thought I would tell you a little more! I absolutely love long drives. The chillness of putting the windows down, blasting some tunes, and breathing in the fresh air is quite exhilarating. Although whenever I start to enjoy the drive, I am interrupted by my little sister screaming as a result of boredom or my youngest brother saying something like, “If I don’t get to a bathroom RIGHT NOW, I am going to die”. Oh the joy of being in a big family!! Even though traveling with the whole family is hard, there’s always time for conversation and bonding.

So the wedding was amazing!! My aunt (the bride) looked like an angel. It was really nice to see all my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Michelle (my sister) and I got to have a sleepover with my cousins Ella, Veronica, and Miriam. It was super fun! We also went shopping with my cousins, Mary and Bernadette. We all bought a pair of shoes from Payless and then spent a while in Forever 21. That store is amazing!

With some tears, we are leaving Texas today. Me and my family just love being here. The weather and food is amazing! Texas has amazing BBQ. Yum!!

I hope you all are doing great! Many blessings to you all!

With much love,

Tess

Heading Home

We are still on our road trip but are heading home today. The wedding was beautiful, and I am so happy I got to be there for it. After I get home I will start packing up to live in Nashville for a couple months! Yaya!!! I am sooo excited.  I will be living with my sister Tina and soaking up everything having to do with music! Of course I will  be working on Miller Sisters Cafe while I’m there. My sisters and I are taking a trip to Denver and Kansas City to perform at Pure Fashion Shows. I can’t wait for that! I’ll write more later.

Marie

On the road with the Millers!

I am writing to you in the lobby of the Fairfield Inn in Nashville, Tennessee. We have spent the morning with our older sister Tina, and in the afternoon we did all the hotel stuff, like working out and swimming (our little brothers are really happy about that). Tonight we are going to to Mellow Mushroom, an amazing pizza place. Have you been to one?

Now, why are we chilling in Nashville? We are all on our way to Texas to a wedding! My Aunt Kathy is getting married, and we are all so excited! Today is our off day, before we are back on the road. Sadly this trip does not include ALL the Millers. My older brother and sister  Tina and Joey were not able to make it, and Michelle (14) and James (12) are in busy in school. Michelle and James are flying down and driving home with us. Yay!

Now as much as I love road trips, here are a few things we can’t live without while we drive.

1. Music! Ipods are needed!

2. Coffee. of course.

3. Coke Zero. mmm…

4. Movies! our big van is blessed to have a dvd player…kinda a must when everyone’s sick of driving.

Well, I’ll try to keep you updated on the road trip. I am excited to say my dad and I will be singing for the wedding!

Blessings,

Marie

Valentine blues

Lately I feel like I have been drowning in pink hearts, teddy bears, and chocolate. Every Valentine’s day, I tell my sisters that I am just not into the cheesy romance stuff. My opinion of valentine’s gift are superficial and without depth. But sometimes I fear that my negative attitude towards this holiday usually results from the fact that I never have a Valentine! Each year on Valentine‘s Day, my Dad gives my Mom flowers and lots of extra attention. Okay, so maybe I wouldn’t mind that. Okay, maybe I really want that. Most girls do! At this time in my life, I am still so young and have so much ahead of me. There’s totally time for my prince to come! And so you single gals, my advice would be to enjoy this Valentine’s Day and pray for your future husband. Pray that he is happy and finding comfort in the fact that you are out there and just waiting to be his. Happy Valentine’s Day!! -Tess

The Two Greatest Commandments

“The Gospel is not only news which concerns the relationship between God and man, but it also concerns the relationship between man among themselves.” John Paul II

JP2 gives us a beautiful mediation on the gospel passage, Matt 22: 36-39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself”

In JP2’s mediation he relates that the reality of this passage is to really live the gospel, the believer can not only change the way he treats God but also the way he treats every human being. To love someone as yourself according to JP2, “Is a love which must be realized in a mutual exchange which goes beyond every human measure”.

In my own life I realize my tendency to disconnect my relationship with God and my relationships with those around me. For example, one day I was asked to drive my little sister to her tutor’s house, and I begrudgingly did as I was told. After dropping her off, I stopped by the chapel and sat in silence with God. Meditating on my day I realized how selfish I had been about driving my sister. I was willing to try to love the Lord with my heart, but I didn’t even remember to love her as myself. That of course is only a minor example. I won’t mention the many other times I have an intentionally caused others worse embarrassment or discomfort.

John Paul’s words echo in my heart. “The gospel therefore does not a proclaim a reality which remains intimately locked up in the souls of the believers but is translated immediately into the radical transformation of their interpersonal relationships.”

A radical transformation means nothing less than loving one another as Christ loved us -“No greater love has a man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:15. We are called to lay down our lives everyday for the ones we love, not necessarily in a literal martyrdom but a quiet giving of self.

Living with both of God’s commandments in mind, is the only way to fully follow the message of the Gospel. This of course is easier said then done! But who said living the gospel would be easy?

-Marie

Megan Update