Pics from our trip!

Hey everybody! We are back in Virginia! It feels great to be home. Although we will totally miss hanging out with our uncles, aunts, and cousins in Denver. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

This is me and my two cousins, Ella and Samuel.

 

Here’s some of the prom dresses that were modeled at the Pure Fashion Show in Denver.

Here’s Carol Lynn on the runway before the Pure Fashion Show in Kansas City.

This is Marie and Carol Lynn tuning before the show.

These are the four supermodels of the Pure Fashion Show in Kansas. Aren’t they gorgeous?

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

Memories of Catholic Underground

So….Last weekend I drove up to Connecticut with Clare (my dear friend and harpist) to play at a Catholic Underground in Connecticut. Catholic Underground (www.catholicunderground.net) is this amazing event that was started by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (www.franciscanfriars.com) The event includes a holy hour (beautiful hour to worship), fellowship with other committed Christians, and entertainment of some sort. Catholic Undergrounds are popping up all over the country, including L.A and NYC (where it was started).

The Connecticut Catholic Underground was awesome! Everyone was so friendly and open to Clare and me. My set ended with “Here I am to Worship”, and the whole room sang. So powerful!!

On the way home Clare and I stopped in NYC to busk (the art of performing on street corners). We played for about an hour at Columbia Circle and were able to soak in all the wonders of New York City. This was actually my second visit to NYC in a week. I went up earlier with my Dad for a Dietrich Von Hildebrand Legacy Project event. Von Hildebrand was a heroic Catholic philosopher (stood up to the Nazis) whose fans include Pope Benedict. The Legacy Project promotes Von Hildebrand’s writings.

NYC was fun, but Catholic Underground was amazing! I am talking to fellow blogger and Catholic Underground LA organizer Rebecca Christian about performing there! btw, youve got to check out Rebecca’s blog, it’s without doubt one of the best out there http://modestia.stblogs.com.

Yours,

Marie

The Hippies search for meaning

What is a Hippie? Isn’t it just a person from the late ’60s, wearing jeans and a tie-died t-shirt, who likes listening to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan? I always thought I was sort of a Hippie myself because I love folk music, nature, and organic food.  But after I did a little research, I found out that Hippies stood for quite a bit more. There’s much that we can learn from this group of societal dropouts; where they went right and where they went wrong. Here’s a little background on Hippies:

In the world of consumerism and racial intolerance of the 1950’s, Americans were busy purchasing televisions and second cars while racial segregation dominated our culture to the point that most African Americans and other people of color were shut out from living the American Dream. The demand for material goods and an increasing need for comfort manifested itself in suburban households loaded with “modern” conveniences. This rise in consumerism sparked a cultural revolution by young people who rebelled against their parents seemingly materialistic world view. These reactionaries labeled themselves Hippies – young people that dropped out of established society and rebelled against racial intolerance, materialism, and war.

Hippie philosophy emphasized freedom,love, and peace. The musicians of the day sang out their ideas.

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”- Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was among the many musical artists of his time that epitomized the Hippie lifestyle, performing at folk festivals like Woodstock and The Monterey Pop Festival. Although Hippies rightly revolted against the evils of the time in search of something more, they turned to sex, alcohol, and drugs as a way to be counter culture. This drug-induced lifestyle resulted in many deaths including Jimi Hendrix’s. He died at age 27 after a long night of partying.

Hippies struggled to find meaning in their lifestyle. Drugs were used as a way of enlightenment, recreation, and transcendence from the boredom of  everyday life. Hippies believed that sexual desires were natural and should not be suppressed, so, “make love, not war” was the motto. Some Hippies embraced Eastern philosophy but tended to ignore the personal morality codes of these religions.

This was a generation that nearly found the “pearl of great price” (Matt 13:45,46) but missed it because they were biased against Christianity (their parents’ religion). Mom and Dad were church-going Christians, so they needed to be something else.

Like many who have over emphasized the social aspects of the gospel, Hippies easily recognized that Jesus was against materialism, war, and racial intolerance

Anti materialism:
“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;” – Mark 10:21

Anti war:
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matt 5:44

Against racial intolerance:
“Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” – John 4:9-10.

They had a much more difficult time understanding that He (and not their hedonistic lifestyle) was the source of REAL love, peace, and freedom and in their confusion they chose sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll instead of the real deal.

I believe that Jesus gives all us free spirits an opportunity to live a life of love and peace! So wear blue jeans, live simply, cherish nature, hate violence, oppression and bigotry, but first and foremost, experience true love and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Marie

Tom Vander Woude – Heroic father in life and death

Here’s a reprint of a story from the Washington Post about Tom Vander Woude, the Grandfather of my friend Mary Kate Vander Woude and a well known and respected father figure in our community. Today I attended his funeral. What a blessing to be in the packed church with approximately 80 priests and a bishop to celebrate the life of this truly remarkable man. Mr. Vander Woude (as I knew him) was sort of a strong and quiet St. Joseph figure that exemplified manliness. Today as his son, Father Tom Vander Woude, preached the homily and others talked about Mr. Vander Woude at the end of mass, I learned some new things about him. It seems that he was a man of many talents. EVERYONE knew that he was a great Dad to Josie, his 20 year old son with Down Syndrome. (Because of Megan, I feel a special connection to other families with a Down’s child.)

I’ll let the following article tell the rest of the story.

-Marie

Father Who Died Saving Son Known For Sacrifice

by Jonathan Mummolo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 10, 2008; Page A01

If you ever ran into Nokesville dad Thomas S. Vander Woude, chances are you would also see his son Joseph. Whether Vander Woude was volunteering at church, coaching basketball or working on his farm, Joseph was often right there with him, pitching in with a smile, friends and neighbors said yesterday.
When Joseph, 20, who has Down syndrome, fell into a septic tank Monday in his back yard, Vander Woude jumped in after him. He saved him. And he died where he spent so much time living: at his son’s side.
“That’s how he lived,” Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law and neighbor, Maryan Vander Woude, said yesterday. “He lived sacrificing his life, everything, for his family.”

Vander Woude, 66, had gone to Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville on Monday, just as he did every day, and then worked in the yard with Joseph, the youngest of his seven sons, affectionately known as Josie. Joseph apparently fell through a piece of metal that covered a 2-by-2-foot opening in the septic tank, according to Prince William County police and family members. Vander Woude rushed to the tank; a workman at the house saw what was happening and told Vander Woude’s wife, Mary Ellen, police said. They called 911 about 12 p.m. and tried to help the father and son in the meantime. At some point, Vander Woude jumped in the tank, submerging himself in sewage so he could push his son up from below and keep his head above the muck, while Joseph’s mom and the workman pulled from above. When rescue workers arrived, they pulled the two out, police said. Vander Woude, who had been in the tank for 15 to 20 minutes, was unconscious. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Joseph remains in Prince William Hospital with double pneumonia, and doctors are monitoring him for infection, said Erin Vander Woude, Thomas Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law. Joseph is in critical condition and on a ventilator, she said. “He doesn’t know that his dad died,” she said.

For those who knew him, Vander Woude’s sacrifice was in keeping with a lifetime of giving.

“He’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back,” said neighbor Lee DeBrish. “And if he didn’t have one, he’d buy one for you.”

Vander Woude was a pilot in Vietnam, a daughter-in-law said. After the war, he worked as a commercial airline pilot and in the early 1980s moved his family to Prince William from Georgia. In the years to come, he would wear many hats: farmer, athletic director, volunteer coach, parishioner, handy neighbor, grandfather of 24, husband for 43 years.

He divided his Nokesville farm into multiple plots, offering land to all his sons so they could stay close to home if they wanted, the daughter-in-law said. His eldest, Tom, became a priest. Five others — Steve, Dan, Bob, Chris and Pat — all married. And there was Joseph, who loved helping with all the odd jobs that filled the retired days of his father. “He was retired,” DeBrish said, “but that was a misnomer, because he was always out crankin’ with the backhoe or the tractor.”

All of Vander Woude’s sons except Joseph attended Seton School in Manassas, where Vander Woude volunteered as coach of the boys’ soccer and basketball teams for about 10 years, said the school’s director, Anne Carroll. “He never took a cent for it,” she said. Carroll said that Vander Woude was a successful coach, winning multiple championships, but that his greatest strength was his ability to guide kids through challenges off the field. “He was a mentor,” she said. “He wanted them to be good young men, not just good players.”

Vander Woude also served as athletic director at Christendom College in Front Royal for about five years, the school’s president, Timothy T. O’Donnell, said.

But loved ones said his favorite job was the one he did last: being a good dad. “They always considered Joseph a wonderful blessing to the family,” said Francis Peffley, pastor at Holy Trinity, where Vander Woude served as a sacristan and also trained altar servers. “His whole life was spent serving people and sacrificing himself. . . . He gave the ultimate sacrifice. . . . Giving his life to save his son.”

Barbara

“Friendship is unnecessary. Like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value. Rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.”
- C. S. Lewis

Almost exactly one year ago today, I entered Christendom College as a freshman. Christendom is a small liberal arts college (about 400 students) located about fifteen minutes from my house.

I must admit that orientation weekend was pretty much a bummer. I was nervous all weekend but sensed that I wasn’t the only one feeling uncomfortable. The social gatherings felt particularly awkward and forced. There was a barn dance one night, and I wore one of my artsy graphic Ts and my neon-green, hoop earrings. It was a pretty funky outfit, maybe a little too funky for first impressions. Anyway, this was the night that I met Barbara. She was a freshmen at Christendom too.

When we met she gave me a big smile and came across as very sweet with her soft Georgia accent, but I was too distracted to enjoy our short conversation. A few weeks went by and I didn’t talk to Barbara again until one day at lunch when a bunch of girls were discussing their favorite colors. I’m really into favorite colors and am convinced that a favorite color reveals something about a person. When I heard Barbara say that her favorite was green, I knew that we were going to be really good friends because, well… green is the best color.

We ended up playing on the powder puff football team together and for a change the freshman/junior girls beat the sophomore/senior girls. Barbara is very athletic and we played lots of soccer and ultimate frisbee during the semester. Sometimes we just hung out in her dorm room, enjoying a cup of tea and some good conversation. These conversations allowed me to see her great love for Christ and her love for others.

I often forget to think and act like I am destined for eternal life. Why is it so hard to remember to do things with that end in mind? Barbara seems to have no problem with this. Whether she is playing sports, going to mass, or working on a paper, her love for Jesus is obvious. This is what amazes me most about her. Jesus really is the center of her life.

Another great thing about Barbara is her appreciation for the simple gifts in life. A beautiful day, a good book, or a cup of tea, are all treasures to her.

Our friendship grew over the course of the year and I will always remember my experience at Christendom as one of the best in my life. Nevertheless, by the middle of the spring semester both of us had concluded that God was calling us to do different things and that neither of us was coming back to school in the fall. She went home to Georgia and I went back to music. We keep in touch, but it’s not the same as hanging out together. The good news is that Barbara is coming to Virginia for a visit soon and I am so looking forward to seeing her. I really miss that girl!!

Marie

A Tale of Two Minstrels

After a particularly non-traveling summer, I was longing for an adventure. I wanted to go somewhere that I had never been before, and I wanted to get in the car and feel that good “open road” feeling. Luckily, my good friend Clare shares my longing for exploration, so Clare and I began plans for a trip to Canada. Both being musicians and not flowing with extra cash, we decided to bring our instruments along and try our luck with busking, which wikipedia defines as – the practice of performing in public places for tips and gratuities. I brought my guitar and Clare brought her harp. Now, most people might not find the harp the most fitting of instrument to haul around major cities, but we were certain this would work to our advantage. The plans began to form for each stop, which included New York City, Boston, Burlington, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Our first stop was New York City. Clare and I were both nervous when we arrived in Central Park, but I took out my guitar case, and we began to play. Small crowds of curious listeners formed, and in a hour we had enough money for a tank of gas!

Not all of our stops went as smoothly as New York, but every stop was an adventure nonetheless.

Our stay in Burlington, Vermont was particularly interesting, mostly because we had never planned to visit this particular city. The drive to Burlington was beautiful, nothing but rich tall trees and a wide blue sky. We arrived at around five o’clock, walked down to the pier, and soaked in the view of the water. Sail boats and lighthouses enriched the picturesque scene. Clare and I walked around and found a street full of small shops, cafes, and restaurants. We browsed around a used book store. We then found a store that sold funky kitchen stuff, where I got my mom some big flowered salad spoons and my sister Carol Lynn a brown and blue coffee mug.

Clare and I grabbed a burrito, then ventured over to a placed called Dobra Tea and enjoyed a hot cup of tea. It was rather cold in the evening, and so hot tea was just what we needed. The relaxing, candle lit atmosphere was so nice that we decided to stay and read our books for awhile. The next day we entered Canada and arrived in Montreal around noon.

Montreal was amazing, but Ottawa (where we went the following day) was my favorite city of the whole trip. We stayed with a recently married friend of ours. She showed us all around the city, and the busking was great.

The whole trip was spontaneous from beginning to end, and only possible because of the kind folks we visited, a large map, four bags of Trader Joe’s trail mix, Coldplay’s new c.d Viva La Vida, our parents, who understand and share our adventurous spirit, and our loving Heavenly Father who answered our prayers when we were in desperate need for gas and/or directions.

Yours,

Marie

My quest for papal coffee

The day was clear and cool. The sky shone in honor of our wonderful Pope Benedict, who was about to celebrate mass for a stadium full of eager attendees. I was blessed to win a ticket to the Papal mass and actually happy to wake up at 4:15 AM to meet with about fifty other students from my college to begin our 70 mile journey from Front Royal, VA to Washington D.C.

I’ve written previously about my love for coffee and this morning I was in particular need of a cup of the heavenly brew. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to make any before running out the door, so I had to wait until we got to the stadium for my coffee.

So there I was at around 7:30 am. The stadium was booming with people. Long lines of caffeine deprived customers formed at each concession stand. My friend and I waited in line for about twenty minutes before I heard whispers of the unthinkable.

“I think they are out of coffee.” I heard a frustrated woman say.

“Wait, what?” I thought. I had to ask her myself.

“I’m sorry, did you say they’re out of coffee”?

“Yeah, I think they are,” she replied.

“Do you know if there is anywhere else where they are serving coffee?” I asked, trying not to sound desperate.

“I think this is it. Every place is already out,” she answered with a consoling smile.

Well, she was right. The whole place was out of coffee, and I was out of luck. I started back to my seat and on my way noticed a room full of priests busily preparing for mass. In the back of the room there was a table full of breakfast foods and bottled water. I then noticed a very large thermos. Could it be? Yes! Hot coffee was only about twenty feet away but, I really wasn’t supposed to be in that room and that coffee certainly wasn’t for me.

Still, I didn’t give up. I decided just to be brave and simply ask for a cup. I saw a young priest who had noticed me peering in through the door, and I walked over to him.

“Excuse me Father…err..this might sound a little weird, but all the concession stands are out of coffee and I see that you have some coffee over there.”

“Say no more,” he said, smiling. “Just a moment.”

He came back with a wonderful cup of steamy black coffee! I was immediately touched by his warmth and decided that I would always pray for this priest in return for his kindness. I do not know his name and perhaps he was an angel, so I am not sure if we will meet again in this life.

The whole day was wonderful. The mass was amazing of course! I felt God’s presence all around me; in our Pope, in God’s people, and in the kind young priest who did not hesitate to help someone in need.