Last December we initiated the process of becoming Arthur's legal guardians. After a person turns 18 in this country, they are legally free from their parents' oversight. Therefore, in order to retain the right for us to care for Arthur and make decisions for him, we had to become his guardians.
First we met with a young lawyer who started filing the forms, instructed us where to get the online training required by law to become a guardian and assigned us to a Guardian Ad Litem, who would determine whether Arthur met the requirements to receive guardianship and whether we were suitable guardians.
We met with this man, who is older than the lawyer but younger than us, in our family room in March after Arthur turned 18 and after we completed the online training and had a court hearing date assigned. The GAL saw that Arthur was an "incapacitated person" and appeared to think we would be good guardians for him. But he still required a doctor's appraisal of Arthur to confirm that Arthur needed guardianship.
Getting Arthur's doctor to fill out the form took longer than anyone figured it would, but the GAL had it in his hands a week ago, so he could finish his report and recommendation and we could keep the court date of May 3 at 8:30. On the phone to Dennis he was very positive in saying he felt we were the best guardians Arthur could have in that we were parents who loved him. That was encouraging!
Our lawyer, the GAL and the three of us Millers were allowed into the courtroom a few minutes before 9 o'clock. After one other brief case, Arthur Miller's case was called and we all walked forward and sat in the chairs they offered with the lawyer and GAL standing. After our lawyer made some date changes with the clerk regarding when the records we will keep have to be filed, the judge asked us if we had anything we wanted to say. Now we had told Arthur that the judge wanted to meet him. So when she said this, he went forward to get into the witness seat! (Too many movies!) They let him go ahead, and then he launched upon a several minute long testimony that only had a few words we could make out, those words being Paul and Annie. Dennis finally stood up to signal to Arthur his need to be done talking, so Arthur got out of the seat and returned to us. Then it was over and we were all dismissed.
Outside the courtroom, we waited for some paperwork from the lawyer, who had to stay for some other legal work there that day. We walked out with the GAL, who mentioned he could help us with the new forms the lawyer would be sending should we have questions.
Yesterday there came in the mail Ethan Miller's graduation from high school announcement. Ethan is four months younger than his cousin Arthur. Should we have taken a photo of Arthur on the witness stand, I suppose we could send that out as he commences upon being under our guardianship!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Reading the Bible everyday
There are many good reasons to read the Bible everyday and many desirable fruits that come from reading God's Word everyday. Since I'm reading through the Bible this year for the first time in many years, I have new appreciation for these good reasons and desirable fruits.
One pastor's wife I know refuses to counsel anyone who isn't reading her Bible everyday. Her experience taught her that a great majority of the problems that other women want to talk over with her either disappear or are effectively handled when the Bible is read everyday. I have found this principle true in my own life. My days of being a "basket case" have been nearly eliminated this year even in the face of plenty of stress and difficulties!
We don't need any help or instruction to sin. We know how to get angry, envy, become bitter, exact vengeance, worry, be selfish, complain, fall into sloth, let fear paralyze us, eat too much, etc. without how-to lessons! We are natural sinners by nature, our fallen sinful nature. When God's gift of new life in Christ opens our eyes to the supernatural ways of God, we have a whole new set of ways of living to learn. We are not by nature patient, kind, forgiving, content or faithful. Those are His Ways that we have to learn and practice.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He IS the Word of God! He came to reveal the ways of His Father to us, and all of this Way of Truth has been written in the Bible for us to read, know and live by.
But as I was reminded this week, we forget 90% of what we read! This fact is a huge reason to stay in God's Word daily. Not only are we naturally inclined toward sinful ways instead of righteous ones, we also forget almost everything we read about His righteous, Kingdom of God ways!
Because of this forgetfulness, we have an inclination to continually reinvent God in our minds, casting Him in the image of what we think He is or what we think we need. The only way to correct this deceptive tendency is to keep putting His truth in everyday. Our minds need to be washed daily.
For the most part, putting on our spiritual armor so we can withstand the subtle attacks of the devil consists of continually being bathed in the Truth. If we fail to read His Truth in His Word everyday, we become sitting ducks for our enemy. The devil feeds our minds lies all the time. We start to believe them and quickly fall into unbelief in God if we fail to stay washed with His Word of Truth.
His word is our necessary food. The Word of God is our spiritual nourishment. It doesn't just protect, cleanse and train us, it grows us up into the fulness of Christ. We are conformed to His image by His Word of Truth administered by His Spirit to our souls. How can we afford to miss a day of this nourishment?
He guides, comforts, strengthens, encourages and speaks to us personally through His Word. Where would I be without the Psalms? David teaches me to speak to my soul, to "Bless the Lord, O my soul," instead of listening to all my fears and worrisome thoughts. If I miss filling myself with His Word, I risk being vulnerable when I could have been fortified. My emotions have a greater chance of getting the upper hand when I miss reading His Word to me.
One of the most welcome fruits of my staying faithful in God's Word each day is a saner, kinder me. When I have taken time to feed upon His words, I have the good sense to restrain my tongue from uttering words that would not edify those who hear them. I can overcome by His Word-- what a blessing! I don't let the devil's lies beat me up. I rest in His Truth. Trials and temptations don't derail me nearly as often as when I face my day without being washed in His Truth.
My reading program has me reading in four different places in the Bible each day and I'm continually amazed by how something I notice in one place will be echoed in another. The whole Bible is His Word to me!
My goal is heaven. This world is not my home. His Word prepares me to live with Him forever in a realm very foreign to this world system even as it equips me to live in this world as His ambassador of love. I can't afford to not stay in very close communication with Him! How blessed we are to have His word fill us each day!
One pastor's wife I know refuses to counsel anyone who isn't reading her Bible everyday. Her experience taught her that a great majority of the problems that other women want to talk over with her either disappear or are effectively handled when the Bible is read everyday. I have found this principle true in my own life. My days of being a "basket case" have been nearly eliminated this year even in the face of plenty of stress and difficulties!
We don't need any help or instruction to sin. We know how to get angry, envy, become bitter, exact vengeance, worry, be selfish, complain, fall into sloth, let fear paralyze us, eat too much, etc. without how-to lessons! We are natural sinners by nature, our fallen sinful nature. When God's gift of new life in Christ opens our eyes to the supernatural ways of God, we have a whole new set of ways of living to learn. We are not by nature patient, kind, forgiving, content or faithful. Those are His Ways that we have to learn and practice.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He IS the Word of God! He came to reveal the ways of His Father to us, and all of this Way of Truth has been written in the Bible for us to read, know and live by.
But as I was reminded this week, we forget 90% of what we read! This fact is a huge reason to stay in God's Word daily. Not only are we naturally inclined toward sinful ways instead of righteous ones, we also forget almost everything we read about His righteous, Kingdom of God ways!
Because of this forgetfulness, we have an inclination to continually reinvent God in our minds, casting Him in the image of what we think He is or what we think we need. The only way to correct this deceptive tendency is to keep putting His truth in everyday. Our minds need to be washed daily.
For the most part, putting on our spiritual armor so we can withstand the subtle attacks of the devil consists of continually being bathed in the Truth. If we fail to read His Truth in His Word everyday, we become sitting ducks for our enemy. The devil feeds our minds lies all the time. We start to believe them and quickly fall into unbelief in God if we fail to stay washed with His Word of Truth.
His word is our necessary food. The Word of God is our spiritual nourishment. It doesn't just protect, cleanse and train us, it grows us up into the fulness of Christ. We are conformed to His image by His Word of Truth administered by His Spirit to our souls. How can we afford to miss a day of this nourishment?
He guides, comforts, strengthens, encourages and speaks to us personally through His Word. Where would I be without the Psalms? David teaches me to speak to my soul, to "Bless the Lord, O my soul," instead of listening to all my fears and worrisome thoughts. If I miss filling myself with His Word, I risk being vulnerable when I could have been fortified. My emotions have a greater chance of getting the upper hand when I miss reading His Word to me.
One of the most welcome fruits of my staying faithful in God's Word each day is a saner, kinder me. When I have taken time to feed upon His words, I have the good sense to restrain my tongue from uttering words that would not edify those who hear them. I can overcome by His Word-- what a blessing! I don't let the devil's lies beat me up. I rest in His Truth. Trials and temptations don't derail me nearly as often as when I face my day without being washed in His Truth.
My reading program has me reading in four different places in the Bible each day and I'm continually amazed by how something I notice in one place will be echoed in another. The whole Bible is His Word to me!
My goal is heaven. This world is not my home. His Word prepares me to live with Him forever in a realm very foreign to this world system even as it equips me to live in this world as His ambassador of love. I can't afford to not stay in very close communication with Him! How blessed we are to have His word fill us each day!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The guest room is shaping up!
When we discovered our banjo picking buddy, Lowell, from the weekly bluegrass jams has his family in Minnesota, we invited him over on a Saturday to help out in exchange for a good meal and a good jam! Lowell's extra hands made it possible to go ahead with changing out the window in the guest room right after we'd gotten everything out and before painting and flooring it. It was nice to able to make and clean up that dusty mess before the rest was finished!
Now, the walls & ceiling are painted pale yellow, the hickory flooring is all laid and the first coat of stain has been applied to the wooden double-hung window pair. We have alder enough for the window trim but the floor trim for this room and the rest of the house will have to wait for another trip to Seattle. The furnishings are arranged in a whole new way since the extra clothing rod is gone so the room has a lighter, spacier feel than previously. My sewing machine, cutting table and fabric cabinet are still in there, but not my desk, books or filing cabinet.
It's been a nice change to stop with major construction for a while, changing gears into finishing up some places and decorating the rooms that have new wood floors. Dennis found a great new sofa at an estate sale store price to go in our living room-- looks great with one of the new rugs. We had originally planned to get Arthur's room refloored now too, but since it is just 3 weeks till we go to NYC, we decided to do his room and ours later in the summer. That way we'll be able to get the windows done in each room first, like we did with the guest room.
We've been going through a major transition at Artmil with two staff members leaving and one new one coming on at the start of April. I've picked up a few more responsibilities and different hours, while Dennis and ChrisB and Andy are dividing most of the tasks Kathy used to do. Christian handed off the web work to Derek, who is also able to do regular graphic design work.
Now, the walls & ceiling are painted pale yellow, the hickory flooring is all laid and the first coat of stain has been applied to the wooden double-hung window pair. We have alder enough for the window trim but the floor trim for this room and the rest of the house will have to wait for another trip to Seattle. The furnishings are arranged in a whole new way since the extra clothing rod is gone so the room has a lighter, spacier feel than previously. My sewing machine, cutting table and fabric cabinet are still in there, but not my desk, books or filing cabinet.
It's been a nice change to stop with major construction for a while, changing gears into finishing up some places and decorating the rooms that have new wood floors. Dennis found a great new sofa at an estate sale store price to go in our living room-- looks great with one of the new rugs. We had originally planned to get Arthur's room refloored now too, but since it is just 3 weeks till we go to NYC, we decided to do his room and ours later in the summer. That way we'll be able to get the windows done in each room first, like we did with the guest room.
We've been going through a major transition at Artmil with two staff members leaving and one new one coming on at the start of April. I've picked up a few more responsibilities and different hours, while Dennis and ChrisB and Andy are dividing most of the tasks Kathy used to do. Christian handed off the web work to Derek, who is also able to do regular graphic design work.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wood Floors!
As March comes to a close, our hall and living room are sheathed with hickory wood flooring. It has been so quick, easy and painless compared to tiling the dining, kitchen and laundry room! The hickory floor, the alder front door, the new pine windows with alder trim and the pale chocolate paint color on the walls all look good together and create a whole new feel of old! The only vestige of the former mid-century style that sticks out is the closet door next to the front door, so we may refinish that until we replace it. Dennis found a great 8 x 10 wool hooked-style rug for a great price that pulls everything together even more!
But before that room gets furnished and decorated, we'll be moving stuff from the bedrooms out there so those rooms can receive their new sheaths of wood as well! We have enough hickory for two of them, and have found some oak very close in color for the third. I plan to paint those rooms as soon as we get enough stuff moved out to make that do-able.
Since it is only 6 weeks till we fly to New York for Annie's graduation ceremony, we don't think we'll attempt replacing the bedroom windows or the other 4 remaining just yet. Two weeks after we get back from New York, Kaley, Keziah, Zion and Kacia will be here for two weeks and the bluegrass festival season will be upon us! So we'll fit in the window change outs and trim work where we can.
Between Zach coming out in January, getting to see Annie, Paul, Keith, Bethany and children in New York and having Kaley and children coming here in June, we'll thankfully have seen the whole scattered family in the first half of the year!
But before that room gets furnished and decorated, we'll be moving stuff from the bedrooms out there so those rooms can receive their new sheaths of wood as well! We have enough hickory for two of them, and have found some oak very close in color for the third. I plan to paint those rooms as soon as we get enough stuff moved out to make that do-able.
Since it is only 6 weeks till we fly to New York for Annie's graduation ceremony, we don't think we'll attempt replacing the bedroom windows or the other 4 remaining just yet. Two weeks after we get back from New York, Kaley, Keziah, Zion and Kacia will be here for two weeks and the bluegrass festival season will be upon us! So we'll fit in the window change outs and trim work where we can.
Between Zach coming out in January, getting to see Annie, Paul, Keith, Bethany and children in New York and having Kaley and children coming here in June, we'll thankfully have seen the whole scattered family in the first half of the year!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Blueberry Scones
Wheat free since last fall, I've developed a sweetened flour mix for pancakes, cookies, cake, muffins or scones. Since it has many ingredients, I mix up two batches at the same time to save opening all the containers! Substituting your favorite flours may work as well if you add a little xanthan gum, which the Chia Omega Flour below does. Keep mix refrigerated with your flours.
A. Sweetened flour mix (2 cups)
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup sweet sorghum flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour (starch)
1/4 cup oats ground fine in blender
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup Chia Omega Flour (blend of chia, rose tapioca, millet and chestnut flours. Includes xanthan gum which helps thicken the batter nicely without an inordinate amount of flour.)
1/2 cup almond flour (meal)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Blueberry Scones (Gluten free, refined sugar free, can be dairy free) Yield: 12.
B. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet with coconut oil. In medium bowl, whisk:
3 eggs
1 cup Hungarian Cultured Buttermik (for dairy free, add 1 tsp apple cider vinegar to 1 cup almond or rice milk)
1/3 cup melted coconut oil (I add a little butter for additional flavor)
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
C. With large spoon, stir in:
2 cups flour mix
1 generous cup blueberries (defrost them on a plate for a few minutes if frozen)
D. Spoon 12 scones onto greased cookie sheet, bake 20-25 minutes. Cool on paper towel; prepare to see them disappear quickly!
PS: Please let me know if you know of a way to make GF cinnamon rolls-- thanks!
A. Sweetened flour mix (2 cups)
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup sweet sorghum flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour (starch)
1/4 cup oats ground fine in blender
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup Chia Omega Flour (blend of chia, rose tapioca, millet and chestnut flours. Includes xanthan gum which helps thicken the batter nicely without an inordinate amount of flour.)
1/2 cup almond flour (meal)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp stevia powder
1 tablespoon erythritol (or substitute any sweetener you desire for both the stevia and the erythritol to equal 1/3 cup sugar sweetness)
Blueberry Scones (Gluten free, refined sugar free, can be dairy free) Yield: 12.
B. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet with coconut oil. In medium bowl, whisk:
3 eggs
1 cup Hungarian Cultured Buttermik (for dairy free, add 1 tsp apple cider vinegar to 1 cup almond or rice milk)
1/3 cup melted coconut oil (I add a little butter for additional flavor)
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
C. With large spoon, stir in:
2 cups flour mix
1 generous cup blueberries (defrost them on a plate for a few minutes if frozen)
D. Spoon 12 scones onto greased cookie sheet, bake 20-25 minutes. Cool on paper towel; prepare to see them disappear quickly!
PS: Please let me know if you know of a way to make GF cinnamon rolls-- thanks!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
February, 2013
February is coming to a close. Dennis got the kitchen window trimmed in alder after we painted the kitchen walls and ceiling a light chocolate color, with the ceiling lighter than the walls. But first, he reconfigured two soffits because we took out and moved cabinets to move the refrigerator. That meant demolition, rebuilding with sheet rock, mud, sanding-- lots of evenings worth of work.
Lately, he reconstructed the wall in the hall where the bathroom door was moved over 8 inches so that is ready to paint. He also installed the new Craftsman style door that goes from the hall into the living room. And has filled and mudded the triple-window unit in the living room and around the front door. So we are very close to being able to paint the living room and hall! We already have the paint. Then the alder the trim can go up-- it is all ready. And then the wood floor will go down!
I sent some photos of the kitchen to several people by email and thought I could put them up here, but alas, I cannot figure it out!
In other news, today I painted the sunny area near the back door at work for a studio for me to design and sew quilts when time permits. I plan to have one wall covered with flannel or something similar to be able to 'stick' fabric pieces to when designing. The other two adjoining walls of my alcove I plan to adorn with a 15 foot timeline and other items of interest or beauty to me.
Blue grass jams continue to be a pleasure to take part in. It is so welcome to have a group of people to make music with, to share old songs together and learn new ones and harmonize, encourage, enjoy! Such a super format!
Lately, he reconstructed the wall in the hall where the bathroom door was moved over 8 inches so that is ready to paint. He also installed the new Craftsman style door that goes from the hall into the living room. And has filled and mudded the triple-window unit in the living room and around the front door. So we are very close to being able to paint the living room and hall! We already have the paint. Then the alder the trim can go up-- it is all ready. And then the wood floor will go down!
I sent some photos of the kitchen to several people by email and thought I could put them up here, but alas, I cannot figure it out!
In other news, today I painted the sunny area near the back door at work for a studio for me to design and sew quilts when time permits. I plan to have one wall covered with flannel or something similar to be able to 'stick' fabric pieces to when designing. The other two adjoining walls of my alcove I plan to adorn with a 15 foot timeline and other items of interest or beauty to me.
Blue grass jams continue to be a pleasure to take part in. It is so welcome to have a group of people to make music with, to share old songs together and learn new ones and harmonize, encourage, enjoy! Such a super format!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
New kitchen floor and a visit from Zach
Zach came to help out with the remodel for several days last week. It was a blessing to have him here to lend his hands and muscle, as well as to celebrate Dennis' birthday.
Among many other tasks done, he helped us finish cleaning out the thinset between the tiles so we could get it grouted. Four weeks after beginning camp cooking in the living room, the stove island was reinstated in the kitchen, with his help! The table is back in the dining room! And the washer and dryer are back at work in the laundry room! All three rooms now have 18 inch porcelain tile (offwhite with taupe lowlights) set on the diagonal in malt colored grout. The floor looks great but since the room hasn't been repainted yet, the full effect awaits that task. I am still in shock from the amount of work and time it took to get the floor done, and from the change. I did not work my fingers to the bone but my fingernails were certainly worn down and nerves got a bit frayed!
Among many other tasks done, he helped us finish cleaning out the thinset between the tiles so we could get it grouted. Four weeks after beginning camp cooking in the living room, the stove island was reinstated in the kitchen, with his help! The table is back in the dining room! And the washer and dryer are back at work in the laundry room! All three rooms now have 18 inch porcelain tile (offwhite with taupe lowlights) set on the diagonal in malt colored grout. The floor looks great but since the room hasn't been repainted yet, the full effect awaits that task. I am still in shock from the amount of work and time it took to get the floor done, and from the change. I did not work my fingers to the bone but my fingernails were certainly worn down and nerves got a bit frayed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)