Miller Family Christmas Card 2017

Ebenezer is most often associated with Ebenezer Scrooge from the novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  However, Ebenezer is actually a Hebrew word meaning “stone of help.” In ancient times, despite overwhelming odds, Israel won a miraculous victory over the powerful Philistine army. In thankfulness, the Israelites raised a stone monument, called an Ebenezer, to serve as a tangible reminder to them and to the generations that followed of the Lord’s power, protection, and help in their time of need.  As 2017 comes to a close, we reflect back on the joys and challenges of the last several months and write this letter as our Ebenezer—our monument to remember God’s help and faithfulness.

In July, Luke was promoted to being a driver with the Boise Fire Department. We rejoice in the opportunities this has given him to use his skills to serve in new ways. But, the story would not be complete without mentioning the lows in the process of getting there. Studying and training for the driver’s test was time consuming and came during a season when I was busy as well. This meant higher stress, less time together, lower tolerance for one another and our kiddos, and more frequent flare ups of bitterness, selfishness, and frustration. We are so incredibly grateful for the Lord’s grace during this time and for his provision of our amazing co-workers, family, and friends who encouraged, supported, cared for, and prayed us through!  In all this, Luke has been thankful for the truth that, “such is the confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).  In addition to firefighting, Luke continues to enjoy teaching Launch Pad classes at Timberline, playing bagpipes, serving in leadership at our church, fly fishing when possible, and spending time on wood working projects in our garage.

In May, with a great deal of help from my associate, Karin, I was able to host my first ever TripleCord Real Estate client appreciate dinner.  As I shared our company’s story with those in attendance and introduced the agents I have the joy of working with, I was overwhelmed by God’s goodness.  It is such a privilege for us to be trusted with the role of walking alongside people through their buying and selling process. The relationships made with our clients over the years through those interactions are precious.  This celebration was a monument to the Lord’s faithfulness in the agents he has provided and the clients we have been blessed to serve.  While I have been excited and thankful for the changes and growth of our company this year, I also find it difficult to trust.  I worry about many things and doubt the Lord’s leading at times—both of which illuminate my desire to control and my lack of trust in God’s ways above my own. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” I’m a slow learner, but I’m being shown again and again that if I loosen my grip on my plans and my worries and give them over to God, he can be trusted to carry me through whatever comes.     

Hadley will turn 10 in January and is in 4th grade.  She is creative, responsible, helpful, and kind, with a clever wittiness that brings us laughter. She loves running, swimming, doing crafts, spending time with friends, organizing performances, and making videos that she wishes she could put on YouTube (which, to her dismay, her parents won’t let her do). Hadley’s greatest joy this year was inviting a few of her friends to join her for her second summer at Camp Perkins. Surrounded by God’s beautiful creation, each of these girls experienced a deepening of their faith and trust in their Savior. As is the case for many of us, Hadley often finds it difficult to put others before herself and can struggle to rejoice in the joys of others as well.  Our prayer for her, and for all of us like her in this folly, is that we “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Taylor will be 8 in March and loves being in 2nd grade (she especially loves her teacher).  She enjoys reading, swimming, Barbies, American Girl Dolls, one-on-one time with friends and family, and piano lessons, which she started this year.  Her tender heart and Spirit-led extro- and intro-spectiveness often bless us and those around her. Last year, Taylor’s deepest struggle was with anxiety.  Although fear still resurfaces from time to time, we raise an Ebenezer for the Lord’s help in answering our prayer from last year’s letter that she would be able to say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).  This year, Taylor will say her biggest struggle has been with anger and yelling. A verse spoken frequently in our house to help all of us in this area is, “A soft answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). We pray we can be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19).

Hutch turns 6 on the 21st of this month and is in all-day Kindergarten.  He continues to bring joy to our house through dimpled smiles, sweet hugs, and the funniest of noises and words that flow from his mouth almost non-stop (especially when he is playing by himself and doesn’t know anyone is listening). His favorite things are still wrestling with his dad, dancing to every tune he hears, anything Superhero, video games, and playing with his neighbor buddies—who give him relief from being “girl trapped,” as he would say.  This year, he had the opportunity to play soccer, start school, and begin learning to read—all of which he loves and which he is thankful for the Lord’s help in. His propensity to whine is still strong, so Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without complaining or disputing,” is certainly a verse he hears often.  We are hopeful that another year of maturing will work wonders in this department…but, we’ll let you know next year ?.  

Ellie will be 4 in March and is enjoying being the only Miller kid at Mama Jo’s during the school day.  The words that come across her lips and the facial expressions that accompany them are the cause of many smiles and much laughter in our home.  Taking after her parents, she loves to be with people and often cries on days when we aren’t going to a friend’s house or having someone over for dinner.  She also is the first of our kids to have an imaginary friend—Carly. The stories she tells of their adventures together could be written in a book! When talking with the rest of our children about areas where Ellie has grown, everyone agreed she has been hitting less—which is a blessing to all of us.  She is still one stubborn cookie and often relentless in demanding her way. So, we pray for her, as we do all our kids: “Make them to know your ways, O Lord; teach them your path.  Lead them in your truth and teach them, for you are the God of their salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5). 

In addition to the Ebenezers mentioned above, we have several family Ebenezers to raise as well.  This year marked the first year of camping where the kids were old enough for it to actually be fun and not just hard work.  We were able to witness the total solar eclipse in Challis, Idaho with my parents along with a campsite full of strangers who instantly felt like a connected community upon witnessing God's majesty together. Indeed, “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).  In June, we had the pleasure of welcoming a new member to our family—Mazie Rue, a chocolate lab.  Although I was originally quite resistant to getting her, God was gracious to provide a friendly, sweet dog, who loves people, camping, swimming, running with us, and playing with the kids. Despite her occasional chewing up of items that should not be chewed, she has been a joyful addition!  Also, after four years of praying alongside our friends Ryan & Katie Eagy while Ryan attended Bethlehem Seminary in Minnesota, we have committed to partnering with them to plant a church in SE Boise—Table Rock Church.  We are excited about this new gospel expression in our area of town and hope many of our friends and neighbors will be interested in attending.  Although it is with great joy that we begin this new adventure, there is also great sorrow in saying goodbye to our incredible church family at Faith Community Bible Church.  When Luke and I think of the people the Lord has placed in our lives over our ten years there and all the ways he has used our pastors and friends there to mentor, love, challenge, encourage, and grow us, we are overwhelmed with thankfulness.    

As we consider the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this season, we of course look to our greatest Ebenezer, Jesus—our strong rock and steadfast help.  We know that without him, we would be nothing.  We stand in awe of his humble decent to earth and the life and love he shared.  We give thanks for the suffering he endured for our sake through his death on the cross, absorbing the punishment we deserved.  We repent of the ways we have sinned—which include among many other things, speaking unkindly, judging wrongly, seeking our own glory, and acting selfishly. We thank the Lord for his gift of forgiveness! We rejoice in the promise of our eternal future, secured by his resurrection and his ascension into heaven.  And, we exalt him for the gift of his Spirit, given to us to change our affections and fulfill our joy in him.  For God is our greatest help and shows his love for us in this, “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

Thank you for staying connected with your Christmas cards and updates. We rejoice in what God has done and pray you also rejoice—raising your Ebenezers and giving thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love, help, forgiveness, and faithfulness!  Our prayer for you and for us in this New Year matches that of an old hymn, “Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me ever to adore Thee, may I still Thy goodness prove, while the hope of endless glory fills my heart with joy and love. Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come; and I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home.” 

With much love, through the grace of God—who truly is the fount of every blessing,

 Luke, Katie, Hadley, Taylor, Hutch, & Ellie