Memorial Day

This weekend marks one of the most decorated holidays in the U.S. It is a day we recognize our fallen solider's. From the past, present and future. It is also a day we recognize our current enlisted individuals who sacrifice their lives to protect what we all believe in and that is freedom.

I have family that serves and have had family that has served in the passed. I am truly honored and blessed to have had family that has served for my rights I have today.

That is just a small definition of Memorial day. Now if your a redneck just like we all are. LOL. Then planning Memorial Day weekend is something that is on everyone's list. It is a 3 or 4 day weekend that embarks on the start of summer. Taking the family on a camping trip, just to sit in the rain. It always seems to rain all weekend of Memorial Day. 

But if it doesn't, then your activities include camping, fishing, hiking, biking, exct. In the evening you sit around the camp fire telling stories while making smores with kids. Now me, I can't even roast a marshmallow. It always seems to fall off in the fire and it doesn't even say thank you for the treat. Then in the morning you wake up early to get the advantage at the lake. Taking along the kids soaked down in repellent, so they don't become a meal for insects. After snagging lines and tangled bobbers, you pack up the kids before the afternoon sits. 

Arriving back at camp only to come up short at the lake because the fish weren't biting. For some reason the kids were scaring the rocks into the lake and the fish filled with mineral instead of the baited hook. Oh well, there is always next year. Then finishing up the weekend, arriving back home only to unpack what you want to blow off until tomorrow.

Everyone has their own true meaning of Memorial day and how they celebrate it. But as an american we all have the same meaning in our minds and hearts.
Until next time love, peace, and god bless our troops over seas. This holiday weekend is for them.

Mothers' Day

What is mother's day? It is a day of appreciation of the one woman in our lives that is there when you need someone to talk to and when you need someone to listen. The one person who took you to school and at the end of your stressful day, the one who was there to comfort you. The one who cleaned up all your mess when learning to eat, to catch you when learning to walk, and cuddle you when the boogey man was under your bed. The support that was given to you in everyday child hood and everyday as an adult.
It will never matter how old you get, because you will always need your mother and she will never stop being a mother. My mother was a hardworking individual who never let me and my brothers' down. Always sacrificing , giving, and caring for us. My mom at the age of 13 had my oldest brother, by 17 my second oldest brother, and by her 21st birthday, me. She raised us kids with a true passion and taught us what unconditional love is.
With out thought she would give her last buck, her last piece of food, and even her last set of clothes.
She is my hero and the one true person I have always looked up to. So thank you mom. Thank you for all you have done for me. Happy Mothers' Day.
Until Next time love, peace, and  God bless our troops, their mothers' and all mothers' around the world.

In Memory of Uncle Cash

Born in Kentucky I believe, my Uncle Larry was raised along with , my mother and 10 other siblings for a total of 12. My understanding is he was as stubborn as a mule, but in the same sense caring and giving. Growing up, my real father was really never around. I had my step dad and he was a good father to me, but the missing pieces always seemed to be filled by my Uncle Larry. Standing almost 6 foot tall with jet black hair and a mustache to go along with it. He was always supportive of me and always there to be a friend, foe, or just a good listener. My brother Jamie and I always called him "The Man in Black", after the great and late Johnny Cash. Hence forth the nick name Uncle Cash.
Always in a black cowboy hat ,  a black vest that cover his dove white shirt along with matching pants and boots to some up his total appearance.
He was my rock when I had troubles and my guide through life when called upon. My biggest fan when I was successful and my discipliner when in trouble. He made me realize that life is to short to always be mad and he would always tell me, " You could fall through an outhouse and come out smelling like roses." LOL. He would have celebrated a birthday on the 25th of April, but instead he lost a battle with an aggressive form of cancer in late 2010.
Everyday I miss him and wish for his council. But maybe God had other plans for him and giving that council and wisdom to those who need it more than I. So if your one of the lucky ones, when in doubt or in need of some humorous form of guidance. Well rest assure that conscience voice you hear in the back of your mind might be Uncle Cash.
I'm here to celebrate his birth and not grieve his death, because  he would have wanted us to remember him this way. I know it has almost been 4 years since his untimely departure, but it seems like it was only yesterday he was here, sitting at the kitchen counter drinking his coffee telling stories. I guess I will see him on the other side one day and we can catch up on all that is untold.
Until next time love, peace, and God bless our troops over seas.

Enough is enough

So as it goes in the day of the life of ..... Me! I work very hard at what I do and it seems there is always promises made that shatter before your very eyes. Like when I started my job in November of last year. I was promised a raise after 90 days. It is now day 180. Hmmmmm, there is one promise that is total Bull *&#@( bad word) lol. You get my drift. Then a foreman's position became available and the showed interest in giving me the position. They told what I needed to do and so I set forth on reaching these goals only to once again, get B.S. from the higher ups as they gave the job to someone with no experience and should have been fired for quitting in the middle of a couple jobs. In other words they did not want to pay.
That same foreman not knowing his job fully, let me and 4 other workers lose hours. So now I am backed into a corner. With only one thing on my mind, and that is taking care of my family, I had enough B.S. I could take. Enough is Enough, I thought. I went out and got another job where people appreciate me and my hard work. I have always been an individual that shows respect and gives 2 weeks notice. But these people have backed me and that includes my family, into a spot. So I expressed my first amendment rights. Oops, LOL. At first I felt guilty and then I thought, WHY?
I did everything I was supposed to do and work hard. So the guilt lasted a whole 3 seconds. Being a husband and parent sometimes you have to make decisions that are rash and some what life changing. But as long as I have the support of my family on the choices I make, well that only makes it easier.
Until next time love, peace, and god bless our troops over sea.


We are The Real Life Millers'

Pride

Have you ever heard the phrase, "A Sense of Pride?" It is a very rare term used lightly now a days.
It determines the outcome of anything you decide to do in life. With no Pride in what you do, everyday life will just be, well blah. I take a lot of Pride in what I do in life. From work to everyday living. For example, I'm proud to be a father and a good husband. My kids love me, my wife loves me and well I love me. LOL, sounds conceded doesn't it? Well I'm here to tell you it is not. You got to love yourself be for you can love anything else. That is where Pride comes in.
It shows what kind of individual you are and it is what gains the respect of others that look up to you.
It far and few in between now a days. Pride that is. You see it a lot in the work place. With people you work with only there to get a pay check. Or always saying that's not my job. But if you think outside the box, it is your job and if take some Pride in what you do, it will make that job even easier.
So take it from, takes some Pride in what you do for living and in your family you will be amazed at the outcome. Until next time love, peace, and god bless our troops over seas. I bet they take Pride in protecting our freedoms.

Our sons hearing loss

My son Aleczandyr has a mild hearing loss in both ears. His hearing will never get better but always has the potential to get worse. We are grateful that this was discovered early on because it gave us the opportunity to fit him with hearing aids. Having these hearing aids during the early developmental months will allow him to make those speech development milestones. It allows him to hear like other babies and he will make the same connections between sound and his brain just as if he had not had any hearing loss.
We first discovered his hearing loss at the hospital the day after he was born. They hooked up these electrodes all over his tiny little head. At this time when he failed, we thought it was due to leftover fluid in his ears from the C-section (which can sometimes happen). Our next assessment was done at home. A professional traveled to our home and hooked up those same electrodes and within 5 minutes or so he had failed again. At this point you would think I would be alarmed but I just assumed it was all a mistake because my little man could definitely hear me so it just wouldn't be possible that he could have anything wrong with him. About two weeks later He had his very first actual hearing test where they needed him to be sleeping. We were taken into a sound booth where they hooked him up to even more electrodes all over his head and we proceeded to try to get him to sleep. Eventually he passed out and they were able to get all the results they needed.

My son had hearing loss and would always need hearing assistance of some kind.
At this point we felt thrusted into this world of hearing aids, molds, therapy, and early intervention services. While I am very grateful for all the help we have received, honestly it was all a little confusing and over whelming.
We were able to get him set up with everything he needs for now, but everyday we are worried. We worry about his development, about how long his hearing aids will last (they are VERY expensive and most insurances will cover little to none of this expense) when should he get fitted for new molds(at his age they need to be replace every 6 weeks or sooner because they grow so quickly) He meets with some sort of intervention about every two weeks or so and we constantly have to monitor his development.
Even though it has been a little overwhelming so far I hold out hope things will get easier as we learn what works for him and for us. We hope and pray everyday that his hearing doesn't get worse but we feel confident that if it does, we are prepared and will do whatever is necessary for him and his over-all development.

Aleczandyr with his new Audiologist

Click Here To See Zandyrs Hearing Test


 

Hockey All-Star Mason "The Face" Ray Miller

There is a day in your child's life when they are not just little anymore. My son Mason will be 3 on the 4th of April. He is growing fast, smart, and strong everyday. As a little baby, I would take him to Hockey games. Watching the USHL(United States Hockey League), Omaha Lancers. Only at 6 months behind the glass, he watched in awe. I have never ever seen this much concentration and want to in such a young little person. He would watch the whole game, not even missing a second. We had great seats. We were located at rink level behind the goal tender where you can put your hands on the glass and root on your favorite team.
When the players would get close or checked against the glass, Mason would beat his little fists against the glass and smile with excitement. The players on the ice would notice this and it was like they swarmed to him. Giving him the occasional fist bump against the glass. It was exciting as a Dad to see him appreciate the sport and start learning a certain passion, to even this day has not expired.
His interest in the sport is stronger than ever. When I would watch Hockey on T.V., he would be right there, helping Dad root on his favorite team.
With his passion fueled now, there was only one thing left to do. I found out from a lot of players the sooner I get him started, the sooner he would prosper into a great player. So I asked him if he wanted to play and he was all over that. So for his Birthday we got him some gear. To start what I know will be a great adventure for my son. Of course he will have to start at the bottom. Learning how to skate and stick handle.
I took him to the rink the other day. To see if he would like the ice. All geared up in his helmet and pads we hit the ice. At first he didn't know what to think. His feet slipping out from under him and not being able to balance himself. So I grabbed him up and away we went around the rink. he was loving it. He started gliding half way around the rink, on both feet firmly to the ice. He was a natural and he had found his true passion. I asked him later what did you like about skating. He replied," I like falling down and sliding Dad!" LOL. Only my kid.
So Stay tuned as Mason learns the way of Jedi Hockey player. Until then love, peace, and god bless our troops over seas.

MASON "THE FACE" RAY MILLER