Revival (Western Tour Post #1)

The first week of this current 6-week tour we were so blessed to have a week of community revival meetings in Daviess County, Ind. 

Sights of leaving home: Stocking my bunk rack with journals and books. 

Preparing this for the bus fridge. 

Making our bunk rooms like feel homey. 

This is the before-Mom-comes-in-the-bus loading photo (You know, when everyone carries loads of things in the bus but doesn't put them away.) :)

First Stop: Daviess County. 

 

  We enjoyed having local singing teams join us on several evenings. 

   Grace was snapping pictures all night and this one made me smile. TLC from mother to daughter.

"Harnessing up" the preacher man. 

 Again, Grace photography. Here Derek and I are standing-by before we're called on for a children's class. The yawn is typical Derek. :) 

We were so blessed by the people we were able to re-connect with during the week. The days were full but fulfilling in the same. We praise the Lord for simply being present in our midst. 

Sights of heading West. 

 These kind people had us, as perfect strangers, to their home for a delicious meal before our service in Minnesota.

 We like old white churches with wooden benches and genuine souls. 

We are currently dwelling in Canada at the Penner residence. We have a day of practice tomorrow and then our first joint-service in the evening. We will be, Lord Willing, traveling together in Canada for the next three weeks. We are highly anticipating what the Lord will do!

"Wilt Thou not revive us again, that they people may rejoice in Thee"
Psalms 85:6

{Posted by Deborah}

"At Home" in Black and White (Summer post #1)

Three months at home sounded so exciting! (And it was!) 

We knew, however, there was much to be done during this time. And, praise the Lord, He truly enabled us to get those things done. I look back so grateful at the how He scheduled our summer and strengthened our hands to accomplish the tasks before us while refreshing us for the upcoming traveling session. 

These three months are now over and we're currently on tour. 

I was chatting with someone at the product table the other night and telling her this was our first trip out  after a beautiful summer at home. 

She asked, "So…during your time at home, what do you all do?" 

Well, I'm here to give you a peek into the answer…all in black and white. 

A bounty of summer landscape frames our sidewalk. 

A Sunday afternoon piano recital for miss Grace. 

 Celebrating Eugene's 18th birthday via Texas Road House and dumpster diving. :) 

 Father's Day. :) 

 Singing practice in the boy's room. We spent hours and hours practicing new songs this summer. 

 Here we are running over new drama scrips, critiquing, and drawing stage-placemnet diagrams. Mother is the drama script writer (Though we all consider ourselves co-writers with the amount of critiquing that takes place :)) + prop. manager + director. She put a lot of hours into this stuff. 

  Living room drama practice, which is one of the most hilarious things you'll ever do. 

Amidst corrections and such we usually all end up losing it with laughter. Though sometimes we need  to apologize for wrong attitudes as opinions are shared. 

Yes, Grace is mid-hop. Yes, her script is between her legs so she can play her violin. No, Derek is not to be on the floor. Yes, his script is being used as a shield from hopping sister. Yes, Kyle's hands are protecting his ears from the noise proceeding from the violin. No, this is not exactly how this scene looks now that we're doing it on stage. :) 

 Obviously everyone is always very attentive during practice. 

 Drama recording day! Two new ones down, Praise God. 

 Note: Mother thinks that being in a studio without any windows all-day-long can feel a bit dungeon-ish. Therefore, the hydrangea is brought from our home to bring life. :) 

 Daddy is the hair-cut man. 

 Have we ever mentioned how much we love being in the kitchen while we're home? 

This was the first post of several that I hope to do in effort to re-cap the summer (Though I know we've already posted some.). 

We are currently in Davies County Ind. having community revival meetings. It's been a blessed time thus far. We anticipate heading far west beginning of next week to join forces with the Penner family for the rest of the trip. 

Blessings friends, 

Deborah 

Steve Hurst Schol of Music

We felt this was the year for the Miller family to embark on School of Music, but some things came up and it didn't seem to be working out. 

 We thought, "Okay, the Lord has something else in mind." 

But then He began to work out the details and Father came home one night with the news that we will, after all, be attending the Steve Hurst School of music along with our dear Bontrager family! 

And so we went, knowing very little of what to expect… just seven people in a bus, ready to sing and be stretched. 

We did sing…a lot. 

And we were stretched… a lot.  

Breathing technique class with Mr. Hurst. :) 

How we loved our choir directors. 

Private lessons. Here we have Kathy Woodland who gave us inspiring Chinese, singing tips. :)

( Insert mental picture of noses scrunched, eyebrows raised, and mouths open crazy wide.) 

Our dear Bontragers singing in the evening service one night. We were sporting as the Biggest Fan Club. :)

Evening services were just wonderful. 

Mark Trammel Quartet. 

 Performance class (In which one sings for your group in the school and allows critiquing to commence.) 

Breathing exercises hit the floor. :)

Singing in one of the evening services. I don't know that I've ever experienced the peace of God so richly mingled with a body shaking with nerves. :) 

The Erwins singing during the beautiful Communion services on the last day. 

The Girls.

 Fun fact: I was asked if I was the mother. Ahem. 

OUR VERY LAST PRIVATE LESSON! We loved all our instructors so much and learned incredible thing from each of them. However, when the last class was done and all that was left was Graduation, I rather jumped up and down in celebration. :) 

Mr. Steve Hurst. We were so blessed by his humility and sincerity throughout the week. 

Miss Shanon sang a beautiful solo during the graduation ceremony. 

We loved Tribute Quartet as instructors and singers. 

Mr. Gary. 

Farewells and photos. 

The guys with Tribute. 

 We felt so, so privilege to attend the School and came away inspired in singing and our spiritual lives. 

 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands…

Come before His presence with singing." 

PS. 100:1

~Deborah