The other day I had the privilege of taking Gracie Belle to dance class. She started dance a couple of months ago because her Aunt Jo Jo and Aunt Mae Mae wanted to get her that for Christmas. Man, is it a sight to see, it absolutely cracks me up to see 3 and 4 year old girls running around trying to be a ballerina and tap dancer. 

Well, when Gracie first started they had to order her tap shoes in because they didn’t have her size, and every week they’ve gone the order still hadn’t come in. Gracie would always ask if they would be in the next week and Mandy would say “I sure hope so!” On Monday when I took her the order was supposed to be in and Gracie was excited. We got there early and they took us to the back to try on the pair she had ordered but unfortunelty they didn’t fit, she then tried on a number of different pair but still no luck. The instructor told her she had another shipment at her house and would bring them next week for her to try on. As we walked out of the room Gracie was disappointed and said “Daddy, they still don’t have my shoes in yet.” I then told her how the order was in they were just the wrong size, and how they should have them here next week and then she’ll have them, she looked up at me and said “I sure hope so.” I laughed and went on with the practice.

Later on that night I was telling Mandy about and she fell out laughing and said that is what she has been telling Gracie every week. We then reflected on the number of words and phrases that Gracie uses just like her mother. She basically talks just like her mom because she spends so much time with her. As I sat and thought about this it amazed me how simple yet profound this was. Who do you spend the most time with? Do you talk like them? Is it a good thing or a bad thing that you spend that much time with them? What if we spent the majority of our time with God and in His word? Would it impact us, just a thought? Why don’t you take just a few moments of your time right now and examine what you  are saying.

About 11 years ago around this time I officially met the most amazing woman in the entire world. We were just beginning our freshman year at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and they had a get to know you time for incoming students and I was out by the volleyball courts and I saw her walk up. I already knew who she was because we were both from Arkansas and had attended Arkansas Youth Camp together, but I didn’t truly know her. (She didn’t know it but I along most of the other boys in the camp always quickly spotted her as one of the HOTTEST girls at camp, of course that’s not why you’re at youth camp, right?) So, fast forward to college and I was pretty excited to get to meet her. She came up and said “Hey, haven’t I seen you at Arkansas Youth Camps,” and I replied yeah, she then said “I’m MAAAANNNNDDDDYY JUUUUMPPPER, in the most country voice you have ever heard.” I laughed and introduced myself as well. Although we didn’t date until the spring semester, I definitely didn’t let her out of my sights.

The more I got to know her the more I wanted to know. From her apparent outer beauty to the inner delecateness and love for Christ, I was challenged and motivated in every way. I then met her family and fell in love with her event more, it was amazing to be at a place that felt just like home. She was and is the most incredibly human being alive!!

We then got married and began ministry together and I saw that no one loves to reach and help people more than her. She accurately fits the saying that “Behind every great leader, there is better leader their wife.” She completes me and makes me that much more effective than I could be on my own.

Then we had Kids and boy did we three in three years. Can you say WOW! (we did) But in all of that she has proven to be the most amazing mother any child could ever ask for. Mandy I love and thank God every day for bringing you into my life. I hope and pray that you have a Hockey Dobay, (the word of our 2 year old son Eli) and that this be the best year of your life.

 mo·ron-[mawr-on, mohr-] –noun - a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment.

The other day we were at my parents house and I decided to get Eli out of the house and take him for a spin on their riding lawn mower. Eli absolutely loves tractors so he thought he was big stuff while driving the mower. Later we were outside playing basketball and Gracie turned to me and said “Daddy, I want to ride the moron.” I didn’t understand what she had said so I asked her to repeat  it so she said “DADDY, I want to ride the moron.” Since she is only four years old I still wasn’t sure what she said I asked one more time, at this point she was getting frustrated with me and she said “DADDY, I WANT TO RIDE THE MORON, YOU KNOW LIKE ELI.” I then laughed pretty hard and asked if she meant the mower and she said “Yeah, the mower” as if she had said it all along.

Isn’t it amazing how powerful communication is, only one word can be off and it can alter an entire sentence. Just makes you stop and think how powerful your words are. To think that your words can bring either life or death to a situation. James spells it out pretty clear in chapter three. Check this out. 

So……. We went to Greenwood, Arkansas this past week to begin a family vacation that my Mom had planned nearly a year ago. (It’s crazy how it takes that long to actually get everyone together, but there is 17 of us.) However, we end up getting there a little early since Mandy had to have her hair done, by Mitzi who is a hairstylist in the Greenwood area. On Saturday, we decided to go to Van Buren, Arkansas and visit some of my  family. We ate lunch with Nanny and Aunt Vonda and then went out to Aunt Becky and Uncle Tommy’s house to sit and talk. Upon arriving they were out in the back in their swimming pool try to stay cool since it was over a 100 Degree’s that day. Contrary, to some beliefs Arkansas is NOT the north and it actually does get really hot. Well, upon arriving they just insist we go swimming, but we told them thanks but we didn’t bring our swimming suits, yet from the moment we walked up Gracie Belle was eyeing that gorgeous pool and letting us know how she really wanted to go swimming. We quickly reminded her there was one major problem, she didn’t have a swimming suit with her. My Aunt Becky then pointed out that it’s no big deal she can swim in her shirt and pantie’s and how they used to do it all the time with there kids. So, that was all the convincing Gracie needed and before you knew it the shorts were off and she was on her way into the pool.

Well, If you remember correctly we have THREE children and if one gets to swim then you can guarantee that the other two are soon to follow. This was okay as far as Mandy and I because they had suits for us to use, but the boys (who are two and one) were a different story. Eli and Harrison not only didn’t have a suit, but didn’t have SWIM DIAPERS! This posed a big problem, but Aunt Becky would have nothing of it, and quickly pointed out that there wasn’t swim diapers when her kids were little and they still swam. Against our better judgement we decided to go ahead. We then lathered everyone up with Sunblock and away we went.

So here we were swimming in the pool with a little girl in pantie’s and a shirt and two little jay bird boys swimming away having the time of there lives, and then it happened….. You guessed it Harrison decides he needs to go POOP, and guess who happens to be holding him when this happens? Yep, me and would you happen to know where we were at the time, oh yeah in the MIDDLE of the pool. I am holding him and all of the sudden he starts to grunt which mind you is not a good sign when there is NO DIAPER on him. I immediately begin the trek to get out of the pool, and actually did make it when he was HALF WAY through. So, as you can imagine we went in to panic mode and Mandy began the scooping process as I began the cleaning process.
Needless, to say we were a bit embarrassed, but what a memory to the start of a memorable vacation!

P.S. The next time we swam Eli threw a fit because he actually had to put a swim suit on! Imagine that my two year old kid already wanting to skinny dip!

I’m on vacation this week so I’m taking a break from writing, but will definitely update you with some of the crazy stories! Stay Tuned.

Nearly two years ago Mandy came to me telling me about one of her crazy dreams. If you know Mandy this is nothing unusual. I think that every time she dreams, it is some off the wall hard to understand story. In this particular dream it was about the roller coaster MR. FREEZE at Six Flags. She dreamed that we were waiting in line to get on the ride and just about the time we were to get on it the conductor got on the loud speaker and said that due to techincall difficulties they are suspending the ride at this time. So, we then left to go ride another ride, as we walked out of the building we notice the ride going again, but just as it got to the top where it stops before it goes backwards, it got stuck. If that’s not bad enough, about that time an airplane was out of control and about to take the tower of Mr Freeze out, so in utter panic and fear people started jumping out of the carts in hope of saving thier lives. She also pointed out how we were supposed to be on that train, but we left when they had difficulties. (Believe my I know that is a bit crazy, but I warned you at the begining that’s how they normally are.)

Now, fast forward to Wednesday, July 16th. Mandy and I are at Six Flags celebrating our anniversary and the first thing she says is “you know I don’t want to ride Mr Freeze”. I respond with the typical answer, Why? She said because of my dream, I then told her how crazy she was and how she needed to get over it emphasizing it was only a dream. After some convincing she relented and we got in line for Mr Freeze. As we waited she was not very talkative, except to point out how nervous she was. Finally, we got up to the front of the line, ready to get on the train, and Mandy starts to pray, yes pray! “God if we are not supposed to get on this ride make that conductor stop this because of technical difficuties. The train moves into position ready to shoot out like a cannon just like it always does, and then theres a delay. We wait, and wait, then the conductor comes on the loud speaker and says? Yep, you guessed it technical difficulites, as a matter of fact the same spill that she dreamed. Needless to say that was a total conformation for her and we were out of there, never to ride the Mr. Freeze again!

Thankfully the rest of her dream did not come to pass, but it does make you wonder why things happen like that sometimes. The truth is God is all knowing and cares for everything you do, even the littlest details. So, don’t take for granted the next time you feel that gut feeling or little small voice, take a step back, asses the situation, maybe there’s a lesson to be learned.

OK, so this past week was the 9th Anniversary for Mandy and I.  It’s hard to believe that we have been married nearly a decade. Let me start by saying it has been by far the best nine years of my life and so much has happened in just a short time. From the experience of following God and working together to spread the hope of Christ to the birth of all three of our children. WOW!

We actually went out on our Anniversary Thursday of last week, but decided since our kids would be gone to grandparents this week we would go to Six Flags Over Texas and stay the night in a hotel. So, we got up this morning and headed that way, first thing we did was went to all of our favorite rides starting with Batman, and right away we noticed something a little bit different, but we weren’t ready to admit it. You see both of us were very dizzy after the ride. Even though it’s been over two years since we had been we thought that surely nothing had changed since the days of youth pastoring and riding everything as many times possible. Man were we WRONG! Don’t misunderstand me we had a great time, but we had to resign to the fact that we had gotten a little older, and instead of running as fast as we could to the next greatest ride we found ourselves taking our time and noting how much our kids would love this ride or that ride. Believe it or not we even rode “the train” I can’t even remember the last time I did that.

All in all it was an incredible day and nine years that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I LOVE My Wife and Kids!!!

P.S. Stay tuned for the story of Mandy and MR. FREEZE!

 Ever since Gracie was just a baby she has loved to get on my back and ride it like I’m her personal mule. One day when she was on it I began to do the whole Eeyore thing and I would say “Ba dupe, Ba dupe, Ba dupe, Ba dupe”, and from that moment any time I am laying in the floor she jumps on my back and says “Daddy, I want to play Ba dupe, Ba dupe.”When Eli was old enough she passed this game on to him, and tonight she has offically passed it on to Harrison as well. This has always been one of those fun games you play with your kids and a memory that will last a lifetime. I Love My Kids!!!!!!!!

Can you see the resemblance?  

Wow, what a day! Four years ago my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby girl Gracie Belle Miller. Here at our house Mandy doesn’t believe in birthday’s, she believes in birthweek’s. We have celebrated in so many ways, from a swim party on friday with 60 little kids to just spending today with her and allowing her to do what she wanted. So, with that we took her to Libby Lu’s for a complete makeover. (Yes, she is only four, but man does she love to be a princess!) It’s hard to believe how fast time can fly and yet it still moves the same speed with every second, to every minute adding up to an hour to… Oh well, here we are another day gone, but man was it a fun one.