2011 Students.

Purpose of shoot: Try out new camera and reflector, as well as pictures to use for decoration purposes in our school/craft room, and lastly, I feel like my siblings are all growing up so fast that I should take them on weekly photoshoots. 

I give you my poised and expressive sister, and the beauty of evening sun. 

Mother was gone that night, at a women's conference. Supper was in the oven (some of it), and Father and Older Brother were home holding the fort down at home when the four youngest hurried out the door in order to catch the remaining light of the day. 

I got stressed out a little....(why do I do this on photoshoots!?...because I don't know what I'm doing, and how to fix the problem, which is frustrating. :).. but still super fun.) For the majority of the shoot I was still getting "lighting shots". Ha! So Grace was somewhat posing...somewhat just being random while I was shooting. (Here's she directing an orcrastra! :))

They were talking to me the whole time...and to each other....family is the best to take on shoots..relaxed and natural. She was sitting on the desk telling this random story (Because she thought my quick up-do on her hair was very messy...thankfully she still liked it. :)): "Yeah, my sister was gone and my mom is sick, so I had to do my own hair to come to school today...." :) 

Grace is the third grader in our small school. Mother is her personal tutor...and on busy days Big, graduated, brother is her second teacher. (Only if work doesn't call him elsewhere) 

Her brothers were making her laugh here.... then they would tease her and her face would completely change into her "annoyed look"...I have some great pictures of those looks that we'll laugh at in photo albums years from now.  

Eugene takes the camera and Kyle handles the reflector for a few of yours truly. I am the Senior in the house this year, and enjoying doing mostly reading for this last year of formal education.

Dolley Madison is a personal hero... I picked up her Biography at the Library the day before the shoot as a part of my history and decided it to be a descriptive personal prop.

Oh Eugene.....our 11th grade student. He excels in always getting things done...and on time..in school.

I was showing a friend these pictures and she said "You can just see this air about Eugene in all his pictures.." she said doing her own dominant male look to depict unspoken words. You so can... and that's so what he is...In command...loud and dominant...and most of all totally hilariousness! This guy has the best one-liners! It's true to say that "the party has arrived" when he walks into the room! :) It is God's spirit that obviously makes this man who He is, and I so enjoy (and sometimes don't get along with) his boisterous character.

I'm trying to think of a word other then "cute" right now....but none is quite as correct with this picture. (He chose his own outfit. Daddy's vest being the center piece. I did add the hat, however.)

This man is such a mystery. Gifted  by God in unique ways...cool...very cool...sincere....and sensible jokester. (As in, his not loud and obnoxious, but can send us all into fits of uncontrolled laughter.). Onry is another adjective that goes along with his character.  Is it just me...or can you totally see that in all his expressions! :) He's in...wow...I believe eighth grade already!

Grace jumps in for a few with one of her big brothers. The one that provokes her most often...I try to explain to her that He just does it to get a reaction out of her, and does it because he loves her. It's hard for her to comprehend that at this point. But the older they both get, the more they enjoy each other. And they really can be sweet together. :)

 Eugene says something that amuses them....

I was doing Eugene's shots while Grace was trying on Kyle's hat and asked me to look at her...result above. Then she decided that she needs to do a few takes with the hat as well. "Sure take more pictures of Grace, why don't we!" comments Kyle who's a little bitter about cute curls taking the show. he he...

The sun was becoming less and less as we posed for a few self- timer shots before heading home for supper. 

"Are there not five Miller children?" you may ask. "Yes, indeed, but only four still in school." I reply for those curious of the sudden subtraction

Deborah Isabel

Ladie's Roadtrip To Iowa!

    I received the invitation in the mail, I thought up a brilliant and exciting plan to transport me to Iowa. I shared it with my Mother and Brother...we checked the calendar...then the map...then calculated distances...we had several options...now it was time to take it to Father. I waited for a good time (not wanting to overwhelm him with our crazy plans)...I tried to present it in a submissive "not my will but your will be done" attitude. He agreed it might be and option and that he'd love for me to go, and we will think and pray about it. I refrained from calling her, for I wanted it to be a surprise. But several weeks later...plain tickets were unaffordable, and all my other ideas fell through. I accepted this, obviously the best for me, as God saw it. I could see that He was trying to teach me a "certain lesson". The Sat. before the graduation celebration...she called me. I told her all the things we had tried to devise to get to Iowa and spend the weekend, and how nothing worked. She had to go...but said she'd call back later that evening. When she did call...she really did have the perfect plan...her Aunt and cousins were coming to Iowa from Georgia...and we could meet in Atlanta and drive up with them! YAY...so that's how it went. (After first having the crazy idea of driving four hours from Ill., where we currently were, to meet them as they were driving home from Ind. to Iowa. Father said a gentle and wise "no". Then we almost didn't go because of some physical illness problems...long story.) So I left on a Thurs. afternoon...and drove though rain to the city of Atlanta. Meeting three wonderful ladies: Dorcas (Mother), Corina, (Eldest daughter), and Ashlin (Younger daughter.). We hit it off...and had a wonderful time.We arrived Friday Morning to the Bontreger household, for the purpose of attending Mitchell and Allison's graduation recital and celebration.

Music practice for the Recital....Beautiful!

I only wish I could explain how crazy and fun it was around the house all weekend. We had so much fun preparing food in this kitchen!

Sister on the left talks on phone, and has fun creating table, Sister on right tries to keep things moving "Just tell her you can't talk!"... :) They're personalities made me laugh all weekend!

Allison creates her darling picture board.

All the creative pictures were so super fun!

Corina was assigned to spray-paint "everything" black! :) (Including a failed attempt to make hand sanitizers classy! :))

Saturday morning....after final prep. we all got ready for the grand occasion. Chelsy was runny around being the glue to all the activities going on, and she summoned me capture the doing of the hair. And anyone who knows Allison, thinks of her lovely up-doos..so it was quite the little shoot! :)

Little sister Elizabeth poses with the programs.

They started with two songs of worship. When she does anything...she does it with passion and expression...therefore watching her sing is so real.

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Beautiful Beethoven pieces...totally amazing.

Chelsy accompanied her on all her pieces.... (Joshua serves as "page flipper")

And then we smoothly switch over to blue-grass banjo music! It was such a fun combination. Couldn't call this recital boring! ;)

Sisters look on.

And they play their Father's favorite song; Orange blossom.

She didn't know these two elderly women...they saw the recital in the paper and came. "I have never in all my life heard anything like this", said the ninety-year-old, dear lady.

Sweet little sisters Elizabeth and Rebecka.

Finally! Finally the party! Relax, CELEBRATE! And eat the food that has been before us for the past two days, to which we had to save for the party!

Corina prepares sandwiches.

Te he...

Lace, rotic, pictures and quotes...Allison table.

Mitchell's table.

Mitchell greets the guests.

The dessert table was so wonderful! Five different kinds of delicious bars! 

 After the wonderful meal and conversations. We played "speed volleyball"...(super fun)...for about two hours. Then...then 8 young ladies in the bus that night! Three of them I had only met that night...two others I had met just days earlier..but we all hit it off....staying up till five o'clock...wonderful talks until about 3:30....then "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"... (we giggled the entire time)...then we attempted to join in the early morning milking...more good talks. It was so encouraging and fun.

Sunday morning after Church we pose for a few good-bye pictures.

Little ladies that I so enjoyed being with over the weekend.

One more just before we left. We had such a good time. But I really was ready to leave when we did. Every time I leave my family I'm reminded how God did not intend for a body to live with anyone but their family. Plus we talked a lot about family and how to deal with, love, and enjoy them. So I talked about them a lot...and was so inspired in how to get to know them even more...and how to love....even when there I things that bug me..or I would want to change.I've been so challenged to look at those things as molding tools in my life and opportunity to love and serve. I was almost discouraged when we left...I have so far to go..but I couldn't let myself be...I know God will teach me...and He has given me my family with their personalities for a reason.

Corina checking oil on the way home.

The Ride home was wonderful. We talked late into the night...we stuck our heads out the window as we drove through St. Louis...talked more...slept some...and arrived at their house at around three or four o'clock. Honestly...these single, learning-filled, adventure-full days of my life are the best! It's sucha beautiful time of my life right now...some mornings I cry...sometimes I'm discouraged...and yet it's just so beautiful to live this life...to prepare for the furture life...to sing with the changing of God"s music over your life. God has made my dreams and prayers come true in lavish ways the past few months. He is continuing to change my heart...and this weekend was another stepping stone. I learned so much..we discussed so much, and I came back very glad I had went.

Deborah Isabel

P.S. There were many wonderful people who made the weekend lovely that are not pictured above, I say with regret. :)