About Our Family:

Hi! We're Ron and Kathy Miller of Silverdale, Washington. We married in May of 1973 and moved to this place in March of 1975, about one month after the birth of our first child, Michael. Ron grew up in Southern Idaho and moved here in 1969 to take a job at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. He is a mechanical-engineer. In 1976, he took a job at the Bangor Naval Submarine Base and has worked there ever since (located in Silverdale... another Navy installation). He is coming down to the wire on retirement and can hardly wait! In his spare time he has worked on the house over the years. We had a fire in the wall around the living room fireplace in the fall of 1982 (watch out for old construction) and the house has been in a state of flux ever since, and even before. None of the rooms are totally finished at this time, but a few rooms are close. The kids probably don't remember the house before remodeling. His hobbies and interests have to do with cars, working with tools, good music and genealogy. Ron no longer has the responsibility of working at the Family History Center each week (we are Latter-day Saints/Mormon), although he is still very much involved with genealogical concerns. The LDS church has these all over the country and they are open to anyone who wants to use their resources for researching their ancestors. In fact... there are actually more non-Mormon folks who take advantage of the FHC resources than members! (If you want to see where the nearest Family History Center is near you... you can click here and do a search.) Other than that, you might say his interests are his children and their activities. (And I'm probably in there somewhere!) He also devotes a lot of time now to his regular church calling, which is being the High Priest Group Leader of our ward. There is plenty to be done in that calling but I think he's enjoyed the challenge.

I (Kathy) have lived here my whole life, except for one year of college at Brigham Young University. I came home to Silverdale, WA to work and save money for another year and never made it back. It was here (in neighboring Bremerton), in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, that I met my husband. We married in 1973 at the Logan LDS Temple and just after the birth of Michael in 1975, moved to this place... five acres in a little community called Olympic View. I have been a stay-at-home mom, except for a few years that I worked part-time at a local Nursery (Furney's... now closed) after my youngest child entered first grade. I worked in the perennials section and did the ordering for two seasons before the nursery closed. It was a great experience, but I sure got behind in our own garden!

My hobbies have centered around home industries over the years... sewing, canning, soapmaking, and firstly, gardening. As far back as I can remember, I loved "experiencing" plants. My childhood home had a large landscaped yard that had originally been designed by nursery owners. There was a wonderful assortment of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to enjoy. I think even now, I could sketch out that old yard and just about remember every plant that was growing in each bed. It was a beautiful place. I wanted to recreate that environment when we moved here, but we are in a more open situation. As I've gotten older the garden has gotten away from me and I have to pace myself. I keep hoping I'll make inroads each season before the hot weather takes hold! =:o Another abiding interest has been music and I play the piano and sang second alto for over 10 years with a local chorale group. Besides reading about gardening, I have enjoyed psychology, personality and temperament types, child psychology, the paranormal, near-death experiences, handwriting analysis, and other such things that unlock the mysteries of the human psyche. Genealogy has also been something I've been involved with, but have not done as much research recently since so many improvements have been implemented. I've been feeling a pull back to that especially this past year. My Scots-Irish roots in particular seem to be calling. I guess I should add the computer to my hobbies, since it seems I'm often in front of it more than I'd like! Over the years, I have periodically taught soapmaking and gardening classes at church and in the community, so I have put some of the material from those "handouts" on this site. They are fairly basic, but might be helpful to those just getting started. Since posting this web page in March of 1998, I have become busier and busier with soapy concerns and have less and less energy and focus due to midlife changes. :-P I wish I could say I've had time to keep the site updated and spiffy, but that hasn't been the case. While answering emails can be time consuming, it has been a lot of fun hearing from people who have shared their experiences with soapmaking. I've also formed a few friendships over the Internet that have been very gratifying as a result of the whole web page (including the gardening portion, which was the point in the first place!).

When I'm not on the computer, making soap, or in the garden, I do a few things around the house, and also have church responsibilities. In the summer of 2005 I was made the ward's Family History Consultant. I felt underqualified for this but it will get better with time. My job is mostly to teach an eight to twelve week Sunday class several times a year. For genealogical research, you should check out www.familysearch.org. What a wonderful resource!

We'll start out with a couple of oldies... when the kids were all still in the nest (it's empty now)...

Think Olan Mills will come after me for using their logo? ;-) I don't believe we ordered this one since a few people were caught with strange expressions. From Left to Right are: little Karen in Ron's lap, Michael in back, Kathy holding baby Lynda, Kristine in fuchsia (was good for her even then!), little Diane in front and Robert on the far right. Big glasses were IN. This was taken in 1986. I actually sewed back then. I'd made all of my clothes (not that drape thingy over my lap) and Karen and Kristine's dresses.

October of 1993 - Karen hates this photo... sorry, Karen! Not only how she looked in it but that they always seemed to have her putting her hand on someone to pose. We've sure gotten decrepit over the years while the kids get better. ;-) Left to Right: Karen in her huge and hated glasses, Michael in back, Ron in front, Robert back, Kathy with Lynda on her lap, Kristine in back (not wearing fuchsia) and Diane on the right.

This is a more recent older photo, taken near Christmas of 2002. With so many famiy changes we really need to get a new photo taken, but it becomes more difficult with each year. My mother was still alive at the time of this picture and passed away in August of 2006. Very Front Left to Right: Robert and Rachel Miller, back to back, Diane Miller in black. Middle Row Left to Right: Lynda Miller, Amber Miller (Michael's wife), Grandpa Burt Parker, Karen Miller in lavender. Back Row Left to Right: Michael Miller holding little Adrienne, Grandma Arline Parker (Kathy's mother), Kathy and Ron Miller, Kristine in fuchsia.

Our Children: (adapted from our Christmas newsletter with periodic updates)

Michael finished his engineering degree in May of 2006! He was so glad to have that completed and even managed to be on the Dean's List for much of that time. He now works at the the local Naval Shipyard, following his father and two grandfathers. He seems to be enjoying it more as time goes on... depending on the day. Amber has continued her college education on and off but is busier and busier with their growing family. Their two daughters, Adrienne and Colette are shooting up like weeds! On November 8th of 2007 (which happened to be my mother's birthday... she'd passed the summer before)... little Edward Miller joined their ranks. He looks a lot like Adrienne, except he has a perpetually furrowed brow when he's thinking (which seems to be often... he came into the world looking that way). The girls love their baby brother, sometimes a little more than he'd prefer at his tender age. The big project for Michael and Amber this year is building a new home. He took more than a month off this past summer to work on it full time and has been spending evenings after work to try to stay on schedule. Amber's father has been putting in lots of hours also... he's been in the homebuilding business for years. They hope to move in by late winter/early spring (2008). Below are some pictures of their family... some old and some newer.

Michael and Amber's Engagement Photo	Amber and Michael Miller! ... leaving the temple. Amber's niece and nephew are watching.
The Miller Family with the new bride and groom outside the Seattle LDS Temple. From left to right: Diane, Kristine, Ron, Kathy (tired... early morning/late night!), Michael, Amber, Robert, Karen, Aunt Linda Nopp peeking from behind, Lynda.
Michael and Amber with their growing family taken in May of 2005 in our back yard. Colette was worrying about when her next meal was coming. ;-)
Colette and Adrienne, November of 2006 Colette and Adrienne, Fall of 2007 on Adrienne's first day of Kindergarten

Adrienne and Colette with their little brother (notice his brow). Beautiful dresses a gift from their Grandma Lybbert.

Edward Lybbert Miller about 3 days old. Get a load of all that hair. :-)

 

 

This is a photo of Robert taking pictures at Kristine's wedding. Since January of 2006, Robert has been working as the website administrator for the Issaquah School District. This position also provides him teaching opportunities from time to time... teaching staff to use their web software, helping kids with computer based art or web management programs... that sort of thing. He is now a scoutmaster in his ward and spends a fair amount of time with his “boys” doing campouts, clinics, etc. If you'd like to see Robert's own web page, his site is: The Purple Gizmo.	Robert and Rachel Miller emerging from the Seattle LDS Temple. Rachel is busy with little Charlotte and Calvin and tries to squeeze in personal time for reading or quilting and needlework when she can. She works in the Nursery at church. Charlotte is en engaging child and has a sunny disposition. They welcomed Calvin into the family on May 8th (2007). He's revving up to keep them chasing as soon as he gets his legs under him. They still have the furry feline members of their family, Wallace and Gromit.
Boy... this picture looks huge! This was taken at the buffet where we ate after the wedding of Robert and Rachel Miller on June 1, 2002. From left to right: Michael holding Adrienne and Amber to his right, Ron and me (Kathy), Robert and his new bride, Rachel, Kristine and Andy Lester (our former son-in-law), Karen, Diane and Lynda Miller (who has since gotten some dressier shoes!). While laying out these new photos I can't help but notice how sober I look... sleep deprivation contributes to that! (Also a missing tooth I was not anxious to expose with a wide grin... that's been remedied!)
Wallace & Gromit taking a cat nap! :-) Aren't they sweet?	Charlotte in the Summer of 2007
Calvin Miller - 6 months old
Charlotte and Calvin in their Halloween Costumes - 2007	Robert and Rachel with their growing family - December 2007. I have to smile when I look at the changes from the picture of them emerging from the temple the day of their marriage. Little children take a lot of our energy to raise! :-)

Kristine's life has been filled with one change after another. Last December I wrote of her divorce and relocation. She had no intention of even dating for a year. She became active in church again, was called to teach the 16-18 year old girls and met a gal in the Young Women’s organization with whom she really connected (“Sister Booth”). The whole Booth family welcomed Kristine into their home and hearts. She heard their oldest son was going to be returning from a mission in the summer and was curious to meet him after becoming so close with his family. He’s younger than she, so the thought of him as a marriage prospect was not on her mind... until after they met. No one told Alex he’s young. ;-) Within a month they were both feeling they were to be together... and so it is. They were married a few days before Christmas in the Seattle Temple and went on a honeymoon to Hawaii. When you see them together, it just works. Alex is attending BYU in Provo, Utah and Kristine will relocate to be with him while he finishes school. She hopes to find a good job and continue her own education. There have been lots of details for her to work out, but she’s thrilled at this delightful curve life threw her way. Below are a few photos from their engagement and wedding.

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