Graduation plans, wedding plans, girls camp, ward camp, concert glee banquet and Spring showcase and band banquet! I enjoyed mothers day as well. Lyle worked so hard to make it a nice day for me. He even made a perfect roast! ok, I coached a little :)

Daniel called saturday and monday. I was not able to speak to him but the other children did. I pray for him as I do all of my children. I still marvel that he was given to me from Heavenly Father. I know we came to earth to learn and often we learn through methods we would rather not be a part of if we had the choice. Daniel was first! Having him where he is keeps me humble. Sometimes I feel unworthy as a parent and as an individual because of the choices he has made. It's taken years and constant uplifting self talk to accept who he is and where I am and where he is. I've almost totally overcome the feelings of guilt for his choices and behaviors. We can't live in the past, we have to keep the faith. So I work on keeping faithful despite my inner turmoil. I love my husband and children dearly. I love the gospel and the prophets who teach and lead us. I pray that if I've overlooked errors and sins of ommission I can make up for them.

It's May and Mothers Day. It's special because lots of fun things happen in May. Last week I got home from the American Mothers Convention in Salt lake City. It was brief but fun and Sherri Dew's keynote speech at the gala banquet made it all worthwhile. Lyle asked me to speak in sacrament and I think he was inspired to ask me because of that talk. I didn't even tell him about it yet. We made bridal invites for Ari's bridal shower that Amalie is hosting on June 3 and Jeremy picked up his grad announcements for Kamehameha Schools graduation May 30. Wow! Jaren has pops concert this saturday too! I don't know how we'll make all of these events because Jeremy graduates from seminary on the same night. Last night, May 7, Lyle and I chaperoned the Kamehameha senior prom. We stationed by a door to watch that no kids went in or out of and it was outside of the main party but close enough that we could check out the happenings. After the kids went through the buffet line they would walk down a hall and pass right in front of us. Jeremy's date was so beautiful in red. Her name is Ailana Meyer. such an adorable person. He looked so handsome in red and black! I picked out his vest and tie at the tuxedo rental place. 4 proms this year! I bought a 1 suit to wear to all of them and told him it was for his mission next year as well. At the end of the evening he came by to get his stuff as well as last year's date, Emily Char. She is so outgoing and personable! Much more than I thought, or she has grown a lot in this past year! She and Jeremy were "sparring" verbally. That was fun to watch. the theme of the prom was Sweet Serenade. There were candy decorations all over the prom and each table had a 16 inch vase full of gumballs. CUTE! well right before going home Jeremy told Emily, I'll give you $5 if you can catch a gumball in your mouth! she was game! I wished I had gotten a picture of him throwing the gumballs and she with her wide mouth open trying to catch one. so funny and cute! Ailana watched, amused. Emily's date was quite the gentleman. He was polite and quiet. I must say it seems Emily and Jeremy have quite a playful relationship! She invited him to a after prom party at her seminary teacher's home. It can't get much better than that! I watched her lead her prom date around all night. He was like a little puppy dog following his master (or mother :)). Lyle and I went to spy from afar on Jeremy at the dance floor with Ailana. Lynette Serrao told us he was dancing with everybody but his date. When I checked they were in slow dance form, a little too close for my comfort. We almost cancelled on chaperoning but I'm so glad we did.

When Jacob and Monica walked by us I got a picture and I told them, now don't be self concious and try not to think that your Bishop is chaperoning your prom! ugh! funny thought indeed!

Last summer Jeremy and I had a huge falling out and one of the things that came out of him was that he failed with Emily. I told him that I got the sense that Emily obeys the standards and would never ever get a boyfriend because it was against church standards. She was the only one with a dress with sleeves at last year's jr prom. When Melanie Serrao came over to have me hem her prom gown she said, "I'll be the only one there with a dress with sleeves. I said, no Emily will have a dress with sleeves. she said, oh yes! she will!" I like Emily. I don't know if she's Jeremy's type but wish that the two will have a small chance to get to know each other more in college or after his mission. She's quite a leader and a stalwart worthy YW. and yes, she wore her shrug all night. I think her dress had spaghetti straps but I could not tell

More fun and more activites coming up in May!

Missing the boat

Somehow McMillans keep missing the boat and mom has to stay on shore with them. Jeremy-late to ACT test then even though they let him finds out he can't take it because he did not have an ID on him. Alyssa, late to YW recognition night. She was supposed to be there at 5:15. we arrive at 6:10 10 minutes late and find out she was supposed to lead the music! Dad was at Natl guard duty on Maui. The plane returns late because it broke down. He was supposed to give the Bishop's remarks at YW night. But he made it in time for the food. I live in such an imperfect world!

wow it's been awhile!

Lots of fun things have been happening in our family. Well, the other stuff happens too, but you don't blog about those things! Jaren is at Kamehameha for freshman year, Jeremy is a senior at Kamehameha, Alyssa is at Island Pacific Academy and Alena, the last of the McMillan tribe has started kindergarten! How do I keep up with such a life? With lots of help! Ari, Jake and Wendy and sometimes Amalie help out with driving, dropping off, and picking up. Party planning has become my new favorite past time. Lots of birthdays and then there are ward activities! An Eagle court of honor (hopefully soon!) a retirement party, a mothers conference are all in the planning. Pictures forthcoming as the events occur! Sometimes I think it would be fun to be a professional party planner but the fun might be lost when it turns to a business. It's just nice to have other people pay for your party ideas! I would love to have organza trimmings over the my upcoming Paris party with Christmas lights like stars overhead. It's a Twilight in Paris theme so I would love to create a Twilight lighting, of course! Amalie thinks I'm obssessed with Paris. Wendy heard a talk in sacrament meeting about keeping our ward activities simple (of course it was from a man!).

November 2009

The weather has changed! Breezes and rain are here. We are glad to leave behind the muggy, no wind, hot 91 degree weather! I had a fruitful day. I took a friend and her step daughter to the doctor. I dropped them off then went to run errands. ( I returned one dress and bought 3 new dresses!) then returned to pick them up and stopped at the prison to drop off money for Daniel's account. Lucky me! Lovely responsibility for my 29 year old child! After i took them home, Nancy asked for a ride back down the hill to Foodland so I dropped her off, then finally got home to eat lunch. Colby and Alena were ready to go to Blockbuster, so while there Nancy ran into us and I gave her a ride home. We finally got the windshield on the Acura changed. It had been cracked ever since Aug 6 when the policemen chasing Daniel blocked him off and pulled him out of the car and slammed him against the windshield. That really hurts to think about. Makes my cry everytime I think about it. I didn't even mention that they dragged him on the ground and kicked him first. I really have a dislike for policemen. He's not bad, he's an addict. sorry to say. It's been a rainy day but that is a signal to me that Christmas is coming. I cleaned our oven/range out top to bottom with the intent to give it to my friend Cherylynne. Only to find that the electrician spliced the cord and connected it another then capped them off. I can't understand why they would do that rather than put in an outlet for goodness sake! I was supposed to have a brand new one delivered tomorrow. Cherylynne's husband was going to come and take my old one (which looks great after all the cleaning I did and works great, too) but I called her to put a hold on it. We laughed as we both recounted our discoveries when pulling the oven/range away from the wall! Gross! but now we have clean floors and ovens! I called the NEX to reschedule the delivery of my new range/oven from tomorrow until the 19th of Nov to give me time to decide what to do! We were told that our fuses are overloaded in our fuse box. When we added a line for an AC unit in July, we found out that each fuse has 3 wires coming out of it. That is not up to par according to the electrician who offered to fix it all up for $1600!!! The handyman who installed the AC said that was a great price! ugh! Well, you know what I'm thinking???? Rip out the whole kitchen and start over!! so now after a nice shower I just want to lie in bed and ponder the eventful day.

Halloween 2009

It's almost here! I've been sewing costumes all week. Lyle is Robin Hood, I'm Maid Marian, Colby will be Willy Wonka, last week I sewed Ari a skirt for a pirate princess. She will wear her hat from Disneyland as will Alyssa who will be mini mouse. We couldn't find red polka dot fabric so we bought red costume satin and have punched 1" circles on sticker paper to make the dots stick to the skirt! In the past 2 days i've sewn a blue ninja and a white ninja. Amalie was over and sewed her caveman and cavegirl outfits for she and Nick. Our trunk or treat is this saturday followed by a Monster Mash dance in the gym! Looking forward to it and hope that the weather stays beautiful, but less hot.

Appreciation

It might take some time but kids actually do appreciate you eventually. My soon to be 30 year old writes me all the time expressing his love and appreciation for his family (US). Prior to Aug 6 he hardly came around the house and avoided family dinners/parties. What is it about college life (away from home) that makes an adult child feel gratitude for his/her parents? Perhaps the lack of home cooked meals? the free bed to sleep on? Not to mention the car and gas money, lol! It couldn't be the free advice and counsel on making decisions!! No! but alas, sometimes parents are actually right! Hah! :)