Milestones

Collin Davis Miller.

My son.

My second born.

He came into this world on his own terms.

He loves puzzles - has ever since he was 3.

He loves to play games.

He hates television.

He loves to garden.

It took him 4 years before he began talking in a language that we could all understand.

His older sister understood his language and acted as his translator for almost a year.

He often took himself to bed when he was a toddler.

His favorite "toys" were blocks, legos, and anything he could "build" with.

He would spend hours building entire village scenes with these.

If there is a fire - whether camping, in a woodstove or in the backyard fire pit -

he can't resist the urge to poke it.

He loved to read and be read to.

We read all sorts of books together when he was young. . .

He loved to play with rockets.

He loved to help me in the kitchen.

He gave us a unending source of pride . . .and headache!

He was the child that made my heart stop on multiple occasions.

Like when he got knocked over by a neighborhood dog and was unconcious for a short time when he was 4.

Or when I got a call from the school that he broke his finger while wrestling with a friend at recess.

Or when he split his forehead open innertubing on the river with friends and needed to get 14 stitches.

He has always been willing to take on a challenge - especially if money and pride is on the line.

Like shaving his head for $100 when he let his hair grow long and was a giant fluff ball of frizz. (By the way - I didn't pay him the money - but a respected youth leader did.)

Or when he ate a fat earth worm while we were gardening one spring for $5.

He has eaten bugs, and raw fish and all sorts of disgusting things on a dare from friends.

And this last weekend . . .

he graduated from College.

And he got his first job in the "real" world which he will begin in a matter of days.

I don't think he could have been any happier on this day . . .

With the love of his life . . .

With 2 of his 3 sisters . . .because us Miller's don't believe in stuffy photos.

And now Collin . . .it's time to move on to the next adventure.

I think it is going to be a good one!