A Banner Year

For many people, 2020 and 2021 have been hard and disappointing years, but for my niece, Michelle Miller, this past year has been a banner year. So many wonderful things have transpired in her life, that she can’t help but be jumping for joy, and excited for the future and all that it will bring with it. Michelle and her long-time love…literally since middle school, Matt Miller tied the knot this summer in a sweet ceremony on Casper Mountain on August 14, and they have been busy starting their new life as a married couple. They are so happy together and such great friends, on top of now being husband and wife. They are so perfect for each other. It is a sweet mixture of macho man meets the artist, and while the two things might seem very different, these two somehow blend together perfectly. While Michelle is an artist, she also likes to get outdoors with Matt…well, maybe not the hunting and fishing parts…more the camping part, but that works out well for both of them.

Michelle is an artist, like I said, obtaining her art degree for Black Hills State University. When she and Matt moved back to Casper, Wyoming from Spearfish, South Dakota, she began to apply to the Natrona County School District. Unfortunately for the school district, they didn’t have an opening, and Michelle took a job with The Nicolaysen Art Museum as an Art Educator. While she had envisioned herself as a public school art teacher, Michelle quickly addapted to her new career, and…well, has this ever been a wonderful career move for her. In October 2021, Michelle received a huge promotion from Art teacher to Curator of Education. It was a very big promotion. Her boss was very much on board with her moving up, and her family is all very pleased with her new position too. Michelle will be writing grants and getting all parts of the education program’s set up. It rather like the type of promotion when a teacher becomes school principal, except that most teachers have to be teaching for years before such a promotion comes their way…but then Michelle is very a unique and special teacher. She is very happy with her new career and responsibilities. She also has the added benefit of being able to continue to teach some of her classes, something that she would have hated to have to give up. Michelle is and always will be a teacher first.

Michelle and Matt are currently living in an apartment, but they are beginning to put out some feelers concerning a home of their own They want a house, but they are actually looking for a piece of land where they can have room to have a big shop and maybe even an art studio…I hope, because Michelle, while she is Curator of Education, and an art teacher, is really, first and foremost, an artist. I have seen her work, and it is amazing. I believe she could easily sell her work, and I know people would be quick to buy. With their big future plans, they are actively looking around for that perfect property, but they haven’t found one that suits their needs yet. I’m sure that it is out there. God has the perfect place for them, and He will show it to them with the timing is just right too. Yeah, still in the same place. I know that when He shows them the perfect place, they will see that it is perfect too. We are very excited for them to be able to start their next chapter of their lives. Today is Michelle’s birthday. Happy birthday Michelle!! Have a great day!! We Love you!!