Christine Miller-Serviss Memorial and Legacy Fund

The book of my mother's life had many different chapters. It was a book some may describe as "all over the place", seemingly lacking a plot, despite its incredible character development. While I'm still fuzzy on many of the early chapters, I entered somewhere near the middle. Having read through to the end, I want to share with you what the plot of Christine Miller, as I've known her, really was.

Love!

My mother's life was a masterpiece painted by love in all of its many colors. Hers was not your typical disregarded-commitment sort of love that says, "I love you because I'm suppose to." It was much more powerful than that. Hers was a love, when expressed as it continually was, transforms and changes the recipient into a more complete form of themselves. From plants to animals, and husbands to children, her love was transformational.

I am the youngest of Christine's three children, Dylan. In more than a few ways, I am alive today because of the beautiful woman that is my mother. In my darkest hour, my mother was my beacon, reflecting the light of Christ's love for me.

My mother was also an academic, having achieved two Masters degrees from Northern Michigan University, and a Doctorate from Regent University. She loved both learning, and teaching. As children we were well versed in the writings of Tolkien and C. S. Lewis and there was no room for pictures in any of our library's books, save the occasional illustration which I became accustomed to no longer searching out, as it would often be too tedious and fruitless. I've no doubt she would've corrected several of these sentences already, and I will greatly miss that.

This fund for my mother has a greater purpose than merely relieving the financial burden we children find ourselves in at this current and unexpected hour. It will not just be used for her end-of-life necessities including travel to and from Tennessee as necessary, along with all of the small but important things that go along with this stage's resolution, but it will also be used because I made my mother a promise, and it seems that it will require assistance.

In order to finish my mothers book, which she was editing up to the very day she left us, it is necessary to establish new ownership of its intellectual property. For this to be accomplished an attorney must be retained to facilitate the process of the "small estate" probate. This probate process will require additional travel to and from Tennessee, as well as a certain number of unexpected costs. Any additional resources not used directly for these end-of-life purposes will be held securely in her grandchildren's (14 and 16) educational funds, as she would've desired. Her children will only be accepting what is necessary to fulfill these current post-life needs.

My siblings and I are incredibly discouraged to not be able to afford these current necessities out of our own resources, and we find ourselves unprepared in this endeavor. Asking her friends and family to bless her memory by assisting in all of these affairs is not just humbling, but there is also a great deal of honoring her in it. She would've been, in her own words, "tickled" to know that in this time of need, she had garnered the support of her loved ones.

My mothers legacy is only just beginning, however. I've read the impact that the early versions of her book has had on its few readers. I know the power of her testimony within it. I know it has the ability to transform lives, and rest assured, I will see to it that it also has the opportunity.

From my Mother, myself, my brother Charles, and my sister Zephyr,

Thank you and God Bless.

UPDATE: We are so incredibly grateful for every single contribution thus far both great and small, we could never thank you enough! This has given us so much hope when we had been so uncertain. Thank you all.