St. George, Utah – Emily glided into this life joyfully ringing all the bells, singing all the songs, climbing all the mountains, teaching all the children, creating all the cookies and crafts, and writing all the poems.  And she slipped quietly away to soar and sing with angels above on Palm Sunday.   She chose faith over fear.  She was born Emily Joy Miller October 17, 1986, to Mary and David at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City and departed from her final earthly home in Bloomington (St. George, Utah) April 2, 2023.  Those 36 years were truly packed with Joy!  Emily began the earthly journey sharing a bunk bed in West Valley with older sisters, Bekah (Prisbrey) and Anna (May).  She loved pre-school in Spring, Texas – but not so much the kidney surgery as a toddler that short year near Houston.  After a brief interlude in her cousin Megan & Katie's Fruit Heights place, Emily welcomed siblings, Cait (Tidwell), Shawn, Nate, Jake, and Charity (Halverson) who joined her in the family home on Compton Bench in Farmington.  The cousins came over to help Em and her older sisters play neighborhood pranks like turning on and off your TV set from outside the home.  Em loved her teachers at Knowlton Elementary, Farmington Junior High, and Davis High Schools, and did early college at Weber State University graduating in Early Elementary and obtaining a master's degree.  She spent one glorious semester abroad stationed in Palmyra, New York near the Sacred Grove. Later she loved her Taiwanese children to whom she taught English on that Island nation.  And the love of her life, Colby Bell, joined her there to finish out that year in Taiwan and nearby other islands, before the two of them sealed their love in the Bountiful Temple in 2009.  They loved the deer in their Bountiful yard, and the Young Women she taught while living there.  Her verse entitled: Your Heart My Drum captures her feelings about Colby and more: "My journey is not alone -- Though the weight feels heavy -- And my soul so weary -- I find solace in starlight -- And the warmth of your skin -- And I surrender to the sleepy lull -- Of your drum."  The very day Colby moved them into a new Farmington home, Emily was focused on a different kind of motherly move and brought forth her firstborn Zoe, followed the next year by Crew, and a few years later Marley.  This verse by Em speaks of those beloved children, and of herself: Hello Butterfly -- " Cute caterpillar -- Do you have any idea -- What lies ahead? -- That those puffy white clouds -- May well become your bed."  Learning, exploring, loving and teaching were essential to Em.  Before becoming a mother, she loved more students and loved teaching them at the Challenger School in Farmington; the American Preparatory Academy in West Valley; the Jefferson Academy in West Kaysville; and Wasatch Peak in North Salt Lake.  And many little ones joined her own children in Miss Em's "Thinkin Things" Dr. Seuss Pre-School in the artistic basement of her Farmington home.  She loved making amazing gingerbread houses and cookies and had a business loving people with these creations, and her creative artsy teaching supplies.  In 2018 Em & Colby took their young family on a grand six-month adventure, celebrating Christmas in Costa Rica, followed by time together exploring and living amongst the folks for a month at a time in Oahu; Fiji; New Zealand; Australia; Taiwan; and the Big Island of Hawaii.   She definitely chose faith and courage over fear.  Even though Em returned to a diagnosis of breast cancer, the couple did not let that hold them back.  This verse seems relevant: Broken and Beautiful – "As I shed my old skin -- and stepped into my new form -- a shattering sound rang through the house -- as a bowl broke in the kitchen -- Later, my little one, looked up at me bashfully -- and said with remorse -- "mommy, I'm sorry I broke a bowl today" -- "It's ok," came my easy reply -- "Sometimes things need to break" -- Broken is beautiful."   In 2020 after buying an old school bus, the Bell family sold their Farmington home, and became "Schoolies" living out of the converted bus and continuing their family travel explorations in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.  Thousands of people followed their adventures on social media.  Thousands more followed her journey with cancer.  She chose faith, love and hope over fear.  Another verse: Fire in the Bones – " Unless you've had cancer in the bones -- How could you know -- The fire that burns -- As they regrow?  -- The flame is thirsty and fierce -- The hot sting sharp, and piercing -- There's nothing to do -- But breathe cool fuel to the fire -- With the sound of the breath -- And a focus fused -- As you welcome the dancing embrace of the flames -- For this is my purpose -- This is my story -- I chose this destiny -- I asked for rebirth -- And God is granting my wish -- With health in my navel -- And marrow in my bones -- I trust God to guide me -- And lean not on my own understanding  -- Sometimes appearances are deceiving  -- I trust there is life in this dying -- As I crumble to ashes  -- And arise -- With new life in my wings."  There are so very many to whom Emily would have us say thank you, including the earthly angel neighbors in their Bloomington 3rd Ward, family, friends, and so many health professionals all over the world.  She would also ask us all to choose faith, love, and hope over fear.

PS -- Here are a few snippets from some of her other verses: Treasures in Shadows -- A few years back it occurred to me that sometimes you have to walk through the dark to flip on the light.  So often we shirk from our shadows, afraid of the monsters, memories and emotions that lurk inside.  And then when the light floods our space, sometimes we squint to adjust as the darkness is displaced.  There are treasures to be found in the dark and just imagine our joy when the light reveals the long-awaited treasures reclaimed!  As we embrace our shadows, we invite others to do the same. Always Christmas - I know it's not about what I give -- Or what I receive -- It's about the joy of being eternally me -- No matter my form -- No matter my age -- I am written in His palms -- I will always be His -- The gift was already given -- And already received -- No need to wait for Christmas. Akin to the Trees -- Learn to sway with the wind -- Dance with arms wide in the rain -- Stand tall -- Let it fall -- Receive it all -- Above all -- Don't resist the seasons -- As they wax and they wane and fade -- Breathe it all in -- Behold the beauty -- Bask in the change -- Invite the growth -- Then begin again Just Be -- Feeling slightly perturbed and hugely impatient I insisted -- "I can teach! I can bake. I can paint. I can cook and clean and write and speak and serve and share. I'm here!" -- The wind was still. The sky was silent.  -- "I don't understand!" I cried, "I'm ready!" -- The wind whispered again -- "Just be" -- "What? Just be? What does that mean? What do I do?" -- I thundered aloud. -- "Be" came the breathless reply. Want to Trust -- Heavenly Father -- I feel so small and weak. -- I'm not even sure -- the words to speak. -- Heavenly Father, -- I want to trust.  -- Release the fear little one -- you must.  -- Faith, it is real -- Prayer, it can heal -- I love my children -- Look unto me -- Give me your fears -- Hush, calm your heart -- I am the start. Angry -- I'm so angry -- This is not fair -- The pain is crushing me -- My heart is broken -- This is not fair to my kids -- It's not fair to Colby -- It's not fair to me -- This is torture and agony -- And I'm SO angry inside -- I think I hate you -- I know I don't. Life on My Knees -- A crushing weight -- Tightening my chest -- Stifling my breath -- Awaiting my fate -- Curious about death -- My soul aches for rest -- Living life on my knees -- Ever trusting God hears my pleas -- 'Breathe' comes the inaudible whisper -- Let the life in -- Let the old go -- Breathe and begin again.

A Celebration of Emily's Life will be held Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in the Farmington North Stake Center, 729 Shepard Lane (next to the Knowlton Elementary School which Emily loved so much). Visitations will be held Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday prior to services, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. both at the Stake Center. Emily's earthly remains will be laid to rest in the Farmington City Cemetery.

If you have pictures with, or stories to tell about Em, please follow the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/3/d/e/1FAIpQLSecNDkCcd3WahUeAH99l9YuuEtRiD-anVb4Svl7GbbpRRe0Hw/viewform

Services will be livestreamed at the following ZOOM link: https://zoom.us/j/94446264201 .