Russell Family Blessings

I couldn't help but share this picture. A couple of weeks ago, a friend gave me a new set of Sorrelli. Oki has shown some interest in my jewelry lately and loves to try it on. Last week, after hearing me oooohhhh and ahhhh over these new earrings, she "had" to give them a try too...By the way, she said she wants some "relli" from Santa this Christmas! Don't worry, I already know...We're in big TROUBLE!!!

I only have a minute or two before I go to bed, but I wanted to post a couple of pictures from today. I am so completely behind on posting! Hopefully, I'll get a few of the (literally one thousand or more) pictures that I have taken this summer on here soon. Today, Oki and I stayed around the house and were pretty much bums. We did enjoy ourselves a good bit. The boys went to the hunting club around lunch and stayed until after dark...I'll save that story for later. Anyway, here's a picture of my little princess. This is where Oki was playing when I was sewing this afternoon. Please excuse the mess of my sewing stuff all around. Note: Oki is playing "baby." She has a diaper bag, 2 baby Bibles, burp cloths, blankets and most important, A PISTOL! Don't worry, it is a non-working air-soft pistol that she confiscated from Eli or Max. It is just the thought that has me laughing. She's learned early the importance of packing some heat...A girl can never be too ...

Since it's been FOREVER since I posted, I thought I'd take just a minute to put up a picture from our first day back. I have so much to share from the summer. I hope that I'll be able to get some more pictures up soon. Both Eli and Max are going to new schools this year. Eli is a 5th grader at the middle school and Max is in the 2nd grade at the brand new OES! I can hardly believe my boys are so grown up. Before long, I'll be looking up to them.

Here's a slideshow of the pictures from Oki's third birthday party. I'm sorry it's a little late! I was a little unsure of having a swimming party for a three year old, but it turned out pretty well.

I wanted to take few minutes to post today. So many times, we get caught up in our holidays and forget the reason we have them. I didn't want to forget today. I'd like to remind everyone in the midst of our fun and family time: Our country and freedom was bought with a high price...the lives of many men and women that were willing to die for the chance at freedom. Just as Christ died for us so that we might have salvation and eternal life, our freedom in America was paid for with many, many lives. Our forefathers founded this nation on Christian principles. These days it seems that we have forgotten that our nation was formed because Christians were not free to worship and were being persecuted. After a few more than 200 years, we are almost back where we began. Our rights as Christians are being taken away. Please take a few minutes today and pray for our nation and her leaders. Yes, even our president! I can't imagine the stress he and our other leaders are under each day...

I just thought I'd share some pictures from this morning. Oki was applying her "wip woss." She's definitely a girly-girl!

We celebrated Oki's third birthday on June 16th. I can hardly believe our little princess is three already! Where has the time gone? We will have her party on Saturday with her friends, but on her actual birthday, we had a little cake for her (compliments of Grammie) after supper. Here are some pictures that I took with my new camera.