Russell Family Blessings

I came across a blog a few weeks ago when I saw a post on another blog. I went there and read it from the beginning. It brought to the forefront of my mind just how quickly our lives can change. Lane Ann Miller is a woman in need of a miracle. Please check out her story and pray for her... Click here to read her story.

I am really beginning to feel on top of things. Here it is January 4th and I'm writing my second post of the year!!! Yea! I hope this is a prediction of things to come in 2010... Eventhough I may be off to a good blogging start for 2010, I know that I'm actually behind since I'm just now blogging about Christmas. This Season was so very strange and sad, too. I won't mention everything that happened, but the Season began to take a turn 'south' when two weeks before Christmas, Wayne began to get sick. He started coughing and feeling generally yucky...which let Dr. Russell (that's me) to suggest some good cough medicine. After a couple of days on that, he developed a prostate infection. (Which we now know was probably brought on or at the least aggrivated by the cough medicine. He had no prior problems in this area.) I knew he must be very sick when he called me at work to tell me that he had made his own dr. appt. (with no prompting from me!) The dr. prescribe...

I promise to make a Christmas post! I will, I will! Tonight I couldn't resist actually being on time for a post for once!!! Does your family have a New Year tradition? For the last few years I have hosted a little New Year lunch at our house. Nothing fancy, just down home cooking. My dad and my Papa come over for lunch which always includes black-eyed peas and turnip greens. The rest of the menu varies, but we ALWAYS have the black-eyes and greens. This year was no different...the menu included: baked ham, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, home made mac-and-cheese, fried corn bread and last, but not least a made-from-scratch chocolate cake. I really do feel like I spent most of the day in the kitchen which I enjoy, for the most part. Today, however our lunch turned into supper. I didn't get the ham in the oven in time for it to be ready by lunch, so I decided to wait 'till supper to cook. I don't think I will do that again. I do enjoy having my afternoons to relax. As it...

I will add a Christmas 2009 post soon, but I wanted to get these videos on first. These were made Christmas night after a full day of festivities. Oki got a new Bible from her Nonnie. She's convinced it is a song book! She does know all of the words to Away in a Manger, but would NOT sing it correctly for the camera! Typical Oki behavior. Anyway, I thought you would enjoy these. I hope your Christmas was blessed!

For some reason, our boys love to play football. This fall, Eli and Max have had the most fun playing in our back yard and adjoining pasture. Wayne joins in also and it's "boy against boy!" An extra special treat is when Poppie (my dad) comes out and throws the ball for Eli... I got these first pictures one afternoon before the time change. These next pictures were snapped at Clay's birthday party. Clay is a one of Max's best friends. Of all the boys playing on the field, Max is the only one without shoes! I promise, I did raise him right! Check out our Eli. He loves the game! I can't believe how big he's getting!

Oki's new shoes are old by now, but I couldn't help but share this.... Picture this: Oki and me at Target...walking in the shoe department... She begged for these $10 shoes, insisting that if she had "tennis shoes" she could play on the monkey bars at school. She very plainly explained to me that you can't play on the monkey bars if you wear sandals, flip flops or Crocs! I must admit that I'm a little snobby when it comes to athletic shoes for my children. I don't think I've ever bought Eli or Max a pair from Target or Walmart. Usually, they get Nike, New Balance or Under Armour, so when Oki started begging...of course I thought "no way!" Then I started thinking, "It's just $10, if they tear up after one wear, I won't be out much money." Boy, was I in for a surprise! I've never seen someone love a pair of shoes like this girl loves hers. She even had to wear all pink to "match" on her first day wearing t...

I have so many pictures and not enough time and motivation to get them on here! I am almost ashamed that I have not been keeping my blog up to date. When I take pictures, I have grand plans to upload them and I even have cute little blurbs to add, but I never seem to find the motivation to follow through! Well, by George, tonight I'm getting some pictures on!!!! ;-) I decided to create separate posts, so I can title them accordingly. Be patient, I have a lot of pictures to sort through.