Feeling Excited...

I LOOOOOVE coffee. It doesn't take knowing me for very long to figure that out.

I just signed up on Spotted Fox where they have a deal for a $20.00 Starbucks card for $10.00. But...I waited a couple minutes to actually buy it, and enough people had signed up under my link that I got my Starbucks card for...

$1.00.

Now that is a good deal!

So click one of the links to Spotted Fox and sign up, please! I want more deals like that! Thanks!

Thankful Challenge, Day 29

29. Daniel. Yes, intentionally redundant, again. He affirms, supports, teases, enjoys, inspires, teaches, instructs, corrects, holds, upholds, and most of all loves me. He is, by far, the greatest dad I know, and others have affirmed that as well. He knows me inside and out, he knows our kids at a level so deep he can pinpoint the way they learn, grow, and think, as well as their personalities and needs. When he comes home our faces light up and the energy level in the room dramatically increases. His hugs and kisses can fix any problem, mine or the kids, and his sense of humor, while sometimes frustrating in its dry nature, can make us smile even if we are upset.

I love, love, love the man I married, with a deep and long lasting love.

Thankful Challenge, Day 28

28. My kids. I know, it's redundant, but I really am. I nearly bled to death after Mckenna was born, twice. I could have missed all these years. While I was pregnant with Gabriel we got some very bad ultrasound results, both for him and for me. Those issues were all resolved, praise be to God, and even the emergency C-Section was less traumatic than it could have been. And Juliana, well, we weren't planning on another one so soon, and the doctors weren't sure we could have another one. So even though the pregnancy and delivery were relatively smooth, she is a miracle baby too.

So daily, even when I am angry or discouraged, I am more thankful than words can describe for my 3 treasures.

Thankful Challenge, Day 27

27. My Role. Not my job, but my role in my life is pretty amazing. Today I was a chef, a bike mechanic (twice), a seamstress, a handy-woman, a teacher, a house cleaner, a professional organizer, a piano accompanist, and wiper of tears.

As I made each person their individual breakfast and then lunch, I was thankful for healthy bodies and fresh food to eat. As I inflated bike tires and tightened down handlebars, I rejoiced watching all 3 kids ride up and down the street, just like my brother and I used to do; I look forward to long bike rides and the day I can say, "Just go for a nice long ride." While sewing the last few buttons on a homemade advent calendar, I took delight in the little things, for that is what my kids do. Hanging hooks in the bathroom to hold cute animal towels reminds me that life is made up of simple joys. Teaching my kids math, reading, spelling, the Bible, history and science means I control what goes into their heads and hearts, and for that opportunity I am grateful. Organizing the school room and the guest closet I am beyond thankful for the many, many books we have been given and the company we have on a regular basis. Playing piano along side my daughter fulfills a dream I have long had, even when we disagree over tempo. And hugging a little body whose knee has been bruised or whose finger has been smashed gives me a moment to bring comfort to my dear children, and there is not much greater.

Yes, there are many who believe I have not lived up to my potential. It's one of those lies I talked about a last week; one I believed once too. But for me, personally, this is greater than any job, greater than any contribution to society; it is pouring into the family I love with my whole heart.

For this I am thankful.

Thankful Challenge, Day 25

25. My nieces and nephews. Words cannot describe the joy I find in the role of Aunt.

Thanksgiving day, all of the Russell side gathered to celebrate. Mckenna and Gabe got to play with their 3rd cousins, whom they see once or twice a year. We hardly saw the kids...they simply played, with no fighting, and very little trouble, for 2 solid days. There are 3 boys, all full of energy and fun, and my kids adore playing with them.

Also there were my 3 nieces, Jadelyn, Lizzie and Audrey, and my 2 nephews, Michael and Malcolm.  I was intentional about spending some time with each one.

Malcom is almost 1 month old. His parents knew they would have a hard time removing his sweet, sleeping form from my arms. They were right. Holding him is pure peace, and I got lots of holding time in.

Audrey is 9 months, and a charming, easy going, sweet smiley girl. She acts much older than her nine months, and is so fun to play with. It was fun to see her and then go shopping for her for Christmas, knowing what she would enjoy.

Lizzie is 2 years, and often slow to warm up to others. But on her daddy's lap she blossomed as I talked with her, tickled her, teased her and helped her finish her turkey dinner. She has the most beautiful hair and loves all things girly.

Jadelyn will be 3 soon (seems impossible) and is the most delightful little girl. Her pouty lip and huge eyes make it hard to say no to anything--charm oozes from this one. She is so smart, very determined, and to the credit of her parents easy to correct when she goes astray. Of course, she acts like a perfect angel for me, so I don't really know what they are talking about when they say she acts badly :o) We spent countless hours talking about the trash truck and calling him on an old cell phone. She even demonstrated her knowledge of modern commmunication when she texted the trash man! We read books, got dressed, ate lunch, and talked about her soon to be baby brother all day. It was bliss.


Michael is nearly 4, which also seems impossible. He is constant smiles, and barrels of fun. He held onto a construction truck with a scoop all morning, asking to go back outside. I bundled him up and took him out, where immediately he scooped snow into his truck. So clever! Michael sat next to Juliana at Thanksgiving dinner (which meant he sat next to me), and was extremely polite and brave. He took a little bit of everything, and with each bite proclaimed it was good or, "I like it!" with enthusiasm. His parents let on that they had been working on that with him, and boy did he show off what he has learned!

I have another nephew, Harvest, who lives across the country. Although we only see him once a year at the most, I am so thankful he is part of our family. He is a mere 4 months older than Mckenna and they have grown up together in many ways.

We also have 2 more nephews on the way--one due around Christmas and one in late February/early March. We cannot wait!

I could never post about nieces and nephews and exclude 2 boys who are constant sources of joy in my life. I love them every bit as much as if they were family. Hayden and Noah belong to our dearest friends, and I laugh out loud whenever they are around. Hayden is 1 year younger than Juliana to the day. They are the best of friends, and also double trouble whenever they play together. He is smart, creative, determined, fast as can be, and all boy. Noah is his counterpart. At 15 months he has had a bit of a rough time--an eye surgery, then an emergency surgery to undo the first one because of an allergy, and a third surgery to redo the correction. But true to his nature he has handled it all with ease. He is easy going, quick to giggle, and very easy to please.

For nieces and nephews, I give thanks.

Thankful Challenge, Day 24

24. On this day, the eve of Thanksgiving, I feel like I should have something profound to say. There are so many things I am thankful for--the list goes on and on in my mind--but choosing things to name is difficult. How do I put into words the profound gratitude I have for my life?

So tonight, rather than be profoundly eloquent or sappy, I will say this:

You.

I am thankful for you, my blog readers. Although I write this blog as a journal, as a way to record and remember, I love that others come along on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thank you for caring about my life.

Thankful Challenge, Day 23

23. Children.  A world without children would be lacking in color, joy, and light. I love my children, you all know that, but I love children in general. They see the world so differently. They are more innocent, open, and honest than adults. They find joy in small things. And they are so darn adorable! With 2 Soccer parties over the weekend, and AWANA tonight, I will see more than 100 children in the span of 4 days. And while I have moments of insanity trying to corral them all, in general they are pure joy.

Thankful Challenge, Day 22

22. Truth. We live in a culture of relativity. Modern philosophical thought says we cannot truly know anything for sure, and there are certainly no absolutes.  While I understand that this seems like a totally new and fascinating way of thinking to those who are thinking it, history does, in fact, tend to repeat itself, and this type of thinking is associated with other eras--indeed, philosophy tends to be cyclical.

But there is truth, and equally importantly, there are lies.

I have bought into lies. I have believed family, friends, the news, politicians. I have heard statistics, reports, and studies and trusted them to be factual. Sometimes I was wrong to believe them.

Although I originally thought I would climb onto my soapbox and rant over a few lies I have believed,  instead I deleted any of that sort of writing.

The important things I am thankful today is that there is absolute Truth--it does exist, and we can know it.

Thankful Challenge, Day 21

21. Traditions. If you know me well, you will know this is actually quite amusing. I am a tradition breaker, to an extreme level, and I often get made fun of for how much I would rather work to change a tradition over just doing something the same way it's been done. However, there are a few traditions that are so worth it to me.

Last night, this afternoon, and tonight, because Grandma Gail has been here to help out, Daniel and I have taken each of our 3 kiddos out on a date. They picked either a place to eat or a treat depending on what we needed, and then we went shopping. We don't really buy presents for our kids. Last Christmas we bought them one: a Nintendo DSi for them to share. And that was their first Christmas gift from us. This year we are getting them each a few small things for their stockings, and one gift each that's practical, but that is it. Instead, after we take each kid out for a treat we shop for the other 2 kids.

Incredible things have come of this tradition.

First, the lesson of thinking about what someone else would want is one that's hard to learn for small children, but is being reinforced each year. Consistently they buy something for a sibling that the buyer has no interest in...and it's hard for them to do. But so good.

Second, the discipline of keeping a good secret. Enough Said.

Third, the joy on their faces when their sibling opens a gift they bought. Priceless.

Fourth, the ability to bless their siblings with personal, fun gifts.

There are so many more blessings that come from these times that make it my absolute favorite tradition of the whole year, but it all comes down the memories we build both on the dates and on Christmas morning, as well as the hopefully life long joy of blessing one another.

Thankful Challenge, Day 20

20. Teaching. I have accepted, finally, that I am a natural teacher. I'm not saying I am necessarily good! But I am saying that I do it without thinking. I love to teach, and I have opportunities to do tons of it! I teach my kids, obviously, and in a way they think is fun. We don't own a single textbook--everything is done through great literature and hands on experiments. I teach a writing class to high schoolers, and have 2 requests to teach it for pay next semester! I teach through grading papers in my comments and corrections. I teach at CBS by being well prepared in my lesson and sharing what I have learned. Apparently I teach more than that, maybe even in my sleep. This is a way God has gifted me, others find it useful, and I feel thankful for the opportunity to share what I know.

Thankful Challenge, Day 19

19. Days off. They may be few and far between. They often include company, a few chores around the house, and even some schoolwork. But, when Daddy is home from work for a whole day, we are all happier! Friday is such a day this week, and we cannot wait!

Thankful Challenge, Day 16

16. My Mac. I admit it. I like my computer a little too much. I would love to say that I could go a whole week and not miss it--but that would be a lie. I try very hard to not get too attached to this silly piece of metal, but honestly, it's a wonderful tool in my life. From staying in contact with friends to finding great resources and helps for homeschool, this one piece of equipment serves a whole lot of purposes. I am reluctantly thankful for my Mac.

Thankful Challenge, Day 15

15. Memories. What would life be like without memories? You, for instance, probably have no idea what is truly happening in this photo of my awesome husband:

But Mark, Audrey, Daniel and I do know. And it's funny. I know we were hiking to Juli J's wedding. I know it was nuts, freezing, windy and gorgeous. I know we chose the hard way. I remember wondering if that was a good idea. I also remember Mark and Dan seeing a perfect photo op, and Mark climbing around the rock to shoot Dan pulling this move. See how his hand and feet are wedged into a crack? That's how you climb a crack in a rock if it's a vertical climb. Which this is not. When I saw this picture that Audrey posted,  I laughed out loud because I remembered. And I am thankful for memories.

Thankful Challenge, Day 13

13. Soccer. I know it sounds funny to feel thankful for a sport, but if you spent one day with me at the soccer fields you might understand. Over all other sports, soccer is in my veins. Playing it is as natural as breathing for me, but coaching has both required a whole new level of understanding and uncomparable joy. Today Mckenna's team won 3-0, against a team ranked significantly higher than they were. They deserved the win, they worked hard for it and did everything I have taught them, but more importantly they played real soccer, and they loved it. Having my team win as a coach far surpasses the joy of winning as a player. I am thankful for the ability to run, kick, throw, and dribble. I am thankful for the time with my kids. I am thankful for health, fun, and being outdoors. I am truly thankful for the game of soccer.

Thankful Challenge, Day 12

12.  Home School. It's just what it sounds like: School at Home. And it's nothing like it sounds: Our day is nothing like a day at school. We snuggle under blankets and read great literature. There is not a textbook in sight. We use Legos to learn math, a toy castle to show our mastery of history, and more markers than pencils. Chores blend with Science experiments and cursive lessons in a seamless harmony of learning in real life. And when we want to play, we play. More often than not they end their day asking for more school, and that's how I know it's working. Being home with the 3 treasures the Lord has given me, teaching them not only the 3 R's but life, character, and faith is more than enough reason to give thanks.

Thankful Challenge, Day 11

11. Freedom. My dad fought in Vietnam. So did my father-in-law. And my uncle. My grandfather was career Navy, and fought in WWII and the Korean War. His brother (my Great Uncle) lost his life off the Savo Islands when his carrier was sunk. My other grandfather was a pilot in the Air Force. My thankfulness for my freedom is personal. Freedom has a price, often a soldier's life, and I choose to be grateful for being an American, for being free to worship as I please, educate my children, and pursue life in my own way.

Thankful Challenge, Day 10

10. Employment. I was grateful for Daniel's history of work before he was unemployed for 8 months. But that two-thirds of a year he was out of work gives a whole new level of gratitude to his current job. The fact that it is so much more than a job, and is at a fantastic church, is truly icing on the proverbial cake. And though I do not say it often enough, I am so grateful for my job of grading essays. I get to stay home to do it, keep my finger on the pulse of what students are thinking, and learn more each year about quality writing. Plus, these papers supply me with a nearly endless source of amusement :o)

Thankful Challenge, Day 9

9. A lifetime's worth of treasured friends. From childhood, from college, from Lake Arrowhead, SCV, Riverside and the Desert. From camps, conferences, blogs, and soccer teams, there are many people I am privileged to call my friends. There are a few who have gone far above and beyond the call of friendship, as the Lord has led them. They have stood by our sides through our darkest, and our brightest, moments. They love our kids as their own, they pray for us and we pray for them. For those dear friends and all I am blessed to have, I am thankful.

Thankful Challenge, Day 8

8. My One-of-a-kind Church Family. Moving to a new city, knowing NOBODY, is intimidating. Where is the library? What mechanic do you trust? Are there speed traps? Those questions, along with deeper ones, such as who will be my and my children's friends, are hard to ignore. But this church family has not only welcomed us with open arms, but also with willing hands. Strangers, whom we now call friends, helped us move in on a 112 degree day. Students volunteered to hang out with our kids since we have no family nearby to babysit, and elders and leaders pray for us every single time the church meets as a large  or small group. I am blessed to live here, to know these people, and to have this incredible extended family.

Thankful Challenge, Day 7

I looked back...and I skipped Juliana. She is completely unforgettable, so that tells you where my brain is lately. Not home.

7. The baby of our home, Juliana. Aka Jules, Ju-Ju, and Bean, this charmer has been a source of joy and laughter since the day we found out she was on her way. Named for a dear friend, Juliana has lived up to our expectations in terms of personality, charm, and strength. She is fearless (maybe too much so), wild, girly, tough, sweet as honey, and always a joy to be around. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, loves her at first sight. How could you not?