Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Great Accomplishment!
Over twenty-five years ago our oldest daughter Rebekah was
diagnosed as Hearing Impaired/ Deaf. We were told by the professionals that
Rebekah would never talk, learn to read or graduate from High School. Though
some professionals may know best, this one didn’t take Rebekah’s determination
and ability to persevere into account when making the prognosis. We believed
that the Lord had a different plan for Rebekah. Among Rebekah’s many
accomplishments she is totally oral, has learned to read, graduated from High
School and this month graduated from Angelo
State University
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Giving Thanks
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week. B and JR arrived late Tuesday evening and we
spent the rest of the week enjoying one another's company.
Aunt B reconnected with the Little Jewel at breakfast on Wed.
Later in the day the Nertz games began! We played on and off all weekend but I can't tell you who the overall champion was
The Little Jewel having story time with Rusky!
Thanksgiving morning and T's blueberry pancakes!
Chil-laxing before breakfast
I wonder what else we can put on these pancakes?
There were way too many people in my kitchen
Beka's sweet potato casserole, why so serious?
No matter how much work needs to be done some of us always make time for games
Uh...Oh ...somebody got caught testing the turkey
Nothing like being with family
Maime and The Little Jewel off in the kitchen testing the turkey
Our Thanksgiving menu consisted of: roasted turkey, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, pea salad, rice dressing, veggtable salad, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie,apple pie, and homemade eggnog ice cream. I know...quite sinful. In my next post I will include the brand new recipes JR brought to share with our family. They were a hit. Thank you JR for sharing your traditions with us.
At dinner we went around the table and shared what we were all thankful for. My heart is so grateful for all that God had blessed us with, especially His presence in our lives. A wonderful time was had by all!
Friday morning we stayed in our pajamas and decided to shop online instead of fighting the crowds. We even found a few great deals!
The Little Jewel wondered if she would pop before all the food went away
On Friday evening some of my friends came over with their grown daughters and we spent the evening reminiscing. We had a great time with much laughter. Sorry no pictures.
On Saturday we celebrated Beka's birthday. I won't say how old just that she is old...just kidding...we cranked up the party with one of her favorite foods; chicken and sausage gumbo.
Now this is what I call a party
Wow! I wonder why your bowl is so small Mary?
After the meal Aunt Beka opened her presents
When the party was over we headed out to play a game of putt-putt
A great time was had by all...well...I think all...maybe... except...well...
Let's just say none of the guys won...even though they kept a close eye on the score. Love the scarf JR!
Pops tried hard to keep
The Little Jewel's hat on
while Aunt B taught her a few dance steps
Later we returned home and had birthday cobbler to wrap up our celebration
Overall it was a wonderful holiday weekend but I must say that we did miss our Firefighter/Paramedic son-in-law. Though he was with us Thanksgiving Day he spent most of his holiday weekend serving our community. We are so proud of him!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Celebrating Home
As I mentioned in my last post, I have been spending some time praying about direction for some areas of my life. I am excited to announce that after months of research and prayer, some direction has come. I have recently become an Independent Designer for Celebrating Home! My experience of being a homemaker, caring for my family, being hospitable, and enjoying decorating, has presented an opportunity for me to do what I am passionate about—encouraging women to make their homes a place where they can enjoy their families and extend the love of God to others through hospitality.
When I stumbled upon this amazing company I was intrigued. Could it be that in one company I would find everything on my list of expectations? This is the case! Being an Independent Designer for Celebrating Home offers me an opportunity to go into a woman’s home and help her create an environment of warmth for her family and all who enter.
Three of the most common complaints I hear from women for not making their homes warm and hospitable are: “I can’t afford it” “I don’t know how” and “I don’t have the time.” Celebrating Home presents me with an opportunity to refute all three of those complaints. You can afford it! By inviting me into your home, along with your friends and family members, you can earn free and half price merchandise. If you don’t know how or don’t have the time, invite me over. I am willing to come into your home and help you solve all your decorating dilemmas as well as teach you some fun and exciting ways to serve your guests that won’t take a lot of time or resources.
I will be holding my Grand Opening November 29th at 7pm . If you live in my area and would like to attend, all you have to do is leave me a comment with your name and email address and I will send you all the details.
If you are already enjoying your home but need a little sprucing up or some fresh ideas, I invite you to browse my catalog for all your decorating and hospitality needs. Celebrating Home has an array of quality items that I am sure you will be pleased with. Whatever you buy will be delivered directly to your door. All you have to do is click here or go to the side bar and click on the Celebrating Home button and begin shopping. Be sure to enter my party code (Elaine Russo 58007)if you shop before November 24th. If you shop after you can disregard the party code.
I am over the top excited about this fresh new adventure in my life and even more excited about sharing it with you!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Respite 2009
WARNING, YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON THE LONGEST POST OF ALL TIME. READ ONLY IF YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY BORED.
I took the weeks following B’s wedding off to rest and seek the Lord for new direction in my life. I have been thinking that it was time for some sort of change, apart from the typical ongoing change that we are all doing as we are being conformed into the Lord’s image. I have finally become convinced that all work and no play is not part of God’s plan for us. His word is very clear about the importance of rest in our lives. Well, rest I have done! I have spent time with my family, done some much needed projects, a bit of baking, organizing and I have also done a little traveling through the byways of west Texas, making memories with my sweet daughters and a few friends. Honestly I hope that this is only the beginning of my restful adventures. Life has been hard the past few years, filled with much service to others and I have come to realize that often it is that way because of my own doing. There is absolutely no reason why I should not occasionally schedule in some rest time for myself. When my children were young I would get away occasionally to regroup and get rejuvenated. I would always return a much better person. I guess when they got older and my nest was empty I had a hard time justifying a break. After all I was no longer raising children so I should have free time all the time, right? Wrong! It’s interesting to me how difficult it is to set good healthy boundaries for ourselves no matter what season of life we are in, all that to say, I thought I would share a few things I have been doing to get rejuvenated.
Rachel, Mary, Julia, and I took a trip to San Antonio. We stayed in a friend’s brand new cottage right outside of Boerne. The cottage was amazing! Sherrie, the owner, has a real knack for decorating with old pieces of architecture. Here are a few pictures.
We traveled from the cottage into San Antonio to the zoo. We had a wonderful time even though the weather was quite nippy.
We also spent some of our time shopping and eating at some yummy restaurants.
Recently I traveled to Salado Texas to meet one of my dear friends, Edie. Edie and her husband Brian are really special to T and me. Our lives run pretty parallel to one another. They have raised three daughters who are very close in age to ours.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast I have mentioned before, Stone Creek Settlement. The proprietor Jill and her husband have been in business for over eleven years. I highly recommend there B&B if you are ever in the area. It has some of the most charming cottages along with a sweet restful environment not found many places. The B&B is also available for retreats. They can accommodate about 32 people, and offer catering as well. It would be a great place for a small family retreat, or a church staff retreat.
I arrived a few hours before Edie and spent some time reading, reflecting, and napping. It was a sweet time. I was reminded of how invaluable a change of scenery can be to our overall well being.
After Edie arrived we had a late afternoon meal at Ambrosia Tea Room. You have also heard me talk about this wonderful place before. It’s worth a drive over just to experience it. It’s the best kept secret for all you lovely ladies who enjoy the entire tea experience! I had a wonderful dumpling soup, chicken salad on raisin cinnamon bread, fruit and the most delicious lemon and spice tea.
Oh, and let’s not forget dessert, Queen’s cake, a light fluffy white cake with coconut and some sort of whipped icing.
We also had a late afternoon meal the next day at Adelea’s On Main, a Bistro with amazing food. Not to mention the ambiance! It is a neat house converted into a quaint eatery.
My visit with Edie could not be described adequately with words. All I can say is “Thank you friend for sharing your life with me and giving me time that you didn’t have to spare.My heart was encouraged!
I also took a day trip to a couple of small towns in west, TX with a two sweet ladies, Gwyn and Jill. Gwyn showed us some fun places to shop. We began our adventure in Sante Anna, where we visited “Pearls and Primitives.” It’s a neat little shop that boasts a unique blend of antiques, bling, and trendy décor. The owner is Carrie, but her mother, Betty Rae was shop keeper for the day. There was enough warmth in that place to make you want to pull up a chair and brew a pot of tea. I haven’t laughed that much in only God knows how long. Thank you Betty Rae for making our visit so welcoming that we had to stop back by on our way home!
We then traveled over to Brownwood, TX and had lunch at Steve’s Café. The wait was long, but well worth it. We didn’t realize it was homecoming week for Howard Payne University. I should have known, my daughter graduated from there. Their food is as tasty as tasty gets (in west Texas that is). The biggest treat of all was running into two friends that I share with my daughter B, Sarah and Stacy. Those girls have some of the best hugs ever! It was almost as good as if I had gotten them from B herself. It was so great to see you two!
We then walked around the corner to the shop that drew us to Bwood in the first place, “Cheapo Depot.” I could not believe that my daughter lived in that city for almost four years and I never knew it existed. After spending time there I realized why she never told me about it. She was trying to save me from temptation. To bad B, I’m hooked. This little store is so fun. Everyone should visit it at least once in their lifetime, and if you can’t, that’s ok I will visit enough for you and all your friends. I can’t wait to go again! I know, I really should get out more.
Our time together came to a sad ending when I returned to Gwyn’s home only to be greeted by her husband who had a smashed cell phone in his hand that he had found in the driveway. Did I mention that I couldn’t find my cell phone all day and thought someone had stolen it? You guessed it! I dropped it in the driveway when I picked Gwyn up and rolled right over that cute little pink thing.
Now you know why I don’t have an IPhone! I guess this is why my hubby insists on having insurance on my phone! The company was sweet, the fellowship rich, the fun exuberating! Thank you ladies!
After a month filled with a wee bit of adventure I am settling in and getting ready to prepare for the upcoming holidays. I have begun to get some direction about the future but still not seeing as clearly as I need to. I will continue to rest, to hope, to dream and look to the Lord for His guidance.
I took the weeks following B’s wedding off to rest and seek the Lord for new direction in my life. I have been thinking that it was time for some sort of change, apart from the typical ongoing change that we are all doing as we are being conformed into the Lord’s image. I have finally become convinced that all work and no play is not part of God’s plan for us. His word is very clear about the importance of rest in our lives. Well, rest I have done! I have spent time with my family, done some much needed projects, a bit of baking, organizing and I have also done a little traveling through the byways of west Texas, making memories with my sweet daughters and a few friends. Honestly I hope that this is only the beginning of my restful adventures. Life has been hard the past few years, filled with much service to others and I have come to realize that often it is that way because of my own doing. There is absolutely no reason why I should not occasionally schedule in some rest time for myself. When my children were young I would get away occasionally to regroup and get rejuvenated. I would always return a much better person. I guess when they got older and my nest was empty I had a hard time justifying a break. After all I was no longer raising children so I should have free time all the time, right? Wrong! It’s interesting to me how difficult it is to set good healthy boundaries for ourselves no matter what season of life we are in, all that to say, I thought I would share a few things I have been doing to get rejuvenated.
Rachel, Mary, Julia, and I took a trip to San Antonio. We stayed in a friend’s brand new cottage right outside of Boerne. The cottage was amazing! Sherrie, the owner, has a real knack for decorating with old pieces of architecture. Here are a few pictures.
We also spent some of our time shopping and eating at some yummy restaurants.
Recently I traveled to Salado Texas to meet one of my dear friends, Edie. Edie and her husband Brian are really special to T and me. Our lives run pretty parallel to one another. They have raised three daughters who are very close in age to ours.
We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast I have mentioned before, Stone Creek Settlement. The proprietor Jill and her husband have been in business for over eleven years. I highly recommend there B&B if you are ever in the area. It has some of the most charming cottages along with a sweet restful environment not found many places. The B&B is also available for retreats. They can accommodate about 32 people, and offer catering as well. It would be a great place for a small family retreat, or a church staff retreat.
I arrived a few hours before Edie and spent some time reading, reflecting, and napping. It was a sweet time. I was reminded of how invaluable a change of scenery can be to our overall well being.
After Edie arrived we had a late afternoon meal at Ambrosia Tea Room. You have also heard me talk about this wonderful place before. It’s worth a drive over just to experience it. It’s the best kept secret for all you lovely ladies who enjoy the entire tea experience! I had a wonderful dumpling soup, chicken salad on raisin cinnamon bread, fruit and the most delicious lemon and spice tea.
We also had a late afternoon meal the next day at Adelea’s On Main, a Bistro with amazing food. Not to mention the ambiance! It is a neat house converted into a quaint eatery.
My visit with Edie could not be described adequately with words. All I can say is “Thank you friend for sharing your life with me and giving me time that you didn’t have to spare.My heart was encouraged!
I also took a day trip to a couple of small towns in west, TX with a two sweet ladies, Gwyn and Jill. Gwyn showed us some fun places to shop. We began our adventure in Sante Anna, where we visited “Pearls and Primitives.” It’s a neat little shop that boasts a unique blend of antiques, bling, and trendy décor. The owner is Carrie, but her mother, Betty Rae was shop keeper for the day. There was enough warmth in that place to make you want to pull up a chair and brew a pot of tea. I haven’t laughed that much in only God knows how long. Thank you Betty Rae for making our visit so welcoming that we had to stop back by on our way home!
We then traveled over to Brownwood, TX and had lunch at Steve’s Café. The wait was long, but well worth it. We didn’t realize it was homecoming week for Howard Payne University. I should have known, my daughter graduated from there. Their food is as tasty as tasty gets (in west Texas that is). The biggest treat of all was running into two friends that I share with my daughter B, Sarah and Stacy. Those girls have some of the best hugs ever! It was almost as good as if I had gotten them from B herself. It was so great to see you two!
We then walked around the corner to the shop that drew us to Bwood in the first place, “Cheapo Depot.” I could not believe that my daughter lived in that city for almost four years and I never knew it existed. After spending time there I realized why she never told me about it. She was trying to save me from temptation. To bad B, I’m hooked. This little store is so fun. Everyone should visit it at least once in their lifetime, and if you can’t, that’s ok I will visit enough for you and all your friends. I can’t wait to go again! I know, I really should get out more.
Our time together came to a sad ending when I returned to Gwyn’s home only to be greeted by her husband who had a smashed cell phone in his hand that he had found in the driveway. Did I mention that I couldn’t find my cell phone all day and thought someone had stolen it? You guessed it! I dropped it in the driveway when I picked Gwyn up and rolled right over that cute little pink thing.
Now you know why I don’t have an IPhone! I guess this is why my hubby insists on having insurance on my phone! The company was sweet, the fellowship rich, the fun exuberating! Thank you ladies!
After a month filled with a wee bit of adventure I am settling in and getting ready to prepare for the upcoming holidays. I have begun to get some direction about the future but still not seeing as clearly as I need to. I will continue to rest, to hope, to dream and look to the Lord for His guidance.
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