Hello Everyone!

Something exciting happened last night....well at least I think it's exciting! I actually could tell where my uterus was!!!!!!!! I know some may think this is not a big deal, but it was pretty cool for me! I have a little pooch......and it's a baby pooch!!!! Yippie!

N-E-Ways! Just want to tell everyone that I will be on vacation for the next two weeks. I'm going to try to update from home, but probably will not! So don't be surprised if you don't see any new post until next year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello all!

Just thought I'd give everyone an update on how the baby is doing!

He/she is great! I went for my second doctor's appointment yesterday and got to hear the heart beat! That has to be the most amazing sound in the world! I mean there are two hearts beating inside of me! Wow! If you've never heard a baby's heart beat inutero, it sounds kinda of like a water pump, but not exactly. Anyways! It was so cool to hear it...now I really know there is a little person growing in my tummy! Doctor said the heart rate was around 156 and everything sounded normal! I can't wait for our ultrasound sometime in February! I'm really anxious to see what he/she looks like!

I go back again on the 14th of next month for just a plain old check up. Maybe I'll be able to get a tape recorder by then and talk my doctor into finding the heart beat again! Of course by then there won't be hiding this child within me! I'll be growing like a balloon!

Hope everyone is have a wonderful day! I can't believe Christmas is only a week away!

Love to everyone!

Hello Everyone!

Nothing much going on in the Russell house! We finally have our tree up and decorated. I still need to add the bow and tree skirt, but that's a low priority at the moment!

Well Justin and I are officially living the American Dream (I'm being sarcastic here): two car (bought me a "mommy" car on Saturday, an Explorer), a house and a child on the way.....oh, and don't forget the dog. We have a pretty cookie-cutter life when compared to some, but I think that is the way God has designed us(as in Justin and I). I tried to live on the fringes for a while and found that was definitely not me at all! I wish I could be hip and stuff, but it's just not happening! Our lives may not be too exciting to some, but we love it! Although I think God is trying to stretch me a bit. As of yet we haven't met any of our neighbors......so, instead of waiting for them to come to me....my goal over the Christmas break is to grow some courage and knock on some doors. For those of you who know me well you know this is not something I'm too excited about. But I figure..what the heck!

There's also another area I believe the Lord is drawing me into....well actually it feels more like pushing! This is not an area where I really want to go, but I can't ignore this! For those who know my past.....had a rough three years a while back! Anyways! Two parents have approached me to disciple their sons in the same struggle I had and frankly still deal with from time to time. And although I used to say I wanted to help those who are where I was....I'm finding that my emotions tell me otherwise. Yet I know this is God leading these parents to me. And I know He desires me to get into a relationship with these young men, but everything in me wants to run. A part of me desires to help, but then I part of me also says, "Look at your life now....it's so different than it was. You don't want to be reminded of how it was over and over again." But see that is selfishness talking! I also feel completely unqualified and at a loss on how to begin with these young men. I keep saying, "I need counseling training or something to do this", but that's just me putting off what I know I should do! I'm so frustrated with myself! Anyways! Pray for me....I don't really know what to pray for....courage....faith.....a two-by-four to the head!

Okay this is long enough! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Only 13 days till Christmas! Better get to work on the gifts!

Okay....I know....it's been over two weeks since the last update! Sorry! I had last week off and made it a point to go nowhere near the computer all week since I look at one all day at work! Anyways!

The first doctors appointment went well. Nothing exciting...just the usual slew of questions about family medical histories. I realized I've got a fairly healthy family which made me very thankful! I go back on the 16th of this month to hear the heartbeat! Yea! Can't wait! Justin won't be able to go.....does anyone know if they'll let you bring a little tape recorder in?

I am so happy....I think the morning sickness if fading away! Yea! Now maybe I can get some things done around the house. Justin sure is happy it's gone! Of course, I'm still really tired.....I mean I go to bed at 8 pm....I haven't done that since elementary school! Well seeing as there's nothing really interesting going on, I'll let you all get back to your lives!

Love to everyone!

Just sitting here thinking......

Ya know what I miss most about childhood......not having so much stuff to do!!!! I miss summers just laying around reading books, playing with friends and visiting grandparents. Of course I always complained about being bored by the time July came....but I would do anything to be bored now! It's amazing how things change as we grow and acquire respondsibility! I miss being eight years old and the only worry in my life was if so-in-so liked me or not!

Do you ever wish for a slower pace of life? I certainly do! It seems life is so rushed now and there's not anytime to really enjoy the things God has given us. Have you seen the movie Kate and Leopold? Kate asks Leoplod what he missing about where he came from(the past)....and he says the slowness of life. Why do we feel the need to fill our days full to the brim nowadays?

I can't wait for next week!!! Nine whole days off in a row and no agenda to fill them!!!!! Well except for Thanksgiving day....but that includes good food so I'm all for that! I plan to get a lot of doing nothing in!!!!

Well best get back to work and stop dreaming about a slower life!!

Love to everyone!

Wow! It's been one busy week! Justin and I went on an Adult Retreat this weekend with some folks from church. We had so much fun and relaxed all weekend. Well I went shopping in Mineola and guess what I found....a Premium Cracker tin. I have searched and searched for one of those. They sure do keep those crackers fresh and I'll be needing fresh crackers!!!!!

I think the morning sickness has begun, except it's really not morning sickness...more like every time I eat sickness. Makes thinking about food not to enjoyable....in fact just thinking about chicken makes my tummy queasy! Oh well...as a wise woman once told me, "This too shall pass". Just hope it does soon! I wake up sick and go to bed sick...not too much fun for Justin! Any suggestions from those of you that have been here!? I've heard that I need to eat crackers before I get up in the morning, so I did that this morning and it helped a little.

The house is coming along...there's still a room that full of boxes....I've made that my Thanksgiving week project. Hopefully I can get it cleared out while I'm off! The slipcover for the couch should arrive any day now...I'm super excited about it!!!! Oh, did I mention we got new dining room furniture! God is so good! A couple at our church get new stuff and wanted to give away their old stuff and we got it! It's beautiful!! Plus they gave us an entry table (which I've been wanting, actually saw one I wanted at Lowe's and this is just like it!) and two area rugs! To this day the only furniture we've ever bought for our house is the computer desk and the nursery furniture. Of course now I have a table I have no idea what to do with. I think we are going to store it in the attic until my sister gets a place of her own and then give it to her. Well best get back to work!

Love to everyone!

Well now that everyone knows.....I can finally post this on our blog site.......

WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell we're excited! The baby is due at the end of June, so I guess June was a good month after all! I'm not feeling too sick yet....just extremely tired. I mean I've never felt this tired all the time in my whole life. Doesn't matter if I get 6 hours or 10 hours of sleep....I'm still tired!!! Guess it's practice for when the baby comes. We already have the nursery furniture...we found a complete set in the paper for $300...what a bargain! Now we just have to wait until March to find out what we are having so we can decorate the nursery! Wow, we only have 8 months to go....seems like long time, then again it's really not that far away! Oh, June come quickly!!!!!!

Love you!

Tonight is the BIG Game!!!!! It's the Battle of the Axe!!!!

GO FARMERS!!!! BEAT MARCUS!!!!

If you are unlucky enough to have never experienced this Mecca of Texas Highschool Football, you should come out to Texas Stadium tonight at 8pm! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream your head off!!!

Good luck to my little bro Paul! Have an awesome game tonight! I'll be there screaming my head off!!!

We are officially homeowners now!!!! Yippie! Everything is in the house....mostly in boxes, but in the house! We have had so much help over the past few days with painting, hanging, cleaning.....you name it, someone helped us! Doubly huge thanks to our parents! We couldn't have done this without you! We promise to reward you with a grandchild soon!!!! Huge thanks to everyone who showed up on Tuesday to move the furniture and stuff in! Justin and I are so blessed to have so many people around us who love us! Well, best get back to work....lots of catch up to do!

Love to Everyone!!!!

Well, in less than a week Justin and I will be sleeping in our brand new home! I'm painting the bedroom PINK!!!!!!! Justin's so excited about that! He's okay with it though....figures if it makes me happy...it'll eventually make him happy! I'm going for the romantic country look with the house...of course it's going to take a long while till I get it where I think it's perfect, but I can't wait to get started! Justin and I (well mostly I'm looking) are looking for a coffee table and some end tables for the living room (preferably ones that can be painted)....so keep your ears open and let us know if you hear of anyone selling theirs!

After the bedroom...the next room I'm really looking forward to putting together is a nursery, so keep your fingers crossed that this is the month! Well best get back to work! Love to everyone!

GOOD NEWS!!!!! We get to move into our house sooner than planned! The closing date was moved up to the 27th and as soon as all the money exchanges hands, we get the keys! Yea!!!!! Of course that means now I only have two weekends to get everything packed and ready to go! I am so excited!

Well actually......I'm really excited about having a house because that means we can buy a freezer and I can begin to do Once a Month Cooking! I tried it in the apartment...but that didn't go very well! I even have a friend who is going to cook with me! Never thought I would be so excited about cooking! So, if you know any "freezer friendly" recipes, send them my way! You can email me at russellm@lisd.net.

One little prayer request......one reason to us purchasing a house is so I will be able to do in-home childcare and stay at home with our future children. It is going to be difficult to be in the house and have to wait to pursue this dream. Justin and I are going to revisit the subject after a couple months of paying a mortgage, so please keep us in your prayers. Pray for wisdom in making the decision on whether or not to start now. Also, pray for provision if we do decide to start. It would be so wonderful to have two or three parents approach me about it from now until January....that would at least give Justin the comfort to know the need is out there. I'm all about specific prayer so here it goes.....Pray the Lord will provide two to three children for me to care for at home, so that I might at least match half to three quarters of my current income.

Thank you family and friends for all you are and all you do! Justin and I could not make it without you! We are so blessed!

Love to everyone!

Okay....I really need to stop reading the editorials in the newspaper....or maybe I just need to start writing some! After reading the submissions for the day I came across a very scary realization. There is so much Scripture being thrown around these days. So many people know so many verses, yet they take them completely out of context or apply them to areas they were never meant to apply.

The favorite one of many is when Christ talks about not judging others lest we ourselves be judge. For some reason the world thinks that this means we as Christ followers cannot stand on principals of right and wrong. If we say a behavior is wrong, then we are judging and according the the above mentioned command we aren't supposed to, right? Wrong! No where does it say we cannot judge behavior ....what the Bible does say is we as Christ followers are not to set ourselves up as the final judge of someone else. We do not determine who goes to heaven and hell, but we can determine if a persons fruits are of the Spirit or works of the flesh.

Growing up I never realized how vital the Word of God is to living the Christian life. I never thought that one misinterpretation of Scripture could change the whole course of someone's, a church's or a denomination's path. I now see why the Lord calls us into a body of believers....so we can learn, discuss, and interpret His word. It is so easy to get lost in our own interpretation of Scripture, instead of relying upon the Holy Spirit to teach us. One of the editorials said the the church worshipped God, not the Bible. Well I ask you, how can you know the God you worship without knowing His word? How do you even know how to worship the Lord without going to His word to see what He sees as worship? If we as Christians do not hold to the inerrancy of the Scripture, we are open to anything and we will go places God never intended us to go. Let's do our children and ourselves a favor and begin to rely upon the truth of God's Word...let us stand firm in it, for the Lord promises that if we do, we will never be disappointed or put to shame. Let's encourage one another the study the Word of God and apply it to our lives. Let's be living and breathing testimonies that the Word of God is alive and at work in the world!

Well enough of that....I could go on forever! Love to everyone!

Well I don't have much time to write.....just wanted to let everyone know WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited! We're closing October 28th and can move in after 5pm on the 29th! Only 3 more weeks of apartment living and three flights of stairs! Yippie! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers and support.....this is such a God thing(of course everything is a God Thing, now that I think about it!)...it's so amazing how He puts everything together at the right time and place. Well, best get back to work! Love to everyone!

Well, this month is a "NO"! Darn, I thought June was the perfect month to have a baby, but I guess God thinks otherwise! I'm not too disappointed and Justin is breathing a sigh of relief!

On to better news.....we have found THE house! It's absolutely perfect for us and the two beautiful children we are going to have some day! We put in an offer and they countered and right now we are waiting to see if they'll accept our counter to their counter. Even if they don't we'll take their counter...so it looks like in a month Justin and I will be homeowners! I can't believe it! This definitely makes up for not being pregnant! Continue to keep us in your prayers....we still have to finalize the loan and everything...so pray for a smooth and uneventful process (as if that ever happens!). Thank you to everyone who has been covering us in prayer....we are so blessed to have so many who love and care for us!

So mark the last weekend in October down on your calendar! We'll need trucks and sweat! We can't pay you in cash, but I can promise cookies and milk!

We love you!

Wow! I can't believe September is almost over! It's weird to think that in less than a week, Justin and I could know if we're going to be parents. I'm getting soooooo impatient!

On another important subject....Justin and I are looking at houses...well one house in particular that would be perfect to raise our family in. We are trying not to set our hopes on getting it....seeing as we haven't even talked to a mortgage company yet....but it's hard not to imagine us being there. Please keep us in your prayers. Pray the Lord will give us wisdom in our finances and in the timing of all of this. Pray He will either open this door or slam it shut....that He will continue to give us guidance. We know His timing for everything will be perfect, but sometimes it's hard to wait when the desires of your heart are screaming at you!

Here's a letter to the editor of a local newspaper:

"A proposal by India's ruling party to ban the slaughter of cows is the best news I have heard for a long time ("If the cows could vote, this'd pass," Religion, Aug. 30). So what if the leather makers are worried. Does that make the slaughter of cows right?

All God's creatures are sacred. Christians are the worst culprits for spreading the untruth that God ordered animals be slaughtered for their flesh and hides. That instruction could never have come from a loving God.

When one begins to view all animals as sacred, one will begin to respect and protect animals. That is what Jesus meant when he spoke about compassion. "

Not that my opinions are important or even correct, but I had to say it so, here it goes:

Okay, so while God didn't tell Adam and Eve to go out and slaughter animals....He did give them dominion over them. And let's not forget the thousands (well probably millions) of animals that were sacrificed, by instruction from God, for the sins of Israel.

And here's a little thought....ya know what happens when we begin to view animals as sacred? We build golden calves!

Not that I'm not an animal lover....my little doggie Sheena is like a child to me (I actually let her kiss me on the lips!)....but animals do not have souls....they are creatures. While man is also a creature, he is made in the image of God and given a soul. God gave man dominion over all creation...Unfortunately because of sinfulness man has perverted the dominion and used it to glorify himself instead of God. Killing animals for no apparent reason was not in His plan, I believe. But come on folks....a cow is just a cow. And as much as I love Sheena, there are limits to how much I would spend to fix something wrong with her. What's more important....people or animals! What should we be worried about more...the slaughter of innocent cows or the slaughter of innocent people!

And I really don't think Jesus was that concerned with the animal kingdom. He came to save the race of men! His compassion is towards men and that is the compassion He has called us believers to imitate.

I truly apologize if I have offended anyone with the statements above. That was not my intention! I probably should stop reading editorials...they always get me going!

Thought for the day

Our children will only know the world as it is now...with words like "terrorist", "suicide bomers", and "homeland security". They will not know the world as it was before 9-11, just as I don't not know the world before the World Wars or even Vietnam. I learned about those events from people who lived through it and from history books in the classroom.

How will my children see September 11, 2001? How will this event be taught in their classroom? How will it be explained in their history books? Will it explain how those who lost loved ones found the strength to continue? Will President Bush's many speeches quoting Scripture be included? Will it speak of the many who came to Christ through this event? I know they will be taught what America did in the aftermath of this event....war in Afganistan and Iraq, but I will teach them what God has done and will do to turn this tragedy into something that glorifies Him!

Thank you Father, that we as your children can reflect upon that day and rest in the knowledge that you are in control. Thank you for always reminding us that this is not all there is....that we have a home in heaven with you and we will meet you there one day! Thank you for hope in the midst of tragedy.

Thought for the day

In Isaiah the LORD tells us that though we are stained by sin, He can make us white as snow. Even if we are stained as red as crimson, He can make us as white as wool. With these words I feel the LORD is challenging me to live and rest in His forgivness and grace. He has made me as white as snow....completely pure and clean. Not of my own purity, but of His son's.

I hear my LORD saying to me, "Trust in my grace, Michelle. Do not dwell upon your past because though you were stained with sin, as red as crimson, I have made you as white as snow. I have taken your sin from you and you are no longer a slave to it. Be free!"

Praise God for His provision of grace and mercy! Praise Him for His lovingkindess!

It is so important to remember God's forgivness for His children, so we may model it towards our own children. I know our children will make mistakes and they will hurt us from time to time. So, what reaction will we have? I pray that we may be like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. Always loving, always forgiving....running to our children with open arms when they return!

It is also important that we remember God forgives us of the wrongs we will do to our children. I'm sure there will be times we are angry at them and we may even say things to hurt them. No one is perfect and instead of wallowing in our mistakes we can walk in forgiveness and humilty. Children need to be asked for forgiveness also....they need to hear the words, "I'm sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me" when they have been wronged by their parent. I pray we are never too proud to seek forgiveness from our children.

Hope everyone is doing well! Love you!

Here's a little phrase from Ephesians I've been pondering for a while now: "the exceeding greatness of His (God's) power toward us who believe". The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in me! It's there for the taking and all I have to do is ask for it.

What would a life completely dependent upon the power of God look like? What would my days be like living in God's power instead of my own? What would God do with my life if I gave it completely to him? The answer to these is....I have no idea! I want to find out though. Like Paul prays in Ephesians, I want to know in my heart the hope I have in Christ, the inheritance given to me through faith, and the "exceeding greatness of His power" towards me. How will I learn this? It's really simple, and yet so difficult to do. I must allow God the opportunity to show me...I must take myself out of my comfort zones where I know I can handle the things that come my way! I must take a leap and walk by faith, trusting the Lord will lead me in the right path. What will that mean? I'm not quite sure, but I have some hints. Lord, I'm here and listening for your direction. Here I am, send me!

So what about you? How is the "exceeding greatness of His power" working in your life?

Love

Hello Everyone!

Justin and I spent the weekend in Austin with my dad's side of the family. We had a blast, although we are quite sore from skiing and tubing!

It's always fun to sit and chat with my cousins about the many summers we spent on the farm. I have so many wonderful memories of weeks with my grandparents from both sides.

At my Punkie and Papa's (my dad's parents) all the cousins would come for a week. We would play the shelter belt on the edge of their land. We called it The Ditch! There were ropes to swing on, dirt to play in, and imaginations to go wild with. I don't think we watch a single minute of TV the whole time we were there. My Punkie cooked the same things every summer....my all-time favorite was the navy beans and ham soup! Yummy! Oh, and we drank out of Crayon cups with straws! The funniest thing is we would double the attendance at their church when all the family showed up!

At Granny and Grandpa's (my mom's folks) we got to hear scary stories like Bloody Mary and the boy who peed his pants. Not all of us cousins were there at once...they have 20 something grandkids! I can remember coming home and crying because I missed my Granny and Grandpa. Tacos and spaghetti are Granny's specialty. I can smell them now! My favorite thing about their house was the ceiling in the den. It was glittery and sparkled...which I thought was so cool! There was also this lamp with blue glass at the bottom that I used as a night light. That lamp is now in my living room and I think of my granparents every time I turn it on.

I guess the point of all this is, I can see through my life how my grandparents helped to shape me into who I am today. Eventhough we weren't close in miles, we were close in relationship. Because of this I will allow our children the same wonderful privilege of knowing and loving their grandparents. I may not always agree with them, as I'm sure my parents didn't always agree with mine, but it is important to me that they are close and I will choose to put those differences aside. I am so grateful for the memories I have with my grandparents and I want our children to have the same. So, future grandparents to children of Justin and Michelle be prepared.........

Love to everyone!

Well today is my father's 50th birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!

Yesterday we had a meeting for Sunday School teachers and learned the verse for the month is Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want." Such a profound little verse. The LORD, the God of Israel, and Creator of the Universe is MY shepard! What a comfort to know I am cared for and provided for by the One who knew me before I was even conceived.

While I was pondering this I began to realize that God already knows our children! He knows them inside and out and better than I ever will. He is already loving them, after all they are His creation! What a privilege it will be to nourish and guide a little creation of God! What an awesome respondsibility to plant the seeds of God's love in their hearts!

Thank you Lord for not leaving Justin and I to raise your children alone. Thank you for the example our parents have given us. Thank for their support, prayers, and wisdom. You have blessed us with a giant circle of protection and love and we are so very grateful! Thank you for already calling our children to you and drawing them close. Thank you for loving them so much you allowed your only child to die in their place. Thank you Lord that our children will have reason to hope in a world of darkness. You are an awesome God and we love you!

Well yesterday Justin and I embarked on a new journey: BABY MAKING! Yea! So, I thought I would create a web-site where everyone close to us, both near and far away, can be a part of it all. I haven't done this before...so bear with me....I'll try to keep it interesting!

Let's see for today:

I am so excited to finally be in this stage of my life. I feel like I've been waiting forever! Justin's still a little freaked out, but I think he's calming down. It is a little scary to think that we could be parents as soon as next summer. There are days when I am sure we are ready. Then there are days when I wonder....are we really ready for this? Am I ready for this? Am I ready to care for another human being 24/7? What about labor and delivery? Will I be able to handle the pain? All these questions and I'm not even pregnant yet!

I just started to chart my temperatures and everything so I'll know when my body returns to normal. Darn birth control pills! Hope they don't take long to get out of my system! I want to get pregnant now! Don't you think a June baby would be perfect? I certainly do. Lord Jesus, are you listening to me? June baby. Did you get that? I'll say it again....June baby!

On a serious note: Justin and I are resting in the will of our Lord. We know that His timing will be perfect. Children are a blessing and gift from our Father in heaven and we pray that He will choose to allow us to have this life experience. Yet, we also know that His will and plan are so much greater that we could ever imagine and we want nothing less. Therefore, we will be content with whatever answer He gives to our prayers for a child. Not to say we won't be disappointed if the answer is no, but we will rejoice in His perfection!

Love to everyone!