The RussellSprouts: February 2010

Well, the Russell Christmas started with the joyous return of Brad & Jo Anny from Texas. Although the loss of Jo's grandmother was sad, the legacy she has left in the lives of Brad, Jo, Chesed & Charis will live forever! God is faithful... and if you ever doubt Him just ask Jo about her grandmother and let the truth of her faithful life with her faithful God restore the joy of your salvation!

Were I to tell you the trip to train station was not a risk in and of itself I would be lying... you see our traditional Christmas dinner was still cooking and the ladies where looking for time alone...albeit a short time alone... time alone!! So, we left with a list: chairs and tables needed to be assembled.... snowmen napkins & christmas napkins needed to be placed... casseroles needed to be cooked and food needed to transferred in and out of the oven at the right times. This was a dangerous situation we found ourselves in! But to the rescue; our wonderful husbands... Ryan, Ed & Herman listened carefully to every instruction and worked hard to make sure that Christmas would be special and complete when we arrived with Brad & Jo! Not to mention they had 7 children to man. Our heroes saved Christmas and all our hearts were filled with joy :)

We had a marvelous Christmas dinner of London Broil, Broccoli casserole, sweet potatoes, waldorf salad, and chicken... Surely, I am forgetting something! Not to mention all the wonderful desserts we collected and made for the holidays! Some of our favorites where The Lyon family cookie collection... the swimsuit addition featuring Tina is summer time wear, a very detailed camping scene that captures the imagination by Ed, Abbie's cookies where perhaps the most delicious as she was able to balance the sweetness of the frosting and the yumminess of the cookie!! But Nate, where were the ones you made?:) A Christmas favorite is always African boobies (pretzel, chocolate kiss melted, with an m&m on top)... I know it is not politically correct but this is a blog about real life; and people that is real life goodness! At the beginning of the holiday we just knew we couldn't eat all those sweets... boy did we prove ourselves wrong! Well, there was the one issue with a pecan pie that almost left broken hearts! "RYAN, if you don't eat this pecan pie, I am NEVER going to make you another one!" To everyone's great joy, the pie was eaten and we will have pie again.

If you know anything about us Russell's we LOVE to play games... right ED! So, following the clean up of dinner we (adults & Abbie) played a fun game that I for the life of me can't remember the name... Anyway, Abbie won! And a good time was had by all, EXCEPT the "sleeping" children up stairs. A distressed yet calm Nate came down stairs to inform us that he had gotten the "sleeping" children a drink of water, escorted them all to the bathroom, and read them a heartwarming story about drowning kittens... okay not really but their clothes drowned and the "sleeping" children misunderstood the story and thought the kittens drowned (someone should talk to their teacher about reading comprehension) and the "sleeping" children began to cry, but never fear Nate had it all under control and was just coming to give a report about the upstairs activities!!

So off to bed when all went... we have a wonderful tradition of stockings first, breakfast out second, and then we work through the mountain of presents that we all have third! Stockings where fun and as an added surprise "Steve"(aka for Santa) left the grown up girls, not just the grown up boys STAMPS! We were overjoyed! As we finished opening our stockings everyone was getting hungry, so we got dressed and headed to American Diner for a YUMMY breakfast! The little kids got paper hats and the big kids got cups of coffee and Dad left with a smile because we hadn't broken the Christmas bank!! Christmas was not ruined!!

After returning home the quest began... what wrapping paper was mine! But it wasn't present time just yet... Christ is the reason we celebrate and it is some of the most precious time as the kids sit and listen to the story of Christ, His birth, and His salvation. Aunt Tina did a great job reading upside down... it is one of her MANY adoring qualities! Then we sing "happy birthday" to the One who gives life with grateful hearts filled with love for our God who loves us so much.

Mom & dad began stacking the gifts all wrapped in different paper so that the goodies didn't get confused, Abbie and Nate sat with eyes WIDE open... "could this be real?" "are ALL these mine?" It was beautiful! Then laughter and joy filled the living room as wish lists became reality! THANK YOU Agogo & Grandaddy!

There is more to tell I am sure but that is what I can remember... coupon clipping and trading between the ladies, late night on line shopping deals, Brad had to leave and preach a funeral, Athan had a doctors appointment, we all enjoyed each others company and feel very thankful to have shared a year together with deep sorrow & overwhelming joy! We all praise God for each other and His abiding love for us all!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Love ~ the Russell's

Grandaddy & Caedmon playing a computer game! Thanks Janice, they had fun!