Leaping Over High Places

Revive Our Hearts had a wonderful message. For me, it was a message to continue to follow HIM without letting circumstances bring us down, and to continue to always fill ourselves with HIS Word.

I want to leap over high places, but only with the Lord. When He is encouraging my heart in a certain way, I need to breathe easily that He will handle what is in my soul that is being pondered and measured and inspected and tested.

Let's Smile

What a beautiful day, even with being tired, it's nice to say that.

The kids just had a few hours with Daddy outside after church, and then FINALLY had lunch at 3 in the afternoon. Well, Ella did anyways!

I think I'll go start making apple dumplings.

YUM!

And then we'll meet up with my grandparents for ice cream at McD's. Well, after we eat tonight.

I can't forget to mention the smorgasboard (sp?) that we had at Sunday School. Tons of good food, mostly healthy snacks.

Tonight, I plan on having a hot cup of apple cider, too.

What fun fall is!!!!!!

If you heard weird noises when in Salem last night

it wasn't me.

It was two kids and a man in the car using a megaphone (Tiny, folks, very tiny, )to annoy passersbys.

I was the woman in the front that had her face hidden.

A Great Question TO Be Answered

Stated by none other than Richard Russell:

"Can your favorite movie be one you have not yet seen?"

Amy Russell's response in the car driving home after an evening including a date and then family campfire time...

"You gotta be kidding me."

First Fall Photographs

This should be a movie

Elmer Kelton's Pecos Crossing. Totally a movie. A western that is intriguing, with a touch of romance, lots of guilt, gunfights, and more conversation than I would expect.

Anyways, we have a guest here tonight- Ella's friend, Natalie, due to a spur of the moment decision this late afternoon on my part. They're having lots of fun. Tomorrow after church we are all going to White House for the fall festival. Natalie included. Pony rides, petting zoo, games, wagon rides, good food, and more.
Yeah! I think my dad may meet us there too, after church.

I am also reading The Archaeology of War, not straight through, just the chapters I want to read. It was new at the library so I thought hey why not.

Somehow I am in the reading mode. I think it was Kimmy. Or Elizabeth. Or maybe Jennifer that got me thinking about reading.

My boys got haircuts today. But, Philip totally did not want one, poor thing. I got some cut and most of it aligned. He looks pretty sharp, though, I think. Hopefully, he'll do better when he gets older with that. He didn't have a nap, so I think that added to the hysterics that when on for about a half hour.

Tonight, Natalie and Ella are sleeping in Disney nightgowns Tif and I bought for them. Cute!

Monday my goal is a meal for a friend and then a Bible Study. I'm going to make it there Jennifer!

Tuesday..hmm...I hope to sneak out and scrapbook at my friend's house.

Wednesday, well, we have to go to church early b/c Ella's Christmas program rehearsal begins, then we have to stay for Praise Band Practice.

Thursday and Friday I have appointments, though Friday's is in PA again. Ughhh.. I am not really looking forward to that drive. Wednsday morning and Thursday afternoon I am watching my nephew, Noah while my SIL is in school.

I am supposed to see my friends Katie and Alysha too sometime. And get Ella to school.

Whew. Now that you know my life for the next week...LOL.

Also, 2 photoshoots on Saturday, both for friends. I can't wait! We are going to do fall stuff!

Well, I should go. Mom duties are calling, and these children are all going to bed. Philip did NOT have a nap so yeah yeah yeah!

The Best Books Ever Written

I've been inspired to read again lately, and picked up (gasp!!!) non Christian marked books LOL. I really do love Christian novels, for obvious reasons..first off, their "cleaner" in vocabulary and images. At this time in my life, I need that. Anyways, some of the books I really like are actually classics! I haven't gone through all the titles, but I think this may inspire me to read more...someday.

Look at the list!

Oh my, I have to comment that for #64 (go look for the title HA!) I read that in record time, I bet, faster than anyone. Can you believe..two days? I was desperate for my AP English class! Talk about procrastination!

It's been a week!

Well, almost, since I've blogged. We've made a trip to my brother's, had some bad non feel good days for mommy, some busy days redecorating our living room. My brother's new house is wonderful. I went with the kids, just myself, Saturday morning, and due to the battery in my car dying on me when I was trying to leave in the evening on Saturday, we stayed overnight. I didn't get ANY sleep that night, b/c I did NOT have my medicine. Talk about being a zombie the next day and a half. That threw me off, enough to cancel my turn in taking dinner to a friend that had a baby. BUT, look what happened that day...someone messed up their day and took the meal. It worked out after all. I felt so relieved, b/c I had heard no one was going to take food that night. But, God worked it out!

Anyways, we took out are entertainment system and love seat and one end table out of the living room. And, I redecorated a bit. It looks streamlined, something that Rich likes a lot.

So, now I have a little bit of a different look in Ella's room and our kitchen, too. The buffet in the kitchen is now decorated nicely on top and inside of it is my scrapbooking stuff.

New curtains hung from our bedroom window. New lamps in the living room, and new one in Buddy's room, too. My sister in law, Lisa, gave us some things she wasn't using, the lamps, baskets, curtains, and I have used EVERYTHING but only a few items in this fall project.

Come on over people! I can have guests now! LOL!

Here are some pictures, too.

Naps..and other news

Philip doesn't need them or he is up until midnight. He didn't have one today and he is asleep, and it is 8:25. YEAH!!! It's hard, not having him nap, but Ella did the same thing. I think it's THE RUSSELL CURSE..the night owl in them!

Who knew this day would come...surely I didn't but I prayed about it. A photo of mine shall be published in a special photo magazine this Fall. Sorry..no more details but I am sure excited...very very very very very excited. I've never been published before, so this may encourage me to do more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to add to this post, too, that I love DVDR...I JUST PAUSED LIVE TV!!!!

Another Oldie..tap tap tap those toes

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

Make me teary, why don't you?

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

Picture Fair

it's just been one of those tough days

Philip wouldn't take a nap, but suppose that's (good?) b/c he went to bed earlier than he has in awhile the past two nights. EXCEPT that he was up bugging me in the wee hours just when I was trying to sleep. He slept in his own bed for sometime but then ended up in mine and I went to his, he went back to ours, and I stayed in his. LOL.

For some reason, I cannot fall asleep much before 2:30 am this week. It absolutely is awful. Something must be screwed up med=wise. I sure hope tonight changes.

At least Ella has been a great girl to get to school the past week. No problems there...must be the prayers!

I don't feel too "up" or "peppy." Plus I am sick to my stomach a lot these days due to something or other-stress? NO..not a baby, for sure!

Richie has a long day, and tonight is supposed to be praise band practice....not sure if we'll handle that all tonight. Especially with the kids perhaps needing bed by 9 (HOPEFULLY!).

I like this cooler day, but not necessarily the warmth in the afternoon. Stay cool, and come on fall!!!

Birthday Boy Today

My husband's birthday is today! I love him so, and am incredibly blessed with him as my husband and the father of my two children.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

My Happy Side

Lisa, my sister in law..isn't she beautiful?...She's the blonde on the left, and I am on the right.
Her daughter Abby, just adorable and beautiful and sweet..we wish we could see her so much more often!
And Ella girl today, before school, wearing gymbo curlies.

Come here for just amazing music to listen to..and my favorite photographer's new website. Or see more of Ashley here.

What does Soy Milk taste like?

My husband gave Buddy a cup of soy milk just now and Buddy said, in all seriousness and no other expression other than this:

"It tastes like dirt."

She's a-walkin'!

My friend's little girl, Autumn Grace, is now walking. SHe just turned a year, but has been taking little steps for a little while now. This pic I took at her birthday party last weekend. I still have more to process, too! She's a beauty!

From some time back

I like the noise in this close up photograph, personally. "Noise" is basically the graininess of a photography, for those who don't speak photography. This was taken maybe 6 months ago.

Also, a black and white from Williamsport last weekend.

I ran into Mrs. Green,

My high school mathematics teacher, at Target tonight. Rich and the kids and I went out for an evening outing- to Panera, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, and then to Target (where I picked up 6 yards of scrapbooking ribbon for 1.98..yeah me..that's a deal. Ribbon is so darn expensive). We had a few minutes to catch up, and I knew when she saw Philip she'd say he looked like my brother...and she did.

Anyways, I am so glad that happened..seeing her. Brings back lots of positive memories, too. Even of AP calc. She is famous, well for many great things, but one of the main ones is how great she is at writing upside down. Amazing.

Thursday night, Rich and I went on a date, too. We really needed it. Thanks to my grandparents, who watched the kids. It was nice to even drive and sit in the car, just holding hands, and having that extra time just us. Lately, the kids are honestly driving us nuts, even though they are sweeties most of the time, and we needed a break. And we got one!

I got to be on the radio this morning

I've only done that two other times (both for WCRF during Midday Connection) but today was on 570 with Dan Rivers. LOL.

I happened to be on my way to the mall with my children in the car, listening to 570 because that's really all I can handle listening too (I don't care for radio music much) in my DH's car I drive now because it has air that works in it. So, Dan Rivers brought up the topic of the woman that left her child in the car...I called and since I was a first time caller, I got on first.

He wanted opinions on if she should've been charged.

I won't go on to say what I said too much, but in a nutshell, what in the world would it do to put her in jail. Just a thought. She has another child who needs her, but not at this point, I am not so sure she could do it. Another caller said if society doesn't punish her, she will do it herself, and maybe take the other child with her, and that is very true. A very distressing thought. I have been mentally challenged on occassion and honestly VERY HONESTLY, would think that On a BAD, VERY BAD stressful not feel good day, God forbid, something like that could happnen. It's unimaginable, but accidents happen.

Just this week, someone accidentally fatally hit a pedestrian, at night. That driver could have been anyone..the person was in the middle of the street.

What CAN we do to stop this on going trend of children being left in cars. It is completely awful.

Dan Rivers told me to call again when the kids allow.

I just love it!

Tennis and Baseball! I get to watch these things now, and just in time for the Indians and for the US Open!

So, here's some trivia on Rich and Amy Russell: we love to watch tennis most on TV, and baseball. But, Rich said there's nothing like listening to baseball on the radio. I agree..baseball on the radio..it's a classic.

Did anyone see the match with Venus winning the tiebreaker? I didn't, but my wonderful dad gave me a play by play on the cell phone as we were returning from praise band practice. Wow..can't wait to see some recaps soon.

A wish to be, back then

My dad and I have always been kindred hearts in the fact that we wished that we have lived around the 1800s, perhaps 1700s. Reason being, our hearts have always had a soft spot for Native American Heritage. We both are so affected by the processes and people that have brought heartache to the Nation. It's just plainly this: heartache. During my time at YSU, I spent many hours researching and studying and learning and writing...about Native Americans, and I know I didn't even get to scratch the surface. I even participated in a quite heavy American Indian Law class. But, it is when I see movies and documentaries that my heart turns like a knife is in it...

I watched a part of Bury My Heart AT Wounded Knee, and I just cried. I recorded it on our DVDR system so I will watch the beginning later.

In my dictionary, ibe means

ONE.

Yep. My poor friend, Jennifer, who tried to read my emails today.

o vsm y d[;; ypfsu.

js js js.

og upi vsm trsf yjod. upi yu[r ;olr ,r.

HA!

Across from the Chapel

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This is a sweet photo of Ella from Sunday Morning, but right now, it's hard to smile, so I posted this. My friend, a wonderful friend, is moving for sure to Southern Ohio, and I am just devastated. I cannot say in words how I feel, or even describe my heart's pain over this, for many many many many reasons. How wonderful it was that God has completely taken care of them throughout this, however, and I know that He is doing this for GOOD.

Deal Or No Deal

Seriously I can't stand that show, but when it comes to deal in real life, I love those and will take a chance to drive somewhere for them! LOL

I found a package of $8 crafting butterflies for 79 cents.

2 Making Memories Paint and Foam Stamp Sets for 1/2 off. The foam stamps are HUGE and the paints number 5 in each set.

3 jars of paper flowers (they are the sweetest jars too) for less than half off.

A teal sweater that has scottie dogs on it for Ella, for free, since I had a credit at Kidzone. It's very boutique looking, and is one you'd get from JCPENNY I believe.

Another shirt for Ella, for $2, at Kidzone: a brand new Curious George one. It look feminine, too, but not the monkey LOL

And a mini MM paint set, a trio with brush and paint tray, for under $4.

Also, some great books for my kids Christmas presents at Good will for 50% off...including new never used workbooks/coloring books....actually 50% off means 50 cents each! And, some great Christmas classics that we don't have: Rudolph book, and Frosty...and even an Elmo coloring book.

At Once Again Kids...three Gymboree shirts for just a few dollars, the Autumn Highlands outfit I loved for Ella, a bulldozer shirt for Buddy, and a Disney Princess musical jewelry box..and several pairs of jeans/pants for Ella, and a few more shirts, one in particular that is just adorable, with a little girl walking a dog.

Not that many people want to know these things, but I love getting deals on things we need. I suppose you may call it a hobby!!!!

Tomorrow on my agenda for this blog is to post some bday pics of the bday party I went to today for Autumn Grace, and post some things I have made the past month. I hope the weekend goes well for you, and all can get plenty of rest.

Some blessings of the day/weekend: a free haircut for me, a new hair do (no perm, just highlights!), cable! and a mattress set from a wonderful couple! thank you! thank you! thank you!, and Rich's old bedroom set coming here on Monday..so now Philip has a real bed and we'll have to sell our toddler one. Anyone need it?

I think overall, our family today is in good spirits, and mommy is feeling better, praise the Lord!