no, you never see it comin'

A daughter is your daughter for the rest of your life.
A son is your son until he finds a wife.

Val used to quote this old saying often when speaking of the different, almost aching, love that a mother has for her son. Boys are supposed to pull away from their Mommas. The Bible is clear on this subject but does that mean I have to LIKE it? Im not saying my boys are getting married anytime soon! But, yet another reminder of the "pulling away"(which started when they weaned) is happening this week.

These two handsome guys are leaving their father and me on Tuesday...taking off on a plane (BY THEIR HELPLESS SELVES!) to California to the Grandparents' home. They will be having heap-big fun while Dirk & I sit and wonder where all the time went.

Didnt they just come home from the hospital? Wasnt I just spoon-feeding them oatmeal? Werent they just throwing up that oatmeal all over me? Werent they just getting into trouble by painting (w/ craft paints) ALL over the guest room walls? Didnt David just take a nose-dive off the couch and knock himself unconscious? Didnt Jonathan just try to set David's hair on fire yesterday?
When did they get big enough to lift heavy things, mow the lawn, and scold their brothers for setting things on fire?

Jonathan and David dont seem to be spending too much energy fretting over being away from Mother. They are only thinking about LegolandfishingHollywoodstayinguplateUniversal- StudioseatingwhatevertheywantmountainclimbingOliveGarden-
notdoinganychoresgoingtothemoviesBaseballgamewithfireworks-
fastfoodgaloreTVintheirroomGranddadandGrandmafun.

Y'all pray for ME Tuesday around noon. I need it more than they do.

Keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load.

I hope this post will appease both my Godmother and Kim (and no, I cannot do a meme)!
My days are so full of children, church, freezer meals, and the occasional Mike's Hard Cranberry-Lemonade, there isn't much time for anything else. We have added so many new things to our home and family in the last month that my head is swimming:

1. New ENORMOUS wooden plaything in the backyard. The thing is bigger than our first apartment. Thanks to the Grandparents Russell for making that happen. Pictures to come.

2. Two HUGE picnic tables w/ umbrellas....enough room for ALL of us to sit down to dinner. Our backyard now looks like a bona-fide park. Thanks to Miss Anon. for the picnic tables.

3. Another part-time son! My cousin and her son, Johanna and Josiah, moved here from California this month. Their apartment is just a hop, skip, and a jump from us. We are thrilled to be having Josiah here most days. He is four years old(almost five) and has been a delight. He still dresses so "California" but he's just as cute as he can be! Now if I could just get him to eat my guacamole...
We are enjoying getting to know both of them better....they will be SPURS fans soon, I am sure of it. Bless their hearts, they think they are lakers fans!

4. A part-time dog! Josiah's wiener-dog, Titus comes to stay w/ us when he does. After we explained to Luther that Titus wasn't a rat he had to kill, they have been good buddies. I thought it might help Luther fuss less but now they just fuss together.

5. WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!! GO SPURS GO!!!
Yes, I am one of those freaky people that sleeps in a SPURS t-shirt, wears a pink SPURS cap, and has a SPURS antenna flag, sticker, AND license plate cover on my van....because the SPURS need me, y'all!
Excuse me while I go drink my Dr. Pepper encased in my SPURS neoprene bottle cover.

This is Sam, meeting his kin for the first time.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

There's really ain't no use in stoppin' what nobody never told me not to do

NEW RULE #917
No collecting snails (in the mud, right after it rains) and putting them in the poor dog's food bowl to see if he can "tell the difference b/w them and his food".

Everyday's a revolution

This is my "average"(I use this term loosely) day in the Testosterone Institute. I am writing this in an attempt to help assuage some of the feelings of guilt and inadequacy that many of you may have after reading of Tami's Estrogen-filled days of Ecstasy. I cannot link to her post b/ that is not something I have in my power to do...find the link to her blog and search.

6:30a-Husband forces me out of bed by bribing me w/ hot coffee. He is much appreciated.

6:37-7:15a-Drink coffee. Get dressed and make bed. Drink coffee. Check and answer email in peace. Drink coffee. Go downstairs. Let dog out and start some laundry which is conveniently located near the coffeepot. Go back upstairs. Read Bible and pray (mostly that the children will keep sleeping). Prayer interrupted by Sam who thinks its time to get up. Put him back in bed.

7:30a-Phone rings and wakes up the early risers. Its my husband. He just wanted to check and make sure I was awake. Yep, more coffee.

7:31-49a-David bounds in ready to start his chores. He's the only one. Sam comes in coughing. Abby follows behind him crying, "Sam woke me up".
Console Abby and give Sam his inhaler. Cover both up w/ a blanket on my bed and turn on "Clifford".
Josh wakes up, asks me what there is to have for breakfast and no matter what the answer, he gets mad and stomps off. Punishment is doled out and he is sent to do chores.
David is doing chores at lightning speed: emptying the dishwasher, getting out breakfast dishes, cleaning the powder room, etc.

7:50a-Go in and force Jonathan and Isaac out of bed by bribing w/ hot coffee (this only works w/ Jonathan).

8a-Everyone BETTER be in the kitchen either making some breakfast or waiting for me to make breakfast. I make Sam and Abby's breakfast and pour everyones juice. The boys make themselves some food if they want to eat. "ISAAC!!!!!! GET OUT OF BED AND GET DOWN HERE!!!!! Gulp coffee.

8:40ish-Jonathan handles kitchen clean-up w/ a little help from Joshua. Josh and Ike feed and water the dog. "No, you cannot do your schoolwork out in the dog's Igloo this morning, Josh."
Boys do various other chores.
Fight b/w Josh and Ike over which SuperHero would do their chores the fastest. Yes, this does get physical. There are red marks on both bodies. We go to the wall, recite Micah 6:8 (someday this will work, right?), and dole out consequences.
I medicate Sam for the day and get him dressed. Abby gets dressed and picks up her room. She comes downstairs screaming b/ Sam ran over her hair w/ a monster truck. She has lost a good handful of hair. Console Abby, discipline Sam.
Phone rings. Husband wants to know how my morning is going so far. Think about hanging up on him. Realize this was not an addressed subject in Proverbs 31 but that it would probably be a sin. Answer him politely and lovingly (okay, sometimes).

9a-Switch from coffee to hot tea for the sake of my nerves. Get the oldest 3 started on Math. Now, David, has by this point in the morning, done all chores, spelling, and has started himself on his math. Some mornings he is through by now, on to another subject.
While they do math, I read aloud to the little three. Reading is ALWAYS interrupted by: math questions, phone calls, and questions dealing w/ Theology or X-men.
Remind boys that Theology and X-men both have their places but not during math.

9:45ish-Jonathan finishes math and takes babies upstairs to play while he does his grammar and spelling workbooks. David does his grammar & phonics by himself.
Josh, Ike, and I do phonics and oral grammar.
Josh: "I hate the letter 'K'! Its so mean that he makes the same sound as 'C'!"
These boys MIGHT be reading by 17. I try and prod the Slow Twins along by saying, "you know, Brynna (Tami's 5yr old daughter) has finished this phonics book. Dont you want to try and go faster?"
Josh: "Nope. If Brynna is done and we are not then that's just how God wants it. Dad says we cant mess w/ God's plans!"
At least Dad's Theology lessons are useful for something. Phonics is over for the day as I have nothing to say after that.
We do oral grammar. It starts out well except for the fighting over who gets to say which poem.
We move on to verbs. The boys insist on acting out the action verbs that I read. Their favourite so far is "fight". Ike wants to know why I never give them the verb "impale" to act out. Grammar is also now over. More hot tea for me.

10:20a-Steph brings Jacob and Zach. They spend a few days a week w/ us. The house goes crazy loud b/ all the boys are so glad to see each other. Try to quiet everyone down.
Both boys need to sit down and do their math.
Zach moves at quite a clip w/ Josh looking over his shoulder whispering answers to him so that they can go play faster.
Jacob is a daydreamer and sits there for a good 10min. before even getting started. David is fraught w/ worry that Jacob will NEVER be done and able to play. David begs me to let him help Jake. I say no way and sit down w/ Jacob.
The din is almost deafening. I tell anyone that is not working at the table on schoolwork to go to the playroom. Everyone except Sam obeys. He thinks its more fun to write in Jacob's mathbook, which Jacob thinks is also more fun than doing the math.
Remove Sam by giving him Cheez-its, his favourite food. He feeds half to dog. Hurry and usher dog outside b/ its obvious those Cheez-its are about to come back up. ORDER everyone to NOT LET THE DOG BACK IN THE HOUSE!

11a-By this time there is no one at the table doing school except Jacob. Make more tea. Go over multiplication facts orally w/ Jacob until we come to the one he needs.
Jonathan is enjoying peace and quiet upstairs doing his Science on Cd-ROM. He reads, does his worksheet, and prints out the experiment we are supposed to do.
"No, Jonathan. I do not have purple cabbage in the frig." Experiment held off until Dad can bring home some cabbage.

11:45a-Jacob is MOSTLY done w/ math. I tell him to put it away and finish it at rest time. Phone rings. Husband checking in. I am finally able to relay to him the boys' burning question of the morning (yes, there is ALWAYS a Burning Question).
He doesnt even hesitate in his answer:
"Without a doubt The Flash would be the fastest SuperHero at doing chores."
All boys are satisfied b/ Dad is the absolute knower-of-all. They all run off pretending to be The Flash.

Noonish-Jonathan or I am finishing up lunch. Yes, I dont cook breakfast but we almost always have a hot lunch. 8 children should never be allowed into a kitchen to each make their own lunches.
Isaac tells me that he thinks its funny that some people have lunch food for breakfast. I ask him what he means. He tells me that the Smiths have muffins and pancakes at breakfast. Yes, they are lunch food at our house. I see no way to explain this to him w/ out having me look like a Bad Mommy.

1245p-If we have anytime b/w lunch cleanup and nap: Read a History card so the older two can do a worksheet during rest time. Also read aloud out of the Bible or devotional book.
Sam leaves. Abby fusses about sitting so long. Ike and Josh and Zach try and wrestle.
Jacob and David give me hints that the other boys are not obeying. Jonathan is the only one who seems sad at all the interruptions. More hot tea.

1-3p-This is Supposedly rest time. Something always happens.
Sam and Abby take a nap after getting up 4 times each to go potty, ask for a drink, or ask if its time to get up. Consequences are given.
Josh and Ike are on their beds w/ books or a few Legos. They get up once each to "see what time it is".
Jacob and Zach are on the couches in the living room. They are quiet. Jacob reads and Zach falls asleep. Good boys.
Jonathan and David read their books and then get on Jonathan's bed to do the history worksheet together. J. then reads aloud to David.
I am busy folding piles of laundry on my bed, answering emails and the phone, and drinking at least 2 more cups of hot tea.

3pm-FREE-FOR-ALL! Besides a chore here and there, scheduled time is over and the boys are almost always outside.
I sit and read for a few minutes before starting dinner and wonder when Dirk will be home.

dont take your guns to town, son

Joshua (age 7) is a legend in his own mind...Case in point:

Josh: Mom, Im a little shaky. Look, my hand is shaking.
Me: Im sure you are just tired and you just finished eating. You'll be fine.
*About 3 min. pass when I hear him moaning and growling angrily.*
Me: What is it Josh?
Josh: My life is RUINED!
Me: WHAT?!
Josh: Im still shaky.
Me: So?
Josh: Mom, you KNOW Im a pretty amazing guy! How am I supposed to do my feats of strength that Im KNOWN for if I am shaking like a leaf? MY LIFE IS RUINED!!!

My inner M&M...dark chocolate of course!

Human tears are older than the rain

Look at that sweet but sick face! We think Sam is just about the cutest guy around. Thank you all for your prayers, gifts, and oodles of food while he was sick. A hospital stay was not on our schedule but many lovely people helped us through it. The wonderful breathing machine they use at the hospital did its thing and Sam is as good as new. He also benefited from Excellent Nursing Care from our Stephanie, one of his favourite people! What a blessing that she was working the day he was admitted! This picture was taken right when he came home.

Dirk has been in Jefferson City, Missouri visiting his family and his dying grandfather. Prayer for the whole Russell family would be appreciated.

While Dirk has been gone I've had a stopped up sink (toilet paper inserted by toddlers!) which resulted in a flooded bathroom, a leaking pipe in the kitchen that has ruined a cabinet, a furniture delivery, a vomiting child, and 17 children in the house w/ only Candace and me to supervise! Is this what my mother used to deal w/ during all of my dad's TDYs? A big Thank You to my sisters who brought me Dr. Pepper& chocolate last night and let me take a shower in peace. As Abby said when I told her that Daddy was coming home tonight: "Good! Im so glad and so tired!"

Happy Birthday to me.

The phone rang early when my dear Godmother called to wish me a happy day (she wisely knew things would just get crazier as my day progressed). Josh woke up and seemed perturbed I was on the phone. As soon as I hung up I received another call. After getting off, he asked me why the phone was ringing so early. I told him that sweet people were calling to say happy birthday. He looks at me and says: "Since its your birthday, do we HAVE to have oatmeal?"

You sing a sad song just to turn it around...

As most of you know, we had our Long-Awaited Appt. w/ THE Ped-Pulmonologist on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Sam didnt quite make it, Dirk had to take him to the ER early Saturday morning...the Er docs held him off w/ some oral steroids until Wednesday.
First of all, we are so grateful to God to finally get to see the doctor Steph and I had been wanting Samuel to see. Second, thank you, Sis for staying w/ the kids so Dirk could go. We are so thankful we both went to the VERY LONG appt.
The doctor was more that we dreamed he would be (!) and everything Steph and our FPdoc said he would be! He was wonderful w/ Sam, talked to us forever about everything even minutely having to do w/ asthma, and put Sam on many new meds.
FUNNY: Sam started his familiar cough about half-way through our visit. The doctor stopped talking to us, looked at Sam, pointed a finger in his face, and said, "You really oughta see someone about that cough!"
HAPPY: After just a couple of days we started noticing a difference in Sam's behavior and our sleep levels. The last three nights have been amazing...is this what it feels like to be well rested? I seriously think I am going to send that doctor some flowers.
HMM: The boy is feeling SO well his disobedience level has skyrocketed! I guess he's making up for lost time.
SWEET: Sam was not easily getting the hang of the new inhaler w/ attached mask. It's not as easy as the nebulizer. Zachary (our part-time son) was doing his own asthma meds and Sam wanted to be "big" just like Zach. In 2min. Zach taught Sam how to do all the meds (including spitting!) that I hadnt been able to do in 2days! I told Zach he won the award as Biggest Helper that day!
Thank you all for your prayers and concern for Sam. We are hopeful for smooth sailing ahead. Next Step: putting in the new heating/ac unit!

There is a wonder and wildness to life

The Wonder:
David (almost 9) officially "graduated" today from First Language Lessons (a two-year grammar book) to his "own" grammar workbook. This is the dear child I use to cry to Mom and Christine about: "he will NEVER read!" God is good. The boy is not only reading and doing his schoolwork on his own, he finished his first chapter book last week one night at 11pm. He came and woke me up to say, "Mom, I finished Boxcar Children! Do you want me to narrate it to you now?" In the morning, sweetie. How happy I was, I had a hard time going back to sleep.

He told Jacob the other day: "You were right, Jacob. Life IS more exciting when you can read!" Mom and Christine were right (as usual): He will read at just the right time. Good thoughts for me to remember as Joshua is refusing to memorize the short vowel sounds!


The Wildness:
Ike's head wound has healed. In its place is an (in his words) "awesomely cool scar".

This morning there was an inexplicable mad dash for the breakfast table by the 3 littlest people in the house. I guess they forgot that I tend to feed everyone who shows up at the table and not just the first one there. Poor Baby Sam got the raw end of the deal and was trampled. His foot was injured and is now red and swollen. I am not a medic...so far we've done ice and elevation and lots of Dora and Blue's Clues. The sweet guy cannot have Motrin, as this highly aggravates his asthma so Tylenol will have to do. We are waiting for SuperDad to come home and take a look. Stay tuned for the probable continuing saga of "Russells in the ER".

On skinned knees Im bleeding...

Russell update for those too far away to know what fun we've been having around here: Busy, as usual. I keep saying that. Someone needs to come up w/ another word. Im ALWAYS busy...but tire of saying so. This week was no exception.
My dear husband took Friday off of school to devote the weekend to paint sweet Steph's home. It is breathtaking, good colour choices, Steph. Many others came to help when they could...it was much appreciated. Now Dirk is nursing a couple of sore ribs after breaking Steph's entertainment center (which is a wonderful excuse for her to replace it w/ something she likes!). He was worn out and sore Saturday evening while giving Ike a shower. THEN, Ike decided to try some acrobatics in the shower....less than 10 min. later (and a whole war-zone full of blood in my bathroom) they were off to have Isaac's forhead stitched closed...the tongue is healing by itself. Pictures to follow as soon as I can pry the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bandaids away from him.
Sunday morning, just as we were leaving for church, Sam decided he'd rather not worship and throws up his breakfast. Oh well, did I really want to hear Dirk preach on being a submissive wife?!
After worship (or napping for Sam and I), we were treated to the most scruptious and LARGE Johnny Carino's feast from Steph. We still have so much yummy stuff in the frig, I wont be cooking tonight!
As most of you know, this Sunday will have been Hannah's 10th birthday. I have been dreading it since celebrating Tim's last month (they were exactly a month apart). But the Lord showed me yesterday what little blessings He can bring. On Sunday my new sweet nephew, whom I have yet to kiss and cuddle, will be baptized. The Russell Family will be celebrating (from afar) Liam's baptism and not mourning quite so much. He is gracious.

Finding my way back to you

Swinging at Papa and Granny's house. Thanks to Shelley for these super-sweet pics!

3 is a magic number

Autie Shelley w/ the babes.

And I would walk 500 miles...for you Molly

These are the Capitol Cousins on our trip out east. Dirk and I took these kiddos to see the sights and ended up back home long before we intended. Molly renamed the city Walk-a-ton DC. (She may not be quick on her feet, but she has the Warren quick wit!) Hey, at least the kids got to ride on the metro and feed the squirrels and pigeons...the "only things that were fun"!

Prayer Request #1

Alright, some of you have asked so here it goes! I was asked once why I dont share prayer requests more often. I was stunned before I realized she was right. I guess as a pastor's wife I get so many prayer requests handed to me that are much worse than anything I need prayer for that I forget He is in the business of small things. Shame on me...
Please pray for my Dirk. He has started back to school, back to being a pastor AND a school teacher. Blessedly, he is now only teaching 4 days a week. Teaching so many classes, mid-week Bible Study, and a sermon on Sunday sure puts a strain on him physically and mentally. However, God's timing is always perfect and breaks come right when he needs them.
We have had a few ups and downs this week, ministry-wise. The ups certainly have helped the downs go down easier! He is gracious. Solus Christus.

A pox upon our dear Sam!

This sad-sweet face is why we have accomplished only about 75% of school work the past two weeks. Anyone ever had a child w/ chicken pox AND asthma? Yech! He calls the pox his "stickers". Dirk calls him 2-pox. Im so relieved that all the kiddos have had this now and I will never have to deal w/ it again!

Much to DH's chagrin...

...here I go. After numerous requests for more content, pictures, updates, and prayer requests, the Russell Fam now has its own blog. Dont expect too much here. Im no writer AND I have 6 full-time children and 2 part-time children that deserve more of my attention than the internet does. That being said, DH and I think that we have the 8 cutest children on the planet and love to regularly post pictures and anecdotes....especially having to do w/ running a houseful of boys w/ only one ruling princess. A big San Antonio "Hola" to you all!