Russo Weekend in New Orleans

What a great Christmas treat to have a weekend in New Orleans with my entire family. There is never a shortage of fun when we are all together! Love my big family with all the entertainment that comes with it!

Simple pleasures!

At the park with Cat and overcome with memories. My precocious little girl all grown up but not too old to freely enjoy the simple pleasures of sliding, swinging and monkey bars. It started in CA .. With stroller rides to the neighborhood park playing in the sand box and running in the open grass. Then in St. Louis trying to keep up with Big brother Chris on the backyard swing set.
I will never forget HOURS of trying to teach both Chris and Cat how to swing. "Back and forth.. You can do it! That's it- you're swinging!!"
On our bike ride today to the park - we stopped to look at the leaves changing- a beautiful butterfly, a family of turtles sitting on a log getting in the pond. We noticed the cool air and the just right clouds covering the sun. In these moments everything in the world is perfect!
I pray that she always has this place in her heart and soul to be free and enjoy simple pleasures.

Thankful

So much to be thankful for...this week finding quiet time with God to be thankful for my wonderful life.. Busy, messy, imperfect, joyful, full and blessed

Turning 12

My baby girl -

Sisters!

This weekend I got to spend time with my big sister! It's been a long difficult year for her and I am praising God for getting her to the other side of things where she can be hopeful about her future and be the amazing person He created her to be!

There is nothing like the love of a sister and I'm blessed to have 3 amazing sisters who are 3 of my best friends in life.

25 year reunion

I love that I have amazing friends to share my life with.. All of it! Who knew 25 years ago the journey we would all take together! Love the ya-yas! (Missing Kim and Lucy!!)

New School year

It is so hard to believe that we are entering Middle School (6th grade) and High School. Catherine announced today that it's time to pack up her dolls. She's completely ready.. I'm not! Just 2 weeks ago she was in my room playing school with all the babies lined up and now this morning she spent over an hour fixing her hair, listening to music and trying on clothes -- and we are still 2 months away from being 12. We got her ears pierced this summer, she's adopted a purse when we leave the house and she's officially ready for a "big girl room". Ugh! I guess I have to get myself ready - because she is moving forward whether I'm ready or not. We have a crazy busy year ahead... volleyball, golf, cheer, school, confirmation! Not a moment to spare.

Christopher is off to a great start at his new school - Praise God!! This is such answered prayer for him to be at this school. We are so hopeful that this year will be an amazing year for him. He is such a sweet boy with so much to offer - with the right environment - he is going to thrive. He is going to love being a part  of the choir and the tennis team. Now if we can just fit all the homework into this busy schedule.

I'm thanking God for getting us through so many trials to get to this point. It's been a winding road with so many detours. Each twist has helped us to learn more about what is really important in life. Praying for the energy, patience and commitment needed this year to be available for both of them.

Another School year completed!! Next year 6th grade (Catherine) and 9th grade (Christopher). It seems surreal as I type this-- my babies going into junior high school/high school. I know I'm so dramatic about all things to do with my children- but this is the really hard part seeing how fast it really is going.   A few weeks ago I watched as Reed got ready for his Senior Prom. Jennifer and I had so much fun helping Sue get her house ready to host the Prom dinner. We got tables ready and flowers set and our daughters all worked side by side (Camille, Cat and Rachel). I had to run to Mom's to get some a plant and on the drive over- I couldn't hold back the tears. It all just caught up with me. Baby Reed is graduating, Camille looks like she's 17 already, Catherine is going to junior high.... Jenn and Sue and I all side by side with our kids... wow! we're all grown up and our kids are all grown up. Wait! wait.. slow down ~ I just want to stay right here and enjoy it all.

I guess it's everything that's changing.. Christopher is so darn tall (6 feet) and Catherine is now as tall as me (5"3). The are growing in every way.  I'm just consumed with a feeling that I'm going to wake up one day and it will all be over! I'm calling on God to help me live in the moment- take it all in one day at a time and know that He is walking us through this life just as it should be...and we move forward.

The Days of our Lives

Filled with joy one day, grief stricken the next, hopeful in one moment and anxious the next....celebrating, grieving, planning it all out and then seeing it all crumble right before our eyes --  the days of our lives. I know now more than ever that the difference in everyone's lives is not whether life is fair or our circumstances are better or worse- the difference is whether we trust God. He has made the promises, He has given us the roadmap and our every day lives are going to continue around us .. the good, the bad, the happy times and hurting times.

I read alot of blogs, I write my own blog and today I felt moved to write a praise blog for God!
I have 2 friends who have been broken and hurt and beat up by life. Their circumstances were difficult, unfair and seemingly without a great outlook for the future. They were without hope, filled with fear, anxious and yes.. .lost! They both lived in a dark place -- and tried to hide from the harshness this life had dealt them. This past week, I had the great joy to hear from both of these friends their joyful testimony that they are on the other side of the hurt, they are hopful, they are thankful, they are humbled...... both of these friends have claimed their victory in the name of Jesus! Out of the darkness .. into the light of Jesus. They triumphed when they gave their pain and emptiness to the One who saves!! Praise you Jesus for healing and for giving strength when we need it. You are the ultimate counselor and provider.

We can't understand our trials and circumstances when we are in the midst of our wordly situations - but we can turn to the TRUTH in our lives. You are constant, You are unchanging. You are soverign!

New Year - New adventures

2012... another year of change. I wonder sometimes if God is trying to tell me to STOP waiting for things to stop changing- because they never do.

• 1992 - graduated in May, married in June - moved to Houston in July
• 1993 - Law school (3 year chapter begins)
• 1994 - Moved apartments closer to school
• 1995 - Moved apartments closer to Woodlands
• 1996 - Graduated law school; New job @ Anheuser Busch/moved to NY
• 1997 - Pregnant with Christopher; Promoted; Moved to OH
• 1998 - Christopher born, Bought 1st house; Promoted, movedto NH; Bought 2nd home
• 1999-  Promoted; Moved to California; Bought 3rd home
• 2000 - Catherine born
• 2001 - Promoted; Moved to St. Louis; Bought 4th home
• 2004 - Left Anheuser-Busch; Moved to Houston, Started new job - Bought 5th home
• 2008 - Left job
• 2009 - Sold house, Moved to apartment, Started new job- SWN 
• 2010 - Bought 6th house, Changed schools for both kids (Coulson Tough/McCullough)
• 2011 - Changed school for Catherine (WCA)
• 2012 - New job (HK), New school for Christopher (Focus)

Wheh!! I'm exhausted.. that's ALOT of change!!

My life feels like the ultimate irony because I actually HATE change. I have lived a life of changing and changing... and yet seeking stability and consistency.  I love routine things. I loved Sundays when my dad would have sports on and barbeque, I loved Friday nights when my mom and dad would go out, I loved every weekday when my mom had breakfast ready everyday and dinner ready every night... it was consistent. I have had my favorite ice cream all my life and I always get it~ I have driven my car for 11 years, I have my favorite pillowcase and I sleep every night with the blanket my grandmother gave me 20 yrs ago when I was married. I have watched the same 2 sitcoms at night before bed for as long as I can remember.. (I've seen them all by now!) I never try new foods, or new hairstyles or fashion.. I have 2 sets of earings, I never change things in my house- I love antiques- old things that represent history and the past and things that remain!!

My most recent job was the Change Lead for a big project team. So Ironic!! I am leading others through Change when I hate it. I just have to laugh at it all!

So maybe God pulls me out of my comfort zone repeatedly to remind me that I am not in control! He is and if I will trust HIM ... I will have all the peace and safety and security I will ever need.s

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Happy Birthday Christopher! I can hardly believe another year has come and gone.. and you are now 14! Not a day goes by we don't thank God for choosing us to be your parents. You are so special in so many ways. You continue to be a sweet, generous big brother to Catherine. You have started taking on more responsibility and with every day you are maturing into the young man God designed. This past year you finished 7th grade and then had a great summer. You flew by yourself to Camp Timberlake for 3 weeks. I was so proud of your courage and sense of adventure. Then, you had another great time at camp Mama and then a week in CO with Gramma and Grandad Joe. Everyone loves you and loves to have time with you.  God is at work in your life and led us to switch you to your new school. You have transitioned without skipping a beat and I'm confident that by this time next year we will see the benefits of the new environment. Tennis is still your main sport and you have now started writing your 1st book. I can't wait to see how you take your creativity and commit it to characters and a story that can develop.

We love you, we are proud of you! You are such a blessing! You remind me to slow down, to be in the moment, to be deliberate and intentional with my words and my attitude and to find joy in simple things!  I pray that this next year will be filled with new adventures for you, that you will continue to grow and learn and that we will not take one day for granted together! Our birthdays allow us to stop and reflect and on your birthday today my sweet son, I look back on 13 years of joy and happiness with you!