Is your glass half-full or half-empty?

When life hands you lemons do you make lemonade?



Then of course there are varying degrees:
Bitter
Semi-sweet
Extra-sweet
And just plain amazing with the perfect blend

Maybe life has seemingly left you bitter?
If so there is someone who can help. His name is Jesus
And His birthday is celebrated every year at Christmas
And His death and ressurection is celebrated every year at Easter.

This last Sunday I preached on 1st Peter 1:1-9 and I invite
All who read this Blog to take 5 minutes and read the passage
Especially if you have read it before.

Now the questions are:
Do you rejoice like the passage describes?
Do you experience great joy even while suffering under trials?
Do you see the brighter side while being refined through fire so
that your faith strengthens?

Please take a few minutes to look up Isaiah 48:10.

The good news, the great news is that not only are we giving glory,
Honor, and praise to God as He so rightly deserves when we suffer,
But we are pointing the way to Christ as the 1st Peter passage reminds us.

I leave you with this question:

When you look in the



and see your reflection who does it point to?

Happy Birthday Mom

In the picture Richard Aegan, Quina Price, Bobby Aegan, and Pearl Russell

Today is my Mom's birthday. She has taught me many lessons throughout the years and I look forward to having dinner with her tonight and learning many more things from her for many more years.

Fun at High School Musical on Ice

I got the opportunity to be able to go to High School Musical on Ice which is a combination of High School Musical one and two. I was able to go with Brenda and Pearl. I never knew it, but opening night can offer some more reasonable priced tickets. It was a wonderful time especially as I watched Pearl with her eyes glued to the Ice Rink as the musical ensued. I looked over and saw Brenda watching and not only watching the musical, but also watching Pearl to make sure she did not hit or spill anything on the person sitting in front of Pearl and I was struck by the wonders of family. Sometimes family life is difficult, it wasn't meant to be easy, but it is worth it and when I have moments like these the difficulties melt away faster then snow on a warm sunny day. The picture below is my momento of another wonderful moment that God used to make up for those stressful, even though not always frequent, days of hair pulling, biting, hitting, and overall fits that all three year olds go through.

What is today

Some people call today Holy Thursday, some say Maundy Thursday, some say Pass over, some say last supper, some say agape meal, some say first day of spring, and to some it is just Thursday, March 20. Well for us here in the Russell household it has been a day of preparation. We have been preparing for tonight's service at the church. Pearl was supposed to be in pre-school today but it was canceled so she to has been helping. At first I thought oh no, but to be honest with you it has been a blessing in disguise. Pearl has been a great little helper and I can not wait to experience tonight's service with her. So as our day of preparations is starting to wind down it will turn into a night of remembrance and learning. We will learn what some of the things were that took place so many years ago the night Jesus was betrayed, and remember in closing with communion what Jesus did for us on the cross tomorrow.
A short story about our preparations
We actually started our preparations last night by setting up the tables and chairs in the shape of a cross. Pearl was there and helped us, but we never really explained to her why we were moving the tables and we never mentioned to her the fact that they were in the shape of a cross. So today she has been for the most part busy playing while I've been getting the food ready. So when my mom stopped by for a surprise visit while we were just getting ready for lunch, and was happily surprised that Pearl meet her at the door. Grandma thought she was in school. I was not expecting Pearl to say much about tonight. However during the midst of eating lunch and talking about tonight and what I had done and still had to do my Mom asked if there was anything she could do to help. I said she could help me fill cups with grape juice if she wanted to over at the church. So that is when it happened Pearl perked up at asked with much excitment if Grandma wanted to go and see the cross at the church. So we did, we went to the church and Pearl very proudly showed the cross to her Grandma.

Picture Update

Visit to a game farm in West Virginia

Visit to a game farm in West Virginia

High School Musical on ice

Mommy's little helper

Second year in a row we spent V-Day in the snow

Wow what a cute little girl

Santa came and Pearl's goods are awaiting her in the morning

Pearl and Aunt Dottie waiting to go to Christmas Eve service at Bridgewater UMC

Pearl went to visit the pymatumming the place where ducks walk on the back of fish with her Grandma, Grandpap, Aunt Dottie and of course us this fall

Pearl ready to go Trick-or-treating, but missing her Justin

Justin Update

Well I wanted to update everyone and thank you for praying for my cousin Justin as he went through all of his training for the US Navy. He graduated from "boot camp" the Friday before Labour Day. Than he went to Texas for A-School for further training. While in Texas he met a girl who stole his heart. Her name is Heather and she is awesome. While he was home on leave Corben had the pleasure of performing their wedding. Justin than reported to Washington state where he will be stationed for the next two years. He than spent until the begining of March in classes training him even further for his job in the US Navy as a Master at Arms. He did however hurt his knee and is on light duty. So for the next two weeks his job is driving people around the base. He works 6 hours than has off 6 hours and so it goes for the next two weeks. Pearl can find Washington state on a map and tells us "Washington, Justin lives there". She also enjoys talking to both Justin and Heather via X-Box Live.

The moments we share...

The moments we share…

The moments we share can be positive or negative.
The moments we share can be happy or sad.
The moments we share can help us grow or tear us down,
But most importantly the moments share are together.

Through thick and thin, in High and low tide, rain or shine I am thankful we have each other.




There is a devotional book Brenda and I reflect on called Moments with You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Everyday I appreciate what I learn, ways to come closer to God, and opportunities to receive advice as we end the parenting day and Pearl lays in her bed falling asleep.

What I never expect, but find invaluable is the precious moments of listening, speaking, sharing, and being together as we read, discuss, reflect, and pray for each other, our family, and our relationship with Christ.

A passage for reflection:

NIV (New International Version) Colossians 13:12-15
"12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Dr. Phil's personality test

I scored 49 on Dr. Phil's personality test
Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who will always cheer them up and help them out.

http://psychcentral.com/personquiz.htm