Posting, Posting, Posting!!!

I am not sure what happened, why, or how, but I have recognized a few signs on the way! I noticed I stopped posting as much on the Blog and started posting more on Facebook. Then I noticed my posts started getting smaller and smaller. I am not sure the size was due to my lack of writing larger material or that I had fewer responses when I wrote larger amounts of posts. Either way... it seems there has been a clear shift, at least for me, from blogging to Facebooking in an almost twittering way. Also the ease of posting on Facebook through my cell phone definitely has its advantages. I can upload pictures of events at the churches, I can upload family stuff, friend stuff, communicate via Facebook-email and more. I think there is another technology shift even though this has been available before it is now easier, cheaper, and more widely accepted, this facebooking and such through the phone.

I admit it is great that I can get emails on the phone, respond to important things quickly, and keep people updated, but I ask at what price?

What are we loosing in all this? and moreover if we are created to be relational beings as I believe God created us to be, then how is this foundational aspect of humanity being affected?

Just food for thought

Few moments have topped today… in my whole life…

Few moments have topped today… in my whole life…

I got to play outside with my daughter in our blow up slide-fort-pool!!!

After an amazing day of spending time with immediate and some not-so immediate family, i.e. Gramma & Grandpap Aegan, Mamaw, PapPap, Aunt Dottie and John as well as Becky, Cooper, Calvin, and Bailey… Pearl and I washed the van and then went swimming in the pool.

As Pearl and I played I started singing to her, in the tune of nick nack paddie wack give the dog a bone, a made up song: I splash you, you splash me, we all splash as a family, with a Pearly splashing me and dear old dad getting ready to get a bath!

After that we went inside… warmed up from the cold well water… and relaxed together as a family watching some DVR recordings of our favorite show!

Now this is a day to remember… the smile on Brenda’s face as we all sat down and ate a wonderful lunch… as Pearl and I played in the pool… as Pearl slept and even sat up sleeping while on the couch as Brenda and I watched The Unit… and of course seeing Grandpap’s face light up as it always does every time he talks about Justin.

Today was not only a good day, a grace filled day, a blessed day, but a moment or better yet a snapshot that I will never forget and will always be dear to my heart!

I am not sure why but this passage seems to fit with today:

NIV Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

A book of Prayers!!!

I recently re-found a book that was given to me more then a few years ago: “Prayers and Blessings and Hymns” or known as “Grace, Hymns, and Blessings” compiled and arranged by Rabbi CH. M. Brecher, New York: KTAV Publishing, 1960.

On page 5 there is a morning prayer for children:

“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of all the world (of the universe), Who has made our bodies wisely, with many passageways for our health. It is known to You, seated on Your throne of glory, that if any of these passages be wrongly closed or opened, we could no longer live or stand up before You. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who heals all bodies and performs so many miracles.

O God, the soul You gave me is clean. You made and created it; You breathed life into me, and keep me alive. I know that some day You will take life from me, but only to continue it in another world. So long as my soul lives, I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, god of all who came before me, Ruler of all things formed about me, and Master of all souls. Blessed are You, O Lord Who can return life even to the dead.

The following is to be said while the fringes are held:

I am ready to obey the commandment concerning the fringes (tzitzis) to place on our garments; for the Torah orders our people-“And they shall make fringes.”

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of all the world (of the universe), Who has made us holy through Your commandments, and has commanded us to make fringes.

May it be Your wish, O Lord my God, and god of all who came before me, that the way in which I have obeyed the commandment concerning the fringes be considered perfectly performed, and that I also be considered to have fulfilled all the 613 commandments based upon this one. Amen!”


Now this, to me, seemed like a rather long poem, but I started asking myself:

Do I help Pearl thank and recognize God’s amazing grace from all of creation through each person individually?

Do I help Pearl acknowledge the majesty and rightful place of God as king of the universe?

Do I help Pearl thank God for the health we have?

Do I help Pearl thank God for miracles?

So many questions I could ask, but to finish up with two more?

Do I help Pearl pray for help to continually be obedient to better fulfill “Loving God with all… (her) heart, soul, strength, and mind” as well as loving… (her) neighbor as… (herself)” as seen in Matthew 22:37-39.

I mean if we all work every day at teaching, leading, and loving our children to live out a prayer like this one… what would the world be like?

Skunks

Some of you may that back in August 2007 Pearl and I accompanied Corben to Kentucky, while he took one of his many on campus classes at Asbury. Well I was driving and about 10 minutes from campus I hit a skunk. I thought well maybe Pearl won't notice. After all it didn't make a loud sound, but than the smell oh the smell. Well to say the least she noticed.

So almost every week since than during prayer and praise time at church Pearl raises her hand and asks for prayer that mommy doesn't hit a skunk again. It has become pretty comical to say the least.

Well on Friday night Pearl's prayer was answered. I was on my way home from DuBois. It was dark and rainy. I was coming up a dark country road and out of the corner of my eye on the left side of the road I saw two little beady eyes coming out of the woods. So I let up on the gas, and than running in front of the car was oh no a skunk. I still remember the smell that hot August night. So I applied the brakes and the skunk scurried into the woods on the other side of the road.

Pearl's prayer of many many months was answered. Mommy did not hit a skunk again. Praise God.

Groundhogs

In Punxy there are 32 statues of groundhogs all around town. Since the very first time Pearl was in town almost a year ago for our "tak-in" she has been infactuated with them. We decided that through the year we would take her to each one and get her picture with them. We did some in the fall, but wanted to wait until it got nice to do the rest. Today we had 2 hours in between pre-school and an Easter egg hunt in town so we spent that time going to more groundhogs. We have three groundhogs left to get to. Here are a few pictures from today.

March Winds

Everyone always says March winds bring April Showers. Well I am not sure how many showers will come our way in April but one thing I do know is that the March winds of 2009 brought sickness to the Russell house. It started with Corben having some type of virus that was going around. Than it started with Pearl she got the same virus that Corben had and pink eye all at the same time. Than Pearl and Corben were both seen in the ER and diagnosed with ear infections, so antibiotics for the both of them. Thought everyone was getting better and Pearl got the flu. Than Pearl had an early morning visit to the ER due to severe pain and was diagnosed with an urinary track infection. All the while she has been going to see an allergist for allergy testing. Yesterday we got the all clear Pearl has no infection left in her body and as Pearl puts is my pee is clean no more medicine. The March winds also brought us a time of vacation. We enjoyed the first part of it just relaxing @ home and than went to spend sometime with my parents and sister. We enjoyed worshipping with our Concord church family and seeing many friends while there. Pearl has been going to King Kids Club @ a local church and was a little sad that it is done as of the end of March. She enjoyed the Monday evening time with other children from the community, and her Mom and Dad enjoyed the time alone while she was learning the Word of God and growing closer to Him. I think that our March came in like a lion with sickness, but it is going out like a lamb with just a few lingering coughs for the Pearl and myself, nothing her and I can't deal with. And looking ahead to April as far as weather goes it looks like the March winds are bringing in some much needed April showers our way tomorrow. And as far as us we are going to be busy busy busy. We will be celebrating Easter, going to see the dentist for 6 month checkups for the whole family, Easter egg hunts, planting a tree for earth day, and the first of many wedding showers to come this year as of now i know of 4 between June and September.

Pearl's Christmas Pictures

Wow it has been a long time

I got an e-mail asking how I was doing, because I hadn't posted anything since December. So I said to myself that is bad I need to do an update. So here goes....
We had a great Christmas, we got together with both sides of the family and enjoyed catching up with everyone who we do not get to see on a regular basis. The end of December beginning of January found us on vacation. We vacationed to my parents house. Which Pearl absolutely loved and so did they. While there Corben meet with the Board of Ordained Ministry and was granted provisional status as of July 1, 2009. Pearl and I are so proud of him and can not think of a better person to be leading us in the ministry that God has called our family to. In January soon after returning from a week with my parenets our phone rang late one night when I answered the phone it was my sister telling us that their house was on fire. She said everyone was outside and that they were waiting for the fire department. She said that my dad tried to put it out but was not successful. They still have not determined a cause. My parents and sister are living at the holiday inn for now and have been told to expect to be there for 8-10 months. So January found us making a few trips down to help with some clean up. January also found us watching lots of snow fall on us here in Timblin. At the deepest the snow was higher than the swings on Pearl's swing set in our back yard. February came with us getting to watch an awsome super bowl. I think I screamed enough for a year during the game, but never lost faith that my steelers would win. Corben and Pearl believe it or not slept through my screaming. We ventured into Punxy for groundhog day. What an experience. We did not go the the knob, but I think we will have to do tha when Pearl is a little older. Pearl got to see Phill up close and in person when he stopped in for a visit at the Bishop's Day on the district that night. They said that it was Phil's last stop of the day. Pearl has had many play dates in February with Becky and Dave's kids. I think she would move in there or have them move in here if she could. We took Pearl to Clarion for Valentine's Day to see the movie Hotel for Dogs. An excelent movie with a great message is a must have when it comes out on DVD. This movie will preach. If I was still in youth ministry I would take the youth group to see it. When we left to come home Pearl started crying and saying she wanted to stay in the city. I said to Corben she has defintly turned into a country girl if she thinks Clarion is the city. I had said to my Grandfather that I didn't think we would see grass until at least March, but I was wrong all the snow melted the second week of February, but it is back this week and again on Friday morning there was no grass to be seen. We like it though and after all it is still only February. I will post some pictures latter. If you are on facebook look us up we are there also.