chelan rene’ russ

Thanksgiving in Kilgore with Sunshine, Color & Change

Posted by: chelan on: December 10, 2009

Thanksgiving this year was spent in Kilgore, with Gam, Gramma Janis & Papa Bob.  Bray had won a 10 lb. turkey in Sunday School that week (they drew his name out of a basket), and was very proud to contribute such an important piece to dinner. To it was added to delicious strawberry salad, mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potato  casserole with overflowing marshies, & of course, green bean casserole, and for dessert, Gam brought over to the Pilands’ new place, a homemade cheesecake – mouth-watering, with canned cherries.

Bray & Angies spent the 4.5 days on Danville Rd. riding bikes (hers was the tricycle she’s been mastering these last few months, and he loved impressing us with every imaginable “bmx” trick we could throw at him). They also colored, read books,  watched “Open Season”, and played with Magnetix & when it was earned, Bray pulled out his PSP. The adults just sat around & relaxed, watched football (a LOT of it), gabbed and the last night, laughed as we watched, “The Proposal”.

That Sunday we were to leave for home, we packed up, and were about to stop by Gam’s to see her new flooring & such, on our way out of town, when we realized the car keys were locked in the Scion. We’d let the kids play in the car, and I had closed the open doors, having no idea they’d locked them all.

So, after the Kilgore locksmith came and set her free, we were finally on our way. It was strange to spend Thanksgiving without my Bebb family (who were all at my Uncle Steve’s in Milwaukie, OR), Kim’s family (new pastors in Brewster, WA), Jeremy’s family (w/Jamie’s & lil Riley in Cornelius, OR) or Rick’s dad (w/Jan & her family by the California coast).  Kim kept the tradition up, of asking everyone individually, what they were most thankful for…only, all by text. :) Although the Todds & the Collins families were not there (the Todds, we were told, would be spending all future Thanksgivings @ the Cowboy game, and I believe the Collins left town, for a mini-vacation to themselves)…I was still so glad that we were able to drive & spend precious time with some extremely loved family members in Kilgore. Although it was an unexpected challenge for Janis & Bob to find an affordable rental there, it was a blessing to know that they are now just a half-mi. from Gam, and pleased as punch about it. They are always so welcoming… & their home, so inviting.

It was a wonderful time. To me, any quality time spent with family is wonderful, especially on a holiday that lands in the middle of my favorite season, with sunshine, color and change. Read the rest of this entry »

A Braysay about… hatred for a shirt

Posted by: chelan on: November 28, 2009

The other day before school started, I was “helping” Braylon get ready & picked out a shirt for him, after he’d refused 3 others. In the corner of his closet, I found this great short-sleeved, never before worn. Well, he had no less than a full-fledged fit when I made him wear it.

After Ricky came back from their morning drive to school, he said Bray was silent & sulky for a few minutes and then saw a sign that read, “fire”.  Reading it out loud he said, “F, I, R, E…

then chanted,

F, I, R, E. That’s whud-I-want this shirt to be.

F, I, R, E. That’s whud-I-want this shirt to be!!

Ashes.”

 

Protected: Nov. 24th ‘09 ~ Movie-Scene Day of Mercy

Posted by: chelan on: November 27, 2009

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My Multicultural Moms Meetup

Posted by: chelan on: November 26, 2009

I have been blessed to experience life with some wonderful ladies. Eight to nine months ago, Kathleen had an idea to start a neighborhood mom’s group to connect with each other & learn from each other. She approached Evie, who brought it up to me, and so it began – the three of us, at McD’s…and now we have seven or eight of us moms, all hailing from the great city of Hutto, & meeting every other week at various locations. It’s been really cool to see how different we all are…yet the same in many ways.

We’re learning how to lean on each other…to open up & trust each other with sensitive issues & prayer requests. We’re sharing our thoughts, resources, defeats, celebrations…and so much more… …not to mention some Dang-good multicultural dishes! Here are just a few shots of some of us at the Hutto McD’s and Ricoco’s Latin Grill in Taylor – just a-havin’ a good ol time.

Above: Evie, me…totally faking it, for the camera!

Above: Kathleen, Rosa, Venus, Coco, Nesrine, Evie & myself…

surprising Coco for her b-day

Above: Moms @ Mc’D’s ~

the only place in Hutto that’s kid-friendly and nearly free

AngeLingo…about love

Posted by: chelan on: November 19, 2009

She’s been saying this phrase over … & over … & over again for weeks! I can’t decide if I want her to keep on, or just be quiet already! Fill in the blank with “Mommy, Daddy or Brudder”…

“I yuv you _____. I yuv you s’ much.”

She’s added the word “still” in there, as of yesterday, “I still yuv you, Daddy. I still yuv you so muuuuuch.”, I guess b/c she was

concerned that we’d think her love for us would expire every 2 hours.

I wonder if I can invent a way to deposit some of those in a phrase bank, and make withdrawls as necessary when she’s thirteen.

I see you’re holdin’ quite the load

Can I walk beside you down this dusty road

See I know you’ve got a story

You know it never hurt no one to talk

 

Bridge:

But it seems like society

Keeps takin’ a step back from unity

We replace a face with another machine

And we praise advancement of technology

Chorus:

What would happen if we did life

Face to face

Express it, Confess it, Embrace

Take the time to touch

Take a chance and feel

Express it, Confess it, Embrace


You’ve gotta wanna sacrifice

Free up a hand o serve a brotha; realize

How love is the best investment

When you don’t always bank on a return

.

Bridge

Chorus

.

(Adlibs: Tell a cashier,”God loves you.”, send a letter in the mail, have a BBQ

Volunteer, spread some cheer, raise a hand & tell ‘em what you’re goin’ thru)

Express it, Confess it, Embrace (x3 or 4)

What is it like…in heaven

Are there no tears; is there no war

Has everyone found what they’re looking for

.

I need to know…what it’s like in heaven

Wholeness & healing; laughter & rest

No more diseases, no fear, no regrets

***

Chorus:

I no longer want my will

But Your will be done

Your kingdom come

Right here (x2)     (I’m prayin’…)

As it is up there

***

(Lord, tell me…) Vs. 1, 2

Chorus

Instrumental Solo

***

Bridge: (optional echo after ea. line: “as it is up there”)

O, to worship with your angels

O, to worship ever more

Holy, Holy, Holy is the…Lord God Almighty

Who was -  -   & is & is to come!!

***

Chorus

***

…as it is up there

(random adlibs with the echo after ea. line: “as it is up there”)

Cant wait to join you there,

Jesus!

Heaven fills my heart;

Let it overflow

Onto the streets of this city

Let it be done

…As it is up there.

Our Sidewalk Dance Party Tribute to Michael Jackson

Posted by: chelan on: November 17, 2009

Last night we drove to Walmart to let Bray spend his Gigi money, and after 20 minutes of indecisiveness, Ricky & Bray meet us girls at the self-check with … Michael Jackson’s #1’s cd (hmmm, could this be a gift for Daddy too? I think so).

With each song on the way home, we get more into the music and keep driving… past our street…just to keep listening. Finally, for the sake of reading time before bed, we turned around on 79 & headed home.

As we do, we approach our friends’ (whose kids LOVE Michael Jackson) and per Ricky’s (half-joking) idea, we stopped, hopped out and cranked it up loud! Bray knocked on their door and ran back to the sidewalk to join Angel & me for the street party.

The 3 Bosserman kids in jammies opened their front door & hesitantly came out into the chilly air, saw us bustin’ moves left and right, & before you could say a high-pitched, “Heee-Hee”, smiles spread & they all started dancin’ on the sidewalk, too.

We were 5 kids & a few grown up kids… just-a moon-walkin’, hat-tiltin’, crotch-grabbin’, and shoulder-shruggin’ to Billie Jean and Thriller. I think we all need random moments of silliness & reckless abandon.