Present
Howdy! Chelan here, great to meet ya!
Why blog? I first started journaling online, back in Oct. ’07 to get my future memories documented & keep everyone I know who still lives in the beautiful Northwest, up to date…as well as my new friends in TX. I want to become more selfless, eternally minded, less focused on material things & instant gratification; and more on what really matters in the long run.
You’ll find posts here on a myriad of things:
All kinds of lessons I’m learning in trusting God as I become a thriving musician/artist, mommy & wife; silly or thought-provoking quotes from my kids, random confessions; stuff God is teaching me, family recipes, stories of my love life w/Ricky since ’95…
…
About Me, Personally:
i am from the pacific northwest (portland, oregon area), i grew up in a sweet lil family of 4 ~ mom-marda bebb, dad-bruce bebb, & big sister-charity stewart (all from sherwood, oregon), as a pastor’s kid for about 14 yrs. i lived in the same home from age 2-21 when i transitioned from college life at pcc) to married life.
enter: ricky g. russ, jr. – this guy was a playa w/an ego from the day we met that fall of 1990. an oh, so sweet totally rebellious pastor’s kid… but i like to think i knocked some sense into him (after i dated his brother). we fell in love & the world around us turned to a dull gray & brilliant burst of color all at once. we could not go a day without the sight of ea.other for almst two yrs, but amazingly managed to keep sex at bay til we were hitched june 14th, 1997.
i”ve been singin’ since ’90 – in youth choir for 6 yrs, on worship teams from ’96-, in a women’s prison ministry, & in 3 bands -jammin’ @ coffee shops, benefits & backyard bbq’s. i love to sing. after reading ‘the dream giver’ in ’05, i discovered that God has a lot more potential for me to live – so i have been writing my own songs & playing a shiny black acoustic martin sigma ~ a gift from my hubs in ’06. it’s been slow goin’ w/guitar, but i’m determined to not give up. blues & acoustic folk have been a heavy influence on my style (harry connic jr.,jonny lang, marc 
broussard / shane & shane, nichole nordeman) … but i always return to the worship standards, new & old. without creative worship music, life’s meaning & passion can just drain out. so i say, regardless of how you feel, any day, praise on.
skip fwd to the fall of ’07 when work & God moved us to the lone star state near austin: after a month of being sick emotionally & physically from the nerves, i started gettin’ used to my new home & life. found a good Bible-preachin’ church, a job teaching pre-schoolers 10 hrs/wk, & i’ve also found some good musicians w/which i’ve collaborated to form the coffeehouse Christmas music band, illuminate. our prayer is that we will be used here in tx, to our fullest potential & be selfless, positive influences for Christ until he brings us home {to oregon – or heaven}! ~ i also pray that this blog/journal (like my music) will be an ongoing witness to His faithfulness, continually giving Him glory.
The Russ Family (besides myself):
Ricky (a fabulously handsome, determined graphic artist & man of God. a.k.a. Babe),
Braylon (born 8/8/02: a caring, brave, & adorable, scooby-doo, rock-n-roll & skeleton lovin’, sponge-brained creative & energetic ‘mini-me’ of ricky. a.k.a. Dude, Bro or Bud)
Angel (born 12/4/06: our sweet-pea. Our giggly mop-head who loves to give hugs & kisses, dance & get into trouble. a.k.a.”Troubies”, but usually, “Bubbies”)
