Merry Christmas!

2008 flew by, we tried to keep up, and failed.

However, we did manage the following.

• Kip, Kim, Hayden, Gillian and all the dogs each had a birthday.   Highlight: Cake, ice cream, bouncy houses, bloody noses and stomach aches.

• Gillian (Pre-K) performed in Coppelia and the Nutracker (For the guys: Those are ballets). Highlight: During the Nutcracker, one challenged dancer fell on stage. Hayden (with true Russell compassion): “Well, that’s one kid down.”

• Hayden (1st grade) played baseball (“Baseball”, NOT “t-ball.”  This year was coach pitch). Highlight: 7 year olds drawing pictures in the sand with their feet, while line drives whiz by.

• Kim continued her pursuit of Stamping Nirvana (Conventions, Retreats, Parties, etc)  Highlight: Please, there is no lowlight when stamping is involved.

• Kip fished a bit. Highlight: “Catch and release” as an excuse for coming home empty-handed.

• We bought a camper and used it all summer.  Okay, once.  We camped for 48 hours, (12 of which were spent trying to back into a campsite–with practice that time has been cut in half).  Highlight: Learning that at night, when the electricity/heat breaks, a camper is a glorified tent.

• We adopted a third dog.  Highlight:______

As always we are happy for a lot of the things that didn’t change.  Our health stayed great, God continued His amazing provision during very uncertain times and the daily blessings (www.csrussells.com) continue to flow.   Merry Christmas.