The Russell Ranch

Mark 'n Di

Mark 'n Di

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

In Again, Out Again, Finnegan!

We have pretty much taken care of February ~ at least we will have when I finish this post...

We arrived home from Missouri on Monday, the 15th, and met Dot (Peggy's daughter) again, and her husband, Rui, and her 7-year-old son, Sebastian. To our surprise and delight, Sebastian gave us big hugs upon our introduction! He really is a sweet little boy! Another very pleasant occurance that day was that Mark's brother, Howard, and his family (wife Barbara & boys Stephen & Joseph) came over to Tampa to have dinner with us, spend the night and have brunch the next day before heading back to Cocoa Beach where he was attending a business meeting. We all got in Howard's van & Peggy's family drove in their car, and made our way to Ellenton, FL, to experience Roaring 20's Pizza & Pipes. It was great fun! The big old Wurlitzer theatre organ was a huge hit with Stephen, who had watched videos of it being played on YouTube, but never dreamed he'd get to see it! We were all very happy to see him so happy. =) The food was very good, also.

The next morning we went to Cracker Barrel for brunch, then said good-bye. I just hate good-byes, don't you? Brings to mind one of Bob Batton's songs; "...where the hand ne'er waves good-by, that's the place my sould is longing for..." *teary eyed*

That evening, Rui took over my kitchen and grilled steaks, made a grilled pepper & onion salad, and fixed potatoes & mushroom gravy. Dot fixed a beautiful tossed salad and we were treated as guests in our own home. What a treat! Rui can cook ~ just sayin' ~ and they cleaned up the kitchen, too! =)

After supper on Tuesday, Rui & Sebastian drove back over to West Palm, where Rui's dad lives,to finish their little vacation, and Wednesday afternoon, we took Dot to the airport & said good-bye again as she flew back home and to work. Thursday morning Peggy winged her way back to Costa Rica. We are so thrilled to have had a part in her cancer care here @ Moffitt. God is in control and doeth all things well.

Mark and I have enjoyed the empty nest again for the last week. He has gone to work every day (bless his sweet heart), but I have just kicked back and lazed ~ honestly just lazed around... Some nights we have gone out to eat, and some nights I have had supper on the table when he came home. I have done laundry and cleaned the kitchen, so I did do a FEW chores (hehehe).

Saturday was work day at the church and Mark put the trim & baseboard in a Sunday school room. What did I do? I took a little trip to Solomon's Castle in Ona, FL, with my Red Hat Sisters! It is really a dorky place, but we had fun being together and laughing and eating in the "Boat in the Moat."

Today I went to a card class & made 3 cards and 3 scrapbook pages. This gal has forgotten more imagination than I'll ever have ~ I enjoy this group of ladies, too. We seem to always end up @ TGI Fridays or Cracker Barrel after class. I am truly blessed with lovely friends.

Speaking of friends ~ I am getting ready to fly away again on Thursday to St. Louis for a scrapbooking weekend with my two best buddies I used to work @ Quest with. We will spend four great days in a condo/resort out in the boonies and scrapbook page after page after page....

So sometime next week you'll read more about
The Russells at Richmond Place

Friday, February 12, 2010

Weekend in Cape Girardeau

Hello to y'all from Missouri! It is really lovely to be here with so many friends and my lovely daughter and her family. Rev. Paul Pierpoint held the Preachers' Meeting for the Pilgrim Nazarenes, and did a wonderful job. We had great fun one evening, after the service, reminiscing about our old stomping grounds...I was at a little Bible school in the Adirondacks and he was pastoring a Pilgrim Holiness church in the area. We know a lot of the same people and my mom and I attended a lot of the PH revivals, rallies, camps, etc. I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God!

We had flight cancellations twice for our trip up here ~ but we persevered! Southwest Airlines only has a few direct flights, and we couldn't access any of them. Our first flight (Tuesday night)was supposed to go through Chicago and the Chicago leg was cancelled; so we booked another flight through Baltimore. Before we went to bed that night, we were notified that the Baltimore leg had been cancelled. So we booked another flight ~ through Chicago again, leaving Tampa @ 9:35 Wednesday morning. And, of course, we didn't "plan ahead" for leaving the house early enough for rush hour traffic... We checked our bags in "late" and ran for the gate. We were the last ones on! The old adrenalin was pumping ~ is that the same as a workout? If it isn't, it should be! We made our connection in Chicago, but Mark HAD to make a phone call, so I boarded without him. I went to the back of the plane where I could get two seats beside each other and guarded the second seat like a terrier! I saw Mark board and stood up and waved. He looked right at me and nodded his head, so I sat back down. Next thing I know, he has disappeared! Sat somewhere else! I am not pleased ~ and the next person that asks about the seat next to me is a hulking mass of humanity. So on one side I have a large man wearing sunglasses who is deaf and on the other side of me is a HUGE man who barely fits in the seat. I am scrunched ~ and ticked! Good thing this flight is only 45 minutes! Mark says later he never saw me...I am wearing red, and who else on that plane even looks remotely like me? Just sayin' ...

Next thing is to get a car in St. Louis and head to Cape. In the car lot, I make and throw a snowball! And I make a second one and take aim for Mark, who doesn't see the humor ~ at all. The car is a KIA, and we actually "put in on" and took off down the road. All the bumps and seams in the road were felt down that 100-mile stretch. Groan!

One note of interest ~ we drove by our old house to see if there had been improvements or deterioration. I had mixed feelings about even driving by, but Mark had no hesitation, so a trip down Inverness (memory) Lane was made. We saw: new windows, white vertical siding on the porch, basement cement blocks painted white, barn windows all boarded up with white boards, and a hot tub in the back yard. Well, good. They're taking care of the place ~ now can we head for Cape?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Tuesday's Trail

Hello! Ever had a week when Tuesday felt like Monday? It felt like that for me... I took Mom home today and we stopped @ Village Inn for lunch. I think she was happy to get home to sleep in her own bed tonight. Camp is nice, good, spiritual, needed, etc., etc., but it's good to get back home. Just sayin'

I came home with all intentions of unpacking and totally putting everything away, and all that sort of thing ~ but got my kitchen all put back in order & made the mistake of sitting down in my recliner to check my e-mail and Facebook. 'Nuf said. Sassy came to look over my shoulder (she likes to see what everyone has to say, too!), and when I kicked back in the chair she smiled and started "singing" and we both curled up and took a nap!

We started revival tonight with Rev. Noel Scott. I was really very tired of going to church ~ I know y'all know what I mean. However, Bro. Scott has such a sweet spirit and his message was so refreshing, that I actually felt "soothed" and was glad I went.

Our dear friend, Peggy, who is here from Costa Rica to have cancer surgery, has had her surgery and got the final pathology report today that there is no cancer in the lymph nodes and surrounding tissue ~ hence, no further treatment is needed. We rejoice with her! She will be here for a follow-up visit or two with the physicians, and heads back for Costa Rica the end of this month.

So ends the Tuesday trail for
The Russells at Richmond Place

Monday, February 1, 2010

Every Day Posts ~ Gone With the Wind!

Well, hello there! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the one who went to camp meeting 10 days ago and had no Internet connection for the duration. That's tough, ya know? Just sayin'........

The camp I went to is a God's Missionary Camp in Sun City, Florida. Harry Plank, the President of the denominaiton, and his wife, Rachel, went to school at Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, FL, the same time we did ~ so it's always fun to be with them. Rachel asked me if I would help her out this year, by planning and preparing the snacks after evening service for the camp workers and other invited guests. That is a task that I really enjoy, and I had lots of fun! I love to set pretty tables, and fix yummy foods, and be around people ~ so this was really no "task" for me, but lots of fun.

Rev. Don Myers, from Schenectady, NY, was one of the evangelists. I knew him as a young girl and teenager, but hadn't heard him preach since then. It was great to get reacquainted and sit under his ministry.

Rev. James Plank (Harry & Rachel's eldest son) was the other evangelist. He is a powerful preacher and certainly gives you spiritual food. He had to leave the camp early due to his wife having surgery, plus the fact that his wife's grandma passed away during the week of camp, as well.

Rev. Jacob Martin, from PA, stepped in and took James' place ~ and did a terrific job. He's an on-fire preacher and stirred us up to walk with God! It was a very wonderful week!

Our pastor, Rev. Jay Smalley, offered the use of a 5th Wheel RV for us to stay in on the campgrounds. We had it parked right beside the caretaker's house, which is where the evening entertaining was done, so that was a real blessing!

Mark packed my car Sunday evening, so all I had to do was pack the refrigerator stuff and get Mom's stuff and head home this morning. I'll have to admit, I am quite weary today. I had the job of unloading the car and putting everything away today ~ but the only things that got put away were the refrigerated items. The rest can wait for Tuesday.... *yawn*

Sassy went to camp with us, and didn't seem to mind being there ~ however the trip down there and back was another story. The cat carrier is definitely not her favorite conveyance! When we got home today, she walked to the middle of the living room floor and laid down. Like, "Thank God, these people have come to their right minds!"

I wanted to update today ~ but I'm so tired I'm not sure I'm making much sense ~ so I'll sign off and try again tomorrow.

Good night from
The Russells at Richmond Place