The Russell's Daily Blessings

There is nothing sweeter than your children’s efforts when they try to pamper you and make you feel special.

This past Mother’s Day was no exception. Although my sweet family let me sleep in that morning, I could hear Hayden come in periodically to check to see if I was awake. As soon as he noticed that I was stirring he kicked it into high gear and rushed downstairs alone.

Luckily a few obstacles would not keep him from creating something special & memorable just for me.

Goal: Toast in bed for Mom.

Obstacle #1: No bread (okay, plenty of bread but he couldn’t find it).
Solution: Toasted Hamburger Bun

Obstacle #2: No butter (okay, the butter–like the bread–was in plain sight, but 7 year olds have vision issues).
Solution: Sprinkle a little cinnamon on the ‘bread’ instead.

This entire dish was garnished with a piece of cherry licorice (fruit) and a Milano cookie.  He included a cup of milk to wash it all down.

Half asleep when my charming son delivered the basket to me, I proudly and gratefully sat up and bit into my “cinnamon toasted hamburger bun.”

Although surprisingly tasty, it was not sweet… at all.  I just assumed it was the bun.  However, as I continued to eat,  I became certain I was tasting something spicier.  While I was looking at the powdery substance on the plate my sweet seven year old asked,  “How do you like your cinnamon toast, mom?”  I of course replied, “It is good honey, very tasty. This IS cinnamon toast, right?” “Yep! taste that powder.”

Then it hit me. I knew this flavor and I knew it very well, but it was NOT cinnamon. Uncertain and even baffled about my question, Hayden ran downstairs to fetch the “cinnamon container.”

While waiting for his return, I took a mental inventory of my commonly used spices and realized I knew what exactly what it was. It does indeed start with a “C” and end with an “N” and for a child who had battled several obstacles while creating this special breakfast, I could see how he would think that in a dark pantry the word C-U-M-I-N looked much like C-I-N-N-A-M-O-N. Not only the word but the spice itself!

Luckily my son has a superb sense of humor and it was such a fun way to start out this very special Mother’s Day.

I must also give credit to my precious husband who has done a fantastic job teaching my children how to perform these random acts of love. It is something that will not leave my heart anytime soon.

The Earth Laughs in Flowers – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

 

This precious picture of Bennett was taken with my new camera that I got for Mother’s Day!

Thank you Kip, Hays and Gilli.

One of my favorite pass times is being outdoors with my family. Whether we are working in our yard or going on a long walk it is just so meaningful to me.

Today was no exception, however it was a real gift to this mom whose husband is sick but sacrificed (yet again) for those whom he loves. Kip even went so far as to mow the grass to pretty up the yard for me. The really awesome thing is that Hayden (7 years old) offered to mow for Kip. This is no small job as he did the back, the big side yard and our front yard and he did a great job!!

Later in the afternoon we finished planting some bedding plants in one of my flower beds. Their pretty little blooms are so cheerful.

Happy Mother’s Day!

I wanted to introduce you to some ‘deer friends’ of ours.

This Spring our friends have been dropping by regularly to eat all the delicacy’s growing in our backyard. Even though our friends have been known just to hop over our six foot fence, they have it a little easier right now with a section of our fence that is down. (Weather has not been co-operating in the fence repair project)

During this visit, eight of our ‘deer friends’ were feasting on our plants. We watching all we could until the wild creatures inside our house could not take it any longer and chased their friends away. I won’t be quite so hospitable when my tulips are blooming.

 

Colorado Springs was known as “Little London” in the early days. Much of the money raised to build General Palmers railroads and the city of Colorado Springs came from English investors. In turn Colorado Springs residents became quite “British”, carrying umbrellas, celebrating English holidays, playing cricket and enjoying afternoon tea. At one time there were over 2000 immigrants from Great Britain living in Colorado Springs. With them they brought their famous English fashions, meals, cookbooks and raised their children with English nannies. The Colorado Springs Police Department called their policemen “bobbies”. This all added to the “Little London” atmosphere. ~S.Conn

 

To wrap up their studies on our beautiful state, Colorado. Gilli’s teacher arranged for the children to experience a real tea. The children all dressed in their ‘Sunday best’ and were paired up boy-to-girl. Each young boy took the hand of his partner and carefully guided her to her spot at the table. Then the boys were taught how to pull the chair out for their lovely ladies and seated them. The conversations all had to be low and very polite.

Each child was served tea with lumps of sugar and a spot of cream. They were served by the other mom’s there and could not eat until everyone had been served. (Whoa..love that this is being reinforced!!). Napkins in lap, I was blessed to be the mom at Gillian’s table to experience this with her.

By the end of the tea, it was very obvious that these lil Brit’s were on a sugar high. The boys had a tough time waiting for their partner to finish their tea, scones and fruit, but they did it.

Every once in a while we have those Sunday’s where we wake up slightly late and figure there is no way that we will make it out the door on time so we stay home. This weekend we experienced that twice and both times it would have been so easy not to make it to church, but God’s Will prevailed. I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit moved us out the door and got us where we were meant to be.

God always works in ways that I would not expect it is so refreshing, like a cleansing rain. This past weekend we had the privilege of hearing Pastor Scotty Smith from TN. Hearing his story on Friday and then his sermon Sunday, really exposed a few things in my own heart. In many ways it filled me with peace in areas that I did not have peace before. I pray that I can hold onto that peace.

Lord, thank you for leading us along your path, that our will succombs to Yours. Thank you for speaking through Rev. Smith and for opening up my heart. Thank you for being committed to the restlessness of my being. In this I pray in Your Precious Son’s name. Amen.