Today's Coffee: Unknown Organic Blend

As usual, the Russells have had a lot going on in the past weeks. It's already December and we are getting SO excited about coming down to SC for a few days at the end of the month. I am teaching until the 23rd of December (half-day) and Thomas is playing a Christmas eve and day service at church. We will then depart after church on the 25th and drive to Virginia Beach to see my wonderful Ganny and relatives. We will stay the night with her and then leave her house early on the 26th to hopefully be home in SC by 6 pm on the 26th. The journey back begins on the 31st with our friend William who will drive us back. Thomas must be back by Jan. 1st evening for a wedding rehearsal so we will be taking turns driving. While we are home we hope to visit and see everyone. We want to go to Columbia to have coffee with old friends and also have a dinner with all the Russell children. What a sweet meal that will be - with Matthew, Seth, Thomas, Faith, Ethan, MomR and DadR and myself. :)

Thanksgiving was also a good time with Seth coming from Rochester to spend it with us. We all ran a 5k on Thanksgiving morning and we all finished in under 30 minutes! We proceeded from there to go to the Holst's house for Thanksgiving (it was amazing!). We also spent some time that evening at my stand-partner's house for another round of dessert. Friday we introduced Seth to Ikea and just chilled out later with watching the movie Up. Saturday we ventured into NYC where we went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Thomas Cathedral, Met Museum of Art, Central Park, a really uppity (but very chic) pizza place, Rockefeller Center, and Time Square. It was a very windy day but we had a lot of fun. The hot nuts were awesome as well! It was great fun and we can't wait to go again with Seth sometime!

My job has been going well. I have over 60 students in 6 grades split up into 8 classes. I have had many struggles so far with this job but am truly learning to see what a blessing it is. I really enjoy working with inner-city students and giving them something like a stringed instrument to learn and play. I enjoy my schedule which gets me home much earlier and therefore allowing me to prepare for the next day at school and practice other instruments. My bass and cello skills are getting much better! I am thankful for how everything is working out although it is challenging in many aspects. I praise the Lord for this job! :)

Thomas and I are signing up for another race... in February! brrrrrr! It's going to be on Feb. 13 and it's called 4M sweetheart race - we will be a team! :) So, yep, a 4M race in whatever weather February CT looks like. We read the description "rolling hills with one steep hill".... great! We are excited about starting to run again and keep in better shape. We want to be able to eventually do a 10k and then half marathon... and then maybe a marathon. . . maybe.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we enter a busy season of gigs, exams, tests, assemblies at school and concerts.

In Christ,
The Russells