Thanksgiving

I love Christmas for many reasons on many levels.  I also love Thanksgiving and one of the biggest reasons is that it doesn't come with the commercialism of Christmas.  It comes wrapped in family gathered around a table, giving thanks for all the blessings received throughout the year.  I imagine the early days of this holiday and whether it really began with a group of pilgrims and Native Americans, doesn't really matter to me.  The evolution of the holiday into a day of thanksgiving is what matters to me.  I do imagine that "first" one though with the plentiful harvest of food.  Wild game that the men hunted, the many crops harvested and lovingly prepared by the women. I still see that picture from a history book of a table as long as the eye can see with women and men and children of all ages and a table filled.  I think the image of people of different colors and places of birth coming together is one of the things I love.  It is a reminder of peace without borders for me and sharing what we have. 

Personally, I love the day that is filled with the smell that only Thanksgiving brings into our kitchen.  The pumpkin and apple pies, the cranberry sauce, the turkey and stuffing.  It is all stored in our memory banks and when we smell these things, we know it is Thanksgiving.  It is a day for families and friends to gather to give thanks for all, but mostly for me, it is a time to give thanks for my family coming together.  It is laughter about childhood stories told...often times I find something out that I didn't know before about some shenanigan one or all of them was a part of.  I remind myself that we survived it and laugh about it.  Laughing more at myself about the survival and grateful I didn't know then.  Feelings of gratitude that we are a family that gathers in laughter and fun, rather than arguing like many do.  I find that all hard to understand, but I hear from many that these holidays are days filled with anger and resentment, rather than laughter and love.  How grateful I am that ours is filled with love and gratitude.

Extra gratitude this year as we welcomed one new member to our table.  Augustus Oliver Russell celebrated his very first Thanksgiving this year.  Albeit, in my arms in a rocking chair as the rest of the family ate. I enjoyed rocking him and listening to the family chatter. Once he was asleep, I joined them.  What a blessing to welcome him.  We are truly blessed. 

What I miss most about Thanksgiving is Tara.  We never get to celebrate this day with her.  She is always far across the seas.  Somehow, we coordinate time zones and get a Skype call in and do our best to celebrate via technology.  She gets hungry hearing about all the food and tells us about her attempt to create a Thanksgiving meal wherever she is.  This year it was a chicken in the crock pot.  The Pilgrims might not have had such modern conveniences, but I am sure the sense of thanksgiving was there as they ate that chicken and memories of Thanksgivings before filled the air.  I am sure they told Sojo stories of childhood and young adult Thanksgivings before they began their lives as "global nomads".  We put their family picture on our table with us to remind us of the blessing they are in our lives.

And so it is...2012 Thanksgiving is behind us and we begin our journey toward Christmas when we will all be together around our table.  It will be ham instead of turkey, but the flavor of the gathering will be the same...gratitude for the gift of family being together.

 

Where's my turkey?

 

 

Whether near or far, we are always together...in body or in spirit we give thanks.

 

Flying Solo

Well, Augie and I managed just fine last Friday by ourselves for the entire day while his Mommy had to work.  I had readied myself for this task.  I had everything all set up.  I had cleaned the house the day before and had nothing to do except be with Augie.  I had thought about possibly making dinner for his parents when they came to pick him up, but Augie had other plans for me. 

We did a whole lot of snuggling during the day and golly, I did enjoy that.  We snuggled while he took his bottle and we snuggled while he slept and we even tried some snuggling when he cried.  But, sometimes even snuggling isn't what a baby needs.  We had a couple diaper "blow outs".  Luckily, I have the routine for diaper changing down pat.  We had to have a few clothing changes.  I think I may not really have that diaper thing down just perfect yet.  Those "blow outs" seem to go up the back and onto his clothes.  After those two blow outs, I thought maybe a bath was in order, so we did that too.  I was pretty proud of my ability to do this.  I don't think I have attempted this since his Uncle Matt (age 34) was a baby.  Funny how things like this come back to you...kind of like that riding a bike thing. 

Well, what do you do with an infant after they are fed, bathed, diapered, clothed and snuggled? Well, we tried the vibrating chair thing...I really don't know what they call all of these contraptions, but they work for awhile anyway.  Not long with this little guy though.  I sat on the floor with him in it...I put it inside the "pack-n-play" so he could see at a different level.  We chatted and solved world peace during the day while he was playing.  He played on his play mat on his back and had some tummy time too.  I sat that on the bed so I could lay down with him and chat.  It is a lot easier for this older Nana than being on the floor.  We had some sleep time in his "boppy" (this is a pillow like thing with a little nest for the baby...it kind of snuggles them) and some chat time and some more tummy time.  We did some rocking in the "baby rockin' chair" that has been waiting for a baby to rock in it for a very long time...since Uncle Matt days. We even took a 20 minute walk in the stroller, which was lots of fun and Nana can always use a little more exercise in her day. And then there was more snuggling going on in between all of this. 

I was amazed at how quickly the day went.  You know what they say, "time flies when you are having fun".  I admit it, I was tired after his Mommy and Daddy came to pick him up.  His Granda said I had kind of a dazed look about me.  You forget just how much energy it takes to care for an infant all day. You think to yourself ahead of time, "how hard can this be"?  It's funny though, it was the best kind of tired I have felt in a very long time.  The kind of tired I have waited for.  The kind of tired I feel after a day with Sojo.  It is a "thank you God for this day", kind of tired.  The best kind of tired. 

Just hangin' with Nana

 

 

Tummy time thoughts

 

 

Aaah, sleep

 

 

The rocking, bouncing, vibrating, musical wonder

 

 

Notice the 3 different outfits on this sweet boy...and that doesn't count the one that never made it off the changing pad.

 

Yes, it was a very good day.  I think I am ready to fly solo again real soon.

 

 

 

 

 

In Training

I am in training for Augie care.  This Friday starts our first day that is all day by ourselves.  I think we can do it.  We have been trained well.  He has his baby part down pat:  cry and someone will hold me, snuggle me, feed me or change me.  Oh, did I mention the snuggle part?  Yep, Augie has it down pat.  Now me...well his Mommy and Daddy have been working hard and helping me learn the ropes.  I am a bit out of practice since his Aunt Tara is 44, his Daddy is 41 and his Uncle Matt is 34.  It has been a while since I have done this baby gig.  It does seem to be coming back to me.  I especially love that snuggle part, so I think we will get along fine. 

 

This chair has been waiting a long time to have a baby rocked in it.  It is the chair Augie's Aunt Tara was rocked in, his Daddy was rocked in and his Uncle Matt was rocked in.  By the time Sojo arrived at our house, she was over a year old and not really into the rocking anymore.  This chair is a late 1960's Lazy Boy rocker/recliner.  I know, old school and not at all in style, but this is a baby rocking chair and there is history here.  It has been reupholstered 3 times and desperately needs it again.  First it was 60's gold and then it was 70's rust and then it was pink and mauve and turqoise southwestern flame stitch...very similar to the mauve and turqoise flame stitch it is now.  Yep, it needs a new do.  But, Augie doesn't care about the color or style.  He only cares about the snuggling and rocking.  We can do that.

 

 

We will have a little play time on his playmat

 

 

Hopefully, he will sleep a little

 

 

 

His Granda can help out sometimes too.  Some male bonding.

 

 

When Mommy and Daddy come home, he will be ready for some snuggling with them. 

Yep, I think we are ready. 

 

 

 

 

Blessed Beyond Measure

The title of this blog sounds like a perfect title for this post.  I was indeed, blessed beyond measure 44 years ago today when I became a mother for the very first time.  I carried her within my womb, beneath my heart for 9 months and when she came into this world and I looked into those eyes that would become the most beautiful shade of amber brown I have ever seen, I knew my life would never be the same.  She was my first born and my only daughter.  Yes, I have been blessed beyond measure.

She lives across the seas and has for the last, oh...20 plus years now.  Not long out of college, she ventured off to Ecuador, South America for 5 years.  Then, it was off to Venezuela, South America for 2 years, where she met the man who would later become her husband.  Then, she came back to Tucson for one year and then it was off to Cameroon, Africa.  Dale followed her to Cameroon after a year and they completed her 2 years there.  From there, it was Shanghai, China.  During this time, they married and adopted their daughter, Sojo and lived a total of 5 years there.  Off to Bangkok, Thailand it was for the 3 of them and now, they are beginning a stint in Udhailiayh, Saudi Arabia.  Quite an exciting life for a little girl who could not spend the entire night at a friends until she was nearly 12.  We knew the phone would ring at 10 pm and with tears, she would ask her Daddy to come and get her.  A bit over compensation here, maybe?  I remember her words when she left for Ecuador, "Mom, don't worry, I am only going for one year, two at the most".  Famous last words.

She lives an exciting life, this daughter of mine.  Not one that I would probably choose, but it is a good life and it offers us an amazing opportunity to visit exotic places that we would not otherwise probably choose.  We have seen the inter-cities, the native countrysides; along with the Amazon Jungle, the Galapagos Islands, a bevy of beautiful beaches in South America and Thailand.  We have seen Machu Picchu in Peru with her and walked the Great Wall of China with her.  We have shopped in markets where we have seen pigs being held down while someone checks their teeth out before purchase. We have shopped in markets where you see wool from the beginning to the end (from the sheep to the colored woven wool sweater).  We have shopped in villages and cities and seen the artisan and the merchant who wants to sell you the knock off designer bags to golf clubs.  We have traveled on airplanes, colorful rustic buses, taxis of all kinds and condition, tuk tuks, boats of every size, color, design, age and condition.  We have seen sunrises and sunsets and moons across the world.  We have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of every place she has been.  The good seems to always prevail, no matter what or where she lives. 

This child of mine has friends all over the world.  She takes it all in and makes the best of it, no matter what it is.  She found Cameroon one of the hardest parts of her travels and she once told me it was the only country she could see no hope.  She always found hope and joy in people wherever she went and no matter how little they may have.  In Africa, it was harder to find that joy.  Yet, I think she did.  Even if it was in small ways.  She discovered that in having little, you can find much around you if you look for it.  She loved the colorful clothing of the people and they way they sang and danced.  She came home from that adventure recycling and reusing in ways I never even considered.  I once found her washing a zip lock bag and sticking it on my kitchen window to dry.  I thought the washing and re-using was great...it was the sticking it on my window I wasn't sure about and I never did find out why that was done.  I think she discovered how much we have in the US and how much we waste and there are so many around the world who would love to have much of what we waste and throw away. 

She is in the stark desert of Saudi Arabia now and in the midst of a desert that is far more barren and desolate than the one here in Tucson.  Yet, she is reveling in the similarities and the stark differences.  The desert is speaking to her and she is finding a stillness and peace that only the stark barrenness of a desert can provide.  She is embracing the culture and enjoying the opportunity to experience yet another part of this amazing world and the people who live in it.  She never seeks to separate herself from the differences...she allow herself to travel into the differences and experience them.

And why do I choose to tell this travel tale on her birthday?  Because I think these travels for nearly half of her life have helped form the woman she has become.  She is:  A woman of grace.  A woman who is inclusive in her thinking...she doesn't care what your religious or political preference is, nor does she care what the color of your skin is or what part of the world you are from. She was born and raised as a Roman Catholic.She is rooted in faith tradition, yet enjoys the exploration of and experience of other faith traditions. She is in awe of the various "altars" she finds around the world...be they in a church or on a playground.Whether they are of her family faith tradition or another. She is in awe of the sound of the call to pray coming from a Mosque.  She loves to visit churches around the world and light a candle for a prayer intention.  She is fluent in Spanish, does quite well in French, can manage well in Mandarin, struggles a bit with Thai, but can manage there too.  She is anxious to learn more Arabic.  Oh, she does quite well with English and can throw in a bit of the British lingo too.  She travels, not with prejudice or preconceived notions about a country. She opens her mind and heart wanting to learn it all on her own.  She wants to form her own opinions based on her own experiences, not on what she has been told by books or other people. 

They say that a parent's job is first to give their child roots and then to give them wings.  The root part was easy for me.  It was those wings I was reluctant to place upon her back.  Yet, somehow she found them and placed them upon her own back and off she went.  I am happy that she did that, because I am so proud of the child she was and the woman she has become.  Without both, something would be missing.  She seems to have found it all.

There are a couple of phrases that seem to fit her to a "T".  "All who wander, are not lost" and her blog title is "Global Nomads" seems to fit her. I call her my "gypsy child".  She thinks globally and loves totally.  She is all I could ever have asked for in a daughter.  I am blessed to have been chosen to give birth to her.  She is a child of the universe, a child of God.  A gift to me. 

Enjoy your birthday my child, my daughter, my love.  Embrace the universe and live your life freely.

I Love You To The Moon and Back

What is it about the moon?  I have always loved the moon.  Especially, here in Tucson.  It seems so much bigger.  I think it is the way the mountains are here.  The moon rises over the Rincon Mountains and it wraps its arms around me and pulls me toward it every time.  When I get the opportunity to see it peek out from the mountains as it rises, it takes my breath away.

In the past couple of years, I have been using the moon to help me feel closer to Sojo when we are apart.  I tell her that whenever she misses us, to look at the moon and know that we cannot be that far apart because we are all under the same moon.  And, we tell her we love her to the moon and back.  The night before we leave them or they leave us, I like to take her outside and look at the moon.  It makes me feel better to know that we are all under the same moon.  I makes me feel like maybe we aren't that far apart.  I hope someday that it does the same for her.

The moon has become special with Augie too.  Just a month (and one day) ago, we went to the hospital to wait for Augie's birth.  As we were walking from the parking lot to the hospital, I looked up and there was that moon again.  Full and bright...seemingly leading the way.  I was in awe of it, as I always am.  I thought of the wonder of it all and knew that it paled compared to the awe and wonder of what was about to happen inside that hospital.  So, the moon has become a special piece of the world for another grandchild.  Augie was one month old yesterday and this moon of ours is high in the sky again, full and glowing.  I think it will become something special for Augie as he grows and we tell him the story of seeing the full moon rising the night of his birth.

I think God gave me the moon just for my grandchildren and me.  Okay, so maybe not...maybe it is there for everyone.  Yet, I think it has a special meaning for me that everyone else may not know.  It is special for me, because I cannot look at the moon without thinking about my grandchildren and how blessed we are to have each of them in our lives.  They are our greatest blessing.  Each time I look at the moon I am reminded of the blessing they are in my life and I am filled with gratitude. Sojo and Augie...I love you both to the moon and back and I look forward to all the days and adventures we will have in the future. 

On My Own

Well, yesterday I was able to have Augie all to myself for about an hour and a half.  His Mommy had to go to the doctor and his Papa was working.   Enter...Nana to the rescue.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous. . Yes, even after giving birth to and raising three children, I was wondering if I could handle this job.  After all, he is brand new (just over 3 weeks) and I have not done this new baby thing in over 34 years.  We did just fine.  Of course, he was in complete control and I did everything he asked for.  Rock, hold, snuggle, sing, rock some more, walk around some, change his diaper, feed him and then I started the whole routine over again.  That's the way it goes.

The rocking and holding and walking and snuggling was the easy part. It was that holding and getting the diaper stuff and bottle ready that I thought might be tricky.  Well, it actually went easier than I thought.  I thought maybe I had forgotten how to hold with one arm and get everything ready with the other.  Miraculously, it all came back to me.  I got the bottle ready with one arm/hand and held Augie with the other.  While the bottle was warming, I took him in one arm and got the diaper routine ready.  He loves to have his diaper off and lay on the changing table. He turns his head and looks around every time.  I don't know what it is about it, but he loves it.  It is a bright room with beautiful afternoon lighting.  Maybe that is it or maybe it is having his bottom free from the restraints of a diaper that he loves.  We were headed out the door to get the bottle when I heard the sound of something in the diaper area. Oops...back to the changing table we went for another diaper change.  Then, off to the kitchen for that bottle.  He seemed pretty content in my arms while drinking his bottle that his Mommy had ready for him.  I know he prefers her skin to skin, but the bottle is a great substitute when she isn't handy.  He gave 3 "big boy burps" during this event and was wide awake the entire time.  I thought I would put him down on his "boppy"for a minute and take a picture and then Mommy came to the door and was ready to have him in her arms again. She misses him so much when she is away from him.  I totally understand that. 

So, I think Augie and I did okay alone yesterday.  I think we are ready to go solo now.  Mommy has physical therapy twice a week for a back issue and in another few weeks she will be working one day a week.  Those will be Augie and Nana days.  I am so happy to be able to do this for Augie and help his Mommy and Daddy feel better about leaving him.  I know it must be hard for them.  They are so appreciative and I think I should be the one thanking them.  First for having confidence in me to take care of this precious little life and second for giving me this special time to be with my grandson.  His Granda is looking forward to retiring (again) soon and spending time with him too.  What a gift this little guy is.  How blessed we are.  I can't wait for our next day together Augie.

Big Boy Pants

We went for our "every few day Augie fix",  the other day.  Ron was going to help Sean with a house project and I had to tag along to make sure everything went right.  Right!  I tagged along, just to get to hold that little one in my arms and gaze at him...drinking in his goodness.  I know nothing about plumbing anyway, nor do I want to.  I think I got the better end of the deal, but I know Ron enjoyed just spending time with his son. 

  I got such a kick out of Augie in his "big boy pants".  I had only seen him in little baby onesies.  He had just had his bath and since it is officially fall here in the desert, it is actually not HOT anymore and little fleece pants were just perfect.  I just had to smile as he laid there looking so grown up already.  I can see how quickly time is going to fly, because every time I see him, he seems to have grown and changed dramatically.  He is barely 2 weeks old and so many changes already. 

 

  I love the way the sunlight is shinning on his sleeping face.  So precious.

 

He is finally opening his eyes more.  Well, I am sure his parents get more of this than we do...especially, in the middle of the night.  But, he is usually sleeping when we are there.  This was a rare peek at the little guy.  He looks like he might even be smiling at us.  Soon, he will recognize us and begin to smile when we see him.  Soon, he will know we are his Nana and Granda and know that seeing him is the greatest highlight of our day.   

 

 

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY SOJO

  I had to snitch this picture from her mother, since we were not there for her birthday.  I think it is the cutest picture of her ever.  I love her disheveled hair and the missing tooth and the pure joy of her smile. I love the pj bottoms and the t-shirt falling off her shoulder.  It captures the essence of this child perfectly.  She is one funky and fun little girl.  I love this girl.

  

It has been hard for us this year, not being with her for her birthday.  We flew to Shanghai, China for her first birthday.  I made a last minute trip to Bangkok, Thailand for her 2nd birthday.  We made another trip to Bangkok for her 3rd birthday.  We missed #4.  We made another trip to Bangkok for #5 and had such fun at her Magician Birthday Party and traveling around Thailand together.  So, missing another birthday has been hard. But, we do have these pictures and memories packed inside our hearts.  We will treasure them all and look forward to another October in another year when God willing and the creeks don't rise, we will be able to once more travel across the seas to be there in person to celebrate the life of this beautiful little girl.  We will be able to see her smile, giggle and laugh and simply enjoy all the things that make a birthday special.  Until then, we offer prayers of thanksgiving for this little girl's life and how it is woven into ours.  Blessings and much love across the miles sweet Sojo!  Love you to the moon and back, Popo and Gong Gong.

Birthday #1   Birthday #2

 Birthday #3  Birthday #4

  Birthday #5

 

What fun to take a birthday walk through the years today....

 

 

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

There is a song titled, "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", that I have always loved and it seems quite appropriate for little Augie, because I simply cannot take my eyes off of him.  I know this was written as a different kind of love song, but I have made it my love song to him, with a few words moved around.

 

 

 

You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You are like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last you have arrived
And I thank God you're alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

 

 

 

 

Honestly, I cannot take my eyes off of this little one.  He is so beautiful, he takes my breath away.  When I am with him, I take a gazillion pictures so I have them to continue to look at when I am not with him.  I take a couple of his parents, but really...it is all about him right now. 

 

He is changing so quickly.  Yesterday, was the first time he had his eyes open much when we were with him.  He is so sweet as his little eyes work so hard to focus.  You just know he is trying to see what is out here in this world.  He hears noises and responds if they are loud and he is startled by it.  Though, I am sure he hears everything that is being said to him.  I love singing this little song to him and thinking about how he may ask me to sing it to him someday.

 

I really have a hard time finding words to describe what is going on in my head and heart right now.  It is so BIG, I can't seem to wrap my head around it long enough to grab the words.  My heart is full and overflowing.  This is a gift that is beyond measure.  Being a grandparent is truly a reward of the greatest kind.

 

For a long time, I wondered if I would ever become a grandparent, and now here I am filled to the brim with love for two of them.  Truly, I am blessed beyond measure.

 

Augie is a week old today...well, he will be at 11:36 tonight.  This morning his grandfather and I had a Mass said for him.  As I heard Fr. Nicholas say, "this Mass is being said in thanksgiving for the birth of Augie Russell, by his grandparents Ron and Helen Russell", I was overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving...tears welled up and I knew at that moment how truly blessed my life is.  Gratitude is all I could feel.  Augie, I thank God for the gift of your life to this world.

 

 



 

About Last Summer

In my prior blog, I had attempted to put a list of the top10  best things about last summer.  I am wordy, to say the least and only made 5 on my first try.  When I went back to put the other 5, that's when the problems came with inserted pictures and saving the files. So...here I am again, attempting once more to go back and get the best of the best about last summer.

 

Number Six -- The Annual Snapshot at the Airport 

This is always our very first picture of the season. Always, a picture in front of the lovely desert landscape at the airport.  There is no movement toward the car with all that luggage, until this picture has been taken.  It is a lovely way to document our excitement and joy and how Sojo has grown.

 

 

 

Number Seven --The Labyrinth

 

Sojo is the only 5 year old that I know, who knows about the labyrinth. She walked her first one when she was about 1 1/2 years old. It was a lovely one we found nestled in the woods at a park on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.  We have one in our yard and she walks it every year.  I am not saying she understands all the ways in which a person can use it, but she knows it is something that you walk and reflect on.  This was the first year she actually stayed on the path.  She is usually jumping the rocks...which is absolutely fine.  We all meditate and pray in different ways. 

 

 

 

Number Eight -- 3 D Movies

 

Why on earth don't the movie theatres have at least two sizes of glasses...one for kids and one for adults? Especially, when it is a movie for kids. Sojo didn't seem to mind though.  She seemed to enjoy the movie.  Maybe the scary bear wouldn't have been quite so scary, if he hadn't been in 3 D.  In spite of this, I think she looks darn cute in those glasses.

 

 

 

 

Number Nine -- Oh, You Crazy Cake

 

Sojo has a lot of food allergies, so trying to find a special treat for her.  I remembered a cake that my mother used to make that didn't have any dairy, eggs or peanuts...it is called Crazy Cake.  It is sometimes also called Depression Cake because it was popular during the Great Depression when rich foods like dairy and eggs were hard to find and afford.  It could also be called Depression Cake because you put three depressions in the dry ingredients you have put into the cake pan.  I personally like just plain ole Crazy Cake.  Sojo is pouring the water over all of it before she mixes it up. I like it with a bit of frosting, but Sojo likes it plain.  I love that this is a cake that I made with my mother and with my kids and now Sojo.

 

 

Number Ten -- The Artist

 

Sojo has become quite the artist. Whether she is using crayons, water colors, colored pencils or modeling clay, she is really quite good.  Especially, when it comes to things like drawing people and Angry Birds.  Here she simply took clay and spelled her name.  That was before she made every Angry Bird there is, using all the colors that each Angry Bird needs to make it unique.

 

 

Number Eleven -- Two of My Favorite Girls

 

I know, I went over my 10 best things, but hey, who could leave this one out. Two of my very favorite girls with smiles that melt my heart. This is the reason I love summer.

 

 My least favorite thing about the summer is that it always ends and that means a trip to the airport to send them off to wherever it is they are off to.  No picture of us around the cacti this time.  No celebration.  It is a time for goodbyes and well wishes for the time we are apart.  Until the next time, it is blogs, emails and Skype calls.  We watch them walk away and start counting the days until we meet again.  Yes, we even count our blessings when we say goodbye.  We are blessed that we have summer every single year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I Am Back & Let Me Introduce You To...

Well, short story is, I hadn't blogged in a long time...forgot my password...was too lazy to go find it...got a new password and then...well, I don't know what happened, but I can't seem to access my old blogs the way I did and can't find others and it is a royal mess.  So, I am going to start fresh and see if eblogger works for me.  I have so much to blog about and have missed writing so much. I need to get back to it for myself, but even more so to document my life as a grandparent again. The blogs are there somewhere and I will find them, but for now...here I go with the big news...I will catch up with summer later.

Let me introduce you to Augustus Oliver Russell, aka, Augie....weighing in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces and 20 and 1/2 inches, with a nice full head of dark hair...beautiful baby boy.

Augie came into this world late last Friday night under a full moon high above.  As his grandfather and I walked into the hospital, we looked at the moon and as we were feeling a sense of wonderment about that moon rising over the Rincon Mountains, we knew that the wonder about to happen inside would be beyond anything we could imagine. 

As we sat waiting for his birth, I reflected on the first moment we laid eyes on Sojo and how we had anticipated that moment.  I thought about the plane ride to Seattle and the drive from the airport and being told she was asleep, but we could take a peak.  Waiting again, felt much the same. The anticipation, the excitement, the clock that had hands that didn't seem to move. And then, that moment when we got a text that he was born.  The feelings that welled up inside were just too much and the tears filled my eyes and overflowed.  The joy, the relief, the joy, the release, the joy, the joy, the joy, all over again.  Blessed Beyond Measure seems fitting for this new blog. We are so thankful for this new life that has entered our family and our lives.  We are so thankful to have two beautiful grandchildren.  One across the world and one right here in Tucson.  We are so blessed to be here to watch each of them grow...one via Skype and blogs and summer visits...the other right here in Tucson.  Good Golly Molly, I love this gig.