the first day

So there it was. The first day of school 2008. It was a significant day for the Russell family. The day would be the first that both Caleb and Brennan would be at an all day school together. It would be Brennan’s first day of kindergarten. The boys were sad that the summer was over but I think that they also were a little excited about the prospects of new teachers and new friends. It seemed that the day was harder on momma than anyone. (Imagine that!) As Christina and I dropped them off she looked my way and said, ” I didn’t think it would be this hard.” Of course, Brennan acted as if it was just another day. I’ve been reflecting on this the last few days. As a matter of fact today I took the boys to school by myself and walked them to their rooms. I have to admit, it was weird watching them walk into their rooms into a world without mom and dad. I took Caleb to his room first and then Brennan. It is behind those doors that our boys will have to begin to grow up on their own. School is part of the process of letting them go I think. God in all His wisdom allows us to let go a little at a time to get us ready for that day when we will let them out of the nest to one day fly on their own. I don’t think knowing that makes it any easier though. I had a conversation with my administrative assistant yesterday of which we discussed her driving to Florida State University with her oldest son in a few days. She will drop him off and get in her car and go home. I can’t imagine. But I guess incrementally we give our kids more and more freedom for them to grow into the people that God has called them to be.

In saying all this it reminds me of that Kenny Chesney song, “Don’t blink.”

I’m trying not to.

The Fam

I have to tell you a little bit about the fam since I have not done so thus far. I am married to the love of my life- The former Christina Vandervort. She of course is now Christina Russell and I lovingly refer to her as My Nina. I had to share her maiden name because she comes from a great family of Vandervorts! My Nina is the oldest of five of which there is only one boy in the middle. My Nina and I got married way back on June 10th, 1995, at our former church in Montgomery. Alabama. We have two amazing, fun, loving, busy, intelligent, daring, and cute little boys named Caleb and Brennan. Caleb is 8 years old right now and Brennan is 5 years old. Of course Caleb is named after the biblical Caleb and Brennan is named after one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning. (If you haven’t read any Brennan Manning I highly encourage it! Especially Ragamuffin Gospel and Signature of Jesus.) So, here are the four of us living in sunny Niceville, Florida. We moved here in February of 2007. We really love being so close to the beaches that both Nina and I spent a lot of time on as kids when on vacations with our families. We also love serving our amazing church, First UMC Niceville. Anyway, that is a little about the fam and I am sure that you will hear much more soon!