<![CDATA[Mark & Diana]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm Freewebs <![CDATA[November...]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4264234 Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

Well, my thought about updating more often was a really good one -- but it didn't take.  I guess it's because I'm all wrapped up in Facebook.  If you don't have a Facebook account, you don't know what you're missing (he he he he).  It's a real time consumer, HOWEVER, you will find friends you forgot you even had.  And if they update their status every day, you can really keep tabs on them.  'Nuf about that. 

We went to the Kissimmee God's Missionary Church the last part of October during their revival with Joe Smith.  I know there are a couple preachers by the name of Joe Smith, but this is the one who attended Hobe Sound Bible College late 60's early 70's -- we were classmates.  It was a lot of fun meeting them again and catching up on about 40 years of life.  We really didn't have time to catch up, but he will be one of the evangelists at the church camp here in Sun City in January, so we may have more of a chance to chat then.  Anyway, he and his wife Lois sang for the revival, too, and he plays the guitar.  So he and Mark really bonded.  Also, the three times we went over to the meeting, we were with our pastor & his wife, and that's always a good time. 
Can you believe I missed the October and November book discussions at the library?  Honestly, I think I need a secretary - or something!  It's even on my Yahoo! calendar....but I guess the ticket is, you have to look at your calendar pretty much every day, right?  Yeah, I thought that might be the problem....  Anyway, November's book was Water for Elephants and it talked about life in the circus way back years ago when circuses traveled to different cities by train.  And to really be a big hit, you needed to have an elephant or two, along with a lot of other very strange attractions.  The story was around one guy who joined up as a young man (veterinarian), but now he is in a nursing home.  It goes back and forth in the story ....  but why do you care about that?  I really did want to discuss that book with the group - it was interesting.  December's book is Kite Runner, which I've already read for the discussion group in St. Louis -- and I did not care for.  Oh well, that's what discussion is all about, eh? 
We had our first hot dog roast of the season at the parsonage Halloween night.  It was not to celebrate Halloween, but it gave a lot of us the chance to be away from our homes and doorbells that evening.  About 20 (give or take a couple) showed up and we had a wonderful time.  The "dogs" were yummy, the other food was yummy, the marshmallows were yummy - and sooooo much fun to catch ablaze!  And the guitar playing and singing around the fire was nice. 
We were invited for dinner and the evening to Mike & Joanna Smalley's home a couple weeks ago.  Mike is a police officer, but hey, he can grill some pretty tasty steaks!  I don't know if that comes with the police training or not - but if it has anything to do with it, he's one good cop!  They have three great kids, and Joanna knows a ton of people that we know and we spent a lot of time talking about people! ha!  What fun!  We had a lovely time and are very glad they count us as friends.  The next week in church, Mikey (3) was sitting on his grandma's lap and said, "Where's the other grandma?"  Put a smile on my face! 
Revival time again in November -- this time in Orlando.  The evangelist was Marshall Smart.  We got to attend twice - I had never heard him preach before, but I was not disappointed!  He is a wonderful preacher.  Mark enjoyed talking about and listening to him play the guitar.  M.S. is very good at that, too.
Work day at the church was the first Saturday of November, but I had already made plans to go on a Red Hat outing with the Ya Ya Sisters.  We drove to a little town, Micanopy ponounced (Mick-ah-NO-pea), where they had the entire Main Street shut down to car traffic, and 200+ craft booths set up.  That was really fun - and there were a couple Red Hat booths, too, and I got a fancy band to put around my hat and a couple of hat pins.  On the way home we stopped at the Russell Stove outlet.  Now there's a place you can shop!  You can tell by the name that it has to be good chocolate...  And, since I'm a real scrapbooker, I forgot to take my camera again.  Would a secretary help with that problem, too? 
Mark went to work day, and did some work, but for the life of me I can't remember what he told me he did.  I know they've been working on getting two more Sunday School rooms ready.  And they did some work at the parsonage, too.
Pastor Troy Truitt and his family were in Florida for two weeks, compliments of the Make A Wish Foundation.  Their little 4-year-old Andrea (who has leukemia) wanted to meet Cinderella, so MAWF made that little dream come true.  We spent one day with them at Sea World, which was really nice, and took them out to eat at Olive Garden.  That weekend, they came over to Tampa and stayed with us a couple days.  They went to church with us on Sunday and Monday we took them to the ocean (gulf) and had so much fun.  Luke found a complete sand dollar, Tyler found a teensy crab, and everybody found lots of sea shells, sponges, sea urchins, clams, etc.  Baby Alex really explored the sand and seemed to have as great a time as anybody else!  What a great family.  We miss them so much!  Since they've been home, we heard that Luke was very sick with his Juvenile Diabetes issues and Andrea has landed in the hospital with a fever and low blood counts.  Please keep this precious family in your prayers....  Oh, and I did get some pictures of this outing.  Woo Hoo! Improvement noted.....  
Before we went to the gulf, we took them to the Italian Wagon (that is owned &  operated by our pastor & his wife) and treated everyone to pepperoni pizza.  I had been told that I had not had pizza until I had Jay Smalley's pizza.... and you know what?  They were right!  It was the best pizza I have ever eaten -- no doubt about it! 
Last Sunday was our Thanksgiving Pot Luck at the church.  Talk about some good food -- and desserts!  The tables were laden -- and so were we by the time we got finished.  Mmmm-Mmmm Good!
We are heading for Mark's brother Howard's for Thanksgiving.  Four Russell boys together and some of their offspring.  Should prove to be a very good time.  And, yes, my camera is packed. 
Sassy will be staying here alone - Wednesday through Saturday.  I'm leaving lots of food and lots of water and a nice clean potty box, so she will be fine -- although, she will be one happy kitty cat come Saturday night.  She'll either love us to death or give us the cold shoulder for leaving her.... 
Love you all; Until next time,

Mark 'n Di (see the photo page)

 

 

 

]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4264234#topBox http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4264234 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:58:00 -0100 <![CDATA[Jan, Susan & Mom....]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4116121 Hey!  Back again real soon!  Are you impressed?  Actually, I'm rather embarrassed,  as I left out saying anything about my dear friends in Missouri that I went to see!  My scrapbooking buddies are Jan Cobb and Susan Colvin.  We worked together for many years, and several years ago discovered our mutual love for scrapbooking and have become best friends!  We usually get a condo for our weekends, which Jan and her sister share (a time-share deal), about an hour south of St. Louis.  However, it was not available for us this time, so I stayed at Jan's house in O'Fallon, and we scrapbooked there in her basement, where she has everything we need.  Jerry, Jan's husband, put up with us a couple of nights, then he went to work on their cabin in the woods -- putting an addition on their cabin for a guest bedroom.  Well, on Wednesday night, before I left for STL on Thursday, Susan was rushed to the hospital and had an emergency appendectomy!  Jan and I were going to go visit her after dinner Thursday night, but Susan's daughter thought it may be better if we waited until she got home from the hospital and visited her at home.  On Friday Susan calls us and says, "I think I can scrapbook...."  So her daughters brought her over to Jan's house and took all her "stuff" downstairs, and Susan spent the weekend with us after all.  She did get a few pages done, but we urged her to just sit in the recliner and relax and visit.  Now folks, let me tell you, we are dedicated scrapbookers!  Jan did all the cooking for our weekend -- we all usually take turns fixing meals.  So great big kudos to Jan!  These weekends are so nice for me -- we all agree we will endeavor to keep our weekends going at least twice a year.  Jan and Susan, thank you so much for your friendship! 

Then yesterday, I got a phone call from my mom mid-morning, telling me she is in the emergency room!  She was getting ready to go play scrabble, had gotten up and around, ate breakfast, etc., and all of a sudden had heart palpitations and felt real jittery.  Well, one of her friends there in the park is a nurse, so she called her and asked what she thought she should do.  The decision was the ER -- so off to the ER they went, where the nurse gave mom a shot and her racing heart went from 149 to mid 70's.  I drove over there, and her friend then went on home. Thank you, Pat, for your thoughtful concern. Mom's blood test results led the ER physician to give the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.  Made me say, "What?!"  Anyway, we were to go directly to mom's doctor's office from the ER, so off we went.  Her heart rate there was again up - 121.  Her doctor said her condition was a result of her leaky heart valve (which we have known about for years), and he explained how all that works and what he was going to prescribe.  We asked him what hypothyroidism had to do with all this and he said, "What?! Who told you that?"  It's so comforting to know that the ER knows what they're doing.......  Anyway, the doc said what they came up with was a computer report -- with no human thought process involved.  Still not very encouraging -- but at least HE knew what he was doing.  I then took Mom to get some lunch, then to the pharmacy, then home to put her in her recliner.  This morning I went back over to take her to see her doc again so he could check on her, then brought her home with me for the weekend.  Her heart rate was down to 68 this morning, and the doc said she needed a few days for her body to adjust to the meds -- if she's too lethargic, he will adjust the dose. 
We never know what a day will bring forth, eh?  Thank the Lord, our times are in His hands. 
Love, Mark 'n Di

]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4116121#topBox http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4116121 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:07:00 -0100 <![CDATA[Packed Full Month!]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4107883 Hi everyone!  Seems like a very long time since I updated......okay so it HAS been a very long time since I updated my news.
Six days after we left Costa Rica, we got the news that Papa had gone to Glory.  We will always be glad for that trip to see him.  I know Mark will treasure those memories in his heart forever.  Wow.  God's timing is always so perfect.
So, this meant planning for a trip to Titusville, PA, for the funeral.  We flew into Pittsburgh on the 17th of September, and rented a car.  On the way up to Titusville, we took the "scenic" route -- which meant we stopped at the orphanage where Papa and 2 of his brothers spent a few of their growing up years.  After his Papa died (Mark's Papa was only 3), Mama Maria was left with 9 children and one on the way -- and she didn't speak English!  (She was 100% Peruvian Indian.)  Then we found the grave of Papa's Papa (James C. Russell) in the old churchyard way out in the boonies.  And just a couple roads away, was the big stone farmhouse where Papa lived as a child (Papa James died there, and Mark, Edith and Elva were born there).  The current owner was home, and when Mark knocked on the door, she was very happy to invite us in and give us a complete tour of the house!  She loves old houses, and is refurbishing this one to look like the period in which it was built (1854 - or something like that).  Anyway, what a treat for my sweet hubby!
We made it on in to Titusville, and Connie & Steve and the girls made it in late that night.  Visitation was Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Mark & Debbie and the kids made it in for the evening visitation.  Lots of family and friends gathered in and it was a lovely time of visiting and celebration of a full 94 years of life.  The funeral was Friday, at 10:00 and the committal was in the afternoon at Zion Cemetery (near Stoneboro).  Connie & Steve had to leave after the graveside service, and Mark & Deb had to leave Saturday afternoon.  We didn't have too long to visit, but it sure was nice to hug and squeeze those grands!  I do not see them often enough - not by a long shot!
After the graveside service, several of us went to the Titusville Cemetery to see where Grandma Maria Russell is buried and several other family members.  It was really quite a time of stories and remembering those people.  Wesley told some great stories and was a delight to have along.  It was so-o-o-o good to have him, Rachel, MaryBeth and her children there!  It had been 19 years since Mary Beth and the other girl cousins had been together!  The entourage then went out to the Pleasantville Cemetery to see where Mom Russell's parents and oldest brother is buried, and on to see the house where she grew up and the first school she taught in.  Now, if you think all these trips to graveyards is morbid, then you don't have a clue what the Russells are like....
Saturday night we all gathered at Randy & Theresa's (Joe's son) for supper and roasting marshmallows out by their outdoor fireplace thingy. (Descriptive, eh?)  Anyway, Howard, Barb, Mark & I were to stop at the grocery store for Theresa that afternoon, so Barbara made up a little competition between the guys and the gals....  They had one item on their list, which was soda (so granted they had to purchase more than one thing - albeit only in one aisle), and we had 5 different items on our list (like lettuce, salsa, etc. - which entailed shopping in 5 different aisles).  Barbara and I won, hands down, and had the WalMart lady make an announcement that we were finished.  It went something like this: "Attention, Customers.  Barbara and Diana are finished!"  We scooted out of the store and were waiting in the truck when Mark and Howard came out several minutes later....  Around the fire that evening, Howard launched into this long harangue (with much agreement from Mark) about the trials and troubles they encountered in the store, explaining why they did not win the contest....  Barbara and I decided that our version is the plain facts from Fox News, and if you want to hear the CNN "manipulation of the facts" you should contact Howard or Mark.  It made for great entertainment!
We flew home on Monday, September 22nd -- but on the way to the airport, we stopped and had lunch with Aunt Edith, Papa's last remaining sibling - who is 93.  Her son John and daughter Marilyn were with her, and we had a lovely visit.
Well, I had made arrangements to fly back into the St. Louis area on Thursday, the 25th, for a scrapbooking weekend with my friends.  The arrangements had been made six months ago, and I already had my ticket.  I felt bad to just take off again, but hey -- scrapbooking is ve-e-e-e-r-r-r-r-y-y-y important!  And I was planning to make an album about our Costa Rica trip for Mark as a keepsake, so I really had talked myself into feeling pretty good about the trip.  I had dinner with a dear friend, Dianne Lytle, while I was in the area, and had lunch with some of the gals I used to work with, and one of my Sunday School girls, Sarah McWhorter, who is all grown up now!  And I got to play Bunco at my old boss' house on Friday night.  And I got 33 pages done in my album!  Wonderfully enjoyable trip!  I finished the album a couple days after I got home, and it wound up being 40 pages.  Mark was pleased with the project.....I am, too, you ought to see it!
Our church just finished what they call their Fall Retreat -- it was October 9-12.  What they do is have a different pastor from the Florida district preach each service, and several of them attended all the services (until Sunday, of course).  It was a great time of fellowship and getting to know the different people and hear the different pastors.  Now our pastor did not preach (probably because he's the one who set up the schedule???), but in my opinion, he's the best of the lot of them.  Lucky for us, eh?  We really do feel privileged to have found the Seffner GMC!  Sunday was pot luck, and you know we had lots of yummy food.  I stepped into (I guess you step "into" them - at least I disturbed them!) a hill of fire ants and they attacked my foot with a vengeance!  They stung like crazy - then my foot was sore for a day or two, but it didn't itch, thank goodness.  Now I have 13 little blisters across the top of my foot -- still doesn't itch or hurt, unless I put shoes on -- so that doesn't seem to be a problem.... 
Bill and Terri came to see us for a few minutes (literally) on Thursday, the 9th.  They were in Orlando at a business meeting, and they wanted to come and get Grandma Maria's old victrola.  It was so nice to see them again!  We visited and ate pizza 'til it came out our ears -- well, you know what I mean....
Today I joined the YMCA - to take advantage of their water exercise classes.  They have one every morning - I'm not sure I'll be there 5 times a week, but I have been missing this type of thing since we moved down here -- AND my doctor said I should get busy and do it again.  So the next time you see me......well, I'm not gonna promise skinny.  I think them thar days be over fer sher!  At least I might not huff and puff.
Love 'n stuff 'n everything, until the next blog, Mark 'n Di
p.s. Pictures will be posted in my photo gallery.  I had a request that I do it that way, so you know me.  If it makes you happy, it tickles me to death!

 

]]> http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4107883#topBox http://www.freewebs.com/markndi/blog.htm?blogentryid=4107883 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:19:00 -0100