Jen Russum

Hello Monday {on being punched in the face}

Hello Monday {on being punched in the face}

I am going to be honest. This past week felt like a huge punch in the face. I mean, I've never actually been punched in the face, but I'm pretty sure it must feel pretty similar to this... getting back from a 15 day vacation and having to write two syllabi, catch up on emails, attend meetings and start school all within the first week of getting home. I am pretty sure it feels like broken garbage disposals and trying to find parking at the nation's largest university in 110 degrees. I am pretty sure it feels something like staying up working until 4am. I used to do that all the time in college. An all nighter? What of it? But now my almost-30 year old body attributes 4am to extreme physical abuse. Punch in the face, I tell ya. But... it's good to be back. Good to be at home. Cleaning. Grocery shopping. Hanging out with the hubs. Prepping for the semester. As much as I love summer, I love the routine and newness of fall. I know fall is when everything dies in nature {including our indoor plants apparently}, but to a teacher it's like a new year. And I love it.... Hello husband. It's nice to see you again. Hello yogurt parfait. You look kinda gross in this picture, but you are delicious. I sure did miss eating healthy breakfasts on my trip. Hello wedding album. It only took us two years to order you. Hello apples with peanut butter. I've been craving you quite a bit lately. Hello first day of school.  My first class went well, despite the fact that my eyes were red from lack of sleep. Hello rain. We sure have seen a lot of you this past week. I thought this was the desert... Hello impromptu dinner in the backyard. I love our patio lights! That's it for now. Hopefully, I can give you more details about our trip later this week! Oh... and the winner of the HUGE blogiversary giveaway is... Chelsea!!! Congrats, girl! *** Please e-mail me within 48 hours or I will have to give your amazing prizes to someone else! And no one wants that to happen, except all the other ladies who entered the giveaway :)  XOXO! *Linking up with Lisa Leonard and Life Rearranged* ... Read more

Flowers Fade Friday: No grudges allowed…

Flowers Fade Friday: No grudges allowed…

Note: This picture has nothing to do with this post. Or rather, it has very little to do with this post. This is Sarah. She has been my best friend since 4th grade and, no, we don't have some dramatic reconciliation story. I think our most recent fight of any sort happened circa 1996 in middle school. However, she is a friend that I am honored to walk alongside in my faith and the passage from Colossians below was read at her wedding, so it makes me think of her. So I guess this picture relates a little bit. But not really :) * * * * * Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13 The Bible speaks boldly about grudges. They are not welcome in the Christian life. It's not that we won't ever be hurt or wronged by a Christian brother or sister. We will be. The Bible is pretty clear that as we live in the flesh, we will be wounded by friends and family, even by people who love the Lord but fall short at times. But what should our response be when this happens? To bear with each other's failings. To forgive. It seems like a difficult task, and it is, but it is also possible because of Christ. Jesus has forgiven our utter betrayal of him. He is perfect and loves us completely, yet we fail Him time and time again. But that cross of forgiveness is always there. Always prepared to bear our sin. So we too, with grateful hearts, should forgive those who sin against us. There are lots of Christian analogies about bitterness and unforgiveness. One of the most common is that bitterness is like a cancer of the soul. While this is not straight out of Scripture, the author of Hebrews does warn his readers to make sure "no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." (12:15). Clearly, there is something poisonous and destructive about bitterness, and so we should squelch any attitude of unforgiveness before it creeps deep into our minds and hearts and begins destroying our relationships. Obey God today... bear and forgive... because you have a Savior who has done the same thing for you at a far more drastic price. --Linking up with Casey Leigh-- ... Read more

Washington: A Wedding

Washington: A Wedding

Wow. Where do I even begin? I've been in Washington {both western and eastern halves} or in the middle of nowhere driving between Washington and Arizona for the past two weeks. It was fun. It was joyful. It was full  of adventure. Now I am back and am completely overwhelmed at the thought of school starting this week... But let's not go there. Instead, let's go back and look at fun pictures of my trip instead of thinking about that syllabus that really needs to be written for my fall classes. I guess I will start with the wedding since that's the official reason we went to Washington in the first place. Micah's little brother got married. To one of my favorite girls on the planet. New sister. I am very happy about this. I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking... Picking out flowers at Pike Place Market with the bride. So cheap! The bridesmaids bouquets were $4 each! In case you were wondering what I look like after I've gone running twice and haven't washed my hair in three days... The final selection...   Last night as a single woman... That's my new sister! :) ... Read more