Jen Russum

Hello Vegas

Hello Vegas

Micah and I took a quick trip to Las Vegas this weekend to visit my grandparents. We were there for just about 24 hours, but it was lots of fun and very relaxing. We went out to lunch on Saturday and as we were driving toward the Strip, I was racking my brain to think of some place I could eat in Vegas that I can’t have at home. Just as we reached the intersection of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd. I remembered that Cheeseburger in Paradise – the Hawaiian chain – has a location inside Planet Hollywood. Bam. Teriyaki and Pineapple Cheeseburger for lunch and I was a very happy camper. We only ate at Cheeseburger THREE times over our ten day honeymoon in Hawaii. I’m not obsessed or anything… Oh, and we walked past Evander Holyfield, who is apparently a really famous boxer. Micah was pretty pumped. I can’t say I have interest in fighting of any sort. The closest I get to feigning interest in anything fighting related is watching The Karate Kid about once a decade. We ate dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and my dad, who also happened to be in town, and then headed back down to the Strip to watch the Washington vs. Oregon game. After waking up at 6:30 in the morning to make the drive, I fell asleep leaning on Micah’s shoulder in Caesar’s Palace. Micah let me sleep until the end of the game, but informed me he got plenty of funny looks that implied “Dude, why is your wife asleep in the casino?”  Ha! I was a stark contrast in my jeans and sweatshirt to all the hoochie mama girls lining up for the club next to where we were sitting. I kinda hate Vegas. I just like my grandparents who happen to live about two miles from the Strip. I had high hopes though of finally trying Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity’s after the game, but by the time it was over I was so tired I just asked Micah to take me home instead. He obliged and we were home by 11pm. Biggest nerds in Vegas and very happy about it. {Micah insisted we stop and see the Wiener Mobile. I tried to pull the "let's go to lunch and see it when we get back" card, hoping it wouldn't be there on the way back. Micah didn't fall for my trick.  He said it was the highlight of our whole trip. And it wasn't there when we got back...} {Hello, friend!} {Classic Vegas}   {First Gingerbread Latte of the season!} {My dad and precious grandparents!} xoxo,Jen ... Read more

Flowers Fade Friday: Highways of the Heart

Flowers Fade Friday: Highways of the Heart

Lately, I have been drawn to Psalm 84. It starts like this... "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God." {Psalm 84:1-2} This Psalm is about pilgrims - the Israelites who would travel for miles and miles and for days and days just to go to God's temple in Jerusalem to worship during certain festivals and holidays. Of course, some of these people probably just went out of religious duty.. probably thinking "I have to make that long, dusty trek again... ugh." But others delighted in traveling to God's temple, to join with other believers in worship. Verse 5 of this Psalm says: "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion." These people longed to travel to God's house or just to be in God's presence even when they weren't actually making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The highways to Zion were engraved on their hearts; they longed to commune with God daily. I am convicted by this short little verse. First, I should delight in going to my own church to worship corporately with other believers. My church is literally six minutes away from my house! I should be going with gladness! And even when we move and our church is a little farther away from home, it's nothing compared to journey on foot through the Middle East! I hope I am forever thankful for getting to meet weekly  with other believers for worship and teaching. But even more important than attending church gladly on Sundays is the attitude of my heart throughout the week. Are the highways of Zion written on my heart? Do I delight in living in God's presence during the day to day? I no longer to need to travel to Jerusalem to gain access to God. Now I can approach the throne of God boldly through Jesus Christ, who sits in heaven at the Father's right hand. This means that I can daily come to Zion through the grace of Christ. I can commune with God at anytime because Jesus has provided access to the loving Father. Do I approach the Father daily with joy and anticipation? And most importantly, are the highways of my heart pointed toward heaven, the true Zion? Or are my journeys too temporary? Is my heart set on Christ or is it set on Christmas break or saving up a down payment to buy our first home or getting done with my PhD? I want my heart to be set on Zion. Do my actions each day show that I long for heaven - that God's favor and His kingdom matter most to me? Do my words point others to Zion and show them that eternity with Jesus is the most important thing in life? Or do my highways lead to dead ends - roads that only lead to empty or temporary rewards - outcomes that will never impact eternity? Lord, may the highways of my heart be set on You and Your Kingdom. xoxo, Jen P.S. You can also find me over at Mr. Taylor and His Lady today! Check it out!   ... Read more

Keyword Analysis {#1}

Keyword Analysis {#1}

Do you ever look at the "keyword analysis" for your blog? Basically, it's the words people are typing into a search engine that end up leading them to your page. Most of the time my top keywords will be "Jen Russum's blog" or "Arizona Russums" or the like. Yaya! That means people are intentionally trying to find my blog, which is always fun. However, sometimes the keywords that lead people to my blog are pretty hilarious. Here are some of my recent faves... "Dress over jeans" Although Micah hated this look when I wore it, I promised him all my blog friends would love it. Looks like I was right... "31 days to a perfect wardrobe" Ha! If only I could claim the PERFECT wardrobe. I hope they weren't too disappointed... {For example, here is the outfit I wore camping this weekend. I got made fun of...even by fellow scrubby campers.} "Gray and yellow wedding" Hmmm...I should probably finish up that series, right? "I want a new purse" Really? So do I. Still looking for exactly the right one.        "CONTENTMENT OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US" Yes, indeed, that is a main theme around here. The grammar is slightly off but the heart seems to be in the right place. "Runner in Arizona having breathing problems" Welcome to my life. Is it the desert climate or anxiety? We just might never know. Maybe we should form a support group. And finally... "ttyl, cuz i'm driving russums" Huh? Are you driving to me? Or are you driving me around? Where are we going? And while we are at it, who are you? My mom taught me not to get in the car with strangers. P.S. I'm guest posting over at Rags to Stitches Boutique today! Come visit me over there! xoxo, Jen ... Read more