Baby Lilley!

I don't really know all the details, but ALL the Nica Russells are so excited to have Baby Lilley in our world!

Way to go Jon and Sami!

Can't wait to mee her!

Woodcreek Women!

On Sunday, a group of ultra cool women from our church is coming here! Woohoo!

They will be working with House of Hope - a ministry that help women and kids ( you read that right) in prostitution or sex trafficking. They have been diligently praying for the women they will be working with and I am really excited to see how the Lord works in this trip!

I've stated this over and over -but it means the world to us that our home church comes to Nicaragua. When we first moved here, we knew there was so much need in this country. We are so thankful that our church in the states would come here and serve in a variety of ways (at House of Hope, at One by One ministries, thru Living Water). We know that there are million places in the world that have many, many needs. We are beyond blessed that Woodcreek Church would come to where we are! It makes our hearts happy!

7 years

(on our honeymoon, 2003)

Around this time 7 years ago, I was receiving a call from my soon-to-be-husband. I was busy getting my hair done, applying the 5th layer of mascara, and chatting with my closest girl friends. He was calling to tell me that he felt sick. Not just a cold sick, but I'm about to throw-up sick. And when David throws-up it is bad. Real bad.


(Christmas, 2004)

I remember thinking, I hope I see him at the end of the aisle.


(Crested Butte, 2005)

But really I had no doubts. I knew that he loved me. I knew that he already made his mind up about me - that he was going to stick with me forever. I knew he would be there.


(Jeremy and Michelle's wedding, 2006)

I'm so thankful he was there. The best decesion of my life was to marry him.


(Puerto Rico, 2007, one of the top 2 favorite vacations ever!)

I've heard of the saying "The Seven Year Itch" - meaning that around 7 years of marriage you start to get bored and want out. Praise the Lord that is not us! That's not to say we haven't had our really hard times. But I am thankful that God has protected our marriage, kept us united, and increased our love.


(1st semester in Nicaragua, 2008)

It's been 7 years since we vowed before the Lord to stay together. It feels like so much more (in a good way). We have done so much. We've started with only a couch and a bed and slowly we have built our lives together. Now we live in Nicaragua with 1 awesome baby and another one coming!


(1st week with Beckett!, 2009)

Seriously, praise be to the Lord for the blessing of David!


(Summer, 2010)

17 months

Today my love is 17 months old! He is growing and changing so much it's kind of hard to believe! He is our joy and a blessing from the Lord. We thank God every night for him and pray for him to grow to be a passionate man for Jesus.

Here's what he's got going on!

-He can say - hot (ha), no, 2, hi, bye, Dada, Chase (Cha), cheese (don't you just love him?), Joanna (Jo), please (peez) and probably some others I'm not thinking of. When asked to say 'Mama', he responds with 'Dada'. Not sure what that means!

-He can speed walk that almost is a run.

-He can climb onto the couch and just yesterday he climbed onto the kitchen chair.

-He does a super fun spin move.

-He will give hugs and kisses!

-He says hi to anyone and everyone, especially people in the grocery store.

-He loves the dirt, mud, rocks, leaves. Anything that has to do with being outside and getting dirty

-Lucky for me he also LOVES bath time!

-He is fairly obedient (he can bring you items or put the away)! :)

-He loves to put things in random spots. I have a bathroom drawer that is full of toys, shoes, necklaces and on and on.

-He greatly enjoys putting on other peoples shoes and attempting to walk around.

-He has 12 teeth.

-He loves to play hiding games or run and get you!

I'm sure there is a ton I am missing. You'll just have to come here and see for yourself!


(working on his car)



(looking at the cows. yes, we have cows in our little apartment complex!)