Top 10 reasons my sister in law is the best...

10. She FOR SURE belongs in our family. When people look at this photo, and they don't really know our family...they have a difficult time guessing who is the non blood related member.


9. She is half the reason that my nephew is the most adorable little boy ever!

8. She appreciates and contributes to the silly antics of the Russell children...as seen here.

7. She is an awesome cook!

6. She comes from a really awesome family.

5. She is a fabulous mom. I love watching her with Jonah.
4. She is a fantastic wife...as evidenced by what a great guy my brother continues to become each year that they are married. (I LOVE YOU SCOTTIE)

3. She is one of the most genuinely kind people I've ever met.

2. She has a strong testimony and is an example to me.

1. She is a RUSSELL...what more can I say!?

MATTIE I LOVE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

She IS talented...

in case you're still LOST..."what happened, happened"

In trying to explain things to friends today about what happened on LOST last night, I've looked to other "losties" for articulate and concise explanations...here is the best one that I've found from a comment on one of the MANY discussion boards by loralinn1617:

"All of the "sideways" moments that were shown on the show were never part of the characters real lives but instead part of their purgatory. It was created by each and every one of the castaways as a way of finding their redemption through their experiences on the island. As they came together throughout the final episode in their created purgatory they could remember what they went through in their past on the island and as a result could help one another find their peace and move on into their afterlife. At the end when you see everyone in the church, they have all died at that point. Some had already died while on the island (Boone, Shannon, Jack) while others died after having escaped on the Ajira flight at the end. Those who had escaped in the final episode on the plane (Miles, Kate, Sawyer, etc.) went on to live their lives after leaving the island for the final time. It was only when they came to their own deaths that they found themselves in the purgatory with all the other castaways. They were the most important parts of one another's lives, that is why they were reunited to help one another find acceptance and move on. So I hope that helped you understand it a little better. Ultimatley not all of the questions were answered on LOST but that was so we could come to our own conclusions about some things."

I hope that helped folks! I was sad to see it end...but what a freakin' fantastic ending!

The Rain

I love the rain. I always have. My earliest memory of rain takes place in Saint Louis, MO. I was in a tree on the back patio of our apartment complex. The sun was shinning...and then it started raining! I was so fascinated by this. I suppose that is where it all began. I think my love for the rain was only fueled by the insanely gorgeous, havoc-wreaking storms that I experienced living in the Midwest. There really are few things that I love more than the rain. There is something extraordinarily calming about it. I have memories of being at Lake Powell during a rainstorm watching the temporary waterfalls form as the rain searches for a place to fall; driving through Zion National Park during a rainstorm listening to Pachabel's Cannon in D wondering why my parents thought it was a good idea to move to Utah; watching the usually bone dry washes fill with water during a Vegas downpour; playing in the puddles after a long night working in the deli; watching a storm in Boulder, UT; driving through the streets of Cedar City in the middle of a down pour feeling like I'm in a boat...partially because the car was as big as a boat...sitting on my balcony in the Avenues, watching the lightning while someone near by played the accordion...seriously...it really happened...I thought I was in a movie...it may have been one of the greatest moments of my life. And I could go on with more memories...or how much I love hearing the force of the rain fall change, or how thunder use to scare the beegeezez outta me, but now it's just a beautiful sound readying me for the lightning...or tonight...sitting just inside my door, listening to the rain for the last three hours. I can't get enough of it. I'm so thankful for the rain today.

mom

mom.

i love you.

every good thing about me is because of you.

thank you for all of it.

Thank you for...

loving me AND liking me...(and for teaching me the difference)

being patient with me

speaking in accents with me

teaching me how to cook

how to tie my shoes (still a work in progress)

showing me what is right and what is wrong

your testimony

your conviction

laughing with me

laughing at me (especially when I'm riding a roller coaster)

dinner practically ever Sunday (ALWAYS DELICIOUS)

liking my friends (and loving them too)

marrying my dad

having three kids after me

playing the piano

being kind to others

being funny

keeping your family close

family vacations in the mini van

your loyalty

your understanding

being you...

just...thank you

i love you and i like you.