How he would stand on the side of the road outside his house, with a Bible in his hand, and "preach" to the cars going by. How he would carry his tape recorder around recording himself singing and telling jokes and then play them back, annoyingly, for his entire family - over and over AND over.
There are stories of catching the back yard on fire, while attempting to help his dad kill fire ants. Stories of jumping off the roof with an umbrella like Mary Poppins, to see if it would slow down his fall. (He says it worked!) Stories of breaking the stained glass windows in his dad's church with a rock (on accident) and of sneaking off to downtown St. Augustine on his bike while his parents were at work, and being hit by a red tourist train! (Obviously he wasn't seriously injured).
I could go on and on - but I'm sure if you asked him, and got him started, he could tell you so many more. I hear these stories and I laugh, but I also see how the Lord continues to use all that passion, enthusiasm and creativity in his life and the lives of those he ministers to today.
One thing that many do not know about my sweet husband is that he was born with a cleft pallet and had to have surgery when he was a baby. Fortunately, it didn't extend to his upper lip, like most do, but did give him a hole in the roof of his mouth and caused a speech impediment which put him through years of speech therapy. By the time he was nine, he was struggling in school, was tested and the teachers told his parents that they should find a trade school for him because he may not finish High School and he definitely wouldn't make it to college.
When he was 16 and at Youth Camp, he heard God's call on his life to ministry. He came home, went back to school and asked the principal if he could have a room each morning before school for a Bible Study. When I first met him, 26 years ago, he was sitting at a table, teaching through the book of John to his peers. He has been leading ever since. He finished High School, he not only finished four years of college, but three years of seminary to earn his Master's Degree. He came back to the Jacksonville area, got his first full time ministry position and pursued me until I finally gave in.
Oh how thankful I am for this man. I know that he was created just for me. God creates all of us for a purpose and it's fun to look back over his life and see how everything has prepared him for where he is now. He loves the Lord, loves his family and he loves the church. He is kind and sensitive to others and he desires to lead them to a closer walk with Christ. He is spontaneous, creative and did I mention enthusiastic and passionate? He is human, he struggles with things like all of us, but he doesn't hide that. He is real, he is honest and he is a man of great integrity.
Russell, today we celebrate you. How thankful we are for you - for your love and your leadership. We are thankful for the husband and the father that you are. Our family is truly blessed to have you. You have continued to use your gifts and talents that the Lord has given you for His glory. Your desire to serve and obey our Lord is contagious. You are my love, my husband and my best friend. Apart from salvation - you are my greatest gift! Thanks for being you. I love you more than you know. ~ Me
Happy birthday Dad you make me happy every day. I love you Dad. You are the best! I love you so much! have a great birthday.
Love, Anne
Dear Dad - Thank you for always being there for me and thank you for always loving me even through the hardships. Even though we both have our moments together, we can still get along. I love you and Happy Birthday. Jarod
Happy Birthday!!! We Love You!!!!
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