Four broken ribs and a tiara!

So, I'm so tempted to say "oh my goodness it's been so long since I've posted", but I'm not going to say that!! (It's like saying, "sorry my house is so messy" when someone pops in to visit.) Instead I'm learning to say, "God is good, all the time and in every situation."

These first two months of what our family is simply referring to as "Charis" have flown by. Several days before Bianca's coronation ceremony, Josh crashed his motorcycle while commuting to his temp job. He walked away with four broken ribs, a lot of scrapes and bruises, but most importantly, a different outlook on life. Mommy was able to be an example of a warrior princess during Daddy's recovery, thank you Karen for the reminder.

Josh has patiently and diligently restored himself and his bike and is commuting again. This time to a brand new, wonderful, full-time job at a great company. God is good. The girls and I are seeing this more and more in Daddy's life.

We had Bianca's ceremony on March 19th. (You can read all about it in our earlier posts. :-) Her tiara has been placed on a shelf in the dining room for all to see. Her Charis scrapbook sits on the dining room table (we mostly eat in our kitchen).  Although Bianca hasn't looked at either very often since  about a week after her ceremony, she has had several "Charis moments". One in particular was when Mommy and Daddy realized that she was being emotionally bullied by a little girl at school. My instinct was to get in the kids face and give her a verbal lashing and/or talk to B's teacher, but fortunately, the Lord allowed this situation to become a powerful Charis moment.

We talked to Bianca about how she was being treated, whether she liked it or not, and maybe why this girl would act this way. We all prayed for Bianca and for the girl.  Then we told her that warrior princesses do not allow themselves to be treated in a way that makes them feel bad or uncomfortable. I asked B if she thought she could talk to this little girl on her own and tell her how she felt, and also  talk to her teacher about what had been going on. I told her that with Jesus' help, she could do this. Bianca hesitated a bit then said "sure Mommy". The next day she talked to both the girl and to her teacher, and she did it all by herself. The funny thing was, she wasn't overly proud or excited that she had accomplished this seemingly small task, but we were. To Bianca, she took care of the situation and moved on. But Josh and I know from experience that this was not a small thing. Having been severely bullied in elementary school, I know that empowering our girls as early as possible will only instill courage and confidence to face the "bullies" of this world. My daughter's act of courage strengthened the young warrior princess inside of me. God is good!

When B got home from school that day I walked her over to the dining room table and picked up her Charis scrapbook. We opened up to the page from Mrs. Withem and re-read the blessing that Shelley had sent. On the page is a stunning picture of a "real" warrior princess, shield up and sword drawn. When I told Bianca that when she stood up for herself she was just like the warrior in the picture, she gasped in excitement and said, "I was like this princess. . . . cool!"

God is good. We are seeing this more and more in Bianca's life.

So, four broken ribs and a tiara later, our little family is growing and growing. Next chance I get, I'll tell you about the Trader Joe bags. Have courage my friends, God is so good.

Psalm 27:13-14

Final Pictures of the ceremony.

Pappy blessing and dedicating Bianca to the Lord.














Papa giving Bianca her "charge" and blessing.













Presenting, Warrior Princess, Bianca Nicole Russo!

Ceremony Pictures continued

Prayer and anointing. Bianca's recitation.

Nonnie's presenting her cross necklace and blessing.

Mimi presenting her royal robe, tea set, and blessing.

Bianca's Ceremony Pictures

Introducing, for the first time in public, Princess Bianca Nicole Russo. She is also pictured here with her cousins, Allie and Katie Varwig, and her little sister, Greta. (Soon to be Princess in four years!) Mommy and the girls are in the last picture. I'm so glad that figuring out this blogging stuff is becoming easier. Now to more pictures.

Definition of "charis"

My mother in law just asked a great question, "what does the word charis mean?" In greek, charis means "grace". We discovered this after we named the project, which was icing on the cake! Good question Ma!

Bianca's Coronation was AWESOME!!

Last night was Bianca's coronation ceremony  . . . . .let me tell you, it was AWESOME!! The Lord was so present with  us in the room stretching forth His hand of blessing, not just on Bianca, but on all who attended! And even more then our little Princess coming away prayed over, blessed, and anointed into the Charis Project,  the biggest blessing was Sophie Belle Shull - Bianca's  dear (almost six yr. old) friend - accepting Christ as her personal Savior on the way home from the ceremony!  . . .

Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or imagine. . .to Him be the glory."

Thank you to our precious family, the Shulls, and all who sent  Bianca a blessing for the ceremony. We are endeared to you forever and look forward to more adventures in life and through Charis. . . . . (more to come:-)

First thoughts from Daddy

I was reading some of Pam's original thoughts on what it means to be a warrior princess and trying to break it down in my own mind.  It's all about who we hope our daughters would grow up to be, but even though a warrior princess is a powerful image, what does it mean in the real world?  Here's my first thoughts, subject to refinement:

Saint - Love God and spread His Gospel
Leader - Learn and exemplify respect for self and others
Warrior - Fight against injustice
Scholar - Exploring the truth and beauty of life and creation

Part of thinks there's elements missing, but another part thinks they might just be subcategories of these four.  Like what about art and music?  Maybe that's the scholar.  Anyway, very broad-brush, but that's where I always start.

The seed of radical change in our lives . . . . . started with King Arthur??

As we were moving from Arizona to Alabama, almost a year ago now, I was finishing reading Stephen R Lawhead's series, The Pendragon Cycle, again.  I think the fourth time. This incredible book series is a "Christ-centered" version of the Arthurian legends. Lawhead is my favorite author and I know high up on Josh's list of faves. There are only three female characters that thread throughout the whole series: Princess Charis, Morgian, the witch, and Queen Gwenhwyvar.

I have always been drawn to Lawhead's version of  Princess Charis; her strength, charity, endurance, honor, wisdom, and faith in Jesus Christ. And equally drawn to Lawhead's version of Queen Gwenhyvar; her obvious skill as a battle warrior,  tenacity, assertiveness, submission to her husband , King Arthur, and her faith in Jesus Christ as well. (There is no infidelity between Arthur and Gwenhyvar in Lawhead's version, Yeah!)

At one point this summer, I remember - with book in hand- coming to Josh and saying, "I want our daughters to be like these characters. I want US to raise warrior princesses." Pause. . . . .  Josh loved the idea! I could  see the wheels turning in his wonderfully "Josh",  processing mind. He encouraged me to pray about this "Pam brain child", write all my thoughts down AND to stay in the God's Word while I was continuing to finish the Pendragon Cycle. So I did and I am stoked to see what the Lord has created for all of us.

As I wrote in the letter to Bianca's Court, last summer the seed was planted in our hearts, new growth was visible, and the ideas were showing signs of budding. . . . . . .  .as far as the "blossoming" in this adventure, well, it will have to be on the next post. My littlest princess is ready to rise and embrace a new day with mommy. Ta ta for now.

Defition fo the Charis Project

The Charis Project is a warrior-princess training program we have created for our daughters. The program will involve Christ-centered development of all the key areas of their lives; emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical. The goal is to train up princesses worthy of the High King of Heaven. Heirs to His promises they will need to be: well versed in His attributes; knowledgeable of His word; adherent to the “Russo” plan of obedience, respect, and love; trained up to be Proverbs 31 “little” women; ready and able to stand firm against the evil of this world and the schemes of the devil; and most importantly, be beacons of light, with their hearts set ablaze for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bianca's Coronation is coming! Charis is flying!

I have butterflies in my stomach as I, one, make my first "post" ever on the Internet, and , two, make it to the Charis project. It's taken me three weeks to write the official letter of invitation to Bianca's elected "court", and I am very relieved to be done. I have a feeling we just fought our first battle with our enemy on this project - though a small battle - and we won! Invitations are out. The ceremony is scheduled. The dresses have been bought. The details are coming together in my "Mommy sketchbook". I'm exhilarated, to say the least.

If you're peeking in on what's going on in the Russo's lives, you have daughters, or you like Stephen R. Lawhead - for starters - WELCOME to the Charis Project!