So much...So little

So much to do...so little time!  I believe this may be my new motto.  How I miss my blog but can never seem to find time to sit down and enjoy sharing my heart with all of you.  It has just been a crazy June...but a good June!  It has been busy with preparing for vacation bible school, the actual week of bible school, David gone to 4-H Camp for a week, David and two of the boys gone to Centri-Kid camp...June is now GONE!  The days seem to have all run together this month with hardly any time to breath!  Summer is flying by and it feels we have hardly had time to stop and smell the roses.  It has been a great month though.  I love bible school and look forward to it every year.  Every year I think I should step down and let someone else take over and every year I am blessed beyone measure at the end of the week.  I just pray others are blessed as much as I am. 

June has been a month of dealing with illnesses within the family.  Family members who are suffering with cancer and also being the care giver to the sick.  It seems like every time you turn around...that word always comes up.  Someone has cancer...someone died of cancer...I hate that word! Honestly, it scares me!  I guess what scares me is the process it takes on the person. It's aweful...plain and simple!  With this being said it has made me really take a look at the things I choose to complain about!  The last few weeks I have caught myself dwelling on certain issues instead of giving them to God like I should in the first place.  I have caught myself saying I have to do this and I have to do that.  When in reality, it doesn't even matter!  What matters is holding those dear ones close to you and making sure they know how loved they are! Making sure that I don't tell them "no" or "in a minute" or "wait" unless I absolutely have to!  When a church friends son got sick a couple of weeks ago, I thought how quickly life can change.  One second things are fine...the next they are not!  We never know when that second is that things can change.  We don't know when the last harsh word we said will be the last thing they remember! 

I pray to be the better mom...the better wife...the better daughter...the better sister...but most of all the better child of God.  I can worry about the inevitable. I can worry about the things that I can't change. I can worry about everything. But, in the end it won't change anything.  You see, God already knows the end just as he knew the beginning.  I refuse to spend my life worrying about what is to be.  I know that God has put his people on this planet for a purpose and that is to win souls to Christ.  I had the priviledge of seeing a child after they had accepted Christ as their Saviour at Bible School.  Let me just tell you that my heart was overjoyed to see the face of that precious child.  When I saw the Centri-Kid video and saw those kids worshipping with raised hands because they love God...I couldn't help but cry! I am so proud of my boys and so very thankful that we were able to send them to Centri-Kid this year! I watched Jeff Slaughter on stage and thought to myself...THIS IS WORSHIP.  This is what every Sunday morning...Sunday evening...and Wednesday night worship service should look like.  Not that we have to be jumping around all the time.  But praising God with raised hands and not caring who sees it or what someone thinks.  Not worried about being solemn and still and afraid to make a peep.  I am not bashing church by any means...I guess I am just thirsty for some worship amongst believers.  Ready for some worship other than in my car on the way to work and back.  God is good! We just need to let other people know how good he really is!!

Blessed beyond measure!

5 years ago...2 years ago...

It will be five years tomorrow that we lost David's dad to cancer.  In one instance it seems like yesterday and then again it seems like so long ago!  This was definately one of the hardest trials of our lives and our children's lives.  To watch a family member wither away in pain and suffering is a very hard thing to go through.  Our prayer for my precious father-in-law was for the Lord to heal him in what ever way the Lord saw fit...his will be done!  That he did!! He got the ultimate healing of no more pain, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more needles, no more medicine, just no more.... That may sound harsh and it is not meant to be.  David's dad was a farmer....a cowboy!  He spent his days on horeseback tending cows, fences, feeding, doing hay...you name it he was doing it from daylight until dark.  When he got sick he couldn't do those things.  He was never going to be able to do those things again and he was miserable.  No one wants to see a family member go through this.  With Christ in our lives and knowing that he was a Christian we had no worries about tomorrow.  For when tomorrow came, we knew where he was.  We knew he was healed.  We knew that he was whole and complete again.  Without Christ it does leave those worries about tomorrow.  We do have family members that are unsaved and unwilling to accept Christ and all of his infinite grace and it is a very sad situation.  I cannot imagine my life without being able to talk to my Father....my Heavenly Father!  The one who created me and by his grace I am here today!  By his grace I may not understand why things happen or why people die of cancer or why some are taken at such a young age to such a horrible disease.  But, what I do know is that Christ has a plan.  A plan that I do not see.  A plan that I do not understand.  But, it is God's plan and therefore I will rejoice!  I miss David's dad and I know that my kids do also. Some days I am sad that he never got to see our Noah this side of Heaven...and what a time they would have had!  We have so many memories and I am so thankful that I was part of his life for 10 years before he passed away.  I praise God that he raised a son like David who has grown up to be such a wonderful man of God, a spectacular father, and an inspiration to me everyday.  I got the best gift I could ever get from Larry...that was David!!  Thank God we found each other...thank God we stuck through the rough times and built our foundation and family on Christ.  Thank God we have a wonderful church family whom we can depend on!  I am reading a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp "A Dare to live fully right where you are".  It has been amazing about not understanding why but knowing that God's why is all the answer we need! He has a plan and we have to trust it! 

Two years ago we were blessed with Elliott Elizabeth!  This my niece!  We were blessed to be able to turn May 11th from a day of losing a love to a day of gaining a love.  She is a precious baby girl and I can see she and Noah are going to be great friends!  So thankful for May 11th in so many ways!  Heaven gained a wonderful Godly man and we gaine a beautiful baby girl to our family!

Happy Birthday Elliott!

Of course, May 12th is David's birthday and I am blessed to call him my husband and my best friend!  God certainly has a plan for us and it may not always be smooth and the road may get bumpy...but we will enjoy the ride and be thankful for the time we have here on this earth...however long it may be!

Ellie and Noah....doing their moves (Ellie 3 months, Noah =brand new)

Precious Girl!
Bless her with one brother and 4 boy cousins!

Beautiful Days...

Yes, it has been way way too long since I have had a post.  With warm weather and sunshine my heart is pulled outdoors.  I am very much the outdoor person...which is bad for the inside of my house!  I love spring when it is time to plant flowers and do all those projects that need to get done.  So much has been going on in our house with a few camping trips, work, and all the other stuff we have just been wide open!  Our is just busy and full of life all the time!  I wouldn't change it for a thing.  I feel very blessed that God has entrusted me with these four precious boys...which when thinking about it can be a little overwhelming too...but we will take it one day at a time!  We are finding it hard to believe that the school year is almost over and that we will have one in 6th grade next year...a little scary for momma!  Finding it hard to believe that the last 11 years have flown by like they have!  But, so looking forward to what God has in store for each of my little blessings.

After school the boys are often found on the trampoline with Mason doing some amazing flips...and double flips, swinging, Jack riding the motorcycle, chasing each other around the yard, or just being lazy hanging out in the screened-in porch.

Mason doing his flips!

Who's that cute little fella swinging in the big boy swing?

Boys shooting in an archery tournament!

Dylan being silly!

Easter Morning!

Losing a front tooth!

Enjoying sunsets at the lake!

What a beautiful life we have!  Loving every minute of it. 

I have started a new book thanks to a friends suggestion, call "Radical" by David Platt.  I am just digging in to it but can tell it is really going to make me think.  How excited and in depth do we get with our Lord?  How committed am I the the Lord?  Giving him a few minutes of my time each day is not what he deserves.  How much do I share my faith with others....not nearly enough!  Reading about how he was going to other countries where they thirst for knowledge in knowing their Bible. I want that hunger and thirst!  Also, if there were no pews, air conditioning, all the comforts we are used to when we go sit in service on Sunday's and Wednesdays...would I still attend to know and learn more?  Christ gave it all for me...what do I give for him?  I can answer that...NOT NEAR ENOUGH.  It will never be enough!  I hope and pray that I can share my faith more and dig in deeper and harder to everything that I pursue and in some way incorporate Christ into it.  He should be my all in everything I do.  I should ask myself before doing anything if I can glorify God in some way each and every day in everything I pursue.

Have a blessed day my friends...I will try not to stay gone so long this time! 



AdvoCare...

Something that I am very excited to share with you is a new adventure David and I are taking.  A little over a month ago a friend of mine from high school got in touch with me!  I had heard of AdvoCare and had been following her family and another friend from high school as they were doing remarkable things through this company.  If you remember part of my New Years post was about getting into shape.  For the past year I had been "stuck" at the same weight.  I would exercise and I just could not break through that barrier.  My friend Casey from high school told me about the 24 Day Challenge and I decided it was something I wanted to try!  Not only did I try it but I am now an Independent Distributor for AdvoCare.  AdvoCare is a health and nutrition company that has been in business for 19 years!  They are not your fly by night company or the newest fad around.  They are a solid...might I add...debt free company!  A company whose #1 guideline is to Honor God through Faith, family and friends!  Amazing!!! After reading this and much prayer David and I knew that this was a journey we wanted to take!  Not only are we taking it we are jumping in feet first and we are so very excited about the results we have seen in the past month.  I have lost about 14 pounds with David having lost about the same!  I have broken through that barrier and I am in better shape and HEALTHIER than I have been in several years due to AdvoCare products.  These are not diet pills, they are not the newest found weight loss remedy...they are supplements...THAT WORK!  Putting nutrition into our bodies that we try to get from food but because of our choices don't always get. I know you have seen my posts about weight loss and it is not all about weight loss...it is about being healthy! I also know you probably get tired of them!  I can't help it!  I am so excited to share what this company and their products are doing for myself, my family as well as others around me!  For a while I had been praying for the Lord to point me in the direction he wanted me to go!  I felt as if there was something I needed and wanted to be doing that I was missing!  Guys, I believe the Lord has answered my prayer!  I love helping people, I love the excitement when I get a text early in the morning or late at night from a friend who says "you know I feel better than I have in years" or "I just got in pants I haven't been able to fit in for a long time"!  I love this!  My dad has been able to lose over 20 lbs in the last month using AdvoCare products.  He needs knee replacement surgery...but you know what, with being able to lose some weight we may be able to prolong that surgery for a while.  So very thankful for this company and excited about what our future holds with them! 

Full speed ahead...

Boy am I a slacker!  It has been way too long since my last post!  It has been crazy busy in the Bussell household.  A good busy but ready to slow down just a little bit and enjoy my sweet boys!  A lot has been going on!  Your normal school everyday...with no snow days in sight...bummer for all of us!  The boys all started karate right before Christmas with Mason and Jack adding tumbling into the mix!  They are loving it but keeps us moving and busy two nights a week.  We had a fun little run with the boys last weekend.  There was an adventure race in Nashville.  So, we loaded up and ran!  All of us...with the exception of Noah of course!  Grandma was nice enough to come watch him while we all ran!  I got to run with Mason which was so much fun and David and Jack ran together.  Dylan ran with a girl from their track club who was in his age group so everyone had a partner!  The weather had been perfect the week before and, of course, it turned off so cold the day we ran!  Oh well, had fun anyway!




Mason and me running!





David and Jack running!

Mason and I putting at one of the stations along with Jack and David!

Dylan and Dani Running!

We had a great time!  Enjoyed doing something fun with our boys!  Which brings me to another subject!  We get one chance on this earth.  One chance with our loved ones, one chance to do the things that matter, one chance to serve our Lord in the way he is meant to be served.  None of us know when that moment or second will be that we will no longer be here.  I am so guilty of not taking time...time for the kids, time to really do what matters, more time devoted to God!  Instead I worry about the house and whether it is clean, worry about work and what I haven't gotten done there.  If I died today what do I want my kids to remember?  I don't want them to remember mom was always fussing about messes, cleaning, etc...I want them to remember time spent with them!  I cannot wait for camping season!  Only a few weeks away and we will be hitting the lake building campfires, riding bikes, hiking, fishing...all of the things we hold dear and cannot wait to spend time with our boys doing.  Take time for what really matters...because we don't know how short our time is!  



Why Church?

Something that has been on my heart and mind for a while, and also something we have been studying/talking about in Sunday School, is why do we go to church?  Why do we get up every Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night and go to a building, sit in pews/chairs, sing songs and listen to a man speak.  What is the purpose of this?  Why do I feel like I need to do this?  Why would you need to do this? So many times, even with family, we have heard the church is full of hypocrites or they just had a bad experience with church and will not attend.  Some won't go because they won't make time to go...there is always something more important to do.  Others say they don't have to be at church to worship God.  They are absolutely correct...you do not have to be in church to worship God.  Many days I worship him in the shower, in my car, during my quiet time...I can worship him wherever I am.  Church is a place for you to come together with others and praise God...teach about God...learn about God...share God!  Plenty of people walk through the doors on Sunday morning because they feel that is what they are supposed to do...not because it is what they want to do.  I am not saying you have to be at church every Sunday...I am not saying that in order to be a Christian you have to be at church.  But, you should want to surround yourself with Christians and people who believe the way that you do.  You should want to learn!  I am a Christian but that does not mean that I know everything in the Bible.  I need to grow and learn and fellowship with other believers.  This is how I grow as a Christian!  I want my kids to be in the habit of going to church...not just when it is convenient or we don't have something else to do...but I want them to enjoy going and being at church.  Church for them is often a second home.  They want to go!  They want to be at church!  David and I choose to be very involved and invested in our church because (a) this is what God wants (b) we want to (c) our kids (d) we want to share Christ's love with others.  Not only do we need to surround ourselves with other Christians but we also need to surround ourselves with unbelievers who look at us and say "I want what they've got".  The peace of knowing when I pass from this world...it is not the end.  It is just the beginning!  The beginning of the life we are meant to have with our Saviour in Heaven!

"... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15

This was given to me by my sister for Christmas!  And I LOVE it!

The FIRST of many...I am sure!

So my poor Noah had a little accident last night!  Can you believe that this is the first of my FOUR boys to need stitches, well actually dermabond!! Yes, we have been very lucky so far.  I guess we were due an accident, huh!  He is fine...and thanks to Dr. Chad for taking care of him and fixing his poor little head!  He was a trooper...scared...but a trooper! Bless him!

So, I have been reading Beth Moore's Praying God's Word.  It has really been great for me!  I often find myself praying "Lord do this, Lord do that, Please be with, Please watch over".  How often do I give God the praise for who he is instead of asking him for something that I want.  Very selfish of me!  Each chapter of the book has been devoted to, I guess you could say, obstacles you might encounter in you life.  Such as, pride, idolatry, unbelief, guilt, addiction...etc.  This gives you prayers to pray for any of the areas that come straight from God's word.  For example from Praying God's Word:

"Lord, according to Your wonderful Word, this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1John 5:45) Help me to see that faith is crucial if I am going to be a victor and an overcomer."

"My Father and my God, You are seated on a throne high and exalted.  The train of Your robe fills the temple.  Above You are seraphs, calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1-3)"

"My Lord and my God, You are both a God nearby and a God far away.  No one can hide in secret places so that you cannot see them.  You fill heaven and earth! (Jer. 23:23-24)"

Needless to say, I am finding a new way to pray!  Before thinking of myself, my needs, my wants and desires...I am going to think of my heavenly Father first and the sacrifice and love that he has given me that I am so undeserving of!  He is the Almighty, The All Powerful, Maker, Redeemer, Everlasting Father...and he deserves to be praised!

God Knows Me...

In Sunday School this week...we have been studying Revelations...but we referenced to I Chronicles 29.  As I was reading there, a little side note in my Bible that read something like this. 

When God "tests" a heart, it is not to shame or manipulate, but to liberate and empower.  God wants to coach us into becoming the generous, teachable, honest and joyful people he designed us to be.  He is delighted when we live intentionally, choosing to cultivate a willing and happy attitude and behavior that demonstrates integrity and truthfulness.  Friends, family or associates may not take time to understand us - our vision, passion, spiritual desires or motives.  But God examines our hearts, and he knows the real you and the real me.  And even more remarkable, he loves us.

The life I want to live...I want to be generous, teachable, honest and joyful in all I do. I want to have a willing and happy attitude and behave with integrity and truthfulness for others to see.  Yes, my family and friends may not take time to understand me...truly know me.  But, GOD KNOWS ME!  He knows every aspect, ambition, love, failure and fear that I have.  Whether anyone else knows me GOD KNOWS ME!  God ...knows... you!  He knows every part of you inside and out!  He knows every thought and every action!  He sees you when no one else does!  I want every aspect of my life to be for his glory and his honor.  I want him to be a proud Father with everything that I do.  How about you?  I want my boys to know that no matter what happens in this life...God knows them...every hair on their head!  He is always a dependable force in their life!  Just say it out loud...God knows ME!   God loves me no matter what!  Am I going to mess up?  YES, every day probably! But no matter what I do in my life, no matter what happens each day, no matter how many times I mess up, no matter what...NO MATTER WHAT...God still loves me! God knows you...whether you want him to or not!  Let him be the dependable force in your life! 

Mason turns...9!

What a great few weeks we have had celebrating birthdays.  I can't believe that my Mason is 9!  Where did nine years go to.  Mason is my sweet, tenderhearted, very content child.  It was like pulling teeth just trying to get him to tell me something he would like for his birthday. That is just Mason ...he really just didn't want anything.  I finally came up with a few things to get him and then he will have some money to spend!  When all else fails...they like money and gift cards at this age!  We had been to Chucky Cheeses the week before for some birthday fun for both Mason and Dylan.  This weekend they went to a movie and then we had a little family combined birthday party for the two of them!  I think they had fun!  Sunday we had a house full of boys...oh the noise!  It was good noise but it was loud!  They had the biggest time! Mostly with nerf wars in the basement!  There were 7 boys here...not including Noah and David...that makes 9...I am REALLY outnumbered!  Noah can be as loud as they are...he feeds off their energy!  He was a little mad he couldn't participate in the nerf wars with the big boys...but it won't be long! 

I feel very blessed that God has allowed me to be Mason's mother for the last nine years!  I hope to cherish every moment that I get to spend with them and to never forget they are just on loan...they aren't really mine...they are God's precious gifts to me for a time!  I better enjoy every minute of it!

Always doing tricks on the trampoline...he is like a monkey!

Mason the mime...for Halloween!

Such a cutie!

Rock Island fun! 

Being goofy!

Lego man!

Some wintertime favorite treats...

Here are a few recipes that I love for wintertime.  I am all about making sweets and treats so here are a few!

Wassal (spelling...not so sure)

1 cup water
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
boil these three...I usually finish mine in the crockpot then
add 1/2 can cranberry juice cocktail
and 1/2 can pineapple juice
This is one of my favorite drinks of winter!!

I also make a lot of candy and goodies so here are a few you might like to try out!  Super easy of course!

Crockpot Candy

1 can unsalted peanuts
1 can salted peanuts
1 bar german chocolate
1 12 oz milk chocolate chips
1 chocolate almond bark
1 white choc. almond bark

Layer in above order in your crockpot.  Cook on high for 1 hour and DO NOT STIR.  Turn on low and stir every 15 minutes for about an hour.  Drop onto wax paper!

LuLu's White Trash

2 c. Mini Pretzels
2 c. wheat or rice cereal
2 c. peanuts
1 c. mixed nuts
2 pks. white bakers bark

Mix above ingredients minus the bark and spread on large wax paper lined cookie sheet or two small ones.  Melt bakers bark and pour over ingredients on cookie sheet...let it harden and break apart into desired size pieces.

Haystacks

5 oz. chow mein
12 oz. butterscotch
2/3 c. peanut butter
Melt chips and peanut butter over low heat.  Stir in your chow mein noodles.  Drop by teaspoons on wax paper until they harden.

Tiger Butter

1 white bakers bar
12 oz peanut butter
12 oz choc. chips

Melt all the above ingredients and pour onto wax lines cookie sheet...let it harden  in refrigerator and break apart.

Oreo Balls

Mash up 1 pack of oreo cookies and roll into balls...refrigerate for one hour and then dip with a toothpick in chocolate or white almond bark...A kid favorite!

Hope you enjoy!

New Years...

I am not big on New Years resolutions...mainly because I never keep them!  But, there are several areas I would like to work on in my life and I vow to make these areas better in 2012.  I plan to study harder in God's word and to gain a deeper understanding of what I do study!  If you have any suggestions for studies I am always open for a new one!  I have just started reading Beth Moore's Praying God's Word.  Sometimes I feel like I read but then I don't know what I have just read!  I want to change that!  I bought David a MacArthur Study Bible for Christmas...I must say I think I am a little jealous and will have to sneak it away from him!  He has really enjoyed studying in his new Bible!  I would also like to serve more in church.  I am not sure where or what I would like or what God would like me to do but I am sure with prayer it will come to me.  Our Loaves and Fishes is going to start a soup kitchen one day a month. I would LOVE to help with this.  I am hoping I can work my schedule out so that if they need me I can be there for sure.  I am really excited about VBS.  Just got the call today that our pack has arrived and I cannot wait to get started on it!  VBS is tons of work but it is what I love! 

I am trying to get into better shape...isn't that everyone's New Years thing.  I plan to lose the rest of the baby weight and work as hard as I can at becoming physically fit.  I would love to run but with my back history it scares me a little to even try!

I guess my last area I want to work on which I feel always has room for improvement is being the best wife and mother that I can possibly be!  Spending more time with the kids and doing more fun things.  With four kids my days at home are often spent cleaning and doing laundry.  I am sure I am not alone!  I want to work on not being so much of a pain to my family about the house being just how I want it.  it needs to be clean but it doesn't always have to be perfect. Most days it isn't anyways!  I also have been working on a particular verse over the past year!  James (one of my favorite books) 1:19-21  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

I will leave you with this:

James 3: 13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth,  Such "wisdom" does not come down from the heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Dylan turns 11...

 My boys!

 Dylan loves legos...he wants lots of pieces! This one had about 900 I think!  Thinking it might take him a few days to put it together...no...he had it together within a couple hours of starting it on Christmas Day!

 Love him!

Running!  Mason and Dylan have started running in 5K's this fall!  They seem to really like it!

Funny guy!

What a wonderful time we have had this weekend celebrating Dylan's Birthday!  I have been so very blessed with this precious boy!  Dylan is very sweet, great big brother, very strong willed, very smart, but most of all a very sincere and kind boy!  He is precious to his father and I!  I will never forget New Years Day eleven years ago when we finally got to meet that little red headed boy!  It was a long day but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  Precious memories!!!  This weekend we started with a little trip to Murfreesboro...we had some things to exchange at Toys R Us and decided to surprise the kids with Chuck E Cheese's.  We then went shopping most of the afternoon and ended the night at P.F. Chang's (my favorite)!  I really thought they would make it to ring in the new year with their daddy...momma cherishes her sleep right now with Noah still being a restless sleeper.  I knew I would be better off and everyone would like me more today if I went ahead to bed!  I think they made it to around 11 or 11:30.  This morning we got up and Dylan opened his presents.  More legos and some board games!  We headed to church and then ate at Outback (Dylan's choice) for lunch.  We came home to a very long afternoon of Monopoly!  Very very long afternoon of monopoly...and Dylan beat us all.  I am so thankful for Dylan! I am thankful for all of my kids and I hope not a day goes by that I don't tell God how thankful I am to be there momma and that he entrusted me with these precious boys!  I also hope not a day goes by that I don't tell them how important they are to me.  The most important thing to me is that my children come to know the Lord..so far three of the four have trusted their lives to Jesus which is huge to me!  There is not a more joyous or special occasion than the day your child accepts Christ as his Savior!  I pray that God will give me the strength, courage and guidence I need in the upcoming years of raising four boys!  We get to do this again next weekend for Mason's birthday!! Yes, we have another birthday in only a week!  So, I guess there will be more to come!