Who needs a TV?

Who needs a TV when you have a cat/kitten in the house? My 16 year old daughter, Rebekah, was given a kitten for her birthday last year by one of her big sisters --ah the gift that keeps on giving (and we keep on scooping). Thank you Sarah. But she has brought a lot of enjoyment to our home and love and clawed furniture and broken figurines and numerous scratches. She is a black cat and her name is Darcy.

Now we were told by the shelter we adopted her from, via Petsmart, that she would do better in a 1-cat household. They told us she was spunky, and we liked spunky. We have since decided that 'spunky' means possessed. We had this cute little stuffed kitten we gave her to play with when we first brought her home. It took all of 2 days before Darcy decapitated it. So we gave her another more sturdy kitten to play with. That one is still around, although well loved. I keep waiting on it to become a real cat, like the Velveteen Rabbit, but thus far it hasn't happened. She carries it around with her, kicks it, tosses it up in the air and tackles it all the time. Now we understand why bringing a real kitten in the house, might not be a good idea.

My son Joshua (11) asked me why we always get the crazy animals. I told him that before we go to adopt a pet I always pray to God that He gives us the one He feels is right for us. God must feel we are a spazzy family because we always manage to get unique cats. Take Darcy for example. She actually plays hide and go seek with Joshua. It is so much fun to watch. He will duck behind some chair or door and she immediately runs over to find him and THEN she 'tags' him and runs off. Then he goes and finds her & the process starts all over again. She also plays tag, which sometimes can be painful for the humans. But what really makes me laugh is when she stalks Joshua. She just starts walking ever so slowly, ears back, and he immediately starts giggling that "holy crap I'm going to die' giggle and tries to seek shelter. She is intimidating, and she's all of 8#'s--maybe.

I found a website that we love to visit. http://icanhascheezburger.com/ I laugh continuously whenever I see the pictures and captions they put with them. One of my favorites is this one http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/06/14/funny-pictures-intimidation-2/ because it reminds me so much of Darcy. How can a creature 1/10th my size scare the wits out of me? But she does. Maybe it's because she's just fur, teeth & claws, I don't know. But she also gives lots of love and amusement.

So I encourage anyone that is thinking of adopting a pet, to pray before you go asking the Lord to give you the pet that is best for your family. You never know what you'll wind up with but I guarantee it'll be worth the price.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

The majesty and grandeur of the English language, it's the greatest possession we have. The noblest thoughts that ever flowed through the hearts of men are contained in its extraordinary, imaginative, and musical mixtures of sounds--Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady. Although I don't agree that it's THE greatest possession we have, I do think it is valuable and one that we are slowly losing.

Have you ever stopped long enough to listen to the conversations of people around you? Seriously, it amazes me that it's even English. Now, I'm not so old that I don't understand slang, we had plenty of it when I was younger much to the dismay of our parents I'm sure. But it's not so much the slang I'm talking about as the pure laziness of how we communicate. In a world of IM, Twitter and texting, we've gotten use to abbreviating to the point that when we have actual conversations we're at a loss. Even books seem to have changed to reflect our inability to speak or understand words with more than 3 syllables. How many of you, when reading books written years ago, have to read with a dictionary by your side? I know I do.

Words are powerful and live on forever. Words are meant to impart wisdom, stir the soul, record history and reflect on the people of the time. When we hear "Remember the Alamo!" we think of the handful of men in a Texas mission standing strong against the vast army of Santa Anna. "Fourscore and seven years ago.." was a brief speech by President Lincoln to call on the nation to remember the sacrifices made there for unity, freedom and equality. "That's one small step for man..." took us to new heights and possibilities. The poet, Robert Frost (1874-1963) once said "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."

I know that every word uttered doesn't have to impart wisdom or stir the soul. I enjoy mindless nonsense sometimes just as much as the next person. But lately it seems that the balance has been tipped in that direction and I worry what my great-great-grandchildren will think about this generation when they look at our written words.

So my parting words (no pun intended) is to embrace the beautiful gift of language and pass that down to your children. Read the works of great writers, poets and philosophers to them often. Read nightly from The Bible. Use beautiful, descriptive and passionate words when you speak or write. It doesn't have to be all the time. I'm sure not even Robert Frost spoke or wrote eloquently all the time. But I want to encourage us all to be mindful of how we use this gift we've been given so that we don't lose it.

Fiddle-dee-dee

Sometimes, often times, I am my own worst enemy(who isn't right?). I think that everything has to be perfect to the point of inaction. I struggle with where to start & then once I have I struggle with 'is it good enough'. It's not from some childhood trauma of never feeling good enough. My parents, especially my mother, were very uplifting, encouraging, loving and there for me. So not sure where this need to compare myself to others comes from. However, I do think it's more common than most people want to admit.

Take this blog for instance. I have thought about it, re-thought about it, posted, edited, deleted, changed so much and then finally i did nothing. I couldn't answer the question...What do I want my blog to do? Do I want it to be helpful, like posting information on celiac disease (which I know a little bit about since I've been cooking that way for over 2 years now)? Do I want it to be funny? I do like to make people laugh. Do I want it to help new Mom's, being a Mom of 5 I feel I have SOMEthing to impart. Do I want it to be Christ-like as He is my Lord and Savior? Do I want it to be honest, open and not afraid of what someone will think of me, my family, my parenting, my faith in God? So all these thoughts keep whirling around in my mind to the point, I just gave it the old Scarlett O'Hara mantra 'I'll think about that tomorrow, because tomorrow is another day'. Yet all those tomorrow's slip into yesterday and the page remains blank.

So i thought I would just share my life. Often helpful, funny, inspiring, angry, hurt, sad, scared and faltering in my faith, but it is my life.

And if you want to pull up a chair and a cup of tea, be my guest. If not, may you find what you are looking for. And as my life unfolds and moves forward, so will this blog, and before I know it, it may have a life all its own as well.

I'm tired and I ain't gonna take it anymore

To say that the last few years of my life have been hectic is like saying the Pope is just a little bit Catholic. And while my life has taken turns I thought I'd NEVER take, I have to ask God...UH...WHAT? Are you sure you have the RIGHT Debi Bussell? Ya know, I'm the one that's been your child since I was 10, home schooled all my kids, went to church every time the door was open, met my hubby in church...THAT Debi Bussell? And yet I found that YEP He meant THIS Debi Bussell. So then one has to decide...do I just say 'oh ok...well bring it on' or do I pull a Jonah and run off hoping not to get swallowed by that whale, or do I fuss and fume and question and doubt and then finally unfold the arms that have been holding on so tightly to MY vision of my life and accept God's PLAN for my life. Well I chose door #3.

Now that's not to say that I don't, on occasion, look over my shoulder expecting to see that whale, afterall I'm human. And God knew that when he created me. But I'm tired of smiling in church and saying "Oh I'm great' when someone asks how I'm doing but screaming on the inside wanting so much to tell them how I REALLY am. But will they listen? Will they run away? Will they tell me I need to pray more, fast more, believe more, sin less, sacrifice more, give more, tithe more? Will they tell me 'oh I'll pray for you' and promptly forget because they're worried their pot roast may be burning because the pastor 'went a little long'? Now PLEASE don't get me wrong. I find instant family when we join a church. It holds me together when my family is so far away and I know that there are those there that I can be naked in front of and they don't run away screaming. I love God's church. But shouldn't the WHOLE body be that way? When I see you on a Sunday morning in your 'assigned' pew, shouldn't you feel free enough, even if you don't know me, to tell me how you HONESTLY are? And shouldn't you expect me to love you no matter what? To stand there and talk to you as long as it takes? Jesus would've done that and aren't we suppose to be Christ-like in all we do?

So..I've decided to be naked before all of you and let you know how I truly feel. I remember a friend was pregnant with her 1st baby & we sang in choir together. One night in the choir room, just before practice, I asked her 'so how are you feeling' not really looking for an answer but just to be nice. Well she told me. She said "I feel like shit'! I about lost it. I laughed so hard, I had NEVER heard anyone curse IN CHURCH. And you know she didn't self combust? But I did warn the rest of the choir NOT to ask her how she was feeling because she would tell them, LOL.

So please be advised that most days I'm good, I'm positive and upbeat. But somedays I'm not. Somedays I feel I can take on the whole world and other days I want to be rid of this world. So this will be good therapy for me and if you want to follow along, be my guest. But I will warn you, I will be naked.

Church Signs

i got this from a Multiply 'friend' and knew yall would enjoy it like I did.


Church Signs 1


1) Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!
2) Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.
3) Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!
4) An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets.
5) When the restaurant next to the Church put out a big sign that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
6) Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!
7) Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!
8) Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday.
9) Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.
10) If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.




Church Signs 2


1) The best vitamin for a Christian is B1
2) Under same management for over 2000 years
3) Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back
4) Soul food served here
5) You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving
6) Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive
7) Reputation is what people think about you. Character is what people know you are
8) Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case!
9) Come early for a good Back seat
10) Seven days without prayer makes one weak
11) No Jesus - no peace, Know Jesus - know peace!
12) Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due





Church Signs 3


1) A man's character is like a fence. It cannot be strengthened by whitewash
2) K-Mart isn't the only saving place!
3) Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary
4) Delay is preferable to error
5) Prevent truth decay. Brush up on your bible
6) It's hard to stumble when you're down on your knees
7) What part of THOU SHALT NOT don't you understand?
8) A clear conscience makes a soft pillow
9) The wages of sin is death. Repent before payday
10) Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings
11) Forbidden fruit creates many jams
12) Christians, keep the faith... But not from others!




Church Signs 4


1) Satan subtracts and divides. God multiplies and multiplies
2) If you do not want to reap the fruits of sin stay out of the devil's orchard
3) May is God's apology for February
4) To belittle is to be little
5) A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.
6) No God -- No Peace. Know God -- Know Peace.
7) A singing group called The Resurrection was scheduled to sing at a church. When a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, The Resurrection is postponed.
8) People are like tea bags -- you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.
9) God so loved the world that He did not send a committee.
10) When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright.
11) Fight truth decay -- study the Bible daily.




Church Signs 5


1) How will you spend eternity -- Smoking or Non-smoking?
2) Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives
3) It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin.
4) Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.
5) If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.
6) Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.
7) This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?
8) Forbidden fruit creates many jams.
9) In the dark? Follow the Son.
10) Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.
11) If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

In light of Tuesday's election

Post-Election Analysis: True of False?

A friend sent this to me and I think it puts things in perspective for today:

Take the test, then ask yourself how you should respond to the election results.
1. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.
2. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.
3. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.
4. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.
5. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.
6. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
7. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.
8. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)
9. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.
10. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
11. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
12. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.
13. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

So how will you do on the test? Will you pass or will you fail? And what impact will that have on you, your family and our country.

I fell asleep and woke up in August...

Man what has happened? Is it just me or does it seem that the closer one approaches mid-life the faster time goes? For my 15yodd the time is just draaaaging till her 16th birthday this month, yet for me the time is flying by. How is it possible for us to live not only in the same time zone, but the same house & yet experience to different time fields? I have no clue but it's happening at my house and I'll wager it's happening at some of your homes as well?

So much has happened since I blogged last, which would explain the long pause between posts. My oldest daughter moved back to Texas at the end of May and our oldest son moved back at the end of June. And on July 4th our 19yodd, Sarah, got engaged!! Yep baby, I'm going to be an in-law. And then school starts on Monday so you can see why I'm needing Clairol more often these days!

Our daughter is marrying a wonderful young man, Jonathan Mahoney. He is the eldest of 10 children, he just turned 25. His mother & I first met in 1991 in WA state while we were both enrolled in a homeschool qualification class. Our husbands were both Navy men so we had lots in common. We are both Sanguine which is delightful unless you want something done in a hurry. We can get it done, but we'd rather have fun along the way so that may delay the process just a bit. Anyway, they ended up living on the same street as us and another homeschool family & we just pooled all 14 kids together & schooled them that way. It was wonderful but it had to end as they retired from the Navy, our neighbor was transferred and we got out. But we kept in touch and last summer on one of our visits (thank the good Lord He saw fit to move us w/in 5 hours of one another) Sarah caught Jonathan's eye & he asked permission to court her. It has been a joy to watch them draw closer to one another & to the Lord & to see them work through many things with grace, love and maturity. So this wedding in January will be a true blessing to both families.

So as we were shopping for dresses, looking at bridesmaids things, Mom dresses, music, etc. the same thought kept swirling through my head... this is so blog worthy. So I thought I would just write here all our experiences during this time and my thoughts & feelings and how God went before us and made things possible that we couldn't see as possible.

I hope you enjoy the journey with me and give me grace as I adjust to this change in my life and in Sarah's as well. It is going to be one fantastic ride.