Blessed...

I was just given the best gift by my friend, Janie, and my husband, Ben! Because of the two of them, I was able to fly to Little Rock, by myself for four days! What a blessing. It was the loveliest of days there....going out to eat, shopping, seeing great old friends, surprising gals, and serving.

Whenever I go there, I can almost feel the wind calling me...enveloping me...greeting me...and drawing me in. The sun seems to shine brighter. The air feels crisper. The smiles on friends' faces bigger.

And then I was blessed to return to six people who love me even more! I appreciate their sacrifice on my behalf and loved their HUGE hugs...smoothering kisses...non stop telling me of happenings in my absence...and hearing the word "Mom".

I am one blessed woman to have so many people in my life who love me. Who love to see me. And who love giving me fun gifts!

A Tale of Two Boys

Rainey had his last football game today. He learned a lot! Today he scored two touchdowns today!!! One was run in and the other he caught in the endzone.
Rainey and some of his football buddies. They became good friends this season.

On the other hand....while Rainey was being intense and manly...Rawley was getting stuck in the soccer net at the fields..

Papa had to rescue him. It will be a few years until he has the intensity of his big brother...or maybe he'll never develop that! :)

Princess and the Kiss

Kally and I are participating in a group of girls and moms who meet once a month. We call ourselves God's Girls and we are working through the book Princess and the Kiss. There is the hardback book with the original story and then there is a lesson book.

We are meeting once a month for 21 months! The emphasis is on purity and God's design for the girls. It's a beautiful story.

I am grateful that I have been asked to participate in this with Kally. What a joy! I get to spend some great time with Kally and she gets to spend time getting to know other wonderful young girls learning some new things about God's plan for her.

My goal lately has been to finish well. This is really helping me to do that with the last of my girls!

Cheese Twists

I just ran across this fabulously easy recipe in House Beautiful and right away had to try it!

You need:

puff pastry

fresh grated parmesan cheese

On the counter, spread out 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Place the thawed puff pastry on it. Put another 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese on top of the pastry. Using a rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry until the cheese is incorporated into the pastry. Cut the pastry into strips and twist them as you place them on a cookie sheet. Place the sheet into an already preheated 400 degree oven and bake for about 8 minutes. Watch them! They cook quickly!

Fun Gift

I have been given a gift of plane tickets to fly up to Little Rock to see a good friend. I am so thrilled! I am going by myself....and though I am excited almost beyond words...I also feel a bit guilty. Why is that?

Are moms never allowed to do anything without the rest of the family? I don't quite get it.

Don't get me wrong...I am not so guilt-ridden that I am not going. Oh no! I am still going! It will just take me a bit after I get dropped off at the airport to begin enjoying the experience.

What a fun way for God to bless me! Especially when I don't deserve it...but HE loves me enough to do it anyway. Thank you, God.

Stronger

So a couple of days ago, I wrote about the choice of pushing through hard things that come along in relationships or choosing to break ties. Today was the day that we pushed through. We talked things out. We came out the other side stronger.

I love this group of women. They make me laugh. They raise the standard. The encourage me. I don't know what I bring to the table...but they sure add new dimensions to my life for which I am forever grateful!

Days Like This

This is our week off of school. We are working on a different school schedule this year....we love it! We have three weeks of school and take a week off. I can't believe that I haven't thought of doing this before now. But I am awfully glad that God placed the idea in my thick brain this year!

We have already begun packing our Operation Christmas Child boxes, done several loads of laundry, gotten lunch, and put MANY, MANY clean clothes away! The kitchen is clean and the boys' room is clean.

I love days like this!!!!!

Waiting...

Our new pastor gave his first sermon today. He was wonderful....the message was thought-provoking...God was there!

The sermon was on waiting. It seems as though we are going through that waiting thing right now. Waiting for Ben to finish seminary. Waiting for life to settle down. Waiting for God to let one of our kids know the next part of the plan. Waiting for next Monday to come so that I can go see some dear friends. Waiting....waiting...waiting.

This is what we heard this morning: Waiting is a critical part of how God works. If we undermine the process, it undermines the very thing we need from God. God does something in us so He can do something through us. So wait....on God!

What are you waiting on?

Lisa's Choice

At points in each of my children's lives, I've said the following: "This is the point in your friendship when you need to decide if this relationship is worth pushing through and working it out to get a stronger relationship, or if it's not worth it and you cut off the friendship."

Almost every time, my kids have decided that it's worth fighting for the friendship...working out the problems...and having a stronger bond on the other side! I have been very proud of my kids for this. I think I've helped them develop a way to have healthy relationships as they launch out on their own.

I, too, have faced those same situations and have chosen one or the other. I have a couple of folks that I have chosen to not remain friends with....either too much drama or sucked the life out of me. But most of the time, I have fought through and have several great friends because of it.

I am in that situation again. There is a group and they are so worth working it out! I love these gals and want to deepen my friendships with them. I will be working it out...pushing through...and fighting for these friendships!

Seems like at my age, I should be really settled in this area..but alas, I am still working on relationships. I am grateful that God has provided so many people in my life whom I love dearly!

I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy Joy....

I have been enjoying life recently...I know that sounds odd, but there are times that life seems hard, overly complicated, and just all around not enjoyable.

My life has not changed. I still have five kids. I still homeschool four of them. I still fix each and every meal for all seven of us, wash most of the laundry, change sheets, shop for groceries, buy all clothes, get things ready for all birthday parties (ours and others), etc...

I still have a daddy who has Alzheimer's, a mom who is lovingly caring for him at home, family members with others diseases and disorders.

I still have friends who need encouraging, surprise birthday parties to attend, flights to catch to visit dear ones.

I still have errands to run, co-op to run, and a track down the street to walk (you thought I was going to say run, didn't you?).

But I love my life. I love it right now particularly. I love that I meet Jesus most every morning and learn more about HIS love letter to me. I love that three of my kids go with me down to the track three days a week to play while I walk.

God has given me a joy!

Next Summer Already?

I know it's not even Halloween yet, but I must confess that I am already thinking about summer opportunities for my girls. It is time for Darby to go on a mission trip! Bailey went on her first trip when she was 13 and it was time for her world to be expanded. It was a terrific experience and made Bailey appreciate the 13 varieties of cereal we have in our pantry along with the days and days of food...on top of many other things.

Darby will be 13 soon. It's time for her world to be expanded. It's time for her to have an opportunity to see how many others in the world live...and it's not like we live for the most part! I want her to appreciate what she has here and I want her to develop a love for others that attempts to mimic Christ's love for us.

So....I am beginning to pray and think about where God would have the girls go this summer, if anywhere. We have a saying in our home: At around 13, the books say it's normal for children to rebel and begin to live in their own little world....but in the DeBusk home, it's not required (and we don't do that)!

Sending our children on mission trips has been a great way to help them be outward focused....to live out the other DeBusk saying: Love God, Serve Others!

They Are SO Different!

I've had two interesting days with a couple of my children.

Yesterday I went shopping with my oldest daughter, Bailey. We knew just where we wanted to go and went straight there once we got to the shopping center. I knew what I was looking for, vaguely, and found tons of things! We tried things on....and on....and on. We carried items around and kept looking. Then we bought our items and thought we'd stop in a couple of other places.

Basically a very relaxing time sharing lots of laughter and life with my daughter. And several hours and a diet coke later, we arrived back at home.

Today I went shopping with my oldest son, Rainey. We knew just where we wanted to go and went straight there once we got to the shopping center. He knew what he was looking for, exactly, and found just that. He went straight to the section that carried the game he was wanting, he picked it off the shelf, and brought it to the sales clerk. He never wavered! He never even turned his head to see what else was in the store!

Basically a very hunter/conqueror type of experience. We shared....well....not much really! And 15 minutes later, we arrived back home.