Once Upon a Time in a Land Far Far Away.....

A Century Turns

2010-03-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

For all of the history buffs out there William J Bennett's A Century Turns: New Hope New Fears is a must read. This thought provoking book explores politics from from the terms of president Bush the elder up to the inauguration of our now president Obama. I was in high school when Bush was elected and more interested in my life than the history that was unfolding around me. This book took me back to the original Gulf war and all the way to the current war. I have changed a few opinions and looked at our current war in a different light thanks to Mr. Bennett.

The Noticer (Book Review)

2010-01-29T12:37:00.000-06:00

The Noticer by Andy Andrews is a great reading experience. Jones has the gift of perspective. He notices the things that others don't. With this gift the old man enters the life of people in a small town, who have found themselves in desperate painful places, and shows them a new perspective.

I couldn't put this book down and read it all in one sitting. The lesson Mr. Andrews teaches on perspective is one we would all do well to learn. I definitely suggest this for your reading lists.

Learning to be Content

2010-01-13T20:33:00.003-06:00

Okay so we are two weeks into our needs based lifestyle and already we are having issues with needs vs wants. We tell the kids "count your blessings", "starving kids in Africa..." ect. ect. But I think someone needs to tell the adults in our house the same things. Are new pots and pans a need or a want, how about dove chocolate covered almonds (need in my book), new uniforms for work (definatley a want)?

As I was studying Philipians the last week or so one verse just kept jumping out at me (I love it when God talks to me). Bet you can't guess wich one...

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secrect of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Philipians 4:11-12

Surprised? Probably not. But it wasn't the content part that spoke to me. It was the fact that Paul says in verse 11 that he had LEARNED to be content. I have read this verse a thousand times and that was the first time I saw the word learned. I am so relieved to know that contentment is a learned skill. I have been sitting here waiting on God to smite me with a big ol' dose of contentment and He wants me to learn it. Will it be easy? Nope, but I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

So I guess this next year is my families time to learn to be content in all circumstances. Maybe next year too ( some of us around here, namely me, will probably need to be put in the remedial class). Your prayers are always welcome. Also if you have learned any lessons in contentment and would like to pass them on please leave a comment. I read them all.

Chasing Materialism

2009-11-23T23:05:00.000-06:00

Since we have moved back to the States and the land of commercials, I have noticed that my precious little Syd's wanter has been stuck in the on position. Of course Steven is no better I told him about a hand held leaf blower that is also a vacuum. He said we need the vacuum attachment for the riding mower. It broke my heart to tell him we didn't have a riding mower. Chase has every gaming system out there not to mention a cell phone and anything else a 13 year old boy could want. Okay I know what you are thinking what about me. Well of course I am the perfect one in this family and only get what is needed. What do I need you ask? EVERYTHING!!!! And because of this need for every new thing that comes on the market I decided to go back to work. I got my real estate license and set out to make beaucoup bucks.

I put my baby in day care. Paid my son to watch her when I had to work in the evenings and on weekends. I was tired and cranky and unplugged from my family. Syd was learning all kinds of wonderful new things at the day care. And Chase was being a surrogate parent because mom was too busy with work. So for all of this how much money was I bringing home...Zip, zilch, nuttin.

Well I am that girl that a gentle nudge from God just doesn't seem to work so he pulled out the big guns. Every sermon at church, every whine from my daughter, and every sad look from my son was telling me I needed to be at home. I ignored it. Thank God for that one friend that will tell you like it is. I called her and was telling her the whole awful story when she said Melissa have you prayed about it. Well know I already know that God's will for me is to stay home and raise my children. To wich she replied if you know you are outside of God's will why are you still there. I love her for just telling me like it is. So I have returned home to be a wife and mother. The only problem is we still want every new thing.

This is where our little social experiment comes in. Steven and I have decided that for the next 6 months we will only spend money on necessities. We all define our own necessities so please no snide remarks. We will not be eating out, since we couldn't cancel our cable or cell phones ( under 2 year contracts) we have set them to the cheapest plans, no more just running to the store for a candy bar, pop, movie, ect. TV is set to 1 hour a week each, Chase and Steven will take their lunches, np more shopping for entertainment and the biggey.....cigarettes are not a necessity. We hope that this experiment will show us how much God truly does provide for us, bring our family closer together, and bring us closer to God. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

Auf Wiedersehen

2009-02-09T12:32:00.004-06:00

Look out Missouri we are coming home. That's right we got orders and will be moving to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster Missouri (go ahead say it out loud it's fun ) this summer. We will be 4 1/2 hours from home and close enough to visit dear friends in the other parts of the country. I think Chase is going to be in for a massive culture shock. Knob Noster is a teaming metropolis of 2300 people. It doesn't even have a walmart (gasp).

The church across from our first house in Schonenberg-Kubelberg

Wow I can't believe it has already been 4 years. The time has gone by so fast and now it is almost time to say goodbye to Europe. We have been so blessed while here. We have met incredible friends that we will say "until we see you again" to. We have seen beautiful places and eaten incredible food. Learned new ways to live and new ways not to live. Chase has learned a new language. Syd will learn about a whole new world when we get to the States. And I learned how to ski in the Alps sort of. Steven has already traveled the world so I'm not sure what he learned. Maybe how to be a single parent when I go on a weekend with the girls. But I think most of all we have learned how much we love The United States. I can't wait to get home and hug my family, eat at Arby's, shop at walmart, and be able to read all the road signs.

Porta Nigra Trier Germany

Long Live Princess Sydney

2009-02-03T15:17:00.003-06:00

So it's that time again. Syd turned 3 this year and I don't know where the time goes. She is so grown up now or at least thinks she is. In the last year she has become so girly. So I enlisted the help of my dear friend Brandi to throw her a Princess Party. We had tea (pink lemonade) and cake (made by my other great friend Judy) in a room fit for a princess. Cinderella came to the party aka Brandi and the girls had a great time. So what did I contribute to this party??!! Well I did the hardest part..... the evite!! ;-) We are so blessed to have wonderful friends who do so much for us. This was a day Syd will never forget.

Excuses, Excuses...

2009-01-22T16:07:00.004-06:00

Okay so I was supposed to be cleaning my house for the 16 women that are coming tomorrow to play bunco. For those of you who know me well this won't come as a shock but I found an excuse not to clean ( surprise, surprise, surprise). I was feeling creative and this is what I came up with. Let me know what you think.

It's been a while

2009-01-20T04:38:00.007-06:00

So it has been a while since I have posted to this blog. Since the last posting Steven has come home from deployment, Syd has turned three and Chase is becoming a fabulous young man. Here are some Pictures of the last year.

Our little princess at halloween

Looks just like Gigi

Steven suprised me with a vow renewal for our 6th anniversary

Could they be any more beautiful??

Sydney's Birthday

2008-01-31T04:11:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that my baby girl is already 2 years old. The time has really flown by. She had a great time at her party with all of our friends crammed into this tiny little apartment. I hope you all enjoy the pictures.

To all a good night

2007-12-30T08:17:00.000-06:00

Thank God the holidays are almost over. Christmas was great for the kids and I was a little home sick as always. We had our neighbors and friends over 17 people in a 3 bedroom apartment. There was lots of food and lots of laughing and a little fighting we all felt just like we were home for christmas. Here is a link to our xmas pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/mbussey76/Christmas2008

Splish Splash

2007-12-06T05:09:00.000-06:00

You turn your back for one minute and this is what you get. Syd loves bathtime and now she has discovered bubbles!!! It's amazing how many bubbles you can get from 1/2 a bottle of shampoo....

puppy love

2007-12-02T13:59:00.001-06:00

how cute

I think Syd's first word after mom and daddy was puppy. She has been a dog lover from the start. There is not a puppy great or small that she can walk by without giving it a kiss. So Millie has been her best friend ever since.

2007-11-05T00:37:00.001-06:00

Good News for Chase

2007-11-05T00:02:00.000-06:00

We are so excited. Chase accepted Christ as his Savior 3 weeks ago and will be baptized on November 14. He has become very active in the Church youth group and is learning alot. He leaves this weekend for Impact a youth retreat in Hambachtal Germany. Steven and I are so happy that he has chosen Jesus and that he is learning to walk with Him.

Hi All

2007-10-31T10:52:00.000-05:00

Hi from Germany. Just found this free blog site and thought I'd jump on the blog wagon. Hopefully this will keep everyone updated on what is going on with our family here in Germany.

For those that don't know it yet we have decided to home school Chase and Sydney. So far it has been great. I'm able to spend more time with Chase and he can learn at his own pace and about things that interest him. Of course as with any new endeavor we have a thousand questions and a million ideas that we need to organize.

The kids are doing great. Chase is growing so much and becoming more of a young adult every day. He is learning to play the saxophone and loves it. He is so helpful with his little sister. Sydney is always on the move and into something. She talks more and more everyday. She loves to play with Chase and Millie. At least she thinks its playing. Millie sees it more as torture :). Steven is back on a dog and working nights now. The schedule is hard but homeschooling allows him more time with the family. He will probably be deploying soon. As for me I am just tyring to keep up with the day to day and get a little stamping and scrapbooking in when I can.