my programming level is still pretty low at this point, but thanks for the help Ron! I've been doing my best with a few bits and bobs here and there along with several youtube videos. but that helped me out a ton! 
i'm gonna dissect the code you provided and try and wrap my head around what i was doing wrong.
(wrong approach probably).
I do have a question about how the "lighter" and "case" aspect of the code came to be and what those actually do..
sorry if that's a dumb question...
i just did some research before posting what i have written and may have answered my own question.
"case" = a function and "lighter" is just the label you chose?
you may have just opened my eyes to a new world of functions! lol
Thanks again!
switch (buttonPushCounter) { //depending on counter value choose a case
case 0:
Lighter(0,0,0);
break;
case 1:
Lighter(1,0,0);
break;
case 2:
Lighter(1,1,0);
break;
case 3:
Lighter(1,1,1);
break;
case 4:
Lighter(0,1,1);
break;
case 5:
Lighter(0,1,0);
break;
case 6:
Lighter(0,0,1);
break;
case 7:
Lighter(1,0,1);
break;
}
buttonPushCounter++; //increment counter by one
}