Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 11

Happy Thanksgiving 2020!

As I searched for today's graphic I saw this one and knew it was perfect. Some may find it a reminder of all we are missing yet it speaks to me differently. Instead of trying to forget all you are missing, focus on all you still have.

We may not be able to have an overcrowded home BUT we can still connect with our family and friends via phone, text, social media, hangouts, and video conferencing. It's  new way and experience. COVID  is here and won't be gone any time soon. Let's talk about it, voice our concern, and choose to find the opportunities that celebrate family, friends, life, and change.

​Next year when the house is full, the to do-lists are long, and travel expense are high - may we remember not to complain but to be thankful after a year of missing these very things.

Thank you for following the blog, listening to my podcast, reading my books, inviting me to speak at your events, and shopping through my Epicure website. I look forward to hearing how you embraced and celebrated the opportunities this year! Happy Thanksgiving!
​May you be blessed beyond measure...

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Remember to take a Day off

For some in America, Thanksgiving vacation starts this evening. Many take the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off to clean and bake, hence it's nickname, "pie day". As I head to work this morning I am mindful of the changes and differences yet choose to focus on the ability to relax and recharge this year.

My lists are created and I'm happy to report they are mostly white space, which means there isn't a lot to do. With the exception of a couple items, most of things written down for the next few days are focused on relaxing.

Since I'm not spending a lot of time cleaning and baking, this girl plans to spend time writing, sewing, and crocheting. Prior to this week I was bummed and on the sad side yet this morning, I choose to embrace the change and spend the time be creative and prepping for Christmas.

Last night I hosted my first Advent Bible Study via Zoom. It's a year of opportunity as we learn to live and celebrate differently. If you view it all as opportunity, it's more difficult for the despair and depression to creep in. I wouldn't have thought I'd host a Zoom Bible study yet COVID offered this opportunity. What opportunities are before you this year? Are you embracing them and stepping out in faith to try? What are you doing to relax today?

Choose to Embrace the Change

Thursday's blog focused on finding the positive in the midst of the chaos of change and restrictions. You've had a couple days to reflect and process this idea. Has it set in yet? If not, let this quote by Henry David Thoreau help you: "All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant." I know it's a lot to ask yet if we challenged ourselves to view COVID and the restrictions as miracles, how will this change your perspective? How could this shift your attention, attitude, and ability to see the good in the world? In your family? In your community? In the world?

Instead of fighting the crowds for the last pumpkin pie filling or bag of confectionary sugar, I'll be chilling with my sewing machine or in my writing cottage. This is a miracle. I don't usually have down time the last shopping days before a holiday but this year, I do. Of course to sew and write aren't miracles, yet the timing and ability to do them, is. It's Saturday and a wonderful opportunity to spend time doing something you enjoy and have always said, "If I didn't have to shop for Thanksgiving, I would..."

What is your ...? 
What is one change you've made so the focus is
on THANKFULNESS and LOVE this week?

Thanksgiving 2020: Timeless & New Traditions

Thanksgiving is one week from today and my head is swimming. Can you relate?

There are so many restrictions, changes, and unknowns. Instead of conversations of gratefulness, family visits, and travels while standing in the grocery checkout...it's either silence or sadness.

I can relate, this will be our first year without our daughter home for the holiday. If I focus on this, I'm overcome with despair and want to lay in bed and cry but this is not what I'm called to do or how God wants me spending my time. It' during these moment that I challenge myself to think about the opportunities available because of the change. Yes, I said there are opportunities.

We may not experience a house full of people this year. Instead of stacking furniture in one room so you can set up four folding tables in your living room or spending every hour before and after work for the next week cleaning...you have an opportunity to relax and focus your energies on the people closest to you. Instead of spending extra money you "borrow" from the utility payment envelope to buy a surplus of groceries that only are have eaten, you can pay your full payment. Instead of losing sleep, you will be well rested. Instead of exhaustion at the end of the ,month, you will be refreshed, with renewed energy to focus on Christmas and the remembrance of Jesus' birth and the anticipation of His return. 

I will miss seeing my daughter and other family due to the precautions in place to keep us safe. I will miss watching the parade in the morning and baking so many desserts that no one could eat them all. On the flip side, I won't miss the exhaustion and waste.

There are a few things I'm thankful for as we transition into the countdown to Thanksgiving: we have technology allowing us to "see" our loved ones and hear their voices, officials have our health and wellness at the forefront, and most of all, the time I would normally spend cleaning and baking, I plan to spend drawing closer to God and focus on the importance of the holidays and the meaning of Advent. Are you able to focus on Thanksgiving this year?
What helps you maintain a grateful attitude?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Organization & Planning

My apologies for not getting the blogs up last week. I won't bore you with excuses, the fact is I didn't plan and prepare well last weekend. This lack of attention spilled into the week. In addition to my four cooking classes, two workouts at the gym, working 5 days, and the everyday items...I failed to get everything done.

This past weekend I had a choice, get my act together or spend another week chasing my lists and struggling with time management. Since you are readinig this blog, you know the road I chose. I opted to dedicate time on Sunday afternoon to write and schedule my blogs. I recorded and scheduled my podcasts for the week. I organized my list and agendas for each day of the week, and geared up for the last full week of school before Thanksgiving break. It was a productive, and relaxing, weekend.

Next month, or early January, my first devotional releases! I'm so excited! In order to maintain healthy sleep and exercise habits, a successful Independent consultant with Epicure, lead an Advent Bible study, work on my next couple books, and work full-time...I MUST GET ORGANIZED, and stay this way.

Here are some of the things I do to maintain organization on a daily basis, and especially when life is crazy busy. Feel free to use any or all of them, or skip over and share your own in a comment. During this time of unknowns, it's a great time to share, encourage, and help others.Daily Lists (prioritized and color coded)Reminders on my phone for the important/MUST DO itemsScheduled time to relax (read, sew, crochet)Work Time blocks  (Epicure business, writing, editing)Exercise 3-4 times a week7 -8 hours a sleep a nightLearning to say no when asked to do something that doesn't fit in scheduleAsk for help/delegate when possibleI didn't get to specific so you can make it your own. One thing with getting, and staying, organized is to have a plan that works for you. What works for me may not work for you but sometimes we need to try different things to truly figure it out. I have a book that might help you figure out how to set your goals and reach them, click her to learn more. Good luck! The first step is to put a plan into action. It might not work but until you try, you won't know how to revamp and modify to fit your needs. You can do this!
What do you do to stay organized?

There are often Pains Involved in Change

Last week's podcast message talked about goals and desire. This week I focus on thankfulness and where are we directing our gratefulness. I noticed a recurring theme over the past two weeks.

The theme of seeking God's will and direction in our lives, instead of our own. As I looked for an illustration or picture for today's blog, this showed up in the gallery and spoke to me. It's an important and powerful reminder, one I needed and thought you might too.

"The will of God is not always easy but it is always right." 
Pastor Matthew Hagee

 As I reflect on life, there have been many times I struggled, strived, failed, and modified plans to reach my goals. And more often, no matter how hard I tried, success wasn't before me YET it's because of God steering me away from MY goals and desires to align me with HIS WILL. Some of the learning hurt my pride, was a financial hit, or broke my heart yet in the end, I am thankful that God worked His will out, in spite of my foolish trying. When somethings don't work out, take time to pray and listen, are you seeking God's will or yours. It's something to think about. Are you pursuing your will, or God's?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Celebrate the Successes

A late post as I didn't do well with my time management this past weekend, looking to do better this weekend. The good news is that I realize how much the way I've been organizing my time has helped me during the work week. Maybe I needed the reminder that a few hours on Sunday save me at least an hour a day during the week.

I'm also thankful I didn't post already because I have exciting news to share. This past July I signed up as an Epicure consultant and I enjoy this on so many levels. Not only has my health had a positive impact, I'm having so much fun sharing health, wellness, and time saving tips with others.

Tonight I closed my first $500 cooking class. I think I may have been even more excited than my hostess, yet it may be too close to determine. To celebrate I tossed confetti (paper shredding that was set by the door for recycling) in the air. My lawn looks like it snowed and my heart is overflowing.

I appreciate ALL my hostesses and customers so much! I've met some cool people and learn something from each one. I wasn't sure I'd ever be the consultant for a $500 cooking class yet I was determined to have one before year end and I accomplished this...tonight!

I share this with all of you as an encouragement! Don't give up on the goals you set. Set them high and strive to reach them. In addition to this wonderful journey with Epicure, my first devotional releases in January!! It's an Lenten Devotional. If you'd like to be a part of my promo team, email me: livinwithlisa.keepingitreal@gmail.com. I hope to kick off the promo after Christmas and through January, leading up to Lent. God is good, I'm grateful for the encouragement He showed me tonight and on this journey. #KeepingitReal
I'm thankful to share time-saving tips and healthy alternatives with others! A special thanks for my hostess who busted a hump to reach her goal!

Have you signed up to Follow the Blog?

Today is a plug to have you sign up and follow the blog. In the past, I could schedule the blogs and have them post to Twitter and Facebook but this luxury has come to an end. Now, when I am proactive and schedule my blogs for the week, I can only have it shared to Twitter.

I had a few people reach out and ask why they weren't seeing the notifications on Facebook anymore, this is the reason. If you want to be notified when a new blog is posted, you need to sign up. Check out today's photo to see what the sign up looks like.

If you are viewing on a computer, it is located to the right of the blog. If you view on a mobile device, it is most likely below this blog. Either way, once you enter your email, you won't miss another blog post. I apologize for not having them posted automatically to Facebook but in order to better manage my time, I need to schedule them and the benefit of having it auto shared was lost with my web provider's latest update.

As much as I'd like to post live so it would share live to Facebook and Twitter at the same time, I need to manage my time so as to have enough time to get everything done, take care of my family and myself. Thank you for looking for the blog posts and I hope this helps you to sign up so you are notified. Have a great weekend!
Thank you for signing up,
​you'll receive emails when a new blog is posted!

Are you Maintaining a Positive Outlook?

This week's podcast encourages you to maintain a positive outlook, challenges you to view a change in plans as an opportunity, and to live with an Eternal perspective, not a worldly one.

Last week we revisited renewal. Our first series on renewal was at the end of June and into July. I've learned over the years and through different workshops, it is beneficial to revisit topics to make sure we are on track, especially when they are skills, strategies, or habits we are trying to establish, strengthen, and maintain. As humans, we tend to relax and get lazy. Or maybe it's just me so I need to share and teach so that I spend time in prayer and preparation to retrain my own brain. I don't think I'm alone, but maybe it's just me. If it's not, leave a comment if you can relate.

Monday's message was light, yesterday's message went deeper and tomorrow's wrap up with meet you in the middle with a challenge. If you struggle with maintaining a positive and Eternal perspective, check out this week's podcast series. Thank you for listening, sharing with others, and applying all you learn. What kind of outlook do you have?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Book Release on Schedule

It's a happy day in this author's life. My first devotional, and first in my new "Keeping it Real" book series, is on schedule to release in January 2021. The only change is the date of its release. Originally it was going to release on January 23 but in order to give everyone time to order this book in time for Lent, the book will release January 5th.

My hope is to set up a promo group/team to help me share and promote the release. There are a variety of ways to host a promo team, the style usually meshes with the author's personality and they type of book. I've enjoyed being a part of different book promos over the past decade As I thought about promoting my first devotional, and the first book in a series, I reflected what I enjoyed when I was a participant.

My hope is to reach an array of readers. Have you participated in a book promotion before? Are you interested in trying one at this time? Would you like more information? If so, then let me share a few tidbits of how I am envisioning my promo tour. It will be very Lisa, so if you want to have fun then you might enjoy it.

I'm still planning and ironing out the wrinkle but here are a few things I can share:
*It will be fun!
*You will receive a FREE copy of my book (print or PDF if you desire)
*You'll meet other readers
*You'll connect with new peeps
*You'll be a part of my private group to promote my book
*Did I mention it will be fun?

What is required of you to participate and receive your FREE copy?
*Read the devotional prior to Lent, yet, it's an Easter Devotional
*Share posts on social media about the devotional during the month of January and throughout Lent as God leads you
*Share the posts I create with your friends/family on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
*BLOGGERS
     *Share a review on your blog
     *Share a guest post from me on your blog
     *Share a 2nd review a few days before Lent on your blog
*Share the devotional with your friends and family not on social media
*Respond to others when they share the post and/or ask questions about the book
*If you choose, leave an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads
*Interact and have fun with other readers and book lovers

If this sounds interesting to you, please email me, with "Easter Devotional Promo":
livinwithlisa.keepingitreal@gmail.com 
INCLUDE:
First and Last Name:
Mailing Address - so I can mail your print book)
Email Address - will email updates and information about the promo tour, if you prefer PDF, I will email to this address
Facebook Name - so I can add you to the Facebook group

I have a limited number of print books available and an unlimited number of PDF copies, so if you prefer a print copy, respond soon. The print books will be on a first come, first serve basis. 

Thank you for your interest! I'll share this again in November but I'm starting to plan now and thought I'd include you in the process and start building my team list too!
Have a great week! Are you ready to join my book promotion team
to share my first devotional
​and the first book in my new series?