Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 16
May 23, 2020
Memorial Day Preparations: Heidi Garden
Yesterday we planted flowers at the cemetery, my dad's house, and our house. Today we tackled the Heidi Remembrance Garden. Each spring we dedicate time and thought to "beat the weeds for the year" as we plan out the flowers, plants, and layout. Thus far, twenty-five plus years later, the weeds seem to keep winning.We took a different approach this year. Instead of pulling weeds, adding new topsoil, planting new flowers or plants, then adding fresh mulch on the outside...we went rogue. I think my mom would have liked this new and bold approach. The hours we'd usually spend pulling weeds, we dug out the surviving plants. The only two that made it through last year's season of weeds and the winter: five rose bushes and the hosta plants. I moved these to my house, in to the one garden the moles seem to own and nothing survives. I figure if they could make it at the Heidi garden with minimal water and choking weeds, they may like it here.
Once all the plants were removed, we placed two layers of the black landscaping/garden weed blocker over the entire garden. The slight breeze helped keep us cool but was our nemesis as we tried to keep the paper in place. We used the bags of white rocks to hold down the paper, started from the center and worked our way out. The centerpiece is of two kids reading book and also serves as a little bird bath after a rain. My Mom would love that. Mulch wasn't available so rather than wait, we returned to the store for red stone, the same color as the mulch we usually have. Initially we planned to cut the black paper off the wood frame but we liked the look of the black paper, makes the star pop a little more. We need more stone, but it will have have to wait. We were pooped, tomorrow is another day.
After we add the last few bags of stones, I found solar stones online. They look white like the others but at night will be blue, like the centerpiece. I can't wait to add that final touch. Our family, and community, hold #Hope4HeidiAllen forever. The garden is a symbol of hope for so many. Now, at night, in addition to the lights at the points of the star, there will be light spread within the star. Even in the darkness, with hope and faith, The Light will always win. Our hope and prayer is the weeds lose this new battle and the brightness and light replace any darkness. May we always hope and look for the bright side.
One thing is constant...Hope is Eternal!
May 21, 2020
What are you Making Time for?
As I move into the final month of school, my writing and participation with other authors is moving into the forefront. It's been a crazy, busy, and challenging time. How many of you have struggled with balancing teaching, learning, and working from home while maintaining the activities you are passionate about? My ability to find a mentally free space at home is difficult to say the least. It feels like wherever I look, there is "school", "post under-grad/pre Grad school packing", and the never ending list of things to do. If you have figured out how to maintain a healthy balance, leave a comment on today's blog to help myself, and others like me. We need your motivation!I will communicating with my students through the week yet I look forward to uninterrupted time at my writer's cottage, quiet time on the deck, bonfires, and helping others. One way I am helping others is to volunteer at the local food pantry, send hand written notes, and join book launches and blog tours. This is my excitement to share today. I was selected, along other amazing creative people, to join @shawnsmucker & @Amy_Odland for Shawn's #TheseNamelessThings book launch. This is a fun opportunity to meet others and help a fellow Christian author.
In June, I'll have a couple blogs about Shawn Smucker and his other books and a special blog on June 30, 2020, when his book is available for sale. Shawn has accepted my invitation to guest on my podcast too! I'm so excited. I met Shawn Smucker last summer and learned a lot from his feedback when I signed up for a author meeting with him. I'm not a good fictional writer, Shawn on the other hand is fabulous. His book, Light from Distance Stars released last summer. I'm rereading this now as I wait for #TheseNamelessThings to arrive.
In addition to authoring seven other books, Shawn and his wife, Maile, have a wonderful podcast, The Stories Between Us. Their love, banter, honesty, humor, and willingness to share keep you coming back for more. I don't consider myself on Shawn's level yet, but with his kindness and encouragement, I know I'll reach my goals one day. Shawn's humility and desire to help other creatives is something to modeled by other authors, bloggers, and podcasters.
Follow Shawn for updates on his books and podcasts:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Shawn-Smucker-Writer-248786208498879/
Instagram & Twitter - @shawnsmucker Get Ready Everyone,
You'll be hearing about #TheseNamelessThings
a lot over the next few weeks!
May 19, 2020
T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Sample Devo For You
THURSDAY
“I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 32:8
Each morning when your feet hit the floor you decide to live, but who are you living for? Are you living for yourself, the world, or God? Many who say they live for God aren’t modeling this, hence the mixed messages we send potential sisters and brothers in Christ.
Did your parents ever say, “Do as I say, not as I do?” Better yet, have you made this statement to your children or students? Ouch, right? Here’s the deal, people listen to what they see more than they hear what we say. Did you catch that? People listen to what they see more than they hear what we say. We can talk until we are blue in the face, but the aspects of our life people remember are the things they see.
Lent is a good time to look in the mirror. If you were an outsider looking in, or a five-year-old mimicking your every move…are you proud of the reflection and display? If not, what can you change today so when you look in the mirror tomorrow, you lift words of gratitude and praise to God for the change? Set baby goals.
One of my goals each year during Lent is to spend more time reading God’s Word, my Bible. I could list reasons of why this is needed every year but rather than bore you with my excuses, I’ll encourage you. We all have areas we need to be hyper vigilant with or the devil will create a wedge to draw us farther from our relationship with God.
During Lent I am determined to spend time reading my Bible and learning more about who God is and who He wants me to be. In the months following I strive to revisit the lessons learned so God doesn’t need to attach a bit and bridle.
If I want others to know it’s a joy to follow Jesus, then I need to model it, not say it. How are you modeling Jesus today? How would you change your witness from yesterday? What will you do different tomorrow? Life is about choice, may you choose to be the best witness of Joy you can.
Additional Reading: Psalm 32:8-11
@Copyright Lisa M Buske - This may not be copied or reproduced in any way, without direct permission from the author. Thank you for your understanding. How are you modeling Jesus today?
How would you change a decision made yesterday?
What will you do different tomorrow?
May 18, 2020
Book Review: The Checklist Book
I enjoyed this book on many levels. Click on Alexendra Franzen's Book cover, The Checklist Book, for a direct link to her website. There are many hyperlinks included in today's blog so you can learn about the author and the many resources she has available for all my list-making-peeps.I'll admit, the title of this book got me excited. I LOVE writing and completing lists. I'm second or third generation list maker, my daughter is following in our foot steps (Yes!). I'll admit this book initially intrigued me because I wasn't sure how someone could write an entire book on writing a lists. Oh. My. Gosh! This book is a must read for all list makers, and for those who have ever thought about writing a lists.
Alexandra Franzen goes into the history of lists, which was fascinating in itself. She also talks about how lists are more than a list of things-to-do. Up until reading this book, this is what I thought a list was but she has transformed the way I think about my beautiful lists. Lists aren't just helpful, they are necessary:
"Making a checklist is like creating an extra storage tank for your brain.
You're helping yourself to remember all the extra things
that your regular human brain can't successfully remember on its own.
This creates a feeling of emotional relief...much like closing all the tabs on
your Internet browser, you're closing all the extra tabs in your brain." (Page 45) She shares that not all lists are the same and offers different styles and purposes for your lists. She offers different styles and asks the reader to pay attention to the one that resonates with them. Once you have your style, there are different purposes for your lists. Two of them stood out to me and I went to work and started to make my "Daily Lists" using her philosophy. It's a list with a purpose, instead of just a list of tasks, it includes "wins", "moments" and "blanks".
I must admit, to change my thought process about my lists, I have been more productive. She has a list for "Marketing" too and my hope is to try this list for the release of my next book. She has the templates for all her lists available on her website for FREE yet you need the book so you understand the mindfulness and thought process into creating these lists for success.
I shared this book at a faculty webinar, showed it to one person, and they ordered 2 copies. It's that good. What are you waiting for? Order your copy today!
The Checklist Book is perfect for you if you:
- feel stressed, tired, overwhelmed ("Too much to do, not enough time").
- want to strike a healthier balance between "work" and "the rest of life."
- crave more calm and simplicity in life.
- enjoy exploring life's big questions.
- love LISTS (list fanatics!) and list-curious newbies, too.
- want to set yourself up for a calm, focused, organized, and meaningful day.
In the life-changing Checklist Book, learn:
The history of the checklist and why it remains to be relevant and effective today
The science behind the success of checklists, such as the instant satisfaction we feel when we put a check next to a finished task
How to create a basic daily checklist―and checklists for specific situations, like moving to a new city or navigating a divorce
As if a great book isn't enough, Alexandra Franzen offers FREE DOWNLOADS
on her website too! I personally used an old spiraled-one-subject notebook.
About the Author
ALEXANDRA FRANZEN is the author of several books. She has written articles for dozens of sites, including Time, Forbes, Newsweek, HuffPost, The Muse, and Lifehacker. She's been mentioned/quoted in The New York Times Small Business Blog, The Atlantic, USA Today, BuzzFeed, Brit+Co, and Inc.
Alexandra is best-known for writing about creativity, productivity, the power of setting tiny goals, how to develop more confidence in your writing skills, and how to stay motivated, keep working towards your personal and professional dreams, and never give up.
She also works as a copywriter, ghostwriter, writing teacher, and consultant. She helps her clients to develop podcasts, videos, websites, speeches, books, and other creative projects.
Find Alexandra's latest projects, classes, and hundreds of free articles and resources at: AlexandraFranzen.com Other Blogs Sharing About This Great Book May 11th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Make sure you visit the WOW blog today and read an interview with author Alexandra Franzen and enter to win a copy of the book The Checklist Book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
May 12th @ Karen Brown Tyson
Stop by Karen's blog today and read Alexandra Franzen's inspiring guest post entitled, "You Are Going to Survive."
https://karenbrowntyson.com/blog/
May 13th @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole as she reviews Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com
May 15th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Visit Veronica's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/
May 16th @ Lapidus International
Stop by the words for wellness organization today and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about the importance of nature time.
https://lapidus.org.uk/news
May 18th @ One Sister's Journey:
Keeping It Real
May 19th @ Chanel Bevis' Blog
Stop by Chanel's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://chanelbevis1.wordpress.com/blog/
May 20th @ And So She Thinks
Visit Francesca's blog today and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about what a checklist can do you for you.
https://andsoshethinks.co.uk/blog/
May 23rd @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda's blog and you can read her interview with Alexandra Franzen. Don't miss it! http://bootsshoesandfashion.com/
May 25th @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog today and you can read her post about Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://thefrugalistamom.com/
May 27th @ Dog-Eared Days of Summer
Visit Courtney's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://dog-eareddaysofsummer.com/
May 28th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi's blog today and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post unplugging more.
https://strength4spouses.blog/
May 29th @ Wild Hearted
Visit Ashley's blog today where she shares her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://www.wild-hearted.com/ May 30th @ Memoir Revolution
https://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/
May 31st @ Michelle Cornish' Blog
Stop by Michelle's blog today and you can read a guest post by Alexandra Franzen about shifting away from perfection. A post we all need to read today!
https://www.michellecornish.com/
June 1st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi's blog today to read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://strength4spouses.blog
June 2nd @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Visit Bev's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
June 3rd @ Rachael's Thoughts
Visit Rachael's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://rachaelstray.com/
June 4th @ Michelle Cornish' Blog
Visit Michelle's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://www.michellecornish.com/
June 5th @ Editor 911
Stop by Margo's blog today and you can read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://editor-911.com/blog
June 6th @ Megan Writes Everything
Visit Megan's blog today and she reviews Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://meganwriteseverything.com/
June 7th @ The New England Book Critic
Visit Victoria's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://thenewenglandbookcritic.com/
June 8th @ Dog-Eared Days of Summer
Visit Courtney's blog again and read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about focusing on tiny wins.
https://dog-eareddaysofsummer.com/
June 9th @ Alternative Grace
Stop by Amber's blog today and read her review of Alexandra Franzen's book The Checklist Book.
https://alternativegrace.com/
June 10th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Stop by Bev's blog again and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about putting self-care into your daily checklist. An absolute must-read!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
June 11th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Visit Jill's blog today and you can read Alexandra Franzen's guest post about getting the phone out of your room.
http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/ Are you a list maker?
Would you like to be more mindful and productive?
Do you want these worlds to collide into
mindful-productive-list making?
If so...you NEED THIS BOOK!
May 14, 2020
Do You Have a Local Food Pantry?
Do you have a food pantry in your area? If so, I encourage you to become involved. You may be on the receiving end, and understand the importance and benefit of the food pantry on a very intimate level. If this is your role, be encouraged, this is temporary. Some of our biggest donors once were on the receiving end too and look forward to giving back because they know the difference the food pantry made in their family's survival. Keep your chin up, better days are coming. You've got this. On the flip side, you may be at a place in your life where you have the funds, supplies, and time to give back. There are so many ways to help others in need of a little help or need. Each pantry, whether small or large, runs differently. The commonality is that no two pantries are exactly alike. The pantry I volunteer at was in the church basement when I first started to volunteer, moved into a very small one room shed-type-building, and now is housed in a beautiful, spacious, and well maintained building.
If you are interested in helping your local food pantry, I'm sure you can google and find one near you. I volunteer at the Mexico Food Pantry, located in Mexico, New York. My hope is to share ways our volunteers and community keep our pantry open and a success. This may be different for your pantry but I hope it inspires you to get involved using the gifts and talents you have...to help others. There is no better time than today.
Ways you can help your local food pantry:DONATEMonetary - your $1 is worth $4 when you donate, so a $25 donation is like giving the food pantry $100.00 of buying power through their food bankFood - this is a great way to provide flour, sugar, cooking oil, kid's cereal and other items pantries can't purchase (because they aren't healthy) but are necessitiesHealth and Beauty items - monetary donations are used for food so donations of shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and such are some of the first items you may stock up on but a lot of pantry clients are forced to treat these like luxury items. (We have a woman who donates health and beauty items each month because when her kids were little, and she was forced to be a single mom, it was the health and beauty items she missed the most. The pantry provided food but the others were extras, she donates each month so our client's kids can have bubble baths and enjoy these luxuries)Hobby Magazines - you know the quilting, woodworking, sewing, crocheting, and hobby type magazines you pick up while waiting in the checkout line, these are precious to our clients as they can make gifts for their family and friends using the patterns in these magazinesChildren's books - a lot of families bring their kids and they don't have extra money for books, so we like to keep an assortment of books for the kids to read and KEEPTime - there are an array of ways you can spend time helping your pantryUnloading Delivery trucks Putting away delivered items Stocking shelves, freezers, and coolersCleaning the pantry shelves, floors, walls, appliances, windowsOrganizing donations (especially around the holidays)Handing out food on distribution days (outside during COVID-19)Walking shoppers through while they shopTalking to clients while they wait to shopCarry boxes/bags to the cars for disabled or senior citizens after they shopBake for the volunteers (yup, we have people who treat our volunteers as a thank you with their baking talents)Answer the phone??An idea yet to be thought of??
As you see, there are so many ways for you to be involved with your local pantry. Our pantry has a dedicated and tireless coordinator, dedicating her life to keeping this pantry moving forward and a vital part of our community. Next to her, it is only because of the multitude of volunteers that we are able to serve all the families in our school district. During COVID-19, we have provided food for more than four times our regular number of clients. People travel from other districts so they have food to eat. This is one of the most rewarding parts of my week.
I was going to list all the benefits of giving back and helping at the food pantry but I'd like to hear from you. Leave a comment of why you volunteer? How it makes you feel to volunteer?
Thank you for volunteering!
You are making a difference.
How are you helping your neighbor?
How does it make you feel to give back
and help those in your neighborhood?
Who are you Thankful For Today?
Each day offers much to be thankful for. Today, I celebrate, appreciate, and give a HUGE shout out to my hubby, Ed. When I speak at church groups, libraries, and for retreats I often share praises for him. He doesn't like me letting others know he's a good guy but sometimes you just have to let it out.I remember the first time my mother-in-law came to one of my speaking events. Her first comment to me, "That was touching but you didn't talk about my son enough." Ed shook his head and responded, "Mom, she is NOT supposed to talk about me at all, unless it's to say how terrible I am." Then we all exchanged glances, I laughed, they stared. Humility is a wonderful characteristic.
But above all these,Here's the deal, like the rest of America and the nation, COVID-19 has brought change and a lot of extra time at home with family. My husband is furloughed, our daughter lost her last semester of undergrad, and I'm learning to teach from home. In the midst of this change, we volunteer at the local food pantry and find ways to encourage others through hand written notes, texts, and phone calls.
put on love!
Love is the perfect tie to bind these together."
Colossians 3:14 VOICE
I try to keep my Pollyanna attitude going and in the forefront yet sometimes, the reality of our current situations hit me hard. And you know who is there to be my Polyanna? Yup, that big toughy of a hubby. He's my guy and knows how to drive me crazy through the good, bad, and ugly. He also knows how to drive me crazy with his idiosyncrasies. Guess what, I'll take them all and love him for it all and he loves me even more. He's quite a guy. Since he doesn't read the blog, he'll never know but I think the world should know he's what, and who, I'm thankful for today.
Who or what are you thankful for today?
May 12, 2020
T.O.P.'s Tuesday: A Sneak Peak...Easter Devo 1
If you follow the blog then you know I've been working on my first devotional. My Beta Readers are sharing positive and insightful feedback. Their biggest concern, I'm not writing fast enough. For an author, this is a huge compliment because it means your readers want more.A devotional has popped into my mind before yet this spring, God inspired me to do it. Who knows, the inklings could have been God tapping me on the shoulder and I paid Him and them, no mind. I don't know and have no intention of dwelling on the was it, or wasn't it. Instead, I'm moving forward in faith.
As I sat in an Ohio hotel, praying for my daughter and for God to direct my writing, He clearly placed this writing project in front of me. I delved into my Bible, concordance, and the Internet with excitement and a desire to write. The only thing greater than this renewed passion was the surprise of the topic. I was creating an outline for an Easter devotional! Yup, Easter.
While the idea of my first devotional focusing on Easter shocked me, my Beta readers were not. One said, "It only makes sense that your first devotional is about Easter. It's like you came full circle." It took time for this to process before tears started to fall. Since starting this devotional, I have started to outline my first Bible Study. The renewed passion, desire, and inspiration to write came at a time when I knew life was changing and I was trying to figure out what the new normal would look like. I'll be honest, this was not what I expected yet I'm thrilled for the journey ahead.
Not all my beta readers are online or social media, but if you are, and you are willing, would you leave a comment of why you think someone might want to read this Easter devotional?
Next week I'll share an entry from this devotional. What qualities do your favorite devotionals have?
May 9, 2020
Snow in May!
I awoke this morning to see the ground covered with about an inch of newly fallen snow! Yup, that's an explanation point. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and it's snowing. My daughter called and asked,, "What's the weather like? We're on our way home." I was going to tell her about the fresh snow on the ground but when I looked out the window, it was snowing.No words at first, just laughter. You see, my husband and daughter have been in Indiana helping our nephew and his family for a couple weeks. The weather they left behind, is sunny and in the 70's and 80's so the thought of returning to New York's fluctuating weather has to be less than appealing. My heart breaks for them. They've experienced warm weather and sitting outside and making memories.
I look forward to seeing them yet am bummed they are sacrificing sunshine and freedom to return home. They've left an area where they can get outside and go to the store, only to be in New York where they must shelter-in-place and remain away from people. I love New York.
I am New York strong and all the other slogans being pitched on a daily basis but for the first time since our announced she'd attend grad school out of state, any state but New York...I get it. I'm excited and look forward to her journey more than ever. Let her experience life and adventure, we'll still be sheltering in place at Christmas at this rate. How is this for "Keeping it Real" today?
When it snows in May,
what is the first thing you think of?
May 7, 2020
What is Your Mind Telling You?
There are many lessons we learn in today's new normal. Some of the lessons are easy and others require much thought and processing in our minds. As you think about the past few weeks and the multitude of changes, how do you see yourself in the weeks to come? Yes, these are times of unknown. Yes, life will not go back to the same. Yes, we need to accept this change. Yes, you can!
You have the strength, ingenuity, ability, and power to move forward with hope, joy, and curiosity. Don't focus on the negative and unknown, focus on the excitement and possibilities of new things. Some days will be easier than others but the way in which we react, model for those watching where we put our faith. I have faith in a God that knows what tomorrow will bring and I need to trust Him as I anticipate the new normal. Who do you have faith in?
You have the ability with faith in God
and a focused mind to move forward...
Who is watching and learning from you?
May 4, 2020
T.O.P.'s Tuesday: fAVORITE hIGH sCHOOL mEMORY
Since COVID-19, I've enjoyed a weekly meeting with friends from high school. We've reminisced about high school and class reunions and shared about where we are in life to date. It's been wonderful to catch up, and getting to know others better. I thought it would be fun to remember better times. What is a favorite high school memory you have? Today's photograph is one of mine. Singing into candle sticks because we didn't have microphones or a karaoke machine. We had imagination, ingenuity, and creativity. I'm thankful for the absence of pocket size telephones, button size digital cameras, and Internet.
We spent time making memories and enjoying time with each other, rather than recording them. Physical snapshots are minimal but memories are plenty!
What is your favorite high school memory?
