Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 33

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Always HOPE!!

As I prepared for this week's T.O.P.'s Tuesday I realized I didn't have much to say. Rather than waste your time with a wordy and boring blog, I leave you with this...

Families of the missing will NEVER GIVE UP and will ALWAYS HOPE for our loved ones return.

Thank you for remembering Heidi and all the missing. Your prayers, thoughts, words of encouragement, ribbons, and hugs leave a positive impact with the families and friends of those who are the VICTIMS of the tragedy...kidnapping.

A Day of Rest Well Deserved

A busy, fun, & fabulous
four days
back to school deserve
a day of rest!
While I remained snuggled in with no chance of an alarm going off, modern technology posted this blog for you. I wrote this draft last weekend in anticipation of the exhaustion of the first week back to school. I set a goal to blog three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I know myself after this week so I chose a pro-active method of blogging. It's a comforting thing to know I'll accomplish my blogging goal this week while making a healthy choice and getting a good night's sleep. It's a win-win!

I'm pleased to report there is nothing on my schedule that requires me to leave the house today so I might spend some time writing after sleeping in, sipping coffee, reading, quiet time, and being a bum until Noon or so. The best part about this previous statement, I'll probably wake up at 6 a.m. and clean the house. Time will tell.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and takes time to make memories with your families. Let me know how it goes? Are there any Fall Festivals or Fairs in your area you'd like to share? If so, leave them in a post below so others know about them.

Have a great day! I'll catch you on Tuesday!
How are you spending your Saturday?

TOP's Tuesday: Use Your Brokenness to Help Others Move Forward

May 2012 blog - http://www.lisambuske.com/blog/once-shattered-now-healed-in-his-strength  Then take a look within... As I looked through my saved drafts I saw this one from November of 2014. Yup, almost four years ago. The best part is the message still applies today.

I often wonder when I start a blog but then don't "feel it" and leave it in my draft, there is a reason. After listening to the prayer requests in church and Pastor Brandin wrapping up his summer message series, I know this blog was meant for now. I hope you agree after you read.
Even when you don't think someone is watching...there is. God. I left the original sub heading about when no one is watching, God still is yet I want to expand or suggest an additional thought to ponder. 

As we accept our faith and relationship with God, we should be striving to do what is right and best because it's the right thing to do not because anyone is watching and most importantly because God is watching. 


Four years later I tend to think that when we are truly focused on and trusting God in a situation and decision, we aren't thinking about if God, or anyone else for that matter is watching. Instead we are striving to be the best we can be because this is the call we have on our life. 

Don't you agree?I find it encouraging to find this post and its outline saved as a draft because I probably wouldn't have recognized growth in myself. If we are living our faith as a verb, we are always learning, challenging, and growing. This is something I am thankful for today. I can't say I do everything right all of the time but I will let you know I do my best most of the time and strive all the time. To be a Christian doesn't mean we are perfect, it means we are a work in progress and recognize this. To do what is right because someone is watching might be the baby steps we need at times to stay the course and then down the road, it becomes habit. Are you doing what is right because someone is watching or out of habit?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Publication Changes Take Effect

Since 2013 when When the Waves Subside: There is Hope and Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey released, I've kept my book cost at an affordable price so more people can have the chance to purchase my books. 

This past week I received a couple emails from my publisher and due to a change with their publication partnerships, the cost to authors was increasing. In order to balance this increase, we, the authors, have to go in and adjust our distribution venues and prices as the cost of publication is going up considerably, according to these emails. 

On Saturday I logged on and as I went to make necessary changes for where my books would and could be sold and adjusting pricing I was shocked. Some of my books were selling for less than the publication cost to my publisher. Due to this increase, I have increased the cost of my books slightly to cover the increased cost on my end. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as a reader, blog follower, podcast listener, and prayer partner.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support!
​Have a great week!!

It's a Super Saturday to...

If you were to
​answer this statement....

"It's a Super Saturday to..."


What would you say? 

​
What is holding you back
from making this
thought become a reality?

Never A Dull Moment

School starts in less than a week, I can't wait. It is going to be a very exciting year with a lot of new opportunities and things ahead. To work in education creates new and exciting on a daily basis yet this year, with a new assignment, and some new goals outside of work, it is a year full of change, possibility, and newness.

My hope for today was to spend the day working on my next book yet after sleeping in (a few hours lost to sleep gained me a refreshed spirit and less bags under my eyes), I did not accomplish nearly as much as planned.

My initial plan to spend the day writing was modified to spending time with my Dad for a couple hours. This is much needed time as our lunch dates and non-clock-watching visits are coming to an end so rather than spend time behind a computer, I made memories and enjoyed time with Dad. Life is about choices, choosing friends and family over work is a healthy choice. Don't you agree?

With the exception of today's blog and drafting next week's blogs, I think I'll finish listening to Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers , by Deborah Heiligman.  I had the opportunity to listen to the author this summer at a conference. I'm not an artist and I still find this biography fabulous. If you are an art fan, you'd probably like it even more. I miss the illustrations she shares in the paper copy yet if it wasn't for having it on audio, I probably wouldn't have read it. 

​On this note, it's time to run...have a great weekend everyone! 
What are you reading or listening to?

Thinking About Baking On Thursday

In the midst of moving our daughter into her new dorm, wrapping up summer school, family vacation, helping to get our school and classrooms ready, and my mission organization I realized something is missing. You know what it was?

I haven't baked too much. :-( 

I did try a Blueberry-Lemon Zucchini Cake Sunday but I'm feeling the need to bake some bread or donuts or...the baking thoughts are filling my head. Today's goal, carve time out this weekend to bake break and maybe some donuts for my Dad. I'm not sure which, or maybe both, but this girl needs to spend some time baking in the kitchen. (I might as well wait to vacumm until after the baking day, lol) Is there something you miss doing when you are overly focused on getting the to-do-list finished?
What is your FAVORITE thing to bake?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday:Mission Organization

Happy Tuesday Everyone! I thought today's blog would start with word count victory yet this is not the case. Instead I can let you know, I haven't done much writing BUT my house is more organized than it's been since about February. Messy but getting organized.

I've filled three boxes of recyclables, 2 bags of garbage, and large box of papers to use to start the backyard fire or to shred. I downsized from two file cabinets to one. I cleaned the inside of two cabinets. A book shelf that was buried in a corner went to the side of the road because it was in such bad shape. Items for others are in my car and ready to be re-homed, returned, or dropped off to the rescue mission. To say I 'm feeling accomplished is an understatement. I still have one file cabinet drawer to organize but I need a whole day to do this.

I'm even going to go through my bookshelves. GASP! Say it isn't so! Yes it is. I have some books from college that I saved in case my daughter could use them or because they were interesting reads. Guess what, twenty plus years later...the books are no good to my daughter's college education and they aren't that interesting at nearly fifty years of age. Go figure.

Once I finish the file cabinet drawer I plan to run the vacumm, dust, clean the bathroom, and then sit for the entire next day with the task to read, write, and relax. Nothing more...
What Could You Organize This Week
​So you can have a Sabbath day next week?

What are you Thankful for on this Thursday?

I just enjoyed two days at the Annual Oswego Writing Institute with three fabulous Key Notes. Each inspiring me in different ways. This is what I'm thankful for this morning:Javaka Steptoe: "The Power of Writing" inspired and motivated me to finish the next book by asking a few questions of ourselves. 1st - What is my passion and Why do I write? 2nd: What fear or fears are holding me back? http://www.javaka.com/ 
Deborah Heiligman: "Writing to Learn" reminded me that if only one person reads my writing and is inspired and moved then the writing is a success. Her energy and enthusiasm to write and leave a legacy was powerful. http://deborahheiligman.com/
Tim Conners: "Live Your Story", a childhood cancer survivor who lost his sight in the process encouraged a room full of adults with such hope and power that everyone left changed. http://www.mountimpossible.com/ Can you Share What You Are Thankful For Today?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Heidi's Case Is OPEN, She Remains Missing

First and foremost I want to thank everyone for remembering Heidi, her friends, family, and our community for the past twenty-four plus years. Gary Thibodeau’s passing doesn’t change our focus or hope, our goal and prayer today is the same as it was on April 3, 1994 – to answer my mom’s question, “Where’s Heidi?”

​It’s a bittersweet day in that the man convicted of kidnapping and death of Heidi took her whereabouts to his grave with him, this is saddening yet the part that makes it bittersweet is knowing the unexpected media, law enforcement, and DA contacts will minimize greatly, allowing Heidi’s family and friends to relax and not worry when the next call will be.

I pray someone else knows where Heidi is and reaches out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and brings Heidi home. On the flip side, I won’t miss the hearings and sitting in court rooms, we won’t miss the victimization each time new hearsay and drama unfold. The positive is Heidi’s disappearance was in the forefront and more people know of her kidnapping today then a few years ago.

​We are not celebrating; we remain hopeful and vigilant that we’ll know where Heidi is one day. My mother passed away not knowing, I only pray my father doesn’t have to take his last breath not knowing too. I will always hold out hope for Heidi and her return. ​One family lost a loved one today, our family lost one to kidnapping; 8,898 days (24 years, 4 months, & 10 days) ago…there is no call for celebration only for increased prayer and hope for Heidi, and all our missing to be returned to their family and friends. Thank you for remembering Heidi,
her family, friends, and community!
​We hold out hope and prayers for her to be found...