Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 39

I Quit the Gym and I'm Not Ashamed

Over the past couple years I've been going to the gym, paying my monthly membership, and enjoying it. I didn't use it much when the weather was nice because I'd rather walk outside and putter in the garden. This past Fall I couldn't seem to "get my groove" back and make it to the gym at least 5 times a week but at least I was trying. After Thanksgiving, I didn't even try. If I even went three times between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it would shock me.

As my husband and I look at our debt, our budget, and where we want to be at retirement (on a far far far away date), we are making changes. The gym was the first thing I offered to give up. I wasn't going anyway but the gym still pulled my membership each month. They didn't email or call to say, "Where have you been? We miss you." Worse yet, we had become complacent with paying for a membership we weren't using.This is both sad and a waste of money. 

In agreement, I went to the gym and cancelled my membership BUT this doesn't mean I'm giving up on my fitness goals or throwing in the towel of good health. Like most people, I have my favorite exercises and then the ones I don't like but need at the gym. I prioritized and found a way to achieve these at home, or should I say, outside a public gym. Over the next few Friday's I'll share a few of the ways I've taken what I learned through my gym membership and personal trainer sessions and am making it work at home. Do you have a gym membership?         If so, how often do you go?             Are you getting your money's worth?
What is your favorite exercise?       
What is your least favorite but the one you do because you know you need it the most?

Lessons Learned from the Ice Tray

Frozen
yet
free... Here we go, another one of my blogs when some of you shake your head but trust me, you'll want to read this one. I took this picture last year and thought, "this has a blog in it, I just know it." I saved the photo in a draft blog with no title, just the pics.

This past weekend I went through my drafts to see if there was a photo ready to be transformed from a moment in time, to a blog with a lesson. Guess what, the ice cube tray won.

I am losing all hope;
​I am paralyzed with fear."
Psalm 143: NLT

There was a time in my life when I felt hopeless and paralyzed by fear. I didn't go anywhere alone. I wouldn't let my daughter leave my sight. If my husband worked late, I wouldn't open the front door or turn on the lights because I didn't want others to know I was home alone. Fear paralyzed me. 

But then something happened, a student told me what I needed, I needed Jesus. Many adults tried to tell me this but it was a child who looked beyond the facade I put forth outside the security of my home...he saw fear and hopelessness within.

His honesty and willingness and courage to be honest started the melting process. Although my heart was still frozen with fear, it slowly started to melt. As I read my Bible, went to church, and listened to how the Bible related to my life today...I was able to come out a little more. 
​I wasn't frozen by fear anymore. I was like this tray of ice cubes.

I couldn't let go 100% yet but I was outside and trying new things. I slowly let our daughter be a kid. I could sit in the house with lights on. I held on to God tight for strength but wasn't frozen by fear any longer. Eventually, I let go.

​There are still days when I'm like the ice cubes in the first pictures but most of the time, I enjoy letting go and swimming in God's protection. Are you hanging on for swimming?

Baking is _____?

If you follow me on Facebook then you know I enjoy baking, especially when it's cold outside. As a New Yorker (Upstate NY) for my entire life, it's a good thing. It's cold out, a lot. 

Baking is relaxing...

When our daughter started school I started a tradition, if it was a "snow day" (a day when schools are closed due to weather), I made homemade cinnamon rolls. Even in high school, she looked forward to her "Snow Day Cinnamon Rolls". When she went to college and I had my first snow day without her here, it was odd.

Baking is a family tradition...

Not only did I overeat but it wasn't the same. This past Friday was a snow day and I didn't make cinnamon rolls. Instead, I slept in. This was quite nice and might be a new tradition. I might opt to catch up on sleep versus cleaning the house and crossing things off the list.

Baking warms the house and fills it with a delicious aroma....
​Do you like to bake?
Do you have a favorite time or reason?

One of My Happy Spots

If you are like me then you probably have a few spots at your house that are more comfortable, or your "favorite" places.

When I'm home, if it's not raining and it's nice out, then my favorite place to land is on our back deck. It's a piece of paradise and quiet.

Since I live in Upstate New York the days and hours I can spend on the deck are limited so I have a couple spots inside I find relaxing. The picture in today's blog is where I like to start my day. Coffee, quiet, reading, journaling, and often writing a note to some special peeps.

Most people have salt, pepper, napkins, and eating essentials on their lazy susan but not me. My lazy susan consists of pens, pencils, highlighters, a ruler, note cards, stamps, dry eraise markers, scissors, white out, and an address book. 
I used to have this shelf in my bedroom next to my reading chair but found myself bringing out my devotional, Bible, and journal each morning.

Instead of spending my minimal minutes in the morning getting things out, I measured and realized I could house all my morning items on this shelf, under the kitchen table. 

I love it. No one knows it's there unless they sit at my spot at the table. I don't think my family even noticed yet, lol. This is where I start most mornings and relax when I get home. It's my comfy place.

I think it's because so many memories of my parents are sitting at the kitchen table having coffee, visiting, and talking with us kids. As an adult, it's my happy place and I hope our daughter will have a similar spot to start her day when she is married one day.
Where do you start your day?
Why is this place "your spot"?

A New Year and New Tradition

As December winded down and the new year fast approached I thought about something I could do this year that would be different than years past. Then it came to me, last year our pastor shared the "Temperature Afghan" with us. 

I never heard of this, thought it was a neat idea, but didn't think about it again until after Christmas, a year later. I went to Google. and Pinterest to learn more. Not only was I surprised to learn more about the temperature quilt but was shocked at the variations. Once I saw the option and daily commitment involved, I decided this was my 2018 project.

It requires:
*Discipline - 1st to check the weather daily
                     - To log the temperature
*Dedication - To crochet 2 rows (1 over and 1 back) daily
*Creativity - I had to pick my "thermometer" of colors and temp

Although it's only day 6 of 2018, I've done well so far. I'm keeping a notebook to log the day's high. This way, if I don't have the time or it's 90 Degrees out in July, I can catch up the next day.

This is the one I'm using - I modified it so that below 9 degrees is white. Click here to see the pattern I'm using this year.
​Have you heard of the temperature afghan before?
If so, have you made one?
If you are on Facebook,
share a picture of your
​finished product for others to see?

Find a Way to Remember With Love

The holidays are meant to be joyful and a time of celebration. Yet when you have a hole in your heart left from the loss of a loved one, it requires more effort to remember the meaning for all the jubilation.

This year I'm missing my mom and sister more than I have the past couple years. Each morning I make a conscious decision to put my feet on the floor and focus on all the positive and good in the world, and in my life.

I am blessed with a loving family, fabulous friends, and a job I love. So rather than focus on the things that I've lost, I choose to focus on the multitude of blessings that surround me. This holiday season, I pray that you were able to do the same.

​A tradition my mother had was changing her tablecloth to match the holiday inn time of the year. As I sat around thinking about my mom and doing nothing, I realize she would want me to "suck it up" and get over it. Put this in mind, I went to Pinterest, isn't that where we always go when we're aimlessly searching for something.

I found a pattern for a hexagon table cloth and then thought about some fabric that I had in my bin, and went to work. I only have the top done but it's on our table nevertheless. It makes me smile. It's like having a little bit of mom with me at Christmas.

I'll finish the tablecloth this weekend but for this afternoon, I'm going to enjoy the top as I relax, remembering the meaning of the season. Our loved ones will pass away and be away from us during the holidays BUT the memories we hold in our heart will carry us through.
What have you done to remember a loved one this year?

Kick Your Feet Up

OK, it is Monday morning and I am sure your minds and to-do-lists are overflowing. As you start this week, remember the meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I too can get wrapped up in crossing things off the list, cleaning, and the busyness. My challenge to myself, and to all of you, is that we kick up your feet and take time to relax.

​The list will still be there in the floor will still need to be vacuumed but as you sit, relax, and just look at your tree or whatever lights you have in your home will bring you such peace.
Share when you relaxed and how it helped!

What Are You Looking At?

as I sit at my sewing machine, due to the layout of the room, I'm able to have a companion. She typically will stand up in the back of the couch and just stare at me, or look towards the door when she needs to go out.

She's a little jealous of the sewing machine but I've decided that she is a dog and sewing is relaxing soI continue to sew. At the same time, I miss having her in the room when she ops to sleep in front of the heater. Sometimes when I so, she will just stop and look in the other direction. I find myself asking her "What are you looking at?"

I'm happy to report that she doesn't answer me yet, and when I get to that point I will be sure to seek help. LOL but seriously, as I think about my dogs lack of focus, I'm challenged to look at my own lack of focus. I've made mistakes sewing because instead of making sure my right sides of fabric are together, I end up having to go back and rip out the stitches and do it again.

I think we are the same way in life when we don't keep our focus on what's right before us. We might be missing something. What if, our pets have it right? What if we listened with their supersonic ears and just went to what was important at that moment? How would our days and our lives be different? Something to think about. What are you looking at today?

Are you Living in the Moment?

I'm thankful for the way God works in my life, and especially my heart. It started with a post about my bad attitude towards the snow. Yesterday we looked the word "forward" as a verb instead of a direction. Today I have a  BIG A-HA moment to share with you that can change my life, your life, and the lives of those you run into throughout the day.

Instead of focusing on the future or the past, slow down and take time to focus on the right now! Seriously, think about it.

If we focus on the family snuggled on the couch with us instead of those we've lost, how could this change our perspective. 

If we focus on the family and friends surrounding us in times of joy and sorrow today, does it matter what tomorrow brings?

Advent and Christmas is a time to remember we have a lot in our lives. At times it's a challenge to see the positives BUT there are always positives and good things happening in our lives when we stop, look, and listen. What are you waiting for?
When you focus on the hear and now,
what is the first thing
​you are thankful for, and why?

Just Cracked...

Yesterday I shared my current "funk", as I'll name it today, about the continuous snow falling. We ended our time together thinking about if we are looking forward or looking back and my teaser that to look forward isn't all "it's cracked up to be".

Here's my deal, I'm one for saying something along the lines of "putting one foot forward" or "on this side of the dirt" when someone asks me how I'm doing. I respond this way to be funny and at the same time, most don't expect an honest answer and I've learned these responses elicit smiles and a chuckle. I enjoy helping others feel good and smile, don't you?

After I typed, "look forward", I realized I was using the word "look" as a verb when instead, "forward" should be the verb and "look", my adverb. Instead of just looking, we need to be moving forward. Forward is a verb waiting to happen for me, and maybe you too. Am I the only one in need of some grammar edits?

​My hope for today, and for you, is that instead of just looking forward, we embrace every day and turn forward into a verb instead of just a destination. Are you game?  Is "forward" a direction
​or verb in your life?