Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 50

Choose Your Perspective...It's Monday

Who wanted to get up this morning when their alarm went off? I'll admit, this was NOT me. I wanted to roll over and sleep until Noon but this isn't realistic or the "grown up" thing to do. I spent the weekend with my school peeps learning and I returned home yesterday afternoon on information overload. I found myself questioning, "Is this something I can do?", "Do I have passion for this?" and "Why did God place me in this position?". It is the latter question I kept returning to. 

With Monday and the week before me, I am thankful to be one of these peeps and to be the best I can be in this role, keeping my eyes focused upward and finding the moments that instill the passion. I'm thankful for the opportunity to represent my peeps and nervous, all at the same time. Sometimes we are placed in a position or place we didn't plan on or wouldn't choose BUT God has bigger plans and opportunities for growth. He loves us. So with the week before me, I CHOOSE to be and do what He leads me to be. 

I'll cherish the opportunity for growth and challenge, and let this week become all it can be. As the days, minutes, and hours transition into a new day...may I choose to represent God and my peeps. Can you do the same thing this week? What will you choose today?

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 10

The first thing I thought of when I saw this picture
was Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken".
If you haven't read it, click here.

Otherwise, let's get busy writing.
Which direction do you take and why?
What happens along the way?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Where it Began...

This summer as I prepared for the annual Bishop Cunningham (Catholic) High School reunion I enjoyed a visit down memory lane. The organizers asked if I could make a poster or something as a tribute for Heidi to display at the reunion, I found some treasures in her scrapbook I'd forgotten about. It brought many tears to revisit her volleyball memories yet much joy to remember the amazing young woman she was. 

Happy TOP's Tuesday, Tower Of Power Tuesday, that is. In honor of Heidi and her volleyball family, a little turkey Hokey Pokey. Have a great day everyone!
Have a Hokey-Pokey of a Day!

Uh Oh...I didn't go to church today!

Did you go to church? If you said yes, what was the message/sermon about?
How were you able to apply it to your life and day?

If you didn't go to church today, what was the reason? The truth is, if we don't go to church then no matter who you are, there is a reason. I'm not here to justify what is, and is not, a good reason to go to church. I didn't go to church to go. Yesterday a friend asked, "Will I see you in church tomorrow?" I explained she may, or may not because I was helping a friend. If we finished in time, I planned on heading to church for the service and to hear our guest speaker and enjoy the potluck. We accomplished the task but after church was over. I'm glad I was there to help.

Long story short, as the title of this blog states, I didn't go to church. Some might want to comment and reprimand me because the Bible is clear we are to enjoy corporate worship and go to church. I agree with this but I also believe that God knows our heart and mind, more than any person on earth.

I've thought about this in the past, if I have a friend or family member in need but I say, "Sorry I can't help you, I have to attend a church service. If you are still in need in an hour or so I'll be back."  What kind of message does this send to them? Did I share a positive or negative witness of who God and Jesus are? Sometimes I think we get caught in a legalistic trap of "must do's" at church and forget how much Jesus loved people and was never too busy to help someone in need. 

I'm not saying to skip church and go to the beach but when a friend is in need and asks for help, isn't it okay to thank them for asking you, then help them? The friend who needed a hand knows I go to church each Sunday and thankfully she knows if she needs me, I'm there. I don't have to wait until Sunday to pray, praise, worship, and receive a message from God - I can do this everyday from the comfort of my home or wherever I am because of the relationship I have with Jesus.

I did miss the fellowship and worshiping with other Christians but I also spent the morning and day with other Christians who sacrificed attending church in order to prepare a family friendly time of fellowship and gathering for our colleagues. I miss the church service when I'm not there but I'd rather "be" the church than a bad representation of God's love for others by closing a door God might have opened. You never know the connection, conversation, or friendship we might miss, by a "no". Have you ever missed church to help a friend?
Will you share how this made you feel and/or the blessing experienced?

1st Live Radio Interview...A Success

A special thanks to all who prayed and are praying. Thank you Donna and Delilah for your wonderful hospitality. I pray this interview encourages others to write, join the "Grief Diaries" family, find peace, relax, and know there is always HOPE! Instead of the written word, "listen" to today's blog. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW I hope you enjoy the interview and thank you for taking time to listen. 
We look forward to hearing from you...

Set Your Alarm Saturday

I know, Saturday is a day to sleep in, right? For many people this is true but tomorrow is a day to get up and moving. Around 2 p.m., you can listen to an interview by the amazing Donna R. Gore, "Lady Justice", as she is known across the country.She is interviewing little ol' me. My alarm will be going off much earlier in the preparation phase of this process but you only need to be up by 2 p.m. This isn't too challenging, is it?

Donna and I don't have a written script or dialogue planned and I pray God gives us both wisdom, peace, and uses this interview to help others grieving, and offer tools for friends and family to embrace to help their loved one living in a life-long journey of grief.

Meet My Host ~ Donna Gore
"Donna R. Gore’s experience in crime victim advocacy began with the 1981 murder of her father. Her personal experience through the judicial system inspires her to reach out to others in similar situations through development of support resources, and educating the public through utilization of several media outlets..."
To Read Donna's FULL BIO, CLICK HERE. My first interactions with Donna started when I was invited to participate with one of the "Grief Diaries" books. I was honored and shocked by this invitation. While I understand my sister, Heidi Allen, kidnapped on April 3, 1994, is presumed dead based on the evidence, I didn't think of it as "homicide". 

I didn't accept right away but took some time to pray about it, talked with my Mom in depth, and talked with my good friend and author, Karen Beaudoin. After much thought, I agreed. I'm glad I did. You can purchase the book through Amazon.com - or click on the book cover or the link above for a direct link.

I don't receive proceeds from the sale of this book. Lynda and Donna are compassionate and diligent women using the "Grief Diaries" as a platform to raise awareness and funds. The funds are used to further their mission and assist others and organizations helping the victims of so many things.

​A portion of the proceeds from this particular book, "Surviving Loss by Homicide" goes to support CUE and missing person initiatives. A mission so close to my heart and one of the next diaries soon to release, stay tuned. I appreciate your prayers for this interview. It is the first in depth radio interview I've done. Donna and I have spoken a couple times via the phone and many communications via email and Facebook yet the unknown is always a little unnerving.

Donna's heart is pure and dedicated to helping the victims and others effected. Something many don't realize is that it isn't only the immediate family effected by a tragedy or loss. In truth, all family, friends, and the community have life changing thoughts and behaviors. I'm thankful for Lady Justice's efforts, she does a job (mission) I don't have the strength or call to do.

If you do happen to miss it, the interview should be available to listen to in the archives. I'll keep you posted. Thank you again for your prayers, support, and remembering Heidi! I hope you'll listen in tomorrow and I pray God speaks through me...
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 9

If this road could take you ANYWHERE, where does it lead?

What can you smell? Hear? See?

Are you going alone or is someone joining you?

Why is it so important for you to reach this destination?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: The Gut Feeling

​"If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit."
Galatians 5:25
Sunday morning I struggled to sleep, tossing and turning. Around 1:30/2:00 a.m. I felt a weight and need to pray for my daughter, a prayer of protection and peace. Rather than wrestle with this odd feeling and nudge by the Holy Spirit, I prayed. I prayed for almost a half an hour before I finally settled into a calm slumber. 

5:30 a.m., a few hours later, my husband and I both received texts and phone calls from the college's emergency response. There was a stabbing on campus earlier in the morning. My heart sank, my stomach lunged, and I thanked God for nudging me to pray. I prayed mostly for Mary but I always pray for the other kiddos at the college, all our kids need prayer. God knew what was going to, or was happening at the college in the wee hours of the morning.

I'm thankful to say our daughter was in the dorm and didn't know of the stabbing incident until she received the emergency notification herself, but one thing she knows and we know...I prayed when God nudged and gave me this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'm glad I did, prayer was needed at the college while most of us were slumbering. I continue to pray for all the students at the college, for them to not live and fear and unite after this tragic and violent event.
Do you experience "gut feelings"?
​What do you do when you feel this?

A Book Review: "Creative Visualization"

About Nina Amir:
Setting out to learn all she could about the publishing industry she got involved with the San Francisco Writer’s Conference and started the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge (now known as National Nonfiction Writing Month). In April 2012, her first book How to Blog a Book  was published,  became an Amazon bestseller almost immediately, and has remained one ever since.  The Author Training Manual was published by Writer’s Digest Books just two years later and was a bestseller before any books passed through the register on Amazon. In addition she’s self-published several more ebooks, all of which have made it onto the Amazon Top 100 right away. In fact, she’s had as many as four books on one Amazon Top 100 list at the same time!
Find out more about Creative visualization for Writers by visiting online:
 
Website  http://ninaamir.com/
 
Blog  http://ninaamir.com/blog/
 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ninaamir
 
Twitter  https://twitter.com/NinaAmir Read More Reviews and/or Interviews with Nina by clicking at the other blogs participating on this tour:

​September 19(today!) @ The Muffin
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
 
September 21 @ Pen & Pro$per
http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
 
September 23 @ Create Write Now
http://www.createwritenow.com/
 
September 27 @ Building Bookshelves
blogs.republicanherald.com/bookshelves
 
 September 29 @ Santa Fe Books
http://www.booksantafe.info/blog
 
September 30 @ Choices
http://madelinesharples.com/
 
October 17 @ Lisa M. Buske  
http://www.lisambuske.com/blog    Other Books by Nina AmirHow to Blog a Book: Write, Publish and Promote Your Work One Post at a TimeThe Author Training Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Books that SellAuthorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your BookThe Nonfiction Book Proposal Demystified: An Easy Schmeasy Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Your BookBlogging Basics for Authors:  30 Lessons to Help Writers Create Effective Blogs and Blog ContentThe Write Nonfiction NOW! Guide to Writing and Publishing Articles October 19 @ Beads and Books
http://www.beadsandbooks.com/
 
October 20 @ Writers Pay It Forward
http://writerspayitforward.org/blog/
 
October 21 @ Android After Forty
www.AndroidAfterForty.com
 
October 26 @ Beverley A. Baird
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/

October 27 @ Dorit Sasson
http://doritsasson.com/blog/
 
October 31 @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
http://krpooler.com I'm excited to share this book with all of you today. I LOVE it! It inspired me to write and offered creative and practical ways to make time and let the words flow from my brain to the keyboard and stick pencil. Nina's approach uses all the senses and she encourages her readers to not just read and write but to color, to paint, to get outside, and so much more. I received a "Reviewers PDF" of the book and guess what, it is a book I've already added to my wish list on Amazon because I plan to add it to my writer's library in my office. I might even use some of the strategies and techniques with my students at school. While this review is short, my enjoyment and appreciation of this book is greater. 

If you are looking for a book to boost your mood and trigger your inner writer, this is a book to add to your library. I'm calling this a "must have" if you are serious about writing. Thank you Nina!
Leave Nina a message and welcome her to the blog if you can...

It Might Be Wavy for awhile

I'm in my fourth decade of life so I've experienced and survived rough and smooth waters. As I looked for a photo for today's blog, this one kept my attention. The Bible tells us to be joyful, even if life seems stormy. Do you find it easy or difficult to remain joyful and joy-filled during the storm?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds..." James 1:2

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" 1 Chronicles 16:11

If you are like me and attend church on a regular basis, you have probably listened as the pastor or priest talked about being joyful when life isn't going right, when tragedy strikes, and other terrible situations. Some will absorb this and safe it for a day when they feel the pain, loss, or torment associated with these things. Others might start an inward conversation of "You don't get it", "You are one to talk", or "It isn't possible". I was one of those nay-sayers earlier in my life.

I'm thankful to have a heart looking for the positive and instances of God's blessing and provision in all situations, regardless of how difficult it might be. I'm not perfect, there are instances when I am the nay-sayer instantly, then ask for forgiveness and get my "Polyanna" on (as my daughter calls it). Other times, times that are more common than the latter though, I find a positive.

Here is an example, my husband and I got up early and went to a Pop Warner flag football game yesterday so I could surprise one of my students by attending a game. Guess what, the surprise was on me, he didn't go to his game. I was C-R-A-N-K-Y. I was tired, hungry, and now annoyed because the day was not going as I planned. Do you get that, "I"? My husband said we could leave and come back for the 11 O'clock game but if I left, I wasn't returning. 

I'm so glad we stayed! Ed bought me a slice of breakfast pizza and a drink from the concession stand and I took out my school bag and got some work done. We enjoyed conversation and talked about the week ahead. Since we didn't need to be engaged in the game, some bonding took place. I could have missed this positive if I remained cranky. It was a reminder, surprises can often surprise the giver more than the one receiving. Today I need to apologize to anyone I was grumbly with because this isn't the persona I want to share. I'm very thankful for my hubby, as he kept laughing at me. He is a roll-with-it kind of guy, unlike his goal oriented and pre-planned wife. LOL
With this said, WHERE do you need to find JOY in the storm today?