Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 90

Sometimes We Just Need to Focus ~ Part I

Have you ever let life and the lists take over? Has the list ever taken precedent over the important things in life? You know, like spending time with your spouse, children, parents, family, friends, neighbors, or someone in need of a friend? Personally, I can say yes. If you are honest, there has probably been a time in your life when you can relate, right? If not, please share in a comment below to encourage and help the rest of us because those who never lose focus have a gift and wisdom to impart on those of us struggling.

I know it's possible because I can think of a couple woman mentors in my life that appear to have their focus where it is supposed to be, 24/7. But then I think, there are some that believe I have it all together. Appearances aren't all they are cracked up to be. I'm not a mess or falling apart yet my focus gets off track and distracted like all of you. The past fourteen months have been crazy busy and full of blessings yet hidden behind and in front of the blessings are obstacles, challenges, and hurdles. Some of which were self-inflicted (unintentionally) and others come with the territory of writing and speaking for God, and Heidi.

An area I want to focus on today is our need and benefit from daily time with God. I am ashamed to admit this time slowly worked its way out of my routine. Do I pray throughout the day? Yes. Do I thank, praise, and look to God during the day as different things enter my life and the lives of those around me? 

Yes. BUT, setting aside time each and every day to spend time with God, like I do a friend has slipped from the routine. Part of this struggle came from my lack of sleep and late nights, making it difficult to get up in the morning. I like to start my day with God. 

We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, 
and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. 
But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing 
because of the joy he could see waiting for him. 
And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:2 ERV

My first lesson learned, although I prefer the morning, sometimes God opens a window of quiet time in the afternoon or evening. I seize the moments when they come, letting go of MY preference and taking advantage of the quiet moments when He opens a door. This helps to bring life into focus.

I learned somewhere, to form a new habit, it takes twenty-one days. So, with a desire to serve God and stay connected and keep life in focus...I'm on a 21 day challenge, no goal. Daily time with God should be a natural, easy, and enjoyable habit we have. This challenge should be easy, right? Since my desire to return this regimen to my routine is there, right? I'm on Day 4/Day 1. Why the slash you wonder? Because I've already missed a day, letting the busyness of life and laziness of summer heat take precedent.  HOPE...HABIT...HEALTHY LIFE I have a choice, beat myself up for failing on day three, or start again with more drive, determination, and "focus" than the first day one. It doesn't matter how many day ones I might face this summer, by September 1st, there will be no need to write the days because this necessary, uplifting, and important part of my day will be a habit once again. Do you have a healthy habit of daily time with God?
If not, want to join me on this summer challenge?

In HIS Strength...have you heard of the "Silver Alert"?

Today started similar to most Sunday mornings. Rather than starting with coffee this morning, I grabbed my water bottle and headed outside to water the flowers and plants before the sun reached its hottest peak of the day. I took a break to deliver my daughter to work, once home, I finished the watering and then started my next task. 

One of the first things on my summer-to-do-list was to scrub the siding. I checked it off the list today. While I watered and scrubbed, Ed worked on the weed-eating (until it died, boo hoo), and we made it to church perfectly punctual. I prefer early but sometimes, we must settle for on time.

Why do I share this with you? Because sometimes, life throws a wrench into your plans and things change. Instead of spending the initial portion of the service in worship with our church family, we spent it in prayer driving into Mexico. You see, a dear and wonderful family needed help. Their loved one, their daddy, went to the store for something and hadn't returned yet. The family was concerned. While phone calls were made and strategic plans made, we jumped back in the car to help look for this great man. I would like to say, "We found him right away", but I can't. As Ed and I drove in to Mexico, looking intently at each vehicle we passed in hopes we would see him. We drove by and in the parking lots to all the stores in town just in case he was sitting there, trying to remember why he was there or how to return to where he came from.

As we turned around and scanned the parking lots one last time while driving on Route 104 out of Mexico and towards New Haven, I found myself mentally back in history, twenty years prior. Emotion, fear, and "what ifs" started to flood by brain.  There were a few things different this morning than that Easter morning in 1994. First, this time, the missing person was an adult and he wasn't technically "missing" per say. Yet, on some levels, this could of been a very different scenario. Thankfully, God returned our friends' Dad to them today without activating a silver alert. Have you ever heard of the "silver alert"? Click on the silver alert or any of the photographs on today's blog to learn more.

I share this morning's activity because there are some of you that may not be aware of this valuable resource and tool when vulnerable adults go missing. I also share this for another reason, to illustrate how God works in all situations and circumstances. In April, 1994, my only sister disappeared from the D & W Convenience Store while working alone on Easter Sunday morning. Once I arrived at the store, I was frozen in time. Rain and snow pelted my cheeks to wipe away the tears. Others jumped in their cars to go aid in the search, I only stood and cried.

Today, as soon as I heard friends needed help locating their missing father, I responded and we started to search. I have no concept of time (similar to 94') but I remember the relief when the call came and we were able to help bring him home. 

The greatest difference in all of this, my response. Twenty years ago I lacked a faith foundation. I relied on law enforcement, my parents, Ed, friends, volunteers, and media. Today, I relied on God! Before the front tires ever touched the road, we were praying for God to place a hedge of protection around our friends' Dad.  The moment his son's phone rang to say he had gotten lost, I lifted a praise to God. The one who protected and returned this wonderful man. Two decades later, we still wait and search for Heidi yet today was a reminder...God is everywhere, all the time, and in control. 

I don't know why Heidi was kidnapped. I don't know why people go missing. BUT, I do know God is in charge and today instead of falling to my knees in tears because someone else close to me was missing, I was riding in the car and aiding in the search. (Before I even realized what was going on) 

To see the relief on our friends' faces and watch the stress erase from their father's face when they embraced brought tears to my eyes. I'm thankful God used Ed and I this morning to help them. If someone told me I might do something like this, I would have said, "No, I'm not strong enough." 

This is a true statement, I'm not strong enough but God always is. 

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Can you relate? Do you have a personal experience you can share?

YOU are a RAINBOW...The First Class of Beta Readers

This book was technically available earlier in the month but we waited to release it. One of the motivations and reasons for selecting the end of June as a release date was my initial audience and recipients.

This book is for everyone, a children's book with potential to be read as a read aloud for your toddler or your high school age child. How can this be? Easy, as the reader, you decide how in depth you take each page. The characteristics and traits shared in this book are necessary at age five, or eighty-five. 

A sneak peak at a couple of the pages is included in the book trailer below. This was a fun book to create, research, paint, and develop. Last week I had the opportunity to read this book aloud to our class of kindergartners. Talk about an attentive, honest, and exciting group of Beta readers. I was nervous before sharing with them but to look into their eyes as they listened...the joy and excitement returned.
Not only were they my Beta readers, they were also the first to receive a copy of YOU are a Rainbow . The last page of the book changes from "you are" to "I am" and includes a place for parents, grandparents, teachers, or whoever to glue a picture of their child in. 


On this page, I included a collage photograph of the student with each of their teachers so they remember when they were given the book, and of course their kindergarten teachers. The look on their faces brought Mrs. von Holtz and I much joy. One student said, "Mrs. Buske, you are an author AND illustrator now. Awesome!" He made my day. Due to a shipping snafu, the books didn't arrive the day of the presentation so I read it using the Smart Board via a Power Point presentation. The parents and kids were excited, receptive, and full of smiles. I'm thankful and hope the book offers encouragement, inspiration, and conversation starters for the kiddos and their parents for years to come.

I hope the kiddos and their parents enjoy time reading this book together. The book in itself is an acronym, for RAINBOW. For each letter, there are eleven adjectives to describe who your child can be, when illuminating their inner rainbow. As I read the book aloud to the kids, I tried to make eye contact with each of the kids. This became a challenge as my eyes watered to look into their eyes knowing it was our second to last day together, as a kindergarten class.

My hope was to give the kids their book the same day I read it to them but the late delivery prevented this. But, the next morning, the kid's excitement overwhelmed me. As they entered, instead of sadness because it was the last day, we heard, "Did the books come? Are they here?" and then they would look at the rainbow covered table in the front and smile from ear to ear because their books were there, waiting to be handed out.

it was a special time. As I gave each of the kids their books, Mary took a picture of me with each kiddo. When everyone had their books, we did a class photo too. These pictures will not go online but will be used to create an 8 x 10 to display the cover of my first children's book and the kiddos who inspired it to reality. 

You are a Rainbow is available on Amazon.com today. My copies won't arrive until July 11th at the earliest. Once I have my books, a book release celebration will be held at the New Haven Town's Farmer's Market. If you can't wait, you can order online now.

Thanks for sharing in the excitement. In back of the book is a fun page for teachers, parents, youth leaders, and others. It's a resource page of ways to use this book as a spring board for other activities to spark a higher level of thinking and reflection with your students and kids. I hope you'll check it out. There is another idea in process, associated with this last page. The goal is to have this "Extension Activities" book available this summer too. Who can you think of to give this book to as a gift?
Is there a kiddo (or adult) that might need to know they are a RAINBOW? We're never too young or old to receive encouragement.

Let the festivities begin...Graduation Weekend

Lisa's Baccalaureate Mass - 1989


"His Light is Shining on Us" Each year, we attend the Baccalaureate Mass held in our district, inside the school. This is one way we can support the graduates and remind them, they are never forgotten. I remember attending this as a senior, although I didn't have a career of teachers there, the ones who did come, encouraged me. I hope to do the same for my previous students, friend's children, and those I've yet to meet. We all need to know someone is there to encourage and pray for us, especially at such a life changing moment in our lives. Our school district does this service different than our school did, twenty-five years ago while some things are the same. One aspect I enjoyed about ours, we planned it all. Since we chose the theme, readings, colors, location, and all the details under the supervision...we were invested. 


Another thing that is different, the reception after the ceremony was for our families whereas my home town school opens the Baccalaureate Mass to the public. I think this is wonderful, it allows the community to support the graduates and let them know there are more than just family, friends, and past teachers supporting them.


This is one of my fondest memories from senior year, I hope it is one your school district takes advantage of. An opportunity to inspire and pray for your graduates. Our mass was held in a church whereas now, it is held right in the school auditorium. This is so cool! Another photo from my mass - a great night! Does your school 
host a Baccalaureate? 


Is it within the church 
or at the school?


If they don't, 
are you the person 
to initiate one 
in your area?

TOP's Tuesday ~ Part II 1st Children's Book to Release in July

Available soon! You are a RAINBOW: Lisa's first children's book. The main idea of this book is to share the positive characteristics, traits, and attributes our children can strive to have and model, using the acronym for RAINBOW. 

In the back of the book are suggestions to take the book to a higher level, using this book as a spring board for activities ranging from Kindergarten to Adult. 

Whether you read it as a bedtime story or to ignite a spark with your high school students, "YOU are a RAINBOW" opens the door for communication between you and your child and/or students. 

Help them recognize they are bright, brilliant, and have the ability to amaze others by being the best they can be, focusing on the good within. Thus far, each book has been dedicated to someone special to me. This book, You are a Rainbow, is no exception. There is something unique about it though. In addition to my first children's book, it's also the first one not aimed to ease your hurt, pain, or grief. This is a book full of encouragement. Inspired by a great class of kiddos and a double rainbow one afternoon. Such hope, energy, and life our children have...we need to ignite the goodness and wonder they each contain so they grow to their full potential and blossom into the wonderful creation God intends them to be. This book is dedicated to this year's kindergarten class, so they were the first to see it. Not only are they the first to see it, they are the first to hear me read it aloud and share the rainbow they each are. Within the book is a place for you to include a picture of your child, grandchild, student, or whoever might need to hear they are a RAINBOW of possibilities. 

Do you remember the crayons Mary and I peeled, melted, and reshaped? We made rainbow crayons for each of the kiddos too. This has been so much fun. It has been an exciting journey creating this book and a challenge not to let the secret out. I love sharing the steps along the way but didn't want to chance any of the kids or their families finding out before the big reveal. So hush was the word. To teach is to inspire and be inspired. I hope this book reflects this too. I plan on sharing more about this book in the days to come. This book isn't only for the elementary school. In the back of the book are ideas for extension activities. As if this isn't enough, I'm working on putting together a resource guide to go along with this book. A reproducible guide to help teachers, youth leaders, or parents simply copy and implement a lesson.

Thanks for sharing in the excitement as I teased along the way. Now I can start sharing some of the fun in creating this book. Stay tuned for more.

I wonder what happens when you click on one of the pictures? Hmm...hint hint.... Are you ready to learn more about my first children's book?

TOP's Tuesday: Part I today - What could it be? Find out soon...

Later this afternoon, 
there are sixteen 
individuals who will 
know what this 
is but for now, 
it's still a surprise.
I'm bubbling over with excitement! What are you thinking? 
Are you excited? 
We are!!

A Look Back to this year's 20th Anniversary of Heidi's Kidnapping

This past April third represents the twentieth anniversary of Heidi's kidnapping from the D & W Convenience Store in New Haven, New York. She remains missing today. There are some things that also remain, things that are positive and encouraging...

*Hope
*Neighborly love
*Family
*Friends
*Remembrance
*Hope
*Strength
*Determination
*Perseverance
*Forgiveness
*Adaptability
*Resiliency
*Faith
*Purpose
*Tenacity
*Empathy
*Hope

Can you add to the list? If you missed yesterday's blog, click on "yesterday" to read it.

Have a great day! Let's get this week started ~ tomorrow is the big announcement!

The Things We Think When There is Nothing But Time

I spent the majority of my Saturday this weekend at the Mexico Little League's Community Days held at the Community Park in Mexico, New York. All the proceeds from the event will be split between the Make-a-Wish and Wounded Warriors. I knew the Duck Race and events were happening in town all day but decided to join this event because the funds were going to a great cause. Community Park had many opportunities for family fun and memory making: bounce houses, music, games, face painting, and more. The food was all, only $1. A family of five could get a hot dog and drink for $10 - amazing. I think the competition in town hurt the number of people there yet everyone who came had fun and only compliments.

As one of the vendor tents, it was a very slow day. I was thankful for catching up with some old friends, meeting some new people, and visiting with the vendors near me. Yet, six hours is a lot of time to fill when there aren't really many visiting the tents, but, I brought a book to read, writing to do, school work, and my Kindle...just in case. Even though my bag was full of things to do, I found myself just watching the families interact and make memories. The quiet and talking about Heidi all day triggered the nostalgia... Where's Heidi? Where is my sister?

My tent was directly across from the playground so I had a front row seat to laughter, tears, and memory making all day. Towards the latter part of the afternoon is when the conversations from earlier in the day started to weigh on my heart. With the day winding down, and the playground crowd thinning out I noticed some familiar faces. These lovely ladies and their children, sisters laughing and loving on each other's kiddos. 

Sisters making memories together, and setting the tone for the next generation to do things together. I'm thankful to have watched their joy, memory making, and love between each other. This reminded me of the plans Heidi and I had, to have our kids play together, to spoil them, and to never stop doing things together. These thoughts took me from the park and into the day dream state, each time my mind came back to the reality of the moment...tears burned down my cheeks. I missed Heidi yesterday, a little more than most days. I think this is the reason the conversations and comments from the few people who did stop under the tent, seemed to stick with me. I'll start with the positive. Two or three people stopped to let me know they heard wonderful things about my book and didn't realize I would be there or they would have brought money. They might visit me at the New Haven Farmer's Market this Monday, or something this summer, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. to pick up there copy. 

This was encouraging. I also saw my best bud from growing up and we spent a hour catching up. So there were happy and encouraging moments but somehow, in the nostalgic and emotional moments of wanting to make memories with Heidi, I only could repeat the words of others over and over in my head. 

I had the banner with Heidi's updated age progression, by Diana Trepkov, displayed. This always has an effect on people. Either they shake their head and keep walking or they share a memory or comment. One gentle man stopped and said, "Funny about Carol Wood, 18 years, you never find someone after that long. Weird." I just looked at him and calmly said "My sister has been missing 20 years and we will never give up.", he looked at me to say "Didn't know it was your sister, sorry" and walked away. 

This shook me quite a bit last night. Then Ed worked late and Mary wasn't home so I came home and replayed the statement over and over again. I know this gentleman's statement isn't true, while the majority of cold cases are not discovered (at least to date), many are. They are on the news every week. Yet when our emotions get involved, reality seems to get fuzzy. Have you experienced this? I can't always bring the age progression because of its size but one thing always travels with me, this picture of Heidi and I. This was taken outside the church after my wedding. It's one of my favorite photos of Heidi, taken with someone's camera, not even one of the professional ones. (The candids seem to always be my favorites.) This photo of Heidi, with me cropped out, and her senior year photo are the two most recognize because they were used on the missing person flyers. To me, it represents the last time we had a family photo, Heidi disappeared eight months later. Kidnapped. Missing...never forgotten.

Well, one woman asked "Who is that?" I pointed and explained it was Heidi and I, the day of my wedding. The woman disagreed with me because she knew Heidi and she didn't look like that. I assured her it was Heidi, it was my sister and wedding and it's one of my happiest memories. She looked at me, picked up one of the buttons and said, "This is how I remember her." I agreed with her because many remember her from the missing person posters and buttons. 
She became indignant, pointed to the wedding picture again, "Her hair wasn't like that." I tried to explain that our hair lightens in the summer and I was married in August but there was no sense in arguing, she wasn't hearing me. 

She picked up a button, looked from the button to the photo, from each and back to me, then said, "This is Heidi." holding up the button. I agreed and said, "Have a nice day, thanks for stopping and remembering Heidi." What else could I say?

These type of statements happen all the time. My Auntie M and friend Laurie, her sister, Rose Gayhart has been missing twenty-nine years, both reminded me..."When you put yourself out in the public eye, you have to expect the comments - both positive, negative, encouraging, and insensitive." They are right and I'm used to all of them. I think it was just the emotion of the day had my defense down. 

I don't usually share these side of returning from a speaking event, book signing, or day event. They happen and before I go to an event, I always pray for God's protection, wisdom, and open doors. I never know if I might talk with the person who holds the key to bringing Heidi home. People are not purposely negative. That man didn't realize I was Heidi's sister and he appeared shaken he'd upset me. The woman wasn't trying to rile me up, she simply remembered Heidi differently...as the face on the flyer...not sisters sharing a photo-op.

I promise, I'm okay. I'm still a little emotional today but then again, I'm tired. And when I'm tired, the emotions run a little higher and more out of control. But you probably never experience anything like this, lol. Emotions are natural, it's how we react and deal with them that is the most important. If my upset, emotional, and missing-my-sister moments are usually shared, then why did I do it last night and again today? 

Simple, I'm hoping this will encourage us all to be careful with our words. To think before we speak. I am just as guilty as the next person, trust me. I wonder how many times I've said something with innocent curiosity or concern and it was received as the opposite. We are human. Live and learn but one thing I won't do...is hide again. 

Others need to know there is hope and Heidi, and her kidnappers, need to know her family will NEVER give up or lose hope. One day, Heidi's remains will be discovered and she will be given a proper burial and memorial. You hear the statistics of how many children go missing each day, but there are also missing children found everyday...it's just the number that disappear is far greater than the ones recovered and discovered.  We can read the paper for the dirt, or we can seek the truth. 
Sometimes it requires looking within rather than just what is highlighted. If we only hear the words spoken and forget there is a caring person with a heart speaking them, we might miss an opportunity to respond in love, grace, and mercy.

Have you experienced a similar situation? Will you share?

Carnival and Vendors Event to Benefit "Make-A-Wish" and "Wounded Warriors" TODAY- June 21st 12 - 5 in Mexico, NY

1st Annual Community Carnival Day!!!
TODAY ~ June 21st 
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
At Mexico Community Park, State Route 104

Bounce House
Dunk Booth
Music
Crafts & Games
Face Painting

$1.00 Cotton Candy, Hamburgers, 
Hot Dogs, Soda, and Water!!!

All proceeds will be donated to 
The Make A Wish Foundation 
and 
The Wounded Warriors Foundation!!!  

All are invited! See you there! 
I'll have some of my parent's 
wood working too!

Bittersweet...Last Week of School is days away

0, 1, 2...The school year is almost through
3, 4, 5...Our kiddos have started to thrive
6, 7, 8...Each one is truly great
9 and 10...I wish we could do it again!

Today is the last Friday of the school year. It's a bittersweet time. As much as we look forward to the summer, just like the kiddos do, we grieve seeing them each day and watching them grow.

If you enjoy working with children, you understand what I'm talking about. They are caterpillars when the school year starts and by the end of the year, they burst forth as butterflies of beautiful colors. Is the end of the school year bittersweet for you too?