As I walked with our dog, Faith, at the latter part of last week I noticed this beautiful sight. I'm thankful to have my phone in my pocket. As Faith played in the snow to my left, I snapped a few pictures. This single leaf in the snow took my breath away. 

The simplicity and beauty of one fallen leave. Notice the circle around it. There was a slight wind and because it landed on it's stem, the wind was gently spinning the leaf around, creating this circle. A framed leaf in the snow. The photo doesn't capture the glistening snow because the sun was shining yet if you take a deep break, or two, close your eyes and imagine a cool winter breeze and the warmth of the sun on your face...you might be able to see the snow glistening. 

We need to seize the moments of opportunity because it only takes a second, a second, for the beauty to be erased as if it never existed.

I can still see the leaf and it's beautiful circle framing it as the sun shined down. Faith may have ran across it as she played, yet because I took the time to absorb the moment, I still have it in my memory bank.

This is a life lesson. We need to slow down and take time to absorb the little moments and when possible, snap a picture and share it with those we love.

If we each share joy and happiness with those in our circle of influence, imagine how much better the world might be? 

Oh my goodness, Elaine and I had fun during this interview. It took a days to record, well, a few sessions over a couple days. We had a lot of laughter and phone calls. You will hear some of the laughter, joy, and conversation during the interview. Elaine's spirit and joy are contagious. I'm thankful she found time in her schedule to do this interview with me. Elaine shares her word and verse for the year, and then we dive into talking about her new book, Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the podcast. We encourage you to share the podcast, this interview, and Elaine's books with all your friends and family in need of hope as they battle cancer. As a caregiver, I find this book a blessing too. It's a must read for all.

If you'd like an autographed copy of Elaine's books, visit her website and click on the "Bookstore" tab. 

T.O.P.'s Tuesday got its name in honor of my sister, Heidi M Allen, known as the Tower of Power during her high school volleyball days. T.O.P. One of her favorite things to do during volleyball, because it was a song she and her team did to bond and intimidate the other teams. They were more than a team, they were a volleyball family and each time they hokey pokeyed, they laughed and increased the energy in the gym.

After Heidi's kidnapping, I still remember the volleyball team coming to the Command Center and doing the Hokey Pokey in Heidi's honor. An amazing group of young ladies.

The day Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey released, some of her friends came to my book release party and we did the Hokey Pokey together, Heidi was with us in spirit.

When I saw this comedian's AC/DC Hokey Pokey, I had tears in my eyes. Heidi was a big AC/DC fan so it's only fitting to share this in a new year's T.O.P.'s blog, remembering the fun-loving, dedicated, and family/team oriented sister I was blessed to be raised with.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a fun evening with family and friends ending 2018 and ringing in 2019. Our family spent it quietly at home. I'm one of those, "it's safer to stay home on New Year's eve" people. I don't know when it happened, but I've gotten old in my thinking when it comes to some things.

My new podcast logo has been posted on my podcast page, click here, for a bit now but thought I'd share it today as one of the first T.O.P.'s Tuesdays in 2019. If you haven't taken a few minutes to listen to my podcast yet, you should. It is fun to record and the "Keeping it Real" sometimes cracks me up so much, you might hear a laughing snort. This might be too real but oh well, reality is more entertaining than making things up. Or at least to me, and my listeners agree.

My podcast, Livin' with Lisa: Keeping it Real can be found on twelve podcast platforms now:
*AnchorFM
*Apple Podcasts
*Google Podcasts
*Spotify
*Breaker
*Castbox
*Overcast
*PocketCasts
*PodBean
*RadioPublic
*Stitcher
*TuneIn

If you don't have one of these podcast apps on your phone, you can also click on the link above and listen through your computer. In addition, the most current podcast episode is available to listen on my website, in the upper right hand corner. 

If you like what you here, share it with your friends and family. If you share via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram...be sure to tag me so I can say thank you and interact with you and your friends.

Thank you all for your encouragement, support, and time! You are all blessings I count and thank God for in my prayers. Have a wonderful 2019 everyone - share joy, love, hope, and encouragement with everyone you come in contact with. It will help to make the world a better place, don't you think?

​This past week I enjoyed a fun conversation with Jeanette Levellie, and my cheeks hurt from laughing. I've "known" Jeanette for a few years through social media, after reviewing her book, Two Scoops of Grace, here on my blog. Click below to listen to her visit on my podcast, Livin' with Lisa: Keeping it Real. You'll not only want to check out her books but you'll also smile a  lot as Jeanette's joy is contagious. If you can, leave a comment for Jeanette after you listen, and let us know what you enjoyed most. Have a great week!

A favorite aspect of my podcast is sharing a quote each day. For 2019 I gifted myself a new book of quotes, one quote for each day.

Each Friday on the podcast I do a segment called, Faith Filled Friday. This morning, the quote for January fourth paired with my message on opportunities. I love the way God works when we are open to see Him leading us.

The quote I shared from Chris Grosser, "Opportunities don't happen, you create them." As I read this, my head started to shake left to right. It contradicted the message I planned to share. It only took a few seconds to decide the next step, move forward as planned. It was an example of the message I planned to share today.

The verses for today are Ephesians 5:1-16, focusing on verses 15 and 16. Opportunity is defined as "1) a favorable juncture of circumstances and 2) a good chance for advancement or progress." according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Keeping this in mind, we don't create our opportunities but instead accept our circumstances and access the to move us forward, when it 's God placing the opportunity before us.

I encourage you to listen to today's podcast. We can't create an opportunity. Opportunities are unexpected and out of our control. When an opportunity is placed before us, the only way to know if is God opening a door or the latter, is to be reading our Bible.

There was a time in my life when I focused on creating my next step, thanks to my faith and age, I've learned opportunity is placed before us, not created. Have you learned this too?

To celebrate the new year we are revisiting the importance of choosing your one word and Bible Verse to guide you through the new year. I couldn't remember when I started to do this so I used the search engine on my blog. 2011 was the first year I selected a word and verse to guide me through the year. Thankful for the blog, if it was a hand written journal, I'd still be looking.

On the flip side, I can't find my bookmark that has every year's word on it, I can't remember which Bible or book I left it in. When, and if, I find it, I'll update the blog. Until then, enjoy previous blogs about my one word and the words I chose.

Tomorrow I'll share my Bible verse for 

Previous "One Word" I've posted about:
Click on the word to read the blog associated with the word

​2011 - The First "One Word" and why
2011 - "Faithful"
2012 - "hope" 
2013 -
2014 -
2015 - "Courage & Strength"
2016 - 
2017 -
2018 - 
2019 - RENEWAL

Information about “Word of the Year”

Tips for choosing your word:
https://www.inc.com/megy-karydes/5-tips-for-choosing-your-word-of-year.html
 
According to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_the_year
 
Word of the Year generator:
http://www.wordoftheyear.me/
 
2018 Words of the Year:
Oxford Living Dictionary – Toxic
http://www.wordoftheyear.me/
 
Cambridge Dictionary – Nomophobia
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6540355/Cambridge-Dictionary-reveals-word-year-Nomophobia.html

This past week our nephew lost a fellow officer while on shift. This loss has effected his entire unit, neighboring units, and the families of all in the area. My husband spent time talking with his nephew. He's military as well as PD, losing a fellow officer in the line of duty has a deeper impact then serving on a tour of duty.

We think of the United States as safe and on some levels our military anticipate possible losses when serving overseas but not once they are home. We have no words of encouragement or hope for our nephew and family during this difficult time, yet the most important thing we can do is listen and pray. We've never met this officer or her family yet the loss and pain heard in our nephews voice hurts all the way to New York.

This loss for the Louisville PD will have a long term impact, our thoughts and prayers go to them all, especially this officers family. As I think about the transition and pain the department is experiencing, and the community, I'm reminded of a few things.

Our law enforcement and rescue personnel put their lives at risk on a daily basis, something I, we, might take for granted. I understand the risk and danger our nephew is in as he patrols yet to hear of his fellow officers death, my breath is taken away. We need to pray for our military, law enforcement, and rescue personnel...they risk their lives daily to keep us safe. The loss in Louisville has brought new awareness to a small town girl in New Haven, New York.

A special thanks to all who risk their lives on a daily basis.

A few things I'm thankful for this week:

*The breath in my lungs

*Quality time with family

*Safe travels while visiting family and friends during the holidays

*Running Water

*Electricity

*Heat in our home

*The ability and joy to bake

*For new business ventures: Avon & PURE
(click for a direct link)

*Inspiration from God for the next book

*For this vacation that offered time for sleep, laughter, renewal, and direction - bring on 2019!

My apologies to my blog followers, and a HUGE THANK YOU to those who continue as my faithful followers and readers. My posts have been intermittent, to say the least. As you know, I've been trying to better manage, "juggle", my crazy schedule. 

My grandmother used to say "You have the same amount of time as everyone else, it's how you spend it." I used to roll my eyes at her, I actually rolled my eyes typing it to share with you. This made me laugh. Why did I (do I) roll my eyes you might wonder, yes? Simple, she was right! We all have the same 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a a week, and 8,736 hours in a year.

I'm a fan of reflection, which most of you know. I don't ask you anything that I don't ask myself first. Why so much contemplation and thought about my time? Simple, I don't seem to have enough time to get everything done. Each time I say this aloud I can hear my Gram's words echo in my head, "You have the same time as everyone else." Grr...so if there are things I don't have time to do BUT I want to do them, I need to repriortize.

I have the same twenty-four hours and a limited number of these hours are spent awake. I'm taking a look at my schedule. My plan is to list my weekly commitments, ways I "sharpen my saw", and the things I wish I had more time to do. THEN I'm going to organize the items on the lists that are a choice versus required. Then, priortize what needs to stay on the list, what should stay on the list, and the thing(s) I wish could make it to the list.

This will be a process and a few hours of well-spent time in the long run. There are things I really enjoy and wish I had more time to do and then there are a handful of things I'm doing but someone else could probably do, if I was to pass the baton, if you will. 

Have you ever felt this way? Is this a process you need to do to? 

Oh happy day, it's Christmas in two weeks! Two weeks! I can't even believe it...As I look ahead I found myself wondering if anyone has traditions they enjoy during the next couple weeks leading up to Christmas. In my home, we don't have any unless you count going to the movies on Christmas Day afternoon. 

I typically avoid patronizing places who have employees work on holidays but a few years ago, after my Mom passed away we decided we needed a new tradition to fill the emptiness of the day. It was fun and the employees thanked us for coming in because they said their day goes by faster when people are coming in. It's a win-win, right.

​With the exception of the movies, we don't have any traditions unless you count avoiding crowds and the hustle and bustle to enjoy time together at home. Time is the greatest gift one can give to another, time is one of my love languages for sure. What are some of your traditions and favorite things to do during the Christmas season? Do they involve hustle and bustle or the quietness of home and family? Regardless of what it involves, will you share with me?

The first thing I'm thankful for today is finding time to write, blog, and create for all of you. This is so exciting! 

I extend apologies and thanks to you all this beautiful Saturday...

Apologies for the sporadic blog posts over the past weeks and months. My mother would be so disappointed with me over this. She looked forward to reading my blog each day, then following it through the day to read other's comments. She inspired and motivated me to maintain my blog with consistency. I think this is the reason I struggle to be consistent today, I know my biggest supporter and cheerleader isn't anxiously awaiting the post. I apologize for letting you all down. 

With this said, I want to thank you for continuing to visit the blog looking for a new one and reaching out to send encouraging words the past few years since my Mom's passing. Friends told me the hardest loss we experience is that of a parent, they weren't kidding. The good news, with God and my faith, one day at a time, I'm moving forward and adjusting and creating a new normal.

In reflection I think part of the struggle was that I lost my mother and daughter within a year. My mother joined family and friends in heaven free of pain and cancer. My daughter started a new journey as a high school graduate and full-time college student. I went from being busy caring for two wonderful ladies to a lot of quiet time.

You'd think with the extra time for myself that it would have sparked more writing and creating but instead I found myself lost, lost in the extra time. Time is a precious commodity and I tend to run full throttle the majority  of the time so when thrust into a lot of quiet and down time, it's been a difficult transition, one I hadn't anticipated to be so difficult BUT on sitting here today writing this blog, I'm happy to report, a new norm and new groove is happening.

I don't have this new routine mastered or fully organized BUT I'm moving forward and figuring it out. I'm a slow study I guess, taking me more than three years to start figuring this out. Thank you again for your patience and encouragement. Let's get this creative party moving forward so you will be encouraged and inspired for years to come. You are blessings I count, thank you!!!

As I sat at the table earlier this week I was overwhelmed by the piles, boxes, stacks, and chaos surrounding me. While my husband was on vacation I erected the six foot folding table in the middle of the living room with intentions of working on my next children's book. Instead of it being of "work zone", it's become a "drop zone". Ugh! I don't even know where to begin.

Have you ever felt this way during Advent and the Christmas season? I don't think I'm alone and the more I think about this, it saddens me. Christmas isn't supposed to be about chaos and feelings of overwhelmment. We should be filled with joyful preparation and anticipation. It's Christmas! A time of year symbolizing Jesus' birth and reminder He will come again.

At Bible study earlier this week a woman shared how she struggles this time of year because of the commercialism. During our fellowship I shared how I avoid some of this and thought it might be worth sharing with all of you. My goal each year is to complete my shopping by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. It might not be wrapped or delivered, but the shopping portion is done.

​From Thanksgiving to Christmas I spend my time at home sewing, writing, wrapping, and watching mushy Christmas shows and movies. I find avoiding the malls and stores after Thanksgiving helps to keep my Christmas jollies and focus. Instead of pushing through the crowds and the temptation to overspend, I sip tea or coffee while listening to Christmas music or watching Christmas shows and creating gifts for those the closest and dearest to me. 

This is one way I find keeps the joyful preparation and anticipation alive and well in our home during the Christmas season.

As part of today's podcast I asked my listeners to share their favorite Christmas show or movie.

I tried to share mine and my one turned into a list, too many good ones:
Kid Shows
Charlie Brown's Christmas
Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Year without Santa Claus
Rudolph
Movies: Drama
White Christmas
The Christmas Card
Christmas Shoes
Movies: Comedy
Christmas Vacation 
Elf
Christmas with the Cranks

See what I mean, I can't pick just one and even as I started to make a list, I had to stop myself from adding more. This sparked my curiosity, do you have ONE favorite Christmas show or movie? If you do, take a minute and share it below in a comment. Have a great day!

Some of my favorite quotes are from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I stumbled upon this on the other day and it resonated with me. I spent so many years after my sister, Heidi Allen's, kidnapping angry. My anger primarily was of course that my sister was kidnapped and had to suffer the unimaginable but it was also at God.

I blamed God for her kidnapping and letting it happen. I could continue and list all the things that angered me but rather than focus on the past and all the minutes lost I'd like to focus on the latter. 

I think this is why Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote spoke to me. To think I spent more than a decade angry, it overwhelms me to think of the seconds of happiness I let escape me and those around me. I was curious so I looked up how many seconds I lost. One decade, ten years that is, has 315,532,800 seconds.

This is a lot of lost happiness BUT on the flip side, since restoring my faith, I've experienced 473,040,000 seconds of happiness. this doesn't mean I haven't had angry moments in life, instead, it means I've chose to make the most of life and not let anger get the best of me. If Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote isn't enough to inspire you then maybe the words of Solomon will encourage you.

I don't know about you but when the options are anger or happiness, striving for happiness and letting go of anger is going to be my choice. Earlier in the week I challenged you to live rather than exist, today I'll take you a step further. Choose happiness and joy over anger and negativity.

IAs the weather in Upstate New York transitions from days of sunshine and warmth to darker and colder days we have a choice. We can choose to hibernate and exist until Spring or we can dust off the winter boots and live. Life is full of choices and one of the most important, and sometime difficult choices, is the decision to put your feet on the floor in the morning. I choose to get out of bed!

What will you choose?

This morning I got up by 3:30 a.m. because the dogs wanted to go out. It was cold and rainy. The breeze awoken me to the degree of "not-going-back-to-sleep" and wanting a hot cup of coffee. Rather than tucking myself back into bed and laying awake until the alarm went up I chose to start the coffee and the day.

What is a girl to do so early in the day? I don't know about you but a hot shower and Hallmark movies was a great start. I recorded and published today's podcast by 4 a.m. and spent some quiet time resting and preparing for the day. It's not even 6 a.m. and I feel rested, recharged, and ready for the week.

Yesterday I started the day with a long list on the family white board and was on schedule to accomplish everything until I received a text, "I have a free afternoon and know you have the day off, want to spend some time together?" and a big smile instantly appeared on my face as I reply, "Of course". The list will ALWAYS be there and have items to cross off BUT time with those near and dear to me won't. We have a choice to make, we can choose to exist and go through the motions OR to live and savor each moment. 

I'm thankful for the afternoon and evening I had yesterday. It was a gift and inspired me more than crossing things off my list. The list is still there and guess what, the world didn't stop. I chose to live, not exist.

Living brings one joy and companionship. Life isn't lived alone but with others and offers each of us the opportunity to soar and excel in whatever we do. The time spent with family yesterday is invaluable and uplifting. The turkey dinner, delicious. The cookies tasted like the best cookies baked to date in my kitchen.

The memories and time spent with those closest to me yesterday will carry me through the week and weeks to come. To cross things off the list would have been accomplishment forgotten before today's sunrise. I chose to live, not exist. Will you?

Happy Wednesday Everyone! The weekly Tuesday post is a day late BUT it's posted. I didn't even turn my computer on yesterday and it felt good. I enjoyed some quiet time before school then time with family and friends after school. Life is good...

It might be Halloween BUT it's also a great time to get some of those Christmas gifts ahead of time so you can enjoy the Christmas season and avoid the chaos. What better gift can you give then a book or two? If you want to share hope, organization, and a smile with your friends and family, you can find me in a couple locations in November, and one in December, for signed copies of my books.