​Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to connect with future journalist on how to approach, communicate, and interact with families in the midst of, and following a traumatic event.

For the journalist, it is about getting the "story" while it is "hot" yet it is important to remember that for the family & friends they are interviewing...this is now their life.

Life changed in an instant and will never be the same again. While their "hot story" comes and goes, the effect of the event forever impacts the victims' surviving family and friends...and when the victim survives, one wrong and thoughtless question or statement may damage their mental health for days, weeks, months, and years. 

This is why I accept Tammy Palmer's invitation to speak with her journalism classes. First and foremost, she is a journalist of character and integrity - she is a model of what good, true, and thoughtful news reporting should, and could be like daily. My prayer is that her students listen and truly hear the messages and lessons she teaches - she is a force for reporting the truth while respecting and honoring the victim, and those that love and care for them.

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

It's a true T.O.P.'s Tuesday dedicated to my sister, Heidi Allen, missing since April 3, 1994. Since her kidnapping on Easter Sunday, 28 years, 3 months and 31 days ago, our family and her friends HOLD OUT HOPE to one day bring Heidi home. HOPE is one constant.

Another constant is MEDIA COVERAGE. Thanks to social media, podcasts, blogs, and the Internet - families don't need to rely on the media 100% like they did in 1994. Cellphones were the size of a home phone and were in a bag and if your family had one, there was 1 to share. Cellphones didn't fit in your pocket.

For the first 10 - 15 years, my parents, aunts, and uncles were in front of the cameras to update media so they could update all of you. In 2014/15 as my mom's health started to decline and when a reporter showed up on my parents' doorstep (within hours of us processing a devastating cancer diagnosis), I stepped up and became the point person and protector. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, learning, and relying on prayer to hold my tongue as the insensitivities and to maintain a steady face so a reporter doesn't put words in my mouth based on my facial expressions.

I struggle and the first few times in front of the cameras, I wrote everything down ahead of time and my parents read it over and made changes.  I still remember reading the ridicule from others because I read from a written statement. I wanted to respond and share the challenge of standing in front of multiple cameras, microphones, and strangers that don't care about you - they only care about the story. This is a challenge and due to health issues with my mom, one I accepted as an honor and learned through and still learn.

I've trusted reporters that are as genuine and upfront as they can, journalist of integrity. I've also had too many interactions with those reporting the new for the number of hits, the glory in the story, and to make a name for themselves.

The sad truth in all of this is that if families remain silent, their loved one is forgotten. The opportunity to share the human and personal side of interviewing someone is an honor. I had the opportunity once before so when I was invited to SU to share tomorrow, I said yes without hesitation because of the trusting relationship with the professor I have and the hope to touch the hearts of aspiring journalist.

I'll let you know how it goes next week...

For years I've spent a few weeks of my summer working Summer School BUT this year I took the summer off in order to relax, refresh, and recharge! Covid (I know, you are sick of this word and pandemic yet its toll is ongoing, so let's name it) has taken lives, freedoms, and drained energies of hard working Americans like yourself. 

EVERYONE is effected by this on some level, yours is different than mine and possibly even those you live with but one thing is the same - we need to take time to remember and focus on ALL THE BLESSINGS in our lives, THE LESSONS LEARNED, and how you HAVE GROWN individually and as a unit.

Your unit might be family, work, book club, church, walking/running club, daycare, and many I'd never understand or know BUT you have faced great trials since arch 2020 and moving forward I challenge you to regain control, composure, and focus on the blessings you have in your life today. Focus on the loved ones standing alongside you here, and 100 miles away. Focus on how you learned to relax and take time. Focus on how you are spending your time.

Covid reminded me to slow down and spend time with those I love. As I watch my friends, coworkers, and families returning to their life on the road between multiple events and functions...I'm caught between joy and sadness. There is joy because the normalcy is returning yet sadness because the family bonds and relationships are slowly being stretched again. 

This is why I refrained from working summer school. I realized I was at burnout and when you are at that point, you are no good to anyone! I want to remember what it felt like to have the time and ability to make memories with those I care about the most.

This summer is about renewal, strengthening, and growing as a person - as Lisa. I was getting lost in the routine and drained by the continuing protocols keeping us from teaching in the open, engaging, and welcoming environment. Good news, our furniture was returned to our building and teachers will be able to create this again for the Fall 2022.

When I return on September 1st, I will be in the best mental, physical, and spiritual place I can be - ready to give 110% to the kiddos I'm blessed to work with.

Similar to the weather, we have seasons in our life. It would be fabulous if they were four rotating seasons like Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter yet life is complicated so the number of challenges, celebrations, changes, and opportunities should be as unique to each of us and one snowflake is from another.

I'm reading , or I should say, listening to, The Heart of Leadership by Mark Miller currently. One of my favorite summer things is READING for fun. I balance between professional growth (yes, this is "fun" reading) and fiction. I digress, as I listened the other day the author caught my attention. I stopped what I was doing so I could write it down. It has to do with the opportunities in our life.

"We don't control our opportunities,
we control our readiness."
Mark Miller, The Heart of Leadership

Hello! How have you been? I've missed you. It has been since March, can you believe it?! Long story short, my debit card was hacked in March, I got a new one. My renewal for my website, yes, I pay to have my https://lisabuske.com and to use the Weebly platform for this blog.

Well, in the time of waiting for the new card to arrive, my auto payment didn't pull because my account was blocked and my number was wrong when they retried. I didn't notice because I was so busy and not being consistent with my blogging. So here we are, the beginning of July, many emails later to get thins up and running BUT I'm back!

I look forward to chatting with you here a couple times a week again, I've missed you BUT if you want to experience me in the LIVE - I now have a VIP cooking page on Facebook, an updated YouTube channel, and I' even on TikTok! To follow me, here is th info you need.

Facebook VIP Cooking: Keeping it Real Cooking with Lisa
YouTube: Keeping it Real Cooking with Lisa Buske
Tik Tok: @Keepingitrealwithlisa
Insta: @keepingitreal_buske

Yup! I may not have been here writing but I'm keeping myself busy. More to come but I wanted to get an email up to say Hi and let you know where I've been. Today's photo was taken during my 5 a.m. power hour, you'll hear about this in the future. 

About the Book
Want the Cure for Culture Chaos? Grab your pen and pad and prescribe yourself, Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. The news, the fear, the media, the texts, the constant bombardment of electronic sludge. It can all tear you down and rip you away from being YOU! 

You can choose to give into this madness and be manipulated into submission. Or you can join the Journaling Power Revolution, reconnect with your higher self, and love yourself without conditions. 

​In her third book, award-winning international bestseller author Mari L. McCarthy reveals a journaling power path that leads to an awareness of how vibrant your life will be when you…

• Understand why you absolutely have to love yourself first
• Tap into your hidden gifts and talents
• Declare why others must ALWAYS respect you
• Establish rock-solid unbreakable boundaries
• Promise to be YOUR own superhero!

Most importantly, Mindset Medicine explains in rich detail why the most empowering and loving relationship you can ever have – is with YOU!
Find out more about Mindset Medicine on Amazon.com.

About the Author:
Mari L. McCarthy, Founder and CEO - Chief Empowerment Officer  of CreateWriteNow.com, teaches curious health-conscious action-takers how to use Journaling For The Health Of It®️ to heal the emotional, creative, physical, and spiritual issues in their tissues. She also shows them how to use this powerful personal transformation tool to know, grow and share their True Self.

​Mari is the multi award-winning author of Journaling Power: How To Create The Happy, Healthy Life You Want To Live, Heal Your Self With Journaling Power and Mindset Medicine: A
Journaling Power Self-Love Book. She’s also created 20+ Journaling For The Health Of It® Self-Management 101 Workbooks including Who Am I?, Take Control Of Your Health! and Start Journaling For The Health Of It® Write Now.
Find out more about Mari by visiting:

• CreateWriteNow.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube.

One of my favorite Epicure meal packets is their General Tao. I make mine with chicken and it is SO GOOD! Each time I make it, I improve and my husband said this last time, "You've nailed it!" I count this as a win. 

I use my Epicure Prep Pro Chef Knife to cut the chicken, mix the seasoning in my  4 cup prep bowl and cook it in the amazing and easy to clean Epicure Wok!

It really is Raw to Ready in 20 minutes or less. Today I'm sharing a demo I recoded awhile back to show how easy it is to add Epicure's healthy, low sodium and low sugar seasonings and meal solutions to your routine and pantry.

As a child I was timid and afraid of what I couldn't see. As an adult, there are times when this still holds true yet I'm thankful to share that as I get older, the more I realize some of the best memories came from the excitement and anticipation of not knowing. 

Wow, that's a very long, run-on sentence! A professional blogger would edit and make corrections, then there is me...LOL

Here's the deal, if we spend our lives afraid of what might be on the other side of the closed door, or gate, we will miss the exciting opportunities God has placed in our lives.  There are times when He opens the door wide and calls you in and other times, He waits for you to have the courage to open the door yourself. 

As you stand before this gate, what holds you back? What's on the other side? Will you go alone or invite God to join you for the journey? I suggest praying, opening the door, and going with God's grace and strength! You won't go wrong when you are following His lead and include Him.

​The Power of Uninterrupted Time – RD221
Not only does Mark Des Cotes encourage you to carve out 1 hour of uninterrupted time, he takes it a step further and says to find 3 hours!
A link to the article and podcast can be found here.
by Mark Des Cotes | Podcast