This past weekend I had the joy of hearing from a reader.  While out listening to one of our favorite bands, Jess Novak and Ben Wayne, someone took time to share she recently read my second book, Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey. Her words were, and still are, a big encouragement to me. 

Her mother bought my book at a lawn sale, read it, then passed it on to her. She read the book in a day then was sharing what she read with someone else and has since loaned the book to someone else, who lives in California. This is exciting! She said she started the book and it was so good, she started and finished it in the same day. I'm thankful God used these words to encourage her. She shared with me and how it touched her heart. She was surprised it was at a lawn sale. She plans to keep it when it's returned to her so she always has it and can loan it to others who need encouragement. This is such a compliment to an author.

Some might look at it being in a lawn sale as a loss BUT I view this as a win. Not only did the person who put it in the lawn sale read it (the binding was worn from being read), the woman who bought it read it, her mother read it, and it's now in California with someone else reading it. I'm tickled and overjoyed, all because one person read the book and put it in their lawn sale, three more people have read the book that might not have otherwise. God works in mysterious ways and at lawn sales. Go God!

Last week I received a text from a friend who lives in Florida: "Lisa, I am sending you something. It won't fit in your mailbox. When I saw it, I instantly thought of you. My friend made it...I hope you like it. Love to you..."

I must confess, the anticipation ignited and I couldn't wait. I had no idea what it was. This afternoon my Dad called me while I was tutoring, "Your package arrived!" After tutoring I went to my Dad's house, text my friend, and then opened the package while on the phone with her. Once open, I had tears in my eyes. This photo doesn't do justice for this painting yet the message it brings is still visible.

The first thing I thought, "This is Heidi and I when we reunite one day.", then my friend shared, "I saw this and thought of you and Heidi." The dampness in my eyes quickly turned into tears of joy, love, and hope. As she shared about seeing this painting and her first thoughts, I kept staring at it. The beauty captured combined with the love and friendship that came with the gift remind me of how precious time, friendship, and hope is. 

We spent half an hour or more visiting, catching up, and enjoying each other's company. We wrapped up our conversation and I hit the "end" on my phone yet I couldn't stop staring at the painting. It entranced me, and still does. I don't know if it's the that I thought of Heidi as soon as I saw it, or was it that not only had I thought of Heidi but so had my friend. My friend said when she saw it, she thought of the bond, love, and sisterhood between Heidi and I. It doesn't matter why, all that matters is that God used my friend to bring me hope in the very moment I needed it the most. God knows what we need, when we need it. He used my friend, and her friend (I don't know the artist's name) who painted it, as messengers to me. For this, I'm very thankful today.

Hey there! How is everyone doing? For those enjoying the weekend rest and relaxation, what do you plan to do today to refresh yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually this weekend?

If you are looking for a new podcast, check out mine, One Sister's Journey: Keeping it Real (powered by Anchor FM). It's available on more than a dozen podcast apps.

On Fridays I try to do a different series and that is VERY FAITH BASED. My faith is within all my podcasts yet Friday is dedicated to sharing a message, usually a series. My recent series on Fridays is focusing on The Lord's Prayer. Check it out today - you can go back and start with the first one - taking a closer look at this prayer, verse by verse. 

What is your favorite podcast? Share its name and link in a comment below - why is it your favorite and what is it about? Happy listening!

One of the joys experienced the past two Saturdays was the quiet of the roads and the beauty of the sunrise. Life offers us opportunities to choose. I had a choice to pull over and absorb this beautiful sight or continue bugging down the road. I chose to pause. In life, we need more opportunities to pause and enjoy the beauty of nature around us. One of the books I'm working on now focuses on slowing down and being more mindful of the opportunities and beauty placed before us.If you need to leave five minutes earlier, it will be worth it. Give it a try.

 The past two Saturdays were spent at Craft/Vendor Fairs. The first in Utica and this past weekend, Rome. It has been a few years since I dedicated time to these type of events but within the first couple hours last weekend, I knew it was time and was glad I went.

Here's the deal, authors don't typically sell a lot of books at craft/vendor fairs so why do we go? It's an opportunity to meet our readers and build relationships. I'm more apt to read a book if I've met someone who recommends the book and if I can meet the author, the likelihood increases even more. 

As a child, I remember my Mom and aunts bringing me books signed by the authors after attending different book signings. Maybe this is one of the foundations for my passion to write and meet my readers. It is fun and energizing to meet my readers and those who attended events I spoke at. This weekend I had the opportunity to meet a women who heard me at her church's Fall retreat a few years ago. Her words encouraged me more than she realized, God used her to bless me. 

It's amazing to see the way God works and uses us, isn't it? Anyway, in November I have two more events, one in Fulton, New York and another in Oswego, New York. In December I'll be at Christmas in Mexico, then a break until Spring. The amount of time required to prep, plan, travel, and pack can be intense while the actual hours spent sitting can feel long BUT, at the end of the day, it's about the relationships renewed or created that make it all worth it.

In life, so many people are looking at their screens to communicate, I find events like this invigorating because of the one on one contact, eye contact, and real conversation (you know, using our voices and body language). It's great! If the conversation and 1:1 isn't enough, by shopping at local events like this, you are supporting your local creatives. I still find the homemade gifts, books, and goodies my favorite treats to receive (and give). 

As you move forward into the holiday seasons, I encourage you to slow down and visit the variety of local craft and vendor fairs. Here are a few benefits you'll receive:
*Meet new people
*Run into people you haven't seen in awhile
*Support local people, possibly your neighbor
*1:1 contact with a variety of people
*Unique & personal Gifts at your fingertips
*Free parking (usually)
*You can do it with or without the kids (it fits your mood)
*Make a girl's (or guys) get away for a couple hours then grab lunch
*Most have food choices so it's one stop shopping
*You learn about new items on the market
*Autographed and personalized books 
*You'll get steps and make your heart and Fitbit happy (you can't do that shopping online)
*It's fun and each craft/vendor fair is different and variety is the spice of life. 

About the Author
​Antoinette Truglio Martin is a life-long Long Islander, teacher, wife, mother, daughter, and friend. She is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer—a memoir chronicling her first year battling breast cancer as a wimpy patient.

​Personal experience essays and excerpts of her memoir were published in Bridges, Visible Ink, and The Southampton Review. Martin proudly received her MFA in creative writing and literature from Stony Brook/Southampton University in 2016.

Antoinette had also written the children's picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup (Albert Whitman and Company), and was a regular columnist for local periodicals Parent Connections (In a Family Way) and Fire Island Tide (Beach Bumming). Her blog, Stories Served Around The Table, tells family tales and life's musings. She lives in her hometown of Sayville, New York with her husband, Matt, and is never far from her “Everyone” and the beaches she loves.

Since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2012, she strives to not let cancer to dictate her life. Follow her at Facebook and her website.

In the past I've shared a review for Elaine W. Miller's book, Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo. When I saw this book available for review, I signed up. As the caregiver to more family than one should have to care and say goodbye to in a life time, authors like Elaine and Antoinette are encouraging - they firsthand stories of being survivors and fighters, offering hope to others in this battlefield and their caregivers.

Antoinette's book is written in journal format for the most part, as she shares emails between her and "My Everyone" as she calls her support network. I'm a fan of diary type books like the Diary of Anne Frank or the Dear America series, so I related to Antoinette's real and personal accounts in the midst of her journey.

The love and bond between she and her daughters brought tears to my eyes and also had me laughing out loud. The honest connection and feelings shared are a tribute to the foundation she and her husband instilled in their family and all who knew them. One of the funniest parts is when Antoinette wants to try marijuana as a treatment and reaches out to her daughters and their response left Antoinette with this, "I had to admit, I did not expect such seamless resources and enthusiasm." 

The subtitle of the book, "A year of community, courage, and cancer" is a perfect summary of one woman's journey through the unknown with her "everyone" by her side every step of the way. As Antoinette shares the emails and the commentary between each, I felt like I was sitting in her living room sharing a cup of tea and brownies with her.

This is a personal and heartfelt memoir of hope and encouragement for those going through a difficult and challenging journey, helping us to remember to go through and not get stuck in the pain and disease.

Thank you Antoinette, and thanks to all who took time to learn more about this great book.

I spent a good part of yesterday in my Writer's Cottage enjoying time reading, researching, and even doing some writing. It was wonderful to escape from the to-do-lists, laundry, and pet hair for a few hours. A day off from school equals a day of writing and work at the cottage. These moments haven't been plentiful, actually, I think yesterday was the first time since school started that I was able to spend a substantial amount of time.

Upon my departure, I let off a fogger so Mr. Spider and family, taking up residence, understand whose cottage it is. Did I mention I'm allergic to spider bites, as one landed on my arm while writing, it was a comical scene. Thankfully no one else was around to witness my scream, spider toss, and jumping out of the chair. I don't typically freak out but that spider startled me and I let it know.

Anyway, I shared on Monday's podcast, that I've put my fiction book on hold for a time. I feel God calling me to write something different. While at the Montrose Christian Writers Conference in July, then at the Oswego Writing Institute in August, I felt God nudging me in one direction but I couldn't pinpoint where He was leading (Holy Spirit nudge #1). I believed it was this fictional story yet, as fun as this process is, I didn't feel like it was what God wants me to write yet I didn't know where to go with clarity so I kept writing the fiction because at least I was writing.

In September, a conversation stirred something in me (Holy Spirit nudge #2) and lead my thoughts, prayers, and writing mind in a different direction. I brushed it aside until last week when a third conversation (Holy Spirit nudge #3) opened my eyes during a time of quiet, mindful, reflective prayer. It was as if The Light came on within me.

I understood the first two nudges and the direction to move forward. The human within me second guessed the Holy Spirit's leading but thank goodness, my faith and quiet time helped to shed understanding, direction, and purpose to this new writing project. This past Saturday I didn't make it to my cottage but I banged out 1,745 words for this new project and spent time reading and researching on Sunday. Monday offered the opportunity for time to continue the work done at at home and some serious writing at the cottage.

It was because of my time spent in prayer and being open to hear from God that I recognized the direction He was leading. I made a mindful and conscious effort. I want to thank my Dad again for making my writer's cottage a reality, it is a HUGE blessing and inspiration!! Love you Dad!

One thing I've prioritized with the new school year is making sure to get my workouts in. I'm not there four or five times a week like I'd like to but at least I'm getting there three times a week. I hired a personal trainer for the summer to learn how to use weights and other equipment to improve my health. It was a success.

At the start of the school year, I went to twice a month instead of weekly. I miss the weekly training sessions yet my wallet can't afford it so a change was necessity. The every other week is working but I'm saving in hopes of going back to weekly. Below is a funny comedy clip about going to the gym and he jokes about paying for a trainer at the gym you pay to belong too. I used to have a similar philosophy but since this summer, I get it.

It's because of my trainer that I know how to use the weights and other equipment safely and have a routine that is toning my body. My trainer gets my stressers and helps to guide me in healthier eating and habits to combat stress. In a sense, my trainer is a counselor, my health insurance covers counseling, they should cover my trainer, he is both training my physical fitness and mental fitness. 

What do you think? Should health insurance put some money towards our fitness club memberships and trainers? I do...but it's because I notice the health benefits of working with my trainer weekly versus every other week. Maybe one day insurance will be proactive.

Hey there and happy Tuesday!
Two weeks since I've been on but here I am, kicking off the return on a Tuesday.

I'd like to say I was spending every free minute in my writing cottage after work and on the weekends but this isn't the case. 


What have I been up to?
*Adjusting to the back-to-school schedule and routine
*Getting at least 3 workouts at the gym in each week
*Cleaned my house (finally LOL)
*Found the top of my kitchen table & dryer (my two drop spots - what are yours?)
*Reading a book for fun, "Lost and Found" by Gayle Roper (it's so good, I need more time so I can finish it, yes, it's that good)
*Read a book for a blog review on October 26th, "Hug Everyone You Know" by Antionette Truglio Martin - she is also guest blogging on Oct. 26th so make sure you check it out
*Leading our Fall Women's Bible Study, "Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver - we are learning so much and getting to know each other better too (We are reading the book along with the video Bible study)
*Reading a book to improve my writing and speaking by James M. Watkins, Communicating to Change Lives: In Person and Print - highly recommend
*Eliminated the magazines-to-read-pile until today's purchase of a new one, lol
​*Cleaned out my closets and donated 3 bags of clothes so far (it's a work-in-progress)
*Then of course the everyday this-n-that of being a mom, wife, niece, and educator

I apologize for not blogging every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday yet after typing this list, I've been busy. Have you ever noticed that we might not realize we did anything but once we take time to reflect (and write it down), we recognize there is a reason some things haven't been done. Something I've learned is to prioritize what NEEDS to be done and put my family and friends first, then the stuff. Tomorrow is not promised. I want to know the people who mean the most to me KNOW they come before any "thing" in this world.

I have a lot on my list that isn't connected to my family yet it is through doing some things for myself this year that I'm more relaxed and better able to be there for my family. We need to remember to care for ourselves or we won't be able to care for our loved ones. It feels good to get some reading and writing done. It might not be here or on the podcast, but God is at work and I'm listening and trying to prioritize and stay focused. 

Next Tuesday I'll talk about the feedback I received on my work-in-progress (WIP). I'm trying my hand at fiction. I have the first 16,000 words finished so I entrusted it to my daughter, an avid reader and honest critic. You'll have to wait until next week to see how it went. Until then, come back on Thursday and Saturday to see what else is going on.