By the time I returned, my visitor was en route across the lawn. I couldn't believe it, he was joining his family.  There were a dozen turkeys walking between our new line of Rose of Sharon trees. Since the maid hasn't been to clean the windows, I moved to the back door to attempt a few photos. Not only did the turkeys ignore the opening of the door, they didn't mind me standing in the rain on the deck to take pictures of them.  God's creation is so beautiful. Despite the pouring rain, these wild turkeys continued their meandering in and out of my neighbors garden, to the Rose of Sharon trees, and back many times. Their little necks down more than up as they filled their bellies with whatever nutrients they could find.  The pelleting rain didn't bother them a bit. I wonder if they even noticed?

One of my favorite things to do during the day as I move about the interior of our home is to look out the windows. I prefer the back yard, since the front usually only offers a new car driving faster than the posted speed limit. Our backyard offers a more peaceful view. This past weekend as I peered through the sheer curtain something caught my eye. Something was in the fire pit. I wonder what it is? Is that a...turkey? Once I pulled the curtain to the side, years of walking the woods with my father proved my prediction correct. I released the curtain and went for my camera instantly.

Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, 
for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?
Matthew 6:26 NLT

Look out the nearest window right now, what do you see?
What question does it trigger in your mind?

How busy are you? Are you busier today than you were this time last year, five years ago, or maybe ten? If you have more time, less time, or about the same...what has changed and what remains constant in your life mandating your schedule?  More importantly, what does this have to do with today's blog? The original post that went with this first picture, of the broken window with pink duct tape holding it together, posted in May 2012.  It's been more than two years and this window remains broken and taped. There are a couple reasons we haven't fixed it.

I could spend time reflecting on my husband's calmness and understanding when I broke this window with carelessness fueled by frustration and imperfection...but I won't. Instead, I want to focus on the primary reason for keeping my broken window displayed for me each day. It reminds me of my mixed priorities and misdirected frustration when I tossed the CD case causing such destruction. There isn't a time I glance at this window without some sort of emotional response. From laughter to shaking my head, but always a response.

As water reflects the face,
so one's life reflects the heart.
Proverbs 27:19 NIV

Where are you looking? Seeking God  or focusing on the obstacles?

“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” - Ernest Hemingway

Something I didn't think of this summer when starting this quality quiet time, that Miss Naomi would get bigger than the the size of Ed's hand. As our beloved kitten grows, it's becoming challenging to have her on my lap during study, reading, or work times. This past weekend, as I read and took some notes, Naomi joined me. She snuggled in and took a nap. As I attempted to turn my pages, make a note, and find a different verse...she woke up. Oh boy! She went from sleeping quietly on top of my notebook to chasing the top of my pen as I wrote and then nibbling on my pages.

“I write so much because my cat sits on my lap. 
She purrs so I don’t want to get up.”
- Joyce Carol Oates

Does your pet have a favorite spot to nestle next to, or with you? 
Is there a favorite time of day your pet likes to seek your attention?

Are you looking for an inspirational speaker for your women's group, church event, or organization - contact me today for more information and to schedule a date. Scheduling into May 2015. Email: lbuskewriter@aol.com  I can do all this through  him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

How do you keep HOPE Alive in your life?

Can you think of a time God used an "Angel" to watch over you?
Will you share with us today?

My office has a beautiful antique shelf in it, one my parents gifted me for Christmas in 2012. To some, it would be used in the dining room to hold one's good china but not me. Mine houses books. Two of the shelves house writing resource guides, dictionaries, thesauruses, manuals, and other books to help me when writing and to be a better writer. Next to my helper books on the top shelf are proof copies of my books, I think it's good to remember how each book evolves from first proof to final copy.  On the second shelf, in addition to the books are photos of me with my sister, one with my handsome husband (the one shown here), and one with my parents. On the shelf between these keepsakes are two battery operated candles. I don't leave them lit but on special occasions, I light the one next to my sister's picture.

Around our anniversary as Ed and I talked about going out for dinner or what we should do to celebrate twenty-one years of marriage, one of the candles lit up, the one next to our photo. I smiled and told Ed, Heidi is saying to have fun.

She was such a goof and always smiling. This year, I missed that joyous and bubbly personality more than years past. Many tears were shed. Ed called from work to check on me.  Somehow this he knows when my mind is thinking. While I missed my sister, I also am so thankful to have her presence filling the most important part of my adult life...the day I married Ed.  While I don't believe it was Heidi's ghost that lit the candle, I do believe God used His light as a reminder of how much He loves me and to remind me...Heidi is always with me, in my heart. This is Ed and Heidi at our wedding...

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," 
has made this light shine in our hearts 
so we could know the glory of God 
that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT

What sign of hope and light gives you encouragement? Please share...

To visit Terri's blog and website  for today's Blog Hop:   Click here or on the picture of Terri and I.  This photograph was taken the Spring of 2013 when I spoke  at Lagrangeville Alliance Church.  Thanks for joining the Writing Process Blog Hop Terri! I hope many will pop over to learn more about your writing process.

If you haven't visited Karen Beaudin's blog yet,click here or on her picture.  Karen wrote,A Child is Missing.  Her sister was also kidnapped and murdered, the difference,  her sister was discovered.  YET, our pain and loss are similar. Thank you again Karen for the invitation to join the Writing Process Blog Hop. It was fun to be a part of this great hop.

And the blog that started the entire process and blog hop: Click on the "Blog Hop for Writers!" image or click here.

Thank you in advance for taking 
a moment to visit my friend's blogs.

This is one way authors encourage, inspire, and support each other and their readers. 

What is one new thing you learned on any of these blog posts? Will you share below?

Today would be my sister's 39th birthday. Each year we remember, celebrate, and honor her differently.  This year, we will place balloons at the Heidi Allen Remembrance Garden and on our mailboxes as a symbol of "Hope for Heidi". Thank you all for your continued and ongoing support to find Heidi. Our family appreciates you all.

Happy Birthday My Wonderful Sister! You are always remembered... always prayed for... NEVER FORGOTTEN!

Feel free to leave a note of encouragement for my parents and Heidi's family here...
thank you in advance!

The LORD is compassionate and merciful; 
he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love. 
Psalm 103:8

The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; 
his compassions never end. 
They are fresh every morning; 
your faithfulness is abundant!
Lamentations 3:22-23

How does your family, community, or organization honor and remember 9/11? Please share, your idea might encourage another?

Link to Blog that inspired this Blog Hop

A special thanks to author, speaker, and friend, Karen Beaudin, for inviting me to join this blog hop with her. Karen and I "met" the first time via email and then Facebook.  A couple years ago, we had the opportunity to meet in person as Karen traveled through New York between speaking engagements.  As I drafted my book proposal for Where's Heidi?, I found Karen's book, A Child is Misisng. It was a powerful and encouraging read for me. Karen's sister,Kathy, disappeared over forty years ago. Karen's sister was found and her family gave her a proper burial, yet her abductor and murderer, remains free. Karen uses this as the fuel for helping other families of the missing, educating law enforcement, and keeping cold cases on the forefront across the country.  One way she helps victims of violent crimes is through an ongoing fundraising effort. She designed and is selling bracelets. For more information, she has a page on her website or you can click here for more information. To order Karen's book, click here.  To visit Karen's website - click on her picture or click here.

Everyone Has a Story to Tell...

Meet Terri Groh - She'll join the "Writing Process Blog Hop" Next Monday - September 15th - Click on her photo or her for a direct link to her page.  In addition to writing, Terri recently opened her first business, Terri's Country Crafts and Books:  Located at 3291 Main Street, Mexico, NY   Wednesdays from 10-5 p.m.  Thursdays from 10-7 p.m. Fridays, 10-5 p.m. Saturdays, 9-1 p.m. The shop is closed Sunday-Tuesday.

Here's a little about Terri: Terri Groh is the author of three women’s devotionals, Words of Encouragement for a Discouraged World, One Clear, Still Night and Poured Out.  Terri first discovered how much she loved writing when she was a child and won a New York State writing contest as a fourth grader.   She has also had a love for God’s word since becoming a Christian as a young teen and her desire has been to encourage other women in their walk with the Lord and also encourage them to dig into God’s word too.  This provided the perfect outlet for her writing.  She writes with transparency and uses many examples from her own life.   Terri and her husband, Dan, minister in a church in Central New York.  She loves to write, sew, craft and cook.  One of her passions is taking care of her family.  Terri writes a daily blog at heartsinservice.blogspot.com.

Thanks for taking time to learn more about Karen & myself this week ~ remember to visit Terri's pages too and her guest blog next week!

Today you can choose to count your blessings  or you can count your troubles.  Today you can live each moment  or you can put in time. Today you can take action towards your goals  or you can procrastinate.  Today you can plan for the future  or you can regret the past. Today you can learn one new thing  or you can stay the same.  Today you can seek possibilities  or you can overwhelm yourself with the impossible. Today you can continue to move forward  or you can quit.  Today you can take steps towards resolving your challenges or you can procrastinate. You see today the choices are up to you  in deciding what you do today.

You Can  by Catherine Pulsifer

What can YOU do today to inspire, encourage, & help someone else?

Visit the National Grief Awareness Day page by clicking on the above photograph or click here:

"Coming Out of the Darkness & Into the Light" 2014 National Grief Awareness Day Project We our trying to educate our society on grief and what grief is really like. Our purpose is to take grief out of the dark and into the light. We want to break the silence and smash the stigmas surrounding grief. There is nothing wrong with grieving.  No one person grieves the same.  Time has nothing to do with grief. We no longer will hide our grief! Sending warm hugs to my grieving community. Angie Cartwright  To join the community on Facebook, click here

I hope you'll visit the National Grief Awareness Day pages

I invite you to leave a note of hope, 
encouragement, or remembrance 
below in memory of those you grieve...

As Angie Cartwright says, "We no longer hide our grief!"

New Pencils & Crayons

The first day of school is an exciting time for parents, teachers, and or kiddos. The feelings and emotions compared to those on the last day of school are polar opposites, at least for me. To say good-bye to our kids on the last day of school is bittersweet.  We, the teachers, are excited to see them grow and blossom into the beautiful butterflies they are designed to be the next year yet to watch them leave is also sad. The part that gives a teacher encouragement is the knowledge that next year's teacher is going to love, nurture, and teach our kiddos with as much vigor and warm fuzzies as us.

With this said, today was a GREAT day! We met our new kiddos and their parents today as the kindergartners joined us for their "bus run" this morning. It's a great way to introduce the kiddos, and the parents, to the bus and the school setting. As the kiddos cross the threshold into their career of learning, they have their biggest cheerleaders at their side...their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or guardian.  Read Alouds & Learning to Read

Adventures & Learning Once inside the school, the look of amazement and wonder captured in these innocent eyes can take your breath away. Education is a blessing many take for granted, if only we viewed it through the eyes of a four or five year old as they enter school for the first time...imagine the change of attitude and desire to learn, to be the best each of us can be. Yesterday, as the staff in my district joined together for our kick-off to the new year, I was encouraged, inspired, and motivated to be the best teacher I could be. The superintendent's message, our union's goal, and our building principal's message all echoed the same thing - relationships!

As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

What is your role in inspiring, empowering, educating, or encouraging the next generation?

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. 
I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
Isaiah 45:3 NLT

What is one item you've found or that was returned to you that reminded you of a loved one passed? Will you share?