Blog Archives

Christmas...A Time for Family

11/30/2012

A fun, festive, and full weekend of "Christmas in Mexico" ~ Mexico, New York, that is. Whether you are looking for a place to do some Christmas shopping or for a place for new or revisited Christmas traditions, this is the town for you.

I will be at the Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. to meet you all in person, share information on Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey, and enjoy the Christmas joy filling the air.

A special blog on Sunday to share the newly decorated Heidi Allen Remembrance Garden with you. Last year a kissing ball and lights, this year....? More on Sunday.

Saturday, December 1
Farmers’ Market 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Church Bazaars and Craft Shows run from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Christmas in Mexico with Friends of Bob Cratchit 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parade 4 p.m.
Christmas Tree Lighting (after the parade)
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Mexico High School

Sunday, December 2
Christmas Concert at the Presbyterian Church 3 p.m.
Children who visit the Oswego County Credit Union that day may have their picture taken with Santa. Entries for the coloring contest are open to all children ages 2-12. The first place winner will receive an 8-foot long Christmas stocking filled with toys and goodies. Second place is a $50 gift card and third prize is a $25 gift card.

For more information: There are links to the Oswego Daily News article and the "Christmas in Mexico" Facebook page on the above photos. If you are a Hallmark Christmas Movie junkie like myself then you might have seen some of the commercials for this all-day event.

If you are looking for a kick-off to
Christmas this year, come to Mexico,
New York on Saturday, December 1st, 2012!
It is going to be a fabulous and festive day.
See you there.

Comments

A Priceless Gift Wrapped With Purple Ribbon

11/29/2012

Comments

My parents love to bless me when I am not expecting it. Yesterday was one of these days. Late in the summer Ed and I invested in an antique desk and telephone table for my writing space. The goal, first and foremost to transform my make-shift writing areas into a grownup's office space. These two items were the first step. We rearranged furniture and the office was birthed.

On a different trip to the antique store (which is within walking distance from our house) I noticed this beautiful book case with glass doors. The wood and hardware would match our recent investments. There were a couple to choose from but due to finances, this wasn't above the line or a need. My organized piles in plastic bins would have to do for the time.

Of course, I shared this find with my parents on my next trip down. They said, "Well, if it is meant to be, then it will work out. And you need to return the piano to your friend in order to have the room." Both true.

Since then I have kidded with Ed, about when we would be able to afford the book case. Of course with the piano still in the room, the
bookcase would need to be stored. So the dream passed and life went on. But if you know God, He has a great sense of humor and wonderful timing.

This past week I have been in contact with my friend and she might have a home for the piano. I told Ed, "We might have a home for the piano so maybe in the spring, if the bookcase is still there...we could get it?"

He smiled and said, "Let's take it one item at a time." But of course he knew my parents put a deposit on a bookcase this summer after the first time I mentioned it.

Not only did they put a deposit down but they picked out a bigger and even more beautiful one, with storage underneath with solid doors for the items that might not "look" as pleasing to the eye. It looks just like the china cabinet from my Gram and Aunt Nancy's house, minus the scallop design on the top.

Well this beautiful bookcase of love is my Christmas gift but they feared if the piano found a new home, I would walk myself to the antique store to attempt a down payment before finding out "He had someone else interested in it." Sneaky, sneaky, parents.

With my students on the bus and my school day over my cell phone rang. First, my daughter to say "There is something weird all over the lawn. You need to come right home." followed by a call from my mom, "Lisa, are you coming right home?" With two anxious people concerned about my arrival home I grabbed my stuff and headed home.

As I approached the intersection and turned on my turn signal I noticed my parents parked in the nearby parking lot. After I turned, they discreetly started to follow me. Mind you, no undercover agencies will be seeking out their services. Haha, but they did try.

Between the phone calls and my parental tail on the ride home, I decided to grab my camera from my bag. (Always prepared for a blog, lol) I turned on my signal for my driveway when I saw all the purple flags across my front lawn. An instant smile and laugh over took me. I looked in my rearview mirror but my parents passed the house. Hmmm

I got out of the car and headed to the signs to start reading. With my parent's true sense of humor and joy for surprises, I followed the purple arrows through my lawn, across the road, through my neighbors lawn, and into the "Tughill Antique Store". Once I turned to my right I saw this beautiful bookcase (similar to my Gram's china cabinet) with Christmas lights, a large purple bow, and homemade Christmas card behind the glass.

Some might think it is the antique waiting to be moved into my new office space, also known as my entry way on Friday that triggers this excitement but it actually doesn't. Don't get me wrong I LOVE it and look forward to adding my writing and speaking books, among other things to the shelves. BUT it is the love behind the gift that means the most.

The priceless gift encompassing this entire afternoon...love of a parent for their child. They knew how much I loved the bookcase but instead of just including a photo in my Christmas card next month, they took time and care to surprise me with it.

Each purple arrow was cut out by my parents with love and the notes included expressed their joy, humor, and excitement too. The lights, ribbon, and arrows ~ purple, Heidi's favorite color. A little Heidi for the holiday. The card, handmade with pictures of Heidi and I as children and another of my Gram's cabinet. The note within the card, precious. And I can't forget the Grinch slippers on the top, sweet!

Thought, time, care, and love went into the purchase and presentation of this gift. Each time I reach for one of my writing books or items for upcoming speaking engagements I will be reminded of the great love my parents show on a daily basis. I don't need stuff to know they love me yet this bookcase will be a reminder with this and each book I write. Thank you Mom and Dad!

Comments

T.O.P.'s Tuesday ~ RECandP Wrap-Up

11/28/2012

Comments

Happy Tuesday to each of you. I pray you are enjoying this precious time of preparation for the upcoming celebration of Jesus birth, also known as "Christmas" in the retail world. As you fill your calendar with festivities and shopping, remember the reason we are busy and so joyful this time of year.

My mother-in-law had a pet peeve, the "Happy X-mas". This one statement stirred much emotion in her, so much so, she shared it with the editor of the local newspaper one year. Do you know why? It is simple, we don't celebrate the birth of letter "x". We are celebrating the birth of "Christ", hence, a very merry CHRISTmas! Her dedication to keep Jesus as the reason for the season always made me smile. This year, she is blessed with her first Christmas in heaven. Oh the joy.

With this being said, remember not to fill your schedule with so much busyness and shopping that you forget to take time to spend time with the reason for this season. I understand and struggle with the same schedules, shopping, and routine as each of you so in truth...this blog is for me as much as it is you.

Do you have something you do each year to help you keep focused on the reason for the season, Jesus' birth? Would you share with the blogosphere?

I enjoy a well written and reflective Christmas devotional. I'm thrilled for a "December" devotional to help me Cherish this Christmas. This is mine, a new daily devotional each year, and of course sitting down and reading it.

"Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey"
Updates and Sharing

*The RECandP is nearing completion - Revision, Editing, Crying, and Persevering to making the necessary changes for the best book I can offer and share with all of you

*If you are traveling through the Route 104 and 104b intersection, be sure say a prayer for Heidi and our missing children as you see the angel and star lighting their way home this Christmas season. A special thanks to my parents for the surprise and to John and Valero for providing the electricity to make this happen.

*This Saturday, December 1st, I will be at the Presybetarian Church in Mexico from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. as part of "Christmas in Mexico" ~ I will have information about my book with me too.

*Next week if you are in Adam's on Friday, December 7th ~ stop by the Adam's Baptist Church for a women's Christmas Tea and a little sharing from me

*Next Saturday, December 8th, women are invited for a special evening of fellowship and encouragement at Oswego Alliance. I have the blessing to share here too.

*Praying to submit the product of my RECandP to the publisher by the end of the week.

*Thankful for all of you!

Comments

And yet some more Christmas releases...

11/27/2012

Comments

I met Jody the first time at my writers' critique group. Her love of words and ability to play with them always astounds and encourages me. I haven't read the below books in their entirety as of today but they are in my possession and I look forward to sitting down to read them all. Of course she has shared portions of each during our critique meetings but it is always a joy to see the finished products compared to the pages we edit for each other.

Jody also blogs: https://deepcallstodeep-jody.blogspot.com/

These are beautiful books to share with your friends, family, and especially our children. Merry Christmas reading everyone!

The Best Christmas Ever is a children's story that teaches selflessness and generosity during the Christmas season. Follow one family's journey as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.

This timely devotional teaches children about giving. Twenty-five daily devotionals challenge young minds to ask questions and develop a deeper understanding about the true nature of giving. Whether it is giving time, patience, forgiveness or grace, children will be engaged, not only in the readings, but in the activities as well. This devotional can be used during Advent to help focus attention on the true meaning of Christmas or anytime throughout the year whenever there is a desire to consider the heart of giving. This book follows the same topics as The Season of Giving for adults and contains readings, scriptures, prayers, and creative activities.

Whether it is giving time, patience, forgiveness or grace, 25 daily devotionals draw the reader closer to a deeper understanding of the true nature of giving. A Season of Giving contains scriptures, readings, quotes, and focused prayers for each kind of giving. There is also a page for journaling to encourage reflection and personal growth. This devotional can be used during Advent to help focus attention on the true meaning of Christmas or anytime throughout the year whenever there is a desire to consider the heart of giving.

Currently out of print but a great read if is available again: There is a plague infecting millions today. Young, old, rich, poor, believers and non-believers alike. It strips away the ability to think, the will to act, and the drive to succeed. What is this thieving epidemic? Hopelessness. But be of good cheer, there is a cure: Holy Hope. Hope not only embodies the boundless grace of the Father, the self-sacrifice of the Son, and the encouraging promise of the Holy Spirit, but it carries and sustains the believer through difficult times. A right understanding of this Holy Hope is essential to a healthy and intimate relationship with God.

J. A. Zilske has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years and has a passion for not only teaching, but for writing about the deep principles of faith. Whether it is through poetry, devotionals, children's books or short stories, Jody enjoys all aspects of the creative journey.
Jody has taught English and writing at a variety of schools and colleges in Vermont and New York.
To Purchase any of Jody's books: Click on any of the above photos or copy and paste the below link to her Amazon page.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=j.a.zilske

Comments

A Devotional ~ "Cherish this Christmas"

11/26/2012

Comments

Are you like me? Do you look for a devotional each Christmas and Easter season to help you prepare for each of these special holidays? If so, then I have a new Christmas devotional for you to delve into this year. Paula Davis has written, Cherish This Christmas: Seeing Christ Amidst The Chaos to wet your appetite for more of Jesus this year instead of more appointments on your calendar.

Paula shares Biblical truth combined with personal experience to help us unwrap the Greatest Gift ever given this year. Her real-life application of the Bible and reason for Christmas will challenge each of us to keep the time for the Coming King as a priority instead of the next Christmas party. Of course she encourages us to embrace our family and the celebration during this time but at the same time she will encourage and challenge you to prioritize how you spend your time this year.

To purchase this book, click on either photograph or copy and paste the below links. This Saturday you can find me at the Presbyterian Church in Mexico, New York from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. I have copies of Paula's book available for sale here too.

Paula's Createspace page:
https://www.createspace.com/3940257
Paula's Amazon.com page:
https://www.amazon.com/Cherish-This-Christmas-Meditations-Season/dp/1478261552/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351642270&sr=8-2&keywords=cherish+this+christmas

About Paula:
Paula Davis’ writing encourages readers to apply God’s Word to everyday life. When years of searching for “Mr. Right” left her heart empty she turned to God for comfort and found so much more.
Paula now knows firsthand that completeness and contentment is only found when our eyes are focused on Jesus. She loves to share with others what she’s learning about the depth of God’s Love.
At Christmas time, you will find her in Central NY State reading, baking or cuddling her little dog Lucy while sipping a good cup of coffee. You can follow her blog at www.pauladavispeace.com.

Paula is an amazing person and writer. This devotional will capture your heart and thoughts throughout the day during one of the busiest times of the year. Yes, it is busy because of all the wonderful things occurring with friends and family yet the reason we celebrate and come together is because of Jesus' birth.

Paula's writing and open-heart will captivate you with tidbits of reality to nibble on throughout your day. A "quick" read in the morning that will satisfy you all day. Now if you are like me, you could "savor" this devotional each day with a deeper love and appreciation than you have paid attention to in awhile, giving you purpose and motivation to slow down and savor this daily read.

A must have for your Advent devotionals. Remember this is for the entire month. A month of drawing closer to the reason for the chaos.

Thank you Paula for sharing your heart with us! May we all seek Him this holiday season.

Comments

How many can you count?

11/25/2012

Comments

One of the songs from this morning's worship service was
"Count Your Blessings". It is a beautiful hymn to remind us of how blessed we each are. In life you will be tossed, burdened, in conflict, and discouraged BUT even with all these weights on your shoulders, God is always there. My challenge for you at the conclusion of this Thanksgiving weekend is to "count your blessings".

Will you share one of your blessings in a comment below? For each blessing you share, I too will share one.
So the more you all post, the more focused
on being thankful I will need to be. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

Sunrise to sunset...Lessons Learned

11/24/2012

Comments

Happy Saturday everyone! On Thanksgiving morning we stopped to visit my parents only to be greeted with a beautiful sunrise as we neared their house. Both Mags and I attempted to capture the beauty and majestic colors hovering over the trees but neither of us were successful. This ignited a conversation about the beauty of heaven.

"If God can welcome the day with such a beautiful sunrise, then imagine what heaven must look like Mom." So true....

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no
words; no sound is heard from them.
Psalm 19:1-3

Mother and daughter standing in awe of God's workmanship with cameras snapping photos in an attempt to capture the beauty before them. While there were pictures saved to each of our cameras, the magnificence remains only in the sky above us. The photos equal a poor representation of the beauty we absorbed.

Although my photo doesn't reflect the true range of colors or beauty, the memory of our conversation is etched on my heart. Just as we can't imagine the glorious beauty of heaven, neither can our minds grasp the how, why, and whens of God.

Instead of wasting time asking questions, we choose to embrace life and spend it living for Him in all our thoughts, words, and actions. We might always be successful but our heart-tude is in the right place.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the
heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
Psalm 19:4-6

Have you paused to watch the sunrise? What thoughts come to mind as you attempt to absorb the beauty, peace, and hope of colors wrapped around you? Do you share a similar beauty, peace, & hope with those you meet throughout the day? I pray we all do.

Comments

Happy Thanksgiving 2012...A Video Expression

11/21/2012

Comments

A few years ago some friends traveled to Boston, Mass. to learn more about the first settlers and this holiday we call Thanksgiving. The stories, pictures, and shock they returned to Oswego County which had many of us in a perplexed mode of thinking.

I don't remember the details but this part is clear, we might not be teaching our children correctly if we go by the history books. But this isn't a debate, it is a celebratory blog post so I am going to the discrepancies to the historians.

Since August we have shared a couple book trailers with you. Today's video is of a different nature. Yes, there is a picture of the book and the release date is highlighted at the end BUT this video tribute of thanks, appreciation, and love is for YOU!

We have met some amazing people through the search for our precious Heidi. You might recognize yourself, your search team, or an event as you watch the video. In addition to memories of the search for Heidi is a tribute to our family residing with God today who have since passed but are not forgotten.

Your past makes you into the person you are today. Each person, event, situation, or conversation is a piece in the puzzle called "...your name here...." My parents have spent countless hours selecting, scanning, developing, and creating today's Thanksgiving tribute. It highlights only a few of the people I'm thankful for.

I pray you enjoy the video as much as I did when my parents shared it the first time. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. Two things I am the most thankful for are my relationship and faith with God AND my amazing family.

To honor and enjoy them this holiday...I leave you with this Thanksgiving video treat. As you watch, comment, and share today's post ~ I will be baking, cooking, reading, writing, shopping, and enjoying time with my family.

See you again Friday or Saturday! This girl is on Thanksgiving break. I love you all and totally enjoy the blog but I've decided to "carve" some family time into the vacation along with my slice of turkey.

Keeping it Real...One Sister's Journey

Christmas...A Time for Family

If you are looking for a kick-off to
Christmas this year, come to Mexico,
New York on Saturday, December 1st, 2012!
It is going to be a fabulous and festive day.
See you there.

A Priceless Gift Wrapped With Purple Ribbon

T.O.P.'s Tuesday ~ RECandP Wrap-Up

And yet some more Christmas releases...

A Devotional ~ "Cherish this Christmas"

How many can you count?

Sunrise to sunset...Lessons Learned

Happy Thanksgiving 2012...A Video Expression

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Keeping it Real...One Sister's Journey

If you are looking for a kick-off to Christmas this year, come to Mexico, New York on Saturday, December 1st, 2012! It is going to be a fabulous and festive day. See you there.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

If you are looking for a kick-off to
Christmas this year, come to Mexico,
New York on Saturday, December 1st, 2012!
It is going to be a fabulous and festive day.
See you there.