December 31st has arrived!  The sun is shining, snow is gently melting with rays of sunlight reflecting off the crystalized snow and tiny puddles of newly melted snow.  It is so beautiful!  To think this is only a glimpse, not even comparing to what Heaven will look like...take a moment and enjoy this beauty if you are in upstate New York.  Regardless of where you live, God has created a beautiful setting...we each need only to slow long enough to enjoy it. 

As I reflect back on my 2010 I am overwhelmed at the course my year took.  One year ago I wouldn't have guessed I would be working on finishing my book, preparing to seek an agent and blogging.  I didn't even know what blogging was!  Yet midway through the year - I chose to listen to God and follow his course.  It has been a wild ride.

There are days I can write all day without a pause while others make my head and heart hurt so much I just sit...a blank stare or "odd faces" (as my family will say) when I'm not sure what I remember, how I feel or how to begin to express these same perplexed feelings.  YET...if I take a moment to pray asking God for His guidance, His help and His words - I usually hear "You are trying to do this in your strength...not mine!"  Ouch...truth hurts. 

So a goal for 2011 is to lean on God to finish the revisions so others can feel His loving arms wrapped around them in their times of trouble and stress.  He is faithful and doesn't leave us...I'm opening my arms and resting in Him as I write.

I'll pray and think about my 2011 goals and post them tomorrow!  You can help keep me accountable this year!  :)

Happy New Year's Eve!  Be safe and celebrate the 2010 by sharing memories and highlights of the year past while setting goals and striving for more and something greater in 2011!  With God...anything is possi

I spent between an hour and two hours last night working on my book proposal - to be "clear and concise" with a conversational yet professional tone.  LOL  It is a ton of fun yet my brain was so tired I was struggling so I took my cold meds and snuggled in around 12:30 a.m. and called it a night.

The goal today is to work on revising the next chapter, respond to Blog postings & emails while still thinking about my wording for the actual proposal.  For a break I have a coffee/tea date with one of my dearest friends of over twenty years. I have to finish the nursery schedule for church too...a busy day yet I should be able to lay my head on my pillow with "Productive" stamped on my forehead.

Wednesday was suppose to be a day of work but instead in developed into a day of unexpected R & R.  It was fun and there are fewer leftovers haunting my family too.  A day of laughter and eating - now to write and exercise! LOL

I'll be sharing the journey of having a sister abducted through the eyes of her one and only sister yet with a broad enough theme to help anyone who has experienced loss.  What is one thing you would like to learn from reading my book? 

A restful and sound night's sleep always make placing both feet on the floor an added blessing.  I awoke to silence in the house - a blessing in itself! lol  Not even the dogs barked when they heard me starting to move about. 

Other than the sound of the coffee brewing...silence.  I enjoyed a couple hours of quiet devotion with Jesus this morning!  My goodness I knew I was missing an extended quiet time yet I hadn't realized how much until I looked at the clock and it had been over two hours! 

God is good and refills the empty...praying for the time to continue this refreshing and refilling when the work week starts again next week.  It was nice to spend time praising, thanking and listening without the crunch of "getting ready" looming over my head. 

I pray you find this time too...the goal is to finish another chapter's revisions today.  Other than a trip to Oswego for calling hours - the day is His for

I spent Sunday afternoon out and about with my daughter so she could browse with her Christmas money from Grandma.  (On a side note - other than treating me and her Gram to a pretzil, she saved her money - very proud of her!) 

During our travels we walked through PetSmart, Barnes and Noble, the mall and then a quick trip to JoAnn Fabrics.  In one of my writing books it had a chapter on taking in something to restore and trigger your inner creativity prior to writing.  I must say walking through Barnes and Noble is an inspiration in itself with all the books, journals and aromas surrounding you as one walks through the maze of shelving.  I could spend an entire day just soaking in the genious captured within those walls.  I found the book I was looking for and purchased it with a gift card from my secret santa at work.  Yeah!!!  I left the doors with such a desire to write when I got home...where to begin?

We ended our adventure at JoAnn Fabrics - touching the fabrics, yarns and looking through the various crocheting books - a different creative muse was triggered yet one in the same with my writing. 

Once home and settled in for the evening I organized my book - to revise or work on the book proposal!!! Write and revise of course!  It was nice to get back to my writing - I have missed it.  I need to find the healthy balance so my writing gets the daily time I crave and it needs to be the best book possible.

Come Spring this will be a little easier as I'm letting go of some current responsibilities to allow more time to write and be obedient to God and His calling on my gifts. 

All in His time...

Thanks for reading!  What is one thing you would like to learn when you read my book?

Lisa :)

I pray you had a blessed and love-filled Christmas day with your family and friends! 

Our Pastor's Christmas Eve message reminded us not to focus on the outer packaging but on the contents within.  He started with an analogy of the most beautiful wrapped Christmas gift and the reason for shaking and guessing about the contents...because we want to know what is on the inside.  In the same way...it isn't the outer wrappings that determine the value of the gift , it is the gift itself.  The greatest Gift ever given wasn't given to you or me with the best setting, wrappings or conditions but instead was born in the most humbling situations.

This Christmas I pray you have accepted this Gift...Jesus Christ in your heart and life! 

You can't judge the package by the wrappings...it is what is on the inside that matters.  This applies to us too!  We may look prim, proper and focused on Jesus but if the heart isn't living the same life...we aren't honoring God or being true to ourselves.

I pray your outer wrappings match your inner heart...one of Hope, Love, Peace and Joy this holiday season.  Let your friendships, fellowship and work ethic be a gift reflecting the beauty of knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him.

Merry Christmas!
Lisa :)

I'm feeling even better today than yesterday!  Praise God...He has given me the energy and health needed to enjoy this precious time of year. 

I spent the morning with my mom picking up grocery items (I forgot yesterday at three stores, lol) and then a few last minute stocking stuffers.  It was fun to laugh and visit with my mom both last night and this morning.

Once home the house has been filled with laughter and the aroma of Christmas Eve foods simmering, baking and cooking. 

A friend asked me last night "How is the writing coming?"  Another friend stopped me amidst the chaos of grocery shopping to ask how the book was coming this morning.  If two have asked...more are wondering.

The writing was paused to complete an afghan Christmas gift...with over a week off from school ~ watch out!  I plan on warming these keyboard tabs to their limit! 

Check back tomorrow!
Merry Christmas!
Lisa :)

Hello fellow bloggers!  Sorry I missed you yesterday - with the exception of a trip to the doctor I spent the day down and out.  What I thought was a cold turned out to be strep-throat.  Feeling better this a.m. - not 100% but well enough to sit up straight and walk and TYPE!

Heading back to work with the doctor's permission since I'm not contagious.  Looking forward to seeing those smiling faces for the last time in 2010 -

Praying to be able to think and write.  Clarity is still hasn't returned, lol.

Have a great day!
Talk to you tomorrow!
Lisa

Christmas is a time to slow down and reflect of Jesus' birth - celebrating!  I pray to do this along the side of all of you. 

I find writing relaxing!  What do you find relaxing and will invest some time in this week?

Have a great day!
Lisa

I might post again tonight. :)

Monday afternoon and my mind started working on my book proposal before the school day was over.  Now this isn't very productive when I still needed to be an effective assistant in the kindergarten classroom.  Thankfully the day ended with a meeting. 

I was debating on whether to start with working on the book or with the proposal and have decided to work on some revisions.  If time, the proposal. 

I still have some crocheting to finish on the afghan I made for a friend.  Hoping to complete that tonight and give it to her (again) tomorrow.  I gave the unfinished and "hooked together" afghan to her last Friday and brought it back home to finish it. LOL

Crocheting and writing...they are related as I've explained in an earlier post. :)

Talk to you tomorrow!
Lisa :)

Inquiring minds want to know...

With vacation fast approaching so does the anticipation of finishing my book proposal.  I've been reviewing the elelments I need to include so when I sit down at the computer the ideas and answers will flow swiftly from my brain to my fingertips.  :)

I am writing to help siblings who have lost a sibling tragically, especially one directly associated with kidnapping and abduction. Yet as I read your comments and emails I know there are more interested and expressing a desire to buy the book when it is published. 

In an attmept to make sure my goals and ideas are similar to yours - would you take a moment to post why you are interested in reading my book? 

Thank you and God Bless!
Lisa ;)

Hello my fellow bloggers!  I apologize for not posting this week - it has been a week full of events and "things to do".  The Christmas play with the Oswego Children's Theater has come to an end for the 2010 year.  School is winding down for Christmas break.  Christmas crafts and gifts are nearing completion. 

A lot has finished or is nearing an end yet there is so much more to come.  One week from today the majority of America will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!  A blessed and glorious time to remember the greatest gift ever given...Jesus Christ!

 We had a snow day this past week and spending the day writing would have been wonderful yet I was on crunch time to finish crocheting an afghan for a friend (and my secret santa) at school.  Although I spent the majority of the snow day crocheting and any free moments at the theater and school busying my fingers - it wasn't a finished product when I gave it to her.  I brought it home for the weekend to finish it - :)  Thank goodness for a gracious friend! 

Antcipation and excitement for the time to get some serious writing done!  Four day work week this week - then a 6 day vacation including two full weekends.  I"m looking forward to "free time" and WRITING TIME!!!  We have left our schedule wide open - nothing scheduled! 

A great feeling!  Enjoy this last week of Advent and remember why we are celebrating this week!  I anticipate solid writing time yet not as much as I look forward to celebrating the greatest gift given...glad I have accepted it!  Have you!

Lisa :)

This is one of the phrases we use at school while utilizing Lucy Calkin's Writing program.  As I reflect on this statement  - "when you're done, you've just begun" I think about this weekend.  The Oswego Children's Theater's annual Christmas performances conclude this weekend with one show tonight and a matinee on both Saturday and Sunday.  This aspect of my "things to do" is coming to an end while one more exciting is just beginning!

It is time for family and celebrating the Christmas season!  It is time to work on those revisions and finalize my book proposal so I can send it off to the agent.  All in God's timing - praying as I'm done with the theater a time of writing, celebration and family are just beginning. 

Have a great weekend!

I'm not talking about the "pink elephant in the room" no one is talking about but instead a little carved wooden elephant.  My mother and I were chatting about a project my dad is working on for a Christmas gift this year when I noticed a small carved wooden elephant.  It made me smile - a memory.  One I had forgotten...

That small carving represents the first prize won for my writing!  Neither my mother or myself could remember what I had written or how old I was yet until we saw the elephant...pfft...a memory buried under the dust in the bottom drawer.  Now though....we're hoping to find the date and hopefully the writing to share with all of you.
Mom thinks it may be in my baby book. 

We will be in the attic in the next week to get out the Christmas decorations - I will check in my baby book and see if the writing is there.  If it is - I'll post a picture of my first prize winning writing and my trophy! 

I remember the joy of winning that wonderful elephant...who would have known that years later it would bring a similar smile and joy!

Have a great day!
Lisa :)

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  Back to work...at least in our neck of the woods.  Yeah!  I had such a productive day yesterday - worked most of the day.   Not at school but on "the list"! 

I accomplished much in that gift of a day.  I caught up on my duties as Oswego Reading Council president for our events through June of next year.  I organized many piles within my home.  I organized my writing area (again!), worked on my book proposal a bit and on my revisions. 

I also did more crocheting ~ working on finishing those Christmas gifts before Christmas! LOL - The one is beautiful - I'm in awe.  My husband offered to buy it off me for the cost of materials so I could "buy" my secret santa a gift.  LOL  He is too cute!  What a guy! :)

Have a great day!  Off to work then a meeting then Bible Study!  A wonderful way to transition from beginning to end for a week I think - getting into God's Word with friends and family. 

Lisa :)

Good morning everyone!  What an amazing day!  I accomplished so much on my "to do list" this morning while we were still on "2 hour delay" mode!!  Yippee!!

School has since closed and I was still working through my list of things I could do when there was extra time when it hit me...I CAN BE WRITING!!!  Guess what...dust bunnies, laundry, wrapping, baking and whatever else is on that crazy list ~  you are back on the list! 

My daughter is typing her little heart away on my sister's old word processor and I love that sound - a sound I truly miss with typing on the computer.  The sound of the keys as they tap, tap, tap out genious and creativity!  The sound is inspiring...

So for my household on this snow day....writing and creativity abound and we're writing!!!  Yeah....

Enjoy your Tuesday....Charlie Brown's Christmas is on at 8 p.m. tonight on WSYR, channel 9!!! An advent must...Have a great day everyone!  I have some writing to do! 

Lisa :)

I awoke at 3 a.m. this morning, just couldn't sleep.  After tossing and turning for nearly 45 minutes I got out of bed and spent some time in the Word.  I caught up on my Advent readings from last week through today.  Then spent some time reading my daily devotionals and enjoying the quiet and listening for God's Word in my heart. 

 While listening to advent Scripture readings with some Christmas music by Chiz Rider I worked on a Christmas gift for a dear friend.  I'm crocheting an afghan for her.  I relearned how to crochet last year and have found it a great way to praise God for what he has done and pray for things heavy on my heart. 

As I was crocheting, listening to Scripture and praising and praying with each stitch I saw a similarity between crocheting and writing.  Crocheting starts with a simple series of single stitches that transform into something far more beautiful once you had  the following rows.  Even if the second row is another single stitch - it transform into something more beautiful.  But if you add a double crochet every other single crochet it creates a different pattern with more depth.  And then you could add a treble or double treble - depending on the stitch or how you incorporate the different stitches for each row will determine your pattern and finished project.

Writing is the same way.  As we start to write we have a basic idea woven in our brain  waiting to be opened up.  Once we pull the idea out and start stitching on to a piece of paper it starts to develop into a new creation.  If the idea isn't flowing like we planned - we simply start again.  Yet when we are in the groove and the ideas are flowing it is the mix the stitches up and had more depth and detail ~ the end product is even more beautiful and/or powerful than we could have imagined when we began. 

So as we write ~ let us taken the skein of yarn from the bin, start the yarn on the hook and get stitching...we all have a story to tell!  How many rows and variety of stitches does your story have woven through out...only you know until it is written.

 

Upstate New York has been blessed with a multitude of snowflakes over the past couple days.  As it was falling the roads were slippery and visibility was touch and go yet now that the precipitation has taken a break...there is nothing but beauty. 

Autumn's colors dried and darkened are now covered with the purity and brilliance of newly fallen snow.  The change of season in upstate are similar to the transformation we should be experiencing in this journey of life.  As one trial and situation leaves - it may leave behind brittle and broken pieces like the dried leaves of Autumn.  The Good News is that with Jesus in our lives the purity of Him and His healing renew and refresh the brittle and broken - today is a new day!

Celebrate!  Anticipate today...if the Lord has given us breath then He has more planned for us!  Yeah!

I'm currently in a play with the Oswego Children's Theater - performing this weekend and next.  I haven't spent a lot of time writing since I can't "write" and attend to my lines and cues...I learned this the hard way at dress rehearsal! LOL 

Have a great weekend!  If you are looking for a family friendly and fun time - visit St. Mary's Church on West 6th Street in Oswego, New York for a triple bill of Christmas plays.  I'll be there! :) 
Show times are:
December 3rd and 4th - 7:30 p.m.
December 5th - 2:00 p.m.
December 10th and 11th - 7:30 p.m.
December 11th & 12th - 2:00 p.m.
For more information about the play - Call 342-5265 or 529-1009 for reservations, or more information, or e-mail oswegochildrenstheater@hotmail.com.

Visit the Son on Sunday to celebrate the 2nd week of Advent...Christmas is coming!

Lisa :)