It’s almost funny, the things we will do to spend just a small amount of special time with the ones we love, and how we truly come to appreciate those times over the years. Christmas is one of those times. Christmas in our house was always special, always a wonderful get-together with our large, extended family. When I was very young, my parents and I would spend the entire Christmas holiday with my grandparents on the Wicomico River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. We always attended the Christmas Eve vigil at the church where my parents were married (which was built by my grandfather). While it was just the five of us there on Christmas morning, throughout the day, family would arrive until the tiny house was bursting at the seams with all of the people, presents, and holiday cheer. Dinner was a festive event with family from all over Southern Maryland popping in and out to exchange gifts and greetings. Read more
Tag: writers
Come to Child’s Pose
Everyone who has ever taken a yoga class has heard the words, “Whenever you need a break, come to child’s pose.” This morning, as we all went into child’s pose, on our knees with our heads bowed, those words really sank in for me. Typically, my mind goes to, I’ve been doing yoga for three years, I don’t need to go to child’s pose. I don’t want to take a break. Inevitably, though, when our instructor tells us to move on to downward dog, there’s a little voice in my head that says, No, it feels good to be in child’s pose! And today, I had a revelation. In life, we all need a break sometimes. We all need to come to child’s pose. Read more
Family Portraits
I know that when it comes to taking pictures, I drive my family crazy. Countless times I have heard the phrase, “Another picture?” or “Haven’t we taken enough?” or “Can I go now?” They can keep complaining. It doesn’t phase me. I will continue to take their pictures, their friends’ pictures, our pets’ pictures, our family pictures, our vacation pictures, our holiday pictures, and any other photos I feel like 
taking because it all boils down to one thing – this event, this memory, this small moment in time will only happen once and only last for an instant, and I want to remember it forever. Read more
It’s All About the Giving
I am usually finished Christmas shopping by the first of November, except for a few stocking stuffers and perhaps an extra gift here or there. That’s good because this month, we have incurred several unexpected expenses, and Ken asked me to tone down the gift giving. “No problem,” I told him, “I’m pretty much done shopping.” Then I went to my gift closet and pulled out everything I’ve bought in my travels over the past year, and guess what. I haven’t bought nearly as many presents as I thought I had. As Charlie Brown would say, “Good grief.”
I went through my list, checked it twice, noted that everyone on it had been nice, so what was I going to do? I had a few small things here and a couple of unique items there, but nothing that added up to anything special for anyone. The girls are easy. They get one nice present, an outfit, and small stocking stuffers. Luckily, those things were already ordered or stashed away. But what about our parents, our siblings, and our many nephews and niece? How can I go almost empty handed to our Christmas celebrations? Read more
Just Thinking About Tomorrow
When I was a little girl, I attended my first major Broadway musical and spent the following few weeks memorizing every word to every song. I’ve never stopped singing those songs and enjoyed watching Rebecca and then Katie play roles in school and community productions of the same play. As a child, I’m not sure I realized how many lessons I was learning 
from the little orphan girl who took in a stray dog and softened the heart of a grouchy, old millionaire, but I have always remembered and adhered to her words “the sun will come out tomorrow.”
As I watched the morning news on Saturday, I saw updates on the terror attacks in Mali, new terror threats to Brussels, and sparring politicians across this great nation. But here is the thing that struck me the most – the people of Paris gathered in the streets this past weekend for a public street party to show the world that they will not stay home, that life goes on. Almost fifteen years after 9/11, we can all attest to that. Things change, people are lost, the world is shaken, but the sun still rises, and human beings continue living, striving for the best, reaching for the stars, and living the good life as best they can. Read more
In The Palm of His Hand
A favorite song of mine has been running through my mind all morning. It’s called On Eagles Wings, and it reminds us that no matter what we are going through, God is there for us. Life can be hard. We never know what curve ball will be thrown our way. Three 
nights ago, a friend of mine from high school lost her long struggle with cancer. She was 45, unmarried, and without children. She had so much life still to live! This morning, our world was rocked with the news that another family friend has passed on. Even more tragic, this young man was just twenty-one years old; his life was only just beginning. My friend died knowing that she was being held, as the song and Psalm say, “in the palm of His hand.” The young man did not, and I wonder if that would have made all the difference.
At every moment of our lives, we are being held in the palm of God’s hand. Whether we are feeling peace or loss, profound joy or the deepest grief, God is there. Even in the times when we do not feel His presence, He is there. As the Footprints poem says, it is at the times when we need Him the most, that God carries us. I know that I have relied on this belief many times in my life, and my wish for you is that you know that you are always “in the palm of His hand.”
Amy Schisler is an author of mystery and suspense novels. Her first book, A Place to Call Home may be purchased in stores, online, and through ibooks. Her previously published children’s book, Crabbing With Granddad may be purchased in stores and on Amazon.
http://amyschislerauthor.com/amyschislerauthor.com/Books.html You may follow Amy at http://facebook.com/amyschislerauthor on Twitter @AmySchislerAuth and on her web site http://amyschislerauthor.com
What’s Your Dream?
“Welcome to Hollywood! Everyone’s got a dream. What’s your dream?” Those are both the opening and the closing lines in the movie Pretty Woman, a story in which every young woman’s childhood dream is realized when Vivian is swept off her feet by Mr. Right, a very rich and very handsome Mr. Right (okay, I would argue that she actually swept him off of his feet, but you get the point). Though many would argue, understandably so, that the road Vivian took to find her dream – running away from home, living on the streets, becoming a prostitute, and being hired by Edward for the week – is not the best way to achieve one’e dream, it’s those words that open and close the movie that come back to me over and over again. I hear them echoing in my mind at least once a week, but I can’t really explain to you why. After all these years, I’ve decided to chalk it up to my inner voice constantly reminding me that as a little girl I had a dream that until recently was nothing more than a wispy cloud elusively hovering just out of reach as I stretched my hand out the window on a mountain road. Read more
Sex in Literature
Over the last couple of weeks, I have heard and been a part of many conversations about sex in literature. These conversations have taken place at conferences, in public, and within chats among friends. I find it interesting to hear how others view this topic, what they find appropriate or inappropriate, or whether or not they enjoy reading this type of work or are simply made uncomfortable by it. I still stick to the belief I have held for all of my adult life, and as this is my blog, I’m going to share that with you now. Read more
Giving It Up
There has been a lot of talk around our house the last couple of days about giving things up. I’ve read Facebook posts by many friends extolling the giving up of bad habits, cravings, and addictions. This morning, I read a blog post about an endeavor called “40 Bags in 40 Days” in which participants pledge to declutter every day for 40 days. The decluttering can be of everything from closets to email inboxes. The key is to get rid of unwanted and unneeded “stuff.”
I’m sure each one of us can name something in our lives worth giving up for 40 days, or perhaps forever. My prayers go out to my brother-in-law who is giving up smoking. Many know what a cross that is to bear, so I’m sure prayers would be greatly appreciated, which brings me to a question I have always asked myself. Is it better to give something up or do something new spiritually? I’ve struggled with this over the years. The whole concept of giving things up is completely lost on me unless there is a real reason to do so. Giving things up just to herald that you’ve done so just doesn’t seem to be the point of all of this. I heard a priest, who has a radio show, say recently that when you give something up, you should use that extra time, money, space, etc. to do something good, help others, give to the poor, or otherwise allow someone else to benefit from your sacrifice. And that’s really the key isn’t it? Sacrifice. We aren’t supposed to be trying to lose weight or have a cleaner closet. The point is to sacrifice, to rid ourselves of the things that are making us unworthy in the eyes of God.
So, yes, I will be giving things up this year, and yes, they will be the regular things you’d expect – sweets and wine. However, I’m going to take it a step further. I’m giving up all restaurant food except for salad (a huge sacrifice since we tend to eat out more than the normal family). What I’ve struggled with is how to make that into something spiritual that benefits others around me. What have I come up with? I will find the one thing on the menu that I want more than anything else, note the cost, and donate that amount to a good cause. It may be an extra drop in the basket at church or a donation to Feed the Poor. Whatever it is, I know that my sacrifice will be helping someone else and hopefully will help me in my journey home.
What are you giving up for Lent?
Amy Schisler is an author of mystery and suspense novels. Her first book, A Place to Call Home may be purchased in stores, online, and through ibooks. Her previously published children’s book, Crabbing With Granddad may be purchased in stores and on Amazon.
http://amyschislerauthor.com/amyschislerauthor.com/Books.html You may follow Amy at http://facebook.com/amyschislerauthor on Twitter @AmySchislerAuth and on her web site http://amyschislerauthor.com
A Mother’s Love
Nineteen years. Sometimes I can’t believe it. Tomorrow, February 12, marks nineteen years since I became a mother. I don’t know where the time went since the doctor first placed my beautiful Rebecca Kathleen into my arms, but they sure have flown by. Now she’s a sophomore in college, and it’s hard to grasp the reality that she’s pretty much all grown up. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without Rebecca or her sisters, Katie Ann and Morgan. They are my daughters, my muses, and yes, as they grow older, my friends. My husband says he sometimes finds it hard to fit into our world, and I can understand that. Though we all try our best to include Ken in everything we do, we are like our own little club, my three daughters and I. Read more
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