Finding Grace #350

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Trees

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a pretty good week! It was fairly calm and relaxing compared to some weeks. You could say I am cozy and thankful!

Work kept me busy, but most of the dietitians were back in the office, so I didn’t have quite as much on my plate. I was able to move back into my own office, as my friend is back from her maternity leave. It is quieter at my own desk because my office is a little harder for patients to find! LOL

We had more snow this week, but it was very pretty. I cleared snow several nights after work but thankfully did not slip again! My elbow is slowly healing – it is now a mix of purple and tan. It is still painful, so I appreciate your prayers for continued healing!

I rewatched Seasons 1 and 2 of The Chosen during the week, and then Lydia and I watched the first two episodes of Season 3 in the theater today! It was amazing! If you haven’t already checked it out, please download the free app so you can watch it. Season 3 will be on there soon… you don’t want to miss it!

On Friday, I got a small upgrade to my kitchen! I had a new faucet installed, as the old one was rusting out. It didn’t turn anymore and was having water pressure issues. The new one is bigger and works a little differently, but it is really pretty!

Tonight, Lydia is at a friend’s birthday sleepover. I ran a few errands and am catching up around the house… laundry, bills, cooking, etc. I also need to wrap some birthday presents for Lydia (for Monday!), so this is the perfect opportunity while she’s not home!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #349

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Snowfall

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week, was fun and good, but also a little crazy.

We had a fabulous time on Sunday with our African neighbors. I also called them later in the week to make sure they were prepared for our first snowstorm of the season. I encouraged them to get some groceries ahead of time. After the storm stopped, I called to check in. The kids loved the snow, though they are still getting used to the wind and cold.

My work-week was wild at times! It was a four-day week due to Veterans Day, so we had more to do than usual in a shorter amount of time. We have had a lot of coverage needs lately, but in a couple of weeks, we should be fully staffed again – the first time since July 15th! Nonetheless, I am glad to be doing the work I am called to do!

On Thursday, we had about seven dietitians out, due to the snowstorm, sickness, maternity leave, training, travel, etc. There were four of us left to get everything done! We each earned a ‘golden ticket’ which is a token of appreciation; they can be turned in later for some time off. So that was cool!

On Friday, Lydia and I both were home for Veterans Day. Some friends came over to visit. The mom and I caught up over a cup of coffee, while the girls made resin coasters. It will be fun to see how they turn out!

Today, Lydia was invited to hang out with another friend from school. She was at their house most of the day, so I did a few Saturday chores, cooked some food, and then relaxed.

Of note, I was clearing some snow in my driveway today when I slipped on the ice and fell hard. I hit my head, back, and right elbow. It was a little shocking! I did not pass out, thankfully, but I am fairly sore from my neck to my hips, and my elbow has a distinct greenish-purple bruise. I did put down some salt to help melt the ice, but I appreciate your prayers as I rest and recover!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #348

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of River

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week, we had something going on several days/nights. Thankfully, all the activities were good… Monday and Tuesday were fairly normal besides some errands.

On Wednesday night, we volunteered at church. This time, we helped in the three to five-year-old class. Lydia had fun reading to the kids, coloring, setting up little bowling pins, and playing kitchen with them. The kids were so cute!

On Thursday night, Lydia had Biogirls. I ran a couple of errands and then picked up Lydia and her friends. It is fun to hear them chat in the back seat! Then, Lydia showed me some of the moves she has been learning! I am impressed!

On Friday night, Lydia had another friend’s birthday party at the Fargo Force hockey game. She had fun, and I had a little free time! I hung out at home and enjoyed doing nothing in particular. After, a long week, it was perfect! 🙂

Work was busy but good. I had a good performance evaluation and earned high marks! I also got to collaborate with several people in order to meet my patients’ needs. I enjoy what I get to do!

Today, I took Lydia and some friends to a pottery class at the local art museum downtown. During their class, I met a dear friend for coffee and had a fun time catching up! Then, I took the girls out to lunch. It was fun to see these little ladies at the restaurant, and it was a beautiful day for a little adventure!

Friendly reminder: Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour tonight! I called my new African neighbors to explain Daylight Savings Time, and they were really grateful as they’ve never experienced this before!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #347

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Deer

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week was low-key at first but then picked up at the end.

Lydia was still sick on Sunday and stayed home on Monday. We used the day to rest, and I made sure she ate. Thankfully, she felt better (enough) Tuesday, and we went back to work and school! I am grateful for some awesome coworkers who could cover all my duties!

Work was busy as usual, but I did my best as usual. I had some fun patients and some good conversations with professionals in other fields. My dietitian coworkers and I had fun dressing up for an early Halloween party on Friday. We did a group costume where one person made a pool table costume to wear, and almost everyone else was the colored balls! I happened to be the cue stick. We all had a good laugh! 

My friend with the new baby came over for Chinese food and a movie. It is so fun to see how much the baby has grown over the last eight weeks. It reminds me of how Lydia was once so little… she really enjoys holding the baby, too. 

Today, Lydia had a playdate with a friend. They went to a dance class and had fun! I cleaned the bathtub and paid some bills in peace. 😉 Later, we bought some Halloween candy for trick-or-treat and ran a couple of errands. It was a beautiful day to get outside!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #346

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Beech

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week was sweet and straightforward. We enjoyed Zoom with family and more baby snuggles. My work was fairly routine with a few highlights professionally.

I started working with two different cancer patients who are each contemplating the need for feeding tubes. I reviewed the ‘how and why,’ and gave them an idea of what to expect.  There were some similarities and differences, so I had to account for each nuance. I also am following a patient who has grown more malnourished over the last few months. I reached out to his doctor after performing an extensive micronutrient assessment on him. She agreed with me that he needs greater intervention than what he has been receiving. I hope they all improve soon, and I am glad I could advocate for my patients.

Lydia had a ‘fall break’ with three days off school. She went to the Y and enjoyed playing with some Kindergarteners. She’s one of the oldest kids there, but I am having her focus on her attitude and try to help others instead of complaining.

Today, Lydia woke up sick. She’s spent most of the day on the lounge chair, mostly sleeping. I did some of our normal Saturday chores, but otherwise, I just tried to be quiet so she could rest. We appreciate your prayers that she feels better tomorrow!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #345

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Coast

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week was relatively low-key and smooth. Not much happened out of the ordinary, but sometimes that’s a good thing!

On Monday, I was off for Columbus Day. I appreciated having off the federal holiday; it’s a free day for me because Lydia still has to go to school! I planned to do a little relaxing, but instead I was very productive! I worked on a self-evaluation for work and took a two-hour test for continuing education. I also worked on some business stuff related to my book. It all was a huge relief and accomplishment!

Work was busy, as usual, but I was able to stay on top of my paperwork for the most part. I had several opportunities to advocate for my patients this week, too. On Friday, we had a chili cook-off, and two of my coworkers (on maternity leave) brought in their newborns for a little visit. It was so good to see them and eat some yummy chili!

Ironically, I saw three newborns this week! Two at work and one at our house! Yes, our friend brought her baby over again this week. It was fun to watch Lydia snuggle with the baby. I’m glad we were around to help out!

Today, we called my mom for her birthday, and had a great time talking with her! We also did some chores, and I completed an hour of working out. It was a fun goal, but I don’t do that every day. This afternoon/evening, Lydia went to friend’s birthday party, so I finally had some time to relax. I made some pancakes and brownies… I made them healthier and used up some Greek yogurt in both recipes! I also watched a movie, worked on my blog, paid some bills, and did some reading. It was a beautiful day outside too. Perfect for some alone time!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #344

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Harvest

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a busy but relatively calm week!

Work was fairly quiet. I had plenty of patients and tasks to do, but I had a little more time in between each thing. I don’t know if I was more productive or not, but I certainly felt more productive because I actually got things done! It felt good to finish most of my work, as I was a bit behind the last few weeks!

On Tuesday night, my friend brought her month-old baby over! We were able to chat and give them a change of scenery. The baby had been crying all day and not sleeping well. Then, Lydia and I both enjoyed holding her, while my friend ran a quick errand. She’s still adjusting to taking the baby around town… there is so much to prepare for! Of course, the baby slept the entire time for us! 🙂

Speaking of babies, on Wednesday night, we volunteered at church. I have helped many times over the years, but Lydia is just easing into it. As a parent, I see that she’s at the point of needing to serve or risk being bored with church. We signed up to help in the 3 to 5-year-old room but ended up filling in for the 4 to 23-month-old room. It was not quite what Lydia expected, but she adjusted. One little girl attached herself to Lydia, who was the only one who could calm her down! In addition to playing with the toddlers, I changed three dirty diapers and wiped several snotty noses. It’s been a while since I did that!

Today, we did our normal Saturday chores, but mostly we just relaxed. I made some delicious vegetable beef soup. I used low-sodium V8, ground beef, frozen mixed veggies, and a few seasonings. I’m looking forward to having leftovers for a few days!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #343

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Oak

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a really good week! I enjoyed talking with family, including my parents who live in Florida. Hurricane Ian brought wind and rain, but they were protected. The hurricane was not a direct hit for them. There is much to be grateful for, and my prayers are with those who were affected.

All week long, I was behind on charting at work. I tried not to be too stressed, however. Several of my coworkers helped out, as I kept getting patients which took time away from getting caught up. One day, they took four of my easier patients, and then I got three more since I am in the walk-in clinic. It was a little funny, and I am glad to be part of such a great team of ladies!

I happily noticed our new little neighbor girl was wearing Lydia’s old winter coat! The mornings certainly felt chilly in the 50s and 60s, but of course, it will only get colder! I was honored when the mom called me simply to check on me. She hadn’t made it to the bus stop because of the chilly weather, but she wanted to make sure I was doing well and having a good week. That little surprise made my day!

My medical test went well, and I received excellent news that everything is normal. I had a follow-up on Friday, and my provider said I didn’t need to come back! She made a couple of recommendations to ease my gut symptoms, and I will be implementing those. All in all, it is a huge relief knowing that I don’t have to make big changes. Praise God!

This week, I did some hands-on projects. I bought and put together a dolly/cart and used it to move and assemble some gym equipment. I had asked someone for help, but they weren’t available when I was. It will be a couple of weeks until they are free, and I decided not to wait any longer. The equipment was fairly heavy going down the stairs, which ironically made me feel strong and accomplished just moving it! I prayed for God to help me, and He did! I am proud of myself for doing the hard work and getting it done!

As I drove around town this week, I noticed some of the beautiful fall colors starting to pop! It’s such a pretty time of year! I mowed yesterday, but only did the long parts. Some of the grass didn’t really need it! Lydia was also glad she didn’t have to help after all! 😉

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #342

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Autumn leaves

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a busy but good week! We celebrated the first day of fall with some cooler temperatures. The colors of the leaves are starting to pop!

This week’s highlight was talking to my neighbors (new and old). I offered Lydia’s old jacket to my new neighbor for her daughter. It was a special moment, and I gave her a hug. She and her husband both thanked me a couple more times. Another neighbor had an important medical appointment, and I was glad to hear her good news. I’m really grateful to live in this community.

This week, Lydia and I both noticed Dave unexpectedly coming up with ‘random’ people. I had two people ask about my personal details, one Veteran and one nurse. I politely answered, and they were apologetic and kindly offered support. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about Dave and the Veteran especially identified with my loss. Then, Lydia had younger kids at the Y asking her what happened because one of our neighbors was talking about it. I don’t think they meant any disrespect, but it put Lydia on the spot.  I think it turned out alright, though it is still a little strange these conversations all happened in one week!

For my work week, I had a lot of fun teaching an inaugural class called “Eating to Reduce Pain and Inflammation.” We are affectionately calling this “ERPI” and hope this series is a turning point for our Veterans. Sometimes cutting back on unhealthy foods, or adding healthy ones, is not that exciting. But, we have found that pain is a big motivator in making healthy changes!

On Thursday, I picked up Lydia and her friends from Biogirls. It is fun to be the driver for a bunch of girls and listen to what they are talking about. There was a lot of laughter!

Really, Lydia had an exciting week all around. On Tuesday, she celebrated a friend’s birthday. She and others were invited to surprise the girl at her house and then stay for treats. Then, on Friday, Lydia took a school field trip to the planetarium!

Today, I was on-call for work. I did not have to go in, which is always a nice surprise. Either way, we had family come to visit and stay with Lydia just in case. It’s always nice to have company!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Finding Grace #341

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free photos of Lake

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a great week! On Sunday, we rearranged Lydia’s room which made it look a little bigger. We simply swapped the bed with the dresser, but she is quite happy!

On Tuesday morning, my trees were professionally trimmed! They look so good, and I am glad I finally decided to do it. The cost was in the middle of what the quote stated, so I also feel good about that.

On Thursday, Lydia went with friends to Biogirls while I went to the chiropractor. My back is feeling really good these days, and I am grateful. I also have been strategic in my workouts so that I feel good longer between adjustments.

Last night, we visited our friend with her newborn daughter! We brought Chinese for dinner and enjoyed a movie and baby snuggles! I hope we can do that again soon!

Lydia had a good week at school. She was especially happy to be chosen to ‘help’ the Kindergarteners during their lunchtime. She and a couple of classmates showed them how to go through the lunch line and use the keypad payment system. They also helped them find seats and opened milk cartons. Next week, there will be some other 5th graders chosen to help, but Lydia said how cute the Kindergarteners were!

Today, Lydia went to another birthday party to swim at a hotel. I worked on a few more organization projects around the house and cooked some meals for the week ahead.

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!