Category: Finding Grace Weekly Recap

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #471

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 Red Finch Bird photo and picture

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

This was a good week. We zoomed on Sunday, and while we missed my mom’s cheerfulness, it was good to be “together.” Our family text chain is not the same without here either. We chat several times a week, giving updates, prayer requests, jokes, and pictures. But, it does bring us some comfort now, too.

Back in December, I filmed an update on my testimony for church. On Sunday, it aired during the service. I was grateful for the opportunity to do that again, and of course, it was a personal reminder of God’s goodness and the need to keep moving forward. I had several friends reach out after church, and all of them cheered me on.

The weather this week was sunny and reached the 60s (F). Overnight, however, the temperature dropped thirty degrees! The wind was so strong, I thought it would blow over the fence along my property line. I prayed because it had just been replaced (for the third time!). We had a few snow flurries here and there, but it melted quickly. Lydia and I saw a pair of housefinches on the deck and in one of our trees. I’m grateful for God’s goodness!

This week, I talked with two dear friends on the phone. One has known my parents for over fifty years, so knew us from before we were born. The other is the mom of my college BFF. She has always been such an encouragement to me. Both ladies are like family and it was wonderful to catch up! I’m grateful for all their prayers over the years, especially now.

Today, I caught up around the house. I did a little cooking, cleaning, and reorganizing. Lydia helped me for a bit and then hung out with another friend.

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Travel, Worship

Finding Grace #470

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 Trail Winter photo and picture

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

This week was full of family and friends, which was joyful as we celebrated my mom’s life. But, of course, there was also sadness and grief. 

We spent Sunday and Monday working around my parents’ house and hanging out with loved ones in Florida. We helped my dad by going through my mom’s clothing and accessories. We chose some of my mom’s personal items to keep or share with loved ones. We also made decisions about what to donate. Mom always loved blessing others, so I think she would be pleased.

On Tuesday afternoon, we flew back to Fargo. It was difficult to leave my dad, but his brother, John, stayed behind with him for a few days. Lydia and I had three flights and arrived home around 11:30 p.m. Everything went smoothly, praise God. We went straight to bed so that we could get up early for work and school.

Work went well, though, to be honest, my heart wasn’t really in it. I think it will be a struggle for a little while since convincing people to change food habits pales in comparison to grief and thoughts of eternity. My coworkers have all been so kind to check in and let me talk, as needed. I know from previous experiences with grief that it just takes time to process and move forward. But I also appreciate your prayers!

Often on Friday afternoons, I would call my mom to check in. So, it is sad not to be able to do that anymore. On top of that, yesterday, I went to the grocery store and saw random items Mom would typically buy. I was sad, but when I got home, a card was in the mail and reminded me that God comforts us like a mother does her child. Perfect timing, Lord! A little bit later, I called my aunt. We reminisced together and it was exactly what I needed. God is so good.

Today, I caught up around the house. I made some sourdough bread and some sourdough pancakes. Lydia hung out with a friend, and one of my friends visited me. She listened to me talk about Mom and encouraged me. It was so kind of her!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks one hour forward! Spring is around the corner!

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom

Finding Grace #469

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!
Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!
This week was bittersweet, a mix of difficulty and blessing. As you may know, my mom died last weekend, a couple of hours after I posted my weekly recap.
So, the week was spent trying to get many things in order! Sunday and Monday were spent packing and planning, contacting people who loved Mom. I also worked a half day to tie up some loose ends. Sometimes, those tasks are helpful when grieving because they give your mind something to focus on. In terms of packing, we essentially threw in the same items from last week and a few more outfits.
On Tuesday morning, we flew to Florida again. This time, we had an early flight and two layovers. Thankfully, we arrived safe and sound and could continue helping Dad plan Mom’s services. It was soothing to go through pictures and remember how much fun we had with Mom. God has come through for us in so many ways.
This week, family and friends from several states gathered together in honor of my Mom. And, today, we had her memorial service at my parents’ local church. They are a very loving group, and it felt good to be amongst those who knew my parents well, even if just for a short while.
Thanks again for all the love and support. I appreciate your continued prayers, especially for my dad, Tom. Life is short, just a vapor, really. Please get to know Jesus and live for Him. And, hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.
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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #468

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 Forest Nature photo and picture

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

This week was good, though it felt both short and long, lol. We arrived home on Monday and prepared for the week ahead.

We had only four days of work, but they were full! I attended an online nutrition training for three days, provided coverage for other areas, and answered phone calls afterward. One Veteran required me to work with our Prosthetics team to get a new feeding tube. I stayed an extra hour on Friday to get things done, but I feel good about what I accomplished.

On Thursday night, Lydia had an orchestra concert. She played five songs, including two for the chamber orchestra. It was fun to see and hear all her hard work.

The weather was below zero at the end of the week and above thirty today. It feels like a wild card, but I will take it! 😉

Today, Lydia hung out with a friend for a couple hours. I made some sourdough bread and made some phone calls. It felt good to have a day at 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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #467

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 Mountains Forest photo and picture

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

This week, I had a short work week since Lydia and I had special plans.

I worked Monday through Wednesday and tried to stay on top of things. I thought I would get behind since I had a lot of patients. But, then a few people canceled last minute. I enjoy seeing people, but in this case, it was helpful! 🙂

 One highlight was starting a book club with some of my coworkers. I asked them to read Atomic Habits, and we met on Tuesday to discuss it. It is a good book so far, with applications for many of our patients!

It was very cold again this week. Nothing unusual with that. LOL

Thankfully, Lydia and I are spending time with loved ones in warmer weather for the long holiday weekend. It has been good to be together!

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #466

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 Snow Landscape photo and picture

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

This was a good week, and I saw God moving all around me.

A friend shared about an answer to prayer. I was honored she included me as I have been praying for this situation for awhile. I know God’s timing is perfect, but sometimes we feel like He takes His own sweet time! 😉

I had more of the usual meetings and patients at work, but it was the right amount of busyness and downtime so I could get caught up. My tasks this week included continuing education, updating a nutrition handout; formatting a phone book collecting our contacts across several states; and a couple other efficiency projects to help my coworkers. All good things!

We got a little snow this week, perhaps up to five inches or so. I have not really tracked it this season since it is so much less than normal. I shoveled a bit, but my snow service took care of most of it!

Today, I was on call for work but did not need to go in. Woohoo! Instead, I worked on a few things around the house, ran some errands, and did more of my normal Saturday things! Tonight, I plan to relax a little with Lydia.

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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)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #465

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 Snow House photo and picture

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

This felt like a longer week, but overall, it was good.

At work, I had a few meetings and lots of great patients. I had some good conversations with several coworkers and worked on some annual competencies. I also had several Veterans who were grateful to meet with me. Despite the political drama nationally, I am glad to be a federal employee and feel proud of my service role.

The weather was a bit warmer in the 40s. On Wednesday, I told a friend, “This is amazing for February…” and she reminded me that it was January! But, of course, today is the first of February, and we are getting a dusting of snow. 😉

I had a lot of good conversations with family and friends this week. I am so glad for all the people in my circle!

Today, I relaxed a bit at home and then ran around the VA kitchen, as I picked up an evening shift. I was filling in, but someone also called in sick, so it was good I went in. It always feels good to work hard!

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #464

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 Road Trees photo and picture

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

This was a good week! I love January because it is quiet and there are fewer activities. I don’t enjoy being busy-busy-busy. Even so, I relied on God’s grace to get me through.

I had a full work week, though it was only four days long! I had friendly patients and attended some good trainings and meetings.

The weather was beautiful overall. The temperature varied quite a bit, and we got a little snow, mostly flurries. I shoveled a bit but did not have too much trouble. I enjoyed watching the snow, and the traffic was not too bad. Florida got more snow than we did! 😉

I enjoyed looking at the stars and planets this week. I used the SkyView app and was able to see several parts of our galaxy from my living room and bedroom (different sides of the house). It was so cold that I didn’t want to go outside!

Today, I caught up around the house and made some phone calls. Lydia and I did some reading and made some cookies. It was a peaceful time together!

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #463

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 Sundog Winter photo and picture

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

This week felt like a wildcard! It was good, no doubt, just lots of things going on.

Work was good and busy. I was on the go all day for a couple of days, moving from one class or appointment to the next. It does make the time go fast, though! We also had a new dietetic intern start with us; she will be at the VA for the next few months.

We had routine dentist and orthodontic appointments today. I picked Lydia up early from school, and spending a little extra time with her was nice.

I tried some new strength training workouts this week! It is fun trying to push myself.

The weather was another wild card. It was below zero for several days, with some 20s and 30s in there, too. We had both sundogs and moondogs! I chose to enjoy the weather for the most part, though on Friday, I felt like I was going to blow away! 🙂

Today was pretty quiet as Lydia hung out with a friend. We did some chores, and I caught up with phone calls and reading. I also spent some time in prayer.

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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)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #462

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 winter snow nature illustration

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

This was a good week with lots of interesting things! I have noticed it staying a little lighter each night. I read something recently that said we’ve gained almost an hour of daylight at this latitude since the winter solstice!

I had about a dozen prayer requests for friends, family, and coworkers this week. I am grateful we can trust God with these heavy burdens. He is faithful and true!

On Tuesday, I celebrated my 17th wedding anniversary. Marrying Dave is still one of the best decisions I have ever made! We were a really good team. I miss him, but I am so grateful for our time together.

Work went well with no major surprises! My coworkers officially had the day off for President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, but three of us opted to work and cover the load. I already had several patients scheduled, and we were told not to reschedule unless the Veteran requested it. I was happy to come in and got extra pay as a result. The pace was constant, but I had nice patients who were grateful we were there!

On Friday, after work, I went to the local bookstore for a cup of coffee while working on some edits for the church project I was asked to help with. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and it reminded me of all the spent there writing and editing my book!

While we received some light snow today, we’ve had a fairly mild winter thus far. I have heard some songbirds, and this week, I used my Merlin Bird ID app to identify a black-capped chickadee’s song. It was sweet and cheerful. I did not see the little bird, but they are cute and made my day!

Today, I read a book, made some calls, did a few chores, and got my oil changed. I updated my budget and am enjoying spending less overall while we use up some of our storage items (a.k.a. shopping our shelves). Of course, I have seen many tempting online ads, so I removed a couple of apps from my phone. Additionally, it would be fun to see if we can avoid going to the grocery store for a full month, but I am not putting pressure on us to do that. We’ll see how it goes!

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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)!