Category: Gratitude

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #280

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 was a fun week! It was warm and sunny with a little haze from various wildfires (not local). I need to mow at some point, but I think I might just wait another week! 😉

Lydia had another exciting week. On Wednesday, she hung out with a friend, and they went to a tie dye camp! A few items were included in the cost of the class, but Lydia also brought her own t-shirt to dye. It was a white Caterpillar shirt, which reminds her of Dave. She doesn’t wear it as much as her black CAT shirt, given it is prone to get dirty quicker. But the tie dye turned out so well, I bet she will now!

Then, last night, we attended an outdoor musical production of Cinderella. It was so good! I always forget the actors are only in high school. The music and singing, not to mention the costumes, were fantastic! Lydia and I had a really fun time together.

Today, we slept in and have had a relatively relaxed day. I did clean out under the kitchen sink and reorganized the pantry and freezer, so that’s a win! Ironically, I found a few extra packages of frozen peas!

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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 Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Give Peas a Chance

Food and nutrition is something every human on the planet needs. That’s why I love my profession! As a Registered Dietitian, I don’t always talk about food on my blog… but when I do, I try to combine facts with practical application! 🙂

So, let’s talk green peas. I have some peas as food models at work, and they really cheer up my office! As they caught my eye yesterday, I started thinking of the number of patients who always comment on them. Most people say the serving size (half a cup) is so small!

But, when it comes to peas, you either love them or hate them. Perhaps your parents forced you to eat them before leaving the dinner table as a kid. Perhaps you secretly fed them to the dog. (I won’t tell!)

Peas come fresh or frozen or in cans. You may even grow them in pods in your garden.  They are both starchy vegetables and legumes. Peas are high in fiber and protein. They have are high in micronutrients and antioxidants, too! Check out other nutrition facts here!

Peas can be eaten alone or in a dish. Snap peas (pea pods) are kind of fun, either with dip or in stir fries. I add peas to pasta, soups, eggs, or anywhere I need a little color. I really enjoy them on top of salads, especially when they pop in my mouth!

If you’re a fan of the Veggie Tales series, you may recall the cute little French peas: Jean-Claude and Phillipe. Apparently, they are not related… and speak with Swedish accents! 🙂

You may have seen a few catchy sayings, like ‘give peas a chance’ or ‘visualize whirled peas’ or ‘make peas, not war.’ Of course, these are plays on the word ‘peace.’

As I was thinking of all-things-peas, I thought of how steaming is perhaps the easiest way to make peas quickly. Then, I thought how frozen peas are changed for the better through cooking. But, it’s probably not a ‘fun’ process for those little peas!

Basically, peas alone are nice, but the nutrition is inaccessible unless you eat them. So, really, all the healthy benefits of peas only occur after great pressure and heat. Isn’t that an interesting parallel to life?!

Trials can make or break us. When the pressures of life come, when the heat is on, let’s ask God to transform us and make something good. We ourselves are changed, but He can even use us to bless others!

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Lord, thanks for turning all our trials into something useful (and potentially sweet). Help us trust You with our potential, especially when the pressure and heat turn up. May we honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy peas? If so, what is your favorite way to eat them?

Tasks: If you love peas, eat some today! If you are not a fan, try one new way to enjoy peas. Check out these recipe ideas. Yes, give peas a chance! Peas and thank you! 😉

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Finding Grace #279

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 was an interesting week! We had fun watching fireworks with our neighbors on the 4th of July. There’s always quite a show a couple houses down from us, and also several other directions around us! I let Lydia stay up for awhile, but thankfully, she was able to still sleep while the fireworks wrapped up.

Work went well and was , once again, quite busy. We were off on Monday, but then for rest of the week, I felt behind. A double-edged sword, perhaps! Yesterday, I was able to get a little caught up. It’s good to be productive, but it’s also good to have it all be manageable!

Lydia had an exciting week. First, she lost another tooth! Then, she went to Camp Cormorant with the Y for a field trip. They ate a picnic lunch and swam in the lake! She had a ton of fun, though it pulled my mama heart strings a little to let her go without me (good practice!). We prayed that morning, which is good because the bus had a flat tire as they neared the end of the trip. Lydia said it was handled very well, and they made it back safely. I’m glad they were only a few blocks away and in town. Thank You, Jesus!

Today, Lydia had a friend over to play, while I worked on a project. In other news, my Facebook account was hacked! It made me a little sick to my stomach, but I had it all fixed within a couple of hours. I also contacted my financial institutions and notified them, just in case! Anyway, I am praying no other issues occur, but let me know if you see anything odd. Thanks for your continued support! 🙂

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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, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Wisdom

Ice Cream and Insights

Last night, Lydia and I were just discussing what to write for today’s post when we heard the ice cream truck. We don’t always get ice cream when it comes, but she had been talking about it earlier… so it seemed like perfect timing.

I quickly found some money and handed it to Lydia. One dollar bill and eight quarters. I reminded her how to order, and then I waited by the garage and watched her walk next door to where the truck sat.

Lydia spent the $3 and bought herself a fancy ice cream treat. She ran back to me and proudly told me the experience went better than she expected. It was a fun way to ease her into money management!

The ice cream sandwich went into the freezer for later. Lydia wanted it really cold! Then, we had this timely conversation:

N: Lydia, can you please unload the dishwasher?

L:  Um, do I have to?

N: Well, I did just buy you ice cream. (Coming at it from a gratitude perspective!)

L: Actually, that was the money I gave you!

N: Yes, but that’s because you owed me $3 for something else you wanted. So, the money was actually mine.

L: Oh… Well, thank you! (Said as she slowly got up to start on the dishes.)

Ironically, Lydia and I have had similar conversations in the past. I often tell her, “Come get your stuff off my table.” and “Don’t leave my lights on.” and “This is my car, and you are riding in it.” and “This is actually my house. I just let you sleep here.”

So, last night, we had a good laugh and figured this would make a good blog post! 😉

Most of Lydia’s belongings were received as gifts, with a few exceptions. Some of the things she has earned or bought for herself. Of course, I always meet Lydia’s material needs as she grows, but sometimes, I just bless her because I like to surprise her!  Thankfully, Lydia doesn’t ask for much, but we do have generous friends and family, too!

As an only child, it would be easy for Lydia to think the world revolves around her. I work really hard to make sure that doesn’t happen! And, while I don’t lord it over her, sometimes, as a mom, I have to remind her of my authority and ownership. Girl’s gotta learn responsibility!

Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure this is a good reminder for me, too! Life gets crazy, but my house and car and job and daughter… These, and more, are all a gift from God. I’m grateful He trusts me to steward them well.

Similarly, when He asks me to do something, I should be quick to obey. I don’t need to drag my feet or whine because all I have and all I am are His. I can trust He knows what is best. Even when I can’t see the end result, I can move forward trusting His plan for me.

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Lord, thanks for taking such good care of me. You fill my life with goodness and give me everything I need. Help me never take it all for granted! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Tasks: Take stock of all the gifts God has given you. These may be tangible or intangible. Praise Him, and thank Him for His goodness and provision!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #278

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 was a great week! We had fun with our weekly family Zoom meeting. Not only is it a good time to catch up and encourage each other, it’s also helpful to have a sounding board for problem solving. I’m grateful for the wisdom each person brings!

Work went well and was quite busy. But, I had fun conversations with coworkers and patients alike, so it was worth it! We had a yummy department potluck and planned another fun activity for later in the month!

I had a couple really great conversations with family this week. Even though we see each other on Zoom, I really appreciate the one-on-one conversations, too. I happily talked with my mom, my sister, and one of my brothers!

This morning, Lydia and I went for a morning walk before the heat set in. We found a new path on the other side of our neighborhood. It ended up being almost two miles, and we found some beautiful houses and new businesses! We had fun!

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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, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Words

Word Up!

Life gets so busy and it seems my brain is always on the go. I’m sure you understand! Sometimes, I take a break and let my mind wander in silence, listening and waiting on the Lord. This week, while I was sitting still, I was reminded of my ThinkUp app, which is a running list of personal affirmations.

I have written about it before, though it’s been awhile since I have used it. Still, listening to my own voice and recordings was moving. Over the course of a few minutes, I was struck by statements of faith and hard won victories. Rather than just a bunch of feel-good messages, each affirmation was really a declaration of God’s faithfulness. I could see how much I have grown and how far the Lord has brought me.

It was like years of random sticky notes and ideas were in one place, and I was able to review the memories attached to them. I teared up as I heard myself speak of trust, hope, and perseverance. Instead of affirming how strong I am or want to be, I was declaring God’s power and plan over my life. He has awesome things in store for me!

Later that same day, Lydia told me about a song she had heard from one of her friends. She thought it was a lighthearted and fun summer song, and she wanted to share it with me.

Based on the title, I was guessing what the first few lyrics confirmed. It was a modern tune by a popular artist, but it was a much different song than Lydia anticipated. Nonetheless, I turned this into a learning experience!

Lydia was horrified when I interpreted the song in mostly kid-friendly terms. She was horrified, and thanked me for catching it before she embarrassed herself. (Side note: I love that she can receive gentle correction with gratitude!)

I simply explained the World has different standards than we do. This is one reason we often listen to Christian radio, but I cannot control what happens when we’re not together.

We talked for a long time about popular culture compared to God’s loving expectations for us. Or, as Lydia put it, “Following God is like having GPS in your heart. If we ask Him for help and direction, He will never lead us astray.”

I confirmed my job as a parent is to protect her, teach her, and help her navigate these situations. We reviewed critical thinking skills and the importance of searching for God’s wisdom in daily life.

We discussed guarding our heart and minds, so only good things come in and go out. We role played how to speak up or walk away from ungodly influences. I also planted a seed so the future Lydia remembers she can come to me with all her questions and concerns. It’s never too early!

Our words matter, and we cannot take them back once spoken. We also can’t forget mean or vulgar things that we hear. So, we need to be wise!

We can bring life through speaking with Truth, grace, and encouragement. Conversely, we can also tear down and discourage others. We can plant seeds of hope or seeds of doubt. 

God’s words are still having impact today. What He set in motion at Creation is still happening! His Word will endure forever, so it make sense to put more value  on, or magnify, what He says than what the World tells us. Yes, we better… Word up!

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God, thanks for the power of Your Word. Help me be responsible with the words I say. Keep me accountable with what I put into my mind so that what pours out of my mouth is honoring to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: If you don’t know all the lyrics to a particular song, do you make up your own words?

Tasks: Tune your heart to God’s Word. Memorize Scripture and meditate on it. Be wise with your words (in person and online) today!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #277

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 flew by. We were able to Zoom with family on Sunday, and we got to see my new little niece, Lily. She was sleeping, of course, but it was fun to see her anyway!

Work was super busy this week, and I spent a lot of time catching up from last week. My phone was ringing off the hook, and I was covering for a couple of other people. I prayed and asked God to direct my steps. Thankfully, He helped it all work out in the end!

We were able to squeeze in a couple evening walks this week. One evening, we walked around the middle school and high school near us. I told Lydia I didn’t want to hear any complaining (it was 1.5 miles, in all). Well, she had fun collecting flowers and leaves, and I didn’t hear a peep of complaint! We had fun identifying the trees after we returned home.

Another night, Lydia grabbed her scooter for what ended up to be a 2.55 mile roundtrip. She rode and I walked along the bike path in our neighborhood, and we enjoyed seeing all kinds of houses and landscaping! I heard no complaints, as Lydia enjoyed seeing some new-to-her areas!

Yesterday, we met up with some friends who are moving to another state! We have been so blessed by their friendship, and we will really miss them. We played mini golf and then went to Space Aliens to eat and play arcade games. It was a fun sendoff!

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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 Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

MacGyver Mishmash

As a single parent and homeowner, I have had to be resourceful over the years. Sure, I can call someone to help me with random issues, and sometimes I do. But often, it is a matter of timing. I don’t want to inconvenience someone, or I don’t want to wait for them to show up.

Occasionally, a friend will volunteer to help me, but I don’t always run into these handy types of friends! I have a few bigger projects that I might pay someone to do, but even then, I’ll have to organize the logistics of calling and being available.

I know I am not the only one with these issues or house projects, but sometimes, I just decide to do it myself! Sometimes, I research it online and other times, I have ‘jerry-rigged’ a solution. So far I have figured out how to “unstick” my garbage disposal with a crowbar, fix my coffee machine with a dremel, change toilet seats, fix a dent in my car, and more. I have used safety pins, glue, and tape to attach buttons and shore up pant hems, too!

These are in addition to other routine tasks, like changing a plethora of light bulbs and adding air to my car tires.

On Monday evening, I (once again) attempted to fix one of Lydia’s drawers. The drawer has a track for wheels that periodically comes loose. I have had to tighten the screws from time to time. But, on Monday, I couldn’t find all four screws!

I found a couple of the screws, which had fallen down into the drawer beneath. I did what I could to replace them, but the two screws were different sizes, and I needed two more.

I searched the garage for more matching screws, but alas, I didn’t find what I was looking for. No worries! I thought of a solution. Just call me MacGyver!

Lydia learned a new word that day: INGENUITY. I told her what it meant and then showed her a practical example. Yes, I used one screw on each side of the drawer railing, but then I also superglued the remaining edges!

It worked so well (or at least until next time) that I also superglued part of my gutter outside! It has been coming loose, and I will still have to go to the hardware store at some point. But, it should hold until the next storm, at least!

I’m really thankful God gives us bursts of creativity and helps us when we need it. The slightly sticky, gluey fingers are worth the feelings of accomplishment. But, I am also glad He doesn’t rely on superglue, duct tape, paper clips, safety pins, or zip ties to hold us together or fix our problems!

Colossians 1:16-17 (NLT) says, “for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”

God holds the whole world together through Jesus. And that includes us. Whatever problems you are facing today, bring them to the Lord. If you find yourself in a sticky situation (sorry, I had to!), remember nothing is too difficult for Him.

He cares for you and knows exactly what you need!

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God, thanks for giving us creative solutions to our problems. There is nothing You can’t do, and You extend that grace to us! Help us come to You first, and not as a last resort. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy DIY projects? Do you consider yourself pretty hand-on (as in building, repairing, gardening), or would you rather hire someone to do the dirty work?

Tasks: Meditate on Colossians 1:16-17 today. Here you can compare several versions. Consider what it means for Jesus to hold all things together and what that means for your life. Trust Him!

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

Finding Grace #276

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 was an awesome week full of surprises! On Sunday afternoon, we went to see the new movie, Peter Rabbit 2. It was really cute and full of good lessons.

Lydia and I went for a handful of walks this week to enjoy the beautiful weather. I’m hoping to make it more of a habit to walk around our neighborhood! I used to do it twice a day when we had a dog, so it is doable. Though, I don’t plan on getting a dog anytime soon.

One evening, we walked toward Lydia’s school, and then stopped at the Holiday gas station on the way back. She wanted to buy “something” and even offered to buy me a donut. Of course, I said yes and saved it for breakfast! I love my generous girl!

The next night, we helped a young neighbor track down her dog that had gotten loose (again). Then, she invited herself and her dog on our walk, and that was approved by the little girl’s dad. We had fun hearing all sorts of funny stories. The little girl is so sweet and never stopped talking! Lydia had fun and wanted to walk other dogs in the neighborhood!

On Thursday, President Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday. This is today (Saturday), which means that it was “observed” on Friday. It was unexpected, but I’m always grateful for extra time with Lydia. We discussed the meaning of the holiday, played some games, and enjoyed walking along Forest River Park!

Also on Thursday, I gained a new little niece! My brother and sister-in-law had their baby a couple of weeks early. Lily’s a cutie and we can’t wait to meet her!

Today, we hung out at home, and I finally finished some chores I had been putting off. Lydia helped too. Since we had a three day weekend, I was able to both relax and get some stuff done! We also enjoyed a morning and evening walk 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 Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Fly Away, Birdie

The summer days go so fast! I always enjoy listening to the birds sing, especially early in the morning or later at night. Some days, however, I have to slow down and remind myself to stop and take it all in.

One evening last week, Lydia had a friend over to play. We noticed a strange bird with a speckled breast sitting on the deck, and we had to figure out what it was!

I quickly (and quietly) grabbed my bird book and binoculars. I had an idea of what the bird was, but I wanted to make sure. The girls thought it was fun, and so I dragged it out while I tried to remember where I’d seen a similar bird. It had been a few years!

I asked the girls about the color, the beak, the size of the bird, etc. Soon, we determined… yes, it was a baby robin! This makes sense because we have a robin’s nest under our deck.

Soon, this was confirmed by an adult robin coming to stand guard next to the juvenile. A few moments later, we got distracted and then noticed the birds were gone.

No worries! A little while later, the girls were looking out the window and called me over!

The young bird was back! It was on the bottom step of the deck, and we were not sure if it fell or flew down the ten-or-so steps. We watched it slowly hop it’s way up the stairs, flapping its wings along the way.

The deck railing prevented us from seeing some of its progress, until suddenly, it fluttered from the top step to the opposite railing. (That’s when I realized it was a mere fledgling, as I saw its wingspan was so small and unsteady.)

Lydia and I enjoy watching birds together. We enjoy seeing finches and swallows and other common birds. I even play bird songs sometimes and see if the birds respond!

So, today, I am reminded that Lydia herself is like a little fledgling. She’s been spreading her wings a lot lately, and it is bittersweet. I am proud of her progress, as she learns to navigate certain age-appropriate issues.

These include big and small big decisions, role playing through various friendship issues, and discussing morals (right, wrong, and gray areas). She’s understanding the value of money and has been making small, reasonable purchases for herself when I let her.

Lydia is a great kid, but even while I do my best to raise her, I can’t take all the credit. Instead, I actively keep relying on the Lord since He gave her to me on loan. I show her what it means to turn to Him for guidance!

My goal is not to solve all of Lydia’s problems, but show her Jesus is the solution. As much as He cares for the cute little birds, He loves and cares for us even more!

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God, thanks for all You do for us. Thanks for leading us as we learn and grow. Help us to trust You and be brave as we try new things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like bird watching? Do you have a favorite song bird?

Tasks: Turn to the Lord for wisdom and guidance today. Check this out: All About Birds.