Category: Kindness

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Worship

Finding Grace #546

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 our last full week before the school year starts!

Work felt quite busy all week. But I had great patients and felt like I made a difference. One day, I literally felt like God was giving me words to teach and encourage them. I connected with Jesus and felt His holy fire!

The weather was great this week. It was cooler and darker in the mornings, then warm and sunny in the afternoon. It was perfect! Yesterday after work, it was pouring while I walked to my car, yet when I got home, the ground was completely dry. I was soaked but decided to mow and then take a shower, lol!

Today, I was on-call and had to go in for two patients at work. I saw a bald eagle flying over my car as I drove on the highway! Because of work, I had less time for errands, but ended up having a two-hour conversation with someone instead! I always love when Jesus redirects my schedule.

Tonight, I made a delicious lentil soup with a lot of fall-inspired spices. Even though it is still August, I am calling it “early fall.” At this latitude, the season feels so short, so I am starting it sooner this year. Lydia loved the soup and has already started putting out fall decorations around the house!

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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 Apologetics, Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #544

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, and I felt God’s grace all around me.

On Sunday, after church, we stayed to serve at OASIS. I’m glad we did, because some of the ‘regulars’ who serve were not able to attend. Later, we enjoyed family Zoom.

Monday was quite a full day! Work was busy, and then I left early for an orthodontic appointment. I am on track with my treatment plan, though I still have a long way to go to get my teeth in correct alignment. Hopefully, at my September appointment, I will find out more about when I will get the MARPE device removed!

Monday evening was fun because I went to my small group/book club at church. We shared our thoughts on Nabeel Qureshi’s Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and other facets of salvation and our walk with the Lord. It tells the story of his conversion from Islam to Christianity before his death in 2017. I learned so much about the differences between various Muslim sects and how they think vastly differently than we do in the West. One important thing to remember is that the Bible stands on its own when compared to any other book or religion. We need to know what’s in it and how to live it out, but God is the one who changes hearts. It is on us to develop friendships with people and share His Truth mixed with grace and love.

Work was once again very busy, but good. I had a full schedule with patients and meetings, but also had almost no cancellations or no-shows. This is really good for my patients, though, and I enjoyed seeing them. Many of them were quite friendly and had fairly easy issues to work through. So, while I had a lot of charting, at least it all went fairly smoothly! We also celebrated one coworker’s birthday, and I had a good conversation with another about my story. They ended up buying my book, so that was really cool!

The weather was amazing this week! The mornings were much cooler (in the 50-60s on some days!), and it was great walking into work. The afternoons were warm but not hot, which is just about perfect. That said, it is an early indication of the changing of seasons! Fall will be here soon!

Today, I met a newly widowed single-mom friend for coffee. It was nice to finally get together in-person. I listened to her tell her story and encouraged her in her faith. We talked for nearly three hours, and we both were grateful for the 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 Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Fruit, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer

Finding Grace #543

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 FULL of God’s grace! 

On Sunday, after church, we met some dear friends for coffee. We had fun catching up! Then, Lydia and I had a relaxing afternoon before family Zoom.

Work was very busy, finishing off a full month of patients, meetings, and so on. But I know I was right where I needed to be. I helped several patients who were really special. I enjoyed a potluck with my coworkers and helped solve some minor problems. I also finally got my full-time status officially approved. I have been working FT since March, but there were a few glitches, so I wasn’t getting paid properly. It’s all good now, and I will get some backpay. I am grateful my manager and supervisors are such great advocates for me!!

This week, I connected with a newly widowed, single mom. We texted and chatted on the phone, hoping to meet in person soon. She has a ten-year-old girl, and we have a lot of similarities in our stories. It made me think of my other friend, Amy, who was a godsend when Dave first died. I hope to be a good resource for her, with Jesus’ help and grace!

Lydia and I had several good mom-daughter moments. I am so proud of the decisions she is making, mostly on her own. She is learning to listen for the Lord and follow His voice. We had a lot of good laughs and some deep conversations. I am so grateful for her!

This week, we had a lot of prayers going up for various friends and family. I could sense God moving in and around me. There’s no better place to be! As a side note, I prayerfully postponed some upcoming plans, and immediately, God showed me He has better plans for me during that time. He is so good!

Today, we went to a small flower farm outside Moorhead. Then, we did some thrift shopping and dropped off a huge bag of puzzles for some friends at church. They were so surprised! Then, Lydia went to help a friend with a fundraiser, and I did some cooking at home. It was a great start to August, my birthday month!

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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, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Wherever You Go

When we walk with God every day, it is amazing how the simplest of things can remind us of how great He is. The Lord can use any circumstance to draw us close to Him, for our good and His glory. Even when we are totally oblivious to what is going on around us.

Recently, I visited with a Veteran who lives in a group home since he is unable to manage on his own. All his meals are provided, but he can buy snacks and the like. He works a few hours a week, and either brings lunch or goes out to eat. He is aware enough to use his phone and have opinions on various topics, but he still needs a caregiver to take him to appointments and be a second set of ears.

However, our meeting didn’t quite go the way I expected. The caregiver was with the Veteran, but then he left. I thought he mentioned going to pick up the patient’s medications down at the Pharmacy. Yet, the Veteran thought he had gone back to the group home for his medications, so then I wasn’t sure!

The caregiver was still not back by the time we finished. I prayed and tried to come up with a game plan. The Veteran did not have the caregiver’s phone number and grew a little upset. He mentioned the guy took a wrong turn earlier, so maybe he got lost again on his way back.

While I stalled, the patient decided to go downstairs to the Patriot Store to get some snacks. He paused to talk to someone in the hallway, and I wasn’t sure he would remember to go to his dentist appointment. I was also concerned he’d get lost. I asked a coworker if she had seen the caregiver in passing.

My next patient arrived early, so I sent them to the waiting room while I checked on the other Veteran. On my way downstairs, the thought came to me, “We may not know where this guy is, but I’m thankful Jesus does!” It brought a sense of relief that it wasn’t all on me. I wanted to be responsible and prevent an issue, but ultimately God would cover the situation.

Well, I indeed found the patient in the Patriot Store. I also saw a police officer walking through and quietly asked him what to do, since I couldn’t find the caregiver. He had overheard the Veteran saying he was going to the Canteen next door. He said the staff there could call for a volunteer to get him to the dentist if the caregiver did not arrive on time.

A few minutes later, I checked on the Veteran, and somehow, the caregiver had found him. I didn’t need to involve the Canteen staff, and God had worked it out. Maybe the caregiver thought, when in doubt, go where there is food. 🙂

“Wherever you go, there you are” is perhaps both a prompt for mindfulness and a humbling reminder that we cannot escape ourselves. But what’s even better is that nothing can separate us from God’s love or His presence (Romans 8:31-39). Wherever you go, He is there!

As we read in Psalm 139:1-12, God is omnipresent and sees all we do. We cannot hide evil from Him, and someday, He will reward His children for anything good. Essentially, there is nowhere we can go that He is not looking out for us. He will discipline His children when needed, but He also will protect and guide us. Even when we are totally unaware.

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God, thanks for always watching over us and watching out for us. Thanks for taking care of us, even when we don’t see the full picture. You are so good, God. May we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever felt lost and then God showed up to help you find your way? How can you connect with Him this week?

Task: Wherever you go today, ask the Lord to come with you. The Holy Spirit is always with us because He lives within those of us who belong to Jesus. But we can also become more aware of His presence by inviting Him along!

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

Finding Grace #542

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! 

On Monday, I left work a few minutes early to deal with a washing machine issue at home. The repairman came on Wednesday, and as it turned out, a little facecloth had clogged and cracked a pump. So, that was a fairly easy fix and not too expensive. He said my toploader should last for a long time since it is well made and easy/cheap to fix. He implied I should keep it as long as I can since it “actually gets the clothes clean, unlike some of the newer models.”

On Wednesday, I worked a half day and then took off the rest to be available for the repairman. I used a “time off award” I earned last year. The repairs didn’t take very long, so I was going to do a couple of projects, but then I ended up taking a nap for almost two hours. I was still so exhausted from wringing out all those towels on Monday! It was glorious!

Today, I was on-call and had to go in for one patient. While I was gone, Lydia had a driving lesson. She is doing really well. We did a few Saturday things, and then we babysat a friend from work’s kids for a couple of hours. They invited us to stay for dinner, which included Asian-style salmon, veggies, and rice. It was delicious and very generous of them!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #541

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 week of a fun mix of planned activities and a few surprises! 

On Sunday, dear Caterpillar friends visited from Illinois. We met Mike and Becca when they moved to Fargo when Lydia was around six months, about the time Dave got sick. They were a huge blessing to us, and you can read about them in my book. Now, they have four kids and live near Peoria, so it was really sweet to have them over to our house.

On Monday, Lydia went to church camp in Devils Lake. She took a friend, and they had a blast at Senior Camp. I picked them up on Friday, and Lydia spent the rest of the day resting. I am glad they had so much fun!

On Tuesday, I stayed an extra hour at work to give a presentation to a different Veterans organization in Minot. I recognized a couple of people from the VA services we provide, and they told everyone how great a speaker I am. That felt good, and I was glad to teach them about an anti-inflammatory diet to deal with chronic pain!

The weather was hot and even a little smoky due to the Canadian wildfires. On Wednesday, we had an employee picnic at work, and God blessed us with a little cooler weather and no smoke in the air! By the end of the day, the smoke was rolling in, so I was really grateful we got to enjoy the time outside. I also saw several monarch butterflies in the healing garden, so that was extra special.

Today was fairly relaxing. I went to the bank and Costco, cooked a bit, did the usual Saturday things, and took Lydia for a driving lesson to practice parallel parking. Later, we met some friends at the splash pad in our neighborhood, and then they came over for an hour or so to visit. The little kids had fun, and I hope they come back again soon!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Procrastination

The Ripple Effect

On Monday, I came home from work to find about three cabinets’ worth of stuff on the kitchen counters. I was a little surprised, but Lydia was so excited. She proudly showed off her ideas for rearranging the spices, coffee, pasta, and baking items that are in those cabinets. She even had made some tentative labels with sticky notes. 🙂

My first thought was, “Oh, great… here we go. All wanted was to eat supper!” I made a few executive decisions. “Let’s leave the coffee alone because I want it near the sink and coffee maker.” But I also listened to Lydia explain she wanted to move the vanilla and maple syrup closer to the baking soda and baking powder. I agreed, and we worked on a few other decisions.

Then I suggested we take a break to eat, which let me gather my thoughts before I got too hangry. Once my stomach was happy, I realized I had indeed told Lydia she could help me with this project. I didn’t want to do it at all due to timing decision paralysis. I kept putting it off, procrastinating. So I was grateful for the help.

We ended up tossing some old spices and regrouping others. It turned out to be really helpful, and it opened up some space for some random items sitting on the kitchen counters. We made plans to tackle that this week when I have some time off work.

This was a good example of ‘the ripple effect,’ or how one decision impacts other events or choices.  One kind word or one generous act can make all the difference. I heard something about this recently, which reminded me of how God can turn all things into something good – for His glory and on our behalf (see Romans 8:28). It doesn’t mean all things are good, but that God is working them out. The ripple effect seems to be God’s specialty!

In my case, it was thankfully not too complicated. Lydia cheerfully challenged the status quo, and that prompted us to make some changes. It will feel good to update our storage and for everything to have a place again!

Then, yesterday, I had an unexpected phone call from a patient. She thought she missed her appointment, but it’s not until next month. Still, we were able to talk for a while, and it turned out to be a good thing. She has cancer and some personal challenges because of it. I answered her questions and put her mind at ease. But, more importantly, I was able to help her see the bigger picture: that all hope is not lost.

From our conversation, I could glimpse the ripple effect. By God’s grace, during our phone call, I was able to support and encourage her. I pray she will make healthier choices. Perhaps her new plan and sense of peace will translate to a better outcome for her, too. I can’t wait to talk with her in a few weeks!

Some people would say that all things are connected. I choose to give God credit, but even if someone else doesn’t, He still oversees everything and reigns over it all. His decisions carry the most weight, but we get to take a part in what happens. On a personal level, our choices today set us up for the future, and they can also influence others people. It can feel like a lot of responsibility, but I am grateful for Jesus’ help! In His Name, we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds!”

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Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and good. Thanks for Your help and favor. Help me choose well and be a blessing for others. Draw us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your thoughts on the ripple effect in your life? Where do you see God working right now?

Task: Prayerfully consider your day and see how everything is connected. Ask the Lord to help you make choices that positively impact others.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom

Priceless

I was reading in Acts 19 recently, which talks about the Apostle Paul in Ephesus. He spent a lot of time there and grew to know those believers well. Through an interesting series of events, the believers began to radically change how they lived. They threw away resources related to idol worship and sorcery, a value of “50,000 drachmas,” when one drachma was worth a day laborer’s wage.

At one point, the local silversmiths and tradesmen resented Paul’s influence on their businesses. So, they gathered a bunch of ruffians and sparked a riot. The local amphitheater, seating around 25,000 people, was full of arguing and confusion. Eventually, after two hours, they were dismissed by the city clerk. If they didn’t disperse, the Roman officials would come to enforce their rule.

The crowd never did lay their hands on Paul, but they did rough up some of his companions. After that, in Acts 20, Paul left Ephesus (modern Turkiye) for other towns to encourage more believers. What stuck with me, though, was the 50,000 drachmas…

I had Lydia help me try to wrap our minds around this. It could be 10 days’ worth of money for 5,000 people, or any other combination. The amount is worth around $6 million dollars in today’s value!

I imagine it would take several of my neighbors and me selling our modest homes together to raise that much cash. The Ephesian believers, at least at that point in time, had their priorities straight. You can read more about them in Ephesians and Revelation 2.

Jesus is greater and more worthy. Following Him is costly, but the rewards are priceless. He is our Lord and King, but He takes good care of us, too. Similarly, we buy good things for our children and sometimes bless them as God has blessed us.

On Saturday, I bought Lydia a brand-new viola. I rented for the last three years and had a store credit to put towards buying one for her. She had some concerns with her rental viola, showing she knows the difference between what is working and what is broken.

I knew it was a matter of time before I had to make a decision, since many high schoolers transition to their own instruments. With it being summer, our schedule is a little more open, and it’s a good time to get comfortable with a new instrument before school starts up again.

We spent two hours at the store, and Lydia tried out five violas! We took notes on each one, and she played each one a couple of times. The last one literally came alive when she played, and she was all smiles. Of course, it happened to be the most expensive!

Still, I learned so much and considered the cost as an investment in her. She has a good ear for music, and she understands things more intuitively than some of her peers. It seems that some students cannot discern the subtleties among notes, problems, instrument quality, and the like, but Lydia can.

Oddly, choosing the right viola felt like a personal test for me. I have faced times where spending a little more money was the wise thing to do, but I went back and forth over whether it was worth it (and if I was worth it). Can you relate?

For example, thirteen years ago, when I was buying my new Subaru, I was unsure whether paying extra for a better backup camera was worth it. In my grief, I wondered if I could get by on the lesser one. But, through prayer, reflection, and some wise advice, I made the better choice. Now, I use my car’s backup camera daily!

When I realized what God wanted me to do on Saturday, I welled up with gratitude. I have learned a lot about how much God values me. I wanted to emphasize that to Lydia, too. She is a priceless treasure and worth way more than the cost of the new viola!

The amount was close to what I expected and planned for, just a little stretch. And I know there will be days when Lydia does not want to practice. I told her that if she decides to quit later in high school, then I get to keep the viola for myself. I don’t have much musical talent, so the thought of me screeching on it is enough for Lydia to take me seriously!

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God, thanks for showing us how precious we are to You. You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. Help us reflect all Your goodness and give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God been stretching you lately? What stood out to you in the post above?

Task: Next time you are faced with a costly decision, think through what is really at stake and how you can trust God to make the best choice. Also, watch this insightful archaeology documentary on the seven churches of Revelation, including Ephesus (17 minutes in)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Sitting In the Silence

There is so much going on in the world right now, and much of it can be overwhelming. On the flipside, it is tempting just to ignore it ala ‘ostrich style’ and bury our heads in the sand. We don’t really have that luxury, though!

Here and abroad, violence, politics, and social issues are taking up many of the headlines, not to mention retaliation, fearmongering, persecution, misunderstandings, and twisting the Truth. Some of these issues affect people I know, while others are more distant. But on the whole, they are concerning. We are moving ever-closer to the end (Revelation!).

In times like these, I am more grateful for the hope we have in Jesus. We don’t have to shoulder these burdens alone. We can submit all our fears and concerns to Him; Jesus is more than capable and will take care of them in His timing.

It is good to be aware, stay informed, speak up, and take action. But sometimes, it is best to disconnect from the media and stay close to the Lord. As we fix our gaze on Him, He calms our hearts and instills courage. He may lead us to get involved in an issue, or He may direct us stay the course and carry on with whatever He has already told us to do. It’s unlikely I will change the whole world, but I can impact my little corner of it. (Galatians 5:22-23 and Galatians 6:9).

I find that being too busy is the worst thing when I want to hear from the Lord and find His peace. I have to let go of expectations, turn off the noise, lay aside my phone, and just sit with Him so I can tune in and listen. I might read the Bible or journal. I might sit in silence or sing a worship song. The goal is to seek God’s heart, and that takes time and intention.

Artificial Intelligence can make it difficult to know what is true, similar to someone fired up on the internet! Pick a topic; either way, people make assumptions and generally don’t check the facts or care to present all sides of the issue.

Yet, when we sit in silence and wait on the Lord, we are reminded that all Truth belongs to Jesus because He is the Truth (John 14:6). All details, data, and decisions must be filtered through His lens. Sitting in silence does not mean remaining silent or squandering a God-given opportunity to make a difference. It just means submitting to the Lord’s timing and plan first, waiting on Him instead of forging ahead on my own.

When I read a post online, sometimes I wonder if I am doing “enough.” People debate whether Jesus would do this or that… when statistics show they’ve likely never read the Bible in its entirety. Do they actually know the real Jesus, or just a cultural idea of Him? Then, I think about all I do daily to provide insight or to listen to patients, friends, family, etc. I would much rather pray and respond in my actual life than get into a heated debate with a stranger I’ll never meet in person or someone I only run into a few times a year (or less).

I don’t generally share all my thoughts and opinions in person, let alone on the internet! But that doesn’t mean I don’t have ideas to share. I generally prefer to wait, gather well-rounded information, and share it with those I know personally. We don’t have to agree, but we can have a respectful conversation!

The key for me is sitting with the Lord and listening, so I know what to say when the Holy Spirit gives me the opportunity. His words are life and peace. We have the ability to bring His merciful conviction or gracious comfort to a world in desperate need. But, we can’t be in a rush or ignore Him!

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Lord, thanks for giving us peace, grace, wisdom, and courage. Help us listen to You today and be willing to pivot in a new direction, as needed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have a difficult time hearing from God? What is He telling you today?

Task: Sit with the Lord today. Lay aside any distractions and be willing to sit in silence, if that’s what it takes. Write down anything He tells you for future reference.

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

Finding Grace #520

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 relatively slow and calm!

Lydia and I both had Monday night off for Presidents’ Day. I had an orthodontic appointment, which went well. Otherwise, we mostly relaxed and got caught up around the house.

Work was predictably busy, but that’s nothing new! We celebrated a coworker’s birthday, had a few meetings, and had lots of good patients. I was asked to work a full day on Friday to help provide coverage. I’m glad I did because I ended up seeing several patients!

The weather turned cold and snowy again this week! Of course, it is still only February, so what do we expect? I didn’t need to do much shoveling, since my snow service took care of the driveway, and my kind neighbors did the sidewalks!

Lydia was sick on Friday, so she stayed home from school. She also skipped her Speech tournament today. She has been working so hard, and I think her body just needed a break. Thankfully, she is feeling better now.

Today, I ran a few errands while Lydia rested. Otherwise, I did some Saturday things and then relaxed. We might watch a movie 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)!