Category: Parenting

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Laundromat Lessons

Yesterday, Lydia and I checked out a new laundromat nearby!

On Sunday, Lydia washed a load of laundry at home, and I heard the washing machine make a weird noise. I chose to ignore it, but I did make a mental note to “keep an eye on it.” (That always seems to work well, right?!)

On Monday, Lydia texted me at work that her favorite hoodie had come back with some weird spots, perhaps not quite clean. I told her to rewash it, but I also mentioned staying next to the machine “in case something happens and you can stop it.” She did not hear me…

Instead, she took a shower before checking on her hoodie. 🙂 By then, the washing machine had overflowed, like it did last year. She called and texted me for help, but I was working with a patient and didn’t see her message for about two hours. At that point, I tried calling right away, but she did not answer. I called multiple times to no avail; her phone was on 4% and wouldn’t charge.

Then, I told my manager that I needed to leave right away to check on Lydia and make sure my house wasn’t flooded! I only had thirty minutes left on the clock anyway. I prayed that God would help me stay calm and help Lydia know what to do.

Thankfully, Lydia was fine, and she had put about five towels on the floor to soak up the water. She helped me clear out the items we have stored there, including the toilet paper I bought at Costco on Saturday. Almost everything was elevated off the ground, and I was very glad that nothing was ruined. A couple of boxes were wet, but the bottles inside were okay. Whew!!

Nonetheless, I spent about eight hours over that night and the following morning trying to soak up the water and wring out the towels. I turned off the water and also used a squeegee and a shop vac to help! Still, more water kept coming out from under the washing machine! On Tuesday morning, I called my manager to let her know I would be a little late. I was waiting to hear back from the repairman and needed to figure out a plan.

I went to work, but was also able to leave early to address the wet towels and laundry. Last year, we had a new laundromat down the block; I decided this was a good opportunity to try it out! I had Lydia come with me to learn how it works.

In fact, the machines were so fancy that I also had to figure them out, too! The machines accepted quarters, but there was an automated pay option via an app that was more convenient. The app synced with the washing machines and even gave us a countdown on when our laundry would be done!

While Lydia sat, I walked around to scout out the rest of the room. There were vending machines, beautiful bathrooms, a small play area and fish tank, a bookshelf, and several televisions throughout the seating areas. It was a better experience than I expected, and I told Lydia most laundromats are not like this one.

While Lydia should have stayed next to the washing machine at home, it wasn’t really her fault. Whatever the problem, it would have needed to be addressed at some point. As it is, the repairman should come today. I’m hoping it is just a clogged tube like last year and still worth keeping! Indeed, I’m pretty sure the Lord is singlehandedly keeping all my household appliances running for me! He is my Sustainer and Rock!

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God, thanks for always coming through for me and for protecting my house yesterday. It could have been much worse. Keep me focused on what really matters, not just what is convenient. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When was the last time you were at a laundromat?! How is God sustaining you this week?

Task: Pay attention to the little noises and clues around you that something might be wrong. Don’t ignore them… or you might be spending time cleaning up more messes than you expected!

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

Finding Grace #540

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 activity but also full of God’s grace! We had a variety of activities each night. Some were planned, and some were spontaneous.

Work was wildly busy, which is about what I expected. I had a full schedule of planned patients, but I also needed to work on some projects and return some phone calls. It felt good to connect well with the Veterans and know God was helping me every step of the way.

On Monday, Lydia went to the county fair with friends. That night, I also had my monthly book club meeting. We had a great time discussing our book and sharing more about our lives! I have already started our next book!

On Tuesday, after work, Lydia had her third driving lesson. I prayed quite a bit because it was on the highway during a busy time. God came through for us, like He always does!

Wednesday night, I dropped off Lydia to watch a friend’s softball game. Then, I ran some errands. She got a ride home, which is good because I was deep into organizing around the house!

I mowed the lawn on Thursday, since the rest of the week would be hot. Lydia went to a sleepover with her friends, so I had the evening to myself otherwise!

Yesterday and today were a mix of organizing and relaxing. I ran some errands, did Saturday things, and watched a movie with Lydia. A good way to end a busy week!

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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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Parenting and Proverbs 3:5-6

The last several months have been great with Lydia. It is fun to see her spread her wings with her friends and make decisions apart from me. I have coached her through some challenges and at times bankrolled her, but it is good to see her thriving. And it has made me lean on the Lord even more!

Yesterday, Lydia had her third official driving lesson with her teacher! She has been doing well so far; however, I was a little nervous. You see, I had heard the teacher was taking Lydia on the highway for this lesson.

I have had Lydia driving on both I-29 and I-94 a handful of times, but not during Fargo’s “rush hour.” Obviously, the traffic is nothing like that in Chicago or Atlanta, but it can still be quite fast and busy. There are some crazy drivers at times!

So, over the last week, I had been praying that God would keep Lydia safe. After all, He loves Lydia even more than I do. And, when I saw it might rain, I asked my coworker, Natalie, to pray as well!

On Sunday, I took Lydia out for a quick highway lesson. We practiced merging onto the highway and exiting. I reminded her to be aware of her surroundings and to get up to speed as soon as she could. Then, yesterday, before I left for work, I coached Lydia to speak up if she was in over her head. She is typically pretty calm, but I wanted to remind her she had a voice.

I also reminded Lydia to have a snack before she walked to the school to meet the driving teacher. She admitted she was a little nervous, but I kept my own thoughts to myself! Now, I still deal with fear from time to time, but I am aware and working on giving it to God. I don’t want my fear or concerns to negatively influence Lydia.

All day, while Lydia waited to drive, I prayed during my work breaks. I had read Proverbs 3:5-6 that morning, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

I tried not to worry or overthink it, while praying that the teacher would have wisdom and that Lydia would have confidence. The weather forecast predicted rain, but I asked God to hold it off.

And you know what? He did! Lydia did a great job, and traffic was backed up due to road construction, which helped people drive more slowly in those sections. Even the teacher was surprised that they spent more time sitting in traffic, even though it normally flows quickly. However, he told Lydia she did well and passed the lesson.

Lydia texted me on her walk home, and I heard thunder just as she made it into our yard. Less than a minute after she walked inside the door, the rain let loose. It poured on and off for the rest of the night, and I praised God for answering my prayers!

When we trust God with all our hearts, we acknowledge He is in control as we submit our plans, thoughts, and feelings to Him. We remember His love for us and rest in Him, as we let God work on our behalf and do for us what we cannot. Thanks, Lord Jesus!

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God, thanks so much for protecting Lydia yesterday. Our Victory is in You! Thanks for covering us with Your mercy and grace. You are so good and faithful, Lord. Help us trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you trusting God this week?

Task: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #536

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 red-letter week for me, and I saw Jesus work in very personal ways. That said, all week I stayed up late and was groggy in the morning since I had extra activities. Plus, it is easy to lose track of time when it stays light until 10 p.m. in Summer! 😉

On Sunday, Lydia had her first official driving lesson with a professional. She has about 28 hours of driving with me, but I wanted someone else to fill in the gaps of things I might not think to teach her. She passed the first lesson with flying colors!

While she was driving, I had a meeting at church with one of our lead pastors. She’s in charge of the leadership program I finished, and we talked about next steps. I got to tell her about my previous experiences in teaching others, and there’s a possibility I could do more of the same. For now, we are going to have me step into a current system to see whether we can either provide support there or develop it further. I am grateful to serve and feel like God has me right where He wants me.

On Monday after work, I went to the chiropractor and then to a new book club at church. I am excited to share more later, perhaps, but I am excited for several reasons. It is a small group, and everyone there loves to read. We may have others join (men or women), but for now, there are just four of us. We plan to read one book a month, including a couple of suggestions I brought off my shelf at home. It ticked a lot of boxes for me on a personal level and I was praising God after. I am glad to make new friends, read several genres and discuss them, and actually tackle my stack of books!

Tuesday was my blog writing night, and Wednesday was church for Lydia. Pretty normal for us. But being busy every night made me not get around to mowing until Friday night. It was super windy and I got a lot of small dust and grass particles in my face, but I am glad I got it done.

On Thursday, a coworker convinced me to go with her to a dietitian social event at a local winery. It was a beautiful day, and I was feeling pumped with all that had already happened this week. I am so glad I went. It has been about thirteen years (since Dave died) that I have been involved with that group. I met five or six ladies, and we talked all about dietitian things and life in general. They were very welcoming, and I am sure I will go to more events!

Today, we went to Panera for lunch. Lydia was craving a Caesar salad, and we haven’t been in forever! Otherwise, I started my book for book club, started another class for church (on my own), and did other Saturday things. It was a perfect end to a great week!

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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, 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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #535

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 turned out better than expected! It was rather low-key after all.

This week, I covered inpatient for a few days at work. Thankfully, it was less busy than usual. I don’t know if it was because of staff vacations or just God’s grace. But He helped two coworkers and me hold down the fort.

We are enjoying the slower Summer pace. It is easier to run errands since the weather is so nice. Also, Lydia slept in and did some chores, and I took walks at work on my breaks!

Today, we did our Saturday things and then went to a music store. I ended up buying Lydia a new viola! She was ready for the upgrade, and the rental was limiting her growth. Lydia is so grateful. It is fun to see her excitement and hear her play! I am looking forward to seeing what she can do now!

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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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Worship

A Hymn Sing-Along

On Sunday, Lydia and I helped serve at OASIS. We cut up watermelon and prepared sandwiches. We set up tables and added place settings. We greeted some of the regulars and even saw some older friends we hadn’t seen in years. One was a dear lady who gave feedback on my book all those years ago!

Usually, if we are able to stay for the meal, Lydia and I sit and visit with everyone. It is heartwarming to hear stories from these older folks. Often, we listen to a short sermon afterward while we eat dessert.

This week, instead of a sermon, we had a hymn sing-along! It was so much fun. We used the old-school hymnals, and people called out song requests.

Hymns are special because, unlike modern worship songs, many of them have been around for centuries. They hold so much church history and theology! As a parent, I want Lydia to understand the importance of these traditions. We don’t give up when times get tough. We hold fast to Jesus!

As we sang through maybe ten or fifteen songs, I was a little overcome with emotion. There was a bit of nostalgia, since I grew up singing various hymns over the years. We didn’t go to a church that used hymns every week, but many of them are well-known. We sang them at home, with the radio or just because, and even a few select choruses at camp.

We certainly sang a few hymns at Dave’s funeral almost thirteen years ago! On Sunday, I was reminded of this as we sang “Victory in Jesus.” I got a little teary-eyed as I thought about how far God has brought us. After we sang “Amazing Grace,” I even said inwardly, “I would really like to sing ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,'” since we also sang that at Dave’s funeral.

Immediately, to my delight, that song was requested! It touched my heart and made me know God was watching me, blessing me, and drawing me close. That’s the thing about these old songs – they help us connect with Jesus.

The last song we sang was “Jesus Loves Me.” When Dave was sick, some days this was the only song we could sing. We had no energy, and our hearts were down and out. All we could do was bring our brokenness to the Lord. When I could barely think straight or make sense of all the chaos, this song was the only thing that came out. God’s Truth that was placed there when I was so little, and when life pressed in, that was the foundation!

I’m not alone in the fact that “Jesus Loves Me” is one of those that many little children learn. In fact, as we wrapped up, Lydia and I smiled at each other. She had a cute way of singing it with a hearty emphasis. “…Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is… STRONG!”

The next time you find yourself at a hymnal sing-along, I pray you will take it in stride. Soak up the Truth and consider the strong traditions. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the voices of the Saints, a precursor to Heaven, when we all worship Jesus together!

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God, You are faithful over generations and centuries. Thanks for meeting me at church on Sunday. Thanks for answering my heart’s request. May I honor You in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy singing hymns now and then? If so, what’s your favorite?!

Task: Create your own worship playlist on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite online platform! Make sure to add some hymns! 😉

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Little Free Library, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #529

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 felt busy because of work, but it actually all went smoothly.

Thanks for the support on my MARPE update. I appreciate the encouragement and prayers! 🙂

I talked with some fun Veterans this week. One was a little younger than me very concerned about potential heart disease. He had done an awesome job of making changes, and I was able to cheer him on and clarify some details. I also spoke with a man in his nineties who was very spry and asked about any changes he should make. That said, I’m sure his years of good habits are paying off for him now! It is so gratifying when people are eager to learn.

Lydia was able to sit out during gym this week, and she was a different person… much more energetic!  She has been slowly adding other “POTS-friendly” activities, like rowing or biking. But, I’m hopeful this is a start to her feeling better consistently.

Spring is definitely here! The temperatures have been up and down. My tulips are popping up, though it might be another week or so until they bloom. I added some books to my little free library, as I’ve seen a lot of people using it lately. Also, I might have to mow one of these days, but I hope to hold off for a bit! 😉

Today, I was on call for work but did not get called in. Woohoo! I worked on my last chapters for my church class. Lydia did some chores that I “required” before she was allowed to go shopping with a friend. It’s amazing how fast she got everything done, lol!

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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, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #527

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 pretty quiet week!

At work, I covered the inpatient hospital all week, so I didn’t see as many of my usual outpatient Veterans. It was less busy than I expected, thankfully! The hospitalized patients were not as complicated as I have seen, and it helped to have several days in a row so I could anticipate their needs.

Lydia had a POTS flare-up this week and came home early from school on Wednesday. She made it to school on Thursday and Friday, but came straight home afterward to rest. to two healthcare appointments. She skipped Speech practices and also her final Speech event today because she felt so depleted. Her energy is a little better tonight, but I am glad we decided to have her stay home and rest today.

With Lydia under the weather, I kept my schedule pretty open in the evenings so I could be available for her. When she feels so weak, I like to stick around to help get anything she might need. We talked again about knowing when to push ourselves and when to rest and relax. A good lesson for us both!

Today, I did some reading and studying. Otherwise, I made some calls and mostly just relaxed! I enjoyed hearing the birds chirp and watching it drizzle a bit as the grass grows greener. God is good!

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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, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Finding Grace #524

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 good overall. The only negative thing was that my left ear popped on both Tuesday and Thursday as a result of my MARPE journey. The bones in my face are slowly moving around, and I think the pressure changes forced air out of my ear. It was very painful, as if the bones collapsed. Thankfully, this is fairly common, and my ear was not damaged at all. It was just a little shocking since it came out of nowhere… once, I was driving! Later, I recognized the same thing happened to my nose a month ago… The jolt feels like someone punched me, but only lasts a few seconds. On Thursday, the pain radiated down my jaw and lasted for around 36 hours, and I called my orthodontist. I have been praying that God would prevent this from happening again because it is scary. Still, I know I don’t ‘have to’ be afraid.

On Monday afternoon, I got my taxes done and then had a chiropractor appointment. I am so grateful for all the ways God provides for Lydia and me! I am getting a small refund, and I really appreciate how He works things out in my favor. That’s grace.

Lydia and I talked about confidence this week. She was feeling down, and I listened to her concerns and offered encouragement. We all feel that way sometimes, and it is not good to compare ourselves with others. I coached her through some issues and pointed her back to Scripture and Jesus. I pray she is on the right track now. All glory to God who always helps me with my parenting; He is such a good Father.

Today, Lydia celebrated the beginning of Spring with a little shopping. We just had fun going around town and buying some clothes and trinkets. We also got some fancy drinks and some Chik-Fil-A. Tonight, we are relaxing while watching a movie!

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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)!