Category: Parenting

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

Finding Grace #304

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 another interesting but good week. We stayed home on Monday due to Lydia not feeling well and the blizzardy weather. It turned out to be a good thing since her daycare opened late and closed early anyway.

I discovered my car battery was close to dead on Tuesday, but thankfully, I found a charger hidden in plain sight on the workbench. (Thanks, Dave, for always being so prepared!) I bought a new battery and had it installed on my way to work because at 8+ years old, the original one was on borrowed time.
As we arrived home that night, the thought occurred to me… perhaps God kept us home on Monday so I wouldn’t get stuck in a blizzard with a dead battery and sick child. Our doctor was closed, and daycare closed early, so we had just chalked it up to another day of rest. But, of course, God always sees what we cannot.

We made it to work and daycare for three days, and now have a three-day weekend! It might be rough going to work and school for five days next week!

Last night, we had a great time hanging out with some new friends for NYE. It was so nice to be invited! Lydia even lasted past midnight and was in bed by 12:45 a.m. She slept until 11:50 this morning!

Today, we are mostly relaxing and preparing for this new year. We watched a couple of movies, started our new yearlong Bible reading plans, and did a few chores. We also decorated some Christmas cookies since Lydia wasn’t up to it last week. Overall, I love January since it is usually a little slower-paced. It’s below zero today, so it’s been good to stay in! Happy New Year!!

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Worship

Finding Grace #303

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 good week, though a bit unexpected at times! We had a fun time Zooming with family and work went well, too.

The unusual part was that Lydia started feeling sick! On Tuesday, she displayed typical allergy symptoms. By Wednesday morning, she was on her way to school after a negative COVID test. Then, a few hours later, I receive a call at work to pick her up. She had a fever.

She woke up with a fever on Thursday, too, so it was good we had already decided to stay home. Thankfully, I have plenty of sick leave available. Also, I am glad to have a good team at work to cover my duties, though I was bummed to miss the white elephant holiday gift exchange. I let someone else use my gift, so it will be fun to hear how it went when I return next week!

Because of the holiday weekend, I took Lydia for another COVID test, just to be sure. We both tested negative again. (I’m grateful we received the vaccine.) Anyway, it probably is some other virus, so a good reason to just lay low and rest!

Yesterday, because Lydia still wasn’t 100%, we stayed home and watched the Christmas Eve service online. We canceled plans with friends, but they were so kind to bring us a gift and some yummy food anyway! Thank you!

This morning, before Lydia woke up, I made a fresh pot of coffee and spent some quiet time with the Lord. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, especially as light snow started falling. We should be getting snow over the course of a few days, so I may get to use my new snowblower!

Today, Lydia felt pretty good. She’s still coughing and is mostly resting, but we watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” opened presents, watched some movies, played some games, and just relaxed. It was good to celebrate Jesus, I hope you have had a Merry Christmas!

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #300

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!

Red, Berries, Chokeberry, Fruit, Ripe, Berry, Food

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

This was an exciting week! We brought up our Christmas tree on Sunday, but we haven’t decorated it yet. I’m not sure when we will decorate it, but for now, we are just enjoying the lights!

Work went well, though I came in early one day and left early another day. That’s because Lydia had an orthodontist appointment on Tuesday morning and got her second COVID vaccine on Thursday afternoon! All went well, and I am grateful!

On Tuesday, I sent off two copies of my book to the US Copyright Office (aka The Library of Congress!! Lydia and I celebrated with sushi, and it feels great to finally be done! I got the certificate in the mail today, so it’s official. 🙂

Yesterday, I met a friend for coffee after work. We live in the same neighborhood (different streets) and don’t see each other often. It was so fun to catch up, and I am glad we each made the effort.

Lydia and I ran a few errands after my coffee date. We went shopping and used up a couple of Lydia’s birthday gift cards. She put money toward new shoes, a Rubik’s cube, and a pop-it toy. I bought a couple of games, a magnet for the fridge, and some greenery for the house.

Today, I was on-call for a few hours for work. I had asked a family if Lydia could go to their house, but thankfully, I did not get called in for any consults. Instead, I did a little organizing and reading. Later, Lydia and I ran a few more quick errands and talked with my parents and sister on the phone!

Today, I sent books to New Mexico and Wisconsin. That makes 19 states where I have sent books personally! (This is in addition to books people have ordered from online retailers.) I also noticed my ebook is ready! It’s fun seeing it all up and running. Thanks for your support!

I hope you enjoyed my three-hundredth “Finding Grace” blog post! Where have you found God’s grace this week? Leave a comment below!

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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, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, my family had some fun traditions. I always enjoyed taking a few moments to say what we are thankful for. We often went to the movies, and we almost always had an extra guest or two around the table.

We haven’t had a big family Thanksgiving for a few years because now we live in four different states in three time zones! So, generally, Thanksgiving and other holidays do look a little different for Lydia and me.

If you flip back to some of my 2015 and 2016 blog posts around the holidays, you would see more emotion and grief. I’m grateful to be a little further out from all that now. God has brought us through so much!

Sometimes we get invited to spend the holidays with other families, but this year, they all have different plans. We have invited friends over to our house in the past, but this year, we are on our own. And that’s okay! Traditions are good, but so is flexibility.

Lydia and I are planning to cook our favorite foods and maybe go to the movies. Or, maybe we will play games and stay in our pajamas instead. Either way, I know God’s grace surrounds us, and I am grateful for all He is and all He has done.

I’m also thankful for the gigantic Costco pumpkin pie a friend left on my doorstep! 😉

Cake, Pastry, Sweet, Sugar, Unhealthy, Food, Fat, Diet

This season, I am excited to have my book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward, out in the world. This is the first holiday in about seven years that I don’t have to think about writing or editing in my free time! Woohoo!!

I am already amazed to see how God is using it, too. I’ve heard stories of people wanting nothing to do with God now open to reading my book. His love never fails!

I love that people are buying extras to give as gifts. I’m grateful people trust me to speak into the lives of those they love… even before they have read the book! 🙂

I understand the holidays can be sad for many people, as it is a time to miss loved ones. I have dealt with those same complex emotions. If that’s you, know God is holding you close.

Recently, I met with a few lonely Veterans. They were each coming for help nutritionally but had other issues on their minds. I was able to listen to their stories, acknowledging their grief and other dilemmas, and in the end, I encouraged them to try something new.

One lady decided she might volunteer at a nursing home this year, choosing to be the friend she wishes she had. Perhaps you can be brave and step out of your comfort zone, too. Put yourself out there. God loves you so much, and the best is yet to come!

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God, You are so good and have good things in store for us. Help us be brave and embrace the difficult moments, knowing it can launch us to greater things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any special holiday plans? What are you thankful for?

Tasks: Be open-minded regarding your holiday plans. Look for all the ways God is at work around you. Perhaps, looking back, you will see this as a turning point in your life.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #298

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 amazing week! On Monday night, I had some friends over for a monthly gathering. It’s always good to hear what God is doing in their lives.

As many of you know, on Wednesday, I went live with my book! Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward is now available for purchase! It was fun to see encouraging comments and feel all the love! I have sent out three batches of books so far!

For the last few weeks, we have been planning a Peanuts-themed birthday party for Lydia. Her party was today and it was a blast! The nine girls played balloon volleyball and did a relay race with marshmallows. We did Peanuts trivia, mad libs, and BINGO, as well! The girls loved the peanuts stickers we used for prizes. We had fruit, chips, and ice cream cupcakes from Dairy Queen. Lydia received many cool gifts and enjoyed the photo booth at the end. I am grateful all these girls could celebrate with us!

Tonight, we are watching the Peanuts movie, and Lydia’s birthday is tomorrow!

This was a full week, and I stayed up late every night. I didn’t get much sleep but saw God’s grace all around me. He kept me focused and going strong. Thanks again for all your support and prayers. It really makes all the difference!

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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

Finding Grace #297

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!

Pomegranate, Exotic Fruits, Fruits, Cut, Sliced, Open

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

This was an exciting week! We had a fun time with friends during trick-or-treating. That seems like a whole month ago, though it has only been one week! Lydia dressed up like a phoenix, rising from the ashes.

Lydia received her first COVID vaccine, and I am so proud of her. She said the needle was even smaller than expected! As soon as we got back in the car, she wanted to call a friend who is immunocompromised. She is her daddy’s daughter… always thinking of others! Interestingly, Lydia said several of her classmates have been talking about getting the shot, too. I find that to be amazing… the kids are eager with no politics involved!

One morning before school, Lydia had a little episode of sadness and crying; she was missing Dave. We just sat there together giving space to her emotions so they could pass. Later that day, she came home as ‘the leader of the pack,’ which is an honor given to certain students each month. They are chosen by the teachers as a reward for being good students (beyond just academics). This year, Lydia earned a sign in our front yard! She was happy and it helped make the day a little more sweet.

Today, we celebrated a special event for a friend and then Lydia went to another birthday party! It was for one of her classmates at Skate City. Thankfully, Lydia had fun and didn’t fall down too often! It was good to meet the girl’s parents, and I listened to the mom tell me about her breast cancer treatment. I will be keeping this family in prayer, and I am thankful they already know Jesus!

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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, Parenting

Finding Grace #296

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 really good week, busy but manageable. We had a fun time with friends during trick-or-treating. That seems like a whole month ago, though it has only been one week! Lydia dressed up like a phoenix, rising from the ashes.

I signed up Lydia for her COVID vaccine, which will be next week. Of course, it takes a while to get both shots, but she is a trooper and is on board. I’m grateful for the opportunity to add another layer of protection to our household… and her classroom.

One morning before school, Lydia had a little episode of sadness and crying; she was missing Dave. We just sat there together giving space to her emotions so they could pass. Later that day, she came home as ‘the leader of the pack,’ which is an honor given to certain students each month. They are chosen by the teachers as a reward for being good students (beyond just academics). This year, Lydia earned a sign in our front yard! She was happy and it helped make the day a little more sweet.

Today, we celebrated a special event for a friend and then Lydia went to another birthday party! It was for one of her classmates at Skate City. Thankfully, Lydia had fun and didn’t fall down too often! It was good to meet the girl’s parents, and I listened to the mom tell me about her breast cancer treatment. I will be keeping this family in prayer, and I am thankful they already know Jesus!

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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, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #294

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!

Pumpkin, Leaf, Autumn, Gourd, Vegetable

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

This week went fast! I didn’t feel well on Monday, so I stayed home from work. I was on the fence because my symptoms weren’t contagious (no COVID symptoms) but rather just a variety of other things. However, my gut kept telling me to stay home, and I am glad I chose to listen! I was proud of myself for choosing to rest because like many people, I usually just push myself to go-go-go. In the end, I felt like taking one day off was going to help set me up well for the rest of the week. I’m calling it a win!!

Lydia and I met with her teacher for this semester’s school conference. I am grateful Lydia is doing so well. She always loves visiting the coinciding book fair, too. We bought a book for her classroom, and one of her classmates is already enjoying it!

Yesterday, I quickly did my errands after work and picked up Lydia early from daycare. We ran to a couple of stores and bought a few decorations for her room and some organizing supplies. It was so fun to see what she likes and spend time with her.

Today, we made a few family phone calls and did housework while listening to audiobooks. Lydia and I both spent time cleaning and organizing our bedrooms! It feels good to have a relaxing, productive Saturday at home! This organization will pay off in the coming months when things are easier to find.

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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, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Prayer, Wisdom

Finding Grace #291

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, and I wasn’t sure what to make of some events. I am relying on God’s grace to bring us through, but also to take care of other people in need.

Sadly, a boy in our extended neighborhood was hit by a car on his bike, the day after his thirteenth birthday. He’s going to have many months of recovery, and the full extent of his injuries remains to be seen as he is being kept sedated. Praise God a few off-duty medical professionals provided lifesaving care before the EMTs and paramedics arrived. His aunt and uncle live next door to me, and I hope I was able to bring them some comfort. Lydia and I thought it was good to donate some money to his medical fund; Lydia’s school had a fundraiser, too, and she gave generously. Please keep Taren in your prayers.

This week, a young family in Illinois experienced a taste of what we felt when Dave was sick. That is, the dad started chemo for colon cancer. He has a genetic condition that predisposes him, but still, it is a little shocking to see him undergoing a plan that is nearly identical to Dave’s. I know God is covering them with His grace, just like He did for us. But, please keep Isaac, Cassie, and their four kids in prayer.

On Thursday, I let Lydia go into the gas station by herself to get a drink while I stayed outside to put gas in my car. Lately, I have been starting to let her take more small steps of independence. She was nervous and wasn’t sure the dollar I gave her would go far enough. Yet, she came out with money to spare and was proud of herself. Lydia got a fountain drink instead of the slushie she wanted because the machine was broken. I was happy she didn’t chicken out, and I was impressed she was able to make a solid decision all on her own!

Today, was beautiful! I did some laundry and raked the yard. Lydia helped a little but otherwise played with the neighbors. I had a little helper stop by, but I will write more about that for Wednesday’s blog post. I am somewhat sore 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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Fruit, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Prayer, Wisdom

Hiccups, Pineapple, and Fear

When I picked up Lydia from daycare on Monday, she had hiccups.

After a couple of moments of listening to her, I told her how I usually get rid of them. I take a deep breath and hold it. Then, I swallow without letting go of the air. Somehow, this resets my diaphragm muscle, which helps my lungs spontaneously fill up and expel the air.

I’m happy to report that Lydia tried my method with success!

Lydia then told me how her friend stops hiccuping. She said that when you have hiccups, thinking of pineapples will make them go away!

I asked Lydia what she meant, and she started yelling: “Pineapples are fruit! Pineapples are yellow! Pineapples are spiky! Pineapples are sweet!”

Go ahead and try it, if you want. Report back if it works! 😉

I laughed and said, “You can do the same thing with fear! You can yell, ‘I won’t be afraid! Jesus loves me! I will not fear!'” Then, I told her how we can speak God’s Word over our fears. By doing so, we exchange fear for faith.

Below, I put a simple list of Bible verses that we can apply to our fears.

Psalm 23:4 (ESV) says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 27:1 (ESV) says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) says, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

1 Peter 3:14 (NLT) says, “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.”

1 John 4:18 (NIV) says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Life is full of hiccups, yet we don’t have to be afraid. Sometimes, life is sweet like a pineapple. But even when life gets tough, we can reset and trust God! Breathe in His Word and exhale His strength. 

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God, thanks for always taking such good care of me. You are such a good provider. Thank You that I don’t have to be afraid! Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How do you get rid of the hiccups?

Task: Print out these verses and keep them accessible for the next time you are afraid!