Category: Parenting

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

Finding Grace #255

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! On Sunday, we had a lot of fun on family Zoom. We laughed and enjoyed seeing my baby nephew. He’s growing so much!

Work went well and I enjoyed both the VA and Concordia. It is a challenge at times to balance everything, but I am grateful for all I am able to do right now.

I enjoyed seeing all the Bernie Sanders memes this week after the Inauguration. Ironically, it seems he is more popular now than he has ever been! Some would say his policies are questionable (at best), but hey, we are all “united” over those funny memes. Winning!

On Wednesday evening, Lydia had a friend from church over to play last minute. Since we didn’t make it to Wednesday night church, we had a short Bible lesson at home. We had fun reading in Acts 16 about the woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Philippi. Then, we discussed a short devotion about her. The girls loved it!

I picked up Lydia early from daycare on Friday. We had a fun evening together!

We got a little more snow this week. One day, my snow removal service came, so that was really helpful. They saved me time during a busy work week. Tonight, Lydia and I are going to shovel a little bit as well! She has been good to help me around the house lately. Thankfully, most of the time she is cheerful!

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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, Food and Nutrition, Fruit, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #252

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 short work week, followed by another long weekend! I took off New Year’s Eve to spend time with Lydia. We had a fun, relaxing day together. We played games,  had a dance party, ate appetizers, and stayed up until midnight. It was fun!

This week, I am grateful for neighborly help. On Wednesday, my neighbor and a friend came to help me start my snow blower! It was recently fixed, but I still was having trouble. So, they showed me a “trick” to ensure it starts more regularly. I must’ve done it in the past, but never realized it!

The last few weeks have been busy, of course, with work, holidays, and more. But, I am grateful for a little rest sprinkled in, too. It was just what I needed!

Teaching Lydia gratitude is important to me. So, this week we worked on several thank you notes for all our Christmas gifts. She did most of them on her own and didn’t stall too much. I think all the practice is paying off!

Today, Lydia and I did a little housework and ran some errands. Then, we made some black bean and corn salsa (Lydia’s favorite) and some cherry-peach crisp with a topping of  pureed rehydrated figs, oatmeal, cinnamon, and pecans! It was so good, and we didn’t even miss the sugar and butter!

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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, Parenting, Prayer, Wisdom

Jesus AND Science

NOTE: I know many people are on the fence about the coronavirus vaccine. I decided to gather some of my thoughts here, as best I could, to document and explain why I chose to receive the vaccine. If it helps you decide one way or the other, great! No pressure here. Each of us must make our own decisions. Thanks for reading!

A couple of days ago, on Monday afternoon, I received the Moderna COVID vaccine at work. By the time I stood in line for it, I was excited and totally at peace. I didn’t receive the injection on a whim or without purpose. I did my due diligence!

Like many people, I was originally hesitant when I first heard about these vaccines. Why inject something if it isn’t necessary? I started by praying about what to do.

Then, I read many articles online and filtered through just as much misinformation. I realized without the vaccines, even more unnecessary deaths will happen. In the process, I found some really good resources.

For instance, I have found deplatformdisease.com quite helpful. It takes scientific information and makes it accessible to the general public. It explains the disease process and other things, like what antibodies and antigens are, in simple terms.

I also appreciated learning more about Operation Warp Speed, a collaboration between the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Defense, among others. I am amazed at how everything came together for this all to be successful. To me, it’s God’s hand at work giving scientists the ability to create vaccines and work together. I don’t see vaccines as a threat, but rather a great blessing.

In particular, I loved learning what happened behind the scenes. The researchers were already working on a similar coronavirus vaccine and were able to transfer their energy and resources accordingly. Due to the magnitude of this illness and its crippling effect on society and the economy, those in charge were able to cut through bureaucratic barriers, too. Thankfully, increased funding helped focus their efforts on finding a solution sooner.

With an abundance of volunteers, the first COVID trial started in March! Normally, each trial would conclude with review and more research before the next one would start. But, this time, they did the review and extended research concurrently while planning for each of the next phases. Genius!

Instead of taking 70+ months, the vaccines took about fourteen months to complete and get approved (on an emergency basis). To the public it may seem rushed, but actually, it was not. No corners were cut in the vaccine trials. In fact, multiple vaccines (similar, yet distinct) and the huge number of people in the trials makes the numbers even more reliable.

I think of it like this: If I were to host a party, I would have to prepare by completing several different steps in order. I would think about the menu and who to invite. I would look for recipes and do a quick inventory of ingredients. Then, I would go to the store, purchase everything, go back home, unpack everything. Then, I would have to wash, chop, and cook, the ingredients, not to mention plate all the dishes, set the table, clean the house, and answer the door.

Now imagine if I already had several recipes in mind and already had the supplies on hand. Wouldn’t that speed up the planning process? And, if I asked for help, my guests could each bring a dish, leaving me to focus on other important details. So, perhaps I spent just as much effort on the overall party, but I found several ways to save time and got others to pitch in. No cutting corners, just using my resources wisely and efficiently!

It is heartwarming to see relief and tears of joy when those at highest risk get the vaccine. That said, the vaccine may not be for everyone. If people have severe allergies, they should weigh the pros and cons and discuss options with their healthcare provider. There may be other factors, as well. Each person should choose what works best for them.

For me, all of the information (and prayers) lead me to take a step of faith. I refuse to live in fear, so I let God lead me. I trust Him to protect me either way, but when He provided the opportunity through my job, I decided it was good timing.

A couple of months ago, my parents each contracted COVID despite taking all precautions. My dad had a moderate case, while my mom’s health turned more severe. It was quite scary when she could barely catch her breath on the phone!

During the recovery process, my mom told me, “Do whatever you can to avoid this.” I have not sought my mom’s opinions about the COVID vaccines, but her advice rang true.

All this time, I have been going to work and sending Lydia to daycare. I’m so grateful for that stability, but we do have increased risks of getting sick. As a mom, I was happy to take the vaccine and minimize my chances of bringing home COVID to Lydia.

Sure, if we were to get sick, we’d probably be fine. But, there are no guarantees.

At the end of the day, we each have a decision to make. It’s not just “vaccine or no vaccine,” but how shall we live and move forward?

Our decisions continue to affect others, so it makes sense to lovingly protect as many people as we can. Wash your hands, wear a mask, keep social distancing, etc. It has been a difficult year, and while there is still work to do, these vaccines feel like light at the end of the tunnel. My sore arm feels worth it!

As we step into this new year, I’m praising God for giving us humans the ability to reason, understand the world He made, and create timely solutions to complex problems!

Yes, we can celebrate both Jesus AND science!

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God, thanks for providing for me and and keeping me safe. Help me to be wise and considerate toward others. Give me confidence to go against the grain when needed! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy reading about trending topics in science or do you avoid them altogether? Have you researched the pros and cons for your current health choices?

Tasks: Review some of the pink links in the post above. Discuss options with your healthcare provider. Don’t forget to pray about next steps ahead of time, so you are prepared to make the best decision for yourself and your family if/when the time comes. God bless you and keep you safe!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Special Days Are Still Difficult

As I previously mentioned, Lydia’s 9th birthday was last weekend! We had a fun day together, as you might expect. But, as the evening wore on and bedtime grew close, Lydia started feeling sad.

Perhaps she was already feeling sad, but she didn’t say anything earlier in the day. We were watching “Jingle Jangle” on Netflix, and I thought everything was going well. But toward the end of the show, Lydia started softly crying.

She said the show was sad, although I hadn’t noticed anything overly sad about it. It could have been the fact that it was growing late, or maybe it was just coming down after a high point (celebrating her birthday). Either way, I still needed to help her understand and deal with her emotions.

I silently prayed for help and asked Lydia to share what was on her mind. She couldn’t quite express her thoughts, so I asked a few questions to get her talking. She missed her dad, my late husband, Dave.

Soon, I remembered I had some of Dave’s clothes, saved for this very reason. Around seven years ago, I had packaged up a medium-sized box of his favorite shirts and a pair of jeans, so Lydia could one day understand more about how tall he was and his interests.

I asked Lydia if she wanted to see the clothes, and naturally, she said yes. Going through the box was bittersweet… and, I had to explain what that word means. Each piece of clothing brought back specific memories with Dave or reminded me who he was.

To me, the saddest part of all is that Lydia doesn’t have memories of Dave. She just has his clothes, his pictures, and other people’s memories. Nonetheless, I validated Lydia’s emotions and acknowledged that it was normal to feel sad, angry, or even a sense of unfairness. As she grows, so does her grief.

I offered to wash her Daddy’s clothes so she could hold them close. Just about every week, she wears her Caterpillar sweatshirt and a couple of t-shirts honoring Dave. She quickly asked if she could wear them around the house or to sleep in some of them. Sure!

I started a load of laundry, never thinking I would wash those items again… Then, I coached Lydia how to handle those difficult emotions.

I explained that some people want to run away from their emotions or numb the pain in various ways. But that doesn’t really take care of the problem, it just prolongs it.

I encouraged Lydia to do the following. We can:

  1. Draw near to God, asking Him to help us through the pain. We can tell Jesus all about it. He understands and knows exactly what we need.
  2. Share our pain with someone trustworthy. Our feelings are not the only thing, but they still are valid. Not everyone will understand, but find someone who will let you cry it out, if needed, and who won’t just tell you to get over it.
  3. Sit with the pain, as long as needed. Just let it be. Try to get to the root of the problem to understand how to deal with it appropriately.
  4. Then, find someone else you can help with the lessons you learned. Be gentle and don’t assume that everyone wants to be helped. Trust God to use your pain to bring comfort and peace where it is needed most.

Lydia and I sat on the couch for quite awhile, maybe an hour. My legs were falling asleep, as she was snuggled on my lap. It was well past bedtime when I finally turned out her light. Parents want to shield their children from pain, but there are still some situations where that’s not possible.

The next day, I gave Dave’s clean clothes to Lydia. She embraced them and took them straight to her room. She picked out the largest sweatshirt she could find and wore it the rest of the day. She even slept in it and said she had the best sleep ever. Thank You, Jesus!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and that will look dramatically different for many of us. For me and Lydia, it’s par for the course. We’ve had seven years to adjust, but then again, we’ve been adjusting for seven years! Special days are still difficult at times.

This year, people around the world are missing their loved ones who either passed from COVID or who are socially distancing to protect themselves or others. I’m so sorry.

In the struggle, remember it’s normal to feel how you feel. Let it out and deal with it in healthy ways. Pray, journal, call your loved ones, take a nap, go for a walk, etc.

Also please remember you are loved. You are not alone. We are in this together, and God is here with us. Despite all we have lost, we still have so much to be thankful for.

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God, thanks for always being there for us, in the good times and bad. Thank you we can draw near to You at any time of day, no matter how we are feeling. Please be with each of us, and wrap us in Your love and grace. Help us keep our eyes on You, not our circumstances. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you altering your plans this holiday season? What is your favorite tradition, and can you put a new spin on it? What are you most thankful for this year?

Tasks: Make a gratitude list, or write down what is going well. Be on the lookout for ways you can encourage others. You might be surprised how God uses your pain to help someone else!

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

Finding Grace #246

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 went really well. We had a good Zoom meeting with family on Sunday, and we also made some Asian-style dumplings with a friend. We made some extras and enjoyed them for leftovers later in the week!

Work at the VA went well, and I got to fill in and work some additional hours. I appreciated the opportunity and am glad to help my team! I also received high marks on my performance evaluation, which makes me really grateful for God’s grace!

On Friday, my college students and I enjoyed a Zoom class event with other health disciplines. Then, I spent the rest of the day (before picking up Lydia) crossing off several items on my to-do list! It felt good to catch up around the house, make several calls, and drop off items in the mail.

Today is Lydia’s birthday. I am so thankful for my girl! She has been looking forward to this day for months!! Besides opening gifts from me, she received a number of cards and gifts in the mail. I really appreciate everyone’s generosity toward her! Thank you!

Today, we went shopping (errands), saw a good friend, ate some yummy food, and talked with family on the phone and via Zoom. Tonight, we are watching the Netflix movie, “Jingle Jangle.” It’s been a good day celebrating!

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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 #242

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 really good! Even though it is still autumn, it felt a little like winter! Lydia and I watched the Nutcracker (Four Realms) movie and are feeling festive!

We got a little snow this week, though there are many trees still with leaves! I ended up buying two new shovels, and I was proud of how well Lydia did! I also appreciated her good attitude!

My work week went well, and Lydia enjoyed a planned week off of school! She went to daycare, but had fun doing special art projects. She also had fun playing in the snow with her new boots and wool shirts and socks. I bought her some new clothing items for the season!

This week, I made some progress on a project and even organized some areas in my house. I always feel short on time, so I’m happy to have gotten some things done.

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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 #241

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 a little different than usual! It was good, though. On Monday, I had the day off work at the VA. I hosted a Zoom meeting with my college students and also got a massage. The massage was an interesting experience!

On Wednesday, Lydia stayed home, not feeling her best. Of course, I stayed home, too. It was unexpected, but nice to stay home and have a “free” day. Lydia rested and quietly read, while I worked on a project and did some grading. Perhaps it was just what we needed. Thankfully, Lydia felt better and went to school the next day.

Yesterday was a good, productive day! I taught my class in-person and did some “school work” like answering emails and grading. Then, I ran some errands and hung out with Lydia!

This week, I put up my outdoor Christmas lights. We also received some snow yesterday and today, which has already melted. But, it helped put me in the holiday mood!

Today, Lydia and I are doing science experiences and having a spa day. We are learning about the solar system and playing with our hair. I’m so grateful for my girl!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

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

Finding Grace #240

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 a great week! It was just as full, but for whatever reason, it was less stressful. Maybe it was because I went shopping one afternoon and even squeezed in a nap. At any rate, I was grateful for God’s grace and goodness.

On Wednesday, a friend took Lydia to church again. I went to pick her up a little later, but it was helpful to have some extra time at home preparing for the rest of the week.

Friday night was spent with the same friend (and others) at church praying for our nation. There are so many issues we are facing, personally and in our communities and beyond. Prayer is so important and I appreciated meeting together with these wise people as we sought the Lord’s help.

Today, Lydia and I enjoyed time outside at a local park and then went to a local farmer’s market. We bought some veggies and sampled a few treats. We also walked through part of a historical neighborhood enjoying the beautiful houses on this sunny day. Then, she played outside while I worked on a project and made veggie lasagna using the biggest zucchini I have ever seen!

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Prayer, Wisdom, Words

Taming the Tongue

When my siblings and I were little, whenever we were mean to each other, our parents would make us apologize, ask for forgiveness, and then give each other a hug.

Did your parents do the same with you?

I practice something similar with Lydia, but since she is my only child, we often do this together. Yes, I have to model it if I want her to understand what to do!

Lydia also keeps me accountable in other ways, such as when I am driving.

“Grrr! Nice turn signal, Buddy!” Or, I may say some other variation of that. 😉

Then, Lydia will tell me, “Mom, you know they can’t hear you.”

“Thanks, Lydia. I’m just frustrated. They are driving really slow and not using their signals.” Or, maybe they pulled out in front of me, cutting me off. You get the idea.

Sometimes, I honk at the other car, too, though that doesn’t happen as often!

Recently, someone cut across traffic into my lane without any signals, and then moved slowly ahead. But, then I heard Lydia’s gentle reminder and calmed down. We were safe and… maybe they were lost. I took the cue to enjoy the slower pace and pray.

Soon this thought entered my mind: What if someday in Heaven, we each have to track down every person we hurt or offended… then apologize and ask them to forgive us?!

That includes every word, thought, or action. Even if they were unaware of what happened. That would cover yelling at other drivers, gossiping about other people, our written words, or even turning the odds in our favor instead of benefitting someone else.

Imagine walking up to someone and saying, “Um, you don’t know me, but I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I said those things about you…”

I’m sure several people would be “eating crow!”

Our words are so important. They have creative or destructive power.

This week, I fielded a crazy trolling comment on social media. The person didn’t really want to discuss or learn anyting. He just wanted to spout off angry sentiments that had nothing to do with my original, encouraging post.

The man kept implying that my life is all ‘hearts and flowers,’ as if I don’t have much depth or the experience to understand all he was talking about. Ironically, he said, “I might hurt your feelings, but…” not even realizing that he was justifying his own hurtful actions.

Yet, instead of becoming offended or escalating the issues, I simply diffused them. I knew it was useless to chat with a complete stranger online. The best thing I could do was pray for him. Plus, I was conscious of the impact of my words, even if he was not!

To be clear, I have not read anything in the Bible that says we will someday have to apologize to one another for our hurtful or careless words. Not that we shouldn’t apologize, rather because of Jesus’ death and blood, we are forgiven and God doesn’t punish us.

However, Proverbs 18:21 does point out that Death and Life are in the power of the tongue. We are accountable to God, and He will reward us for every good deed someday. So, I want my focus to be on doing things that honor Him.

Today, let’s pick our battles. Know when to speak up and when to remain silent. We don’t need to have the last word, but we can always choose to be godly. Let’s tame our tongues!

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God, You are so gracious. Thanks for Your forgiveness even before we blow it. Put a guard over our mouths and help us tame our tongues. May all we say and do bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been building others up or tearing them down with your words?

Tasks: Read James 3:1-12. Pray about your words and repent/apologize if needed.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #236

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. I picked up a few extra hours at the VA and had a great time teaching my students. On Labor Day, I was off from the VA, but had two Zoom calls for Concordia. I was glad for the slower pace because the rest of the week was full!

On Wednesday, I mowed the lawn after work. I looked ahead and saw potential rain, so I took advantage of the timing and gorgeous weather. It was cool but calm! Mowing early in the week helped free me up later in the week. It did rain a little, but I also worked extra hours and had a few activities planned with Lydia. 

School went well for Lydia this week! She had fun learning and even was stretched as she tackled some personal fears with success. She seems to be adjusting well!

Today, a friend came over for our writer’s group. We always have fun discussing our ongoing projects. Then, Lydia and I did some cleaning and are relaxing 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)!