Category: Travel

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Travel, Words, Worship

Rest, Relax, Recap

On Thursday of last week, Lydia and I flew to Illinois to spend time with family. We had a lot of fun at the barefoot shoe expo, but we also enjoyed just hanging out. We ate good food, went to a school fundraiser for my nephew, ran errands, watched a couple of movies, played games, and laughed a lot. We missed my mom and Dave, of course, but we know they would be thrilled we got together.

On Saturday, my sister and I went to the expo in Schaumburg. We also took Lydia to Woodfield Mall. As we sat in the food court eating lunch, we were people watching. People of all sorts of cultures were there, and many fashions were also represented. We smiled at a few people’s choices, but we know that’s not always the full picture. Among the hundreds of people, some are likely brothers and sisters in Christ. Then I had a thought: I wonder if someday in Heaven, we will recognize each other. “Oh yeah, you’re the one with the tattoos, piercings, hot pink hair, and neon dress at the mall!” 🙂 I hope so!

My family and I also had several other good conversations. We talked about God’s goodness and His patience. It seems that often, someone who is good and godly will die, and God will leave the hateful jerk no one likes. It doesn’t seem fair, but we can trust that God knows best. In fact, 2 Peter 3:9 says (NLT), “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” What mercy! You can also read more here.

May be a graphic of text that says 'That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, NO EYE HAS SEEN NO EAR HAS HEARD and NO MIND HAS IMAGINED what GOD has prepared for those who love M CORINTHIANS 2:9'

We discussed some current events and hot topics. None of us is worried because we see world events through a different lens. We also reviewed some short-term and long-term plans. At various times, we mentioned prayer requests and other concerns. I am so grateful for my family of faith.

On Monday, some of us went to breakfast on the way to the airport. As we waited for our food to come, we asked each other what we were reading for our time with the Lord. Some had very specific Bible reading plans and devotional books. And some were taking an in-depth approach to a book of the Bible. I shared that I had been reading the Gospels and recently moved on to Acts. I like to have two or three different Bible translations open to compare as I go.

Finally, we discussed what Heaven will be like. The new Heaven will combine with the new Earth. It is a physical place, not just a bunch of clouds and harps! Anyway, my family talked about all the cool things we will get to do with our new resurrection bodies. Maybe we will hike mountains without tiring and see all sorts of wild animals with no real danger. Alaska is on my bucket list, but can you imagine how wonderful the new Alaska will be? I don’t have to worry if I don’t get to go in this lifetime – I will have eternity to check it out! I also hope we’ll get to explore other planets or galaxies! Only God knows!

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Heavenly Father, You are faithful and good! Thanks for the blessing of time with family. May we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you imagine Heaven, what do you see? Have you ever looked into barefoot or minimalist shoes? (They have three main characteristics: zero drop heel, flexible sole, and wide toe box.)

Task: Don’t be afraid to have important conversations with your loved ones. Your family and friends need to know about Jesus. Ask good questions and be willing to listen to different perspectives.

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Travel, Wisdom

Finding Grace #532

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

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

This week flew by! We had a whirlwind mix of work, school events, and traveling!

Mother’s Day was on Sunday. We enjoyed church, seeing friends, and then relaxed. I am grateful for the love and support of so many wonderful ladies!

On Monday, I had an orthodontist appointment. We talked about my MARPE plan after the 3D mockup. The good news is that I am done with turns! I don’t have any other appointments until August, and then we will discuss our next steps.

On Tuesday, Lydia had her final middle school orchestra concert. (That’s hard to believe!!) In addition, she had to get a new (rental) viola because a seam was busted on her other one. She also got a new bow. At some point, we’ll have to decide if we keep renting or buy a viola. Decisions, decisions!

Wednesday evening was an orientation at the high school. Lydia is a little nervous but also excited about the fall. She has some experience already, having been there several times for Congress, Speech, and some orchestra events. Because of extracurricular activities, Lydia has grown in confidence this year, and I know God will be with her!

I crammed a lot of work into a few short days! Lots of patients and lots of charting, lol! My coworkers complimented me on my unique way of teaching difficult concepts in a practical, memorable way. That made me feel good, and I am glad they trust my input!

Friday was the thirteenth anniversary of Dave’s death. I have been able to take it off for several years in a row. It is a gift to myself, so I don’t have to pretend to be upbeat if I am not feeling it. It’s not that I will automatically feel sad, but I just give myself the day off so I can “be” and do whatever I want. We usually celebrate by doing fun things and eating good food in his honor.

The best part of the week is that we hopped onto a plane to visit family! Some of us went to a barefoot shoe expo today, and tonight we are hanging out with the others.

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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, Travel

Finding Grace #504

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!

Free Autumn Gold photo and picture

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

Happy November!! This week was full, but also fun.

My neck and shoulders are feeling better day by day. I was able to do more exercise this week, and I think that helps them, too! As it has been said, motion is lotion. 🙂

The weather was again windy, cloudy, and drizzly. One day, we also had some frost! As a matter of principle, I try not to wear my winter coat as long as possible. The longer I put it off, the shorter winter seems to be. So, I made it through October at least! I did put my coat in my car, just in case I need it. 😉

I had an important appointment this week… Most likely in January, I will be starting what will be a few years of orthodontic care. It’s something that has been brought up for decades, but I only recently learned more about what that would entail. I see people every week with mouth and tooth issues, so I would like to avoid anything like that! Perhaps I will share more later, but for now, I have peace and am trying not to think about the pain and awkwardness too much, lol. I appreciate your prayers!

Work was busy with lots of little fires to put out. But I kept a good attitude and just tackled things as they came. Our dietitian team had fun dressing up as Dominos for Halloween!

Lydia had an orchestra concert on Thursday, with a Halloween theme. It was fun to listen to the 6-12th graders each perform some classic scary songs! Just about everyone dressed up, which means I got my money’s worth for her honeybee costume! She’s worn it at least three times already!

Lydia joined some friends for trick-or-treat, while I passed out candy at home. I didn’t have a ton of kids, but I enjoyed seeing those I did! It is a good time to catch up with neighbors, too!

Today, we traveled an hour south to Wahpeton to see my Aunt Terry, who is there visiting her mom’s extended family. This has been a little tradition for us the last few years. This time, we met for breakfast at a local truck stop and caught up for a couple of hours. Lydia and I also just happened to see “the world’s largest catfish,” too!

After that, we did our usual Saturday things, and I studied for my class at church. I also tried on some new winter gear for the season. After fifteen years in Fargo, I needed some upgrades!

PSA: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour 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 Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

A North Dakota Roadtrip Adventure

Over the weekend, we had an awesome two-day North Dakota road trip adventure! I wanted to do something special before my birthday (yesterday), and almost our whole trip involved places we hadn’t been before. We stayed in Rugby and went to the border to see the International Peace Gardens (Lydia’s first time through Customs). We enjoyed the fountains, trees, flowers, and saw way more cacti than I knew existed (some gigantic, some tiny). We met some really sweet Canadians at a vendor show and bought some souvenirs.

The weather was partially cloudy, with sprinkles on and off, but we made the best of it. Truthfully, I was a little irked at first. I was hoping the rain would hold off, and of course, I left my umbrella at work. We decided to do the Canadian driving portion first. That helped, but then it started up again in spurts (on and off, for most of the day).

Lydia and I walked when we could and jumped into and out of the car to see some of the sights. We were glad I had thrown a couple of beach towels in last minute, and Lydia kept laughing about it all. Later, I overheard a dad telling his child, “Well, it seems God wanted it to rain today, so we aren’t going to argue with Him.” I took that to heart and just went with it after that. In fact, perhaps because of the rain, we saw so much on Saturday!



Then, we drove to nearby Lake Metigoshe State Park and knocked out a few fun roadside attractions (see below). We even made it to Minot, which was larger than I expected. We enjoyed the Scandinavian Heritage Park. I thought of my mom many times on Saturday, surrounded by beautiful flowers and some Danish cultural items.

On Sunday, we drove home another way, this time going the northern route around Devils Lake. Lydia had been that way before on her way to camp, so it was fun to see her recognize some landmarks. We visited Graham’s Island State Park and then went on to Grand Forks for lunch. We even made it home early in the afternoon, so I could mow!

Lydia hopes to take her driver’s permit test in a few months, so we discussed the rules of the road along the way. We talked about our goals for the upcoming year and other trips we would like to take together. It was great spending time together and making memories!

Traveling can be a lot of work, but we tried to keep this one simple. We took our own snacks and treats to save money, although we also picked up a few items on the way. We cut out another large swath of driving and decided to save that destination for another trip. I had wanted to visit the Peace Gardens since my birthday trip to Medora last year, and I am glad we made it happen.

More importantly, I want Lydia to know what North Dakota is all about, since she was born here. In five-ish years, she will likely go to college, and then we will have limited opportunities together. So, I want to make the most of our time. Sure, we tend to stay home a lot, but when we do travel, we make it worth our while! 🙂

A road trip is also a good way to connect with God. His beauty is found in Nature, and His provision in timing, safe travels, and new adventures to do or see. Taking a step away from our routine helps us appreciate what we have when we get back home. Thank You, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being with us on our road trip! Life with You is always an adventure. Rain or shine, You are so GOOD to us. Please continue to lead us and guide us along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been on any summer road trips this year?

Task: Become a tourist in your own state. Take a day trip or stay somewhere new overnight. I’d love to hear all about it!!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #492

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!

Free Zinnia Composites photo and picture

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

This was a busy, but really good week!

Work was surprisingly light, even though I covered for a few appointments and classes. Lydia and I also had dentist appointments on Monday, so the day flew as I left work early to pick her up.

On Friday, someone came over to give me an estimate for some landscaping. It won’t be anything too exciting, but just some dirt and rock around the foundation of my house. I might add some flowers, but we’ll see. Still, I am looking forward to seeing the estimate and hopefully getting this long overdue project completed!

After that, we jumped in the car to head a few hours to Rugby, ND, for an adventure. For the most part, we just relaxed once we got to the inn. It was nice to just chill after a long week. As a side note, Rugby happens to be the geographical center of North America, so it was interesting to see the small monument in tribute.

Today, we headed to the US/Canada border to see the International Peace Gardens! It was on my ND bucket list for some time, and I knew August is a month where a lot of flowers are in full bloom. Lydia loved going to the Canadian side, her first trip over the Northern border! Later, we toured more of North Dakota, heading west to Minot and several random tourist sites. I’ll give more details on Wednesday!

For now, we will rest and have some more fun on the way home tomorrow!

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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, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Travel

Finding Grace #486

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!

Free Dahlias Fall photo and picture

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

This week felt really busy, as I was exhausted from traveling and evening activities upon our return from Nashville. But, God is faithful and helped me each day!

On Tuesday, I purposely went into work a little late due to our trip. Then, I left early to take Lydia to her last volleyball camp. I also worked on my weekly blog post.

Work was busy as usual, but I managed to keep up with most of my charting. That night, I took Lydia to camp, and my neighbor came to check out my washing machine. It had stopped working before our trip, but that night, it started right up! I decided to run a load after he left, but then the water wouldn’t stop running. It overflowed onto the floor, though I caught it fairly quickly and was able to clean it up!

On Thursday morning, I called an appliance repairman suggested by my neighbor. I hope he is accurate in what he thinks is wrong (based on my description). It will be at least next week until it is fixed, as next Wednesday is the best time for both of our schedules. Thankfully, we have plenty of clothes and can still use the machine with a little finagling. Essentially, I have to manually adjust the dials and monitor the process to prevent overfilling.

Friday was a jam-packed day, but again, God helped it all to flow well. I had a few scheduled patients at work, but only saw one of them, lol. Then, in the afternoon, I made a couple of calls to family before getting my oil changed. After that, Lydia and I mowed the lawn, which had grown quite a bit due to storms while we were gone. It was good to get it done before more rain! I also completed a few maintenance tasks, so it was quite productive!

Today, we continued to knock other chores off my list. I cooked sweet potatoes, cabbage, and cut up some watermelon. Tonight, Lydia is hanging out with a friend. I am relaxing after a long week, just as another storm rolls in. Maybe I will see a rainbow!

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Family Ties

Lydia and I had a great time at our family reunion last weekend! We traveled directly to Nashville on the way there, and through Dallas – Fort Worth on the way back (two new airports for us!). Nashville was hot and busy, but we had a lot of fun.

I don’t know of many large families that can all get together and get along. I’m sure they exist, lol, but I am grateful for my family’s love and craziness! We had about forty people attend, including some friends who are like family. We missed those who could not make it!

We arrived late on Thursday night and met some others for Friday breakfast at The Loveless Cafe. Then, about half of us went downtown to walk down Broadway. It was busy and loud (people and music in every direction), but it was good to say we did it. Lydia and I share some delicious nachos! I loved the pedestrian bridge!

Apparently, there’s been a lot of growth over the last decade. My friends who have been down there for many years barely recognize the city. Unfortunately, Downtown Nashville has become quite touristy. It’s not all music and bars; there are some cool museums, historical sites, and many shops and restaurants.

On Saturday, Lydia and I slept in a little before we spent most of our day at the Nashville Zoo. The heat could have been too much, but thankfully, there are many trees to provide shade. We enjoyed the zipline and chasing the kids around. We had two four-year-olds, a five-year-old, and Lydia (13). They kept on the move, and it was fun to see them excited over every animal, big or small. In the evening, we got dinner and then played ‘reindeer games’ while catching up with everyone.

Sunday’s breakfast was at Elliston Place Soda Shop. I split some pancakes and eggs with Lydia and then got some pie to go! The meringue on my pie was practically a mile high! Lydia and I went shopping, and then lunch was at a steakhouse. There, we also had a family game and awards.

A little while later, we had a memorial for family members who have passed away. We released butterflies in their honor—Mom would have loved that!

Soon after, two of my local friends stopped by, and we talked for about two hours. Various family members also chatted with them, and it was so good to see them.

On Monday, most everyone headed back home. Before heading to the airport, we went to a huge used bookstore, McKay’s. After two flights, Lydia and I arrived home.

I am grateful for the time we spent together with loved ones. It is good to stay connected to our roots. I’m grateful for God’s rest and the ability to travel and try some new things!

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Thanks God for the gift of family. Help us love each other well. May we stay close and honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any fun trips this summer? How often do you get together for a family reunion?

Tasks: Work to develop strong family ties. Get together as often as you can. Swap stories, play games, and encourage each other. Send messages and connect over video in the meantime!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #485

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!

Free Cranesbill Geranium photo and picture

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

This week was a great week! We had a perfect mix of hard work and relaxation, rain and sunshine, cooler weather and heat.

On Tuesday, Lydia had volleyball camp and is feeling more comfortable.

I worked two days and then had the rest of the week off! I kept busy at the office but mostly helped my coworkers after I was done with my own patients.

On Wednesday, I was off to prepare for a trip. On Thursday, Juneteenth, I was off anyway, so we flew to Nashville for a family reunion (just a central spot we hadn’t been to yet).

Several people came to the reunion. This includes my dad’s family from all over the US, plus Greece and England. We also invited some sweet Florida friends who have been so kind to our family. The more the merrier! We went downtown, to the Zoo, ate lots of yummy food, played games, and so much more.

Before we left, my washing machine stopped working. I am hoping it is an easy fix, but I could not figure it out. My family offered ideas over the phone, but I ended up asking my neighbor to check it out. However, it will have to wait until next week due to the timing. Thankfully, I have plenty of clothes and towels, so it is not an emergency!

Yesterday, several parts of North Dakota had tornadoes. I don’t know all the details but there were some damages and a few deaths. So sad. I am grateful for my neighbors watching my house and glad we were safe (far away).

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

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

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

Trusting When We Cannot See

This season is full of opportunities to trust God. Often, we have to make a decision when we don’t know the full picture of what He is doing. It seems God asks us to trust Him at a new level every so often (if not daily). Yet, we don’t have to lay aside our questions or logic. Trusting God does not mean ‘blind faith.’ We may not fully see what He is doing, but we can see that He has a good track record!

We can trust everything He does. Even when we can’t quite see the full picture in our own lives, we can trace His faithfulness through Scripture. The main thing is not to get stuck on our questions or logic… in order to trust, we still have to take action!

Free Building Porch photo and picture

“When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart.” — Emily P. Freeman

I came across this quote again recently, and it struck me a little differently than before. Previously, I focused on the word hand in terms of a physical body part. This time, however, I thought of a deck of cards, where hands are dealt. Depending on the game played, we may not see all the cards at once! God does not play games with our hearts, and we can trust His. 

God also doesn’t ask us to trust Him for no reason. He loves us and has the best things in store for us. As we see in Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), “…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We just have to walk them out. 

God continually shows me His faithfulness. Yesterday marked two months since my mom finished her race and entered Heaven. It has been difficult, but I am grateful that people are still encouraging us, especially my dad. Thank you!!

Free Door Building photo and picture

Lydia is going on a school trip to Washington, DC, next week, and although it was my idea to send her, I need to trust God for her safety, health, provision, etc. I know she will have a great time and will make many memories as she spreads her wings. Thankfully, she already has experience traveling and being apart from me, thanks to summer camp the last few years.

I am also trusting God with summer plans and some opportunities in the fall. Remember, I am a planner and like to get my ducks in a row! But, sometimes, I just have to wait and have faith. In time, I will know more details. God always provides them on time, though in my humanity, I like to know early! 🙂

This season, I am reminded of how God cares for all His birds. I have woken up to the robins, sparrows, purple house finches, and others singing their songs of praise. I have seen a Northern Flicker grace my yard for a few minutes, too. If they can trust God to provide for them amid the uncertain rain, wind, and various temperatures, then I can too!

While waiting for God, I can worship and keep praying for wisdom and discernment. I can take the first step without worrying about making a mistake. I can rest knowing He will redirect me as needed. I can even “borrow faith” from someone else’s journey until mine strengthens!

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God, thanks for all Your loving care and provision. You are so good to me. Help me trust You more, even in uncertain times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you in your faith journey? How can you trust God and keep moving forward?

Task: Listen to the song, “Sparrows,” by Cory Asbury. Think about how much God loves you and takes care of you!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Travel, Worship

Finding Grace #470

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!

Free Trail Winter photo and picture

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

This week was full of family and friends, which was joyful as we celebrated my mom’s life. But, of course, there was also sadness and grief. 

We spent Sunday and Monday working around my parents’ house and hanging out with loved ones in Florida. We helped my dad by going through my mom’s clothing and accessories. We chose some of my mom’s personal items to keep or share with loved ones. We also made decisions about what to donate. Mom always loved blessing others, so I think she would be pleased.

On Tuesday afternoon, we flew back to Fargo. It was difficult to leave my dad, but his brother, John, stayed behind with him for a few days. Lydia and I had three flights and arrived home around 11:30 p.m. Everything went smoothly, praise God. We went straight to bed so that we could get up early for work and school.

Work went well, though, to be honest, my heart wasn’t really in it. I think it will be a struggle for a little while since convincing people to change food habits pales in comparison to grief and thoughts of eternity. My coworkers have all been so kind to check in and let me talk, as needed. I know from previous experiences with grief that it just takes time to process and move forward. But I also appreciate your prayers!

Often on Friday afternoons, I would call my mom to check in. So, it is sad not to be able to do that anymore. On top of that, yesterday, I went to the grocery store and saw random items Mom would typically buy. I was sad, but when I got home, a card was in the mail and reminded me that God comforts us like a mother does her child. Perfect timing, Lord! A little bit later, I called my aunt. We reminisced together and it was exactly what I needed. God is so good.

Today, I caught up around the house. I made some sourdough bread and some sourdough pancakes. Lydia hung out with a friend, and one of my friends visited me. She listened to me talk about Mom and encouraged me. It was so kind of her!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks one hour forward! Spring is around the corner!

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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)!