Tag: books

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

Finding Grace #433

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, and I felt God directing my steps. On Sunday, Lydia helped my friend who was sick. I am so glad we were available to take care of her and her kids!

On Monday, Lydia and I had dentist appointments. We both had a good report! Then, I went to work. Because of logistics in drive time and appointments that were an hour apart, I only worked for a few hours. It was a nice change, and I still had a productive day!

Wednesday was Juneteenth, now a federal holiday. My coworker invited the rest of us to her lake house, a little over an hour away. I drove with Lydia and three other ladies for a fun day! Three other coworkers and a couple of their teens also came. We ate good food, took a pontoon ride, relaxed in the hot tub, and just caught up on life. We all agreed we don’t know many other people who WANT to spend time with coworkers on their day off! Such a blessing!

On Friday, I walked with Lydia down the street to our neighbor’s house to see what Lydia needs to know in order to help watch the house while they are gone in July. She will water the plants, mow, and check the mail. I’ll go with her each time in case she needs help, but Lydia is excited to make a little money!

After that, Lydia and I went to the downtown library to return books and check out some more. Then, we window-shopped and went out to eat at an Italian restaurant. We enjoyed our food and had tiramisu for dessert! We took home lots of leftovers! Afterward, we took a little walk and noticed some beautiful roses and other flowers in the Catholic parish next door. 

Today, Lydia and I made some cinnamon rolls with self-rising flour and Greek yogurt—they did not rise as much (a little dense) but were really easy. I also made a veggie pot pie with sweet potato in the crust! I will definitely make both again! Otherwise, I made some calls, did some laundry, read a book, and mowed the lawn. Maybe we’ll watch a movie tonight!

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous, Personality, Wisdom

Books and Blessings

Not too long ago, I went to the local library to renew my library card. It had been quite awhile since I’d been there as it is a bit of a drive to get to the middle of town. It’s a nice area, but I don’t get there often.

I love to learn; sometimes, my curiosity is off the hook! Just about any topic is fair game, and I have been known to get lost diving deep into a subject. Indeed, I love books, being around books, buying collecting books, and reading. I even have a Little Free Library in my front yard. I used some birthday money one year so I can encourage my community and neighborhood to read!

It only took a few minutes to renew the card, so I decided to stay and look around. I went up the stairs to the adult section. I saw the fiction and nonfiction sections, as well as audiobooks and several computers. Some books were highlighted according to themes, such as graduation and college prep, immigration, politics and elections, and gardening.

I stood in the aisles and skimmed several books before choosing three. I picked one on nutrition for gut health, which is in my usual genre. I grabbed a book on writing skills and prompts to get my creative juices flowing. Lastly, I found a cool book on walking with fun strategies for building healthy habits. I promise it was insightful!

Free Library Books photo and picture

I asked a few questions before checking out. Turns out, I could get up to fifty books at a time (50!!) and keep them for three weeks. I could renew them twice for three weeks each time. So, that’s potentially nine weeks of enjoying the books. With Interlibrary Loan, the options are endless! It’s also a bonus that I can return the books to the smaller library branch closer to where I live. And, the library card is good for five years. What a deal!

Seriously, I was giddy as I walked around the library, totally in my element! I get like this at the bookstore, too, but the library is free (though I do pay for the services with my taxes!). I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t believe I have access to all these books!”

When I got home,  I started to go through the books. I was a little sad I hadn’t taken advantage of the resources, but will try to do so more often. Libraries are great for the community beyond just books! And, I also saw a spiritual parallel. We have access to God’s infinite knowledge, wisdom, grace, and power. But, are we using them?

There are so many spiritual blessings, tools, and resources, and it’s a shame to miss out on all God has given us. First, and foremost, we have the gift of our earthly life with potential for eternal life through the gift of salvation through Jesus’s death and resurrection. We can access His power to live out our God-given purpose. We have God’s creative and resurrection power in us, special gifts from the Holy Spirit, and the mind of Christ. We have the use of prayer and fellowship with God and other believers.

Ephesians 1:3-14 says it best:

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Wow! God is so good. Let’s make sure to take full advantage of all He has to offer! There is so much at stake.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the spiritual blessings You’ve given us! Give us wisdom and understanding so we can take full advantage of them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you visit your local library often? How are you stewarding the gifts and resources God has given you?

Tasks: Make a list of all the benefits God has given you – in your life and spiritually, according to the passage in Ephesians above! Then, praise God and use them!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom

Book Review: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

I hope you had a great holiday weekend! I am thankful for the brave men and women who gave their lives so we could celebrate or have the freedom to spend our time as we wish, more or less. Their sacrifices and those of their families are not forgotten.

We had a fairly relaxing weekend and prepared for a few upcoming plans. It is good to be able to rest and take breaks by ourselves and with friends and family. Life is too short not to have fun sometimes!

Recently, I have been reading a good book called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. It talks about how fast we go through life and all we risk missing. Essentially, we must stay in-step with Jesus’ perfect pace (which we often perceive as S-L-O-O-O-O-W).

Free Bike Blur photo and picture

Each of us has unique limitations, and most of us want to push past them! According to Comer, our limitations include our physical bodies, minds/thoughts, giftings, personalities and emotional wiring, families of origin, socioeconomic factors, education and careers, seasons of life and responsibilities, and God’s call on our lives. Some of these are great strengths, actually, but they still carry weight in how we live and the choices we make.

Sometimes, it is okay to rush, like in an emergency. But most of the time, being frantic leaves us frazzled. At the minimum, our body’s stress response takes a while to return to baseline, and over time, this leads to chronic inflammation and illnesses.

Over the years, and even more lately, I have had to step back from busyness. I am working on accepting (and understanding) my limitations as a widow and single mom. I am so grateful for the ways Jesus has covered me since I cannot be several places at once. I am becoming more choosy about my yeses. God knows all my strengths and limitations; He is using them to shape me and make me more like Jesus.

Loving well takes time. Joy involves staying in the moment. Peace requires wisdom and intention. Patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control… All of these require a slower pace. We cannot bear the fruits of the Spirit if we are rushing off to the next thing.

Free Pocket Watch Time photo and picture

I highly recommend Comer’s book, which is food for thought and actionable. He reminds us of the Sabbath and the importance of rest. He encourages us to embrace simplicity and enjoy silence and solitude regularly. Comer suggests using airplane mode on your cell phone and having boundaries for using it. He says to intentionally put ourselves in the long line at the grocery store to build patience and make ourselves uncomfortable. These are just a few ideas; even if you do half of what he says, it will be good.

These ideas do not promote checking out of society but freeing yourself up to follow Jesus more closely. By taking time with Him, listening, and obeying, we will be working in His strength and have a greater impact than when we are doing it with our own effort, running on fumes.

Isn’t that what we want? To stay close to Jesus and influence others for Him. Instead, we are racing to keep up with the world and shortchanging ourselves in the process. Yikes!

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God, thanks for calling us to a slower pace with You. Help us eliminate any distractions so we can fulfill our true calling—to experience Your goodness and bring others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you find yourself stressed and striving each day, or are you calm and clear on what you need to accomplish in God’s timing and strength?

Tasks: Read and meditate (mull over) Matthew 11:28-30. Think about any changes you might need to make so you can experience God’s rest.

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #424

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 Tulips Tulip Field photo and picture

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

This week was bittersweet. We laid my Aunt Deb to rest in my small central Illinois hometown. It was a long way to travel, but I am so glad we went. We even visited with my mom’s side of the family for a little bit. Being with extended family was good, and I feel blessed to reconnect with my roots.

The weather was warmer in Illinois, and I had forgotten the grass greens up quicker than in Fargo! The tulips and crabapple trees were blooming in full force—so pretty! Lydia and I were gone for nearly a week, and I was so happy to see our own grass had started turning green by the time we returned to North Dakota!

During our road trip, we stayed overnight with my mother-in-law in Rockford. We enjoyed hanging out with her and Dave’s brother before heading downstate the next day. We then stopped by my brother’s house to hang out before the rest of the family rolled into town. On the way back, we stayed in a Chicago suburb with my sister and her family.  It was great to see where each of them lived because they all had moved since we last drove to Illinois. Now, when they tell us about their day, we can envision it a little better.

Seeing old friends in Illinois was heartwarming, and I appreciated the kind comments about my blog and book. Thanks for your ongoing support and encouragement!

Lydia and I went back to school and work on Friday. I was so honored when several of my coworkers sent me texts to say hi or stopped by to see me in my office. I shared some goodies I had brought back from my trip and thanked them for covering for me. It was nice to be missed, but I was also glad to be back.

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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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Ducks In A Row

Spring means a lot of birds are arriving daily! I have noticed songbirds, geese, and ducks lately. Did you know there are over fifty types of ducks worldwide, including geese and swans? (This site reports 165, to be exact.)

Apparently, there are thirty-three different duck species in the United States. Some are friendly and some are territorial. As a side note, loons are not ducks. Now you know!

Not too long ago, I saw a picture of a duck with seventy-six ducklings following her! This article describes it as a ducky daycare of sorts. That makes me smile just thinking about it!

Just like God cares for the sparrows, he absolutely cares for the ducks, too!

Free Ducks Ducklings photo and picture

When life gets busy, we may say, “I need to get my ducks in row.” This expression suggests that we need to get organized or ensure all the details line up just so. It can be difficult because no one can keep all their ducks in a row for long! The ducks (or tasks) are constantly changing, even if they all cooperate and things go smoothly.

I definitely feel that way sometimes, and I am sure you do, too. I try to bend several ways to accomplish much more than I probably should. Lord help me!

I am listening to John Mark Comer’s book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. He writes how hurry and busyness lead to distraction and burnout. We tend to run, run, run, and leave little room for margin.

As Christians, this puts us in a dangerous position because if we are so busy all the time, we don’t take time to check in with God. Doing something FOR God is different than doing it WITH God.

King Saul learned that the difficult way in 1 Samuel 13. His soldiers were afraid and leaving the battle, and Saul got tired of waiting for God’s prophet to come. He took matters into his own hands, and because of his impatience and disobedience, Saul eventually lost everything.

Free Duck Ornithology photo and picture

God’s pace is SLOW compared to the world’s pace. We can only survive spiritually if we roll back the busyness and walk with God at the pace He sets. Not several steps ahead without checking in to see if we are actually supposed to go in that direction.

The author mentioned that God is love, and perfect love takes time. So do joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. For example, we need to slow down to love people well, enjoy the present moment, and have peace of mind. Helping people or listening to them takes intention. When we are faced with temptation, we are at risk if we jump right in before weighing options.

Slowing down likely means having fewer ducks overall (tasks on my to-do list). I won’t shirk my responsibilities or give away my little duckies, but when it’s time for them to fledge (our time together is complete), I don’t have to get more ducks ‘just because.’ I trust God to help me know what I can handle and what that looks like.

After all, God cares for the ducks, and He cares for me, too. All the world’s ducks are His. And all circumstances and the tasks in my little world are under His guidance, too. Or, at least, they are if I ask for His help and go at His pace!

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God, thanks for the gift of ducks! Thanks for the new life they represent and the joy they bring. Help me submit my daily schedule to you. Give me just the right amount of tasks and help me stay focused on You. I want to walk with You, In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How many “ducks” are you in charge of right now? Is it too much or just enough? Are you trusting God?

Tasks: Let’s honor God by checking in with Him regarding our schedule. We can trust Him to give us just the right amount of ducks. Keep in mind chaos and overwhelm are NOT from Him… don’t beat yourself up if your ducks are running wild. Just bring them to Jesus and let Him help you!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #421

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 Robin Red-Breasted photo and picture

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

This Holy Week was good. I did a daily Bible devotion on YouVersion about Jesus’ las week, and it was good to keep that at the forefront of my mind.

On Sunday, I met with a dear church friend for coffee. She has been growing in her faith but is working through some tough issues. I am so proud that she mentioned her questions to me, and we were able to discuss them. She was dealing with fear, and I encouraged her and challenged her to not give up. As long as we keep moving forward toward Him, we will have Victory!

Work was surprisingly slow! I had a lot of patients, but a few canceled or no-showed, and some rescheduled or just didn’t want to talk long. I was able to stay on top of my charting and am fully caught up! I was able to do a few projects and even cleaned my desk!

Otherwise, it was a quiet week. I have enjoyed the calm, and often, during these peaceful moments, I can hear from God best. Of course, He has given me a few new things to think about and pray through. 🙂

Today, I saw my first robin of spring! I had just woken up, and the bird was singing on my deck. I was delighted and am sure there will be many more in the coming days!

Finally, three people mentioned my book to me. One asked how to get a copy for a friend, and two gave positive feedback. I love that my works are encouraging others! It’s been awhile since I shared the link, but here is how you can get one (or three!).

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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, Prayer

Finding Grace #402

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 Stonecrop Sedum photo and picture

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

This was another great week, and I took part in several impactful conversations! A dear friend asked for special prayer for her family, and I was glad she got some answers this week. I have not heard the updates yet, but will keep praying for her.

Early in the week, I checked in with a few ladies who are leading small groups at church. I have been a designated prayer partner for them and am helping them navigate any issues that arise. We had a few random problems to solve this week, and I was glad God could use me behind the scenes.

On Wednesday, I had a great time discussing general church topics with a friend at Alpha. It was so fun to hear her perspective and learn about her faith background. She is thinking about being baptized soon, and I have been encouraging her!

At work, I took on some new (temporary) responsibilities I will be doing during the two maternity leaves. So far, one lady is out of the office and one should be going any day. I wanted to jump right in, so I set up a couple of home visits for next week. Should be interesting!

Today, I had coffee with a friend, and we discussed her desire to write a book! She wanted to know where to start and what to expect, so we talked through some ideas and I filled her in on the writing process. Her husband used to work with Dave, so it was really great to catch up.

The weather was gorgeous and fairly warm (50s) for this time of year. It was near perfect, and I made sure not to take it for granted. Tonight, I finally finished cutting back the sedum in the front yard flower garden. Now, it is ready for winter (though I am hoping it holds off a little longer!).

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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, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Fully Equipped

Do you feel fully equipped to accomplish everything today? Make sure you check in with the Lord. He has a good Word for you!

The Bible is God’s word, and it is such a blessing. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We can learn about God’s love, Jesus’s sacrifice, and Holy Spirit’s guidance. It corrects us and trains us in the way we should go. As Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I took some notes while listening to a Bible lesson the other day. The teacher explained something to the effect that the Bible clarifies our ‘yes or no and our stop or go.’ It is comprehensive and covers all we need to live a full life on God’s terms.

I like rhyming and opposites, comparing and contrasting, so in terms of the Bible, I started thinking about all sorts of ways it is useful. Of course, some verses popped into my mind at the same time!

Up or Down: Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Bible helps us determine between what has eternal, heavenly value and what is only of the earth (temporary).

Good and Bad: Romans 12:1-2 says, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Bible helps us discern between right and wrong. God’s word can convict or correct us and get us back on track!

Yes or No: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” We can use the Bible to help us decide if we should be involved in something and at what level. Usually, it’s not a decision between right and wrong (that should be obvious!), but rather a choice between what’s good, better, and God’s best.

Stop or Go: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 starts off with, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” To me, this one is all about timing. We have to wait on the Lord and understand that His plan is best.

Right or Left: Psalm 23:3 says, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” We can trust God will direct our path and lead us where He wants us to be.

There are more ways to think about the Bible, but I will keep mulling on the points above. They remind me that God leaves nothing to chance. The Bible is all-encompassing. We are surrounded with opportunities to learn and grow in Christ! And He wants us fully equipped for every good work!

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God, thanks for the Bible and all we can learn from it! Help us to apply Your principles to our lives every day. May we step into all You have for us, fully equipped. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Which of the points above do you identify with the most? Would you say you are fully equipped or at least working toward that?

Tasks: Think about all the different points above and then apply them to your own learning time in the Bible! Keep growing!

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Building Boundaries

This past Sunday, Lydia got a big surprise when I bought her first cell phone! We have been discussing it for a while, and I was content to wait a little longer. Nonetheless, we decided to go to Verizon and scout out some options. I felt peace when we were there, and it seemed right!

Of course, Lydia is very excited, but she will need to learn some new boundaries. I set some parental restrictions and won’t let her sign up for social media accounts. She has time limits set up, as well, and I can review her activity. It will be a learning curve for both of us, but I am glad we are doing this a few months before she starts middle school.

Naturally, the last few nights at bedtime, we have been reviewing the importance of setting healthy boundaries. It doesn’t happen without diligence!

Lydia was having trouble understanding my point, so I showed her using an old wooden tray for one of her toys. It probably held some magnets or blocks, but the toys are long gone by now. (pic below)

I grabbed the tray, which to me looked like a corral. First, I turned it over to the flat side. I explained that we don’t know where our limits are when we don’t have boundaries. We may get really close to the “edge” and risk getting hurt.

Then, I flipped it back over and showed Lydia how the outer part looked like a fence. If a person – or horse?!- were in there, they would have a lot of freedom to roam. There is comfort and safety in strong boundaries.

Boundaries also protect us from outside influences. Some people prefer to live on the edge; they like taking risks and pushing limits! Sometimes, that’s okay, but we need to make sure we are in step with Jesus and honoring Him.

Lydia and I brainstormed several examples of boundaries. Saying yes and no are a start. Marriages and friendships are two examples, a regular bedtime is another. Yards have fences or sometimes hedgerows as property lines. A budget is yet one more example of a boundary!

Boundaries are not just guidelines; they help us measure where we are and how far we’ve come! I’m sure Lydia and I will continue to develop more boundaries as she grows. For now, she is learning boundaries come with responsibility!

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God, thanks for the loving boundaries You place in our lives. Help us to honor You as we stay within Your limits. May we be wise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are some other examples of good boundaries? Do you naturally like boundaries, or are you a little rebellious? 😉

Tasks: Take a moment to assess your boundaries, personally and/or professionally. Reel yourself in before you fall off the edge and get hurt! 🙂 Check out this book!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #362

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 Hoarfrost Moss photo and picture

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

This week was fairly calm, and I am grateful for that!

The weather showed more signs of spring, with warmer temperatures and wet roads from melting snow. We still have mostly freezing temperatures, but they feel relatively warm to us! Fifteen degrees is “starting to heat up,” and anything above twenty-five is “quite balmy!”

This was a good week to catch up with friends. We served in the children’s ministry at church on Wednesday and had fun playing with the preschool crowd and talking with other volunteers. Then, my African neighbors called to check-in. I also caught up with a former coworker who moved to Colorado last year. Finally, my sister and I started a new book for our little book club. It was fun to talk with so many people, many of who challenge me to be my best!

All week, Lydia’s school bus route was not running due to a lack of drivers. Each week, a different route is “skipped,” and parents must take their kids to school. So, this week was our turn. It gave Lydia more time, and me slightly less time, to get ready. Still, there was some benefit in that I woke up earlier, left home earlier, and also arrived at work earlier. It made me think I should do this more often!

Because I felt less rushed, I was able to enjoy listening to an audiobook on my drive to work. I started Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, a gastroenterologist. “Fascinated” is too small of a word to relay the awe I had listening to all the benefits of fiber. As a Registered Dietitian, I am constantly promoting plant foods, which are the only sources of fiber. I am only a couple of chapters in, but I am challenged to learn new ways of explaining fiber to my patients while discussing gut health, weight, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions, most of which are related to inflammation.

Otherwise, work was good and busy! I had the opportunity to work with our very sweet dietetic intern and help her learn the ropes of nutrition assessment and counseling. This includes interpreting labs; asking pertinent questions; accurately explaining nutrition science; and understanding the nuances of personal motivation. She did a great job connecting with our patients and eagerly accepted feedback, knowing it will help her improve. I also had various problems to solve, including tube feeding orders and certain nutrition supplements as a national backorder continues.

Today, I was on-call for a few hours but did not have to go in to work. Instead, I worked on this blog post, caught up on some bills, and read a book… all while keeping my phone at-hand, just in case. Once again, it was rewarding to get up early and have some “extra” time to get things done.

The rest of the day was spent doing Saturday things. Errands, cleaning, cooking, etc. I threw together some easy recipes, though nothing specific. Sometimes, it is just fun to see how things turn out!

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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)!