Tag: books

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)!

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

Finding Grace #352

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 little bit of a wild card! I didn’t feel great for most of it – just various things, including a cold, gut issues, stubbing my toe (it’s fuschia currently), and of course, my elbow is still bruised (but doing better) from a few weeks ago. I’ll be okay. 🙂

I went to work late on Tuesday due to not feeling well, but also on Thursday due to yet another glitch! On Monday, it was my internet, and on Thursday, it was my furnace! I went downstairs before work and noticed a burnt rubber smell. Thankfully, my neighbor had a reliable contact, and I was able to get a motor replaced right away! They came within the hour, but even then, the inside temperature had dropped five degrees. I’m extra grateful it wasn’t thirty below with a long winter waiting list!

The weather is turning colder, and we got another inch of snow this week. It’s not too bad, and staying inside gave us plenty of time to reorganize the office and a closet downstairs. We also put up our Christmas tree last night! Lydia chose a red theme, and I added a couple strands of lights since there were a few ‘dark’ spots on the prelit tree. We might add a few more ornaments later. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today, we met a friend at a local coffee shop for a book sale. We each brought our self-published books to lay out. It was fun to meet new people and catch up over coffee! Can you believe my book has been out for over a year?!

Tonight, we were invited by some friends for a Christmas dinner at their house. Lydia enjoys playing with their kids, and it will be fun to get to know them better, along with the other guests. It’s always nice to be included!

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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 #315

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! Lydia and I had fun with our family in the Phoenix area, and we enjoyed being in the warm desert. We saw cactuses, palm trees, and even a pretty type of bush called a great bougainvillea (pictured above). Arizona doesn’t participate in daylight savings time, so we had a jumpstart into the rest of the week!

Lydia and I went to the chiropractor on Monday. She was adjusted for the first time ever and said, “My back feels so fresh!” 🙂 I don’t think we are 100% just yet, but definitely feeling better day by day. Thank You, Jesus!

Work went well, and I had a lot of great patients. I also had someone confirm I am right where I need to be, which feels great! Also, someone in our department volunteered to make us omelets on Friday! So yummy!

I had a fun conversation with some church ladies on Wednesday, totally unexpected but so rewarding. I am grateful for the women God has placed in my life!

On Friday, I got my taxes done and had an interesting conversation with my accountant. She was rather talkative and shared with me more than usual. It made me really thankful for how God has taken care of us, for who Dave was, and how hard he worked.

Then, yesterday evening, Lydia and I went to Scheels as well as the mall to look around. It was so nice to enjoy the beautiful weather! Lydia promised me she didn’t need her coat! We made some purchases, but it was really just fun to spend time together!

Today, Lydia and I updated a couple of our electronic devices, read books, and caught up on chores. I usually have a lot going on at home on Saturday, but I tried to take a relaxed approach to my to-do list.

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer

Finding Grace #313

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!

Finland, Forest, Winter, Birch, Woods, Timber, Woodland

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

This was a restful week for me, though I have been praying for and reading about the war in Ukraine. I am grateful for my calm, peaceful life, but also eager to see a breakthrough overseas. Our world is in a tight spot, but God is still good and in control.

This week, my patient load was lighter, to begin with, but also, several people canceled, no-showed, or were seen by others. It was nice for me because I was able to stay caught up with charting and work on a couple of other projects! March is National Nutrition Month, so to celebrate, we had a multicultural potluck and some treats, too!

I met with two different groups of ladies from church. It is good to hear what God is doing among these friends. On Wednesday night, we had a great book discussion about lost women of the Bible. We don’t know much about Noah’s wife, but the author was able to deduce several things from this obscure woman. It was so interesting to think about how isolated she must have felt after losing all of her extended family and friends due to the Flood. She would have had to decide whether to trust God while caring for her family, cleaning up after animals, and starting over. How tough that must have been!

I finally made an appointment to see a specialist about my toe! I thought it was getting better, but it flared up again. After waiting for a long time, the doctor didn’t know what was wrong. In the end, he did lance the infected spot (unrelated to my toenail) and gave me another antibiotic. I am supposed to let him know if it doesn’t look/feel better early next week. Then, if needed, he could remove my toenail! Prayers appreciated!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality

Finding Grace #309

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!

Travel, Tourism, Park, Spa, Relax, Source, Gazebo

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

This week started off a little shaky but ended well! Praise God! Early on, I was having technical difficulties with my internet. I had to manage my emotions and calm down. I was still able to post my blog for Wednesday, but I had to jump through a few extra hoops. Thankfully, on Friday, the internet company came and updated a few wires and such. It was very out of sync but now it is working very fast and very well!

This week, I was pleased to receive more compliments about my book. In one case, I called to make a routine appointment and the person on the other end was reading it! She said it was good to understand the challenges we faced, but she also appreciated how I regularly turned the story back to God. It is fun to hear from a variety of people and see how God is using my pain for His glory!

Today, Lydia and I relaxed at home. We made a breakfast casserole, and later, some cookies. We told jokes, read books, and made a music playlist with Oldies favorites with family input. We also played a game and watched a movie, which seems to be our winter-weather go to these days! 🙂 We really don’t mind!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #307

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!

The Road, Path, Winter, The Snow, The Sun, Snow

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

This was a good week left with some unknowns! Nothing too important for now, just I didn’t get some answers when I hoped to get them. Maybe next week, lol!

We enjoyed snow and cold, but also warm sweaters and boots! The snow is falling like a snow globe right now! I haven’t been out to clear snow, but might do it later!

This week, I felt like I was running in several directions at times, but I also enjoyed quality time with Lydia. We had food delivered and made buckwheat pancakes. We watched movies and played some games, too!

Work went well, and it was a good mix of being busy and catching up. My office, and the one next to mine, were really chilly, so we wore our coats for a little while. It was funny, and we made jokes that heat must not be in the budget. A work order was put in eventually and a couple of space heaters helped make it more bearable.

This week, I hosted two Zoom calls about writing and publishing. It was fun to “give back” and encourage these friends who are at various points in the creative process. Everyone has a story to tell! We discussed how they can get started or keep going, and I shared some lessons learned and what worked best for me and my book.

Today, we stayed home relaxed. Lydia cleaned her room while listening to an audiobook. I changed a light switch, repotted two plants, and did some reading. I prepared for some upcoming events, too.

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Reflecting on Ruth

Recently I started another Journible! I went through the Gospel of John in 2018 and finished the book of Jude last month (a quick win because it’s only twenty-five verses)!

Next, I am going through Ruth! I just started this week, but already it has impacted me. If you have read my book, then you’ll know I pay extra attention to widows in the Bible. Ruth is not a new story to me, but I am learning new things as I write God’s word line by line!

In short, Ruth was an outsider and a foreigner. She left all she knew in the country of Moab to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel. She gleaned barley in a field to make ends meet. In time, Ruth met Boaz, and he became her kinsman-redeemer, marrying her.

Then, they had a baby, and eventually, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. All in all, the book of Ruth is a beautiful love story showing God’s faithfulness.

But, that’s not what caught my attention.

Jesus, God, Christ, Holy, Spirit, Ruth, Bible, Gospel

Instead, I quickly noticed how Ruth went against the grain. She moved toward God when most people at that time were doing their own thing and worshiping other gods (Judges 17:6). Yes, Israel was a mess!

Ruth wasn’t the only one, of course. Boaz and Naomi, among others, also followed Godly principles. Though, because Ruth was a foreigner (not a Jew), technically, God’s promises didn’t apply to her. She would have been considered a nobody by the rest of society.

Additionally, Ruth was grieving and suffered major losses. I can understand how she must’ve felt as she lost her husband, her status as a wife, her local support system, her home, and even her culture. She didn’t have much left.

Nonetheless, she bravely sought God above all else.

I appreciate her example!

When everyone was running away from what they knew was right, Ruth ran toward God. She trusted Him to provide for her and protect her. She was willing to work hard and make a fool of herself. Because of that, God honored her decisions.

We have similar choices to consider today.

Has God asked you to do something that seems like a stretch for you? He may be calling you to move forward in a new direction when everyone else is standing still. It may be scary, but don’t be afraid to stand out and take a chance. He’s got you covered.

I love how God used Ruth’s character to change the course of history. (Ruth is in the bloodline of Jesus (Matthew 1:5!!) She could have stayed down and out, disqualifying herself or discounting her skills and purpose. Instead, she chased after the only One who could make it right. 

Let’s be like Ruth and pursue God, not for what He can do for us, but for Who He is. Soak up His grace, mercy, and love. Then, out of that abundance, let’s watch Him move on our behalf!

Today, remember God sees you and knows the challenges you face. Your situation is not a surprise to Him. He has not left you all alone or without help. Trust Him and do the difficult thing!

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God, You are so kind and generous! Thanks for Your grace, mercy, and love. Help us shake off all our doubts and come to You wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you know Boaz’s mother was Rahab, the former prostitute from Jericho? They also were ancestors of Jesus… so don’t you think He can use you, too?

Tasks: Check out the Journible website and join me! Remember, no one is too far gone to be used by God. He can use anyone who is willing to follow after Him!

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 Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Come What May

The last couple of weeks have been busy with my book, Thanksgiving, and… signing up for health insurance benefits! The deadline to sign up again will soon be upon us, and each year, I weigh the pros and cons of various plans. Even though we are healthy, there are still preventative things we do. And, the costs keep going up!

It is difficult to know how to plan for what we don’t know we will need. There are so many decisions to make! These choices include health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, plus FSA and HSA options. Not to mention planning for vacations and appointments and other days off. 

I am grateful to have a job that provides all these benefits, but it can be a little overwhelming and time-consuming to figure it all out. Dave certainly enjoyed this much more than me!

Lantern, Sea, Sky, Beach, Water, Clouds, Tree, Shore

Thankfully, we can trust God! He knows all things, and yet He cares for us deeply as individuals. We can make our plans with Him in mind, and He will protect, and occasionally correct, us as He leads us along.

While we cannot control our future, what will happen to us, there are some factors we can control. We can control our attitudes and make good plans. We can predetermine that we will trust God and keep coming to Him in times of distress.

We can choose joy in the midst of trials. We can choose to cling to Jesus.

Come what may.

I don’t know all you are facing today, but God does, and He loves you so much. He never sleeps nor slumbers! He has you covered with His grace.

The holidays are tough for so many people as the season reminds us of the absence of loved ones, but it also reminds us of other struggles and how we try to fix the pain.

Lantern, Sea, Sky, Beach, Water, Rocks

Just this week, I have had several people contact me to request prayer. A son-in-law died suddenly, leaving a wife and four children. Upcoming surgeries for cancer. Struggles with addiction. Relationship difficulties.

If you are facing unimaginable loss and your first holidays alone, I understand. Or, perhaps you are barely making it financially. Or, maybe you are dealing with a chronic illness or other stressors. It’s gonna be okay.

Come what may, don’t give up. Bring all your emotions and pain to Jesus. He is the Light of the World and will make something bright and beautiful out of your situation.

God has been faithful in the past, and He is here with you now. You can trust Him with your future, and He will never let you down. Thank you, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being so faithful. We can trust You no matter what. Carry us through the uncertainty of this season, Lord. Be our strength and peace. Fill us with your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you ready for the holidays? How can I pray for you this season?

Tasks: Listen to the song, “Come What May,” by We Are Messengers. Reflect on all the ways God has come through for you in the past, and then trust Him with your future!