Tag: celebrate

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

Finding Grace #319

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!

Easter Lilies, Flowers, Blossom, Garden

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

This was a crazy busy week, but it all went well! Every night had one activity or another… all purposeful and good, but just a lot all in one week. I washed the dishes on Monday, but it was Thursday before we even got to put them away! All the running around was worth it in the end.

Monday evening was our mom/daughter Bible study on courage. Then, we took advantage of the beautiful weather while we had it! We went on our first bike ride of the season. Lydia was thrilled she could keep up with me on her new bike! I’m hoping to have many more rides together this summer.

On Tuesday night, we attended a special folk concert put on by the local symphony orchestra! Local fourth graders received free tickets from school as a way to introduce them, so a few of Lydia’s friends joined us with their moms. It was inspiring to hear these songs in person and see each instrument at play. I always forget how much I enjoy live classical music!

Wednesday night was church. I enjoyed a great discussion about Esther, who became the Queen of Persia. We discussed how she must’ve felt and what caused her to rise to the occasion. I even invited someone to join us, so it was cool to see her get involved!

On Thursday night, we went to the chiropractor and grocery shopping. Thankfully, I am doing so much better and we are spacing out our visits now. It is great to feel so much better consistently! I still have a few random issues, but they are minor and are on the mend!

Yesterday, was Good Friday, and we attended church in the evening. We sat with another family with three young sons. It was fun to talk with them and see them learning about Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. It was a good reminder that Jesus is for each and every one of us, no matter how young or old!

Today, we maximized our time, too! We did our usual cleaning and housework, but we also made a lot of food. I made buckwheat pancakes with kefir, lemon zest, and blueberries! I made up the recipe as I went! I also made some stuffed pepper soup and baked tofu. Then, Lydia and I made some fresh lemonade. It kind of turned into a science experiment but was delicious! We also snuck in an Easter egg hunt and are dying Easter eggs now, while watching a movie!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

Easter Thoughts

Happy Holy Week! As I reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for me, I am struck by Romans 5:8, which says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is humbling to think of how much Jesus loves me. Thousands of years before I was born, He saw me and died for me so I could know Him and live for Him. What mercy and grace!

Cross, Christ, Redeemer, Faith, God, Jesus, Clouds

Here are some Easter thoughts that are challenging me lately, in a good way:

You don’t have to like someone in order treat them well.

You don’t have to agree with someone in order to protect them.

You don’t have to understand other people’s choices in order to be kind.

You don’t have to see eye to eye with someone in order to want what’s best for them.

You don’t have to trust someone in order to be friendly (although that certainly helps!).

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

We don’t have to make it complicated; we are simply called to love others and let Jesus take care of the rest. It is tough at times, but it doesn’t need to be. Just remember, you have never looked into the eyes of someone Jesus doesn’t love.

Each person you see is someone Jesus died for. He offers them new life–the same as He offers you and me. Jesus looks upon them with such love and compassion. So must we.

We don’t have to try to figure out all the details or make them think as we do, but we do need to be open-minded. Extending someone grace doesn’t necessarily mean you approve of their choices. It also doesn’t mean they deserve it because grace is unmerited favor. But, you are choosing to see the best in them anyway.

I am so glad Jesus saw us with eyes of compassion and stepped in to save us. He did for us what we could never do on our own. He used His body to bridge the gap between us and God. He died for us well before we even knew His name.

What’s more, Jesus invites us to lay aside all our differences and join Him in a greater plan and story. He offers us gifts, such as peace, joy, and new life! Pursuing Jesus is a much better use of our energy than always keeping tabs on other people!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the gift of Jesus! How magnanimous! You are so good. May we show others the mercy, grace, and love You have shown us. Give us Your eyes to see them the way You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How can you extend Jesus’ mercy, grace, and love to other people?

Tasks: Write out or print the statements in the second section above. Tape them onto your bathroom mirror and memorize them. See how they change your heart toward those who are difficult to love! The change in your attitude may be the very thing God uses to draw them near!

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

Finding Grace #317

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 great week! God answered some prayers, showed me His blessings and reminded me to rest. I also saw the first few robins of the season. Just what I needed!

On Sunday, Lydia started a program called BioGirls with two friends. This is a local program that focuses on friendship, self-esteem, and other life skills in the pre-teen years. This includes some exercises, devotional time, and other fun activities. It will be interesting to see her grow and learn!

After that, we went out to eat at a local Italian restaurant! It was on a whim, but we had a coupon and wanted to try something new. JoJo’s is just off the highway and has been open since September. We had some delicious focaccia bread with herbed ricotta cheese. Lydia ordered chicken fettuccine alfredo and I ordered a small pizza–we each had leftovers for about four meals! We will definitely go back!

Lydia and I each had a good chiropractor appointment. We are starting to space them out now, so we don’t go back for two weeks. The doctor was very pleased with how both of us are making progress. I am feeling really good and can’t believe I waited so long to go!

Work went well, and I had a few meetings but a lighter patient load! That helped me get and stay caught up, so hopefully next week I can work on a few small projects!

At the beginning of the week, I noticed all my snow had finally melted. Then, on Tuesday we got about three more inches! It was a surprise, but not a huge deal. We just took it in stride, and I am happy to report most of it is melted again. I wonder what the poor robins thought about the weather!

This week, Lydia and I spent some quality time together. We did Week 2 of the Miriam study at True Girl ministries. We did the BioGirls exercises together (to practice for her Sunday class), and we also went clothes shopping and bought two items for Lydia. We even wore matching earrings one day and didn’t notice until that evening! I love my girl!

Today, Lydia and I did our “Saturday tasks” and then I took a much-needed nap. When I woke up, Lydia mentioned that she started a load of laundry for me. That was super thoughtful of her, and I was very appreciative. It helped me have a little time to work on other things and eventually relax, too! Thank You, Jesus!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #316

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!

Trees, Grass, River, Lake, Sky, Clouds, Spring, Wild

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

This was a busy week, but still good! I had some earlier mornings to run time-sensitive errands before work. We also had some later evenings with errands, activities, and even a couple of appointments. All of that translated to less sleep, too!

Lydia and I went back to the chiropractor on Monday evening. Every appointment has been a little better, so that is good. Occasionally, I am still feeling a little random pain, but it is much lighter and less often than I have grown used to! I am catching myself when I start to slouch or get out of alignment. Also, we are stretching out the time between appointments now so that is a great sign everything is going well!

Work went well, and I was quite busy with back-to-back appointments! Specifically, on Wednesday, I didn’t have time for a lunch break until 3:10 p.m. So, I just had a snack then and saved my lunch for dinner. That was somewhat helpful because we also had church in the evening, and I didn’t have to decide what to eat.

On Thursday evening, Lydia and I attended an online Bible study together about courage. The study is about Miriam (Moses’ sister) and is led by the ladies at True Girl ministries. We missed the study on Monday night, so this was the replay. My takeaway for the week: We are not courageous on our own, but it comes from God. Also, courage requires obedience. We have to obey the Lord and do what He asks us to do.

Then, on Friday, instead of my half-day, I ended up working a whole day! I agreed to stay later for an ‘active shooter’ police training. A little scary but important in my federal position. I learned a lot, and also realized how much I don’t know. Bottom line: Run, Hide, Fight is the best approach, and putting space and distance between yourself and the aggressor increases your chance of survival. Then, the training went longer than expected, and I was asked to help with some inpatient charting. It was a good, unexpected day!

The weather was warmer at the beginning of the week and melted most of the snow. I don’t have any more snow in my yard! Yesterday, it was chilly and windy and is the same today. No worries… we still have sure signs of spring!

Today, Lydia and I are doing our “Saturday tasks” as we usually do. This often includes reorganizing, cleaning, catching up, or getting ahead for the next week! Otherwise, we are enjoying the beautiful, sunny day! 🙂

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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/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Red Sea Rescue

Reading through God’s word again this year means I am now in Exodus! This is always a great read, though it can be intense reading about Pharaoh’s evil heart and how he put his whole nation against God and led them into judgment.

Still, the story is more about God’s power and love for His people. The nation of Israel waited hundreds of years for God to rescue them, and I’m sure it must’ve felt like He was never going to come through for them. But, He always keeps His promises!

God rescued His people at just the right time (Exodus 2:24-25). Then, He led them through the desert as an alternating pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Despite their almost immediate grumbling, complaining, and greediness (manna and quail), He still showed them grace.

Sand, Beach, Ocean, Water, Footprints, Beach Sand

And, when they faced certain death from the Egyptians at the Red Sea, God made a way for them. Not only did He part the waters and kill the Egyptians, He already had the plan in place before He moved on their behalf. (He created the Red Sea and led them to it, after all!)

Exodus 14:14 (NLT) says, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Some other versions say to be silent or to be still. But, while God did the heavy work, Israel still had to choose to obey Him and pick up their feet. They couldn’t remain ‘statues’ of fear. They had to move forward and do what He said. Notice they were told to walk; they were not told to swim across.

It’s sometimes easy to roll our eyes at the Israelites and question how they could possibly doubt God’s love and provision for them. But, we do the same thing!

Red Sea, Coast, Egypt, Water, Travel, Beach, Landscape

On Monday, I heard the song, “Egypt,” by Cory Asbury. It felt like perfect timing, as it coincided with my reading and reminded me how much God has done for me.

He steps in to protect me daily, even when I don’t perceive Him or thank Him. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23) and prepares me for what lies ahead. 

God will move Heaven and Earth to do whatever it takes to rescue me, not so I can do whatever I want, but so I can worship Him and do what He created me to do.

Like Joyce Meyer writes in her book, Battlefield of the Mind, we have to take control of our emotions and take our thoughts captive. Otherwise, we will stay stuck in the wilderness like the Israelites did and never reach the Promised Land. Yes, eventually, even God was tired of their complaining!!

Jesus is our Rescuer, and every Victory is His! No matter what happens, He is trustworthy and always on time… So, stay calm. God’s got this, and He is leading you to freedom!

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God, thank You for rescuing us and for doing all the work for us.

Questions: What is your “Red Sea Rescue” story? Can you see all the ways God has brought you through?

Tasks: Listen to the song linked above and check out the book, too! Then, listen to this message (Q &A) by Joyce Meyer!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perfectionism, Perseverance

Finding Grace #305

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

Landscape, Winter, Forest, Snow, Plantation, Sun, Japan

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

This was a cold, snowy week! The cold and snow are both very normal for this time of the year, so I was not too worried about them. But, a few other factors made for an interesting show of God’s grace!

On Wednesday, Lydia had an unexpected snow day off from school. It was a last-minute decision by the school district. I agreed with what happened, yet Lydia could have been left outside all alone. (The day before, I left her at the bus stop because the bus was running late and I needed to get to work.) I ended up staying home with her,  and we reviewed what to do in that type of situation. I also gave her a house key!

Usually, I work a half-day on Fridays, but this week I was able to work a full day and basically swap my hours from Wednesday when I took off. Essentially, I was able to take the equivalent of a half-day off instead of a whole day. Plus, I was able to cover for a couple of coworkers who were gone on Friday, so it worked well all around!
Friday also happened to be my 14th wedding anniversary (my 9th without Dave here). Lydia and I always miss him, but we had a nice dinner and watched a movie together! A friend sent me a picture of someone reading my book at a gymnastics class. It made my day a little sweeter knowing someone was reading about us!
Today, we went to brunch with a friend/coworker. Then, we went to “help” her pick out a dalmatian puppy! We played with thirteen puppies, and Lydia had fun cuddling one in particular. We are not getting a puppy at this time, but it was sure fun to dream! In reality, I don’t have the bandwidth right now to put in the effort a puppy would require. But, my friend does, so I’m sure we will get to play with her puppy soon!

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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, Perseverance, Wisdom

Un-Resolutions

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Many people choose to make self-improvements at this time of year. Yet, after a few weeks, they stop following through. Perhaps they lost their motivation or maybe they tried to change too many things at once?

For me, I simply want to do my best and continue working toward good habits all year long. I want to set myself up for success and sustainability. Small changes add up over time, and slow progress is still moving forward.

We are not guaranteed a certain number of days, but we can make the best of each moment God gives us. We can honor Him and redeem the time.

Beach, Rocks In The Sea, Sea, Sun, Light, Vacations

Instead of resolutions, I simply set an intention this year. Instead of resolving to change a bunch of things, I’m focusing on good boundaries, resting in God’s grace, and taking good care of myself. That may look different from day to day. It’s less about willpower or wishful thinking and more about a mindset.

I do have to occasionally remind myself that close enough is good enough… no need for perfectionism here! I am giving myself credit as long as I show up and keep practicing healthy habits!

If I keep putting one step in front of the other and don’t give up, eventually, I will get where I need to be. Or, in the meantime, God will redirect me and it will turn out better than I had planned. I don’t have to worry; I just have to listen to Him and be flexible.

Yes, challenges and distractions will inevitably come, but we were made to do difficult things. We are more than conquerors, and if God is for us, who can be against us?

I’m not saying to slack off or don’t try to make positive changes in areas like sleep, nutrition, fitness, finances, or even Bible study. Give ’em all you’ve got!! Just don’t attach your value to whether or not you succeed.

Ultimately, our worth comes from who God is and how He sees us. We are loved and accepted as-is. We don’t have to DO, we already ARE. His grace is more than enough.

So whatever we do, we can find joy every day!

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God, thanks for loving us as-is. We don’t have to earn Your grace, we already have it! Help us honor you in our habits, words, and actions today. May You be first in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you set any resolutions or intentions this year? Or do you just make changes as the year goes on, whenever they are needed?

Tasks: Consider making an UN-resolution. Don’t settle for a quick fix, but be consistent when the going gets tough. Be willing to change habits and put in the effort, but also know you are loved and accepted whether or not you reach your goal!

 

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

Finding Grace #304

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Grace Upon Grace

A couple of weeks ago, someone sent me a link to a short message about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was by an evangelist named Brent Carr.

Interestingly, the little blurb mentioned Mary was “highly favored” and then described all the difficulties she faced. She was nearly divorced, rejected by her community, gave birth in a stable, and so on. The author’s point was that favor may imply blessing, but it doesn’t imply an easy road.

Mr. Carr wrote, “Favor never looks like favor at first. Favor sometimes takes you through frustration, failure, and fear.” I can certainly relate to all three of those!

In the Bible, the word for favor is linked with grace (see the word: chairs). I prefer using the word grace, but favor reminds me of the word ‘favorite.’ I imagine God smiling down at me, not necessarily to give me everything I want, but to make sure I have everything I need.

Like buying a new snowblower… but still having to use it! 😉

God’s grace, or favor, isn’t always obvious. It’s sometimes intangible, like knowing God is with us or trusting Him to protect us or provide for us. Usually, it involves a situation that makes us test, or prove, those truths. Yes, our struggles can show us God’s love and grace.

Lately, resting in God’s grace has meant taking off work a few days to let Lydia recover from an illness. Favor means not worrying about my workload when I get back… I am glad for a good team to cover for me, though I usually like to be the one offering to help!

Grace has meant keeping the house calm and peaceful for Lydia, but also knowing there are benefits for me, too. My to-do list is neverending, so it has been good for me not to push too hard in the last week. Instead, I was able to rest, too. We watched some television, but we also read and napped.

On Monday, Lydia still wasn’t 100%, so I took another day off from work (in addition to Wednesday/Thursday last week). Her doctor was closed because of blizzardy weather, so I took it as a sign to stay home, safe and warm. Indeed, her daycare (the Y) opened late and closed early, so I would’ve missed most of work anyway!

It’s good to know when to rest, but it’s also good to know when to push ourselves forward. If God makes the opportunity clear, we can trust He will provide. Even if we don’t have all the answers or know all the details.

So, yesterday, Lydia felt marginally better, still coughing and a little lethargic but fever-free! I knew that we needed to try and make it to work and daycare. We got all ready and were in the car, only to find out my car battery had died!

I sent Lydia inside to rest and stay warm, while I texted a couple of friends for input. One of them asked if I had a charger. I hadn’t thought about it, but God brought to mind something I had walked by dozens of times. Sure enough, I DID have a car battery charger! By God’s grace, Dave had bought one years ago, and I was able to figure out how to use it.

Of course, I rolled into work late, but even then, there was grace and favor. After dropping off Lydia, I stopped to buy a new car battery since mine was 8+ years old. (The average lifespan of a car battery is two to five years, so that’s another level of grace!) The third store had what I needed, and a sales associate kindly agreed to help me install it. Never mind the temperature was several degrees below zero!

Reflecting on all of this, I am grateful we didn’t have to cancel many plans while Lydia was sick. It was a holiday break but we celebrated in Illinois earlier in the month. I am also thankful I didn’t go out on Monday and have my car die then. God knew it would not be good for us to be stuck on the road with a dead battery, all while Lydia wasn’t feeling well! Plus, I was able to use some Christmas money I received to pay for the battery! Bonus!

John 1:16 says God gives us grace upon grace. Instead of focusing on our problems, let’s focus on Jesus and trust Him to be all we need. Come to Him with a heart full of gratitude!

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Father God, thank You for your grace. You take such good care of us.

Questions: Where do you see God’s grace and favor in your life this week? Have you stopped to thank Him or tell someone how gracious He is?

Tasks: Whatever you are doing, pause and praise God! In good times and bad, thank Him for the goodness and grace He brings to your life!

 

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

Finding Grace #303

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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