Tag: family

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

Finding Grace #519

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 good and busy! We had our family Zoom on Monday night instead of Sunday night since that worked better for most everyone. It was kind of a fun twist!

Work was fast-paced as usual. I had a lot of extra phone calls and added patients, but it went well overall. I left early for an oral surgeon follow-up on Thursday and then stayed later on Friday to see a couple of patients and finish some charting from the day before.

My oral surgeon appointment went well. I am healing faster than expected and only have one small spot left to close up. We made a tentative gameplan to meet again in a few weeks. I think I see the slightest shift between my two front teeth. Not an official gap, but it is easier to floss in-between!

I am still playing around with what foods work best for me. I may just have to resolve to let foods get stuck, lol, and then clean out my MARPE device. I think it will be fine in the long-run, so I am not too worried.

I had a relaxing facial yesterday after work. It was a perk through a partnership with my orthodontist and a local spa. It felt great to be pampered!

I really enjoyed catching up with several friends and family this week. We all talked about various topics, including about my mom, my MARPE journey, parenting, barefoot/minimalist shoes, weather, birthdays, prayer, Jesus, and the Olympics!

Today, I watched Lydia perform her humorous duo at her Speech meet today. She came alive and was so funny playing four different characters. I am so proud of her.

Happy Valentine’s Day!! I had a great day watching Lydia, grocery shopping, making calls, and enjoying the “warm” and sunny 45-degree weather!! Feels like Spring… I didn’t even need my coat!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #512

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 pretty good week!

Most of my coworkers took off for the holidays, so I was one of the few who covered for our department. I saw my own patients and also several in the hospital, who were high in acuity. It was a little crazy at times, lol.

Initially, I was also scheduled to work on Wednesday and Friday, but these days were both made federal holidays (just this year). A couple of other people decided to work on Wednesday, so I had that off and worked on Friday with one other person. It was nice to have the extra day off!

Lydia and I had a great Christmas. We ate a special breakfast, opened gifts, and relaxed in the morning. We caught up with family, too. Then, we visited two different families! We spent the afternoon with a family from Lydia’s school. Then, we ordered Chinese food and hung out with a dear family in the evening. It was perfect.

Today, Lydia and I did our normal Saturday things. I also worked on a few small projects and took Lydia out for driving lessons. Mostly, it was nice to stay home after a full week!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Pivot, Worship

Cheerful and Connected

On Sunday, I went to church three times… and had so much fun! At one point, I told someone I might as well bring my sleeping bag and stay. She laughed and mentioned they do have a couple of showers on-site! 😀

To start, Lydia and I went to the first service at 8:30 a.m., like usual. We sat with a friend and caught up with her afterward. Typically, this may include discussing our week or the sermon. We encourage each other and may even pray for each other.

When the second service started at 10 a.m., Lydia and I left to pick up Starbucks for another friend. We chatted with her and played with her little girl for a while. Our visit was also a cover to pick up a package for Lydia’s birthday this week. I had the package delivered to our friend’s house so she wouldn’t see it in advance. My friend rewrapped it so Lydia didn’t catch on. 😉

Then, during the 11:30 a.m. service, we were back at church to help with the OASIS group. We set the tables and helped serve the food, which was ribs, scalloped potatoes, Caesar salad, and a pumpkin dessert. The older folks are friendly and appreciative. Later, Lydia mentioned how many people greeted us on Sunday, both in OASIS and at church in general.

After that, I ran Lydia home and hung out for a few minutes before heading back to church for a routine business meeting. I sat with some other friends while we heard about some financial updates and learned more about building updates as we remodel.

Free Pumpkin Pie Whipped Cream photo and picture

Finally, I came home and did a few tasks before catching up with family over Zoom. 🙂 Thankfully, I had energy throughout the day and felt like it boosted my mood. I felt encouraged, not drained!

Sunday was a bit of a wildcard initially, since I wasn’t sure how the timing was going to work out! I had prayed earlier and trusted God to direct our steps. In doing so, I saw just how connected we truly are in the context of community. 

Our church is fairly large, and now with three services, it is easy to forget about people or miss seeing them. I might go weeks without seeing certain friends, though I might remember to text them during the week or month. But Sunday was a fun eye-opener for Lydia and a nice reminder of all God is doing in us and through us.

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It was fun to see many familiar faces on Sunday. I’m glad that Lydia recognized the connections we have with others and saw the joy that comes from serving God. Being a part of the Body of Christ is a wonderful gift!

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God, thanks for helping us be the Church, the Body of Christ. May we grow and mature in Jesus and draw all people unto You. May we bring You glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you connected to a local church? Do you serve there regularly, or are you waiting to get involved? What is holding you back?

Task: Pray about getting more connected at church. It is good for your faith and builds others up… you are needed! Find something to do that blends your personality, spiritual gifts, and passions. Then, you will love showing up and serving! Note: If it’s a total drain on you, it’s probably not quite the right fit. It should be a sacrifice, but also bring you joy!

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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer

Finding Grace #502

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 Forest photo and picture

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

This was another week of hustling!

We served in the kids’ ministry at church on Sunday, and I squeezed in a quick walk with a friend. Then, we ran home to get Lydia packed for Congress before her team left on the bus.

Lydia was gone all day Monday, but did really well at Congress. She gave four of her speeches and scored high enough to place! It was a cool end to her first season!

My Monday was very full but good. I stayed close to Jesus and enjoyed several church-related events. I’m grateful.

On Tuesday evening, we attended a golden birthday party for one of Lydia’s school friends. If you recall, we met a family from Africa a few years ago at the bus stop. Over time, we have seen less of them since they have gotten more settled. We enjoyed catching up, eating really good food, and enjoying their culture and traditions. And, they sent us home with leftovers!

Wednesday was my mom’s birthday. We all miss her so much, but we are doing well. And, she is with the very One who loves her the most. So, while we are sad, we are also happy for her and proud of her!

At work, I felt like I was chasing my tail all week, and I was only there four days! 🙂 I barely stayed on top of my charting, but somehow did. I know God was helping me all along the way. I had nice patients and accomplished a lot. Thanks, Lord!

On Thursday night, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at church for a youth convention that went through today. It was a funny week because I was pretty much on my own for much of it (Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

Yesterday after work, I met up with my coworker, Natalie, to hang out again. (She is off on maternity leave.) She had her new baby girl and her older son, who did not have preschool that day. It was fun to spend time together, and we visited a church ministry on the NDSU campus before getting coffee!

After that, I went to Menards and then finished up some outdoor projects at home… while catching up with my sister on the phone. Next, I did some studying and watched a movie. It was a fulfilling day!

This week, the weather definitely felt more like Fall! It was a little chilly, overcast, windy, and rainy. I didn’t mind too much and am thankful it wasn’t snow!

Today was a fairly restful Saturday. I did some studying before running errands and picking up Lydia from the youth convention. She had a big week and ended up resting for quite a while after that! After a three-hour nap, I had to wake her up!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #498

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 Flower Herbstaster photo and picture

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

This was a full week, but good overall.

Monday was the busiest day I’ve had in quite a while. I had a big presentation at work, which went really well. I prayed for God to help me and had total peace. Then, I had about five patients in five hours, so I didn’t really get a lunch. That night, I had a church training, which went well, but I didn’t get home until 9 p.m. or so, just in time to say goodnight to Lydia. Whew!

The rest of the week was a little less “busy” but still had a lot going on. One highlight was helping Lydia with her Congress preparations. She wrote some awesome responses for real pieces of legislation. I listened to her, timed her, and provided some feedback. I’m really proud of her!

I mowed the lawn on Wednesday, which was perfectly timed before a few rainy days! We had just the right amount of rain, in that I could use my umbrella but didn’t desperately need it. It was a bit cooler, just perfect for autumn. I even noticed a few of the trees are turning colors now.

I talked with my sister and dear friend back-to-back on Thursday. It was fun catching up with their lives and asking for some advice on mine. I’m grateful for their godly wisdom and support.

On Friday after work, I went to see the Downton Abbey Grand Finale. I liked it overall, and it was a little bittersweet that it is “over.” I enjoyed the costumes and seeing all my favorite characters, though! I also had a coupon for a cheaper ticket and free popcorn, so that was good! 🙂

After the movie, I ran across the street to introduce myself to our new neighbors. They have been there for a couple of weeks, but I was waiting for them to get settled. The family has two elementary-age kids. I hope they stay there for a long time, so we can get to know them better!

Today, I was on-call and went in for two patients. I did some grocery shopping and bought myself some flowers on the way home. Then, I came home to do ‘Saturday things’ and do some studying. For dinner, Lydia and I had lasagna, grapes, and salad. It was delicious!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #490

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 has been pretty calm, compared to some weeks! 

Work was steady but good. No big changes this week, lol. Visiting the chiropractor was greatly needed and appreciated; I am glad to have access to quality healthcare benefits. I feel way better than I did a year ago!

I talked with one of my best friends late one night. We always end up laughing a lot. We’ve been playing phone tag for a while, but finally managed to catch up just as I was ready to turn out the light and go to bed. It was worth staying up another forty-five minutes to chat with her! Good friends are good for the heart!

On Thursday, Lydia got her final orthodontic retainers (meaning she doesn’t have her Invisalign trays anymore). The change was rather subtle since she didn’t have actual braces this time. She did when she was seven, but we opted for the trays a year and a half ago instead. She’s happy with the transformation and will soon only have to wear the trays overnight.

Yesterday, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at the Redhawks baseball game, where they met the youth group for a fun outing! After that, I visited the NDSU horticulture research plot nearby. I took several pretty pictures of flowers (phlox above) and reminisced about the times I would call my mom from there to tell her about the flowers and get her insights on life. She’s been gone five months, and it seems like forever.

After we arrived home from the Redhawks, Lydia was in the mood to chat. It’s always at bedtime, lol! But, as my dad reminded me this morning on a phone call, these times go by so fast, and it’s good to be available for her. Lydia did say she’s glad she can tell me anything, so I’m grateful to take advantage of the opportunity!

Today, we are mostly relaxing after a late night and sleeping in. Tonight, we worked out together for a little bit and then played three mean games of Sorry!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #488

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 Plantain Lily Hosta photo and picture

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

I had a restful week, and I hope you did, too! Lydia went to camp Monday and came back Friday, so I was on my own after work. I was not worried about her, as she has been there multiple times before. I did a few small projects, read a bit, and spent time with the Lord. 

I had a lighter workload this week, as I had blocked some time to cover for a friend. I was able to pace myself and get most of  my own charting done on time. So, I was able to feel “rested” when I got home, too.

This week, I had some great conversations with my sister and later, my dad. They helped me think through some landscaping options; I’m hoping to have that done later this season. My nephew also popped on to tell me little stories, so that was a lot of fun! It is always good to connect with them on a deeper level.

Today, I did lots of little house projects, like filling the soap dispenser, cleaning the bathtub, doing laundry, and paying bills while listening to some podcasts. I also spent time with Lydia, as we missed each other all week! 🙂

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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!