Tag: Fargo

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

Finding Grace #489

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 Iris Flower photo and picture

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

This week was fairly full but really good! We ended up skipping family Zoom on Sunday because each family had something going on. That gave me time to mow the lawn!

On Monday, I went on a long walk with an old friend and coworker. She was so good to me after Dave died, as we shared an office and helped each other solve life’s problems (including my grief). Her girls are a few years older than Lydia, so she also helped guide me through the process of choosing a preschool and preparing for Kindergarten. We covered several miles while talking and catching up. It was just what I needed, and I hope to do it again soon!

Work was busy but went well; I say that a lot, don’t I?! We had an Employee Appreciation Day, which I almost missed due to patient care. But I did manage to grab a plate of food and eat it in between patients. I did not get a chance to play any games or visit with other employees, but that’s okay. I had a nice day, anyway!

This week, I found out that I have been accepted into a leadership and ministry training program starting in August at my church. Lydia is on board and encouraged me to apply. I’m glad I took a leap of faith, as it’s been on my heart for a while. I’ll be in the non-traditional track, which is designed for individuals with regular jobs, families, and other responsibilities. I anticipate spending a few hours a week completing Bible study coursework and then applying what I learn. I am excited to see what God has in store for me!

Yesterday, I took Lydia to get her school supplies! I also registered her for 8th grade, which is hard to believe! Her school list was surprisingly short, and we reminisced about elementary school, when she needed lots of markers, crayons, glue, and scissors. I’m sure it will be an awesome year for her!

Today, we met some friends downtown at the street fair. This is different from last week’s county fair, but I prefer it because it feels quieter and less crowded. The main difference is that there are no rides, but there is music, fair food, and vendors offering various products. I bought some handmade flowery storage pouches and totes, along with a couple of treats to share. It was a gorgeous day to be outside and spend time together!

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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 Being Gracious, Kindness, Life is Short, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous, Worship

Everyday Kindness

These days, we find ourselves in a fast-paced, highly politicized world, and we must keep our eyes on Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It can take a lot of discernment to see where He is working and how I should join Him. Many of the world’s “causes” are important, but I am not called to go and get involved in each one of them.

There are so many issues, and sometimes it feels like I am not doing enough. Have you ever felt that way? Time feels short, and problems accumulate faster than solutions. Often, I feel called to donate money and pray. However, I also keep my eyes and heart open to those who are in need of help and encouragement in my local community.

Every day, God gives us opportunities to share His love with others. Quite often, He does not require big or bold gestures, but simple acts of kindness…

Recently, at work, I heard about a special request. A hospice Veteran with ALS wanted to take a last ride in his son’s convertible. Our VA police helped the Veteran get into the vehicle. He had a look of pure joy. Over a hundred of us lined the front driveway of the VA to cheer and wave to him. It was also funny when people started cheering for the UPS and garbage trucks, too!

The Veteran also had another wish: to travel to Europe. This is a challenging task to accomplish, given his circumstances, but we were able to assist him by using a virtual reality headset. I’m sure it made a world of difference to this brave man.

Free Antique Car Mg photo and picture

On Sunday afternoon, my doorbell rang unexpectedly. I almost didn’t answer because I thought it was simply a routine package delivery. I’m glad I did because I met a family of four siblings. The kids asked to use my garden hose to fill up their water balloons. At first, I was skeptical, but then I realized they did not have access to a hose at their apartment building.

On the one hand, it is not my responsibility to provide for them, but a few gallons of water is not too much to pay to be a good neighbor. English might be their second language, so I want to make sure they feel safe and welcome. As we talked, I learned their ages range from second to ninth grade. I did not get many details, but I sent them home with their water balloons and some other water toys. If they come back, maybe I will offer them a popsicle!

Yesterday, I made Lydia and her friend frozen pizza and fruit for an impromptu dinner before loading her bike into my car and driving her home. An enterprising young neighbor also sold me a little bracelet to earn some money to fix up his bike.

Free Colorful Colourful photo and picture

For many years, I have had a Little Free Library in my front yard. On Monday, I chatted with a couple of ladies and pet their dog. One of them was happy that she had found a paperback of a book she has been listening to. I encouraged them to stop by anytime.

At work, I’ve had several “extra” patients who needed some help. One that stood out was a tube-feeding patient who has had several challenges. He called me with bad news; he is not long for this world. I offered encouragement, yet he is at total peace and is looking forward to seeing Jesus soon. I included that part in my chart note to inform others, per his request, but also to remind them of our eternal hope.

There are times when we need to take a firm stand for what is right. But with everyday kindness, little by little, we can change the world.

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God, thanks for showing me that I am making a difference in the lives of those around me. Thanks for each person listed above and for all of my readers. Help me continue to live for You and share your grace and love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How have you seen God at work this week? What can you do to join Him in blessing others?

Task: Don’t overthink kindness (like I sometimes do). Just start small and offer a smile, a listening ear, or a word of encouragement. It might be making a frozen pizza, contributing to a fundraiser, or offering a popsicle… it all counts!

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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #484

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 Rose Geranium Pelargonium photo and picture

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

This week flew by!

Work went well, and God helped me get everything done. Most of what I do with my time is out of my hands. I see patients and teach classes as scheduled, but I also answer calls and see walk-ins occasionally. So, any “downtime” is spent charting and catching up, unless I have meetings or other obligations. For the last month, I’ve had computer issues, and this week, I got a new work laptop. I’m very grateful and was able to complete my to-do list more quickly!!

Tuesday was a bit of a wild card. I woke up really dizzy and nauseous with a headache. I  needed to stay home from work, but still had to get Lydia to an afternoon orthodontic appointment. I was feeling about 80% better (and not dizzy) by then, so it turned out fine. That evening, she also went to volleyball camp, and I finally had full relief of my symptoms!

Today, I enjoyed chatting with my dad on the phone. He was doing little projects around the house to honor my mom’s memory. After that, Lydia and I mowed the lawn. It was a little cloudy, but it always feels good to get it done. Then, we did a few chores and read.

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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

Finding Grace #483

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 Peony Ornamental Plant photo and picture

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

This week was quite busy because we had something going on almost every night, but it all went well for the most part. I loved seeing so many pretty flowers around town and in the healing gardens at work. The peonies are especially gorgeous!

Monday night was the chiropractor. I am always glad to go because I can tell such a big difference. This time my back felt very “out of whack,” so I had some residual pain for a day or so after. But, overall, I feel so much better now! Thanks, Lord!

Tuesdays are usually my blogging night, but Lydia also had her volleyball camp. She was nervous but it turned out well. She said it was very competitive but I hope she can still have fun.

Work was pretty normal in that I had some pretty full days. I had some complex patients, and I received some compliments. Mostly, I just leaned on God to help me do my best. He is faithful, and I am grateful.

On Wednesday night, the summer youth group kicked off! Lydia had fun, and I am glad she went because she missed several times during the school year. This was for several reasons, including traveling, being sick, and doing homework. Still, it is a good program to build into our kids, so I always encourage Lydia to go!

By Thursday night, I was exhausted mentally and physically. I had a very taxing day at work and needed a break. So, I came home and lounged on the couch for a while. I thought about mowing the lawn, but instead, I ate some dinner, stretched a bit, and went to bed.

Last night, I did mow the lawn, and it was a beautiful day to do so. I also weeded and spent an extra hour outside doing various tasks. It was great. Lydia did not feel good, so I just let her rest. But one of these days, I will have her mow, too!

Today was a pretty relaxing day. We were invited to a graduation party, which was fun. I ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years, so I loved catching up with her.

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality

Introverts and Ice Cream

A few days ago, I watched a social media post for introverts about how to meet people. It was so funny, and I laughed when Kelsey Pomeroy said, “Stop trying to make the friends, and let the friends make you. Set yourself up to be claimed, adopted, and befriended by an extrovert…”

Her idea was that introverts can “advertise” their interests to find people with whom they can connect. For instance, you may carry a book on a topic you like; people who enjoy that book might want to talk about it. You could wear a shirt representing your favorite sports team or put stickers on your water bottle to find like-minded people.

We all give off signals, but we may not be aware of what messages we are sending. Putting headphones in says you don’t want to talk, while making eye contact and smiling implies you are open and available.

Free Ice Cream Ice Cream Cone photo and picture

I am an introvert — I am not shy or socially awkward. I love getting to know people on a deeper level, but sadly, it can be difficult since people don’t take the time to have deeper conversations. I am quiet and appreciate calm places without excess noise or commotion (like really loud music, flashy lights, or crazy traffic). I am happy to be out of the spotlight, but the flip side is that I must guard against feeling unimportant, overlooked, or forgotten. 

Don’t feel sorry for me, I am okay with it! In fact, I have a deal with God. He directs my steps, and I go where He leads. If He has something for me to do, I don’t want to miss it. But, if He doesn’t tell me to get involved, I can do what I want… I can go home, lol!

I love solitude and can easily stay by myself for a couple of days. (I am totally fine when Lydia is at camp or out with others!) The key difference is that I also like being around people. Sometimes, I will go to the mall or bookstore to make sure I don’t isolate myself too much.

Because I am content to chill on my own without much fanfare, sometimes I have to push myself to join a group event. If I am excited for an activity, then nothing will stop me. But, if I am on the fence, a personal invitation is the golden ticket! I feel included and already have a friend! In some cases, I give myself an out: If no one invites me and I don’t really want to go, then I am off the hook!

Free Ice Dessert photo and picture

Still, there are plenty of times I need to go somewhere and don’t know anyone. In those situations, I make up my mind to get through it and find someone who may need some help or encouragement. I specifically make eye contact and smile to make sure I am approachable. I go with a servant heart and try to be the friend I’d like to have.

I also find if I am included in the planning of an event, then I feel more comfortable. This is probably because I know what to expect, but I also try to make others navigate the situation.

At work, I have no problems, as our culture is to greet each other in the halls. I meet new patients all throughout the week. We already have a set topic to discuss, but I invite them into my office and jump right in!

As you may guess, Lydia is a lot like me. As such, I can guide her on how to avoid some classic pitfalls. Last night, I dropped her off at a 1.5-hour volleyball camp, and she was so nervous! I prayed for her but knew exactly how she felt. Thankfully, she came home saying she was glad she went. We talked about being introverts while enjoying some ice cream. I’m so glad I could share more about how God made us. There are challenges, but pushing through the awkwardness is still important!

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Father God, thanks for making me according to Your purpose and plan. My identity is found in You. Thanks for helping me confidently move forward and serve others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you find it easy or difficult to make friends?

Task: If you are an introvert, try subtly advertising your interests. Who knows, you might find a new bestie! Remember to make eye contact and smile. When in doubt, keep your eyes open to see if you can encourage someone. Most introverts are really good at that!

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

Finding Grace #482

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 Flowers Salvia photo and picture

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

This week was another wild ride, but a good one overall! On Sunday, Lydia hung out with a friend, so I went to a forest preserve to walk around. I’d say hike, but it wasn’t too steep… 😉 Either way, it felt good to be outside.

Overall, one of my summer goals is to enjoy the slower pace by sitting outside and reading. It doesn’t take much to make me happy! The longer days are a little deceiving since I can easily lose track of time and suddenly it’s 10 p.m. I like to get up early as well, so ideally, I’m in bed before that! Nonetheless, I feel I have extra time to dawdle a bit without having to snowblow, layer up, and drive over ice. I love that part about summer — everything is easier!

Work was very busy again, but that’s not too unusual. We had a short week due to being off for Memorial Day. The crazy part was that I heard from four of my tube feeding patients in addition to all my scheduled ones. So, I had several extra calls and coordination to answer questions and get them what they needed. On Friday, two of my coworkers helped by seeing my scheduled patients so I could take care of some of the tube feeding issues. After getting interrupted daily for the last two weeks, I finally finished listening to a recorded meeting I missed when I was off on May 15th (for Dave’s twelve-year anniversary). 🙂 So, it felt good to get caught up.

Speaking of catching up, we got in some baby snuggle on Tuesday! That was a really sweet part of my week. Otherwise, our evenings were spent cleaning and mowing!

Yesterday, my mother-in-law arrived for a weekend visit. It is her birthday tomorrow, so we are enjoying celebrating her. We picked up some pound cake to eat with strawberries. We went out to eat, shopped for Lydia, looked at some flowers, played games, and have laughed a lot. I miss my own mom, but I am so glad I have Dave’s.

This week, I realized it has been ten years since I started this blog! I officially went live on my birthday in August 2015, but I came up with the idea, bought my domain name, and set up my blog in May. I am grateful for my readership and for what God is doing through me! I don’t know how long I will keep blogging or how things will change in the future, but for now, I am happy to continue. Thanks for being here!

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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, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Catching Up and Baby Snuggles

Last night after work, Lydia and I had the pleasure of meeting our friends’ new baby! Baby snuggles are the best!

These friends live just outside our neighborhood, and we don’t go by their house that much. We are just far enough away and have a different schedule that we don’t see each other often. I have known the dad since Lydia was little and the mom since they got married a few years ago. Now, they have two precious little boys!

My friend told me about her new baby boy’s birth story while Lydia played with her toddler. The new baby was born on Mother’s Day and came very quickly at home. It sounds a little scary, but her body knew exactly what to do. I am grateful God kept them all safe.

As I held the baby yesterday, I joked that Lydia was never that small. She was about two pounds more at birth (and a bit longer, too). The baby was wide awake the whole time I held him, but he fell asleep during Lydia’s turn.

Free Baby Feet photo and picture

I brought my friend some Clif bars (she requested) and talked about some parenting tips. She’s doing a great job, so I didn’t have much to share. But I did buy her a Time Timer to help her set some boundaries for her toddler. He’s still adjusting to the new baby and pushing more limits.

The Time Timer is a visual tool, and I have a few of my own! I use them in the bathroom to help me stay on track, or in the kitchen, similar to a regular timer. I use one downstairs to document how long I have been exercising. I also got one for my nephew so he can understand how much time is left while brushing his teeth.

It was such a joy catching up with this sweet little family and encouraging them. The mom is a middle school teacher (but not Lydia’s teacher). She helped out with FCA this year, and that was a huge blessing for us. We also briefly talked about Lydia spending time with them this summer… I know she’d love to help with the boys at the park in our neighborhood!

I love seeing God move in the lives around me. He is so good and faithful!

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God, thanks for my friends and their new baby. Help them adjust to being a family of four. Thanks for all the ways you grow and stretch us. May we keep pursuing your heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When was the last time you got to snuggle a newborn baby?! How can you bless another family around you? Bring them a meal? Mow their lawn?

Tasks: A small gift can go a long way to bless others. Make a list of some simple gifts to have on hand, so you are not left empty-handed in a pinch. You can keep these small items in a drawer or closet. For kids, consider a small puzzle, board books, silly putty or play-dough, a fidget spinner, and/or art supplies. A gift card, a candle, a crossword puzzle, a picture frame, and/or a devotional book might be appreciated for parents.

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

Finding Grace #480

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 overall. Mother’s Day was tough, but we made the best of it. We toasted my mom over Zoom and shared some funny stories about her.

Lydia had her last seventh-grade orchestra concert this week. I enjoyed the Vivaldi compilation of different seasons. I enjoyed seeing how much she has learned and grown!

We had a lot of heat at the beginning of the week, and mostly rainy and chilly later on. I didn’t mind either! 🙂

Work was pretty busy with patient care. We also learned of a third coworker’s pregnancy (surprise!), so we will have staggered maternity leaves likely starting next month through early spring next year. That should be interesting, though I am sure we will handle it just fine. In fact, we have a decent amount of experience with maternity coverage, since this makes baby #13 since I’ve been at the VA (<6 years)! 😀

On Thursday, we celebrated Dave’s life and memory. I took off work and did various things around the house. I read, took a nap, did a little organizing, and just relaxed. In the evening, we ate taco pizza with a friend. We reminisced about Dave and how we used to all hang out together. It made me laugh a bit!

I was blessed to receive cards, gifts, and flowers this week. My sister sent flowers for Mother’s Day, and my friend brought flowers on Thursday. Lydia, well, she used her own gift card to buy me flowers online for Mother’s Day. However, she forgot to add our house number, and so there was a delay. After the snafu was resolved, I got a new order delivered on Thursday. It turned out to be a good day!

Today, I was on call for work. I did get called in, but it wasn’t too difficult. Later, Lydia stopped by a high school graduation party. An old coworker and I shared an office for the first five or six years of my grief. We both helped each other with various challenges, so it was good to go and celebrate her daughter! I hope to get together for coffee 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)!