Tag: flowers

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

Finding Grace #492

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 Zinnia Composites photo and picture

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

This was a busy, but really good week!

Work was surprisingly light, even though I covered for a few appointments and classes. Lydia and I also had dentist appointments on Monday, so the day flew as I left work early to pick her up.

On Friday, someone came over to give me an estimate for some landscaping. It won’t be anything too exciting, but just some dirt and rock around the foundation of my house. I might add some flowers, but we’ll see. Still, I am looking forward to seeing the estimate and hopefully getting this long overdue project completed!

After that, we jumped in the car to head a few hours to Rugby, ND, for an adventure. For the most part, we just relaxed once we got to the inn. It was nice to just chill after a long week. As a side note, Rugby happens to be the geographical center of North America, so it was interesting to see the small monument in tribute.

Today, we headed to the US/Canada border to see the International Peace Gardens! It was on my ND bucket list for some time, and I knew August is a month where a lot of flowers are in full bloom. Lydia loved going to the Canadian side, her first trip over the Northern border! Later, we toured more of North Dakota, heading west to Minot and several random tourist sites. I’ll give more details on Wednesday!

For now, we will rest and have some more fun on the way home tomorrow!

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

Finding Grace #472

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 fairly normal week!

On Monday, a friend brought us some dinner. It was sweet of her to make us soup and cookies! When we give her back her dishes, Lydia plans to fill them with some treats in return. 🙂

Our snow is pretty much gone, other than a few small piles from the sidewalks and parking lots. It has been fun to see and hear more songbirds. I even saw my first robin of the Spring. It was on my deck singing one morning. Perhaps it is one-half of the pair that nests under my deck.

I took some lovely walks this week. Mostly inside due to the chilly wind, but one day, a coworker and I walked along a park near the VA. It was so good to be outside!

I got my taxes done this week. I enjoy seeing all God has done in my life and finances over the last year. He is always so faithful to provide for me!

Yesterday, I took the day off to enjoy some time with Lydia for her Spring Break! She had an appointment and then we did a little shopping. Later, Lydia made some cookies while I watched the new show, House of David, on Amazon Prime. It is dark and complex at times, but also beautiful!

Today marks one month since my mom relocated to Heaven. We miss her so much. I decided to buy myself some pretty flowers (above). Otherwise, I was on-call and had to go in for two patients. Then, I caught up around the house and called my aunt. Tonight, I am relaxing while Lydia is going to watch a hockey game with friends!

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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, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #436

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 Plant photo and picture

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

This week was a really peaceful week!

Lydia was at church camp Monday through Friday, so my evenings were relatively free and quiet. I did most of my usual things, such as mowing, writing, and running errands. I got my haircut and walked with a lady from church.

This week, I gathered mail, mowed, and watered plants for our neighbor. I covered for Lydia while she was gone and noticed lots of bunnies! The neighbor’s hollyhocks remind me of my grandpa who used to grow them. It was a good way to spend time outside!

On Friday, I didn’t have any patients scheduled, so I asked to take the day off. I rarely do that, so it was a gift to myself. I slept in and did some chores at a nice, slow pace. Later, I did a little painting and reading before picking up Lydia.

Today, we are spending time with my mother-in-law, who came to visit for the weekend. We went out to eat, shopped a bit, and also attended “exotic animal races” at the horse park. We’ve never been, but we wanted to see camels, ostriches, and zebras racing. It was hilarious, and we even won ten dollars on a horse race after someone gave us their tickets because they decided to leave early due to the ~90+ degree heat. Overall, we had a lot of fun!

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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 #433

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding Grace #431

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 odd in that I was sick for most of it!! I started to feel “off” on our way back home from vacation (Saturday). On Sunday, I woke up with a sore throat and headache. We stayed home from church and tried to rest.

On Monday, I still didn’t feel well, so I missed work. I went to the walk-in clinic, and they ran some tests, which all came back negative. That means I don’t have Strep, RSV, COVID, or Influenza A/B. Whew! 

The next two days, I went to work. I was still not feeling 100%, but I was comparatively better. On Wednesday, I started to lose my voice while teaching a class. Soon, I developed a cough that perpetuated overnight.

One positive aspect of going to work this week was noticing the gorgeous peonies back in the healing garden. I intentionally park across the street so I can walk through there twice a day and notice all of God’s handiwork!

Thursday, I still felt poorly with a froggy voice and cough (by this time, it was my asthma flaring up). So, I called in sick and mostly stayed on the couch. I used a blend of allergy and cold medications, along with my inhaler, some Chloroseptic, and Vick’s Vapo Rub. To kill germs, I managed to wipe down a few main surfaces but otherwise rested.

On Friday, I made it to work for my usual half-day. I prayed about what to do—see my patients or cancel and do paperwork. The more talking I did, the worse my voice sounded. Strangely, each of my three patients was very understanding. One didn’t care how much I coughed (he also had a cough), another said he also was hoarse, and the other hardly noticed because he was hard of hearing. God is so funny!

Lydia had a really exciting week, however! She had a blast volunteering at a friend’s church during VBS. They helped with some of the art projects. Later in the week, they had a sleepover, which also happened to be helpful in my recovery.

Today, I am intentionally resting after a long 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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #424

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

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

Free Tulips Tulip Field photo and picture

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

Closer

I overheard some really joyful news this week about a not-so-close-friend. I really like her, but, I am not sure I will reach out. We haven’t seen each other in a couple of years, and I don’t know how she would respond. I assume if she wanted me to know, it would be clear. I’m sure she will make an official announcement when she’s ready.

We have never been ‘super’ close; we just had a few good times together. For now, I will pray for her and cheer her on behind the scenes. And, if I get the chance, I will tell her how happy I am for her.

Do you have friends like that? Or maybe the term really should be acquaintances. 🙂

Indeed, many people are in my not-too-close category. It’s not that we don’t connect; people consistently tell me I am friendly and approachable. I am compassionate and good at listening. When asked for help, I always provide a basic plan to follow. But, then the problem is solved, and they tend to move on.

Free Flowers Siberian Bugloss photo and picture

So, I don’t know if it is me or them, or both! It certainly could just be a bunch of random circumstances not worth mulling over. Yet, here we are. 😉

When it comes to relationships, we’ve all heard something to the effect that if they talk about other people with you, they will talk about you with other people. But, I avoid gossip because so many people trust me to keep their confidence and I take that seriously.

I’m also fairly low-key. No drama here… but that also makes me one of the last to know!

Similarly, I use caution (wisdom!) when opening up to people. I’m fairly good at reading people and know not to misplace my trust. (#boundaries) I am okay with having a few solid friends who ‘get me’ rather than many loose acquaintances. It is important to know who’s in your corner.

Free Forget-Me-Nots Flowers photo and picture

Randomly, I think, “Hmm, maybe I’m just not that memorable, or maybe I just don’t have anything exciting to offer.” Case in point: I am great at remembering names and personal details, but I often have to reintroduce myself to people… multiple times, which gets old. Thankfully, Jesus never forgets me – He knows me better than I do!

I suppose most of these thoughts reflect my introverted personality. I am quiet and appreciate solitude, but I’m not really shy. I shine in asking good questions, but people don’t often reciprocate. I’ve been told I’m ‘blendable’ and can relate to a wide variety of people and interests. While that may mean I get lost in a crowd, maybe I’m the gel that helps keep everything cohesive. I appreciate that about myself!

Building community can be an art. Though, I only have so much extra time and energy, and we are all going in different directions with various obligations. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it may preclude vulnerability.

Free Forget-Me-Nots Purple Flowers photo and picture

To clarify, having a lot of friends and acquaintances is a huge blessing. I have needed help from at least four friends this summer (Lydia, yardwork, questions, etc.). Yet, while my friends (and family) are sometimes unavailable, Jesus is always there for me.

Despite my occasional self-doubt, I understand it’s not ‘all about me.’ I am an Ambassador for Christ, so I am happy to share anything personal to help someone grow closer to Jesus for Eternity. It could be embarrassing, but as long as it is useful, I don’t mind! If that brings awkward conversations, so be it!

Ultimately, our contact list, Facebook likes, birthday shoutouts, or blog followers can only get us so far. They have a place, yes, but they don’t measure our true worth. Afterall, we don’t have to be popular, but we do need to live purposefully.

So, let’s draw closer to Jesus every day. He always welcomes us in and is eager to chat, no matter how much time may have passed!

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God, thanks for Your Friendship! You never let me go! Help me be a good friend, and help me keep drawing closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you know there are more than seventy varieties of forget-me-nots? How do you invest in your friendships?

Task: Make a list of your best qualities and how they apply to friendship. When it feels like people have abandoned you, pull out the list and pray about your next steps. (Don’t sell yourself short. Not all relationships are intended to last forever, and that’s okay!)

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

Finding Grace #375

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 relatively calm week!

The weather was both rainy and sunny this week! Soon, I will have to mow!

Work went well, and I gave a talk on gut health for my coworkers. I spent quite a bit of time preparing for it, but it went well. I am glad I had the opportunity to present on such a complex topic!

On Tuesday, Lydia and I went to the middle school for a meeting on what to expect. We also started the rental process for her viola and got to look around the school. We are excited! We also learned that next year, the school day/timing is changing, but it works in our favor. This was something I have been praying about for a couple of years, so it feels like the Lord made the change just for us. 🙂

Yesterday, after work, I ran some errands and then relaxed a bit. I also received a beautiful flower delivery from my sister and brother-in-law. You can see the lilies in the picture above!

Today, we have been mostly relaxing. We made some brownies, watched a movie, and played some games. A perfect Saturday!

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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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #327

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 busy week, full of hard work!

Oddly enough, I fell down a small set of stairs, after missing the bottom step. Thankfully, I was not hurt badly and just had a nice bruise on my arm where I caught myself. It is still a little sore and colorful but improving.

Lydia attended a couple of art classes during the week. She went with a friend, and it was really helpful because she could get a ride there. They pour-painted some canvases and created objects with resin. It was fun to see the end results!

Each night this week was busy. It included the typical blog writing, grocery shopping, and other errands. But I also ended up mowing, paying some routine bills, and making summer plans. All good things, but it all took a lot of time.

I saw some gorgeous peonies in the healing garden at work (picture above). Walking through the garden is one reason I park across the street every day (instead of the regular employee parking lot)! 

On Friday, I took myself to see another movie after work, while Lydia was at a YMCA field trip. This time, I saw Top Gun: Maverick! It was really good. It had a lot of references to the original 80s movie, but I think it was even better. Not only the improvised picture and action, but the storyline brought things full circle. I’d recommend it!

Today, I finished putting out the deck furniture (after staining it last weekend). I also worked on catching up around the house, while Lydia worked on chores, cleaning her room, and doing some art at home. We had the screen door open all day! It felt pretty relaxing and productive!

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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)!