Tag: flowers

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

Finding Grace #545

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?!

I had a great birthday week! Originally, I took the week off work for a trip, but we canceled it due to unexpected circumstances with our fellow travelers. We hope to reschedule, but I kept the time off anyway. I soon discovered God had a lot of other things planned for me instead!

On Sunday, after church, I attended a short training. I had been through a version of it years ago, but it was good to get up-to-date on ways to serve in the church. I prayerfully signed up for some activities this Fall, but we will see how it all pans out.

On Monday, Lydia and I did some back-to-school shopping, then cleaned the car and the garage. Later, I squeezed in a quick hair cut and met a friend for coffee. It was great to catch up!

On Tuesday, I got messages from two coworkers that I had a flower delivery. I was not expecting anything, so I went in to pick them up. Lydia came with me and had fun saying hi to my coworkers!

Tuesday evening was really special, as we met some old Caterpillar friends for dinner. They contacted us within seconds after we canceled our previous travel plans, so I feel like it was from God. It would have been a bummer to miss them; I always hold a special place in my heart for friends who actually knew Dave. Thanks, Lord!

I did not have any overt plans for my actual birthday on Wednesday. But that was 100% fine with me since it was good to relax! Also, I usually receive a ton of cards, calls, texts, and social media messages, so I like to take time to connect with everyone who thought of me and made me feel special. Thank you!!

Thursday was a good day for continuing education and errands. Mainly, I wanted to get a few things done to set us up better for when Lydia starts high school in a couple of weeks!!! In the evening, we had a blast attending a murder mystery dinner show. This was unlike your typical dinner theater. The cast was dressed like everyone else and was interspersed within the audience, so we all participated in solving the crime. The four-course meal was delicious, and we had a lot of laughs!

On Friday, I got my oil changed, along with some other minor car repairs. It was all part of my scheduled 120K-mile tuneup. I gotta keep my car in good working order! In the evening, Lydia and a friend met up with the church youth group for a Redhawks game before enjoying a sleepover at our house.

Today, I did Saturday things while Lydia and her friend slept in. Later, I took the girls shopping and out to eat. It was a fun end to my birthday week!

**********

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

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

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

Cheers to Another Year!

Today, I am celebrating another trip around the sun!! I am really grateful for all the ways God blessed me over the last year! Last summer, I sensed that He had something special for me. Soon I recalled that I was about three years old when I decided to follow Jesus… So, essentially, this was my fortieth year of walking with Him!

Here’s a quick recap of some of the highlights:

Last Fall, I finally had some landscaping done! It took me years to get around to it (to have the money, set it up, and make the decisions). But the Lord helped me follow through. No, I have not added any plants yet, lol. But, truthfully, I just love how the rocks look, and so the plants are not my top priority right now!

From September to May, I completed two semesters of leadership training at my church. This was a comprehensive class where we met once a month for teaching and did some online coursework. It covered many important topics and gave me more confidence in sharing my faith. I am excited to see what God has in store for me next!

After years of avoiding it, I made the decision to widen my palate and start orthodontics in January! I will get the metal MARPE device out in the next couple of months and then finish with more aligners. I am still hoping to avoid double jaw surgery, but I am happy with my progress so far!

In March, I went full-time at the VA, after years of being classified as part-time! I am grateful for all the ways God has provided for us since Dave died in 2013. He continues to be a wonderful Provider. Somehow His math always works out!

In May, Lydia and I flew to Chicago to see family and attend a barefoot shoe expo. Spending time with my sister was just what I needed! We hadn’t had that much time together – just the two of us – in many years! It was a fun trip and helped us get through the thirteen-year mark of Dave’s death. The Lord has been so faithful!

I have continued my journey to relieve pain and tension in my neck, shoulders, back, and hips. I’ve changed my workouts, practiced mobility exercises, gone to the chiropractor, prioritized sleep and rest, and said ‘no’ to better manage stress.  I can’t take good care of others if I don’t take care of myself! One specific praise is that in June the Lord healed my neck on the spot at a prayer event. I was surprised but gladly received His personalized gift.

I joined a book club at church, and it has been such a joy. Books + deep conversations about faith + friends = a few of my favorite things! Pretty much any book or genre is fair game. So far, we’ve read Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace by Debra Moerke, and also Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. Our current book, The Winning of Lady Wisdom, is by a North Dakota author, Sarah Dixon Young!

Over the last few months, Lydia and I have visited with several Caterpillar families. It’s really special when we meet up with friends who actually knew Dave when he was at his best. I appreciate how these dear ‘CAT guys’ still reach out to connect with us. Thank You, Jesus!

This year, I have greatly enjoyed watching Lydia grow in confidence and faith. She got her driver’s permit last fall, and it’s been fun watching her learn the rules of the road and put them into practice. I can’t believe she will start Freshman year in a couple of weeks! I’m extremely grateful for how God has gotten us to this point!

Finally, I’ve seen how God continues to use my story to help others. I have had the opportunity to share my book and, in some cases, to get together for coffee to encourage people: widows, moms, etc. After all, the highlights above don’t overlook the real struggles and sacrifices of the last year, but God’s goodness and grace triumph over them.

**********

Heavenly Father, thanks for Your faithfulness in my life. It is a privilege to walk with You every day and move Your heart. May I never take it for granted! Help me continue to be a blessing to others so they may know You, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: As you reflect on the past year of your life, where do you see God’s faithfulness? Have you thanked Him for all He has done for you, or are you focused only on the lack?

Task: If you’ve read this far, the yellow roses in the picture were sent to me at work yesterday!! It was a timely reminder that God sees me – and it felt like a capstone to finish off an amazing year. My kind, generous friend was simply obeying what God told him to do, and we had a good chat about all that He is doing in our lives. We don’t always know the outcome of our obedience, but as Dr. Charles Stanley always said, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”

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

Finding Grace #534

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 pretty good all around!

On Sunday, we went to church, and then Lydia stayed to serve in the kids’ ministry (they didn’t need me that day). So, I walked down the street to Starbucks, got a cup of coffee, and then walked through the neighborhood. It was a beautiful and very quiet day. I loved looking at all the pretty flowering crab trees and lilacs!

On Monday, Lydia went to a lake with some friends for Memorial Day. I stayed home and finally finished some continuing education that has been hanging over my head. It was good to have the day off work, and I am grateful for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, so we can have freedom.

Work went well this week. I had my own patients and then also covered on the inpatient/hospital side for a couple of days. It was busy, but not too bad! I even took a few a walk outside in the 85-95 degree heat!

Today, Lydia and I went to another high school graduation party, this time a coworker’s son. It is always fun to see her family and cheer on her kids. After that, we went to church for a special open house. We celebrated one hundred years of being a church in our area! It was awesome to see so many people from my ~16 years in Fargo! God is so faithful!

**********

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, 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!

**********

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.

**********

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!

**********

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!

**********

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!

**********

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. 🙂

**********

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.

**********

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)!