Tag: friends

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

Finding Grace #286

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 peaceful and laid back compared to last week! We had a wonderful time with our friends, and I just carried that feeling through the rest of the week. (I am still getting used to my new phone, but I am thankful for the unexpected upgrade!)

On Monday, our friends left mid-morning. Then, I had the rest of the day off from work. With Lydia at daycare, I got a massage and met with a new friend for coffee. I rarely have a day to myself, and I felt so relaxed!

On Tuesday morning, I still had a little planned time off work, so I did some mundane tasks I have been putting off, like updating some files and balancing my checkbook. It was good to take care of those things amid the peace and quiet, while I was focused. Then, I went to work for a short day and enjoyed my evening with Lydia!

Thursday was Lydia’s first day back to school. It’s hard to believe she’s in fourth grade! I feel this is going to be a great year for Lydia. She has some good friends in her class and really likes her teacher. I am excited to see how she grows!

This week, we finally enjoyed some rainy weather. My grass is starting to turn green again! You know, right before fall when it dies! 🙂

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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, Personality

A Good Reset

Last Saturday, right after I posted my weekly Finding Grace post about my busy week, I did something I am still trying to wrap my mind around. On my personal social media page, I posted a recap after the issue was more or less resolved:

Me, seeing my cup of coffee on the counter, ready for some milk:
Q: If my coffee is here, what did I put in the microwave? (28 seconds ago)
A: My phone!!!
Next steps: Wait a few minutes to see if it catches on fire. Open the windows to air out the house. Put the phone in the freezer to see if it will cool down enough to turn on. Send a message to friends coming from out of state (using Messenger because the phone is dead). Tell Lydia to get in the car so I can get a new phone before the store closes! Make a quick, but thoughtful, decision on the upgrade. (At 3+ years old, it was starting to show its age, anyway).
So yeah, one way to decide about getting a new phone… Nuke it in the microwave instead of your coffee.

Yes, I totally microwaved my cell phone! I’m so glad it didn’t cause a fire, and I am grateful to have the resources to get an upgrade so quickly.

I am chalking up this mistake to my mind being so busy that I wasn’t paying attention. Life was moving ‘microwave fast’ and I quickly realized I needed a mental reset! Perhaps I need to create a no-phone-in-the-kitchen boundary as well!

It is crazy how we rely on our phones, isn’t it? On Saturday, I immediately thought of how I couldn’t connect with my family as easily. And, my college friends coming all the way from Indiana could only reach me through Facebook otherwise.

So, that’s why I needed a quick solution. While I am glad so many things were stored in the ‘cloud’ I still had to set things up. In fact, I still am working on password resets, downloading certain apps, and rearranging my new phone.

Thankfully, the visit with my longtime friends was a perfect reset! These particular friends are funny and calm and gracious. I always am refreshed when they are around. They speak life into me and provide wise input when needed. I try to do the same for them.

Even though it’s been eleven years since we’ve seen each other in person, they have been encouraging us from afar. They were unable to travel to Dave’s funeral years ago, but they were determined to come when they could.

Last year COVID19 prevented them from making the trip, but this past weekend was wonderful. My friends even brought some old pictures of Dave from college! Lydia really enjoyed seeing her dad when he was younger!

I was honored by their visit and we had fun showing them around Fargo! It was fun to introduce our kids and watch them interact. Really, we were able to pick up right where we left off. It was just the slower pace I needed.

I am grateful God always knows how to minister to us, whether we are busy or relaxed. He is King over chaos, and He is a loving Father sending love and hugs through friends. Thank You, Jesus!

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God, thanks for the gift of friendship. Thanks for helping me rest and refocus. Renew me with Your love and grace. Strengthen me in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: How has God ministered to you lately? Who can you reach out to encourage today?

Task: Listen to the song, My Jesus, by Anne Wilson.

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

Finding Grace #285

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 flew by! Much of the time my mind was going in several directions, and I had a little difficulty keeping everything straight! Basically, on top of a busy work week, I had a lot of meetings and people to connect with, and was getting Lydia ready for school which starts later next week. It all worked out, though!

On Monday night, I had some ladies over from church. Instead of leading a small group this year, I am coaching other small group leaders. So, in a way, I have a small group of small group leaders! We had a lot of fun, laughing and getting to know each other.

On Wednesday, I had a meeting with other small group coaches. We enjoyed tacos and dessert, along with good conversation and planning. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us this year!

This week, I finally decided to water my lawn. Actually, I had Lydia do it one night and then I joined her a couple evenings later. We each had a hose going! I am not aiming for green grass, but just trying to prevent the grass roots from dying. Ironically, we did get some rain after we watered, which I was very happy about!

Yesterday, I stayed late for work to get some paperwork done. Then, I ran a few quick errands. I made some returns and bought some new shoes. After that, I met a friend for coffee! We live in the same neighborhood, but life gets busy and we don’t run into each other often. We had a great conversation and are planning another coffee date soon!

Today, we have some college friends coming to visit for the weekend. They live several states away and we haven’t seen them since moving to Fargo eleven years ago. We are excited to host them and their kids. Lydia’s looking forward to meeting and playing with the girls! I am honored they would drive all the way to see us!

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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, Parenting

When God Stretches Us

Sometimes God stretches us and it is painful. But often, we grow and stretch without even realizing it. Either way, if we look for His grace and purpose, we will be thankful.
Case in point: Lydia’s first time away at Bible camp was a hit!! At first, I wasn’t sure about sending her a couple hours away, for three days, since I haven’t been there before and it’s the most time we’ve spent apart.
It was a stretch, but, I knew it would be good for both of us.
I’m grateful for the drivers to and from camp and for the leaders giving their time to invest in Lydia. I dropped her off at our church on Wednesday and she came home last Saturday. Four other girls and two boys went, too. Lydia knew the girls, but I was hoping they would grow closer together.
Lydia loved the speaker, Kyle Jorris, and said, “He does great sermons, Mom!” Lydia was able to tell me some of the lessons she learned, which included the Holy Spirit, as well as God’s heart for the lost.
Lydia also said, “He’s so cool, Mom. He was raised by clowns!” He really captured the kids’ attention with balloon animals, magic tricks, puppets, juggling, and riding a unicycle. Wow!
More importantly, it was so cool when Lydia showed me the extensive notes she took. She learned some new praise and worship songs, too! I’m looking forward to hearing more about all God did in her heart in the coming days.
Lydia had fun with the Olympics sports theme, and while her team didn’t win many races, they did receive bonus points for sportsmanship and being helpful. 🙂
When asked about the food, here is what Lydia said: “It was amazing, I don’t want to eat anywhere else, it was sooo good.” The banquet last night was her favorite, followed by pizza, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate chip pancakes on various days. Yum!
I received a bunch of pictures with friends from camp enjoying various activities. All smiles! And, she’s excited to see her friends again at church. Plus, she met a couple new friends from around the state.
When asked if she missed me, Lydia very sweetly said, “Not really.” To that I said, “Same!” I think we both meant: “Sure, we missed each other, but we were having a lot of fun and weren’t overly sad.” 🙂
This was a great learning experience for both of us. For Lydia, it was a chance to exhibit responsibility and make some decisions on her own. For instance, she came back with a fair amount of the money I sent, though she also bought some snacks and stuff from the store.
As a dietitian, I secretly loved when Lydia said she thought one of the treats was too much sugar for her, so she picked something else. Some money went to the offering, too!
For me, it was a funny thing to think, “Does she know how to make her bed with the fitted sheets?” Or, “Does she know not to leave her wet clothes and swimsuit in her suitcase?” Or, “What happens if she gets homesick?” and so on.
All the things we don’t think about as parents! But, it was definitely a good mom-check to see if she has learned what she needs to know up to this point.
I have already seen Lydia grow in confidence and independence. It seems the stakes keep going up as each year passes. Our dynamic is currently strong, but it takes work. Besides that, Lydia has already realized many of her school friends think and behave differently than her. Having Christian friends in her life is a must!
Similarly, this time apart was good for me. I didn’t have much down time, unfortunately, but it was good for me to practice trusting God with Lydia’s safety, her spiritual formation, and for everything outside my direct influence. And, it was a good reminder that, really, she’s His kid first!
Finally, I’m glad I listened to God’s leading and “stretching.” He always know just what we need. As always, this has been good practice for what the next few years hold. As Lydia learns and grows, we both will need to rely on the Lord at a deeper level.
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God, You are so good! Thanks for teaching us more about Your love and grace this past week. Thanks that we can rely on You at all times. Keep stretching us, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Questions: Did you go to summer camp or as a kid? If so, what was your favorite part? How is God stretching you today?
Tasks: If you feel God stretching you this week, lean into it. Embrace what He wants to do in your heart and life.

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Fly Away, Birdie

The summer days go so fast! I always enjoy listening to the birds sing, especially early in the morning or later at night. Some days, however, I have to slow down and remind myself to stop and take it all in.

One evening last week, Lydia had a friend over to play. We noticed a strange bird with a speckled breast sitting on the deck, and we had to figure out what it was!

I quickly (and quietly) grabbed my bird book and binoculars. I had an idea of what the bird was, but I wanted to make sure. The girls thought it was fun, and so I dragged it out while I tried to remember where I’d seen a similar bird. It had been a few years!

I asked the girls about the color, the beak, the size of the bird, etc. Soon, we determined… yes, it was a baby robin! This makes sense because we have a robin’s nest under our deck.

Soon, this was confirmed by an adult robin coming to stand guard next to the juvenile. A few moments later, we got distracted and then noticed the birds were gone.

No worries! A little while later, the girls were looking out the window and called me over!

The young bird was back! It was on the bottom step of the deck, and we were not sure if it fell or flew down the ten-or-so steps. We watched it slowly hop it’s way up the stairs, flapping its wings along the way.

The deck railing prevented us from seeing some of its progress, until suddenly, it fluttered from the top step to the opposite railing. (That’s when I realized it was a mere fledgling, as I saw its wingspan was so small and unsteady.)

Lydia and I enjoy watching birds together. We enjoy seeing finches and swallows and other common birds. I even play bird songs sometimes and see if the birds respond!

So, today, I am reminded that Lydia herself is like a little fledgling. She’s been spreading her wings a lot lately, and it is bittersweet. I am proud of her progress, as she learns to navigate certain age-appropriate issues.

These include big and small big decisions, role playing through various friendship issues, and discussing morals (right, wrong, and gray areas). She’s understanding the value of money and has been making small, reasonable purchases for herself when I let her.

Lydia is a great kid, but even while I do my best to raise her, I can’t take all the credit. Instead, I actively keep relying on the Lord since He gave her to me on loan. I show her what it means to turn to Him for guidance!

My goal is not to solve all of Lydia’s problems, but show her Jesus is the solution. As much as He cares for the cute little birds, He loves and cares for us even more!

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God, thanks for all You do for us. Thanks for leading us as we learn and grow. Help us to trust You and be brave as we try new things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like bird watching? Do you have a favorite song bird?

Tasks: Turn to the Lord for wisdom and guidance today. Check this out: All About Birds.

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

Finding Grace #274

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 went fast! It started off with having friends come visit, which meant a good ol’ Tour de Fargo! We had so much fun!

Lydia spent a couple nights at a friend’s house so they could attend puppy camp! The camp consisted of little dog art projects. Lydia and her friend also went to the pool and played lots of games. I appreciated my friend offering to help out, so Lydia didn’t have to miss out.

Today, I was on call for work and had to go in for a few hours. Lydia stayed home with some family who came to visit. Last night, we went to Scheels and out to dinner. This afternoon, we went to see the new movie, “Dream Horse.” It was good to get out of the nearly 100F heat, and it was our first time in a theater in over a year! The movie is rather inspirational and is based on a true story. I would recommend it!

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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, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Travel

Tour de Fargo

I’ve been in Fargo for just about eleven years now. It’s always fun to see who God brings in our path. Case in point: This week, we had a blast from the past!

A friend, Julie and I met in Normal, Illinois, where we both worked as dietitians, but she is originally from South Dakota. When we first moved here, a dietitian named Julie gave me a bag of ‘Dakota Style’ potato chips. It was such a thoughtful gesture. She was the only person I knew who understood the brutal winters in the Dakotas!

Julie and her family still go back to her home state a few times each year to see her parents and sister. And on Sunday, she brought her husband and three kids a couple of hours to Fargo to see us! They got a kick out of a sign that said “Fargo… North of Normal.” Ironic! 😉

We were honored they reached out, especially since it has been a number of years since Julie and I have seen each other… I had never met the rest of her family. I’m glad we have kept up through social media, and it was fun to see the kids in real life!

We had a great time! We met downtown Fargo, on Broadway, and walked around town looking for several murals. We took some great photos and made some fun memories!

Then, we walked to Island Park enjoying the perfect weather. The kids had fun on their scooters, which conserved their energy and preserved their positive attitudes. 😉

Lydia loved leading the way for everyone, since she was familiar with the area! Thanks to COVID-19, she had gone there nearly every day last summer since it is next to a local Y. Future tour guide perhaps?

We soon made it to the Red River, where I shared with them some trivia about Fargo and the river. I enjoyed seeing our town through the eyes of our guests. We walked across a footbridge to Minnesota, too!

After that, we walked back downtown and had some ice cream at Silver Linings Creamery. Delish! Then, we piled in our cars and drove to the Red River Zoo. There was so much more we could have done… Scheels, Spitfire, Thunder Road to name a few… but it was a good overview!

It was such a fun day, and it was a blessing to see someone from my pre-Fargo days. We hope to see these friends if we head to Illinois this summer.

It’s been interesting that God has been bringing so many people from the past back into my life lately! I am excited to see what else He has in store.

He always knows just what I need, but it does require a mindset of expectation and a certain level of availability. I have to be careful not to cram my schedule, so I have some flexibility.

Just like when we reached out to our friends in Grand Forks, it was nice to be thought of when these other friends came to Fargo. It’s cool to see the flip side! How refreshing!

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God, thanks for the blessing of friends, old and new. Help me be an encouragement to others, as they have been to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are the fun places in your town you take guests? Have you been on any road trips lately to see friends or family?

Task: Reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t seen lately. Good news from far away is a huge blessing! Even the sound of your voice can be an encouragement!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom, Worship

Grand Forks Getaway

As I previously mentioned, Lydia and I had a special getaway last weekend.

We had a great weekend about an hour north in Grand Forks, North Dakota! I had made a short list of potential activities and places to visit. But, as always, God took my loose plans and put His own spin on them!

On Friday evening, we visited dear friends at a park and were visited by the ice cream truck! My friends have three kids, ages 2 to almost 6, and they are all so cute. The little boy, the middle child, wanted to hold Lydia’s hand, sit right next to her, and have her carry him. It was fun seeing Lydia respond favorably to him and his sisters. As an only child, she’s not used to siblings!

Then, Lydia and I drove across the border to Cabela’s in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. She loved it and even came out with a new stuffed animal! Soon, we crossed the bridge back to the North Dakota side. We walked around downtown before heading back to Minnesota for our car. Later, Lydia lived it up at the hotel arcade. She even won first place in the racing game! Reminds me of her dad!

On Saturday morning we had breakfast with the same friends, this time the kids were left at home. The man was one of Dave’s Caterpillar coworkers and a pallbearer at his funeral. After Dave died, I gave him Dave’s Bible. It felt like the right thing to do to bless this ‘CAT guy.’ God has blessed that small act of faith, and it has been fun to see him lead his family toward Jesus.

This man was mourning the lost of his best friend, who had just died from COVID-19 complications earlier in the week. So on Saturday, we talked about faith, Dave, family, our Caterpillar connection, and more. He acknowledged that our visit seemed like God-ordained meeting. I am so grateful I could encourage this couple because they have been such an encouragement to me!

Then, Lydia and I drove around town, visiting Widman’s confectionery and the University of North Dakota/Ralph Engelstad Arena (known for intense ice hockey games!). Later, we went to the Blue Moose Restaurant and ate tapas, walked around the mall, and visited a local indie bookstore. Lydia also drew a crowd with her marksmanship skills at Scheels!

Saturday night, we spent a couple hours at the water park in our hotel. It was huge, and we had a blast on the water slides and practicing Lydia’s swimming skills. We even ran into another friend! Then, we relaxed and watched a movie while eating some snacks.

On Sunday, we drove about 20 miles west to Turtle River State Park. We had fun hiking around and were glad we went early to beat the heat. It was gorgeous! Then, we came back home and listened to an audiobook on the way. Lydia played with a friend while I did some yard work before family Zoom.

When making our plans, it took me awhile to decide what to do and where to stay. I was trying to decide about the water park and what other attractions to see. I was also uncertain if I should contact my friends since it had been a few years since we saw them. I didn’t want them to have to adjust their plans. Turns out, I contacted them on the same day they found out about the loss of their friend. Wow!

Our whole trip was covered by God’s grace. I’d like to take Lydia to Medora, ND sometime, too, but this was the best weekend we’ve had in awhile!

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God, You are so good and faithful! Thanks for leading us and for guiding our steps. Thanks for helping us encourage others as we honor Dave’s life and legacy. Help us continue to be a blessing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you been to Grand Forks or Medora? What do you like to do on vacation? Do you like to relax or go sight-seeing? Do you make big plans or just meander?

Tasks: Next time you are considering a trip or step out of your normal routine, prayerfully go for it! Invite God to direct your path and see how He moves on your behalf! You never know just how He may use you to bless someone else.

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

Finding Grace #265

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 fun week, though some days seemed long! I don’t have anything really new to report, but there was just a lot going on every day! 🙂 Work and life went well, overall, and I also enjoyed chatting with my sister!

Lydia received a box of Easter goodies in the mail this week. She was so excited for some candy and a few Peanuts/Snoopy items. We called our family to say thank you, and I was so surprised when Lydia offered me one of her Reese’s peanut butter eggs! It was totally out of the blue, but she said she knew how much I like them. It melted my heart, and I told her how much I appreciated her generosity. Her whole face lit up in pride!

The college was on Spring Break this week, so I didn’t go to campus yesterday. I still have some grading and such to do, but instead of doing those things, I ran some errands and got my oil changed. It was so sunny out, and I enjoyed having some quiet time to myself.

Then, Lydia and I went to church for the Good Friday service! After it was over, we caught up with friends and met a three-week old baby boy! He only weighed about five pounds at birth, since he was three weeks early. He is so tiny and precious!

The weather was all over the place this week. It ranged from being in the 30s to 70s and at times was very windy. We were serenaded by some robins on several mornings. We also noticed buds on the trees and some tulip leaves popping up! Today, it has been warm and beautiful!

Today, one of Lydia’s friends came over for a few hours to visit. They decorated Easter eggs, watched a movie, played outside, ate lunch, drew pictures, and more. She is a sweet girl and very easy to be around. It’s so fun to see their friendship grow!

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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, Prayer

Finding Grace #264

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

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

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

This was a great week. It had many highs and a few lows. I heard of several prayer requests, some regarding relationships and many for health issues. I’m grateful God’s grace is constant. He knows exactly what we need even before we ask!

Work went well, and I had fun participating in various meetings and helping my coworkers. I had friendly patients and feel like I made a difference!

I caught up with a couple of dear friends this week. One is a widow, like me, and we typically work through our similar experiences and cheer each other on. We met today for bowling and frozen yogurt with our girls. It was a fun few hours…just what I needed!

The other friend is a Caterpillar wife and we enjoyed catching up as well! We haven’t seen each other in a long time, but we talked for an hour on the phone. God is so good, and I loved hearing how He is taking care of everyone!

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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)!