Tag: Lydia

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

Finding Grace #369

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 Trees Snow photo and picture

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

This was a good week and was easier than expected!

As usual, on Sunday we had fun on our family Zoom night. At almost three years old, my nephew is the perfect age to provide all the entertainment. My niece is a year younger, but she’s also adorable to watch!

Work was quite busy, but despite a heavy patient load, I did my best to manage my stress. My coworkers and I put together a three-panel board about our inpatient and outpatient services for a nursing fair next week. We had fun joking about our lack of cutting and art skills, but it actually turned out well!

The weather was pretty status quo this week. Below zero and snowy, which is par for the course lately. You’ll have to pardon my choice of picture tonight – I like to pick something that reflects the week or day. Despite it technically being spring, it will take at least a few more weeks to see any real snow-melting progress. I did notice the storm drain is visible just off my front curb; water is going into it, so that’s a good sign! I talked with my dad yesterday, and he asked if we had any tulips popping up yet. I just had to laugh!

Today was pretty relaxing. Lydia and I each did some cleaning and had a good workout. We also tried out our new Ninja Creami machine. We made some banana ‘nice cream.’ We have made it in the past with a blender, but we turned out a much better product tonight! We’re going to try it again 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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #368

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 Winter Road photo and picture

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

This was a fairly calm week! My gut was a little upset this week, so I tried to take it easy. This usually includes eating a little lighter, resting, and stress management. I am feeling mostly better now – still trying to figure out what the issue was!

Work was pretty normal – busy but good. Any downtime was spent catching up or getting ahead. Next week looks like a busy week with patients!

In other news, I unclogged my garbage disposal. It didn’t need reset, but I couldn’t recall how to fix it. So, I looked online for help and tried a few things. Finally, I used an old piece of wood to spin the disc and help it turn again. No issues since Tuesday!

Then, on Friday, I had an older patient with chronic pain following two conflicting diet plans based on nutrition misinformation he found online. He also is food insecure and spends the remainder of his money on solutions that are not helpful for him. He had grown malnourished as a result of eating one meal every other day thinking that was what he needed to do! It was very interesting helping him learn the truth about food and nutrition. I was able to give him a simple, cohesive plan that should meet his goals, save him money, and help his health. I’m grateful he came to see me!!

Last night ended up being solo for me. Lydia went to a friend’s house for a sleepover (different than last week). It was nice to have some alone time. I scouted out some new stores and then went home. I watched some movies while chopping up some veggies and roasting them. I also made a crockpot stew which turned out so well!

I had a relaxing time at home, waiting for Lydia to return. I had a good workout, cleaned, listened to a podcast, read a little, and made some calls. It was great talking with my mom and dad! When Lydia came home, I had fun hearing all about her adventures with the other family!

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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, Wisdom

Building Boundaries

This past Sunday, Lydia got a big surprise when I bought her first cell phone! We have been discussing it for a while, and I was content to wait a little longer. Nonetheless, we decided to go to Verizon and scout out some options. I felt peace when we were there, and it seemed right!

Of course, Lydia is very excited, but she will need to learn some new boundaries. I set some parental restrictions and won’t let her sign up for social media accounts. She has time limits set up, as well, and I can review her activity. It will be a learning curve for both of us, but I am glad we are doing this a few months before she starts middle school.

Naturally, the last few nights at bedtime, we have been reviewing the importance of setting healthy boundaries. It doesn’t happen without diligence!

Lydia was having trouble understanding my point, so I showed her using an old wooden tray for one of her toys. It probably held some magnets or blocks, but the toys are long gone by now. (pic below)

I grabbed the tray, which to me looked like a corral. First, I turned it over to the flat side. I explained that we don’t know where our limits are when we don’t have boundaries. We may get really close to the “edge” and risk getting hurt.

Then, I flipped it back over and showed Lydia how the outer part looked like a fence. If a person – or horse?!- were in there, they would have a lot of freedom to roam. There is comfort and safety in strong boundaries.

Boundaries also protect us from outside influences. Some people prefer to live on the edge; they like taking risks and pushing limits! Sometimes, that’s okay, but we need to make sure we are in step with Jesus and honoring Him.

Lydia and I brainstormed several examples of boundaries. Saying yes and no are a start. Marriages and friendships are two examples, a regular bedtime is another. Yards have fences or sometimes hedgerows as property lines. A budget is yet one more example of a boundary!

Boundaries are not just guidelines; they help us measure where we are and how far we’ve come! I’m sure Lydia and I will continue to develop more boundaries as she grows. For now, she is learning boundaries come with responsibility!

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God, thanks for the loving boundaries You place in our lives. Help us to honor You as we stay within Your limits. May we be wise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are some other examples of good boundaries? Do you naturally like boundaries, or are you a little rebellious? 😉

Tasks: Take a moment to assess your boundaries, personally and/or professionally. Reel yourself in before you fall off the edge and get hurt! 🙂 Check out this book!

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

Finding Grace #367

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 Rapids River photo and picture

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

This was a busy week, but it all worked out in God’s timing! I covered the first part of the week in my Wednesday blog.

All my early prep work on Tuesday afternoon paid off because my Wednesday morning tax appointment was the fastest one yet. I had everything laid out, and we were done in about twenty-five minutes! Years ago, when life was simpler, I did my own taxes. But now, there are just too many factors, and I appreciate the professionals making sure I don’t miss something important. Hiring help is a gift to myself!

Wednesday night, I stayed up late organizing for a couple hours. I bought some shelving for the laundry room and containers to help me corral items in my kitchen cupboards. It felt good to put things in place, which also gave me peace of mind!

On Thursday morning, Lydia had an appointment, and then we went to get a Caribou drink. We don’t do that often, but it was close and we had the time! Woohoo! I love not having to rush. Then, we ran some extra cardboard to the recycling center and went home to do a little cleaning.

Thursday afternoon, my electrician neighbor came over again. This time, he installed two new lights in our upstairs bathroom. I bought them online to replace the old bathroom lights, which were thirteen years and rusty from all the humidity. He worked for an hour and saved me several hours of trying to figure it out! He did not charge me; he said he was just being neighborly, and they are easy for him. Maybe I can do something nice for his family later!

On Friday, I had a morning meeting and an afternoon car maintenance appointment. My car has 90,000+ miles and is still going strong! It’s hard to believe I’ve had it for ten years now. Lydia hung out with a friend and ended up having a sleepover at her house.

With all the busyness and excitement of this week, we just rested today. I had a good workout, then caught up with an audiobook and a movie. Later, Lydia and I both did a little reading. This week was the most relaxed I have been in months! Thank You, Jesus!

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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, Perseverance

Finding Rest Among Busyness

Well, it’s another full week and I can already see God’s grace at play. It happens to be Spring Break (Wed-Fri). That said, I took the time off to spend with Lydia, but also scheduled five, maybe six, routine appointments for the week!

I could have spread out the appointments over the next several weeks, but I thought it was best to take advantage of the timing. For example, I am getting my taxes done and getting my oil changed (plus some car maintenance). Also, Lydia has a quick appointment where I won’t have to take her out of school. I will try to work on some organizing projects around the house, too.

I worked Monday and Tuesday, though I left early yesterday because Lydia wasn’t feeling well at school. We did meet the very helpful school nurse, so that was a bonus! Lydia is fine overall, but her POTS got the best of her. It was good for her to rest.

Free Time Work photo and picture

I left her at home for a few minutes while I went to her parent-teacher conference alone. It hit me as I walked through the book fair: it was our last conference and book fair in that school. Next fall will be completely different!

As I waited for my turn, I talked with my neighbor boys in the hallway (waiting for their parents). It was so good to catch up with them, as I heard all they are interested in. I offered condolences on the recent death of their cat, and one of them offered to help clear my snow sometime. It was refreshing as I have known them for all these years, and they are still as friendly as ever!

Lydia’s conference went well, as I expected. I can’t help but get a little emotional, though, and yesterday was no different. I tend to become rather reflective.

It’s good to hear how well Lydia is doing, but I also see how much she has grown and learned. Time is going so fast! I am grateful God has entrusted me with her, and I think of how Dave would be so proud. I also think about how much he is missing, though I am confident God will make it up to all of us in Heaven.

Lydia has been missing Dave a lot lately, even wearing some of his clothes around the house. She is so much like him, and we talk about him often. In fact, two months from today, we will be celebrating his life and us making it ten years without him.

That’s hard to believe, but God has carried us all this time. I appreciate the friends who have reached out to offer support, most often unaware of how we have been feeling. Isn’t God good like that?!

Free Lists To Do illustration and picture

In addition to the appointments coming up this week, I told a friend how I had four specific things to accomplish last night after the school conference, including my tax prep work and blog. The most time-consuming was probably the tax prep because I wanted to review an entire year’s worth of data (which I had to find and download first!).

While I wasn’t happy Lydia was sick, God graciously gave me a few extra hours to work on my taxes yesterday before the appointment this morning. I didn’t want to show up completely unprepared, but I hadn’t been able to get to it until then. Whew!

And, that made it so I had a little more flexibility with the other items on my to-do list. Lydia and I even enjoyed watching the movie, “Annie,” which was the perfect way to start off our break together! It was fun hearing a lot of the famous songs and one-liners. The song, “Tomorrow,” is always encouraging on its own!

While all of this may just seem like a lot of busyness (even with important appointments), I have spaced them out, so we are not rushing. Instead, I will stay focused on God and let Him redeem our time. He helps me prioritize.

May we all stay close to the Lord and rest in Him, even when life gets a little hectic.

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Gracious Father, thanks for all Your love and care. You are so good to us! Thanks for taking such good care of us and guiding our steps. Help us to rest in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How do you see God at work in your life this week?

Task: Despite your busyness, stay close to God. He’s our Shepherd and Guide! He will make sure you get the most important things done in due time.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #366

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 Sunlight Tree photo and picture

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

This was a fun week all around!

Monday and Tuesday were slower at work, so I was able to stay on top of my charting. Then, on Wednesday, we celebrated RDN day with soup, salad, and breadsticks from Olive Garden. We also had fruit pizzas for dessert and played a fun game. We tried to guess which facts matched each coworker. We were laughing so much and learned quite a bit about each other. It was so refreshing and made me love my job even more.

On Thursday, we had a TPN training, which reminded me of when Dave needed this source of feeding through the veins. I wasn’t sad, just reflective. We also had a teambuilding game with Oreos and sampled various flavors. Just for fun. Afterall, you don’t want to end up with a bag you don’t like! I think I will stick with either plain or just Mint Oreos, on occasion. 😉

That evening, one of my neighbors came over to help with a GFCI outlet in the kitchen. It was affecting four other outlets. We first noticed two Sundays ago, but it had taken me awhile to decide what to do. I can fix small things around the house, but this one made me nervous. Turns out there were five wires to connect! I hadn’t met this neighbor, but I do see his wife and kids at the bus stop several days a week. It’s funny because he is very friendly and I had no clue he was an electrician until lately! And, he is going to come back again soon and help me update/replace two bathroom lights that are getting rusty. God provided someone right when I needed it!

On Friday, I had a busy morning at work and needed to stay a couple of extra hours to get things done. But, that meant I got to stay for a birthday celebration (cake and ice cream). This was definitely an unusual week – we don’t have treats that often, let alone three days in a row! We were joking that it was a really good week to be at work!

Yesterday after work, I ran some errands knowing today was going to be another blizzardy day. I picked up a lot of fresh veggies (gotta balance out the treats!). Lydia asked if she could help me cut them up. We had fun chopping, cooking, and listening to Oldies music. By my estimate, she saved me a couple hours in the kitchen which was much appreciated! I’m grateful for my helpful girl!

Today, we stayed home and mostly relaxed since Lydia saved me so much time last night. I did a little housework but mostly we just enjoyed the snowy day!

Don’t forget to turn back your clocks for Daylight Savings Time tonight!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #365

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 Raquette Hiver photo and picture

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

This was an unexpected week, but I am so grateful for God’s grace! Everything started off normally… Zoom on Sunday, work on Monday, Tuesday, etc. The rest of the week was a wild card!

Tuesday night into Wednesday brought another blizzard. Go figure! Lydia had remote learning for school again. I was getting ready to go to work, a little nervous because the snow was coming down so fast. I thought it would be a little challenging, especially since I couldn’t see the road behind my house. I could see my neighbor got stuck in front of my house, yet I was hopeful in that my snow service already came once a few hours before. Nope! I opened my garage door to over two feet of snow, which had drifted in again! I wasn’t going anywhere fast! Indeed, it was great to have an unexpected day off. Eventually, I cleared a little snow, the plows went through, and my snow service came again.

On Thursday, I was all ready to go to work again, but I saw that Lydia wasn’t feeling well. She had been a little sick on our snow day, most likely skimping on her water and salt which finally caught up with her. In the past, I would have pushed her to go-go-go, but I decided I didn’t want to send that message. Instead, we stayed home and rested. She napped and caught up on her water and salt. We had a long discussion about the importance of self-care and what that involves for each of us. A little daily work can go a long way to make sure we are feeling our best!

I finally made it to work again on Friday and stayed the whole day, instead of my usual half-day. I was glad to be back and had a lot to get done. Thankfully, it all went well!

Today, Lydia is hanging out with a friend. I have catching up on some podcasts while trying out some new recipes. Cooking is a creative outlet for me! Tonight, I am going to watch my friend’s baby and relax. It’s been a great week overall!

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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, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Worship

Finding Grace #364

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 Winter Snow photo and picture

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

This was a good week and God’s grace was evident!

Lydia and I were both off on Monday due to Presidents Day. We mostly relaxed and did a little cooking and cleaning. We read some books, played some games, and each got our hair trimmed, too!

Later in the week, I upgraded several small kitchen tools thanks to some coupons! I bought a new nonstick skillet, a small, basic hand mixer, and a Magic Bullet. The ones I tossed were over ten years old, and some parts were either rusting or breaking. I know I will get good use out of the new versions since I used the others most every week!

On Thursday, we had another blizzard and Lydia had online learning again. I had mixed emotions – I had several things on my mind besides the weather. While driving to work though, I heard four songs reminding me God understands my situation. The basic message was ‘don’t lose heart.’ By the time I arrived, I was calm. It probably helped that I took a different path through town. Turns out, I also missed a 6-car pileup on my normal route! I was so grateful God protected me and showed me His goodness!

Work was fairly full all week, and I thought Thursday would also be quite busy. Some coworkers called off, so we switched around our patients to cover for those who couldn’t make it in. Even then, several patients canceled. So, the workload was much more manageable than I expected, and I was able to get caught up with my charting. Thanks, Lord!

Finally, after all the craziness of the day, I came home to lots of drifting snow. I read my email and it said we only had received 0.7 inches, not enough for my snow removal company to come. However, they surprised us and came anyway, as a courtesy when it was ~20 below! It was the best feeling – a huge relief – God saw me and took care of it for me.

Today, we are getting things done at home. Tonight, our friend and her baby are coming over to hang out. We might watch a show and order Chinese!

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom, Words

Wise As Serpents, Harmless As Doves

Lydia and I had yet another timely conversation last night. She was talking to two friends online who have not been getting along. It sounds like one friend was ready to extend an olive branch. Yet, Lydia unknowingly was trying to play interference. 

I overheard her talking to the other friend and asked her, “What are you talking about? Don’t get in the middle of their issues, and don’t write anything you will regret.”

Did she listen?

Not quite…

While Lydia didn’t write anything mean or spiteful, the tone of her words didn’t sound quite right and could have been misinterpreted since we can’t always deduce tone of voice online. Not thinking it through, she just wrote what came to her mind. The other friend grew suspicious that Lydia was playing both sides, though she was trying to help.

Lydia’s little folly lost her tech privileges the rest of the night. Mostly, I needed her to take a pause. Thankfully, both friends easily let it go, but it could have blown up quickly.

Really, I don’t think Lydia understood what I meant, so I used her confusion as a teaching moment. I searched for the verse below and then found this video. We watched it together and discussed it.

I explained that we are to be wise yet peaceable with people. We are to influence the world but not get caught up in the drama. We can help people, but we have to let them learn and navigate their own path sometimes. 

We are called to love, but that doesn’t mean we are to be pushovers. We are called to stand up for others, but not pull them out of every pickle.

I gave Lydia a few personal examples of two sides telling me ‘all their problems.’ I never share personal details or provide a ‘he said, she said’ to the other party. Instead, I encourage them to talk it out. I pay attention to subtleties and nuances of body language. I read between the lines, so to speak! 

I can provide a look into the other person’s perspective, but filter it through a lens of grace. I coach them to offer the benefit of the doubt and help them understand the other side. But, it is always up to them whether they work it out or not.

As such, people recognize that I am a good listener, observant and trustworthy. I try not to be judgemental but provide a rounded view of both sides.

In the verse above, Jesus used a simile. He didn’t mean we should be dishonest or try to deceive people. He meant we should be aware and be prepared… lead with love, but don’t be stupid or naive. 

Ultimately, we need to understand the impact of our actions, and how they can pull people closer to Jesus or repel them. In some ways, it’s a matter of great responsibility!

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God, thanks for the lessons You teach us! Help us walk wisely and peacefully as we share Your love and grace with others. Help us do what is right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you listen with wise and peaceable intent, or do you try to stir the pot?

Task: Pray about this topic and THINK: Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? If not, keep it to yourself!

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #363

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 Winter Nature photo and picture

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

This week was exciting in several ways!

On Tuesday, my coworker left work early because she went into labor! Later, we heard she had an adorable baby boy, perhaps the best kind of Valentine. This was a few weeks before her due date, so our maternity leave coverage is starting early. Nonetheless, I am glad mom and bay are safe and healthy!

After warmer weather last week, we had a blizzard on Wednesday! Lydia had remote school (online), and I don’t know why I was surprised. It is February in Fargo, after all!

On Friday, I went on Lydia’s school ski field trip an hour and a half into Minnesota. It was Lydia’s first time going, and she had fun. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the parents, who happened to be friends and neighbors. It was a good memory-making day!

Today, I spent a lot of time cooking. I made a sauce called harissa and added it to roasted eggplant and tempeh. I added that combination to some sweet potatoes for a delicious, balanced meal! I also helped Lydia make a round of “protein donuts” using a mix I bought (just for fun). They were relatively good, but I think I will stick to the real deal every once in a while! Then, I called my sister for our book club and took a nap. A very relaxing and restorative 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)!