Tag: Peace

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

Finding Grace #542

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 an interesting week! 

On Monday, I left work a few minutes early to deal with a washing machine issue at home. The repairman came on Wednesday, and as it turned out, a little facecloth had clogged and cracked a pump. So, that was a fairly easy fix and not too expensive. He said my toploader should last for a long time since it is well made and easy/cheap to fix. He implied I should keep it as long as I can since it “actually gets the clothes clean, unlike some of the newer models.”

On Wednesday, I worked a half day and then took off the rest to be available for the repairman. I used a “time off award” I earned last year. The repairs didn’t take very long, so I was going to do a couple of projects, but then I ended up taking a nap for almost two hours. I was still so exhausted from wringing out all those towels on Monday! It was glorious!

Today, I was on-call and had to go in for one patient. While I was gone, Lydia had a driving lesson. She is doing really well. We did a few Saturday things, and then we babysat a friend from work’s kids for a couple of hours. They invited us to stay for dinner, which included Asian-style salmon, veggies, and rice. It was delicious and very generous of them!

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Laundromat Lessons

Yesterday, Lydia and I checked out a new laundromat nearby!

On Sunday, Lydia washed a load of laundry at home, and I heard the washing machine make a weird noise. I chose to ignore it, but I did make a mental note to “keep an eye on it.” (That always seems to work well, right?!)

On Monday, Lydia texted me at work that her favorite hoodie had come back with some weird spots, perhaps not quite clean. I told her to rewash it, but I also mentioned staying next to the machine “in case something happens and you can stop it.” She did not hear me…

Instead, she took a shower before checking on her hoodie. 🙂 By then, the washing machine had overflowed, like it did last year. She called and texted me for help, but I was working with a patient and didn’t see her message for about two hours. At that point, I tried calling right away, but she did not answer. I called multiple times to no avail; her phone was on 4% and wouldn’t charge.

Then, I told my manager that I needed to leave right away to check on Lydia and make sure my house wasn’t flooded! I only had thirty minutes left on the clock anyway. I prayed that God would help me stay calm and help Lydia know what to do.

Thankfully, Lydia was fine, and she had put about five towels on the floor to soak up the water. She helped me clear out the items we have stored there, including the toilet paper I bought at Costco on Saturday. Almost everything was elevated off the ground, and I was very glad that nothing was ruined. A couple of boxes were wet, but the bottles inside were okay. Whew!!

Nonetheless, I spent about eight hours over that night and the following morning trying to soak up the water and wring out the towels. I turned off the water and also used a squeegee and a shop vac to help! Still, more water kept coming out from under the washing machine! On Tuesday morning, I called my manager to let her know I would be a little late. I was waiting to hear back from the repairman and needed to figure out a plan.

I went to work, but was also able to leave early to address the wet towels and laundry. Last year, we had a new laundromat down the block; I decided this was a good opportunity to try it out! I had Lydia come with me to learn how it works.

In fact, the machines were so fancy that I also had to figure them out, too! The machines accepted quarters, but there was an automated pay option via an app that was more convenient. The app synced with the washing machines and even gave us a countdown on when our laundry would be done!

While Lydia sat, I walked around to scout out the rest of the room. There were vending machines, beautiful bathrooms, a small play area and fish tank, a bookshelf, and several televisions throughout the seating areas. It was a better experience than I expected, and I told Lydia most laundromats are not like this one.

While Lydia should have stayed next to the washing machine at home, it wasn’t really her fault. Whatever the problem, it would have needed to be addressed at some point. As it is, the repairman should come today. I’m hoping it is just a clogged tube like last year and still worth keeping! Indeed, I’m pretty sure the Lord is singlehandedly keeping all my household appliances running for me! He is my Sustainer and Rock!

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God, thanks for always coming through for me and for protecting my house yesterday. It could have been much worse. Keep me focused on what really matters, not just what is convenient. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When was the last time you were at a laundromat?! How is God sustaining you this week?

Task: Pay attention to the little noises and clues around you that something might be wrong. Don’t ignore them… or you might be spending time cleaning up more messes than you expected!

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

Finding Grace #541

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 week of a fun mix of planned activities and a few surprises! 

On Sunday, dear Caterpillar friends visited from Illinois. We met Mike and Becca when they moved to Fargo when Lydia was around six months, about the time Dave got sick. They were a huge blessing to us, and you can read about them in my book. Now, they have four kids and live near Peoria, so it was really sweet to have them over to our house.

On Monday, Lydia went to church camp in Devils Lake. She took a friend, and they had a blast at Senior Camp. I picked them up on Friday, and Lydia spent the rest of the day resting. I am glad they had so much fun!

On Tuesday, I stayed an extra hour at work to give a presentation to a different Veterans organization in Minot. I recognized a couple of people from the VA services we provide, and they told everyone how great a speaker I am. That felt good, and I was glad to teach them about an anti-inflammatory diet to deal with chronic pain!

The weather was hot and even a little smoky due to the Canadian wildfires. On Wednesday, we had an employee picnic at work, and God blessed us with a little cooler weather and no smoke in the air! By the end of the day, the smoke was rolling in, so I was really grateful we got to enjoy the time outside. I also saw several monarch butterflies in the healing garden, so that was extra special.

Today was fairly relaxing. I went to the bank and Costco, cooked a bit, did the usual Saturday things, and took Lydia for a driving lesson to practice parallel parking. Later, we met some friends at the splash pad in our neighborhood, and then they came over for an hour or so to visit. The little kids had fun, and I hope they come back again soon!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Riding Around the Neighborhood

For the last several weeks, the roads in my neighborhood have been under construction. It started with reconfiguring some drainage tiles and sewer upgrades. That included busting up part of my yard and sidewalks. Technically, those parts belong to the city, but it was still a little surprising.

It took a month or so to finish that initial project. One of my boulevard trees (technically the city’s) was also damaged, and it has taken even longer to report and hear back about the tree. I think it will be okay, but I wanted it documented in case it struggles next year!

The next phase of the project was to resurface the roads. This has needed to be done since I moved here in 2010. I don’t know what has taken so long, but I am looking forward to having a smooth road instead of a lot of bumps and dips!

On Monday morning, the machines started laying asphalt on my street. There were impassable orange cones in front of my house blocking the quickest way out, so I had to go the other way. No problem.

But, on my way home, things quickly turned strange! I attempted to drive through the neighborhood in reverse from my morning route. It was blocked by more orange cones. So, I went the opposite way, but my street was closed, too. I tried two other streets, but they also were impassable. Finally, I tried one last road, thinking this might be it. NOPE. I could not get through there, either!

Literally, every street I could possibly use to get to my house was blocked. Did I miss a memo?! I considered parking on one of these roads, or maybe at the middle school. But, as I thought about it, I noticed a man on a resurfacing machine pass in front of me. I parked in the middle of the road and ran toward him as he rolled away. I raced ahead of him and waved around like a fool. 😉

He stopped to listen while I “yell-asked” him how I was supposed to get home. He spent a minute backing up to park and then got out to talk with me where it was quieter. I explained the situation, and he kindly said he could move a couple of cones as long as I stuck to the opposite side of the street. I thanked him and soon pulled into my driveway.

Later, I was thinking about how funny it was, and then sadly, it struck me how many people go round and round in life and don’t know how to get Home. We foolishly think we know best but often find ourselves lost and alone. But the Lord is good, leading us and directing our steps.

Every day, sometimes every hour, we must stop what we are doing and turn to Jesus. He is both the Way and the Door. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Connect with Him and hold fast to Him, for He loves you dearly!

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God, thanks for leading us on the path Home. May we have eyes to see what you are doing and a heart to understand. Help us walk in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you navigating the summer road construction where you live?!

Task: Whatever path you are on today, stop and check in with Jesus. Make sure He is leading, and you are following!

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

Finding Grace #540

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 full of activity but also full of God’s grace! We had a variety of activities each night. Some were planned, and some were spontaneous.

Work was wildly busy, which is about what I expected. I had a full schedule of planned patients, but I also needed to work on some projects and return some phone calls. It felt good to connect well with the Veterans and know God was helping me every step of the way.

On Monday, Lydia went to the county fair with friends. That night, I also had my monthly book club meeting. We had a great time discussing our book and sharing more about our lives! I have already started our next book!

On Tuesday, after work, Lydia had her third driving lesson. I prayed quite a bit because it was on the highway during a busy time. God came through for us, like He always does!

Wednesday night, I dropped off Lydia to watch a friend’s softball game. Then, I ran some errands. She got a ride home, which is good because I was deep into organizing around the house!

I mowed the lawn on Thursday, since the rest of the week would be hot. Lydia went to a sleepover with her friends, so I had the evening to myself otherwise!

Yesterday and today were a mix of organizing and relaxing. I ran some errands, did Saturday things, and watched a movie with Lydia. A good way to end a busy 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/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Parenting and Proverbs 3:5-6

The last several months have been great with Lydia. It is fun to see her spread her wings with her friends and make decisions apart from me. I have coached her through some challenges and at times bankrolled her, but it is good to see her thriving. And it has made me lean on the Lord even more!

Yesterday, Lydia had her third official driving lesson with her teacher! She has been doing well so far; however, I was a little nervous. You see, I had heard the teacher was taking Lydia on the highway for this lesson.

I have had Lydia driving on both I-29 and I-94 a handful of times, but not during Fargo’s “rush hour.” Obviously, the traffic is nothing like that in Chicago or Atlanta, but it can still be quite fast and busy. There are some crazy drivers at times!

So, over the last week, I had been praying that God would keep Lydia safe. After all, He loves Lydia even more than I do. And, when I saw it might rain, I asked my coworker, Natalie, to pray as well!

On Sunday, I took Lydia out for a quick highway lesson. We practiced merging onto the highway and exiting. I reminded her to be aware of her surroundings and to get up to speed as soon as she could. Then, yesterday, before I left for work, I coached Lydia to speak up if she was in over her head. She is typically pretty calm, but I wanted to remind her she had a voice.

I also reminded Lydia to have a snack before she walked to the school to meet the driving teacher. She admitted she was a little nervous, but I kept my own thoughts to myself! Now, I still deal with fear from time to time, but I am aware and working on giving it to God. I don’t want my fear or concerns to negatively influence Lydia.

All day, while Lydia waited to drive, I prayed during my work breaks. I had read Proverbs 3:5-6 that morning, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

I tried not to worry or overthink it, while praying that the teacher would have wisdom and that Lydia would have confidence. The weather forecast predicted rain, but I asked God to hold it off.

And you know what? He did! Lydia did a great job, and traffic was backed up due to road construction, which helped people drive more slowly in those sections. Even the teacher was surprised that they spent more time sitting in traffic, even though it normally flows quickly. However, he told Lydia she did well and passed the lesson.

Lydia texted me on her walk home, and I heard thunder just as she made it into our yard. Less than a minute after she walked inside the door, the rain let loose. It poured on and off for the rest of the night, and I praised God for answering my prayers!

When we trust God with all our hearts, we acknowledge He is in control as we submit our plans, thoughts, and feelings to Him. We remember His love for us and rest in Him, as we let God work on our behalf and do for us what we cannot. Thanks, Lord Jesus!

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God, thanks so much for protecting Lydia yesterday. Our Victory is in You! Thanks for covering us with Your mercy and grace. You are so good and faithful, Lord. Help us trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you trusting God this week?

Task: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

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

Finding Grace #539

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 just what I needed. It was both peaceful and productive!

Work went well on Monday and Tuesday. Not much new to report there. I took off Wednesday and Thursday, just because. Originally, I thought Lydia and I might take a trip, but then we ended up staying home instead. It was awesome sleeping in and not waking up to my alarm!

It was wonderful to have a low-key time at home with no major plans! I really should do that more often. We decided to reorganize the house a bit, since it has been a while and things were feeling cluttered. We donated, put away, and repurposed various items. We worked in every room in the house, though we still have a few more spots to go through, such as the pantry. It feels so good to have more clarity and space!

On Thursday, I had two routine health appointments. Then, on Friday, I got a massage. It was wonderful, and I did not realize how tight some small muscles in my back were. 

This week, we also had fun watching movies and cooking. We watched ELLE on Amazon Prime and really enjoyed it! I made a slow cooker pot roast with a delicious gravy. I’ll definitely have to do that again! I might even make a fruit pizza for tonight.

We are planning to hang out with friends to celebrate Independence Day. I don’t know if the weather will cooperate, but we will have fun anyway! Happy 250th, America!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Procrastination

The Ripple Effect

On Monday, I came home from work to find about three cabinets’ worth of stuff on the kitchen counters. I was a little surprised, but Lydia was so excited. She proudly showed off her ideas for rearranging the spices, coffee, pasta, and baking items that are in those cabinets. She even had made some tentative labels with sticky notes. 🙂

My first thought was, “Oh, great… here we go. All wanted was to eat supper!” I made a few executive decisions. “Let’s leave the coffee alone because I want it near the sink and coffee maker.” But I also listened to Lydia explain she wanted to move the vanilla and maple syrup closer to the baking soda and baking powder. I agreed, and we worked on a few other decisions.

Then I suggested we take a break to eat, which let me gather my thoughts before I got too hangry. Once my stomach was happy, I realized I had indeed told Lydia she could help me with this project. I didn’t want to do it at all due to timing decision paralysis. I kept putting it off, procrastinating. So I was grateful for the help.

We ended up tossing some old spices and regrouping others. It turned out to be really helpful, and it opened up some space for some random items sitting on the kitchen counters. We made plans to tackle that this week when I have some time off work.

This was a good example of ‘the ripple effect,’ or how one decision impacts other events or choices.  One kind word or one generous act can make all the difference. I heard something about this recently, which reminded me of how God can turn all things into something good – for His glory and on our behalf (see Romans 8:28). It doesn’t mean all things are good, but that God is working them out. The ripple effect seems to be God’s specialty!

In my case, it was thankfully not too complicated. Lydia cheerfully challenged the status quo, and that prompted us to make some changes. It will feel good to update our storage and for everything to have a place again!

Then, yesterday, I had an unexpected phone call from a patient. She thought she missed her appointment, but it’s not until next month. Still, we were able to talk for a while, and it turned out to be a good thing. She has cancer and some personal challenges because of it. I answered her questions and put her mind at ease. But, more importantly, I was able to help her see the bigger picture: that all hope is not lost.

From our conversation, I could glimpse the ripple effect. By God’s grace, during our phone call, I was able to support and encourage her. I pray she will make healthier choices. Perhaps her new plan and sense of peace will translate to a better outcome for her, too. I can’t wait to talk with her in a few weeks!

Some people would say that all things are connected. I choose to give God credit, but even if someone else doesn’t, He still oversees everything and reigns over it all. His decisions carry the most weight, but we get to take a part in what happens. On a personal level, our choices today set us up for the future, and they can also influence others people. It can feel like a lot of responsibility, but I am grateful for Jesus’ help! In His Name, we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds!”

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Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and good. Thanks for Your help and favor. Help me choose well and be a blessing for others. Draw us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your thoughts on the ripple effect in your life? Where do you see God working right now?

Task: Prayerfully consider your day and see how everything is connected. Ask the Lord to help you make choices that positively impact others.

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

Finding Grace #538

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 calm week.

On Sunday after church, Lydia and I drove an hour to Detroit Lakes to spend the afternoon. We walked through a flea market, stopped by a car dealership to dream a little, and then went to a bookstore and food co-op downtown. We were thinking of Dave on Father’s Day and thought going on a little adventure would honor him best!

It was pretty routine as far as work. Lots of patients, some cancellations, and no-shows. I always think it will be a challenge to get everything done, but somehow Jesus always helps me finish all my charting! Thanks, Lord!

On Friday afternoon, I took Lydia to the mall to hang out with friends. I went back to work for a bit, then picked Lydia up. She and one friend wanted to walk around a little longer, and so we did a little shopping. It was fun to hang out with them and listen to them interact. Later, I dropped the friend off at her house, and Lydia and I watched a movie.

I loved the weather this week! The temperatures were mild, not too hot nor too cold. It rained on and off, but it was the perfect mix of sun and clouds. This is a really beautiful season!

Today, I worked on little projects around the house. It was nice not to rush. I do my best work when I can take my sweet time, so I relish the opportunity. Lydia helped me in the kitchen, and we enjoyed the time together!

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

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

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Worship

Summer Lovin’

The best thing about Summer is that everything feels so relaxed. At least in my world. Sure, there are plenty of things going on, but it all feels easier. We don’t have to clear snow or drive cautiously due to ice. We don’t have to wear heavy layers, and if I want to let my hair air dry, I can. It stays light until around 10 p.m. at the height of the season, so I feel like I have so much more time. In fact, because of this, I try harder to stick to a bedtime, but either way, it all seems to run more smoothly in the morning.

With nothing urgent or pressing to share today, I thought it would be fun to make a list of some things I am loving right now. Here goes, in no particular order!

Reading! For my book club, I read Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace by Debra Moerke. It came out in 2019, but covers a few decades of her life as a foster parent. It was sad but also quite compelling. I was amazed at all God brought her through! Highly recommend!

Skinny Dipped dark peanut butter cups. FYI, I have several foods on the list. I’m a dietitian, so why not? I got these from Costco. Dark chocolate, less sugar. So tasty! I still enjoy Reese’s, but these are a little healthier. 😉

Games with Lydia. We’ve played classics like Clue, Uno, Leaps and Ledges, and a few others. It is great because we laugh and don’t feel the need to rush.

Lemon almond “parmesan.” Not real cheese, but really good. I have been sprinkling it on everything, and it only takes a few minutes to make! Seriously, check it out!

Campbell’s UNSALTED soups. This is long overdue in my opinion. I am thrilled to recommend these soups. There are three that I know of so far. The tomato soup is delicious on its own or in a casserole. I have the others in my pantry to try soon!

AI meal plans to make my job easier. Ironically, I have yet to give any of these meal plans out, but I am practicing in anticipation of using the concepts very soon. Dietitians teach people how to follow healthy guidelines, but people still want to know “exactly” what to eat. This drives me nuts because I see it as a waste of time. Most people have some sort of routine, healthy or not, so they end up not liking it when I tell them what to eat or do.

The Healing Garden at work. This has a variety of colors and flowers from Spring to Fall. I love the peaceful walk through it as I go back and forth to work and home. I sometimes take pictures of the pretty blooms and always look forward to seeing what is new.

Driving with Lydia. We have been all over lately to get her experience and stack her hours. She is actually a good, calm driver (another way she’s like Dave, thank God!), and we have enjoyed exploring new parts of town! It has been fun to see her rise to the occasion!

The animals in my yard. The cotton-tailed rabbits are so funny, and we laugh each time we see them chasing each other. We also see them lounging in the yard, like they have no cares in the world. The only thing that makes us laugh just as much is the family of quail or partridges that runs around the neighborhood. Oh, I also enjoy all the songbirds, but I haven’t seen as many of them since I am gone during the day!

Excellent sermons at church. God has been doing a good work in us! You can check out the sermons for yourself here! The Hebrews series was especially good!

Thanks for reading and following along each week! I really appreciate your ongoing support and encouragement. Today, I pray you’ll see God’s goodness all around you!

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Father God, thanks for all You do for me. Thanks for the evidence of Your love in my life. You surround me with abundant grace! Open my eyes so I can see more of You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your top ten favorite things about summer right now?

Task: Make a list of all the things you are thankful for this week! Be sure to praise God!