Tag: relax

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

Finding Grace #304

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

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

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

This was another interesting but good week. We stayed home on Monday due to Lydia not feeling well and the blizzardy weather. It turned out to be a good thing since her daycare opened late and closed early anyway.

I discovered my car battery was close to dead on Tuesday, but thankfully, I found a charger hidden in plain sight on the workbench. (Thanks, Dave, for always being so prepared!) I bought a new battery and had it installed on my way to work because at 8+ years old, the original one was on borrowed time.
As we arrived home that night, the thought occurred to me… perhaps God kept us home on Monday so I wouldn’t get stuck in a blizzard with a dead battery and sick child. Our doctor was closed, and daycare closed early, so we had just chalked it up to another day of rest. But, of course, God always sees what we cannot.

We made it to work and daycare for three days, and now have a three-day weekend! It might be rough going to work and school for five days next week!

Last night, we had a great time hanging out with some new friends for NYE. It was so nice to be invited! Lydia even lasted past midnight and was in bed by 12:45 a.m. She slept until 11:50 this morning!

Today, we are mostly relaxing and preparing for this new year. We watched a couple of movies, started our new yearlong Bible reading plans, and did a few chores. We also decorated some Christmas cookies since Lydia wasn’t up to it last week. Overall, I love January since it is usually a little slower-paced. It’s below zero today, so it’s been good to stay in! Happy New Year!!

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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, Parenting, Worship

Finding Grace #303

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 good week, though a bit unexpected at times! We had a fun time Zooming with family and work went well, too.

The unusual part was that Lydia started feeling sick! On Tuesday, she displayed typical allergy symptoms. By Wednesday morning, she was on her way to school after a negative COVID test. Then, a few hours later, I receive a call at work to pick her up. She had a fever.

She woke up with a fever on Thursday, too, so it was good we had already decided to stay home. Thankfully, I have plenty of sick leave available. Also, I am glad to have a good team at work to cover my duties, though I was bummed to miss the white elephant holiday gift exchange. I let someone else use my gift, so it will be fun to hear how it went when I return next week!

Because of the holiday weekend, I took Lydia for another COVID test, just to be sure. We both tested negative again. (I’m grateful we received the vaccine.) Anyway, it probably is some other virus, so a good reason to just lay low and rest!

Yesterday, because Lydia still wasn’t 100%, we stayed home and watched the Christmas Eve service online. We canceled plans with friends, but they were so kind to bring us a gift and some yummy food anyway! Thank you!

This morning, before Lydia woke up, I made a fresh pot of coffee and spent some quiet time with the Lord. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, especially as light snow started falling. We should be getting snow over the course of a few days, so I may get to use my new snowblower!

Today, Lydia felt pretty good. She’s still coughing and is mostly resting, but we watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” opened presents, watched some movies, played some games, and just relaxed. It was good to celebrate Jesus, I hope you have had a Merry Christmas!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Ageless

This past week, Lydia and I took a long weekend to fly to Chicago and visit family. My dad turned seventy, and it was so fun to surprise him!

Dad thought he was flying to see my sister and her family, but Lydia and I wanted to come, too! I had coordinated our tickets with Mom, but the rental car was in my name. Then, Lydia and I had an unexpectedly long delay at the Fargo airport, so Mom and Dad had to wait around. He was a little annoyed, but when Lydia ran up to him, he was completely shocked! He realized the joke was on him!

Lydia really enjoyed being the big cousin, and I rented my first car on a trip! God graciously helped me navigate Chicago traffic, too! We saw a few beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. And all in all, time with family was just what I needed.

In the days and weeks leading up to our trip, my siblings, mom, and a few others came up with “70 Things We Love About Tom.” Basically, we thought of all our favorite things about my dad, though we have done this for others in my family, too. My mom, my aunt, my sister, etc. It is good to honor each other and make them smile, too!

My parents are alive and well, and I am so grateful. But, life is short, and we’ve already lost several loved ones over the years. Now is the time to show our love!

As I think about our trip and celebrating family birthdays in general, the word ‘ageless’ keeps coming to mind. Not in terms of the absence of wrinkles… those are lines well earned! But, rather for those of us who love Jesus, we will keep building upon those wonderful moments for eternity.

Yes, in Heaven, we will be made new, but I have a feeling that those godly qualities or what makes us special will just be made better! All our negative qualities will be swallowed up along with death; only the good things will survive.

My late husband, Dave, has already experienced all for that first hand. He was already pretty amazing, to begin with, so Dave being even more “Dave” blows my mind!

As Christmas is just around the corner, now is a good time to reflect on how Jesus makes all things possible. One day, all we know will be renewed. The old will pass away, and we will become how God sees us already, all He made us to be.

On December 25th, we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, that is, His coming to Earth. But, He always has been and always will be.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient of Days.

Yes, Jesus truly is ageless… but His birth (and death) are also timeless. One sacrifice with an impact that will be felt for all eternity.

I love how Jesus welcomes us in like family and holds everything together. He is unmatched and loves you more than life itself. Life is short, so don’t miss the opportunity He brings. Invite Jesus into your life, and prepare Him room this season!

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God, thanks for the blessing of birthdays and family. Thanks for Your love and for all You do for us. May we remember to look for the best in others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you made a personal decision to follow Jesus? Can you imagine what the celebration of Christmas must be like in Heaven?

Tasks: Spend as much time as possible with family! Also, check out my Grace and Lemonade page on Facebook for a special giveaway, in honor of Dave’s birthday!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #300

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!

Red, Berries, Chokeberry, Fruit, Ripe, Berry, Food

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

This was an exciting week! We brought up our Christmas tree on Sunday, but we haven’t decorated it yet. I’m not sure when we will decorate it, but for now, we are just enjoying the lights!

Work went well, though I came in early one day and left early another day. That’s because Lydia had an orthodontist appointment on Tuesday morning and got her second COVID vaccine on Thursday afternoon! All went well, and I am grateful!

On Tuesday, I sent off two copies of my book to the US Copyright Office (aka The Library of Congress!! Lydia and I celebrated with sushi, and it feels great to finally be done! I got the certificate in the mail today, so it’s official. 🙂

Yesterday, I met a friend for coffee after work. We live in the same neighborhood (different streets) and don’t see each other often. It was so fun to catch up, and I am glad we each made the effort.

Lydia and I ran a few errands after my coffee date. We went shopping and used up a couple of Lydia’s birthday gift cards. She put money toward new shoes, a Rubik’s cube, and a pop-it toy. I bought a couple of games, a magnet for the fridge, and some greenery for the house.

Today, I was on-call for a few hours for work. I had asked a family if Lydia could go to their house, but thankfully, I did not get called in for any consults. Instead, I did a little organizing and reading. Later, Lydia and I ran a few more quick errands and talked with my parents and sister on the phone!

Today, I sent books to New Mexico and Wisconsin. That makes 19 states where I have sent books personally! (This is in addition to books people have ordered from online retailers.) I also noticed my ebook is ready! It’s fun seeing it all up and running. Thanks for your support!

I hope you enjoyed my three-hundredth “Finding Grace” blog post! Where have you found God’s grace this week? Leave a comment below!

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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, Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #299

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 relaxing week! On Sunday night, we celebrated Lydia over family Zoom. She was surprised with a new scooter! Everyone pitched in, and she has been riding it in the garage now that it is chilly outside!

Monday through Wednesday was spent working, but I got a lot done in a short amount of time. The holiday mood makes the workday go by faster!

On Thursday, Lydia and I enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving. We enjoyed seeing the new movie Encanto! Then, we visited with some friends and made some yummy food.

Then, I was able to take Friday off. Woohoo, a four-day weekend! It’s been good to relax and catch up around the house without rushing. I always have a long to-do list, but many of the tasks are quite simple. I have been able to cross those off my list, so I am glad about that! I also worked on signing some books before sending them out!

Today, we worked on a few things around the house before our afternoon and evening plans. We caught up with a friend at a coffee shop earlier, and tonight, we are going to have dinner with other friends! These friends were a great help to me when Lydia was little, and they are in my book. So, I am happy they will be receiving a copy of it 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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, my family had some fun traditions. I always enjoyed taking a few moments to say what we are thankful for. We often went to the movies, and we almost always had an extra guest or two around the table.

We haven’t had a big family Thanksgiving for a few years because now we live in four different states in three time zones! So, generally, Thanksgiving and other holidays do look a little different for Lydia and me.

If you flip back to some of my 2015 and 2016 blog posts around the holidays, you would see more emotion and grief. I’m grateful to be a little further out from all that now. God has brought us through so much!

Sometimes we get invited to spend the holidays with other families, but this year, they all have different plans. We have invited friends over to our house in the past, but this year, we are on our own. And that’s okay! Traditions are good, but so is flexibility.

Lydia and I are planning to cook our favorite foods and maybe go to the movies. Or, maybe we will play games and stay in our pajamas instead. Either way, I know God’s grace surrounds us, and I am grateful for all He is and all He has done.

I’m also thankful for the gigantic Costco pumpkin pie a friend left on my doorstep! 😉

Cake, Pastry, Sweet, Sugar, Unhealthy, Food, Fat, Diet

This season, I am excited to have my book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward, out in the world. This is the first holiday in about seven years that I don’t have to think about writing or editing in my free time! Woohoo!!

I am already amazed to see how God is using it, too. I’ve heard stories of people wanting nothing to do with God now open to reading my book. His love never fails!

I love that people are buying extras to give as gifts. I’m grateful people trust me to speak into the lives of those they love… even before they have read the book! 🙂

I understand the holidays can be sad for many people, as it is a time to miss loved ones. I have dealt with those same complex emotions. If that’s you, know God is holding you close.

Recently, I met with a few lonely Veterans. They were each coming for help nutritionally but had other issues on their minds. I was able to listen to their stories, acknowledging their grief and other dilemmas, and in the end, I encouraged them to try something new.

One lady decided she might volunteer at a nursing home this year, choosing to be the friend she wishes she had. Perhaps you can be brave and step out of your comfort zone, too. Put yourself out there. God loves you so much, and the best is yet to come!

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God, You are so good and have good things in store for us. Help us be brave and embrace the difficult moments, knowing it can launch us to greater things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any special holiday plans? What are you thankful for?

Tasks: Be open-minded regarding your holiday plans. Look for all the ways God is at work around you. Perhaps, looking back, you will see this as a turning point in your life.

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

Finding Grace #294

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!

Pumpkin, Leaf, Autumn, Gourd, Vegetable

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

This week went fast! I didn’t feel well on Monday, so I stayed home from work. I was on the fence because my symptoms weren’t contagious (no COVID symptoms) but rather just a variety of other things. However, my gut kept telling me to stay home, and I am glad I chose to listen! I was proud of myself for choosing to rest because like many people, I usually just push myself to go-go-go. In the end, I felt like taking one day off was going to help set me up well for the rest of the week. I’m calling it a win!!

Lydia and I met with her teacher for this semester’s school conference. I am grateful Lydia is doing so well. She always loves visiting the coinciding book fair, too. We bought a book for her classroom, and one of her classmates is already enjoying it!

Yesterday, I quickly did my errands after work and picked up Lydia early from daycare. We ran to a couple of stores and bought a few decorations for her room and some organizing supplies. It was so fun to see what she likes and spend time with her.

Today, we made a few family phone calls and did housework while listening to audiobooks. Lydia and I both spent time cleaning and organizing our bedrooms! It feels good to have a relaxing, productive Saturday at home! This organization will pay off in the coming months when things are easier to find.

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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

Finding Grace #293

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!

Sparrow, Bird, Animal, Green-Backed Sparrow, Small Bird

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

This was a solid week, full of God’s grace! I had Monday off from work (Columbus Day), and I spent it catching up around the house. Then, I had some friends from church over in the evening. It was a much-needed fun and relaxing day!

Tuesday was quite busy at work and at home. I changed my work hours slightly to accommodate a later patient. Thankfully, I was able to squeeze in a quick appointment beforehand. But, the rest of the day kept me on my toes.

After I picked up Lydia, we ran to the grocery store. Thus, we arrived home about an hour and a half later than normal. That’s when I realized I wore blue jeans instead of my usual dress pants to work! Thankfully, no one else noticed either, including my boss! (I told her and some of my coworkers the next day; we all laughed and agreed it was probably due to stress!) Whew!

My mom’s birthday was yesterday. It was a special birthday (number-wise), and I enjoyed chatting with her after work. It was great to have her all to myself! I am grateful I get off early on Fridays. 🙂

Today, I spent some time exercising in the morning and later went shopping for some new fall and winter decor! It’s fun to get new things from time to time. Lydia was invited to a friend’s house for a playdate, so it was nice to have a few hours to myself on such a beautiful, sunny autumnal day!

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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, Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #292

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!

Tree, Deciduous Tree, Sunbeams, Sunrays, Linden, Autumn

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

This was a great week! Over several evenings, I raked up as much of the dead grass as I could. My neighbor boy and Lydia helped a bit, too!

It was another busy work week. But, it all went well. I picked up some extra patients, but I also had some cancellations. As usual, I always leave it all in God’s hands. That helps me feel good about what I accomplish (and not to take it too hard when I don’t get it all done).

I had some great phone conversations this week, as well as some fun texts with friends and family. I talked with a woman whose boyfriend of many years died a few months ago. I also talked with my parents in Florida, and it was great to hear their voices. I also talked with my sister and her family in Illinois. My little nephew is in a really fun stage of toddlerhood!

Today, I woke up early and well-rested because I actually went to bed early! Imagine that! 🙂 I took advantage of the opportunity to finish the last round of raking before the rain came. While raking near the bike path, I talked with a lady and petted her two dogs, an Australian shepherd named Rudy and a Yorkshire terrier named Walter. So fun!

Then, I walked a few miles on my treadmill and did some chores before spending the rest of the day resting. I did some cooking and caught up on some reading. I am reading a book called, The Other Half of Church. It was a little therapeutic to relax on a rainy day!

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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, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Finding Grace #290

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 red-letter week for me with many God moments. On Monday, I met with a small group of friends. We are coaching other small group leaders at church, and we met for a time of refreshment and encouragement. We enjoyed a meal together, shared stories, and prayed for each other.

I had a short, but full work week, and it went really well. It is mentally taxing at times, but also rewarding, and this week made for a good balance. I took off Wednesday and part of Thursday for a special nutrition event outside of work. But, I was thrilled another coworker joined me!

The three-day event was through the ND Soy Council and was a complimentary showcase of soy foods. We cooked a meal of various soy foods and taste-tested tofu, tempeh, soy milk, soy yogurt, soy nuts, edamame, and other items. I am familiar with many of these, but it was fun to see them used in new ways. We then toured a local soybean farm and also a processing plant. We saw how tofu and soymilk are made! I even won a door prize, which was a generous gift card to a local grocery store! I almost decided against the event because I had to get creative with child care. But, I am grateful my neighbors helped out on Tuesday and church was an option for Wednesday.

As a dietitian, it is important for me to set a good example in what I eat. That does not mean I eat only ‘healthy’ foods, but that I have a healthy relationship with all foods and my body. All foods can fit, but research definitely shows the benefits of a diet rich in plant foods. I’m grateful for God’s leading this week to show me ways to help others and include more plants in my routine. I’m excited to try all the creative ideas!

Today, our original plans got canceled because a friend was sick. But, Lydia and I had plenty to do anyway. We did a few house chores and she prepared for a birthday sleepover. I made some good food, raked the yard, and then settled in for a relaxing night solo. I’m grateful for God’s goodness and rest!

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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)!