Tag: relax

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel, Wisdom

Reflecting on God’s Goodness

Last week, Lydia and I traveled to Illinois for a fun road trip! We saw some family and a few friends. We even met my new baby nephew; he is so sweet and little!

While I don’t always enjoy sitting still for hours of driving, I do love how a road trip brings the opportunity to reflect. In my usual state of busyness, I often forget how important this is. But, when I take time away from my normal routine, I gain perspective on what is really important. I’m grateful for the reminder.

As I drove through Minnesota and Wisconsin, I thought about the current pandemic, mask requirements, and the upcoming school season. The entire situation is a little odd (and sad), but instead of fear or worry, I praised God for keeping us safe and providing so well for us during all the uncertainty. It felt good to see the big picture, and it was interesting to see how other states are dealing with it, too.

I also thought ahead for how I will spend my birthday, which happens to be today!

In Illinois, my family surprised me with a delicious chocolate cake (decorated to represent the healthy ‘plate method’ of a balanced diet). It was so funny, and I brought some of it home with me. I put it in the freezer so I can have it whenever I want!

From week to week, I probably don’t take as much time to rest as I should, so I took today off from work and planned a massage. While Lydia is at daycare, I will run a few errands and probably work on a project (deadline ahead!). I may read or take a short bike ride, too. I appreciate having a little quality time to myself, because that is rare!

Yes, I will enjoy some pampering and continue to reflect on God’s goodness. Then, we will do some other fun activities later in the day!

Today, three things come to mind as I celebrate the life God has given me and look forward to the year ahead. Joy, peace, and gratitude.

I feel joy as I think of how much God has blessed me. I am excited for what is ahead, even though there will be some difficult moments and some tough days. But, I also can enjoy myself, trusting that God will help us and take care of us. He is faithful!

I have peace because I have seen God come through for me in the past, and I see how He is working out all the details for my good and His glory. Even with challenging circumstances, He is with me and for me. He never lets me down!

I am so grateful for all God is doing in my life and don’t want to take any of it for granted. He has given me so many gifts, including Lydia, family and friends.

It is only by His grace we have come so far! Thank You, Jesus!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You bless me and take care of me. Thanks for Your love and grace. Help me to reflect You with joy, peace, and gratitude. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you see God moving in your life? Have you praised Him for His goodness today?

Tasks: Take some time to reflect on all the goodness in your life today. Give God praise!

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

Finding Grace #231

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 wonderful week seeing family in Illinois! We did not get to see everyone, but it was good to see my parents and new nephew, among others. We tried to be smart by wearing masks, as needed, and social distancing as best we could. We didn’t have any specific plans and tried to limit errands as much as possible.

We had perfect weather in Illinois. While the summers are typically hot and humid, the first part of August usually brings a cooler spell. My mom and I were both praying for a reprieve and God made it happen. It was sunny and in the mid-70s most days!

Lydia and I stayed in a hotel in Wisconsin on the way to Illinois and back. It helped us break up the long drive and not feel so rushed. I’m grateful for traveling mercies and no major traffic incidents along the way. There was plenty of cars and trucks, not to mention boats and RVs, but the  roads didn’t seem to be as crazy busy.

As we ease back into our normal routine, I am taking the vacation vibes and extending them! I am catching up with laundry and such, but I am reminding myself to relax and not stress about this upcoming season. I enjoyed mowing the yard this morning, paid some bills, and put together two puzzles with Lydia!

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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, Miscellaneous, Travel, Wisdom

Finding Grace #230

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 full and busy week, but it went fast! Early in the week, I went in for some extra hours at work. I was thankful for the opportunity and was happy to help!

The weather was great this week. It was perfect for an adventure with Lydia! We went on a road trip to see family. We stayed at a hotel along the way, and ended up swimming, watching some good shows, etc. She is a great road trip buddy!

I’m happy to report we finally got to meet my new little nephew! He is so cute, and Lydia was very excited to see him. It was also great to see other family, as well.

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer

Finding Grace #229

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 heavy and emotional week. A friend’s brother back home died unexpectedly, and many hearts were broken. It is a sad and difficult situation, and I hope the community can pull together and support my friend’s family. It will be a long road to healing.

I made some good progress on several projects this week, but I also realized how much more I have to do on all of them! It’s all good, though. I am grateful to have so many ‘outlets’ that bring joy. Lydia telling me she is proud of me is icing on the cake!

Yesterday, I had three enriching conversations with people. I felt excited and fulfilled to talk with people who ‘get’ me. Altogether, I spent nearly five hours on the phone! On two calls, I walked around the house and got well over 10,000 steps!

Today, I worked on my projects more, mowed, and spent quality time with Lydia. The next two weeks are fairly full, so I am trying to get things done ahead of time. I am trying to make plans, while also trying to relax!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #228

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 fun and full! Work went well and I enjoyed seeing more Veterans face to face. Lydia practiced cooking at her daycare, and she even came home and made dinner for me one night! She made ‘lasagna cups’ using wonton wrappers in a muffin tin!

On Wednesday, I finished my final exam for my online cooking class! It was a fun class and I enjoyed brushing up my skills on plant-based dishes. I am sure we will continue making them as time goes on. Even just adding more vegetables every day can go a long way to bringing health!

Yesterday, I felt worn down and claimed a rest day. I did some chores and activities, but mostly relaxed. Lydia and I played some games and I worked on a few small projects. We listened to music, prepared some food, called a friend, and watched a movie. It was just what I needed!

Today, another friend called and we had a great conversation, mostly about listening to God and watching our words in this trying time. I encouraged her that God has us covered and we praised Him together! Then, I did some more chores, and later, mowed my lawn while Lydia played with the neighbors. I went over to say hello after I was done. Tonight, we are taking it easy and making some recipes 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 Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Full of Surprises

A few weeks ago, Lydia’s daycare informed us about a special surprise scheduled for yesterday. We learned she was to bring her swimsuit and towel, so naturally, Lydia packed her bag right away. Yes, she was lugging these items back and forth every day in anticipation!!

Then, yesterday morning we woke up earlier than usual to get ready. Lydia didn’t want to miss any of the fun. She wanted to arrive with enough time to “prepare.” 🙂

As we ate breakfast, I looked outside and noticed it was overcast. I didn’t say anything to Lydia, but I quietly checked the forecast. Thankfully, it was just cloudy, with no rain.

Personally, I was relieved knowing the clouds would hide some of the sun’s heat. It was supposed to be near 100 degrees originally, so I was happy with the mid-80s!

I mentioned to Lydia that her plans would probably be just fine weather-wise. At the same time, I thought about how many times we worry about our plans not working out.

Often, we see clouds and assume all is lost! Woe is us, it might rain!

So what if we occasionally get wet?

Sometimes, clouds are an answer to prayer. God’s protection and provision.

On the way to daycare, I prepped Lydia so she could manage her expectations. She was hoping to go swimming. But, I didn’t want her to be disappointed if they didn’t go to the pool. She decided to embrace the surprise no matter what it was.

I dropped Lydia off thirty-five minutes earlier than normal and about fifteen minutes before her surprise was to start. As such, I was able to enjoy a thirty minute walk along the river before work! I hadn’t planned that, so it was nice surprise!

As I walked, I saw plenty of people walking, running, biking, and roller skiing! I saw a few dogs and  covered ground I hadn’t seen before. After about fifteen minutes, I had to turn around and walk back to my car. I kept wanting to see what was around the next bend! However, I decided to return another day so I could explore more. 

By this time, the sun was peeking out. It was already humid and I worked up a good sweat. I should have brought an extra shirt! Nonetheless, it felt great to get some outside exercise before work. I eventually cooled down once I arrived at my office. 🙂

When I picked her up in the afternoon, Lydia told me about her day. The surprise included various stations with exciting water activities. There were water balloons, a dunk tank, and a foam bubble machine. An ice cream truck even stopped by with treats for all the kids! Lydia had so much fun and was glad she kept an open mind!

You know, God is always full of surprises! He fills our lives with good things. When uncertainty comes, we don’t have to “figure it out” or second-guess His love. Instead, peace and joy come when we let God take care of us. Nothing is impossible!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for filling our lives with goodness. Help us walk in Your love as we live by faith. Help us spread your peace and joy everywhere we go! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Has God surprised you lately? Is there something you can do to surprise or bless someone else?

Tasks: Keep your eyes open for all the ways God showers His love on you today. Live with expectation of His goodness. You might just be surprised!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #224

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 relatively calm week. Lydia and I enjoyed our family Zoom video chat and loved ‘meeting’ my new nephew, Alexander David. He’s so cute! 

During this pandemic, I signed up to take some free online classes on various topics. This week, I finished a couple of them. I learned a lot about photography and a couple of phone apps. I still need to finish my (paid) online cooking class though!

Yesterday, I noticed some great messages left in my little free library. I also mowed the lawn. It wasn’t very long, but I knew I would be crunched for time (or weather) later. Plus, it was a beautiful day! Lydia went to play with our neighbors and jumped on their trampoline. That was a huge help to me!

Today, we have really enjoyed relaxing. Lydia and I slept in, made pancakes, exercised, and made a few calls. I worked on a couple projects and did some laundry. Then, we played some games and watched Netflix. 🙂 I’m grateful for a slower day without a full agenda!

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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 Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

All the Glory

I am so thankful for how God chooses to bless us and help us. Whether our day goes as planned or not, He still reigns. As long as we seek His input and aim to glorify Him, we will be on the right path. It can look different everyday, however!

Yesterday morning, I woke up with a certain set of tasks and goals but needed to switch it up as the day progressed. For instance, I grabbed my rain jacket to deal with some light rain on my way to work. I got moderately wet on my walk inside, but I didn’t mind too much. I knew, later in the afternoon, it would be nearly eighty degrees!

During my work day, I altered my plans based on how the day presented. I got some of my work done and fielded some calls and questions, too. Even though I didn’t complete all my original tasks, I tied up some loose ends and felt good about my work.

Yesterday afternoon was quite warm indeed! It was beautiful and sunny after the rain left. On my way to pick up Lydia and run some errands after work, I saw yards with tons of dandelions and yards without. I saw beautiful crabapple trees and tulips, too! I also heard various songbirds, which is one of my favorite sounds. 

Along the way, I was overwhelmed with gratitude in this current season. I appreciated the weather, but also the freedom we have to do what we need to do and enjoy life (despite various pandemic protocols). Regardless of our circumstances, God is so good!

I kept thinking about how wonderful it is that God is with us and in us and still above it all. Soon, I rolled down the windows and quietly sang the first song that came to mind: Holy, Holy, Holy.

No matter what we are doing, every moment is a great moment to praise God!

After I picked up Lydia, she showed me TWO four-leaf clovers. I don’t think I have ever found any, and she has already found several (including the ones from yesterday)! She was calm yet happy, as she had been looking for a few days. Something so simple made her feel proud of herself. Her diligence paid off!

Even though our days were different, we each were able to honor God in our own ways. I was able to praise God in the moment and on-the-go. Lydia was able to apply patience and focus to find something God created. Everything we do can honor Him!

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God, thanks for helping us each day. Thanks for taking such good care of us. Help us live for You and give You glory in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has your week been going? Have you been able to see God at work around you? How can you give Him glory and praise?

Tasks: Wherever you find yourself this week, take a few moments and reflect on God’s goodness. Praise Him for His faithfulness!

 

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance

See A Victory

“The weapon may be formed, but it won’t prosper
When the darkness falls, it won’t prevail
‘Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
Oh, my God will never fail

I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord”

–From “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship

This coming Friday marks seven years since Dave died. It doesn’t seem like it should already be that long, but here we are. I am so grateful for God’s faithfulness.

Lydia continues to process what Dave’s absence means for her. It is an on going development as she learns and grows. We’ve had many in-depth conversations in the last six months, in particular. Thanks for your continued prayers.

It is still bittersweet at times, but I am amazed when I think about how far God has brought us. We have certainly had our battles, but each time, God has come through for us.

Just think: God has never lost a battle. He always claims Victory!

I don’t know what life would be like if Dave were still here. He could still be sick or totally healed. But truthfully, it does me no good to think about all the ‘what ifs,’ and I don’t have time or mental space for that rabbit trail.

What I do know is this: I have seen major Victories in my life that I probably would not have noticed or achieved any other way. For instance, I started this blog and put myself ‘out there.’ I wrote a book (details soon!!!) and started a business. I have continued learning various skills and am teaching others. In the fall, I started an awesome job serving Veterans. I have grown through parenting Lydia. That’s the short list! 

If things had turned out differently, perhaps I would not have been compelled to cling to the Lord in the way I have. And, I would have continued second-guessing myself and my ability. Not anymore!

Becoming who I am now has taken time, effort, and a lot of intention. But, I am not the same person. I am stronger and more stable. I make quicker and more solid decisions, without fearing the outcomes like I used to. That doesn’t mean I don’t make mistakes, just that I am more confident when I say YES and when I say NO.

Victory, for me, is choosing faith as my default, not fear.  This big Victory has lead to many smaller Victories along the way. They just keep coming!

As a result, I have much more peace internally. I don’t feel the need to prove myself or do things perfectly. I have stopped putting limits on what I can do! I am happy to be just me, knowing with Jesus, that is enough.

I have also made various lifestyle changes in recent years. I still am involved with several activities, but they are choices I make on purpose. I want to, not I ‘have’ to.

I have taken on more challenges and cool projects as my capacity has grown. We don’t think about grief every day, thankfully, so we are able to handle other things. Plus, Lydia has been able to care for many of her own needs. I still supervise and help, of course.

Lydia and I enjoy doing a lot of fun things these days. When she was little, it felt more like survival mode. She need a lot of care and I was grieving. But now, we are thriving.

For Mother’s Day, on Sunday, Lydia gave me a little book that she filled out all on her own. (Thanks to my mom for buying it and sending it to her!) A common theme was that I have taught Lydia to be brave and not give up. Amen!

Ironically, I could never show Lydia bravery or perseverance if I hadn’t had to face my worst fears. And, I couldn’t do that without Jesus. He taught me what it means to be brave, and now I have the honor of passing those lessons on.

These days, we play games, go on adventures, make food and art together, and laugh a whole lot. On Friday, we will do something fun to celebrate Dave’s life and memory. We may eat his favorite foods, play a game, or go on a walk.

I will also give Lydia a special gift in Dave’s honor. He would be so very proud of her.

Loving Jesus, and living a fun, adventurous faith-filled life… a wholehearted Victory!

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Heavenly Father, all praise and honor to YOU!! Thanks for all the Victories in my life (including many more I haven’t mentioned here!). Help me continue to trust You for greater things! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What Victories have you seen in your life this year? What would you do if you had unlimited resources and there was no way you could fail?

Tasks: Listen to “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship. Trust God and make bold moves today. We cannot lose with Jesus on our side! He has never lost a battle! Victory is His!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #218

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 and good! We enjoyed a Zoom video chat with family on Sunday. I also enjoyed talking with my brothers a little more than usual as they helped me with some technology upgrades!

We have had several rainy days, with a couple of sunny days in between. I don’t mind, though. It has made the grass green (so much so that I mowed on Friday!).

Friday was very productive. Besides mowing, I upgraded my internet modem and router. I did all the work myself, but my brothers helped me decide which models to purchase and answered a few questions. Then, I did some laundry, helped Lydia with some homework, and we watched a movie (the original That Darn Cat)!

Today, it was rainy again. So, we snuggled, did some cleaning, cooking, and paperwork. Tonight, we are watching another movie (Spies in Disguise)!

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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)!