Tag: relax

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #180

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 really full, but fun week.

My birthday was on Monday. It was rainy but Lydia and I enjoyed the day anyway. I appreciated all the love from family and friends!

On Wednesday, I had my last day at work before moving on to my new job next week. It was a busy day and a little bittersweet. I’m grateful for the stability of that job, but I’m really excited to keep moving forward.

On Thursday, Lydia and I flew to Florida to see my parents! We wanted to make the most of the opportunity before work and school begin again. Our fun has included going to an adventure park and the Museum of Science and History (MOSH). It was cool seeing different exhibits, including the history of Jacksonville (Spanish, French, British, and Civil War influences). It has been fun trying new things and eating yummy food!

I’m extra thankful for the neighbors and friends watching our house while we are gone. Thank you!

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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, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #179

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 exciting yet fairly unpredictable week.

After church on Sunday, my friend, Naa, came to visit. We ended up making zucchini noodles, zucchini fritters, and shortbread cookies. It was a fun day!

On Monday, I went to a local float spa to use up a gift certificate. It was very interesting to float in such a high concentration of saltwater. Apparently, it is good for all kinds of ailments, though I haven’t seen any research on this. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I don’t think I would try it again. I was thankful for the experience though!

On Monday evening, I attended a basic life support class. Several years ago, I was CPR certified but let it expire. Now I need it again before I start my new job. It was even better this time around, and I appreciated the hands-on experience with the dummies. My friend, Sara, volunteered to watch Lydia for me, which was so kind of her!

On Tuesday evening, we had a really cool surprise. An old friend came to visit! John and Dave both started at Caterpillar in Decatur, IL, at the same time. John doesn’t work for Caterpillar anymore but was in Fargo for other engineering work. I was so honored he stopped by, even without Dave, and I got teary-eyed as we caught up since it has been a few years. It was also fun to video-chat with his wife, Jess, and their toddler, Anna! I was so touched that Dave’s legacy lives on. A true highlight of my week!

This week we went to a meeting Wednesday evening and had my ladies’ small group come over Thursday evening. But between those two events, we had a whole lot of other things pop up! 🙂 Lydia had a dentist appointment, we went shopping for shoes and groceries, and ate pizza for lunch. Then, we ran home because a friend said he could mow for me. I was grateful because I had too much going on. Then, I headed out again to a picnic to briefly say hello to someone else. Lydia ate a hot dog at the picnic before we picked up another friend and ran home for small group. Whew!

Yesterday morning, I got a pre-birthday massage. All this week, I asked God to direct my steps. I felt overwhelmed at times, trying to keep up with meetings and appointments. The rest of the month is go-go-go, so I wanted to take advantage of the moment and relax.

Yesterday afternoon, when another meeting was canceled, I was grateful. On a whim, I took Lydia to see “The Lion King” matinee. It was a spontaneous adventure and my friend, Naa, was able to join us last minute. It was a great way to celebrate such an interesting week!

Today, I am trying to get ahead for the rest of the month. I am doing laundry, getting work and school stuff ready, and packing for another quick trip. Lydia is excited to go to a sleepover tonight, and I am grateful for friends who are gracious to help with her!

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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, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

No Problem!

For a planner like me, interruptions to my schedule used to throw me off. If I had several tasks on my to-do list, but then someone needed something, it would stress me out. It’s not that I didn’t want to help or hang out, but my perfectionistic personality was easily overwhelmed as I (most likely) tried to figure everything out on my own.

If I spent time with people, I sacrificed getting anything else done. But if I focused on tasks, I felt like I was neglecting friendships. It was frustrating and I rarely felt like I was doing a good job at anything. I was stumped. 😉

Of course, people take priority. And, life is full of interruptions and distractions (some good and some not so good). Thankfully, God took my gnarled mess and helped me adjust.

To start, parenthood, cancer, and grief, all provided dramatic circumstances for God to transform me. With His refining, the hidden blessing is I now have balance.

When people request my time, I see it as God’s gentle reminder to take a break and have fun… or serve others with my whole heart. When I do have more time to myself, I feel free to work on projects and tasks without guilt. I have learned both work and rest are good.

Now, I can usually just roll with it, knowing God will help me accomplish everything I’m supposed to do. After all, He knows exactly where and how I need to spend my life.

Lately, I have been thinking about how God orchestrates our lives in perfect timing. Similarly, our struggles can be perfect opportunities for God to show up. From ancient times, we see He has a certain dramatic flair and enjoys displaying His power and might!

Creation started with His words, “Let there be light,” as if He was setting the stage. Then, He created a vast universe, which we still have not fully discovered. Wow!

In the Bible, we see lots of other dramatic interventions where God steps in to save the day. He rolled back the Red Sea to save the Israelites out of Egypt. He helped David defeat Goliath with five smooth stones. He protected Daniel in the lions’ den. He walked with the three men in a fiery furnace; they came out unsinged and didn’t even smell like smoke!

God even forewarned King Nebuchadnezzar and then made a fool of him by making him act like a mad cow, eating grass on his hands and knees for seven years until he repented of his prideful ways. Can you imagine?!

Jesus was born of a virgin, made wine from water, calmed a storm, walked on water, and paid His taxes with a coin from the mouth of a fish. He healed many people, raised the dead, and performed other miracles. He also died on the Cross to pay for our sins (with a dramatic earthquake and tearing of the holy veil from top to bottom). Boom.

Then, God’s power raised Jesus from the dead precisely when He said it would happen (cue another earthquake rolling away the tomb!). Later, the Holy Spirit enabled uneducated outcasts to perform miracles and turn the world upside down as they spread the gospel message. Whoa!

I guess you could say God loves a good story!

Seriously, God can do far more than we can ask or imagine! And, if you let Him fight for you, it’s likely He will come through for you in creative ways you would have never guessed possible. Just wait on Him!

Whatever challenges you are facing, bring them to Jesus. Sickness, debt, sadness, anger, frustration, fear, confusion, disappointment, bitterness, resentment… big or small it all matters to God. He knows how to handle it.

Example: Recently, one friend had her (rather large) bill from surgery forgiven, while another friend received back pay from an old job she had forgotten about, and still another friend got a new job with more pay. It was cool to see how God creatively provided for each of them according to their unique needs!

Nothing is too big or impossible for Him! It’s no problem!

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Ah, Lord God! Nothing is too difficult for You! Your plans for us are good! Help us trust You as we wait for You act. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What challenges are you facing right now? How can you trust God more? Are you willing to let Him move on your behalf?

Task: Make a list of all your previous challenges and then mark down how God was faithful. Watch for His creativity and look for hidden blessings.

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

When in Duluth

This past weekend, Lydia and I went to Duluth, MN, with a friend. We had been planning the trip for a few months, but as it grew closer, we started to second-guess ourselves. We didn’t know if it would be worth the time, energy, and money to go.

But, in the end, we decided we’d be sad if we skipped it. After all, seeing the North Shore had been on my bucket list for years! We had a great time!

We left Fargo on Friday morning and arrived late afternoon in Duluth. I’d been through there a few times but never stopped long enough to explore. After we checked into our hotel, we made our way downtown to Canal Park.

I really wanted to see the Aerial Lift Bridge up close. We drove over the bridge to park my car and then walked back over to dinner. We watched the bridge go up and let some smaller boats pass through. It was so cool! We didn’t wait for the larger ships because they were delayed due to some light rain.

The next morning, we explored the North Shore! We hiked through Gooseberry Falls State Park and saw the beautiful waterfalls. Lydia was hot and tired of hiking, but she perked up when I let her dip her bare feet in the water!

Then, we drove to see the Split Rock Lighthouse. That was my favorite part of the day. I loved the history and stories of the people who lived there. And, I loved seeing the vastness of Lake Superior. Unsalted and shark-free! 😉

We spent a good portion of Saturday hiking, so it only seemed natural to eat dinner at Betty’s Pies. 😉 After our dinner, Lydia and I split a delicious blackberry peach pie with crumble topping…ala mode, of course!

Then, we enjoyed swimming and the hot tub at the hotel.

On Sunday, we slept in and then went back to the waterfront. We enjoyed coffee, went shopping, and even watched a glass blowing demonstration! Later, we walked along the shore and watched the fog roll in just before it started to drizzle rain.

I loved watching the fog roll in. It was cool listening to the foghorn too. I can definitely understand why so many ships have wrecked in Lake Superior!

On Monday, we headed ~5 hours back to Fargo. I loved driving through the Chippewa National Forest. I’m so glad we decided to go to Duluth after all!

I’m always grateful when I take the opportunity to rest and let God surprise me with His goodness. It’s always a sweet adventure of soaking up His love and grace. Thank You, Jesus!

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God, thanks for keeping us safe on our trip. Thanks for the great weather, even the rain, and for helping us to enjoy the downtime. Thanks for walking with us on this Great Adventure. Help us trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you have a vacation—or even a staycation—planned in the near future?

Task: Let the Lord determine your steps and plans—rest in His grace and provision. He has great things in store for us!

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

Finding Grace #177

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 awesome surprises! On Sunday, we sat outside with neighbors to watch the ‘Fargo Airsho,’ featuring the US Air Force Thunderbirds. It was fun to see the jets doing tricks and circling around. We didn’t attend the show, but enjoyed it from a distance… and the comfort of our own homes!

Then, our neighbors gave us tickets to see ‘Freaky Friday’ at our local outdoor theater (pic). We went with a friend and had a great time. The show was so well done! Funny, great singing and acting, and great stage setup. The weather was also perfect.

On Monday, Lydia and I had an awesome day together. We ran many errands and accomplished everything on our to-do list (for once!). We bought school supplies, groceries, and went out for lunch. Then we bought some household goods, donated some gently used items, and got haircuts. It was great to spend time with Lydia and see what she likes and thinks about.

Lydia had an orthodontist appointment this week. It went well and she received a new (fourth) bracket. She received praise for how well things are going and enjoyed picking out new rubber bands. I never had braces, so this a new experience for me too. I’m so proud of how Lydia is handling the accompanying mouth pain. Thankfully, it is not too severe.

This weekend we are traveling! We drove to Duluth, MN, yesterday for a long weekend. We convinced a friend of ours to come with us for a fun road trip! We don’t necessarily have an agenda, more like a few key things we’d like to see. Here’s to a relaxing weekend with great weather as we explore the North Shore! It’s been on my bucket list for years!

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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

Finding Grace #174

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 a lot of fun. It was pretty normal as far as work and daycare go.

On Thursday, we celebrated the 4th of July. Lydia woke me up by marching down the hall with an American flag… on parade. She also made herself a red, white, and blue breakfast of toast, raspberries, blueberries, and a piece of Swiss cheese.

To celebrate Independence Day, a family from church came to set off fireworks. We had fun watching them all around the neighborhood. We also had a little campfire and s’mores! The weather was perfect and it was a fun, relaxing time!

On Friday, Lydia and I ran errands and did housework. I caught up with a dear friend on the phone, too. Then, we hung out with the neighbors and had another campfire! Needless to say, we’ve slept in the last couple of days!

Today, Lydia and I went fishing with some other friends (pic). We went south of Fargo and enjoyed fishing on the Red River. Lydia and I caught a few small(ish) catfish but opted to let our friends have them since they were kind to invite us. We were grateful just to have the experience, and hope we can go again sometime 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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Worship

Sweet Celebrations

Here we are in July! This summer, I feel more relaxed yet more proactive than I have in the past. I am content to go with the flow, but I am also making plans and stretching myself more than normal. It feels good.

This feels like a season of celebrating for me. Each year that goes by, grief seems less strong. I don’t define my life by losses or challenges, but I am now grateful for them.

Right now, I am celebrating that Lydia is able to do more on her own. She can read to herself and is growing in independence. It’s a challenge at times to see her make mistakes, but she is growing and learning through it all. I’m so proud of her!

This summer, reading with Lydia is a joy. It has been so fun to see her interest in the stories. She can identify with the characters and is shocked when they go through their own trials. It is interesting how she is learning life lessons through fictional friends.

I’m really grateful for where we are right now. I know life constantly is changing, but God has us in a good spot. We are reaching out to those around us and have a lot going on, but we aren’t chaotically busy.

With the slightly slower pace, Lydia and I are enjoying good food, friends, being outside and being together. I’m loving fresh fruits and vegetables! She’s enjoying ice cream treats…

This summer, I’m learning a new level of trusting God. I always feel like I have a lot of personal responsibility as a single parent, and it is sometimes overwhelming. I’m being more intentional with my time, and there is freedom in not having to figure it all out.

I’m also celebrating sweet answers to prayer. Lately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see God come through for me in ways that I could have never predicted. Praise the Lord!

God always is working in our lives, but when we cooperate with Him, it goes much better! 😉 We do our part, and He does His. He is faithful.

This week, as we celebrate our freedom(s), take time to celebrate what God is doing around you. Praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness. Rest in His love, grace, and peace. He is so good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the freedom and protection we have in Christ Jesus. Thanks for all you are doing in our lives right now. Help us trust You for greater things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any 4th of July plans? How are you celebrating God’s grace in your life?

Tasks: ‘Let go and let God’ take care of all that concerns you. Imagine how freeing it will be when you see Him move on your behalf. Trust Him!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #173

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 went really well. On Monday, I had the painter from last week come back to paint an accent wall downstairs. I really like how it turned out!

All throughout the week, I had great conversations with good friends. It is fun to see how many people God has put in my life from all walks of life. I’m so thankful for the encouragement, support, and wisdom they share!

On Thursday, my friends and I discussed our Bible reading plan on contentment. We had a good time catching up. Someone mentioned that contentment is when we turn our “what ifs” into “even if.” We give our worries to God and trust Him even if things turn out differently than we wanted. Wise words! We also had fun making indoor s’mores!

On Friday, I worked on a project while Lydia read some books and played outside with friends! Then a friend came over for pizza and catching up on a Netflix series we enjoy!

Today, Lydia and I went to Detroit Lakes, MN, with another family. It is about 45-60 minutes away, perfect for a fun day trip. We played mini golf and had a picnic. Then, we heard reports of severe weather at home. So, we came home early. The weather improved on the way back, so we hung out longer. Tonight, Lydia’s having an impromptu sleepover with the little girl (at our house). I’m thankful for God’s protection and summer adventures!

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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

Finding Grace #171

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 we kept busy. We went to the local reading bus and also the school library. Lydia picked out 6 books and is done with five of them!

Lydia also attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) this week. The theme was “Life is Wild. God is good.” They talked about how God is still good when life gets crazy, changes, or gets difficult. Such an important message! She also enjoyed the music and crafts. I ran into two mom friends and had fun catching up briefly with them.

During VBS, I worked and had a couple of appointments. One of the appointments was a six-month follow-up for my eyes. After Lasik eye surgery in December, my eyes are doing well! I’m grateful!

We had beautiful weather this week. In my opinion, it was just about perfect! We spent time outside doing yard work, enjoying the pool, reading, and visiting with neighbors.

On Thursday, I had several ladies over for Bible study and fellowship. We really enjoyed great food and even better discussion! It’s an honor to host these dear friends.

Today, Lydia and I were blessed to see a new bird on our deck. It was a first for both of us! I researched the bird, and finally posted online for help. Turns out, it was a yellow-headed blackbird! I love seeing how creative God is!

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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

Finding Grace #170

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 really exciting! It was refreshing to see God at work around me!

On Sunday, Lydia and I went to a high school graduation party for a friend. We didn’t know tons of people, so we sat down at a table with our food and introduced ourselves. Turns out, the lady across from us was a Christian. She attended our church for many years and we know many of the same people. We had a great time talking about what God is doing in our lives. It’s a small world!

On Monday Lydia and I ran errands and worked on home projects. We attended the Little Red Reading Bus, and Lydia got two new books for the week. Then, we went to Menard’s and Lowe’s for supplies. I installed two new toilet seats and eleven bags of mulch! We also bought a little pool for Lydia. We put it on our deck, which is up high and has a gate. It has been a hot week, so it is a fun way to cool down!

On Thursday, some friends offered to watch Lydia while I worked on a project. Their daughter and Lydia are good friends. They had so much fun Lydia ended up spending the night. I ended up cleaning the office and taking an early morning bike ride (pic)!

Today, two friends came over to help me move my old treadmill to the curb for garbage pickup on Monday (before the new one is delivered). It was easier than I expected, so I’m glad I asked them to come! They also changed a hard-to-reach lightbulb for me. Then, as we were talking, they noticed a couple of areas on the walls that needed paint touch-ups. One is a painter and had supplies in his car! I found the original cans of paint in my storage area, which was still good after almost nine years (with some stirring). We went all over the house spackling and fixing little spots. This was such a joy and relief! I had been prayerfully considering all these small areas that needed work. Now, I don’t have to worry about the blemishes anymore, and it feels like my house got a facelift!

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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)!