Tag: spring

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot

Finding Grace #525

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 had some ups and downs, but I saw God’s faithfulness anyway. 

First, this week had an element of death. A dear friend had a miscarriage the day after she discovered she was pregnant. A beloved aunt (by marriage) lost her sister after a brief illness, similar to my mom’s. Both of these were very sad, and I tried to support both of these ladies with God’s help. He comforts the brokenhearted and is near to them.

I also have some really good news regarding my teeth and MARPE. I had an X-ray to check on my palate, and it is right on track. Even though the gap between my teeth has been minimal, the X-ray shows I’ve already had a six millimeter expansion! This is close to what I need, so we will hold off on further turns of my device for now. Next month, I will have more detailed scans and 3D modeling to see whether there are any benefits to further expansion or if I am fully done. This also depends on my bottom teeth, which are moving more slowly because of our plan. Either way, I’ll still have the device in my mouth for six months to help things stabilize after we finalize the process. I’ve had ideal progress so far, praise God!

On Thursday, Lydia and I woke up to a chilly house. I didn’t think anything of it at first, except when she mentioned it. I happened to take a look at the thermostat, and it was totally blank (dead). I changed the batteries, but that didn’t help. I waited a little while, prayed, and asked my neighbor who to call. I had a man come over in the afternoon; he just adjusted the batteries, and it turned right on! He double-checked the furnace, then started putting his shoes back on. He said I didn’t need to pay anything, but I offered to pay him something for coming all that way. I gave him twenty dollars for the trouble! Win-win!

My blog website was down for about an hour one evening. The server was down on my blog hosting site. This occasionally happens, but it usually gets fixed right away. I spent some time on the phone with tech support, but there was nothing wrong on my end. Thankfully, I wasn’t hacked and didn’t lose any of my data or posts. Lydia and I prayed for God to protect everything, and it all turned out well!

I saw the first robin of Spring this week! I also saw some other song birds and woke up to their singing. The weather has been windy and cold with a few flurries, but also sunny and warmer on a few days… I also am seeing the grass green up a bit. I love this time of 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, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Finding Grace #524

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 good overall. The only negative thing was that my left ear popped on both Tuesday and Thursday as a result of my MARPE journey. The bones in my face are slowly moving around, and I think the pressure changes forced air out of my ear. It was very painful, as if the bones collapsed. Thankfully, this is fairly common, and my ear was not damaged at all. It was just a little shocking since it came out of nowhere… once, I was driving! Later, I recognized the same thing happened to my nose a month ago… The jolt feels like someone punched me, but only lasts a few seconds. On Thursday, the pain radiated down my jaw and lasted for around 36 hours, and I called my orthodontist. I have been praying that God would prevent this from happening again because it is scary. Still, I know I don’t ‘have to’ be afraid.

On Monday afternoon, I got my taxes done and then had a chiropractor appointment. I am so grateful for all the ways God provides for Lydia and me! I am getting a small refund, and I really appreciate how He works things out in my favor. That’s grace.

Lydia and I talked about confidence this week. She was feeling down, and I listened to her concerns and offered encouragement. We all feel that way sometimes, and it is not good to compare ourselves with others. I coached her through some issues and pointed her back to Scripture and Jesus. I pray she is on the right track now. All glory to God who always helps me with my parenting; He is such a good Father.

Today, Lydia celebrated the beginning of Spring with a little shopping. We just had fun going around town and buying some clothes and trinkets. We also got some fancy drinks and some Chik-Fil-A. Tonight, we are relaxing while watching a movie!

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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, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Finding Grace #481

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

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

Free Pansy Purple photo and picture

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

This went so well, and it was all because of Jesus. On Monday, I had a heart-to-heart chat with Him and asked Him for help. He came through like He always does!

All week, I was swamped with work. I had many patients, but I also needed to catch up on charting from last week. I also had to complete my Monday and Tuesday notes before the long holiday. Plus, I had three competencies and quizzes to finish. I kept checking in with God and didn’t let myself get too stressed. I was calm and expectant and tried not to panic as the week went on! I raced to finish before my tour ended on Friday, and I finally clicked the last thing just as my shift was done. It was amazing, and I am so grateful!

Lydia finished seventh grade on Thursday! She also found out she was chosen to be in the chamber orchestra again next year. I am so proud of her hard work. She celebrated with a friend by going to dinner and then watching a baseball game.

I spent the evening mowing. It was a gorgeous day after several days of rain, so it was great to spend the time outside! I was proud of myself for getting it done ahead of the long weekend.

On Friday after work, Lydia went to hang out with another friend, so I went to Barnes and Noble for a coffee and to work on some continuing education. I like going there sometimes to focus. It is quiet, but it also minimizes distractions. I actually sit still and work since I don’t want to leave all my stuff unattended!

Today, we decided to do some cleaning. I enjoy being able to clean without rushing, so I listened to some podcasts and got lost in my dusting and organizing! Lydia did some laundry and cleaned her room. Tonight, we can relax a bit!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #479

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

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

Free Pathway Path photo and picture

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

This was a good week! We usually Zoom on Sundays, and did this week… but on Tuesday, my nephew wanted to video chat, and so my sister called me and we were able to do so for a few minutes. I told him he can call to chat with me anytime!

Lydia had two chamber orchestra concerts this week. One was at a local nursing home, and I used a couple of hours of comp time to attend. Other performances were put on my the jazz band, show choir, and some other smaller ensembles. The next night was at the middle school, and we also watched the senior high play. I enjoyed all the songs!

This week, I noticed tulips and other spring flowers blooming. I also noticed the gorgeous dogwoods and crabapple trees all decked out in their glory! I’m grateful for all the beauty around us.

We were invited to have dinner with another family last night. I brought dessert and they prepared a delicious meal. We had a great time chatting, catching up, laughing, and playing games. It is always good to hang out with them!

Today, I woke up and decided to mow early. It is supposed to be hot this weekend, and I wanted to get ahead of the weather. It was cool and a little cloudy, just perfect. I also had time to do the trim work, put out the deck furniture, and complete a little raking before it sprinkled a few minutes later. The rest of the day was sunny and windy, so I am proud of myself for being on top of it! The rest of today, I’ve been mostly relaxing!

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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, Parenting, Personality

Finding Grace #478

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

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

Free Purple Leaf Plum Flowers photo and picture

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

This was a peaceful and restful week!

Lydia left before dawn on Sunday for her CloseUp trip to Washington, DC. She had a great time and made some good memories. She returned home late Thursday and was in bed just before midnight. Lydia was exhausted but excited!

On Sunday, I came home and got ready for church. After the service, I also went to another church for my neighbor’s confirmation. After that, we enjoyed a little celebration at her house. It was fun, and I was glad to be invited. I spoke with several of their friends and family, and many of them had gone to Washington with the same program as Lydia when they were young. It eased my mind that they were going to keep her in prayer. What a blessing!

While Lydia was gone, I spent the week doing my own thing after work. Work was fairly calm for once, so it was easy to transition into a relaxing evening. I did some chores, nothing too strenuous. I made some good food, read a book, spent time with God, and watched a few shows. I appreciated the time alone since it doesn’t happen often!

I used up my last ‘time off award’ from work on Friday. I planned for the day off, knowing Lydia would be tired and need to rest. I let her stay home from school, and she didn’t wake up until Noon! In the meantime, I went to an appointment, enjoyed some coffee, and finished my Galatians journible, until Lydia was up!

Today, Lydia unpacked and did a little homework. I did a few Saturday things and also mowed for the first time this season. The weather is beautiful today, in the seventies!

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Worship

A Little Bit of This and That

Ah, this week has been pretty chill so far! Work has been busy but good, mostly straightforward and manageable. I’ve had good patients and fun with my coworkers—we had lunch together yesterday while doing some competencies and training.

Lydia is in Washington, D.C. (doing well). It is a good chance for both of us to grow. I’m loving that my evenings are fairly free! As such, I can pursue a little rest and relaxation. 

I thought about taking a little trip of my own, but then some work obligations popped up, and I decided to stay put. I’m glad I did because I am enjoying my time with no real plan, just doing a little bit of this and that! In short, it’s been great!!

Free Human Child photo and picture

As a single mom, I don’t get much time alone or without overt responsibility. On Monday, I made some treats for my coworkers, exercised, worked on some paperwork, and did other random things. Last night, I went on a walk, did some writing (hello!), watched a show, and got lost in some online reading. Tonight, I might do something around town—whatever I feel like!

I am also using this time to connect with God and listen. Time with Him is such a gift. It’s wonderful to wake up early and go at a slower pace, exercising a little, praying, and reading my Bible. It is a bonus that the mornings are getting brighter earlier!

Well, I think I’ll keep this short and sweet. Sometimes, I have a lot to say, but right now, I have some other things calling my name. 🙂 There is a lot of grace in just taking a break. Maybe I’ll meander a bit and see what happens after work. I encourage you to do the same! 

God is always up to something good. We need to spend time with Him to discern how He is leading us. With that, let’s go see what He has in store for us today!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for giving us peace and rest. Thanks for Your abundant grace that covers us. As we walk with You, help us to draw near and listen. Help us grow in wisdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When was the last time you enjoyed a little solitude? Do you get bored and lonely, or do you relish time alone?

Tasks: Set aside some time to spend with God today. It may be a few minutes or several hours. Make it a priority because He longs to meet with you!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #477

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

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

Free Flower Orchid photo and picture

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

This was a good week with lots of evening activities. But, they were all good things.

Two highlights of my week were that a couple of my houseplants are thriving! I have an orchid by the kitchen window that is starting to unfold. And, I have a peace lily that has ten blooms! I think this is a first to have both doing so well at the same time!

On Monday, we went to the chiropractor after work. It is amazing how much better I have felt over the last year. I still have a few random issues, but my hip and back are much more manageable with all the things I have learned.

Wednesday night involved a final meeting for Lydia’s trip this next week. Lydia has been mostly packed for about a week, and we just added a few last-minute things. She is so excited, and we both appreciate your prayers!

Lydia attended her final rifle class on Thursday. She enjoyed trying out different styles of guns. And, she looked really cool handling them!

After work yesterday, I walked upstairs to donate blood. I have not done that for over fifteen years, but it was very convenient being at the VA. I think I will do that again sometime soon!

Today, we wrapped up a few things for Lydia’s trip. We also played a game, and then my dad called Lydia and prayed for her. It is a blessing to have a godly heritage!

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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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom, Worship

Trusting When We Cannot See

This season is full of opportunities to trust God. Often, we have to make a decision when we don’t know the full picture of what He is doing. It seems God asks us to trust Him at a new level every so often (if not daily). Yet, we don’t have to lay aside our questions or logic. Trusting God does not mean ‘blind faith.’ We may not fully see what He is doing, but we can see that He has a good track record!

We can trust everything He does. Even when we can’t quite see the full picture in our own lives, we can trace His faithfulness through Scripture. The main thing is not to get stuck on our questions or logic… in order to trust, we still have to take action!

Free Building Porch photo and picture

“When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart.” — Emily P. Freeman

I came across this quote again recently, and it struck me a little differently than before. Previously, I focused on the word hand in terms of a physical body part. This time, however, I thought of a deck of cards, where hands are dealt. Depending on the game played, we may not see all the cards at once! God does not play games with our hearts, and we can trust His. 

God also doesn’t ask us to trust Him for no reason. He loves us and has the best things in store for us. As we see in Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), “…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We just have to walk them out. 

God continually shows me His faithfulness. Yesterday marked two months since my mom finished her race and entered Heaven. It has been difficult, but I am grateful that people are still encouraging us, especially my dad. Thank you!!

Free Door Building photo and picture

Lydia is going on a school trip to Washington, DC, next week, and although it was my idea to send her, I need to trust God for her safety, health, provision, etc. I know she will have a great time and will make many memories as she spreads her wings. Thankfully, she already has experience traveling and being apart from me, thanks to summer camp the last few years.

I am also trusting God with summer plans and some opportunities in the fall. Remember, I am a planner and like to get my ducks in a row! But, sometimes, I just have to wait and have faith. In time, I will know more details. God always provides them on time, though in my humanity, I like to know early! 🙂

This season, I am reminded of how God cares for all His birds. I have woken up to the robins, sparrows, purple house finches, and others singing their songs of praise. I have seen a Northern Flicker grace my yard for a few minutes, too. If they can trust God to provide for them amid the uncertain rain, wind, and various temperatures, then I can too!

While waiting for God, I can worship and keep praying for wisdom and discernment. I can take the first step without worrying about making a mistake. I can rest knowing He will redirect me as needed. I can even “borrow faith” from someone else’s journey until mine strengthens!

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God, thanks for all Your loving care and provision. You are so good to me. Help me trust You more, even in uncertain times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you in your faith journey? How can you trust God and keep moving forward?

Task: Listen to the song, “Sparrows,” by Cory Asbury. Think about how much God loves you and takes care of you!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #475

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

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

Free Bird Female Northern Cardinal photo and picture

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

This was a pretty good week.

Work was busy as usual. On my lunch break, I was able to take a couple of walks and enjoy the nice weather. I also had a couple of patients who each knew Jesus. I could tell by their clothing and the sweet atmosphere. At the end of our appointment, we talked about faith, family, and God’s provision. It was nice for them to ask me questions and listen to me tell them (briefly) about my mom and Dave.

The weather this week grew nicer day by day. There are lots of birds chirping even before sunrise, and the grass is starting to turn green. I stopped by Trefoil Park one day after work to see the river. Nature can be so peaceful!

I went to the movie theater for the third week in a row. Yesterday, I watched The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 6, 7, and 8. It was so good. It was humorous at times, but also poignant. I appreciated seeing Scripture play out, and I am still thinking about it all. Go see it if you can!

Lydia attended week two of her rifle class. She’s doing so well, and really could be a natural… like her Mom. 😉 She is tightening up her groupings and is right on target.

This morning, we got out the door early for haircuts and a little shopping. For lunch, we used an old gift card for Olive Garden and took home some leftovers. The rest of the day has been spent catching up on Saturday things. I’m grateful for the slower pace!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #472

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 normal week!

On Monday, a friend brought us some dinner. It was sweet of her to make us soup and cookies! When we give her back her dishes, Lydia plans to fill them with some treats in return. 🙂

Our snow is pretty much gone, other than a few small piles from the sidewalks and parking lots. It has been fun to see and hear more songbirds. I even saw my first robin of the Spring. It was on my deck singing one morning. Perhaps it is one-half of the pair that nests under my deck.

I took some lovely walks this week. Mostly inside due to the chilly wind, but one day, a coworker and I walked along a park near the VA. It was so good to be outside!

I got my taxes done this week. I enjoy seeing all God has done in my life and finances over the last year. He is always so faithful to provide for me!

Yesterday, I took the day off to enjoy some time with Lydia for her Spring Break! She had an appointment and then we did a little shopping. Later, Lydia made some cookies while I watched the new show, House of David, on Amazon Prime. It is dark and complex at times, but also beautiful!

Today marks one month since my mom relocated to Heaven. We miss her so much. I decided to buy myself some pretty flowers (above). Otherwise, I was on-call and had to go in for two patients. Then, I caught up around the house and called my aunt. Tonight, I am relaxing while Lydia is going to watch a hockey game with friends!

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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)!