Tag: summer

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Travel

Finding Grace #486

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 Dahlias Fall photo and picture

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

This week felt really busy, as I was exhausted from traveling and evening activities upon our return from Nashville. But, God is faithful and helped me each day!

On Tuesday, I purposely went into work a little late due to our trip. Then, I left early to take Lydia to her last volleyball camp. I also worked on my weekly blog post.

Work was busy as usual, but I managed to keep up with most of my charting. That night, I took Lydia to camp, and my neighbor came to check out my washing machine. It had stopped working before our trip, but that night, it started right up! I decided to run a load after he left, but then the water wouldn’t stop running. It overflowed onto the floor, though I caught it fairly quickly and was able to clean it up!

On Thursday morning, I called an appliance repairman suggested by my neighbor. I hope he is accurate in what he thinks is wrong (based on my description). It will be at least next week until it is fixed, as next Wednesday is the best time for both of our schedules. Thankfully, we have plenty of clothes and can still use the machine with a little finagling. Essentially, I have to manually adjust the dials and monitor the process to prevent overfilling.

Friday was a jam-packed day, but again, God helped it all to flow well. I had a few scheduled patients at work, but only saw one of them, lol. Then, in the afternoon, I made a couple of calls to family before getting my oil changed. After that, Lydia and I mowed the lawn, which had grown quite a bit due to storms while we were gone. It was good to get it done before more rain! I also completed a few maintenance tasks, so it was quite productive!

Today, we continued to knock other chores off my list. I cooked sweet potatoes, cabbage, and cut up some watermelon. Tonight, Lydia is hanging out with a friend. I am relaxing after a long week, just as another storm rolls in. Maybe I will see a rainbow!

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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, Travel

Family Ties

Lydia and I had a great time at our family reunion last weekend! We traveled directly to Nashville on the way there, and through Dallas – Fort Worth on the way back (two new airports for us!). Nashville was hot and busy, but we had a lot of fun.

I don’t know of many large families that can all get together and get along. I’m sure they exist, lol, but I am grateful for my family’s love and craziness! We had about forty people attend, including some friends who are like family. We missed those who could not make it!

We arrived late on Thursday night and met some others for Friday breakfast at The Loveless Cafe. Then, about half of us went downtown to walk down Broadway. It was busy and loud (people and music in every direction), but it was good to say we did it. Lydia and I share some delicious nachos! I loved the pedestrian bridge!

Apparently, there’s been a lot of growth over the last decade. My friends who have been down there for many years barely recognize the city. Unfortunately, Downtown Nashville has become quite touristy. It’s not all music and bars; there are some cool museums, historical sites, and many shops and restaurants.

On Saturday, Lydia and I slept in a little before we spent most of our day at the Nashville Zoo. The heat could have been too much, but thankfully, there are many trees to provide shade. We enjoyed the zipline and chasing the kids around. We had two four-year-olds, a five-year-old, and Lydia (13). They kept on the move, and it was fun to see them excited over every animal, big or small. In the evening, we got dinner and then played ‘reindeer games’ while catching up with everyone.

Sunday’s breakfast was at Elliston Place Soda Shop. I split some pancakes and eggs with Lydia and then got some pie to go! The meringue on my pie was practically a mile high! Lydia and I went shopping, and then lunch was at a steakhouse. There, we also had a family game and awards.

A little while later, we had a memorial for family members who have passed away. We released butterflies in their honor—Mom would have loved that!

Soon after, two of my local friends stopped by, and we talked for about two hours. Various family members also chatted with them, and it was so good to see them.

On Monday, most everyone headed back home. Before heading to the airport, we went to a huge used bookstore, McKay’s. After two flights, Lydia and I arrived home.

I am grateful for the time we spent together with loved ones. It is good to stay connected to our roots. I’m grateful for God’s rest and the ability to travel and try some new things!

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Thanks God for the gift of family. Help us love each other well. May we stay close and honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any fun trips this summer? How often do you get together for a family reunion?

Tasks: Work to develop strong family ties. Get together as often as you can. Swap stories, play games, and encourage each other. Send messages and connect over video in the meantime!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #485

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 Cranesbill Geranium photo and picture

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

This week was a great week! We had a perfect mix of hard work and relaxation, rain and sunshine, cooler weather and heat.

On Tuesday, Lydia had volleyball camp and is feeling more comfortable.

I worked two days and then had the rest of the week off! I kept busy at the office but mostly helped my coworkers after I was done with my own patients.

On Wednesday, I was off to prepare for a trip. On Thursday, Juneteenth, I was off anyway, so we flew to Nashville for a family reunion (just a central spot we hadn’t been to yet).

Several people came to the reunion. This includes my dad’s family from all over the US, plus Greece and England. We also invited some sweet Florida friends who have been so kind to our family. The more the merrier! We went downtown, to the Zoo, ate lots of yummy food, played games, and so much more.

Before we left, my washing machine stopped working. I am hoping it is an easy fix, but I could not figure it out. My family offered ideas over the phone, but I ended up asking my neighbor to check it out. However, it will have to wait until next week due to the timing. Thankfully, I have plenty of clothes and towels, so it is not an emergency!

Yesterday, several parts of North Dakota had tornadoes. I don’t know all the details but there were some damages and a few deaths. So sad. I am grateful for my neighbors watching my house and glad we were safe (far away).

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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 #484

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 Rose Geranium Pelargonium photo and picture

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

This week flew by!

Work went well, and God helped me get everything done. Most of what I do with my time is out of my hands. I see patients and teach classes as scheduled, but I also answer calls and see walk-ins occasionally. So, any “downtime” is spent charting and catching up, unless I have meetings or other obligations. For the last month, I’ve had computer issues, and this week, I got a new work laptop. I’m very grateful and was able to complete my to-do list more quickly!!

Tuesday was a bit of a wild card. I woke up really dizzy and nauseous with a headache. I  needed to stay home from work, but still had to get Lydia to an afternoon orthodontic appointment. I was feeling about 80% better (and not dizzy) by then, so it turned out fine. That evening, she also went to volleyball camp, and I finally had full relief of my symptoms!

Today, I enjoyed chatting with my dad on the phone. He was doing little projects around the house to honor my mom’s memory. After that, Lydia and I mowed the lawn. It was a little cloudy, but it always feels good to get it done. Then, we did a few chores and read.

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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, Parenting, Personality

Introverts and Ice Cream

A few days ago, I watched a social media post for introverts about how to meet people. It was so funny, and I laughed when Kelsey Pomeroy said, “Stop trying to make the friends, and let the friends make you. Set yourself up to be claimed, adopted, and befriended by an extrovert…”

Her idea was that introverts can “advertise” their interests to find people with whom they can connect. For instance, you may carry a book on a topic you like; people who enjoy that book might want to talk about it. You could wear a shirt representing your favorite sports team or put stickers on your water bottle to find like-minded people.

We all give off signals, but we may not be aware of what messages we are sending. Putting headphones in says you don’t want to talk, while making eye contact and smiling implies you are open and available.

Free Ice Cream Ice Cream Cone photo and picture

I am an introvert — I am not shy or socially awkward. I love getting to know people on a deeper level, but sadly, it can be difficult since people don’t take the time to have deeper conversations. I am quiet and appreciate calm places without excess noise or commotion (like really loud music, flashy lights, or crazy traffic). I am happy to be out of the spotlight, but the flip side is that I must guard against feeling unimportant, overlooked, or forgotten. 

Don’t feel sorry for me, I am okay with it! In fact, I have a deal with God. He directs my steps, and I go where He leads. If He has something for me to do, I don’t want to miss it. But, if He doesn’t tell me to get involved, I can do what I want… I can go home, lol!

I love solitude and can easily stay by myself for a couple of days. (I am totally fine when Lydia is at camp or out with others!) The key difference is that I also like being around people. Sometimes, I will go to the mall or bookstore to make sure I don’t isolate myself too much.

Because I am content to chill on my own without much fanfare, sometimes I have to push myself to join a group event. If I am excited for an activity, then nothing will stop me. But, if I am on the fence, a personal invitation is the golden ticket! I feel included and already have a friend! In some cases, I give myself an out: If no one invites me and I don’t really want to go, then I am off the hook!

Free Ice Dessert photo and picture

Still, there are plenty of times I need to go somewhere and don’t know anyone. In those situations, I make up my mind to get through it and find someone who may need some help or encouragement. I specifically make eye contact and smile to make sure I am approachable. I go with a servant heart and try to be the friend I’d like to have.

I also find if I am included in the planning of an event, then I feel more comfortable. This is probably because I know what to expect, but I also try to make others navigate the situation.

At work, I have no problems, as our culture is to greet each other in the halls. I meet new patients all throughout the week. We already have a set topic to discuss, but I invite them into my office and jump right in!

As you may guess, Lydia is a lot like me. As such, I can guide her on how to avoid some classic pitfalls. Last night, I dropped her off at a 1.5-hour volleyball camp, and she was so nervous! I prayed for her but knew exactly how she felt. Thankfully, she came home saying she was glad she went. We talked about being introverts while enjoying some ice cream. I’m so glad I could share more about how God made us. There are challenges, but pushing through the awkwardness is still important!

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Father God, thanks for making me according to Your purpose and plan. My identity is found in You. Thanks for helping me confidently move forward and serve others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you find it easy or difficult to make friends?

Task: If you are an introvert, try subtly advertising your interests. Who knows, you might find a new bestie! Remember to make eye contact and smile. When in doubt, keep your eyes open to see if you can encourage someone. Most introverts are really good at that!

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

Finding Grace #482

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 Flowers Salvia photo and picture

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

This week was another wild ride, but a good one overall! On Sunday, Lydia hung out with a friend, so I went to a forest preserve to walk around. I’d say hike, but it wasn’t too steep… 😉 Either way, it felt good to be outside.

Overall, one of my summer goals is to enjoy the slower pace by sitting outside and reading. It doesn’t take much to make me happy! The longer days are a little deceiving since I can easily lose track of time and suddenly it’s 10 p.m. I like to get up early as well, so ideally, I’m in bed before that! Nonetheless, I feel I have extra time to dawdle a bit without having to snowblow, layer up, and drive over ice. I love that part about summer — everything is easier!

Work was very busy again, but that’s not too unusual. We had a short week due to being off for Memorial Day. The crazy part was that I heard from four of my tube feeding patients in addition to all my scheduled ones. So, I had several extra calls and coordination to answer questions and get them what they needed. On Friday, two of my coworkers helped by seeing my scheduled patients so I could take care of some of the tube feeding issues. After getting interrupted daily for the last two weeks, I finally finished listening to a recorded meeting I missed when I was off on May 15th (for Dave’s twelve-year anniversary). 🙂 So, it felt good to get caught up.

Speaking of catching up, we got in some baby snuggle on Tuesday! That was a really sweet part of my week. Otherwise, our evenings were spent cleaning and mowing!

Yesterday, my mother-in-law arrived for a weekend visit. It is her birthday tomorrow, so we are enjoying celebrating her. We picked up some pound cake to eat with strawberries. We went out to eat, shopped for Lydia, looked at some flowers, played games, and have laughed a lot. I miss my own mom, but I am so glad I have Dave’s.

This week, I realized it has been ten years since I started this blog! I officially went live on my birthday in August 2015, but I came up with the idea, bought my domain name, and set up my blog in May. I am grateful for my readership and for what God is doing through me! I don’t know how long I will keep blogging or how things will change in the future, but for now, I am happy to continue. Thanks for being here!

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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, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #444

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 Orange Flowers Flowers photo and picture

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

This was a fairly peaceful week! 

We enjoyed having Monday off for Labor Day. I used it as a free day for the most part! I caught up with a few small projects but also tried a new recipe, read a book, and played a game with Lydia. It was fun just to spend time together!

Work went well Tuesday through Friday. I had friendly patients and did meaningful work. One of my coworkers returned from maternity leave, so catching up with her was fun! We also celebrated someone’s birthday, and it was my turn to bring a treat! I made magic cookie bars, and they were a hit. Yum!

This week, a new family moved into the house across the street. We brought some cookies and met some of the family. One of the girls is about Lydia’s age. I hope to get to know them all better!

Yesterday, after work, I ran a few errands and then decided to mow. The grass was indeed long enough, but it was also a beautiful day in the 70s! I enjoyed being outside. As I was mowing, two of the kids across the street stopped by to check out my little free library. They said they love to read!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Grace #443

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 Bank Relax photo and picture

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

This week seemed special, as I found God moving my heart. 

Work was great, and I met another author as my patient. I saw him again the next day as he left a key fob in my office. He seemed like a whole different person, and I know God changed his heart after our conversation! I was touched to see God moving through my story in an unexpected way.

I checked in with several friends this week. Many have kids starting school, and I wanted to tell them I am praying for them. I also prayed for some needs and heard about praises from other prayers being answered. God is so good!

Yesterday after work, I went to a local park along the river and read a book. I saw several people enjoying the beautiful day. It was very peaceful, and I hope to go again when the leaves start to change colors, if not before!

Lydia and I mowed earlier in the week, as the grass was quite long. It was also helpful to free up our weekend!

Today, we did our usual Saturday chores and tried some new recipes. Lydia has a slight cold, so it was nice for her to rest. I exercised and worked on some projects. I even fit in a short nap!

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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, Parenting, Travel

Finding Grace #442

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 Plant Leaves photo and picture

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

This was an exciting week! It was a little busy at first, but good overall!

Lydia had her first day of seventh grade on Wednesday. She has some interesting classes and already likes her teachers. She is going to have a great year!

Yesterday, I took my car in to have something checked with the oil. I knew it was not leaking, but I had a question about it possibly burning oil. I ended up just talking with them, and we decided I should keep an eye on it and add oil when needed. It is likely related to the age of my car (11 years!), and replacing the engine would cost around six thousand dollars! I am grateful they were honest and upfront. I really appreciate that they don’t try to upsell their cars or services. I hope to keep this car for a few more years!

Today, I took Lydia and a friend to Detroit Lakes, MN, about an hour away from Fargo. We went searching for some giant trolls, created by Danish artist, Thomas Dambo! We hiked all over and found them all and even an evil golden rabbit (part of the storyline). We also enjoyed some ‘famous local pizza and ice cream! I am so glad we went!

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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 #441

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. I enjoyed my birthday on Monday, and we returned home from Medora. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

On Monday, I went to the chiropractor again. My hip is still bothering me, but I don’t think it is a new injury; rather, I think it’s just from daily life building up over time. I found an online deep stretching program I will try in addition to the other things I do. After only three days, I still have pain, but I am noticing a difference in mobility!

At work, I had a full schedule but also fit in six additional patients! It will take some time to catch up with charting, but that’s okay. Two fun things happened, though. We celebrated my birthday with chocolate cake on Tuesday. Also, a coworker and I went for a walk when it started to pour, so we had to jog back to the office. We were drenched but laughing. A fun memory for sure!

On Wednesday, I was involved with a very minor fender bender with a state vehicle! I was behind the car at a stop light and rolled into it when my foot accidentally came off my brake. It could have been because I was sitting funny related to my hip. My back was a little sore, but my car is totally fine. I called the police to file a report, and I got a simple warning for “following too close.”  It was definitely my fault, and I am grateful there were no major issues with the other driver. He was very understanding!

Yesterday after work, I met a widow friend for lunch at a newer little French bistro in town. We had fancy coffee and a delicious meal, along with great conversation. I took home a couple of giant croissants to share with Lydia. 😀 Then, in the evening, we met some old friends, Owen and Krystal, who were in town visiting. They now live in Colorado with their four kids, but they were a huge part of our support system when Dave was sick (as mentioned in my book). It was fun to see them!

Today, I was on-call for work. I had to go in for two patients, but they were fairly easy. Later, I spent time with Lydia, roasted some veggies, took a nap, and made phone calls.

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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)!