Tag: summer

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

Finding Grace #332

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 fun week!! You can read some of what happened in Wednesday’s blog post, but the rest of the week was great, too!

On Sunday, we went to a dear friend’s baby shower. This is her first baby, and it is a cool miracle story. It’s not really my place to tell it, but it is wonderful to see God’s faithfulness in giving her what she has desired for so long. We had a lot of fun celebrating her and can’t wait to meet her little baby girl.

On Wednesday evening, we took care of our neighbors’ cats while they were out of town. We fed them and played with them. One is a Maine Coon, and the other is a Persian. They are as gorgeous as they are sweet! I sent a couple pictures to family, and my two-year-old nephew was so excited that he video called me! That was a first, and I was honored (even though it was a mistake). 🙂

We had beautiful weather this week, warm and sunny but not humid. On Thursday, we had a gentle rain, and everything greened up again! It was perfect!

Work went well, and I worked extra on Friday again. It gave me a little extra time to get things done, but I also saw a few patients. We also had a going away party for my coworker. We had some treats and enjoyed our time together. We will miss having her on our team, but we know she will do well in Colorado!

Today, we prepared for the coming week, and now a friend is over to visit. We might order some Chinese food and watch a movie, but it is always fun to see them either way!

**********

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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #331

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 photos of Marguerite

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

This was week was really good!! We finished up puppy sitting, and Lydia finally understood why an adorable puppy is not in our future. They simply require more time and effort than we have to give right now. We did have fun, though!

Work was very busy, and I was able to work longer on Friday. I usually only work four hours going into the weekend, but sometimes I have the opportunity to stay longer. That means I can see patients, help my coworkers, or get caught up. This week, it was well-timed because there was much to do! Thankfully, I finished a few important things on my to-do list!

This past weekend, a beloved pastor in our community died suddenly. Pastor Cal was well known not only in North Dakota but also had an impact on ministers all over the world. He spent ~30 years at my local church but also led mission trips to Chicago and served elsewhere in our community. His visitation and funeral were on Wednesday and Thursday, with over 1550 people attending in person and over 2000 people watching online. It was amazing to see how much one person can have for Jesus when they live and love intentionally. He will be greatly missed!

On a personal note, I appreciate that Pastor Cal visited us, encouraged us, and prayed for us all those years ago when Dave was sick. He was always full of exuberant joy, but he did not have a lightweight faith! Pastor Cal’s funeral was the first I have attended at our church since Dave’s, which gave me mixed emotions. I was sad but also happy both of them are with Jesus, worshiping Him. I also know they are cheering me on. 

Today, Lydia mowed a bit while I did some weeding. Then, I finished the yard while she showered. It was only her second time, so I want to ease her into it! She’ll probably do all the yard once she gets better at it! 😉 Later, we ordered some pizza and are mostly relaxing after a long, busy week. Thank You, Jesus!

**********

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, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Pivot

It’s only the middle of the week, but already it has been jam-packed with God’s grace! I have had so many connections with people, including family, friends, and Veterans.

Almost all of the conversations, however, have been unplanned. It always seems these types of things go in spurts. I usually have fairly routine interactions with people, but sometimes they go into overdrive! I’ve had heartfelt conversations with family and coworkers and some breakthrough sessions with patients.

This week, I also met with a recently widowed mom from church. She reached out and just needed a little direction. She has been reading my book, and I am so glad God is using my painful grief experiences to help her. We went to dinner and had so much fun! I’m sure we will do it again soon.

In order to meet with this friend, though, I had to figure out what to do with Lydia last minute. Thankfully, she had been with another family that day (for an art class and swimming), so she was able to stay a little longer with them. She ate dinner with them and attend one of their son’s baseball games. Whew!

It takes a village, and I was grateful. God organized all the details for me, so I could do what He wanted me to do. I also have made plans with a couple of other friends and families later in the week. Summer is in full swing!

Over and over, this week, it seems like I have been in the right place at the right time. It’s cool how when God does something big in our lives (or those we know), it helps others have faith, too. They see a breakthrough and trust Him for greater things in their lives!

Free photos of Dortmund hbf

I usually try to be flexible, as much as I can, so I am available to serve those around me. But, sometimes it bites me. What I mean is that I try to bend in so many ways, that I can’t meet everyone’s needs or timing. Either I stress about it or I have to say no when someone needs help.

I have learned that’s okay. I don’t have to stand in God’s place! Only He can be all things to all people! I just have to be willing to pivot when God needs me. We can choose to have a good attitude and take it in stride, or we can drag our feet.

Isn’t God good to lead us? If we walk closely with Him and move when He needs us to move, we will never be out of step. He teaches us not only to pivot, but He also helps us navigate tricky situations. Sometimes that means repentance (confessing wrong choices and going the opposite direction) and sometimes it means opening up ourselves to new challenges and blessings.

In fact, you have likely had to make many pivots in the last two years alone. We’ve seen a wild collection of health issues, finances, politics, elections, and the economy!

But, remember this: A pivot is more than just fancy footwork. It opens up new opportunities and blessings! So, check your attitude and keep moving forward!

When plans change and we need to pivot, we also see God’s faithfulness. He is still in control and still at work in us and around us.

So, we don’t need to fear saying yes to God, and we don’t have to fear when He says no on our behalf. We can trust Him; He has us covered!

**********

God, thanks for working on our behalf and helping us pivot when needed. May we hear Your voice above all the chaos and even our own desires. Help us stay in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you good at switching plans at a moment’s notice? Or is it more of a challenge for you to pivot?

Tasks: Next time you need to change last-minute plans, ask yourself whether God Himself is asking you to pivot. Let that process direct your attitude. Serve with gratitude that He has a bigger purpose!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #329

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 received some more kind words about my book. I’m grateful for all God has done in my heart and that I can share it with others.

Most of the week was hot, but not too humid. We got a storm overnight, and so today, it is a little cooler and very pleasant.

On Monday, I had off work for Juneteenth. I did indeed watch the History Channel documentary about the Buffalo soldiers, and I learned a lot. It was not about Juneteenth but highlighted how the black soldiers were game-changers in many Civil War fights, yet got very little recognition, which is not right. I’d encourage you to watch it if you can!

On Monday, I also got a massage and had another appointment. Then, I took Lydia and a friend to their art class. We went on a wild journey through the country because I put the wrong address into Google Maps. We found it about twenty minutes into the class, but although they were late, the girls had no trouble catching up. They made macrame dipping art and gathered beads to make some jewelry. It will be cool to see the final result!

Work was crazy-busy, but we all were cheering each other on. I stayed later on Friday to help out my team, and it was perfect timing. I saw three patients and was able to really encourage them. I am so glad I was there!

Today, I had Lydia help me mow for the first time. She did great and mowed about 30-40% of our yard. I was thankful and did a little weeding before taking over. It felt good to be outside in the lovely weather!

Then, this afternoon, we went to a wedding of a friend from church. It was an honor to be invited, and it was a beautiful ceremony! It felt good to have a reason to get dressed up (pic above)!

**********

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

Finding Grace #328

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 certainly saw God’s grace all around me. The picture above shows some more beautiful flowers in the healing garden at work!

My arm is still a little bruised after falling down that small set of stairs almost two week ago! I have a little bump under the skin, and I am praying it continues to heal. It is right where my arm hits the table when I am typing… which probably means I need to improve my form at work and when blogging. 😉 Anyway, it is still a little painful and I appreciate your prayers!

I heard some sad news that an extended family member died early in the week. My uncle had Alzheimer’s disease and was fairly young. It had been a long time since I had seen him as he lived in Ithaca, New York, but I always think of him when I drink my Caribou Coffee at home or eat Thomas brand English muffins (so basically, several times a week!). Nearly twenty years ago, a good friend and I went out to visit his family when we were considering where to go to grad school. As you can imagine, we made many memories on that road trip! We visited Cornell and Uncle John introduced several foodie delights before they became well-known around the country. He was quite funny and will be missed.

Work was busy as usual, but went well. Every day was full of different meetings and patients, but I was able to connect with my coworkers, which always makes it worthwhile. We have some upcoming changes in the near future, such as covering a maternity leave and transition between two other staff positions. It was good to find out more about what temporary changes we will need to make, though we don’t have all the details just yet.

Today, we have been working on some home improvements. Most were little things, like tightening some screws on the deck or reorganizing our little free library. But, we also cleaned and rearranged some more of the garage. I definitely was thinking about how much Dave loved hands-on work as I swept, put things on shelves, put air in my bike tires, and used the shop vac. I started cleaning the workbench but decided to take a break. It’s looking good!

**********

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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #327

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 busy week, full of hard work!

Oddly enough, I fell down a small set of stairs, after missing the bottom step. Thankfully, I was not hurt badly and just had a nice bruise on my arm where I caught myself. It is still a little sore and colorful but improving.

Lydia attended a couple of art classes during the week. She went with a friend, and it was really helpful because she could get a ride there. They pour-painted some canvases and created objects with resin. It was fun to see the end results!

Each night this week was busy. It included the typical blog writing, grocery shopping, and other errands. But I also ended up mowing, paying some routine bills, and making summer plans. All good things, but it all took a lot of time.

I saw some gorgeous peonies in the healing garden at work (picture above). Walking through the garden is one reason I park across the street every day (instead of the regular employee parking lot)! 

On Friday, I took myself to see another movie after work, while Lydia was at a YMCA field trip. This time, I saw Top Gun: Maverick! It was really good. It had a lot of references to the original 80s movie, but I think it was even better. Not only the improvised picture and action, but the storyline brought things full circle. I’d recommend it!

Today, I finished putting out the deck furniture (after staining it last weekend). I also worked on catching up around the house, while Lydia worked on chores, cleaning her room, and doing some art at home. We had the screen door open all day! It felt pretty relaxing and productive!

**********

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

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

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #287

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 productive! On Sunday, we enjoyed talking with family over Zoom and catching up with a couple of friends. I also made some vegetarian-style pozole (soup). I had a recipe but didn’t follow it much. I just winged it and it was good!

Work was busy this week, but good. I encountered a few unexpected tube feeding challenges and a couple of food insecurity problems. That said, I am glad to be in a position to help our Veterans, especially those who have had a rough life. I am grateful to do what I do, even if it makes me teary-eyed sometimes! Also, I was in charge of a birthday celebration for a coworker, and I brought all sorts of fun toppings for a sundae bar! Yum!

This weekend, my mother-in-law is here visiting for the long weekend. We have tried a couple of new-to-us restaurants and went shopping for Lydia. She received some new clothes and two new pairs of glasses (as backups in case her other pair breaks–all on sale!). We enjoyed a gorgeous day, walking through our neighborhood and the local zoo. Just about every animal was alert and active today, more than I have ever seen before! It has been a fun visit all around!

We had a week of awesome weather. Mostly, it was sunny and in the 70s (my favorite), but we also had a day of rain. Just what we needed! I enjoyed using my umbrella at the morning bus stop and walking into work. I’ll have to mow my grass again soon, though it seems fall is on its way! 🙂

**********

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

Finding Grace #286

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 peaceful and laid back compared to last week! We had a wonderful time with our friends, and I just carried that feeling through the rest of the week. (I am still getting used to my new phone, but I am thankful for the unexpected upgrade!)

On Monday, our friends left mid-morning. Then, I had the rest of the day off from work. With Lydia at daycare, I got a massage and met with a new friend for coffee. I rarely have a day to myself, and I felt so relaxed!

On Tuesday morning, I still had a little planned time off work, so I did some mundane tasks I have been putting off, like updating some files and balancing my checkbook. It was good to take care of those things amid the peace and quiet, while I was focused. Then, I went to work for a short day and enjoyed my evening with Lydia!

Thursday was Lydia’s first day back to school. It’s hard to believe she’s in fourth grade! I feel this is going to be a great year for Lydia. She has some good friends in her class and really likes her teacher. I am excited to see how she grows!

This week, we finally enjoyed some rainy weather. My grass is starting to turn green again! You know, right before fall when it dies! 🙂

**********

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, Personality

A Good Reset

Last Saturday, right after I posted my weekly Finding Grace post about my busy week, I did something I am still trying to wrap my mind around. On my personal social media page, I posted a recap after the issue was more or less resolved:

Me, seeing my cup of coffee on the counter, ready for some milk:
Q: If my coffee is here, what did I put in the microwave? (28 seconds ago)
A: My phone!!!
Next steps: Wait a few minutes to see if it catches on fire. Open the windows to air out the house. Put the phone in the freezer to see if it will cool down enough to turn on. Send a message to friends coming from out of state (using Messenger because the phone is dead). Tell Lydia to get in the car so I can get a new phone before the store closes! Make a quick, but thoughtful, decision on the upgrade. (At 3+ years old, it was starting to show its age, anyway).
So yeah, one way to decide about getting a new phone… Nuke it in the microwave instead of your coffee.

Yes, I totally microwaved my cell phone! I’m so glad it didn’t cause a fire, and I am grateful to have the resources to get an upgrade so quickly.

I am chalking up this mistake to my mind being so busy that I wasn’t paying attention. Life was moving ‘microwave fast’ and I quickly realized I needed a mental reset! Perhaps I need to create a no-phone-in-the-kitchen boundary as well!

It is crazy how we rely on our phones, isn’t it? On Saturday, I immediately thought of how I couldn’t connect with my family as easily. And, my college friends coming all the way from Indiana could only reach me through Facebook otherwise.

So, that’s why I needed a quick solution. While I am glad so many things were stored in the ‘cloud’ I still had to set things up. In fact, I still am working on password resets, downloading certain apps, and rearranging my new phone.

Thankfully, the visit with my longtime friends was a perfect reset! These particular friends are funny and calm and gracious. I always am refreshed when they are around. They speak life into me and provide wise input when needed. I try to do the same for them.

Even though it’s been eleven years since we’ve seen each other in person, they have been encouraging us from afar. They were unable to travel to Dave’s funeral years ago, but they were determined to come when they could.

Last year COVID19 prevented them from making the trip, but this past weekend was wonderful. My friends even brought some old pictures of Dave from college! Lydia really enjoyed seeing her dad when he was younger!

I was honored by their visit and we had fun showing them around Fargo! It was fun to introduce our kids and watch them interact. Really, we were able to pick up right where we left off. It was just the slower pace I needed.

I am grateful God always knows how to minister to us, whether we are busy or relaxed. He is King over chaos, and He is a loving Father sending love and hugs through friends. Thank You, Jesus!

**********

God, thanks for the gift of friendship. Thanks for helping me rest and refocus. Renew me with Your love and grace. Strengthen me in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: How has God ministered to you lately? Who can you reach out to encourage today?

Task: Listen to the song, My Jesus, by Anne Wilson.

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

Finding Grace #285

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 flew by! Much of the time my mind was going in several directions, and I had a little difficulty keeping everything straight! Basically, on top of a busy work week, I had a lot of meetings and people to connect with, and was getting Lydia ready for school which starts later next week. It all worked out, though!

On Monday night, I had some ladies over from church. Instead of leading a small group this year, I am coaching other small group leaders. So, in a way, I have a small group of small group leaders! We had a lot of fun, laughing and getting to know each other.

On Wednesday, I had a meeting with other small group coaches. We enjoyed tacos and dessert, along with good conversation and planning. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us this year!

This week, I finally decided to water my lawn. Actually, I had Lydia do it one night and then I joined her a couple evenings later. We each had a hose going! I am not aiming for green grass, but just trying to prevent the grass roots from dying. Ironically, we did get some rain after we watered, which I was very happy about!

Yesterday, I stayed late for work to get some paperwork done. Then, I ran a few quick errands. I made some returns and bought some new shoes. After that, I met a friend for coffee! We live in the same neighborhood, but life gets busy and we don’t run into each other often. We had a great conversation and are planning another coffee date soon!

Today, we have some college friends coming to visit for the weekend. They live several states away and we haven’t seen them since moving to Fargo eleven years ago. We are excited to host them and their kids. Lydia’s looking forward to meeting and playing with the girls! I am honored they would drive all the way to see us!

**********

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)!