Tag: travel

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #493

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 relaxing at first and then picked up later. We were on our road trip Sunday, then I was off Monday and Tuesday to celebrate my birthday.

For my birthday, I enjoyed a quiet early morning with coffee, reading, writing, and exercise. Late morning, Lydia and I visited another little flower garden, refilled my peach balsamic vinegar, and bought a half-flat of peaches for a Youth For Christ fundraiser. In the afternoon, we watched Freakier Friday, read at Barnes and Noble, and ate at Crave. Then, we walked around the mall before getting ice cream for the surprise chocolate cake Lydia made me. It was a great day, and I felt a bit like a celebrity with all the birthday greetings and well-wishes! Thank you!

On Wednesday, it was back to work, but it was manageable. Ironically, I did not have to bring lunch any day this week. Besides being out of the office on Monday/Tuesday, on Wednesday, we had a potluck, and on Thursday, we had a birthday treat for me, so I just brought a light snack. I also don’t stay long enough on Friday to need lunch there. 🙂

After work on Friday, I went to the bookstore to do some continuing education while drinking a latte. Then, I went home to mow before taking Lydia to a friend’s house. After that, I worked on another project. It felt good to get so much done, and I also squeezed in some reading before Lydia got back!

Today, I did various chores and made a peach galette. It tastes delicious, but fell apart and wouldn’t look good enough to bring anywhere. Maybe next time, I will leave the fruit on the bottom and make a cobbler with the crust on top!

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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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

A North Dakota Roadtrip Adventure

Over the weekend, we had an awesome two-day North Dakota road trip adventure! I wanted to do something special before my birthday (yesterday), and almost our whole trip involved places we hadn’t been before. We stayed in Rugby and went to the border to see the International Peace Gardens (Lydia’s first time through Customs). We enjoyed the fountains, trees, flowers, and saw way more cacti than I knew existed (some gigantic, some tiny). We met some really sweet Canadians at a vendor show and bought some souvenirs.

The weather was partially cloudy, with sprinkles on and off, but we made the best of it. Truthfully, I was a little irked at first. I was hoping the rain would hold off, and of course, I left my umbrella at work. We decided to do the Canadian driving portion first. That helped, but then it started up again in spurts (on and off, for most of the day).

Lydia and I walked when we could and jumped into and out of the car to see some of the sights. We were glad I had thrown a couple of beach towels in last minute, and Lydia kept laughing about it all. Later, I overheard a dad telling his child, “Well, it seems God wanted it to rain today, so we aren’t going to argue with Him.” I took that to heart and just went with it after that. In fact, perhaps because of the rain, we saw so much on Saturday!



Then, we drove to nearby Lake Metigoshe State Park and knocked out a few fun roadside attractions (see below). We even made it to Minot, which was larger than I expected. We enjoyed the Scandinavian Heritage Park. I thought of my mom many times on Saturday, surrounded by beautiful flowers and some Danish cultural items.

On Sunday, we drove home another way, this time going the northern route around Devils Lake. Lydia had been that way before on her way to camp, so it was fun to see her recognize some landmarks. We visited Graham’s Island State Park and then went on to Grand Forks for lunch. We even made it home early in the afternoon, so I could mow!

Lydia hopes to take her driver’s permit test in a few months, so we discussed the rules of the road along the way. We talked about our goals for the upcoming year and other trips we would like to take together. It was great spending time together and making memories!

Traveling can be a lot of work, but we tried to keep this one simple. We took our own snacks and treats to save money, although we also picked up a few items on the way. We cut out another large swath of driving and decided to save that destination for another trip. I had wanted to visit the Peace Gardens since my birthday trip to Medora last year, and I am glad we made it happen.

More importantly, I want Lydia to know what North Dakota is all about, since she was born here. In five-ish years, she will likely go to college, and then we will have limited opportunities together. So, I want to make the most of our time. Sure, we tend to stay home a lot, but when we do travel, we make it worth our while! 🙂

A road trip is also a good way to connect with God. His beauty is found in Nature, and His provision in timing, safe travels, and new adventures to do or see. Taking a step away from our routine helps us appreciate what we have when we get back home. Thank You, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being with us on our road trip! Life with You is always an adventure. Rain or shine, You are so GOOD to us. Please continue to lead us and guide us along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been on any summer road trips this year?

Task: Become a tourist in your own state. Take a day trip or stay somewhere new overnight. I’d love to hear all about it!!

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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #467

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 Mountains Forest photo and picture

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

This week, I had a short work week since Lydia and I had special plans.

I worked Monday through Wednesday and tried to stay on top of things. I thought I would get behind since I had a lot of patients. But, then a few people canceled last minute. I enjoy seeing people, but in this case, it was helpful! 🙂

 One highlight was starting a book club with some of my coworkers. I asked them to read Atomic Habits, and we met on Tuesday to discuss it. It is a good book so far, with applications for many of our patients!

It was very cold again this week. Nothing unusual with that. LOL

Thankfully, Lydia and I are spending time with loved ones in warmer weather for the long holiday weekend. It has been good to be together!

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

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

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Making Memories In Medora

This past weekend, Lydia and I headed west to celebrate my birthday! We didn’t have much of a plan, but that was okay with us! I have learned that sometimes the best things happen when we just go with the flow and let God surprise us.

On Friday, we took our time and enjoyed our drive. We stopped to see the world’s largest bison in Jamestown, the world’s largest Holstein cow in New Salem, and the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures along the Enchanted Highway! We also had fun looking for different types of birds!

We stayed in Dickinson, ND, which is about half an hour east of Medora and then drove in on Saturday. We decided to spend all day there and maximize our time. So, we shopped a bit, ate some good foods, walked all over the place, visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park, hiked a bit, and attended the Medora Musical! We had a great time!

According to a 2024 estimate, the town of Medora has a population of about 165 people, so most of the people we saw were tourists! I was surprised at how little traffic there was. Most people parked and then walked everywhere, as the town is small and quaint. On Saturday, I got 21,000 steps!

On Sunday, we decided to relax at our hotel in Dickinson. We slept in, enjoyed a lazy breakfast, swam, and relaxed in the hot tub. It was the perfect way to relax! Later, we enjoyed a salad bar and Zoomed with our family.

As usual, our time together was well-timed. I was so glad to spend time with Lydia before school starts next week. We bonded, joked around, and even had some serious conversations. Lydia truly enjoyed hiking, which made me so proud. I know our relationship will continue to change over the coming years, so this time together was a gift!

Ultimately, I am grateful God has given me another year of life. I have reflected on all the ways He has blessed me, and I am still counting. His grace is abundant, and I can never fully grasp all He has done for me.

“God, I’m still counting my blessings
All that You’ve done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of Heaven
I know that I’ll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can’t count that high”
–from Counting My Blessings, by Seph Schlueter

Thanks for all the birthday cards, texts, calls, and online messages. Thanks for always cheering me on. I am so happy to have you in my life. Let’s keep moving forward together!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the gift of another birthday! You are so good to me. Thanks for leading me this past year. Help me keep growing and moving forward. Make me who You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are you thankful for? Have you ever tried to count your blessings? How far did you get before losing count?!

Task: If you are nearby, check out Medora! If not, put it on your summer bucket list! It reminds me of my time in Wyoming and Montana – but it is way easier to get to than Yellowstone or Missoula! 😉

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

Finding Grace #430

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 Myrtle Beach photo and picture

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

This week was relaxing! We eheaded to Minneapolis on Monday and did a little shopping along the way. We stayed overnight at a hotel before hopping on a plane to Myrtle Beach, SC, the next morning to see family!

We try to get together at least annually, and it was fun to try a new location. In fact, it was a new state for Lydia and me! We stayed at a huge VRBO home, and it was great to be together.

Lydia had fun with her two little cousins. We played in the sand and water and took evening walks along the beach. We did a little shopping walked along the boardwalk. We ate delicious food, including seafood, of course!

The weather was beautiful, sunny in the mid-eighties. It definitely feels like summer now!

Today, we flew back to Minneapolis and then drove four hours back to Fargo! It was worth the time to get a cheaper direct flight. Though, usually, we fly out of Fargo with a layover, I am grateful for the park – sleep – fly option this time.

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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, Travel

Finding Grace #423

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 Mallard Duck photo and picture

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

This was an emotional week. It went well overall, but we had a death in the family. One of my dear aunts in Illinois died unexpectedly, so we have been sad. It was also somewhat stressful trying to prepare to travel and accomplish everything else beforehand. My blog post about getting my ducks in a row was personal!

The weather was pretty good, though I did not see the solar eclipse on Monday. It was overcast that day in Fargo, and I had patients during that time anyway! We did see it in 2017, though, so I am thankful for that experience! 

At work, my manager was very understanding and approved my time off request. However, I still had a lot of work to do, so I stayed late a couple of evenings to wrap up my charting.

God’s timing is always perfect, and it is interesting that last Friday, we went to a funeral. I also wrote about how I had not driven to Illinois in a few years. So, perhaps He was preparing us for traveling over the next few days. 

We are making a couple of stops along the way to see other family and possibly a couple of friends. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!

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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, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Rush Hour

Rush hour in Fargo is, well, nothing compared to say Chicago or Minneapolis! In the big cities, you could be in traffic for over an hour and barely move. I don’t think I could handle that on a regular basis!

In contrast, you may drive for fifteen to twenty minutes in Fargom yet typically keep moving along. But you still need patience, especially when people try to rush ahead or cut in traffic on the highway.

Yesterday, I spent some time running errands after work. I decided to skip the busier route and went through town. I still hit some traffic, though not as many vehicles switching from one lane to the other. Funny how the other lane always seems to move faster!

I am just as guilty as others trying to get home after a long day or move on to the next activity. But yesterday, I just took it easy and enjoyed the ride. Even so, I was home within eleven minutes after finishing my errands.

Free Traffic Cars photo and picture

I thought about how a spiritual “rush hour” might go. Now, often, God’s timing is much slower than ours. He is never early, never late, and always right on time!

Second Peter 3:8 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God’s timing is unique, but so are His purposes for us.

So as I sat in traffic and watched other people, I wondered how often I rush to move closer to God or hurry up my routine to spend time with Him. I don’t usually have a lot of wiggle room, so I have to set aside time diligently and even invite Jesus to come with me.

Do I speed up and ‘switch lanes’ to get to Him?

Do I readjust my schedule and rush to Him, or do I rush through my time with Him to move on to the rest of my day?

Every day is a little different, with a morning and evening rush (traffic, and often at home). But ideally, we should be excited to spend as much time with the Lord as possible. I am challenged to rethink my daily routine, and I hope you are, too!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for these little insights into the spiritual world. Help us throw off everything that entangles us so we can run toward You.  Help us keep You as our main priority. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How can you focus on God in your travel time? Do you like to sing and worship God; pray for your day or others; or listen to a podcast or audiobook about spiritual matters?

Tasks: Listen to God’s word through the YouVersion Bible app. Or, tune your car radio to KLOVE or your local Christian radio station (in Fargo, that’s Life 97.9 FM). If you have SiriusXM, check out The Message. Several of these have phone apps, as well!

 

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

Finding Grace #381

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 very relaxing week filled with family on vacation! On Sunday, Fathers Day, we hung out with my dad and mom plus Dave’s family at the beach in Florida. It was a perfect day.

Then, on Monday, I tried surfing for the first time. I’m really proud of myself and felt strong and confident. Sometimes, we need to push out of our comfort zone and try something new. I am so glad I did, and I can’t wait to go again!

We flew back later Tuesday and spent the next day resting. Both of us weren’t feeling well, so I am glad I took Wednesday off from work ahead of time. Lydia did manage to go to volleyball practice, but then she skipped youth group and was in bed by 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, I went to work a little late to make sure Lydia was okay. I wasn’t quite 100% either, but I pulled through. I knew I had a busy day covering for someone else who had been on vacation, too. Lydia just rested all day, which is the best thing she could have done.

By Friday, we were both healthy again. Lydia said the best part of her day was that she felt well. I stayed later at work to finish up some patient care and came home to do a few little tasks.

This week, I tore down a barnswallow nest earlier in the week (after confirming there were no eggs). They had already made a big mess, and I didn’t want them sitting right on my front door. I set out a little plastic owl figure on the step and haven’t seen them since. I hope they find another place to roost, though. They sure are pretty!

Today, we mostly relaxed! Usually, we jump right back into our routine, so it’s been nice to have a slower pace. It rained on and off all day, thus we enjoyed reading and having some quiet time together. I need to mow, but the grass is wet. I’ll take it as a confirmation just to rest!

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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 Time in Florida

This past week, Lydia and I enjoyed a great vacation in Florida! We visited my parents in Jacksonville for a couple of days and then stayed in condos with Dave’s family in St. Augustine Beach.

We were in Florida from Wednesday through Tuesday. Originally, we planned it around the Juneteenth holiday, and later I realized it was also Father’s Day weekend. What a blessing!

We stayed at a nice hotel in Jax with an amazing view. We also tried some local restaurants with my parents. On Thursday, my dad and I took a walk along the St. Johns River. We walked under five of the city’s seven bridges in about seventy-five minutes. I even found public exercise equipment outside under a bridge with cow murals… kettlebells, medicine balls, battle ropes, weights, etc. I had to try them all out!

Then, we hung out at the hotel during a big storm. Before it rolled in, we visited the nineteenth-floor skydeck, which boasted a rooftop pool and exercise room. Later, we enjoyed watching the dark clouds, torrential rain, and lightning strikes from our tenth-floor room. I’m glad we were safe, and I can only imagine how it looks during a hurricane!!

On Friday, we drove to our condos. We see Dave’s mom often but have not seen his brother, Kevin, much lately. We also saw Dave’s sister, Brooke, her husband, Dale, and their family for the first time in nine years. We’d wanted to see them sooner, but they live in a different part of the state than my parents. So we typically can’t see everyone on one trip. Plus, the pandemic didn’t help!

I had so much fun getting to know my four nephews and two nieces again! The kids were as sweet and easygoing as ever. Lydia was really excited to get to know her cousins since she was only two-and-a-half when we last saw them. We periodically video chat, but it’s not the same. Within minutes we set up a family group chat for texting pictures, jokes, and pertinent information. Technology at its finest!

We were right on the beach, so there was easy access for our daily jaunts to the ocean. We swam, made resorts for little fish, played spike ball, and also played with a giant beach ball. We also played card games, played BeanBoozled (the jelly bean game!), and told jokes.

One morning we had homemade lemon-blueberry scones and watched a slideshow of memories as we celebrated my mother-in-law’s recent June birthday. We reminisced about Dave a little, too.

Then, my parents joined us at the beach on Father’s Day. They are well-versed in Florida life now and fit right in. Actually, our families have always mixed well, so in some ways, it was just like old times. Dale and Dad caught up, and my nephews chimed in about the waves, current, and weather conditions.

On Juneteenth, I got to try surfing the Atlantic! One of the girls and Dale gave me some tips on land. Then, Brooke guided me on the water. We paddled out together and had a good conversation in between the waves. She was full of encouragement, mentioning she started two years ago when she was forty, so I am a perfect age to try something new!

We had a blast, and I stayed out for an hour and a half. I was able to catch a few waves body boarding and on my knees. I tried to stand but fell off, as expected. But I’m proud of how I did and even got compliments on my strength and perseverance!

Yesterday, we packed up for our two flights back to Fargo. We were able to spend a few wonderful hours with my mom again before heading to the airport. (Dad was at work.)

Our flights (four total) were uneventful, an answer to prayer. Our entire trip went well, despite some seasonal rain. Thankfully, we made the best of it, and in most cases, the weather shifted very quickly for the better.

In short, this trip felt like a celebration but also a renewal of family relationships. It was just the reset and salve I needed. I look forward to reaching out to everyone with a little more regularity and hopefully seeing them a little more often!

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God, thanks so much for blessing our trip and keeping us safe. Thanks for the gift of family. Help us continue to grow together in grace and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What’s your favorite family vacation? What makes it stand out to you?

Task: Reach out to family (and even friends) regularly. Try once a week or at least a couple of times a month! Make sure to tell others how much you love them!