Tag: winter

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Garage Door Tune-Up

Happy Thanksgiving! This has been a busy week already! Maybe you feel the same way?!

On Monday morning, I made a list of everything I needed to do after coming home from work. I felt a little overwhelmed, mostly because I didn’t want to forget anything! I prayed for God’s help as I went about my day!

First, I needed to finish wrapping some presents for Lydia’s birthday (on Tuesday). I also wanted to work on this post early so I could focus on her special day. She wanted to enjoy a nice meal and watch a movie. I didn’t want her to feel rushed.

And, of course, it happens to be a holiday week! Lydia and I plan to make a few simple dishes tomorrow. I’m looking forward to a fun day together, but there’s a lot to do before then.

Finally, about a month ago, I wrote that my garage door needed a rubber weather stripping replaced (see picture below). The special order piece took a while to arrive, and on Monday evening, my neighbor came over to help me install it! He works for a garage door company, so together, we were able to install it quickly.

As we tested the door, my neighbor saw a sliver of light shining through, which meant the door was not coming down all the way. I had noticed this over the last month but had forgotten to mention it earlier. My neighbor climbed his small ladder and opened the garage door motor. I handed him a few small tools, and he adjusted the mechanism until the door shut correctly.

By then, he offered to change the lightbulb in the garage motor unit. While up there, he noticed the garage door chain was a little loose. So, naturally, he wanted to tighten that up!

I was so grateful as I watched my neighbor tune-up my garage door. Not only did he help with the original issue, but he was thorough in looking at the entire door. He didn’t stop just when it was convenient. He stayed and did a complete job.

Surprisingly, it feels like I have a new garage door! I can already tell the garage is warmer and quieter, and this year, I should avoid getting snow under my garage door.

That reminds me of God’s grace and provision. I had been waiting patiently for weeks, rescheduling a few times because the piece wasn’t in. I had hoped the chore would be done earlier so I wouldn’t be jammed as this week got closer. I specifically tried to plan ahead! Yet, it seems God used this very thing to slow me down and notice His blessings in a big way.

First, I really appreciated God gave me a good blog topic a whole day early! It was so cool that He perfectly orchestrated my week. God is so gracious and fixed my door, but He also went above and beyond by addressing things I didn’t even know were wrong!

And because of all that, I was able to be fully present with Lydia on her birthday. She is now twelve and was counting down her birthday for months. Lydia is such a treasure to me, and I didn’t want to be distracted by house tasks or my blog. As a single mom, my time is sometimes divided, and I never want to give her less than she deserves!

While these things are important to me, my sweet girl comes first! Lydia would not quite understand my potential dilemma, so I didn’t burden her with it. I’m just grateful I didn’t have to choose – God made it easy for me!

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God, thanks for organizing my week so I can get things done and be fully present. Thanks for the gift of Lydia. Help me be the best mom I can be! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any special plans for Thanksgiving? What are you grateful for this week?

Tasks: Let God direct your path this week. Be grateful for detours and setbacks, as they may lead to a greater blessing!

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

Finding Grace #366

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 Sunlight Tree photo and picture

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

This was a fun week all around!

Monday and Tuesday were slower at work, so I was able to stay on top of my charting. Then, on Wednesday, we celebrated RDN day with soup, salad, and breadsticks from Olive Garden. We also had fruit pizzas for dessert and played a fun game. We tried to guess which facts matched each coworker. We were laughing so much and learned quite a bit about each other. It was so refreshing and made me love my job even more.

On Thursday, we had a TPN training, which reminded me of when Dave needed this source of feeding through the veins. I wasn’t sad, just reflective. We also had a teambuilding game with Oreos and sampled various flavors. Just for fun. Afterall, you don’t want to end up with a bag you don’t like! I think I will stick with either plain or just Mint Oreos, on occasion. 😉

That evening, one of my neighbors came over to help with a GFCI outlet in the kitchen. It was affecting four other outlets. We first noticed two Sundays ago, but it had taken me awhile to decide what to do. I can fix small things around the house, but this one made me nervous. Turns out there were five wires to connect! I hadn’t met this neighbor, but I do see his wife and kids at the bus stop several days a week. It’s funny because he is very friendly and I had no clue he was an electrician until lately! And, he is going to come back again soon and help me update/replace two bathroom lights that are getting rusty. God provided someone right when I needed it!

On Friday, I had a busy morning at work and needed to stay a couple of extra hours to get things done. But, that meant I got to stay for a birthday celebration (cake and ice cream). This was definitely an unusual week – we don’t have treats that often, let alone three days in a row! We were joking that it was a really good week to be at work!

Yesterday after work, I ran some errands knowing today was going to be another blizzardy day. I picked up a lot of fresh veggies (gotta balance out the treats!). Lydia asked if she could help me cut them up. We had fun chopping, cooking, and listening to Oldies music. By my estimate, she saved me a couple hours in the kitchen which was much appreciated! I’m grateful for my helpful girl!

Today, we stayed home and mostly relaxed since Lydia saved me so much time last night. I did a little housework but mostly we just enjoyed the snowy day!

Don’t forget to turn back your clocks for Daylight Savings Time tonight!

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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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #365

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 Raquette Hiver photo and picture

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

This was an unexpected week, but I am so grateful for God’s grace! Everything started off normally… Zoom on Sunday, work on Monday, Tuesday, etc. The rest of the week was a wild card!

Tuesday night into Wednesday brought another blizzard. Go figure! Lydia had remote learning for school again. I was getting ready to go to work, a little nervous because the snow was coming down so fast. I thought it would be a little challenging, especially since I couldn’t see the road behind my house. I could see my neighbor got stuck in front of my house, yet I was hopeful in that my snow service already came once a few hours before. Nope! I opened my garage door to over two feet of snow, which had drifted in again! I wasn’t going anywhere fast! Indeed, it was great to have an unexpected day off. Eventually, I cleared a little snow, the plows went through, and my snow service came again.

On Thursday, I was all ready to go to work again, but I saw that Lydia wasn’t feeling well. She had been a little sick on our snow day, most likely skimping on her water and salt which finally caught up with her. In the past, I would have pushed her to go-go-go, but I decided I didn’t want to send that message. Instead, we stayed home and rested. She napped and caught up on her water and salt. We had a long discussion about the importance of self-care and what that involves for each of us. A little daily work can go a long way to make sure we are feeling our best!

I finally made it to work again on Friday and stayed the whole day, instead of my usual half-day. I was glad to be back and had a lot to get done. Thankfully, it all went well!

Today, Lydia is hanging out with a friend. I have catching up on some podcasts while trying out some new recipes. Cooking is a creative outlet for me! Tonight, I am going to watch my friend’s baby and relax. It’s been a great week overall!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom

In Search of Good News

It may be March 1st, but we have another snowstorm in Fargo! It’s not the end of the world, and I know Spring is right around the corner. At least on the calendar – practically speaking, it’s still a couple of months away at this latitude. It takes a while to warm up and for all the snow to melt!

I was thinking about what to write for today’s blog post and was stuck between two half-processed ideas. I just wasn’t feeling them. They still need time to marinate, I guess!

So, I went online to catch up with some articles. I usually have a lot of tabs open but never seem to find time to finish reading! In the process, I clicked open my browser, which shows the latest news. So, I had to check that out first!

Honestly, most of the ‘news’ these days isn’t all that enticing. Some of it is just click-bait, gimmicky stuff. Soooo much unnecessary drama… I also didn’t feel like reading something heavy, such as war or politics (although they are important). And, I wasn’t really interested in shopping for deals. Been there, done that.

No, I was in search of flat-out good news. Life is pretty busy right now, and March usually picks up even more. So, my mind is on overload. I needed something lighthearted to make me smile. Not necessarily an escape, just motivation to keep moving forward.

Free Coffee Magazine photo and picture

Success! I found a video of the Princess of Wales accepting some flowers from a toddler. Her genuine response and accent brightened my mood. I also read about a family welcoming home a soldier. I read through some healthy plant-based recipes (which helped me feel creative!). And, then I took a cue from Lydia and watched… cute puppy videos. 🙂

During the short time I spent writing this, I remembered a friend’s mom needed prayer. And, I reached out to some loved ones who live near an accident to make sure they are okay (sad news I read online). My heart was filled with concern.

Then, I thought about Jesus and the Good News He brings. Indeed, God is the Source of all good things, and He is the very definition of Good. Our perspective changes when we focus on Jesus!

God covers us with His grace even when we are completely unaware. Like, we literally cannot fathom all the good things He does for us and the crazy things He shields us from.

Grace upon grace. Mercy and forgiveness. Good news upon good news. His free gift.

If you could use a little encouragement in your life today, here is the best news possible: God loves you and is with you right now. He has a special plan for your life. You matter. God has not forgotten about you. He is for you and has good things in store for You. You can trust Him completely. He’s got you covered!

There are no gimmicks with God. Life is good because God is good. There will be some challenging days, sure, but we can get through them with His help!

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God, thanks for showing us Your perfect Grace and Truth. Thanks for being the standard we live by, not the world’s drama or our emotions. Help us share Your light with those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What are your favorite topics to read about or watch? What brings you joy online? Does it uplift you and turn your heart toward Jesus?

Tasks: Check out this website, full of good news! Thank God for all the ways He loves you!

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

Finding Grace #364

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 Winter Snow photo and picture

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

This was a good week and God’s grace was evident!

Lydia and I were both off on Monday due to Presidents Day. We mostly relaxed and did a little cooking and cleaning. We read some books, played some games, and each got our hair trimmed, too!

Later in the week, I upgraded several small kitchen tools thanks to some coupons! I bought a new nonstick skillet, a small, basic hand mixer, and a Magic Bullet. The ones I tossed were over ten years old, and some parts were either rusting or breaking. I know I will get good use out of the new versions since I used the others most every week!

On Thursday, we had another blizzard and Lydia had online learning again. I had mixed emotions – I had several things on my mind besides the weather. While driving to work though, I heard four songs reminding me God understands my situation. The basic message was ‘don’t lose heart.’ By the time I arrived, I was calm. It probably helped that I took a different path through town. Turns out, I also missed a 6-car pileup on my normal route! I was so grateful God protected me and showed me His goodness!

Work was fairly full all week, and I thought Thursday would also be quite busy. Some coworkers called off, so we switched around our patients to cover for those who couldn’t make it in. Even then, several patients canceled. So, the workload was much more manageable than I expected, and I was able to get caught up with my charting. Thanks, Lord!

Finally, after all the craziness of the day, I came home to lots of drifting snow. I read my email and it said we only had received 0.7 inches, not enough for my snow removal company to come. However, they surprised us and came anyway, as a courtesy when it was ~20 below! It was the best feeling – a huge relief – God saw me and took care of it for me.

Today, we are getting things done at home. Tonight, our friend and her baby are coming over to hang out. We might watch a show and order Chinese!

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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 Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #363

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 Winter Nature photo and picture

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

This week was exciting in several ways!

On Tuesday, my coworker left work early because she went into labor! Later, we heard she had an adorable baby boy, perhaps the best kind of Valentine. This was a few weeks before her due date, so our maternity leave coverage is starting early. Nonetheless, I am glad mom and bay are safe and healthy!

After warmer weather last week, we had a blizzard on Wednesday! Lydia had remote school (online), and I don’t know why I was surprised. It is February in Fargo, after all!

On Friday, I went on Lydia’s school ski field trip an hour and a half into Minnesota. It was Lydia’s first time going, and she had fun. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the parents, who happened to be friends and neighbors. It was a good memory-making day!

Today, I spent a lot of time cooking. I made a sauce called harissa and added it to roasted eggplant and tempeh. I added that combination to some sweet potatoes for a delicious, balanced meal! I also helped Lydia make a round of “protein donuts” using a mix I bought (just for fun). They were relatively good, but I think I will stick to the real deal every once in a while! Then, I called my sister for our book club and took a nap. A very relaxing and restorative Saturday!

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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, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #360

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 Winter Tree photo and picture

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

This week started off a little rough but ended really well. On Sunday, I took a two-hour nap, which should have been my first clue! But, perhaps God was infusing me with His strength while I rested.

Early in the week, I had to make many decisions on top of normal daily tasks and was overwhelmed with everything.  But, it helped me to take it one day at a time.

Lydia had another appointment this week, and it went well. Dave had partial hearing loss from birth and needed hearing aids. Lydia has had ringing in her ears for as long as she can remember, so we met with the audiologist for a hearing test. She noticed the same issue as last year; Lydia’s hearing is fine, except for one frequency, likely related to the tinnitus. Because nothing has changed, we don’t have to come back for two years. Interestingly, we discussed last week’s appointment and the audiologist said it could be related. It felt good to finally get some answers, and Lydia is making progress with her salt and water intake. Perhaps the tinnitus will also lessen over time.

The weather got super chilly again this week, but I don’t mind! We had some more wind and snow, and I even got a chance to use my snowblower a couple of times! I am glad to have it; it was a good purchase last year! Thanks, Lord, for taking such good care of me!

I heard from a friend last night who just finished reading my book. She said she never finishes books, yet she couldn’t put mine down. That was nice to hear, of course, and she was encouraged to lean into those hard times we all face. Even more, as soon as she shut the book, she was made aware of a similar medical crisis. She told her husband, “Let’s go. We need to be the body of Christ!” That’s awesome to hear of the impact it had on her! 🙂

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer

One Day At a Time

You may recall that last week, I was feeling depleted. Well, this week, I have had a sense of being overwhelmed combined with a touch of winter blah. You might know what I am talking about! 😉

Even though I am quick to ask the Lord for help, there’s simply a lot going on. Perhaps I got used to the slower (much appreciated) pace of winter, but usually, we have a few more weeks before it gets busier. A lot of the tasks happen to default to me.

There’s nothing unusual, really, but just a lot happening all around the same time. In the last two weeks, we’ve had various appointments, social events, and company. We have volunteered and completed house projects. Lydia has brought home paperwork for summer activities and for middle school sign-ups. And it’s not even spring!

So, this week, I have been praying about what I should do differently, if anything. Sometimes, it is good to ask if I am making myself run in circles or if it’s all necessary! My attitude has been fairly good, despite being stressed. I have been prioritizing sleep, exercising, drinking plenty of water, eating well, and saying ‘no’ when I can.

Check, check, check, check, check, check. 

Anyway, thus far, God hasn’t shown me anything specific, so I’ll keep moving forward while relying on Him. If He brings me to it, He will help me through it.

Yesterday, God came through for me in small ways. I still had to do everything, but He eased the pressure I was feeling. Someone took the time to ask how I was doing and listened when I explained how I was feeling. It helped to have validation and understanding.

Indeed, I felt myself perk up a bit late in the afternoon yesterday. Perhaps it was because I had a good lunch, or, maybe it was the coffee that my coworker made for me! 😉 I for sure felt better after having some fun conversations (via work meetings) with the ladies on my team! Without knowing I was struggling, they each cheered me up in their own ways!

On my way home, I praised God for the little songbirds in the beautiful trees at work. And, I praised Him for the snow flurries that make everything beautiful again… while not making the drive home too difficult.

As I kept turning my eyes to Jesus, I was reminded of when He said each day has enough trouble of its own. I also recalled that God’s mercies are also new every day… so I don’t need to worry about how it’s all going to work out.

Jesus doesn’t always take away our problems, but instead gives us His strength. Feelings can be unpredictable, but the Lord is always dependable, Our Rock. We can trust Him and let Him will lead us. As long as we seek Him first, one day at a time, our path is secure.

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God, thanks for all the ways You love me. Thanks for being with me through the challenges of each day. Help me walk in faith and joy, knowing I have Your grace, strength, and help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you relying on your feelings or God’s immovable character this week? Is there something He is prompting you to change?

Tasks: Read Matthew 6:25-34. What do you think this means? How can you apply these Truths to your life today?

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer

Depleted and Dependent

Today, I am thinking about how God always comes through for me. I have been feeling a little stressed this week. We have a full schedule this week, and I have a lot of random things to remember for each activity or event. Also, I haven’t had much downtime to rest and recover from the “excitement.”

So yesterday, I had a slight headache and was a little grumpy. Not outwardly, but just inwardly, I was in a slump. Everything just seemed more difficult! I wanted to rest but had several responsibilities. These included work, an appointment for Lydia, errands, and snowblowing. They went well, but I was struggling!

I wasn’t sick, and I wasn’t sleepy (though I could have used a nap!). I think the best word to describe how I felt was ‘depleted’ or running on empty. I ate regular meals, but I didn’t have much appetite. I was cold all afternoon and had oatmeal with a half a banana, a little peanut butter, and cinnamon for dinner to warm me up! Mmmm…

Needless to say, I acknowledged my dependence on the Lord and asked Him to fill me up. I needed His grace and mercy to exhibit patience with my patients and to be emotionally available for Lydia. I had a few things to do around the house, too.

Ironically, snowblowing was the thing that got me out of my funk! I hadn’t planned on clearing snow but decided not to push myself physically (shoveling) when I was already weak and weary. It was a kindness to myself, and I had the time since I left work early to take Lydia to an appointment, which also ended early. Snowblowing reminded me that I am capable and God is a good provider. He gave me His strength!

I relaxed after that. I intentionally kept this blog post shorter and watched a fun show with Lydia. Afterward, I did some gentle stretching instead of a more intense workout. Then, I read Isaiah 40:28-31 and went to bed early!

Well, I’m glad these weird days don’t happen often. But, I can still be grateful for them because they show me my need for Jesus. When we’re feeling depleted, we can depend on our mighty, dependable God!

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God, thanks for always being there for me. You are kind, gracious, and dependable! Give me your strength when I am weary. Help me trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What do you do when you feel depleted? Do you turn to the Lord, or do you try to replete yourself solo?

Tasks: Read Isaiah 40:28-31. Bring all your concerns to the Lord, and let Him fill you up!

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

Finding Grace #358

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 Mount Cook New Zealand photo and picture

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

This was a fairly quiet week. That’s perfectly fine by me! I have been having more quiet time anyway as I focus on my Daniel fast. This is so I can tune myself to what the Lord is doing or would have me do. Fasting helps us clear out the ‘noise’ of the world!

Work went well, and it was busier at the end of the week. My coworkers and I worked together to resolve various issues. Nothing new to report there… we do that every week! 😉

This week, I connected with several friends… on the phone, via social media, and in-person. It was great! Last night, I hung out with a dear friend for about two hours. We had fun catching up and discussing kids, church, work, and other pertinent topics. I always enjoy spending time with her!

The weather was warmer for the most part, still below zero but pretty awesome for January! It made running a few errands easier, so I am grateful. We had some fog at times, but also some bright, sunny blue skies. My favorite!

Today, we did our Saturday chores, and then Lydia and I each made a batch of blueberry muffins. She made hers using all the normal ingredients, and I made mine fast-friendly. Lydia tried both and thought they were good!

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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)!