Tag: work

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

Finding Grace #535

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 turned out better than expected! It was rather low-key after all.

This week, I covered inpatient for a few days at work. Thankfully, it was less busy than usual. I don’t know if it was because of staff vacations or just God’s grace. But He helped two coworkers and me hold down the fort.

We are enjoying the slower Summer pace. It is easier to run errands since the weather is so nice. Also, Lydia slept in and did some chores, and I took walks at work on my breaks!

Today, we did our Saturday things and then went to a music store. I ended up buying Lydia a new viola! She was ready for the upgrade, and the rental was limiting her growth. Lydia is so grateful. It is fun to see her excitement and hear her play! I am looking forward to seeing what she can do now!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Worship

Finding Grace #534

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 pretty good all around!

On Sunday, we went to church, and then Lydia stayed to serve in the kids’ ministry (they didn’t need me that day). So, I walked down the street to Starbucks, got a cup of coffee, and then walked through the neighborhood. It was a beautiful and very quiet day. I loved looking at all the pretty flowering crab trees and lilacs!

On Monday, Lydia went to a lake with some friends for Memorial Day. I stayed home and finally finished some continuing education that has been hanging over my head. It was good to have the day off work, and I am grateful for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, so we can have freedom.

Work went well this week. I had my own patients and then also covered on the inpatient/hospital side for a couple of days. It was busy, but not too bad! I even took a few a walk outside in the 85-95 degree heat!

Today, Lydia and I went to another high school graduation party, this time a coworker’s son. It is always fun to see her family and cheer on her kids. After that, we went to church for a special open house. We celebrated one hundred years of being a church in our area! It was awesome to see so many people from my ~16 years in Fargo! God is so faithful!

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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 #533

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 very full but good! I had a ton of small and big tasks to do, some of which had deadlines. Each day, I have done a few instead of trying to do them all at once.

I noticed my attitude was a little short on a couple of occasions. Certain things kept annoying me, but I noticed them and gave them to the Lord. I am grateful He is bigger than all my perceived problems!

One huge perk is that the gorgeous flowering trees are in full bloom this week. I took a few detours around town so I could stop and take pictures. White, light pink, dark pink…. not to mention the purple lilac bushes! I cannot get enough! I also noticed my tulips are starting to bloom!

We arrived home on Monday afternoon from Illinois. We had a two-hour weather delay, so I didn’t have as much time to run errands and do chores as I had planned. So, that meant catching up throughout the week. This included mowing, preparing for some high school graduation parties, grocery shopping, paying bills, etc.

Work was fairly busy with patient care, meetings, and projects. I had a couple of patients who needed a little more care, both physical support and someone to listen to them. I was honored to help them.

Lydia finished up middle school on Thursday!! She had a sleepover with friends to celebrate. Then, she came home on Friday and slept for several hours! I guess she needed it!

On Friday, I left work early for my annual physical. I really like my new primary care provider. Then, I ran several errands in the drizzling rain… I’m glad I mowed the night before when we had perfect weather!

Today, I hung out with my work friends. I love that we can do that and enjoy each other’s company. Specifically, we went to a foodie event downtown. We walked around sampling food for three hours (each just a bite, and we walked 7000 steps!). It was so much fun!

Next, Lydia and I are going to a graduation party. This Caterpillar family is the reason we are in Fargo (Dave’s boss). I remember when the kids were so little, and it has been fun to watch them grow. I know God has good things in store for them!

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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, Prayer, Worship

Finding Grace #531

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 but fun week! God is good!

On Sunday, we served at OASIS and sang hymns. Be sure to read about that, if you haven’t already! 🙂

I officially graduated from my church leadership training class on Monday evening! It was a great experience, and I am honored to have participated. I know God will help me use what I learned to teach and encourage others. I hope to continue taking some of the online classes on my own.

Work was really busy, but I had fun using AI to create meal plans. I love teaching about food and nutrition, but hate making meal plans! That’s because people expect me to tell them what to eat, but then don’t actually follow through, even though I put in a lot of effort. It feels like a waste of my time, so I was happy to let AI do that for me! I helped a few people with allergy-friendly meals and was impressed by how quick and easy it was overall! I don’t use AI much, but I’ll gladly consider doing it again for meal plans!

Lydia had two chamber orchestra concerts, one during the day on Wednesday and the other on Thursday night. The music was the same for both, so I prioritized the one in the evening. I sat near some friends and really enjoyed the show!

Last night, I went to church for weekly corporate prayer, while Lydia hung out with a friend. We worshiped for a little while, prayed, and then we had an evangelist as a guest speaker.  I hope to go again soon, as it was a special time to meet with God among friends.

Today, Lydia and I worked around the house and enjoyed the beautiful day. She did some homework while I mowed. We did laundry and dishes, cooked and cleaned. We’ve also done some packing ahead of an upcoming trip!

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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, Little Free Library, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #529

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 felt busy because of work, but it actually all went smoothly.

Thanks for the support on my MARPE update. I appreciate the encouragement and prayers! 🙂

I talked with some fun Veterans this week. One was a little younger than me very concerned about potential heart disease. He had done an awesome job of making changes, and I was able to cheer him on and clarify some details. I also spoke with a man in his nineties who was very spry and asked about any changes he should make. That said, I’m sure his years of good habits are paying off for him now! It is so gratifying when people are eager to learn.

Lydia was able to sit out during gym this week, and she was a different person… much more energetic!  She has been slowly adding other “POTS-friendly” activities, like rowing or biking. But, I’m hopeful this is a start to her feeling better consistently.

Spring is definitely here! The temperatures have been up and down. My tulips are popping up, though it might be another week or so until they bloom. I added some books to my little free library, as I’ve seen a lot of people using it lately. Also, I might have to mow one of these days, but I hope to hold off for a bit! 😉

Today, I was on call for work but did not get called in. Woohoo! I worked on my last chapters for my church class. Lydia did some chores that I “required” before she was allowed to go shopping with a friend. It’s amazing how fast she got everything done, lol!

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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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Helping or Hindering?

On Monday, I was teaching a class, the fifth in a series on healthy lifestyle changes. Now, Veterans are at a higher risk of essentially any illness or chronic condition you can think of compared to the general population. This includes financial concerns, relationship problems, PTSD, drug abuse, alcoholism, and homelessness.

Many of the Veterans in my class were struggling with a variety of issues. Sadly, that is to be expected on some level. But the class was meant to introduce some action steps to address some of the health issues and perhaps ease their mental and emotional concerns as well. We talked about nutrition, stress management, sleep, exercise, resiliency, gratitude, etc.

What struck me was that even as the class ended, many of the people were still stuck in the past. One person would ask a question or share an experience, then others would chime in and commiserate. There were some tears and some laughter, and I think it was a good thing overall. However, some of the people almost worked themselves up as a result.

It was as if they couldn’t let themselves rest or relax. I know hypervigilance is common and can be difficult to change, yet letting go of what we cannot control (past, present, and future) is vital. In Romans 12, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I wanted to share that Jesus calls us to bring our burdens to Him, but that wasn’t really the scope of the class. Instead, I sprinkled tidbits of faith here and there. 

I did not feel called to share my story, but I did explain that we all have past hardships, trauma, or grief. No one is immune. But we must check our words and even our thoughts in order to keep moving forward.

Several people made up their minds to try new things, but I’m curious how many of them will let go of their anxiety and worry, understanding that we don’t “have to” live in fear. I will be praying for the class that they might take a step of faith and trust Jesus. I’ll pray they realize how much God loves them and wants to give them His joy and peace.

Our stories — and how we tell them — are powerful. We can rehash all the old hurts and fears, or we can let the Lord redeem them and make something beautiful out of our darkest moments. It’s never easy, but it is our choice to make.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for setting us free from all our burdens – sin, shame, sickness – so we don’t have to stay stuck. Help us walk in that freedom and grace. Keep us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are the stories you are telling yourself (or others) helping or hindering your healing? What’s one step you can take to keep moving forward?

Task: Write down a few key turning points in your life story, whether joyful or painful. Then, rewrite them using God’s perspective – see the story through the lens of Jesus and how He may want to use it for His glory and your good.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Not Luck But Grace

Not quite two months ago, I started my MARPE orthodontic journey. I have had some routine follow-ups, and I am turning the device (cranking it each morning with a small wrench). I now have a small gap between my teeth!

My speech is improving, though sometimes, my words still sound garbled. I think I talk so much for work that my mouth just gets tired! It helps to swallow or drink some water. My patients have been kind and understanding when I explain the situation. I just don’t want to hinder their understanding of me!

Eating is still a bit of a challenge, but I am doing well overall. I am able to eat more variety now. I take my time and eat slowly as much as possible. But at work, it is more challenging. As it is, my lunch break is sometimes cut short due to patient care or interruptions. So, the thirty minutes fly by considering all that needs to be done to eat, brush my teeth, and clean food out of my MARPE device!

Mostly, I am eating simple soft foods, like beans and rice for lunch. I can add veggies chopped up in my food processor, too. I will probably branch out and add new things at some point, but these are easiest for now.

My coworker, another Registered Dietitian, said I was the perfect person to go through the MARPE experience because I can figure out how to eat well. 🙂 Notice the small gap in my upper teeth in this St. Patrick’s Day photo at work yesterday!

This week, I started teaching a multi-week class for Veterans. I will be educating them on how to add more anti-inflammatory foods (such as fruits and vegetables). I told them about my MARPE journey to explain why I might be talking a little strangely. Also, I explained how trying new foods can sometimes be awkward, but it is so important to give it all they’ve got. I said, “If I can do this MARPE journey, which is rather awkward, you can add some broccoli and cabbage and figure out how to cook them.”

Good health is not luck. It is God’s gracious blessing and takes discipline to maintain it. We must build good habits and do the difficult work: chop those veggies, manage stress, go to bed on time, and exercise, etc. I am convinced that even then, it is God’s grace that sustains us. We cannot guarantee a long, healthy life. Sometimes people still die prematurely, yet we can trust that God has numbered our days and will fulfill His plan in our lives.

I am grateful for what God is doing in my mouth through the MARPE. Moreover, I am excited to see how He uses me (and my mouth!) to continue to bless and serve others. He is so good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the work You are doing in my life (and my mouth!). Help me use everything You’ve given me for Your glory. May my mouth bring You praise and glory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What’s one step you can take to promote healthful personal habits today? If you don’t make that change, how will that affect your health over time?

Task: Please continue to pray for my mouth and MARPE journey. My teeth are often sore, and I would still very much like to avoid any further surgeries. Thank you!

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

Finding Grace #523

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 great week!  I started working full-time. To make up my hours, I am going in thirty minutes earlier and staying the whole day on Friday. It was a pretty smooth transition, and I am grateful for the opportunity and God’s grace!

On Monday night, Lydia and I both had dentist appointments. I was a little concerned I would have pain while my teeth were cleaned, but the dental hygienist was very gentle. It was a good experience!

On Tuesday, Lydia had an orchestra concert. The eighth graders were included with the high schoolers, so that was fun. I enjoyed the dance music theme.

Registered Dietitian Day was on Wednesday. We celebrated at work with Olive Garden soup, salad, and breadsticks. I mainly focused on the soup, since it was challenging to chew the salad and breadsticks. We also had fun with a game, trying to guess which fridge picture belonged to which RD!

My cold is about 95% better, and I am extremely happy to be feeling better. Praise God!

Today, Lydia has the day off from Speech tournaments. So, we are doing a few small chores and just spending time together! We might hang out with some friends later.

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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 Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Full-Time Grace

March is National Nutrition Month, and today is Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist Day! I have been a dietitian for almost twenty years! I love what I get to do.

For nearly sixteen years (since moving to Fargo), I have worked part-time. I have overlapped time at a clinic, a nursing home, a hospital, a college, and now the VA. I’ve had stints of working forty hours a week to fill in here and there. But, on Monday, I officially bumped up my work hours to full-time! It’s a win-win for my team and me.

Working part-time hours was a major blessing when Dave died in May 2013. God knew I needed to have space to grieve, but He also let me have time with Lydia. I would take her to drop-in daycare when I worked, and then we could still go to the park or the zoo. Had I been working forty hours a week, my emotions and parenting would have taken a hit.

What a wonderful, gracious God!

I began working twenty hours a week at the VA in August 2019. It was more than I was doing before, and I was grateful for the opportunity. However, all that we do there is very high-level and takes a lot of effort to stay at the top of our game. So, getting all my tasks done was a challenge before I had to leave each day.

When COVID hit the following Spring, I was so glad to have my VA position because it also meant I was guaranteed daycare at the local Y. They never closed, and I never missed one day of work. God was so good to protect us and provide for us! Only He could know what was coming in advance!

Not long after, I was asked to go to thirty-four hours a week. It was still part-time, but I qualified for full-time benefits. At each age and stage of Lydia’s life, God has covered us! I would go in half an hour later than my coworkers and then work four hours on Fridays. I tended to call my mom, get groceries, or prioritize that time when making routine appointments.

I am a good worker, yet when my manager periodically asked me if I wanted to go full-time, I would politely decline. The money wasn’t the issue; I just wanted to make sure Lydia was in a good spot so I could be away a little more often. I didn’t feel like God gave me the green light until recently.

Over the last few months, Lydia has shone and grown in so many ways. She’s older, responsible, and has her own activities. Lydia continues to rise to whatever challenges arise. She will go to High School next fall! And while there will be more adjustments, I know God will see us through.

On Monday, I wasn’t even at work twenty minutes before I covered a walk-in patient on the fly. I didn’t mind, just took it in stride. I am glad for the chance to serve Veterans and want to do it for the Lord.

There are some obvious perks of working full-time, besides the additional money to help pay for my teeth and MARPE services. Someday soon, I will probably need to get another car (or two). One for me and/or one for Lydia! Plus, we will have college visits coming up, probably sooner than later. 😉

One thing is clear: Regardless of how much I work or earn, God has always given me full-time grace. He is not stingy! Grace is precisely NOT based on anything I can do but on what Jesus DID. We receive His everlasting favor and blessings. Thank You, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You show Your love for me. Help me be a wise steward with Your resources and help me trust You more. In Jesus Name, Amen

Questions: How can you trust God to provide for you today, this week, this month?

Task: Pray that Lydia and I can have a smooth transition as I start working full-time. Thank you!!

Posted on in Gratitude, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #522

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 full but went fast!

The weather was warmer and a little wet. But, we had a lot of melting and can see mostly grass now! It was a fairly mild winter!

On Monday night, I attended my monthly church training session. It was really good, and we discussed several controversial topics, which included Q&A. I left feeling solid in my faith and understood how to answer questions about key news topics.

Monday was my only full workday this week, in part since Lydia had a migraine at school and had to be picked up early on Tuesday. She took some medicine and then napped. The other reasons included appointments and my half-day on Friday.

I was cleared by my oral surgeon on Wednesday, and I also had an ortho appointment on Thursday.  Things look good, but I’m still having challenges with talking and eating. I think that’s par for the course! Both doctors are thorough and have provided great insights as my mouth heals and changes.

I’ve had a bad cold this week, or possibly an infection. I am feeling better day by day, but still have a minor cough and drainage. Plus, my throat is somewhat hoarse! I did go to the walk-in doctor and got some medication. I hope it helps kick whatever this is!

Lydia’s school hosted this week’s Speech tournament. I went to watch her with a couple of friends. She did great and placed sixth in her humorous duo!

Don’t forget to change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time tonight! We spring forward one hour!

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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)!