Tag: work

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

Finding Grace #504

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 Autumn Gold photo and picture

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

Happy November!! This week was full, but also fun.

My neck and shoulders are feeling better day by day. I was able to do more exercise this week, and I think that helps them, too! As it has been said, motion is lotion. 🙂

The weather was again windy, cloudy, and drizzly. One day, we also had some frost! As a matter of principle, I try not to wear my winter coat as long as possible. The longer I put it off, the shorter winter seems to be. So, I made it through October at least! I did put my coat in my car, just in case I need it. 😉

I had an important appointment this week… Most likely in January, I will be starting what will be a few years of orthodontic care. It’s something that has been brought up for decades, but I only recently learned more about what that would entail. I see people every week with mouth and tooth issues, so I would like to avoid anything like that! Perhaps I will share more later, but for now, I have peace and am trying not to think about the pain and awkwardness too much, lol. I appreciate your prayers!

Work was busy with lots of little fires to put out. But I kept a good attitude and just tackled things as they came. Our dietitian team had fun dressing up as Dominos for Halloween!

Lydia had an orchestra concert on Thursday, with a Halloween theme. It was fun to listen to the 6-12th graders each perform some classic scary songs! Just about everyone dressed up, which means I got my money’s worth for her honeybee costume! She’s worn it at least three times already!

Lydia joined some friends for trick-or-treat, while I passed out candy at home. I didn’t have a ton of kids, but I enjoyed seeing those I did! It is a good time to catch up with neighbors, too!

Today, we traveled an hour south to Wahpeton to see my Aunt Terry, who is there visiting her mom’s extended family. This has been a little tradition for us the last few years. This time, we met for breakfast at a local truck stop and caught up for a couple of hours. Lydia and I also just happened to see “the world’s largest catfish,” too!

After that, we did our usual Saturday things, and I studied for my class at church. I also tried on some new winter gear for the season. After fifteen years in Fargo, I needed some upgrades!

PSA: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour 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, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #503

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 Pumpkin Fall photo and picture

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

This week was good and busy… as usual!

We went to the chiropractor on Monday, and I have been feeling fairly good since then. My neck and shoulders are slightly sore, but it could be a couple of other things. I am trusting God, and He is my healer!

The weather was certainly cooler this week. It was a bit windy, cloudy, and drizzly at times. But, we also had some beautiful, sunny days! I ended up mowing on Thursday, and noticed my trees are losing their leaves. 🙂 Today, we went shopping for a new winter coat for Lydia, since she’s grown out of her old one!

Work was a little hectic, but we all just told each other to “just keep swimming!” 🙂 Once again, God empowered me and directed my steps.

Today, I did some studying for my class among the typical Saturday things and errands. Lydia was invited to a Halloween party tonight, and I am hanging out with a friend to catch up over Chinese food and a movie!

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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, Prayer

Finding Grace #502

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 Autumn Forest photo and picture

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

This was another week of hustling!

We served in the kids’ ministry at church on Sunday, and I squeezed in a quick walk with a friend. Then, we ran home to get Lydia packed for Congress before her team left on the bus.

Lydia was gone all day Monday, but did really well at Congress. She gave four of her speeches and scored high enough to place! It was a cool end to her first season!

My Monday was very full but good. I stayed close to Jesus and enjoyed several church-related events. I’m grateful.

On Tuesday evening, we attended a golden birthday party for one of Lydia’s school friends. If you recall, we met a family from Africa a few years ago at the bus stop. Over time, we have seen less of them since they have gotten more settled. We enjoyed catching up, eating really good food, and enjoying their culture and traditions. And, they sent us home with leftovers!

Wednesday was my mom’s birthday. We all miss her so much, but we are doing well. And, she is with the very One who loves her the most. So, while we are sad, we are also happy for her and proud of her!

At work, I felt like I was chasing my tail all week, and I was only there four days! 🙂 I barely stayed on top of my charting, but somehow did. I know God was helping me all along the way. I had nice patients and accomplished a lot. Thanks, Lord!

On Thursday night, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at church for a youth convention that went through today. It was a funny week because I was pretty much on my own for much of it (Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

Yesterday after work, I met up with my coworker, Natalie, to hang out again. (She is off on maternity leave.) She had her new baby girl and her older son, who did not have preschool that day. It was fun to spend time together, and we visited a church ministry on the NDSU campus before getting coffee!

After that, I went to Menards and then finished up some outdoor projects at home… while catching up with my sister on the phone. Next, I did some studying and watched a movie. It was a fulfilling day!

This week, the weather definitely felt more like Fall! It was a little chilly, overcast, windy, and rainy. I didn’t mind too much and am thankful it wasn’t snow!

Today was a fairly restful Saturday. I did some studying before running errands and picking up Lydia from the youth convention. She had a big week and ended up resting for quite a while after that! After a three-hour nap, I had to wake her up!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #501

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 Pumpkins Vegetables photo and picture

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

This was a very full and fulfilling week with lots of personal connections! On Sunday, after the service, we served during lunchtime in the Oasis, which is the older adults ministry. Then, in the evening, we had family Zoom!

On Monday morning, I heard the landscaping company would be coming over. I was very pleased with their work, though I had them make a slight change. I’m proud of myself for speaking up and for finally getting this project done!

That night, I had my leadership training class. We talked about discipleship, which goes hand-in-hand with evangelism. It was cool to learn about the differences and how to do a better job of both. I also saw some friends and caught up with them while we ate dinner… Panda Express!

Work was pretty full this week, and I definitely relied on God to help me complete my tasks and direct my path. I saw lots of patients and taught three classes. I prepared for another round of classes and got my charting done in a timely manner! 🙂

On Wednesday evening, I went to visit my coworker/friend, Natalie, and her family. I got to hold her one-month-old baby girl for over an hour! She is so little and cute! We always have fun talking about life and spiritual matters. I am grateful for the opportunity!

Thursday after work was Lydia’s school conferences. I met with her four core teachers, and they all told me she is doing well academically. A few mentioned she is quiet but eager to learn and help others. I also heard she is a great writer, and I am not surprised. 😉 She has spent several evenings diligently preparing for her next “Congress” meet, too.

Yesterday, after work, I went to visit another mom, my coworker, Maddie, who had identical twin girls in June. She will be coming back to work soon, but I wanted to encourage her and get some more baby snuggles!

Today was more of a typical Saturday, one day to rest before another full and busy week! We did a few chores, studied, made some calls, practiced for Congress, etc.

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot

Pasta and Feeling Perturbed

Yesterday, I woke up with a sore neck and spent most of the day trying to stretch or rub the affected area. Periodically, at work, I noticed I was slouching a bit and clenching my jaw, which didn’t help the pain. I tried to correct my posture, of course.

Also, I had a few stressful moments at work and knew I needed to refocus. By the time I got home, I was trying to relax; however, I was still a bit agitated. Lydia then asked me to pick her up from the high school a block away because she was hot, and it was hot outside.

I agreed to pick up Lydia, although she is fully capable of walking to and from school. Still, when I saw her, I was a little annoyed to see that she was wearing sweatpants and Uggs — definitely not a good choice when it is 80+ degrees! Teenagers…  🙂

Free Noodles Pasta photo and picture

I decided to make pasta for dinner, specifically, a box of cavatappi noodles. These are like corkscrews, and I was eager to enjoy them since the shape was kinda fun.

Well, I left the kitchen and asked Lydia to finish the noodles. I expected her to wait until they were fully cooked and then drain them. For whatever reason, she only watched them for a couple of minutes before draining the noodles. Apparently, Lydia likes them still crunchy, but I prefer them softer.

Well, the only way to fix the noodles would have been to reboil them. I didn’t want to do that… I was too hungry and too irked to wait! Lydia could tell I was a little grouchy and apologized several times. I told her it was fine, but that her saying sorry was also “too much,” especially just for pasta.

After dinner, we each went our own ways. I started my blog post (this one!) and she worked on some homework downstairs. About when I got to this point, I went downstairs to check on Lydia. I apologized for my bad attitude, and she again apologized for the undercooked pasta. 🙂

My neck still hurt, but I needed to keep moving forward. I happened to read a little table calendar with a short prayer: “Lord, help me to rest in You, keep a quiet heart, and look forward with hopeful expectation to the things You are working together for good.”

Free Poppy Flower photo and picture

I started to thank God for all the ways He has been moving lately. We’ve had amazing weather, uncharacteristically warm (but not too hot). I’m on top of my winter house preparations list. Lydia has been doing well at school, and work can get crazy, but I appreciate having a good job. We have plenty of food and clothes. I have amazing friends and an awesome family. So, I just need to chill.

I have no reason to stay perturbed for long. If things don’t go my way, it’s not the end of the world. Life is too short not to enjoy it. Thankfully, I was able to get over myself, lol!

On some level, these minor annoyances can also be viewed as a spiritual attack. The enemy only pushes us when we are making progress. When he feels threatened, he tries to trip us up. If I weren’t doing something important, he wouldn’t bother. So, consider this a reminder to check your pride and ego, as well as anything that might hinder your progress. Use God’s armor to remind our enemy of the Victory we already have in Jesus!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being in my corner. Forgive me for my bad attitude. Help me walk in Your Truth with eyes wide open. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How have you turned a bad attitude around to praise God?

Task: Don’t live by your feelings, but pay attention when you are in a funky mood. Catch it, check it, and change it!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #499

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 Dahlia Flower photo and picture

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

This week was calmer than the last two!

I got to meet my friend’s baby girl on my way into work! It was such a highlight for me! It pays to look in your rearview mirror!

The weather this week was absolutely perfect! It was sunny and calm, with bright blue skies and temperatures in the 70s. Seriously, I could not have asked for a nicer week! On Thursday, an Air Force band performed outside. A coworker and I listened to them play a few songs!

On Friday after work, I ran a few errands and then came home to do some outdoor chores. I cut back some dead flowers and replaced four long fluorescent lights in the garage. I have wanted to do these things before it gets too chilly! I also mowed the lawn. It felt good to get so much done!

Today, I did some projects, and Lydia made some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. They are delicious! Then, we hung out with a friend who came over to visit.

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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

Looking in the Rearview Mirror

Yesterday morning, on my way to work, I was at a stoplight and looked in the rearview mirror. I saw a pretty lady adjusting her hair or makeup. I prayed that she would have a good day.

Later, I again looked in my rearview mirror while driving and saw someone wearing sunglasses. I noticed the other driver’s sunglasses had a reflective, yellow tint. It made me smile when it reminded me of some exotic bug! 🙂

A few minutes later, I was reached the street where I park. In front of me, I saw a silver SUV quickly pull over. I thought they must be in a hurry. After I parked on the other side, now facing the direction I came from, I saw someone walking across the street with a baby carrier.

I was listening to an audiobook, but casually watched to see which house they walked toward. Turns out, they walked toward me! I looked closer…. it was my coworker, Natalie! She saw me in her rearview mirror!

Natalie lives a couple of blocks away and had just returned from dropping her son off at preschool. I jumped out of my car to meet Baby Cecelia, who is just over two weeks old! She is so cute and little. She has that sweet newborn cry. We caught up for a few minutes, and it really made my day.

Free Rearview Mirror Exterior Mirror photo and picture

I like to notice patterns, and it is funny how a twenty-minute drive had three instances of looking in the rearview mirror. I’m not sure if it means anything significant, but I am reminded that the rearview mirror shows us what’s behind us.

We cannot spend all our time looking behind us, but we can appreciate it for the lessons learned in the past and the joy it brought. What is behind us has propelled us to where we are today.

At the same time, it is even more important to keep looking forward. As we focus on Jesus, He leads us to where we need to be. If we stay focused on Him, we will avoid distractions and navigate through any detours.

Side mirrors are good reminders of who is coming up beside us. Sometimes our blind spots can be difficult to identify, but our actions and reactions have a significant impact on others. So it is good to check in with people around us.

We tend to go in the direction of our focus. We don’t always accurately recall the past, and if our interpretations are a little foggy, or if we only ask those around us for input, we can be easily misled or deceived. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. Are you more focused on the matters of this world or Him?

Metaphors or not, I am glad for all the ways God speaks to me and moves in my life. I pray you will see Him at work in your life today!

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Lord, thanks for moving in me and around me. Give me eyes to see the world as You do. Help me love others like You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: As you look around, where do you see God moving in your life?

Task: The next time you are driving, pray for the people in the vehicles around you.

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

Finding Grace #498

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 Flower Herbstaster photo and picture

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

This was a full week, but good overall.

Monday was the busiest day I’ve had in quite a while. I had a big presentation at work, which went really well. I prayed for God to help me and had total peace. Then, I had about five patients in five hours, so I didn’t really get a lunch. That night, I had a church training, which went well, but I didn’t get home until 9 p.m. or so, just in time to say goodnight to Lydia. Whew!

The rest of the week was a little less “busy” but still had a lot going on. One highlight was helping Lydia with her Congress preparations. She wrote some awesome responses for real pieces of legislation. I listened to her, timed her, and provided some feedback. I’m really proud of her!

I mowed the lawn on Wednesday, which was perfectly timed before a few rainy days! We had just the right amount of rain, in that I could use my umbrella but didn’t desperately need it. It was a bit cooler, just perfect for autumn. I even noticed a few of the trees are turning colors now.

I talked with my sister and dear friend back-to-back on Thursday. It was fun catching up with their lives and asking for some advice on mine. I’m grateful for their godly wisdom and support.

On Friday after work, I went to see the Downton Abbey Grand Finale. I liked it overall, and it was a little bittersweet that it is “over.” I enjoyed the costumes and seeing all my favorite characters, though! I also had a coupon for a cheaper ticket and free popcorn, so that was good! 🙂

After the movie, I ran across the street to introduce myself to our new neighbors. They have been there for a couple of weeks, but I was waiting for them to get settled. The family has two elementary-age kids. I hope they stay there for a long time, so we can get to know them better!

Today, I was on-call and went in for two patients. I did some grocery shopping and bought myself some flowers on the way home. Then, I came home to do ‘Saturday things’ and do some studying. For dinner, Lydia and I had lasagna, grapes, and salad. It was delicious!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Finding Grace #497

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 Flower Impatiens photo and picture

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

This week was both hectic and heavy, but there was still a bit of joy and grace.

I have had a tension headache for several days, which may, in part, just be related to various stressors. Nothing unusual, just lots of things all at once. Mowing, cleaning, studying, parenting, work, etc. I saw the chiropractor on Monday and am starting to feel a bit better now.

I was saddened and disturbed about Charlie Kirk’s death, and it is awful all around, not to mention the internet comments, which I mostly avoided. While I don’t know that much about him, I can understand the element of grief. It made me want to vomit when I heard the news. I did not watch the actual footage, and I probably never will. Each person has their own perspective, so I don’t need to add my two cents. I will share what one pastor said, however: Grieve. Share Truth boldly. Proclaim Christ. Love. Do not fear. Walk by faith.

We had a new baby girl born this week on our team! We now have two ladies out on maternity leave, and the first one out brought in her adorable 2.5-month-old twin girls. I got to hold one of them, and we made lots of smiley faces at each other. I can’t wait to meet the new little baby sometime, too!

Work itself was busy as usual. I had some time to prepare for a talk I’m giving on Monday. We are shifting things around for coverage, too. I stayed a couple of extra hours on Friday to help out. I’m grateful that God always helps me get things done!

Yesterday, my mother-in-law came to visit! We went shopping and out to eat. We also walked around some flower gardens and did some fall activities. We always have fun when she comes! It should be a relaxing weekend, which is just what I need.

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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

Finding Grace #496

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 Black Eyed Susan Yellow Daisy photo and picture

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

This was an interesting and lively week! I am glad it all worked out well.

On Monday, we had a quiet day at home on Labor Day. I did a few small chores and some studying but really tried to relax ahead of this super busy season!

I had a full schedule at work, but ended up having some cancellations. I thought I would have some free time, but little things kept popping up. Nonetheless, I am grateful for God guiding my steps and helping me accomplish what I needed to do!

Lydia decided to join an extracurricular activity called Congress this semester. I had her put together an impromptu presentation to tell me why she wanted to do it, and we both think it will be a good opportunity for her. She and her peers will visit the state capitol in Bismarck and practice speaking on various legislative bills (pros, cons, amendments, etc). It is a competition, and participants will earn points, similar to those in debate and speech events.

Today, I again woke up with some more ideas about reorganizing my house, basically picking up where I left off last weekend. I still have more to do, but it feels really good to make progress. I also did my usual Saturday things and took Lydia and her friend to see the movie version of Hamilton. I went home to study while they were there!

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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)!