Category: Finding Grace Weekly Recap

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

Finding Grace #399

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 Fall Avenue photo and picture

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

This week was relatively low-key. It was busy with a few surprises but mostly routine.

On Monday, I moved the deck furniture inside in anticipation of wintery weather later in the week. I moved the benches, patio table, and chairs into the garage. I also took in my windchimes so they don’t crack in the icy cold.

While my dad helped me with a dozen house projects, I found one more that needed some work. My garage door needs a new piece of weatherstripping. I asked a neighbor for help, and he special ordered the item for me since it is longer than the standard. When it comes in a couple of weeks, he will help me install it. Thanks, Lord, for good neighbors!

Speaking of neighbors, Lydia and I met some new neighbors renting the house directly across from us. We took them some cookies and answered some questions about the garbage, recycling, and snow removal responsibilities. They are from Idaho, but I hope they feel welcome!

Early Friday morning, we received the first snowfall of the season! I’d say it was less than an inch and was mostly just slush. October snow is early but not necessarily unusual. Right now, it is quite pretty and may melt off before we get more!

Last night, Lydia and I made a recipe that she picked out. I want her to develop her cooking skills, and it was a little more complicated than she realized. We had fun working together, and the cheesy pasta dish (with veggies and panko topping) was delicious!

Today, I went to a church retreat! It was fun to hang out with people who love God. We talked about the Holy Spirit, and I ministered to a friend who sat at my table. The food was tasty, and then our team won the minute-to-win-it style games! It was a nice way to relax.

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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 #398

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 Leaves Ilse photo and picture

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

This week was wonderful and relaxing, though I got a lot done! We Zoomed with family on Sunday, which happened to be my mom’s birthday. I always appreciate time with family… and mine is pretty cool!

Monday was the only day I worked, but it went well. I took the rest of the week off to spend time with my parents! They came to visit on Tuesday and headed back to Florida today. We had an amazing time!

My dad helped me with quite a few house projects, some that I have been trying to figure out for years. We went shopping and enjoyed eating out at some new restaurants. We watched several episodes of ‘The Chosen,’ too! It was the best week with them.

Tonight, Lydia was invited to hang out with a friend, so I had some free time! First, I did a little cleaning and exercising. Now, I am watching 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 Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #397

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 Sunrise Mountains photo and picture

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

This was a full week, but good all around! Sometimes, this season can feel overwhelming, but by God’s grace, I am enjoying all the busyness this year. I think it’s because we are connecting with new and old friends and have a lot of fun things to look forward to! I am relishing it all and focusing on keeping a quiet heart.

On Monday, I was invited to coffee by a friend and fellow VA employee. Our girls are friends, and the two of us talked for about two hours! It was fun catching up and a refreshing way to spend our day off (Columbus Day).

There were school conferences on Tuesday. We took the opportunity to practice opening Lydia’s locker and also attended the book fair! We also ran into several neighbors and friends, which was a great surprise!

Work was busy, but I stayed on top of charting. I had three patients who had good breakthroughs after many months of struggling. It’s so gratifying to see them succeed! I also had some meetings for the two upcoming maternity leaves. I think it will be challenging but also a good chance to grow professionally. I know God will be with me!

This morning, I received a special delivery. I had looked around for an older fridge/freezer to put in the garage, but I had not found anything that seemed reliable. Then, I found a new one on sale and made the purchase. I have been thinking about it for several months, but it will be good to separate some of our items so we can actually see what we have. It will also be helpful when we have excess leftovers, company, or need to plan ahead for holidays.

Today, two of Lydia’s friends have birthdays! Last night, she went to an escape room with some of her girlfriends to celebrate. And tonight, we are going to a birthday/ housewarming party for our African friends (remember them?!). They are doing well, and I am really happy 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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #396

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 Fall photo and picture

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

This week was busy but really good! The mornings are darker, but the sunrises are gorgeous. It is definitely feeling like Autumn now; we’ve had some cooler temperatures and a little wind and rain. The pretty fall colors are starting to pop!

Lydia’s been enjoying orchestra class at school, where she is learning to play the viola. It’s fun to hear her talk about it and tell me new things. She can play a few notes of “Ode to Joy” and is really proud of herself!

Work went well, and we learned more about the current plan for when we cover two maternity leaves. My role will be slightly changing, and I will be working a few more hours temporarily – no more than about six months. I’m grateful for the flexibility and that I can help cover what needs to be done. While I didn’t exactly volunteer, I agreed to do more, knowing God will use this for my good and for my provision. 

This week, I realized it’s been about two years since my book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward went live! Thanks for all your support. If you have read it, I’d love to hear what you thought and would appreciate you telling your friends! 🙂

Today, we mostly relaxed. We did a little housework and Lydia showed me her viola again. Then, my sister and I discussed a book we are reading together, and I worked out.

Tonight, Lydia and I have another baby shower to attend. This will be a barbecue and should be a lot of fun with friends. A perfect night to enjoy the weather, too!

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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, Fruit, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #395

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 Apple Red photo and picture

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

This week was good, and we did some fun activities!

Lydia invited a friend over for Wednesday night youth group. The topic was on godly friends, and then they enjoyed apple cider and smores. It was fun hearing them laugh on the way home!

This week, I took home some fresh apples a coworker brought in to share. I made some apple fritters, which were delicious! She was unsure of what to make (which is one reason she was giving some away), so I let her borrow my food processor and gave her some tips.  It’s fun to collaborate!

On Friday night, my coworkers all got together for a baby shower. We had a lot of fun laughing, eating, and watching them open baby gifts. It was fun to see my friends’ little kids and a big German Shepherd, too!

Today, Lydia and I did Saturday things, including chores around the house and even mowed this evening (maybe the last time this season!). I made some phone calls and worked on some projects. Then, we watched the movie, Elemental!

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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, Parenting

Finding Grace #394

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 pretty normal week, but I felt God working all around me!

Work went well, and I had some good laughs with my coworkers. I enjoyed a walk on my lunch break one day. The weather was gorgeous, and yesterday, I took the picture above at a park after work. I’m glad because today is a little overcast and rainy.

On Wednesday, I met with my group at church. We had good discussion on who Jesus is; it was so cool to hear that he fulfilled over 300 prophecies and changed the world. Afterward, I talked with a new friend about some medical conditions similar to what Dave faced. I encouraged her and prayed for her and her husband. I’m grateful that God can use me!

It was Homecoming week, so Lydia went to the Friday night football game with friends. They had fun wearing all their Mustang school gear and putting on some paint in blue and orange. It’s fun seeing her step into the excitement!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #393

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 Sparrow Bird photo and picture

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

This week was full of several good activities!

On Monday evening, I went to the chiropractor for a routine adjustment. It’s incredible to see how well my body is holding each adjustment. My back sometimes gets sore, which is normal, but I have felt SO much better over the last year. Thank You, Jesus!

This week, I worked with an inspiring WWII Veteran. He is nearing 100 and was a POW before turning twenty years old. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and then went to a German prison camp. He earned several medals during his time of service. He is a true living legend, and I couldn’t help but think of the History he represents. Thankfully, he is still going strong, and I am honored to have met him!

On Wednesday, I helped out with a new program at church called Alpha. Lydia was at youth group, so the timing was perfect. I met several people and look forward to getting to know them more!

Lydia brought home her viola yesterday. She is learning a lot already and had fun showing me each part of then instrument. She even played a little song for me!

Lydia and I did some yardwork yesterday evening. She mowed and I pulled weeds, as we enjoyed the cool, calm weather. As the darkness settled in, I turned on the garage lights so we could work a little longer. Unfortunately, a little sparrow flew in and would not leave! We tried really hard to get it out, but I think it was scared or confused. It stayed overnight, left the next morning after we left the garage open for a bit. Whew!

This morning, Lydia and I attended a church conference. We enjoyed good food, fellowship, an encouraging message, and games. We made some new friends and caught up with others. It was encouraging! Then, at lunch, I even got to hold an 11-week-old baby. It was such a joy to soak up all the snuggles.

This afternoon, Lydia went with a friend’s family to the Bison game. NDSU won, and Lydia had fun walking around and cheering them on. Then, they went to the mall. (I enjoyed the quiet time at home and was able to get a few things done.) It was a good day!

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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, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #392

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 Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

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

This week was full but fun! We started off with a total relaxation weekend for Labor Day. I took a nap, did some reading, and made some treats for a birthday at work. Just what I needed!

 We had a four-day workweek, which included the birthday celebration, some meetings, and a training class. So, it went pretty fast! I didn’t have as much pressure toward deadlines, which was nice, too.

On Thursday, I took Lydia to the grocery store. The twist is that she made all the choices and paid! She’s learning about value and costs, and it was a good exercise to see how to plan and stick to a budget. Knowing that the money is limited makes us consider our choices. She had to compare brands and expiration dates, weigh produce, and more. It went so well that we will be doing it regularly!

The grocery trip helped us be creative with the pantry foods we sometimes forget about. We talked about our values and goals related to money (on Lydia’s level). One bonus is that she saw parallels with her clothes – what’s worth the money and when it’s better to choose the basic brands vs. name brands. 🙂

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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 #391

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 ‘business as usual’ and relatively calm! Lydia had a great week at school and even walked to Starbucks a little down the road with her friends afterward. She earned some money from babysitting and mowing, so it was fun for her to get a treat.

 I had a ton of patients this week at work, and they ALL came. Often, I have a few no-shows or cancellations so I have more time to get caught up. I stayed a few hours extra on Friday afternoon to finish all my charting! I am grateful for an understanding boss.

Work was stressful enough that I didn’t take much of lunch break one day. Ninety-nine percent of my day was with patients. I ate quickly between patients and still got interrupted.  I was exhausted mentally. As a result, I later had some gut issues and felt depleted the next day. I decided to take a rest day, which was the best thing I could have done. I had another full day of work and other activities but did not do any extra chores or exercise. Instead, I went to bed early! I was proud of myself for listening to my body. The next day, I felt much better!

The picture above is of the blue supermoon this week. It was taken by my very talented brother, Patrick, who currently lives in Phoenix. I asked him if I could share it with you all, and he happily agreed. I took a photo, as well, but he has a lot more skills than me. 😉

Today, Lydia and I celebrated the first birthday of a sweet little girl. Her mom is a dear friend, and we had fun catching up with some familiar faces and meeting more of the extended family. It was so cute watching her try to open presents and eat her smash cake!

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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, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #390

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 a little hectic but good! Lydia and I had several events that took planning ahead and felt ‘big.’ I had to keep praying, working hard, and trusting God. I also took several deeeeep breaths. But, it all turned out really well.

 On Sunday, we volunteered at church in the morning (greeting at the kids ministry) and in the evening (an outdoor women’s event). We had good food and saw some friends. I thought I would be really tired after a full day of serving, but I was actually energized!

On Monday, Lydia babysat for a little baby all on her own. She is very responsible and good with little ones, but I was a little nervous anyway since we had not previously met him. Lydia had a blast and entertained him for two hours. She even earned a few bucks!

Lydia started middle school this week! She had fun and already has three favorite teachers, so I think that’s a good sign! We are excited for this next season.

Work was good but fairly busy and full of problem-solving. Nearly all of my patients came this week, but it made me happy to be using so many of my skills. I also had fun attending a yoga session with my coworkers on our lunch break! Then, I worked a couple extra hours on Friday and also went in today for two hours (my on-call weekend). Whew!

My mother-in-law came to visit this week, as she sometimes does when I am on-call. She took Lydia shopping, and then I joined them for a few other activities. We always have fun together and have some more things planned for tomorrow!

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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)!