Category: Food and Nutrition

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

Finding Grace #256

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 exciting week! All the usual things went…well, as usual. I enjoyed Zoom on Sunday and work on the other days! 🙂 Lydia also went to school in-person all five days, which was a first for her school year! She had a great week, too!

I got my second COVID vaccine shot on Monday. This time, my arm was far less sore, but I was a little more achy than last time. Perhaps this was because my muscles were already sore and recovering from shoveling and snow blowing the weekend before! Thankfully, after a day or two, I felt much better. I am grateful to have received both shots!

This week, I saw God redirecting my steps. I am thankful He knows better than I do! He had me work ahead on my Wednesday blog post, which is good because on Tuesday evening, I was able to go to bed earlier and rest (see above paragraph!).

On Wednesday evening, Lydia’s friend came over again. We had a brief Bible lesson about Ruth and Naomi (loyal love) and then we had fun with spin art. We had three colors of paint and did lots of experimenting! It was fun to see what we created together!

Today, Lydia and I did several art projects together. Well, we started them, at least! She received an arts & crafts subscription for her birthday, but we just now are getting to the projects. Some of them required multiple steps which will take a little longer. But, it was fun to spend a lot of time together.

In terms of self-care this week, I went to bed earlier a couple of nights. I also did a little exercise and finished a small, intricate puzzle (pictured above). It was cut out of wood and has all sorts of unique shapes. I enjoyed the little figures hidden throughout. I even found a duplicate piece that threw me off more than once! 😉 Then today, I listened to an audiobook while I chopped and baked loads of vegetables for the coming week! Rest feels 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)!

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

Finding Grace #252

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 another short work week, followed by another long weekend! I took off New Year’s Eve to spend time with Lydia. We had a fun, relaxing day together. We played games,  had a dance party, ate appetizers, and stayed up until midnight. It was fun!

This week, I am grateful for neighborly help. On Wednesday, my neighbor and a friend came to help me start my snow blower! It was recently fixed, but I still was having trouble. So, they showed me a “trick” to ensure it starts more regularly. I must’ve done it in the past, but never realized it!

The last few weeks have been busy, of course, with work, holidays, and more. But, I am grateful for a little rest sprinkled in, too. It was just what I needed!

Teaching Lydia gratitude is important to me. So, this week we worked on several thank you notes for all our Christmas gifts. She did most of them on her own and didn’t stall too much. I think all the practice is paying off!

Today, Lydia and I did a little housework and ran some errands. Then, we made some black bean and corn salsa (Lydia’s favorite) and some cherry-peach crisp with a topping of  pureed rehydrated figs, oatmeal, cinnamon, and pecans! It was so good, and we didn’t even miss the sugar and butter!

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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, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Worship

Finding Grace #251

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 frontloaded with work and other activities, in order to prepare for Christmas later in the week. Monday through Wednesday were full at work, but I was able to talk with many interesting Veterans. I love what I do!

On Monday, we watched the great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. It was very cool!

Lydia made some little bracelets for our neighbors this week. We took them over and enjoyed catching up. With coronavirus, we haven’t gotten to hang out as much. It was great to see them all, and hopefully, we will get to hang out again soon!

On Wednesday, there was a blizzard! Lydia and I still went to daycare and work. By God’s grace, we made it everywhere safely. When we got home that night, my car nearly got stuck in the driveway. Even though we had very little true snow fall, much of it landed in my driveway. I had to clear out the drifts before I could drive in. I was able to use a couple of new shovels and then my snow removal company did the rest.

This week, I reviewed a few more final details for my book. I ordered a proof copy and will see if I need to make any other changes. Then, it will be good to go!

For Christmas Eve, I was off from work. Lydia and I went to our church’s holiday service around 4 p.m. Then, we drove to a nearby town to celebrate with another family. We also took another friend with us. We each brought a dish to share and had fun playing games!

Christmas was spent talking with family, opening gifts, relaxing, and making cookies. It was fun celebrating Jesus!

Today, we did a little more relaxing and catching up with family. Then, we decorated some cookies and watched some movies! It has been a great Christmas break so far!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Don’t Just Settle for Snacks

Ahh, the holidays! A wonderful time of the year, full of snacks and treats! I have already received some delicious Christmas treats, both at my door and through the mail!

As a Registered Dietitian, I always recommend eating regular meals to my clients and patients. Yet, many people eat only one or two meals per day. Or, they eat in front of the television or while distracted. Then, they snack late into the night. Their whole day can be thrown off by poor habits and not eating well.

No judgment here… this happens to all of us from time to time. It is so common! As it is, many people need to rely snacks to reach their unique health goals.

Some people want to manage chronic diseases, like diabetes or kidney failure. Others want to lose weight or have more energy. Snacks can help some people achieve their goals. Even so, if they are not careful, too many snacks can hinder their progress!

If someone fills up on snacks all day, they may not be hungry for a meal. Or, if they do eat regular meals, too many snacks can still add up in calories.

Keeping a food journal could be helpful to track the trends, eating on real plates with real forks or spoons, or maybe just paying attention to natural hunger cues will help.

Some people mistake treats for snacks. I love treats, too, but the difference is snacks are ideally foods to fill in the nutritional gaps between meals. For instance, fresh vegetables and hummus, or yogurt with berries, or a few small pieces of cheese and crackers, or an apple with peanut butter.

Treats, on the other hand, are just that… treats. Not meant for every day, but rather a special occasion. Treats are “sometimes foods.” If one’s daily food intake allows for extra calories, perhaps they can squeeze in a couple of treats. Yum! But most of the time, we should be choosing snacks over treats.

If it’s your birthday, go for it! Celebrate your birthday. But, if your birthday happens five days a week, that’s becoming a habit. The things we do everyday have the most impact.

At the end of the day, it is important to have balance.

Spiritually, we can also load up on too many snacks instead of a meal. We can settle for little tidbits of Scripture or songs on the radio, without really chewing on God’s word. This is especially true when we are stressed or running around with too much activity.

Some days, I’m just as guilty as the next person. In our fast paced world, we need to be intentional with our time. Otherwise, we might miss Jesus altogether!

Let’s take time to ‘set the table,’ be still and focus on God. Then, and only then, will we have the strength to do all else that’s needed. But we can’t skip first things first. Jesus!

This season, take time to really feast on all of God’s goodness and grace. Read the Bible with a fresh perspective. Sit awhile with Jesus or take a walk with just Him.

Don’t settle for just snacks!

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Lord, may we hunger and thirst for Righteousness. You are the Giver of all good things. Everything we need is in You! Fill our lives with more of You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like snacks in addition to your meals? What’s your favorite snack and/or holiday treat?

Tasks: Set aside fifteen minutes (to start) to read God’s Word each day. Lay aside your electronics and sit in peace. For the Christmas story, read Luke Chapter 2.

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

Finding Grace #233

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! On Sunday, we enjoyed our usual church gathering, and I noticed some of the trees are already starting to change colors! I saw beautiful yellow leaves, but I’m not sure I’m ready for cooler weather… 🙂

On Monday, I attended orientation at the local college where I will be teaching a nutrition class! The semester starts this next week. It was good that I did because I learned a lot, met some great people, and got a little more acclimated to my department.

This week, I celebrated one year working at the VA! I can’t believe how fast this year flew. I have really enjoyed serving Veterans, and I love working with a wonderful team of dietitians and other staff! At the same time, I have been challenged and grown professionally, which positions me well to teach at the college this fall. #winning

This week, I made some exciting progress on a few projects. It can be challenging to keep everything straight, but my family was good to offer input on some key decisions. I also confirmed plans for Lydia’s fall school and daycare options. This included calls, emails, and paperwork. It was a big week, and I had to keep everything straight! It was a little complex, but, I am really thankful for God’s provision and direction.

Yesterday and Today, I have been hyper-focused on finishing up my syllabus! I mowed a couple days ago and postponed hanging out with a friend so I could keep my momentum. Earlier, Lydia helped me with some housework (teamwork makes it faster). Then, she after that, she spent much of her time playing with a friend. So, that has been helpful!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Worship

In His Hands

On Sunday, Lydia and I were talking with friends outside after church. We were talking about school with a little girl Lydia’s age. They often play together and, occasionally, have sleepovers. Our conversation included discussing school supplies, which somehow led to us talking about some clay the little girl has at home. Both girls really love art supplies!

Then, Monday, I attended orientation on the campus where I will be teaching a nutrition class this fall. I will be an adjunct instructor, and this is in addition to my VA position (in my off time). I really enjoy the academic atmosphere and the campus is quite beautiful! There are so many gorgeous trees!

I always enjoyed school and was, thankfully, good at it, so this is probably no surprise to those who know me best. I love teaching and helping people learn new ways to think and live. I also enjoy the relative quiet on campus (at least until the students arrive, haha!).

It was great to meet other new employees, as well. 

Needless to say, it was peaceful and I felt like I was in my element… all of this despite of the fact that I have a ton of organizing and preparing to do for the semester, which starts next week. I have my work cut out for me, but I’m excited for it all to come together!

When I woke up on Tuesday, I had the sense that I am right where I need to be. That said, I had the passage from Jeremiah 18:1-6 in my head:

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

This passage is part of a prophecy, warning Israel of impending judgement.  There were many types of clay jars in Biblical times. Some likely carried water or held olive oil, grains, fruits, or other foods. Some might have been toys, gifts, or decorations. Each served a purpose!

Today, I am focusing on these verses above. There are at least a couple of ways to think about them. I could be scared and fight against what God is doing in my life (trying to do it my way), or I could let Him mold me and transform me into whatever plans He has for me.

Similarly, some people might read these verses and doubt, saying, “Oh, I’m only a lump of clay.” But, I read them as a challenge to dream of all God’s plans for me. He fortifies me with His strength.

With Jesus, I am more than just a lump of clay! I am a vessel. He puts me in the right environments to grow and be successful. He brings the right people to encourage me and for me to help and inspire, too. That doesn’t mean it is easy or always fun, but I know He is leading me and walking with me. Thank You, Jesus!

I have been in Fargo, ND, now for ten years. Even now, I am seeing fruit in relationships I made when I first arrived. God has been faithful and I can trust Him in the future, too. The best is yet to come!

When I relax and realize I don’t call the shots, I can let God shape my life and just ‘roll with it.’ Life is tough enough without me trying to wrestle my way through it! When I walk closely to the Lord, He prepares the way before me. He never lets me down!

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God, thanks for all You do for me. Thanks for giving me infinite value and new opportunities to grow! I know You have good plans for me, Lord. I leave it all in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: As you prepare for this next season, are you letting God move you or are you trying to move yourself? How is that working for you?!

Tasks: If you are struggling to yield to God, ask yourself why. Pray about your feelings and ask God to help you see the big picture of what He is doing in your life. Then, trust Him.

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

Finding Grace #228

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 fun and full! Work went well and I enjoyed seeing more Veterans face to face. Lydia practiced cooking at her daycare, and she even came home and made dinner for me one night! She made ‘lasagna cups’ using wonton wrappers in a muffin tin!

On Wednesday, I finished my final exam for my online cooking class! It was a fun class and I enjoyed brushing up my skills on plant-based dishes. I am sure we will continue making them as time goes on. Even just adding more vegetables every day can go a long way to bringing health!

Yesterday, I felt worn down and claimed a rest day. I did some chores and activities, but mostly relaxed. Lydia and I played some games and I worked on a few small projects. We listened to music, prepared some food, called a friend, and watched a movie. It was just what I needed!

Today, another friend called and we had a great conversation, mostly about listening to God and watching our words in this trying time. I encouraged her that God has us covered and we praised Him together! Then, I did some more chores, and later, mowed my lawn while Lydia played with the neighbors. I went over to say hello after I was done. Tonight, we are taking it easy and making some recipes together!

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

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

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

Finding Grace #223

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 full and busy week! Work flew by and was jam-packed with things to do. I saw a few patients face-to-face and also led a journal club for the other dietitians. It was a lot of fun, and I was happy to share about plant-based diets. Eat your veggies!

This week, I had a lot of random tasks to complete. I didn’t have as much energy and didn’t get much rest. I’m glad I could lean on the Lord for strength!

Yesterday, Lydia and I went to hang out with some friends. I helped deliver Meals on Wheels, too. Then, Lydia stayed to play, while I came home to get some task done. Later, I mowed the lawn before we went to visit our neighbors.

Today, Lydia and I volunteered at our church. The goal was to provide a truckload of fresh fruits and vegetables to people in our community. It was fun, and we had a good conversation about volunteering and serving others!

We had a new baby born in the family this morning. I won’t share too many details here, since I haven’t asked permission, but we are very happy! Also, Lydia and I were both so honored that the baby’s middle name is David. 🙂

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Worship

Finding Grace #208

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 memorable week! It started off a little sad, however. When Dave and I were first married, we got a beautiful golden retriever. Britain was 2 years old then, and she thought she was a 60-pound lap dog! When Dave died, it was difficult to take care of the dog when I needed to care for Lydia and myself. Britain went to live with my brother, and later, a friend’s family. Well, last weekend, I learned she passed away. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I am sure Britain and Dave are snuggling together again!

On Tuesday and Thursday, God helped me fit in several activities at work and home. There was nothing unusual or difficult, per se, but I just had a lot going on back-to-back. God does this for me every day, actually, but this week, I noticed it more! Thanks, Lord!

Lydia had an exciting week and it seems she grew so much! First, she got a haircut and new tennis shoes. Then, on Wednesday, she got her braces off! We thought she was just going for a checkup, so we were surprised! Lydia has been happily talking about how nice her smile looks and how smooth her teeth feel. We go for a retainer next week!

Today, February 29th is Leap Day! It’s always fun to do something special to celebrate. I have my first on-call weekend at work but didn’t have to go in today… Then Lydia and I tried out a new recipe for lemon ricotta pancakes (pictured above)! They were delicious and tasted just like spring. 🙂 Tonight, Lydia is going to a friend’s house for a birthday sleepover, and I’m going with friends to a women’s worship event at church!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #178

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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, we hit the ground running after our time in Duluth! It was a fairly normal week otherwise, with work and daycare, and a few deadlines. We finished off July returning library books because the summer reading programs are nearly done!

August is a pretty full, but exciting, month for us so I spent this week planning ahead. Among our normal routine, we have school registration, back-to-school night, my birthday, more travel plans, and then I will be starting a new job, right before the first day of school! I’ll share more about the new job later, but it is a really good opportunity for me.

With the new season of school and work ahead of us, I am trying to maximize my time now. This could mean stocking up on certain necessities, making freezer meals, or deep cleaning. But for a foodie like me, it also means trying out a few new restaurants before we get too busy! 😉 On Thursday, Lydia and I tried gyros at a new Greek restaurant. The food was delicious, and we happily brought home leftovers. Then, today, we met friends at a new waffle bar in downtown Fargo. We enjoyed our food and walked around downtown. Thank you, God, for good food and good friends!

Last night I started a wooden puzzle, pictured above. It had been on my mind for the last two weeks, but we’ve been focused on other things. It took me a few hours and I stayed up way too long (haha!). The pieces were cut in very unique shapes, plus the colors were a little different from the picture on the box. It was a challenge, but I also enjoyed the quiet sense of determination. Often, we want to rush ahead and see quick progress, but puzzles provide a different type of satisfaction. Unless you’re someone who hates puzzles! 😉

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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)!