Category: Miscellaneous

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Protect, Provide, and Prepare

Once again, I have been thinking of all the ways God protects us. Sometimes we are aware of His mercy and grace but often we have no clue.

For instance, a while back, I was backing out of my parking space after work and was thinking about the upcoming errands for my evening. I braked and then saw the car parked directly behind me… in my rearview mirror. I did not get out to see just how close I was, but I could have easily hit the car if I had kept going in reverse.

I had no idea it was that close… obviously, I wasn’t paying attention because my mind was elsewhere. I do have a good backup camera, but since I park in a less busy lot, I didn’t put it all together that there would be a car “so close.” (All the other vehicles were nowhere near me.)

But I immediately thanked God and praised Him for watching out for me. He protected me and the other person’s car, too!

Free photos of Flower

Of course, God’s protection doesn’t always mean no trouble or lack of challenges. As you may recall, in May, I had someone my driver’s side mirror. But even then, God protected me and my car.

Thankfully, the damage was contained to only a small area. It could have been so much worse. Like if you’re going to have your car hit by someone, that’s the best possible scenario!

And, the other person paid for the damage that very day. It took about ten days to get it fixed, but I was able to drive it in the meantime. I could see God’s hand at work, even though I was unaware of how it all would play out. He is a good Provider!

That made me consider how many times God prepares us in advance for certain challenges. Only He could then uses those victories to build us up for the next challenge!

Free photos of Lavenders

How does God protect, provide for, and/or prepare you? Three things come to my mind, but there are so many more! I’d love to know your thoughts, too!

1) God protects us from and prepares us for unknown circumstances. This might include getting a medical test for one reason and catching another illness early while it is still treatable. Note: It may not work that way for someone you know, but God is no less good. He is still in control and has a plan and purpose for the pain!

2) Sometimes, God steps in and stops or promotes a decision outside of your control. (Case in point: A few months ago, I faced a tough decision that was already made in my favor by the time I showed up.)

3) God protects us and prepares us by using the people in our lives, too. Some people rotate in and out, while some stick around. And some circle back at a different time! But, ultimately, He works these relationships out for our good, which often means growth and refining.

One final example: Last weekend, I needed to change a light bulb in the garage. It was a 48″ fluorescent one, and my arms don’t extend that far! I was three rungs up on a ladder and kept getting down to try another angle. Not my favorite thing! I had a hunch that Lydia would come find me and scare me by accident. Sure enough, I soon heard her on the other side of the door getting her shoes. Thank You, God, for the heads up!

So, I paused and called to her. She came outside and I reminded her to stay back. We then prayed that I could get the light in both sockets without falling. Praise God, I did it!

At the end of the day, there are countless ways God protects, provides for, and/or prepares us. Regardless of what happens in our lives, if we are on God’s side, we can trust He will work everything out for our good and His glory. That’s a promise in Romans 8:28!

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God, thanks for all Your goodness to us! Lord, we only see a small part of what You do every day. Lord, help us become aware as we learn to trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is one example of how God worked things out for you recently? Did He protect you outright or prepare you to walk through the challenge?

Tasks: Make a list of how God is working in your life lately! Listen to “For the Good,” by Riley Clemmons.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #328

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 had some ups and downs, but I certainly saw God’s grace all around me. The picture above shows some more beautiful flowers in the healing garden at work!

My arm is still a little bruised after falling down that small set of stairs almost two week ago! I have a little bump under the skin, and I am praying it continues to heal. It is right where my arm hits the table when I am typing… which probably means I need to improve my form at work and when blogging. 😉 Anyway, it is still a little painful and I appreciate your prayers!

I heard some sad news that an extended family member died early in the week. My uncle had Alzheimer’s disease and was fairly young. It had been a long time since I had seen him as he lived in Ithaca, New York, but I always think of him when I drink my Caribou Coffee at home or eat Thomas brand English muffins (so basically, several times a week!). Nearly twenty years ago, a good friend and I went out to visit his family when we were considering where to go to grad school. As you can imagine, we made many memories on that road trip! We visited Cornell and Uncle John introduced several foodie delights before they became well-known around the country. He was quite funny and will be missed.

Work was busy as usual, but went well. Every day was full of different meetings and patients, but I was able to connect with my coworkers, which always makes it worthwhile. We have some upcoming changes in the near future, such as covering a maternity leave and transition between two other staff positions. It was good to find out more about what temporary changes we will need to make, though we don’t have all the details just yet.

Today, we have been working on some home improvements. Most were little things, like tightening some screws on the deck or reorganizing our little free library. But, we also cleaned and rearranged some more of the garage. I definitely was thinking about how much Dave loved hands-on work as I swept, put things on shelves, put air in my bike tires, and used the shop vac. I started cleaning the workbench but decided to take a break. It’s looking 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 Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Lessons from History

“Ok, Lydia, you need to get ready for bed.”

“You’re not going to watch this without me, are you?!”

I had to laugh because Lydia seems to like history and documentaries like me! Well, sort of… some of them are a little gruesome in their realistic reenactments of war. I don’t think she quite “gets” things like I do just yet, but maybe it will serve her well as she learns about some of the topics and people in school.

Maybe I’m a nerd, but lately, I have watched a PBS documentary on Benjamin Franklin; a few episodes on Wondrium about famous American women; and History Channel documentaries on Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt. Wow. I am in awe.

Free illustrations of United

Ben Franklin had a lot of flaws, but he was also basically a genius, and this carried over to his skills as a statesman and inventor. We are still operating on principles he suggested in our nation’s infancy.

US Grant was an understated hero. I read a biography about him as a kid but I had forgotten a lot of details. (I put those long school bus rides home to good use!) He was humble and somewhat misunderstood, yet he did his best under tough circumstances. He could be a bulldog at times, but also quite kind and thoughtful. As a side note: He knew or knew of most of the commanders of the Union and Confederate Armies in the Civil War because they went to West Point together and had similar training.

So far, the women have been abolitionists, suffragists, writers, and/or wives of Presidents. I am grateful for the example they set to pursue their passions and channel their ideas for the greater good!

Teddy Roosevelt (TR) was an anomaly of sorts. He was a sick weak child, but he pushed himself. Every channeled his emotions and energy into every challenge he faced. TR was popular, friendly, and full of flare. He was occasionally self-centered, but he was able to fight for the underdog. He brought reform, and I imagine he would have a heyday in our government now! Did you know TR was a young boy and watched Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession outside his grandfather’s New York home?!

Regardless of the storyline, it is so interesting to learn about each person: their personality quirks, family background, wins, losses, and life challenges. We tend to remember their successes, but really, they held prejudices and weren’t always on the “right side” of history.

Still, they persevered and we can learn from them. I would have loved to meet some of these famous people. Not because they were icons, but really to say ‘thank you’ for all they did. Next up: A documentary on the Buffalo Soldiers.

Free vector graphics of Ulysses grantFree vector graphics of Theodore roosevelt

This small sample of men and women had great impact, and I can see how God used them to carry out His purposes. At the same time, I know the vast majority of us will never be famous. Maybe you are well-known among your peers, but maybe not.

But, the cool thing is… our contributions still matter, too! God notices every little thing. He has placed each of us at this point in History. He has great work for us to do!

We may never fully understand how much impact we will have on those who come after us. But, we can’t let fear stop us from living fully today.

For instance, TR had a lot of losses in his life. Yet, he seized the opportunities he had knowing they might never come again. Let’s do the same, knowing God is with us and for us. He stands ready to empower us, so let’s move with His grace and guidance!

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God, You are the Author of History. Thanks for guiding our nation; Lord, we need Your mercy and grace even now. Help each of us to do our part. Show us how to keep living for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like history and documentaries? If you could have lunch with any famous person, living or dead, who would you pick?

Tasks: Don’t let fear get the best of you. Your life matters! Step out in faith and become all God intended!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #327

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 week, full of hard work!

Oddly enough, I fell down a small set of stairs, after missing the bottom step. Thankfully, I was not hurt badly and just had a nice bruise on my arm where I caught myself. It is still a little sore and colorful but improving.

Lydia attended a couple of art classes during the week. She went with a friend, and it was really helpful because she could get a ride there. They pour-painted some canvases and created objects with resin. It was fun to see the end results!

Each night this week was busy. It included the typical blog writing, grocery shopping, and other errands. But I also ended up mowing, paying some routine bills, and making summer plans. All good things, but it all took a lot of time.

I saw some gorgeous peonies in the healing garden at work (picture above). Walking through the garden is one reason I park across the street every day (instead of the regular employee parking lot)! 

On Friday, I took myself to see another movie after work, while Lydia was at a YMCA field trip. This time, I saw Top Gun: Maverick! It was really good. It had a lot of references to the original 80s movie, but I think it was even better. Not only the improvised picture and action, but the storyline brought things full circle. I’d recommend it!

Today, I finished putting out the deck furniture (after staining it last weekend). I also worked on catching up around the house, while Lydia worked on chores, cleaning her room, and doing some art at home. We had the screen door open all day! It felt pretty relaxing and productive!

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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, Parenting, Wisdom, Worship

Keeping An Eternal Perspective

Lydia and I recently were talking about habits that are helpful versus habits that are not. We discussed seemingly benign ideas like playing games on her tablet, watching our favorite shows, and more.

Around this time, she also came up to me and exclaimed, “Mom, do you know how long eternity is? Forever!! I can’t even think how long that is!” Her mind was blown!

Sensing an opportunity to tie these things together, I steered our discussion toward the types of things we should be doing to prepare for eternity. Some examples would include reading our Bibles and learning Who Jesus is. We imagined what it would feel like showing up in Heaven not knowing anything about it, other than Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We agreed that want to make sure we know as much as we can now!

Free photos of Mountains

Soon, Lydia’s eyes lit up in understanding. Our lives are so brief in light of eternity. I told Lydia our current problems will someday seem very small and distant. Though it doesn’t feel that way in the stress of the moment!

That very night, she started rereading her Action Bible, which is a graphic novel version of the Bible highlighting key stories. I did remind her that it doesn’t have every story in it, so we need to make sure to read the real Bible, too.

I appreciate that the Action Bible brings the stories to life in a fun way. Lydia jumped straight to Revelation, as she has been fascinated by the Rapture and the great beast who brings horrible evil. This led us to briefly chat about how crazy this world is becoming. It’s good to know the signs of the times!

We also talked about faith versus works, and what that means for believers and unbelievers on Judgement Day. We all will have to give an account of our actions!

Then, in her actual Bible, Lydia somehow found the story of Elisha and the widow in 2 Kings 4. “Mom, I didn’t even know this story was in here!” We talked about how the widow followed through on Elisha’s command to collect jars from her neighbors to hold the oil. She was able to sell the oil and provide for her family. Our actions demonstrate our faith in what God can/will do!

It’s no surprise that Life can be complicated at times. We plan and prepare, yet still, our days get crazy and chaotic! It’s easy to get stuck on whatever problem is in front of us that day. How quickly we forget the bigger picture!

Sometimes we try to do it all on our own, forgetting that God is right there. If you find yourself spinning your wheels or hitting a wall, check back in with God. He is our peace.

Besides, Jesus told us not to worry because each day has its own troubles! So, it’s good to ask ourselves, “In light of eternity, does this matter?” As someone once told me, “It’s all gonna burn someday!” Let’s keep an eternal perspective as we go about our day.

Let the Holy Spirit instill you with His grace and strength. He is not only our Advocate and Comforter, but He is also our Teacher. He is preparing us for greater things, which absolutely includes Eternity!

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God, thank you for setting Eternity in our hearts. Help us live each day fully, walking in Your grace, truth, love, and peace. Help us keep the main thing the main thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you prepared for Eternity? How can you stay close to Jesus today?

Task: Remember, the best way to succeed in Life is to stay close to God. Know Jesus, accept His sacrifice, death, and resurrection. Then, live for Him! (As always, reach out if you have questions or need some guidance on what this means for you!)

 

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #326

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 photos of Spring

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

This was a great week overall!

On Sunday, we went to the Fargo National Cemetary to see the graves of our local heroes. The veteran cemetery has been open since late 2019. It was a cool experience and Lydia had several good questions.

 Work was busy as usual, yet was even wilder because a few people were gone unexpectedly! So, it was a shorter week (due to Memorial Day on Monday), but we had a lot of coverage needs, which kept us hopping. It was funny because we need to switch things around sometimes last minute. It all went fine, though, and we even pulled it all together to celebrate a coworker’s amazing 30 years of federal service!

I got my car mirror fixed yesterday, and it looks great. They offered me a ride home since I live a little over two miles away. But, I decided to walk both ways since it was a pretty day. I saw some cute dogs and listened to some audiobooks along the way! It was a fun experience and worth the long walk!

Today, I was on-call for work and did get called in for a couple of consults. They were pretty straightforward, so I was grateful. Then, I went home and spent most of the afternoon outside. I put a fresh coat of paint on some benches and did a little work on the deck.

While I was outside, I saw a juvenile robin in the grass who still had some of its downy feathers and speckled breast (similar to the pic above). At first, it scared me since I thought it was a mouse! But, over the course of two hours, I watched it move around the yard as it cheeped. Sometimes, it sat with its mouth wide open and waited alone. Occasionally, I would see its parents close by. I took some pictures but stayed a safe distance away. It was so cool to see the little fledgling! 

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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, Parenting, Personality, Travel, Worship

Go With the Flow

Last weekend, Lydia and I took a little road trip a few hours into Minnesota! On Saturday, we visited Safari North Wildlife Park, near Brainerd. We fed the giraffes carrots and the parakeets millet. We enjoyed seeing cheetahs, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!); several types of monkeys and birds (some I had never seen before); kangaroos and wallabies; plus, gazelles, zebras, and ostriches, just to name a few.

We had been wanting to go for a while. In fact, we were going to go a couple of weeks ago to commemorate the anniversary of Dave’s death, but the weather seemed iffy, so we didn’t. Emotionally, I was on the fence because I wasn’t sure what to expect. So, I gave Lydia a fun Yes Day instead.

Even this past weekend, I wasn’t sure if we were going to go. I don’t know the area very well, and I wasn’t sure if there was anything else to do. Plus, there was another chance of rain the entire holiday weekend.

Nonetheless, a conversation with my coworker stirred my imagination and helped me lean toward going. She was telling me of a quick trip to Florida she was taking over the holiday weekend, a babymoon of sorts. They didn’t have much planned but were going to make the most of their time, go with the flow, and lounge on the beach.

On a personal note, I was inspired to just have fun since life is so short. On Friday after work, I ran some errands and was going to just relax. Then, I remembered my coworker’s enthusiasm and suggestions for things to do near Brainerd.

On a whim, I decided we should go that very day! It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day, and while I couldn’t predict the rain, my weather app showed about a forty percent chance later on Saturday afternoon. So, we had a decent amount of time to travel and still accomplish our goal!

I picked up Lydia from daycare and made my proposal. She quickly agreed to throw whatever she could into her backpack and hop in the car. I am so proud of us… we didn’t overpack! We each took one change of clothes, a swimsuit, our toothbrushes, and plus a few other small necessities, but that was it! I knew if we really forgot something major, we could just buy it or do without.

We made a hotel reservation before leaving home. Then, we drove about 2.5 hours to Baxter, MN (next door to Brainerd). I soon realized it was good to break up the drive between two days instead of one long day. On the way, Lydia and I surveyed the scenery and some Amish horses and carts driving along the highway! We also enjoyed some music, laughter, and conversation.

At one point, we heard the song “Jireh” by Maverick City Music on the radio. Lydia asked me what Jireh means. It was a name given to God by Abraham. Jehovah Jireh means ‘The Lord will Provide’ and I reminded Lydia of the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was stopped just before sacrificing his son, Isaac, only to have God provide a ram in the thicket that day… I told her, “It was as if God said, I don’t need you to sacrifice your son for Me, but instead, ‘I will sacrifice my son, Jesus, for you.'”

We also discussed how we had no real plan, but that it was the perfect opportunity for us to trust God. We didn’t know where we would eat dinner, but we knew He would provide. We didn’t have all the details about the zoo, but we would figure it out as we went. We weren’t sure if it would rain, but we were doing our best (by coming early) and trusting God with the rest.

Well, we ended up having pizza for dinner and went on a brief mission to see a couple of local lakes before swimming and watching cable tv at the hotel. On Saturday, we slept in, bought Lydia a Caterpillar hat to combat the sun (a quick stop at Fleet Farm), and then headed to the zoo. I’m glad we came the night before and decided to go with the flow!

Turns out, that day was perfect to be outside with the animals. It was a little cooler and cloudy having rained overnight. So, the animals were wide awake and active! I’m glad we didn’t wait a couple more weeks when it surely will be hot!

We really enjoyed seeing so many animals! We were there for about four hours and could have stayed longer! However, we decided to head back and continue enjoying our long weekend at home. We had the best time together, and it was sweet that God blessed us with an impromptu adventure!

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God, thanks for leading us on an adventure with You. Thanks for being our Provider. We do not need to worry or be afraid because You have us covered. Help us trust Your plans are greater than ours! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God provided for you lately? What is your favorite zoo animal?

Tasks: Listen to the song, Jireh, and trust God for your next adventure!

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

Finding Grace #325

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 photos of Crab apple

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

This was a good week, but a little bittersweet!

 First, Lydia finished up fourth grade! She had an absolutely amazing year academically and socially. Her teacher was so encouraging and really focused on forming cohesiveness among classmates. It was fun to see Lydia learn and grow. 

Nonetheless, the Texas school shooting really hit home because Lydia is in the same age group and grade as many of the victims, and her class had a similar amount of kids. I was fairly emotional for a couple of days, and I tried to pull myself together when picking up Lydia from school. It was good just to hold her close. She had already heard about the shooting from one of her friends, and we had a good conversation about it. Ultimately, we belong to Jesus and we rely on Him to keep us safe. But, we also know He can call us Home anytime, so we need to be prepared.

Yesterday, Lydia and I took a little road trip a few hours into Minnesota! Today, we visited Safari North Wildlife Park, near Brainerd. We fed the giraffes carrots and parakeets some millet. We saw so many animals and could have stayed longer than we did! We have been wanting to go for a while, but it was still a rather an impromptu decision. After this bittersweet week, I am so glad we went!

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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, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Incomparable

This week, I was showing Lydia a cute dog video online when a commercial popped up with a popular fitness brand (Company A) showcasing their gear. Of course, a trim model was using the fitness equipment and was dressed in a clingy outfit.

I was ready to move on to the next cute dog, but Lydia told me what she thought about Company A’s advertising. “Mom, they are using this skinny model to get people to buy their products.”

Her statement piqued my interest because I hadn’t expected her to be so aware. Naturally, I quizzed her a little. “What else do you think they are trying to say, Lydia?”

“If you buy this, you will be like her. If want to look like this, you have to buy this outfit and gear. There’s only one kind of acceptable person…. but of course, that’s not true.”

Free photos of Young woman

Then, Lydia mentioned another comparable brand with a slightly different focus. She said, “Company B uses people who are all shapes, sizes, and colors. Tall, short, black, white, and so on.”

I asked her if she picked up any other messages in their advertising. “You can be who you’re meant to be. You are unique and don’t have to look like everyone else. Healthy goes beyond how you look.”

“Lydia, I am impressed that you understand their marketing and can see what they really mean! Where did you learn all of this?”

She replied, “I learned that from you!” 🙂

We went on to discuss moving our bodies in healthy ways and feeding our bodies well so they will do what we need them to do. Thankfully, ‘healthy’ can mean something different for each of us!

I asked Lydia if she had a verse she wanted me to use since most of this blog post uses her words. I suggested Psalm 139 which says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

She requested, “He’s the potter and we are the clay.” This comes from Isaiah 64:8 (above). I asked why she chose that verse, and Lydia explained, “God made you special so don’t envy others. He has a purpose and plan for you! Don’t compare yourself to others because you will be disappointed. It makes it worse.”

A ten-year-old doesn’t think about original context, but even so, she had a good application! My takeaway is this: Each of us is one-of-a-kind because God Himself is incomparable.

Only in Him do we find our purpose and meaning. He alone brings fulfillment and helps us live for Him. He is our joy and peace, so we can enjoy life without worry!

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God, thanks for making us each unique. You are so kind, generous, and wise! May we remember You have created us for purpose and meaning that can only be found in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is something that makes you unique? How can you bless someone with that trait?

Tasks: Instead of comparing yourself to others, consider why God made you different and how you can use those skills and characteristics to His glory.

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

Finding Grace #324

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 photos of Nature

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

This was a good week, full of interesting surprises!

Work went well overall. It was busy, but I had some time to finally catch up! We helped collect food items for homeless and food insecure Veterans. Then, we put items in bags, trying to provide balance for two to three days worth of meals. Not enough to solve all their problems but enough to get them through a crisis where they can get more support.

 Lydia wasn’t feeling well this week, but was quite the trooper anyway. She stubbed her toe pretty badly and was limping all week. It was purple and swollen but I don’t think it was broken. Even if it was, there’s not much to do for a toe!

Early in the week, I hired someone to dethatch my yard. Then, I put down some grass seed. There are several other things that need to be done, including some mulch I need to put down and hiring a crew to stain my deck. Being a homeowner is expensive at times, but worth it!

Friday was good. After work, I went to see the new Downton Abbey movie! It was so good and I recommend it. It would be great to have another movie, but if this is it, they tied up everything really nicely. It might be my favorite thus far!

Then, I went to get some estimates to fix my car! My driver’s side mirror got hit yesterday on my way to work. The other driver took full responsibility and even paid me directly to repair it. (The quote was for $473; he rounded up and apologized for the inconvenience he caused me.) I was amazed because I wanted to trust him to keep his word and make it right, but I also know that doesn’t always happen! I could tell he was a hard worker and perceived the prompt payment was a point of pride for this man (plus more convenient than going through insurance). Ultimately, I am safe and the minor repairs will be done in the next week or so. A good lesson about believing the best in other people.

This week, I mowed for the first time this season. I also noticed my pretty pink tulips are starting to bloom and my trees are full of tiny leaves! The grass is beautiful and green…. besides the bare spots…. and I am going to put more effort into keeping it nice this year!

Today, Lydia is resting after a long week. I ran a couple errands and am getting caught up around the house. I made a lasagna which turned out really good! Perfect for a cooler, overcast 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)!