Tag: adventure

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality

Moving Forward During the Holidays

Yesterday was my late husband Dave’s 46th birthday, our twelfth without him here. To celebrate, I usually give Lydia a gift in his honor. When she was little, it was a way to connect with her dad since she was so little when he died. She does not remember him but can still feel close.

So, on Monday night, Lydia got her ears pierced with a second hole. She had wanted this for a while, and it just happened to work out this week. We had an appointment at a tattoo shop, and I bet Dave would have loved it! He was usually up for an adventure and understood some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet have tons of tattoos. đŸ™‚

Dave didn’t have any tattoos, and neither do I. But I opted for the tattoo place because Lydia had a little trouble after getting her ears pierced the first time at a box store. I wanted to be able to go back and talk with someone knowledgeable if needed. Thankfully, she is doing fine now!

The man at the tattoo shop reminded me a lot of Dave’s good-naturedness. He was cheerful and friendly,  able to converse on a wide variety of topics, eager to help, and a good teacher. He has three kids and loves Christmas movies. He was a lot of fun, and if I ever did decide to get a tattoo, I know I’d be in good hands. đŸ˜‰

Meeting the tattoo artist was a surprising breath of fresh air! I did not expect the experience to be so intriguing. As I listened to him chat away, I thought about how his excitement and passion for his work and life mimic how we Christians should represent Jesus.

I don’t know if this man knows Jesus, but I pray he does. His zest for life was contagious, and I envisioned the spiritual impact he could have. His little tattoo shop has ministry potential! I have a few friends with similar personalities, and they make following Jesus fun!

Free Joy Christmas Tree photo and picture

Did you know Jesus was the most joyful person who ever lived? Despite being born into poverty, He lived a full and fulfilled life. Despite coming to die (on purpose!), He lived out his mission. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit and stayed connected to His Father.

I love how we can connect to God all throughout our day and in various places. Who knew I would see glimpses of Jesus (and even Dave!) at a tattoo shop?! It is cool to read in Isaiah 49:16 that God has written (or tattooed) our names on His hands!

The holidays can be tough for many people, and if you are struggling, I would encourage you to keep your eyes open. Look for joy in unexpected places. Keep moving forward. Jesus is with you and for you. Put your trust in Him, and let Him surprise you!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You show up and surprise us with Your goodness. Help us navigate our complex emotions. Help us move forward with Your joy, peace, and grace this season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any tattoos? How is your holiday season going so far?!

Task: Take each day as it comes. Look for Jesus and stay present with Him.

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

Finding Grace #456

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 good week! It started off busy and ended up fairly ‘chill.’

Monday through Wednesday was full of patients. It was a little hectic at times! But, it all turned out well. I also went in on Friday, but by then, it was fairly quiet!

Work was a bit slower, though still steady. I simply had less patients scheduled but still got a lot of things done. It was nice to have a lighter load. As such, I had time to call some extra patients and finish a few small projects.

We received a few snow flurries throughout the week, but no major accumulation. The temperatures were lower than usual, but we dressed warm and were fine. With no wind, it really wasn’t that bad! đŸ˜‰

Thanksgiving was on Thursday. We had a really relaxing day with no real plans. It was a perfect day reading, watching movies, laughing, etc. I made a few dishes, including a delicious pumpkin pie tart.

On Friday, Lydia volunteered with a friend’s family to help at the combined annual Cookies with the Claus Family and Festival of Trees events by Fraser, Ltd. This organization serves several underprivileged groups around the area and is North Dakota’s oldest non-profit. She had fun passing out cookies and guiding people along. She even got to ride in a horse-drawn sleigh! She was gone most of the day but came home excitedly telling me about it all. I think it made a good impression on Lydia; she’s already talking about volunteering next year!

Today, I exercised and worked on a few simple projects around the house while Lydia hung out with a friend. It was a good 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 Books and Movies I Like, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Words

Words Can Change Your Brain

I recently saw both a social media post and an article about a book, Words Can Change Your Brain. Certain neuroscientists have conducted several studies, and the book compiles part of their research. One quote stuck out to me: “A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”

The post mentioned how any negative word or phrase you think or say during a workout (or trial) makes stress hormones in your body, hindering your progress. Thoughts of worry, fear, or inferiority can scramble neurochemicals and reinforce what you are thinking. In this context, the word “NO” shuts things down. “I can’t. This is too hard.” Our brain does not correctly distinguish between fact and fantasy – it just assumes the worst, that there is a valid threat!

However, one positive word can make all the difference. For example, “YES” is full of possibilities! It reduces stress and turns on genes and neurochemicals for our well-being. We make more adrenaline, dopamine, epinephrine, and endorphins to help us overcome the challenge.

Over the weekend, I applied this to lifting weights and found it helpful! I felt good and did more reps than usual with a higher weight. I will keep it in mind moving forward!

This made me think of other reasons to check our thoughts. Our brain chooses either a path of faith or fear. It cannot choose both at the same time. “YES” often correlates with faith, while “NO” tends to run with fear. I’m not talking about those times when we need to set healthy boundaries but rather when trying something new, which can be scary! We must face our fear to move past it.

Instead of ruminating on our thoughts (negative or positive), we can meditate on God’s Word. There are so many wonderful verses… His Word is the best!

Here are some faith-filled Scripture verses to consider:

John 1:1-5 (NIV), “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Romans 8:31 (NIV), “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV), “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV), “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

1 John 4:18 (NIV), “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

God, in His infinite wisdom, programmed our brains to run on faith, love, joy, peace, and hope. We can trust that He has good things in store for us. He is our YES and AMEN. We don’t have to choose fear!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for taking such good care of us. Thanks for teaching us Your ways. Help us keep moving forward in faith; may we stand firm against fear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What is your favorite Bible verse? How can you use it to grow your faith?

Tasks: Replace fearful thoughts with faith-filled thoughts. Next time you face a challenge, say “YES” and watch God’s power work through you!

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

Finding Grace #449

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

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

This week was full of a special kind of grace, a sweet mix of work and rest.

Work was busy, like usual, but somehow, it all turned out well. I was able to stay on top of my charting and help a few of my coworkers. I am grateful for God’s help!

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet and listen to a well-known plant-based doctor and researcher speak at the Fargo Theater downtown. Dr. Neal Barnard lives in the Washington, DC area, but he grew up in Fargo! I have many plant-based nutrition books, but I bought one of his new ones so he could sign it. đŸ™‚ He said he wanted to clone me as a dietitian! đŸ™‚ He was very down-to-earth, and his sister and three brothers sat behind me. Dr. Barnard was an excellent speaker, so funny and relatable. Naturally, he talked a lot about fruits, veggies, and antioxidants! Indeed, I may use some of his examples for my own patients. It was a really cool event, and I will keep thinking about it in the coming days!

Before that, I went back to Trefoil Park and noticed even more fall colors since I was there last week. I spent quite a while walking around and taking pictures. In fact, this was a great week for nature walks! I went to Lindenwood Park (ND) and Gooseberry Park (MN) on Friday to do the same, and I also walked around my neighborhood on a hunt for pretty trees! It was a gorgeous week!

Today, Lydia and I have mostly relaxed. I worked on a few small projects and made some vegetable soup. We are rewatching The Chosen and might play a game, 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, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Travel

Finding Grace #442

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 Plant Leaves photo and picture

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

This was an exciting week! It was a little busy at first, but good overall!

Lydia had her first day of seventh grade on Wednesday. She has some interesting classes and already likes her teachers. She is going to have a great year!

Yesterday, I took my car in to have something checked with the oil. I knew it was not leaking, but I had a question about it possibly burning oil. I ended up just talking with them, and we decided I should keep an eye on it and add oil when needed. It is likely related to the age of my car (11 years!), and replacing the engine would cost around six thousand dollars! I am grateful they were honest and upfront. I really appreciate that they don’t try to upsell their cars or services. I hope to keep this car for a few more years!

Today, I took Lydia and a friend to Detroit Lakes, MN, about an hour away from Fargo. We went searching for some giant trolls, created by Danish artist, Thomas Dambo! We hiked all over and found them all and even an evil golden rabbit (part of the storyline). We also enjoyed some ‘famous local pizza and ice cream! 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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #441

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 good week. I enjoyed my birthday on Monday, and we returned home from Medora. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

On Monday, I went to the chiropractor again. My hip is still bothering me, but I don’t think it is a new injury; rather, I think it’s just from daily life building up over time. I found an online deep stretching program I will try in addition to the other things I do. After only three days, I still have pain, but I am noticing a difference in mobility!

At work, I had a full schedule but also fit in six additional patients! It will take some time to catch up with charting, but that’s okay. Two fun things happened, though. We celebrated my birthday with chocolate cake on Tuesday. Also, a coworker and I went for a walk when it started to pour, so we had to jog back to the office. We were drenched but laughing. A fun memory for sure!

On Wednesday, I was involved with a very minor fender bender with a state vehicle! I was behind the car at a stop light and rolled into it when my foot accidentally came off my brake. It could have been because I was sitting funny related to my hip. My back was a little sore, but my car is totally fine. I called the police to file a report, and I got a simple warning for “following too close.”  It was definitely my fault, and I am grateful there were no major issues with the other driver. He was very understanding!

Yesterday after work, I met a widow friend for lunch at a newer little French bistro in town. We had fancy coffee and a delicious meal, along with great conversation. I took home a couple of giant croissants to share with Lydia. đŸ˜€ Then, in the evening, we met some old friends, Owen and Krystal, who were in town visiting. They now live in Colorado with their four kids, but they were a huge part of our support system when Dave was sick (as mentioned in my book). It was fun to see them!

Today, I was on-call for work. I had to go in for two patients, but they were fairly easy. Later, I spent time with Lydia, roasted some veggies, took a nap, and made phone calls.

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

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

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

Finding Grace #440

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 Grass photo and picture

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

This week was busy because we were trying to get a lot done before heading out on a birthday adventure. We had to get a few chores done early, pack, etc., in order to be gone for a few days. It was all worth it, of course!

Work was full, and I had a lot of paperwork. It all turned out well, but I added a few patients to my already full schedule. The fun part was that we celebrated a coworker’s upcoming wedding and met and another coworker’s two-month-old baby!

On Monday, I went to the chiropractor, and I am so glad I did. My back needed adjusting, but my hip was even worse. It has been locked up for a couple of months! It was sore afterward for a few days, but hopefully, it is on the mend now. Otherwise, I will have to check in for another adjustment next week.

This week, I saw a lot of cool birds! First, I saw a young red-tailed hawk on my deck! I was so surprised I didn’t get a picture, even when it came back and peered in my window! On a different day, I saw a bald eagle flying over the highway on my way to work. I also saw two (and later four) cute pigeons on the windowsill at work. Certainly not as exciting as a hawk and eagle, but they still made me smile! đŸ™‚

Yesterday, after work, Lydia and I drove out west to Dickinson, ND. We drove on the Enchanted Highway and saw several gigantic scrap metal sculptures! We also saw many birds we don’t see often in Fargo since there are more people!

Today, we are visiting Medora, a little further down the road. I haven’t been since I was pregnant with Lydia! We will drive through Teddy Roosevelt National Park and see the Medora Musical tonight. The rest will be an adventure, but it will be fun to see what God has in store for us!

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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 #438

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 Us Navy Military photo and picture

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

This week was pretty exciting!

Work was busy but good. I had some complex patients and appreciated working with other providers to serve them. Eating or not eating affects everything, and I felt I made a difference this week!

On Monday evening, I decided to mow my lawn. I knew it would be hot later in the week, and it needed to be done. However, I was surprised when the ‘Frecce Tricolori,’ the Italian Air Force Aerobatic Team flew over my house (twice)! I later learned they stopped in Fargo to refuel on their way to the Oshkosh, WI, air show. It was fun to see the green, white, and red colors of their flag trailing behind!

Also, this week, the US Navy Blue Angels are in town for the Fargo Airsho today and tomorrow. The airport is off the same road as the VA, so for a couple of days, I saw them practicing as I went out for my lunch break. I probably stood in awe more than I walked! I have already seen them flying over my house today but we may join some friends tomorrow to watch as well. (Note: The picture above is a stock photo, not mine!)

Ironically, the VA also hosted a brass quintet from the US Navy! I followed some sailors outside as I headed out for another lunchtime walk. On my way back, I paused to watch and listen to them play!

Yesterday afternoon, I took Lydia to the music store for a quick check-in before school starts next month. It turns out she has outgrown her 6th-grade viola and came home with a gorgeous new rental! It was perfect timing for the upgrade, and we already love the sound!

After that, we went back-to-school shopping. I bought Lydia some new shoes and a few notebooks, highlighters, and pencils. She can reuse much of what she had last year since she no longer needs “little kid” things like scissors and glue!

Then, last night, Lydia had a friend sleep over. They played games, painted their nails, walked to the gas station to get snacks and slurpies, listened to music, watched a movie, and stayed up late. I was mostly in the background, but it was fun to hear them giggling so much.

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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, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom

Out For A Stroll

Yesterday, I went out for a lunchtime walk at work. I started off on a familiar route and planned to loop around and head back. I enjoyed looking at bright flowers, cute squirrels and birds, and tall trees. I called Lydia to check in, played a game on my phone, and made sure not to trip on the uneven concrete.

I kept an eye on my watch so I didn’t lose track of time. It was a beautiful day, and I felt blessed to be outside. I wasn’t rushed because the patient scheduled after lunch came before, and I was able to see him early.

As I approached my halfway mark, however, I realized I had gone a little too far! Somehow, I had made it all the way to a golf course. Yes, I was a block or two off course!

Free Cosmea Flower photo and picture

I suppose I didn’t recognize my usual turn because I came upon it from a different direction. I’ve driven by the golf course several times, so I wasn’t lost, but I added about five minutes to my walk – more than I bargained for!

Thus, what started off as a gentle stroll quickly became a pinch-hitting jog! I held onto my work badge so it didn’t flop around and high-tailed it to my office. Don’t worry—I was safe and having fun!

At one point or another, I would encounter someone walking toward me on the sidewalk. In those cases, I slowed to a walk and said hello so I didn’t alarm them. Then, I resumed jogging again.

Overall, I wasn’t too worried, but I didn’t want to be gone longer than expected. While I wouldn’t be “in trouble,” I didn’t want anyone to think I was late or question my intent. Thankfully, I arrived right on time!

Free Golf Golf Course photo and picture

When I returned, I was hot and sweaty, but I felt happy and energized. I had been a little achy before my lunch break, but apparently, the jog was just what I needed! My coworkers and I had a good laugh.

In hindsight, I should have taken the turn before the golf course, but I have wanted to check out the road along yesterday’s route anyway! đŸ˜‰ Next time, I will plan ahead and walk a little faster to begin with! Anyway, I’m grateful God worked it out, and I will check my Maps app a little more often!

I suppose another takeaway is this: As we walk with God, we need to pay attention to His pace. That may mean resting and noticing the grace, beauty, and joy around us. But, sometimes, we need to pick up the pace and get on to the next thing. Either way, we can trust Him to get us where we need to be!

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God, thanks for keeping me safe and helping me as You direct my path. Help me pay attention and follow Your lead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How quickly do you notice when you get off track? Are you quick to correct yourself, or does God have to do something drastic?

Tasks: Consider mapping out your next walk before you head out… đŸ˜‰ Check-in with the Lord, and maybe go with a buddy!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

Signs and Signals

I love to shop online, as it is often faster and easier. The items come right to my door! However, I also want to promote local businesses when I can. It is fun to see products in person and pick out the best option. Then, I can decide in the moment if it’s right for me.

Recently, I went to a few stores looking for specific things. I have to admit, I was a little annoyed when I showed up and saw they had summer hours. I have no problem with changing their hours if it is less busy during this season. The issue was that I didn’t know until I showed up! Often, the stores are out of my way, and so it felt like I wasted my time.

I parked, got out of my car, and then walked up to the entrances four separate times (one store twice on different days). That’s when I saw the sign that the stores were closed. I was irked because I looked up their hours online, but they were incorrect.

One of the stores posted that its hours had changed due to a family illness. I understand that, but I hope they can update their website soon and/or find someone to help cover while they heal. Another store has such random hours that it will take me a week to get back there since I work during the day. I took a picture of their sign and could possibly order from them online. But, the shipping costs are more than I want to pay when I could just pick it up.

Free Phone Confused photo and picture

Unfortunately, the signs on the doors did not reflect what I expected when I looked online. This happened all last week, so I started to notice the pattern. It was rather frustrating, though not the worst thing in the world.

I also thought of the signs and signals we portray to others. If we ignore people, they may not want to confide in us. If we grumble and complain, we may not portray our gratitude or the hope we have in Jesus. If we swear and yell at people, we may not reflect the grace God has given us.

Then again, people often make assumptions about each other anyway. We tend to judge and misjudge clothing, cars, lawns, and more! Someone who smiles often could be seen as joyful or like they have no problems! Someone who is quiet could come across as rude, socially awkward, or just shy. That’s why it’s good to try to understand and learn more about one another.

Clearly, we cannot live our lives to please every person we meet. That’s impossible and unnecessary. But, we can consider culture, circumstances, upbringing, personality, and other factors.

Overall, we need to do the best we can to please Jesus. However, it might be worth considering what signs and signals we are giving off. Perceptions are a two-way street! A negative vibe could turn away the very people God wants us to reach. While we can’t be true friends with everyone, we can be friendly and cheerful to anyone we see.

While it is not our job to save everyone, it is wise to connect with as many people as possible so they can meet Jesus, who does the saving! Ultimately, we can listen to the Holy Spirit’s signals and not worry about the rest!

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God, thanks for creating each of us uniquely. Help us grow in knowledge and understanding of those around us. Give us grace for one another. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever been misjudged? Was it all on the other person, or was there something in your control, too? Is there any situation you misread and need to reconsider? Is there someone to whom you could extend grace?

Tasks: Pray about your next steps this week. Consider how you can be more open with others and show them God’s grace, too! Forgive those who have misinterpreted your signals, as well!