Tag: Birds

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #372

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 Bird Long-Tailed Tit photo and picture

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

This week was good. Seeing all the little songbirds on my deck brings me great joy!

I took a half day off from work on Monday and finally got my front door lock replaced! So, I am grateful that it went well.

 The weather was a little cooler (again) this week! 🙂 We got some flurries and a little accumulation later in the week. Much of the snow has melted, though. The river is high, but I don’t think it’s too bad right now, thankfully.

Work was a little calmer as well. I had plenty to keep me busy, but it all worked out just fine. I changed my tour on Friday to attend a school music program for Lydia. It was fun to see her friends and I was able to run a few errands before heading in to the office. It was a win-win!

Last night, Lydia got invited over for an impromptu sleepover. She had a blast and returned this afternoon, so I had some time to just relax. Actually, I did some cooking and cleaning, along with other “Saturday chores.” But, it was nice to not have anything pertinent to do!

Tonight, Lydia had to do some schoolwork and then tried on some skirts. She usually dresses more casually, but I wanted her to have some fancier items on hand. She helped herself to some of my high heels, and I could not believe how grown up she looked as she was twirling… such a beautiful young lady!

**********

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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Finding Grace #371

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 Robin Red-Breasted photo and picture

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

This week was filled with God’s grace. We had some company in the earlier part of the week. It’s always fun to have visitors, and we were especially glad to celebrate Easter together!

I’m thrilled to report I saw our first robins of spring! Today, I saw about twelve all sprinkled through my lawn. They enjoy my deck and trees, as do several other birds: finches, juncos, sparrows, starlings, and swallows so far!

The weather finally warmed up this week, although it will be chilly again for the next few days. The snow is melting more, hour by hour, and the grass is growing a little. I wonder if my tulips will even come up this year since they are usually already up and gone again! Perhaps I will be surprised!

Work went well this week; still busy, but I had a good discussion about the workload with my manager. Hopefully, we will figure out some manageable strategies in the coming weeks. We can only bend so far before we “break” or burn out. I took off the day on Friday for an appointment and some R&R, which really helped.

Today, Lydia and I watched our friend’s little girl! We enjoyed cuddling with her and catching up with her momma when she returned. We will probably relax for the rest of the evening, maybe watch a movie or play a game!

**********

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, Prayer

Finding Grace #370

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 Easter Lily Flower photo and picture

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

This was another good week, but it required a lot of prayers! Nonetheless, God really came through for me! One little highlight was watching little songbirds hopping around on the gigantic piles of snow in my backyard!

It seems like I talk about work almost every week, but as you know, I spend so much time there. I helped with a nursing fair and saw several patients. I also had some important conversations with my coworkers. We had some laughs and also brainstormed our way through some potential problems. It was a good feeling!

The weather was a little crazy this week. Lydia only went to her actual school on Monday; Tuesday through Thursday were remote learning due to the weather. Then, yesterday, she was off for Good Friday already. Thankfully, she handled it all like a champ!

Thankfully, the last couple of days have been above 40 and sunny, just in time to celebrate Easter! We enjoyed our church’s Good Friday service last night. We sat with some friends and worshiped the Lord. I’m grateful for the Cross!

My mother-in-law also came to visit, so she stayed with Lydia while I went to work today (I was on-call). Then, we went to lunch and went shopping! Tonight, we are enjoying a movie together. It was a really nice day after a wild week!

I pray you all have a blessed Easter weekend!

**********

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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom

Like A Mother Hen

On our recent Montana trip, we saw a grouse family on our long hike up Sentinel Mountain. These birds, also called partridges, were along the trail and then fanned out when we came along. There were about seven birds, and most of them must’ve been babies.

The mother called them to her as we passed by. It was cool to watch as they flocked back to her. She stood in one place and let them come to her, but I imagine she would’ve gone berserk if we had come closer!

These birds reminded me of the partridges we have at my house. For some reason, lately, they have been all over my yard! It makes me smile and laugh when I see them all waddle across the street into my yard. Occasionally, I have seen them by my free little library… maybe they like to read?!

Anyway, it is fun to watch the birds, even though they all run or fly away when I come around the corner. So funny! Soon the weather will change, and I wonder where they will end up.

Now, I could make this post about mothers or mothering… such as how ‘mothers know best’ or ‘mom is always there for you.’ But, for today, I want to keep the focus on Jesus.

In Luke 13:34, NLT, Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Jesus was filled with sorrow because His people would rather kill Him instead of turn to Him. He knew the disaster that was coming their way years later when the temple and much of the city were destroyed. He wanted to protect them, and He was saddened at their resistance.

Jesus said all that about Jerusalem and the Jewish people, but His words are a good reminder for us, too. When chaos comes, who do we run to? What is our gut reaction?

 It’s easy to turn to friends or turn on the television, but only Jesus saves.

We can find temporary comfort in the things of this world, but only Jesus brings peace that lasts. When you don’t know what to do, ask Jesus.

Better yet, seek Him first! Find where He is and join Him. Then, you for sure will be on the right path! His grace covers you, and He will make a way for you.

God sees you and knows you…even better than your mother. 😉 He understands exactly what you need even before you figure it out! 

Run to Him. Lean on Him. Let Him protect you and lead you. He is faithful.

**********

God, thanks for drawing us near and holding us close. May we not turn away from you, but run to You instead. May all we do glorify You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like to birdwatch? Do you have a favorite bird? Do you find yourself running to God in hard times, or do you try to solve your own problems?

Tasks: Grab a bird identification book and put a pair of binoculars in your car, so you are ready when you see some cool birds! Remember, draw near to God and He will draw near to 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! 

**********

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, Perseverance, Wisdom

Fly Away, Birdie

The summer days go so fast! I always enjoy listening to the birds sing, especially early in the morning or later at night. Some days, however, I have to slow down and remind myself to stop and take it all in.

One evening last week, Lydia had a friend over to play. We noticed a strange bird with a speckled breast sitting on the deck, and we had to figure out what it was!

I quickly (and quietly) grabbed my bird book and binoculars. I had an idea of what the bird was, but I wanted to make sure. The girls thought it was fun, and so I dragged it out while I tried to remember where I’d seen a similar bird. It had been a few years!

I asked the girls about the color, the beak, the size of the bird, etc. Soon, we determined… yes, it was a baby robin! This makes sense because we have a robin’s nest under our deck.

Soon, this was confirmed by an adult robin coming to stand guard next to the juvenile. A few moments later, we got distracted and then noticed the birds were gone.

No worries! A little while later, the girls were looking out the window and called me over!

The young bird was back! It was on the bottom step of the deck, and we were not sure if it fell or flew down the ten-or-so steps. We watched it slowly hop it’s way up the stairs, flapping its wings along the way.

The deck railing prevented us from seeing some of its progress, until suddenly, it fluttered from the top step to the opposite railing. (That’s when I realized it was a mere fledgling, as I saw its wingspan was so small and unsteady.)

Lydia and I enjoy watching birds together. We enjoy seeing finches and swallows and other common birds. I even play bird songs sometimes and see if the birds respond!

So, today, I am reminded that Lydia herself is like a little fledgling. She’s been spreading her wings a lot lately, and it is bittersweet. I am proud of her progress, as she learns to navigate certain age-appropriate issues.

These include big and small big decisions, role playing through various friendship issues, and discussing morals (right, wrong, and gray areas). She’s understanding the value of money and has been making small, reasonable purchases for herself when I let her.

Lydia is a great kid, but even while I do my best to raise her, I can’t take all the credit. Instead, I actively keep relying on the Lord since He gave her to me on loan. I show her what it means to turn to Him for guidance!

My goal is not to solve all of Lydia’s problems, but show her Jesus is the solution. As much as He cares for the cute little birds, He loves and cares for us even more!

**********

God, thanks for all You do for us. Thanks for leading us as we learn and grow. Help us to trust You and be brave as we try new things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like bird watching? Do you have a favorite song bird?

Tasks: Turn to the Lord for wisdom and guidance today. Check this out: All About Birds.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #266

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 productive week! I enjoyed a slightly slower pace at work filled with a few meetings, good conversations, yummy treats, and a fair amount of laughter. My coworkers and I were learning how to use a new tube feeding pump so we can educate our patients. It reminded me of the classic joke… how many (dietitians) does it take to change a light bulb?!

Lydia’s school was doing some state testing this week. She forgot her iPad at home because she was charging. I wasn’t able to bring it since I was already all the way across town at work. Thankfully, she borrowed one from the school library.

On Thursday evening, Lydia and I went out to eat with coworkers to bid farewell to our dietetic intern! She has been with us since January, and we all appreciated having her. She helped us with our work and was quick to learn everything we threw at her!

While at dinner on Thursday, I got to hold a coworker’s sweet four-month-old baby girl. She was so cute and alert! This baby was born the same month as Lydia so there are many similarities in the timing of her growth and development. As such, it meant a lot to me that I got to hold the baby, specifically because Lydia was the same size and age in April right before Dave got sick in May. Whenever I see a baby that age, I think about those few weeks and consider them a sweet spot before all Hell broke loose.

I went to the college campus on Friday to teach my class. It was on renal disease, which is kind of a complex topic. But, I did my best and felt good about it overall. In addition to covering the material, at least on a basic level, my goal is to give my students practical guidance to set them up for success. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the staff, too!

This week, the weather was windy and rainy at times. But, we need the rain and I was thankful it wasn’t snowing! Then again, it was absolutely gorgeous today, and I enjoyed hearing the song birds and seeing some crocuses popping up!

**********

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, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Prayer Precedes Breakthrough

When I think of this next season and semester, I am both excited for the opportunities ahead and a little nervous about how it will all play out. There are so many factors, even under normal circumstances. We have Lydia’s school and my two (part-time) positions, plus social activities and other things. Not to mention Covid-19.

Overall, Lydia and I are just going with it. We will do our best and trust God with the rest. He is with us and for us! We will get through it all with His help.

Prayer is a vital component of staying close to Jesus, and it is also a way to bless others and join God in His work. I certainly am praying for us this semester, but I am also praying for others. I pray for family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and anyone who comes to mind!

When I am driving, I also praise God for all kinds of things I see on my way to wherever I am going. I thank Him for the beautiful day, the lovely trees, colorful flowers, little rabbits, or squirrels, and the sound of birds chirping. It helps me feel His presence.

I pray for random people who look like they need some encouragement, too. I hope others do the same for me. We all need uplifting prayer!

Generally, prayer is the first step, and it needs to be followed-up by action. But sometimes, it is the best we can do in the moment. Loving someone through prayer still invites God to work in their situation.

Once, I saw a lady in a motorized wheel chair who was crossing the street in bad weather. I prayed God would keep her safe and help her feel His love that day.

Recently, Lydia and I saw a man riding his bike. He was riding with an artificial arm, which was quite a feat, but perhaps a little difficult to use. We had a whole discussion about how brave he must be to not give up activities he enjoys just because it is difficult. We prayed for God’s protection in traffic and that he wouldn’t lose his balance or fall.

I have prayed at Target for moms of crying young kids to persevere. I often say a quick prayer for my patients (before they arrive or after they leave). I also pray for people from other cultures or lifestyles different than mine; I want them to feel loved and welcomed.

Even though I don’t know these people I pray for, it is always a good reminder that each person carries great worth. Praying for strangers gets me out of my own little bubble and helps me stay thankful. In many ways, prayer keeps me from being prideful.

Prayer changes us and our environment. Prayer precedes breakthrough.

As we enter this uncertain season, let’s be in prayer for all those around us, whether we know them or not. Sure, we can pray for our own concerns, but perhaps by praying for strangers, we will see our own challenges through another perspective.

And who knows? You may just spread God’s grace and goodness everywhere you go!!

**********

God, thanks for letting us partner with You in prayer! Give us wisdom and strength as we go through this next season. Help us spread Your love, goodness, and grace to all we come in contact with. Help us be Your Hands and Feet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you ready for this upcoming season? How can I pray for you?

Tasks: Whether you walk or drive to work, school, or even the grocery store, keep your eyes open for anyone who needs help or prayer. Pray for them, yes, but don’t forget to offer practical support if you can!

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

All the Glory

I am so thankful for how God chooses to bless us and help us. Whether our day goes as planned or not, He still reigns. As long as we seek His input and aim to glorify Him, we will be on the right path. It can look different everyday, however!

Yesterday morning, I woke up with a certain set of tasks and goals but needed to switch it up as the day progressed. For instance, I grabbed my rain jacket to deal with some light rain on my way to work. I got moderately wet on my walk inside, but I didn’t mind too much. I knew, later in the afternoon, it would be nearly eighty degrees!

During my work day, I altered my plans based on how the day presented. I got some of my work done and fielded some calls and questions, too. Even though I didn’t complete all my original tasks, I tied up some loose ends and felt good about my work.

Yesterday afternoon was quite warm indeed! It was beautiful and sunny after the rain left. On my way to pick up Lydia and run some errands after work, I saw yards with tons of dandelions and yards without. I saw beautiful crabapple trees and tulips, too! I also heard various songbirds, which is one of my favorite sounds. 

Along the way, I was overwhelmed with gratitude in this current season. I appreciated the weather, but also the freedom we have to do what we need to do and enjoy life (despite various pandemic protocols). Regardless of our circumstances, God is so good!

I kept thinking about how wonderful it is that God is with us and in us and still above it all. Soon, I rolled down the windows and quietly sang the first song that came to mind: Holy, Holy, Holy.

No matter what we are doing, every moment is a great moment to praise God!

After I picked up Lydia, she showed me TWO four-leaf clovers. I don’t think I have ever found any, and she has already found several (including the ones from yesterday)! She was calm yet happy, as she had been looking for a few days. Something so simple made her feel proud of herself. Her diligence paid off!

Even though our days were different, we each were able to honor God in our own ways. I was able to praise God in the moment and on-the-go. Lydia was able to apply patience and focus to find something God created. Everything we do can honor Him!

**********

God, thanks for helping us each day. Thanks for taking such good care of us. Help us live for You and give You glory in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has your week been going? Have you been able to see God at work around you? How can you give Him glory and praise?

Tasks: Wherever you find yourself this week, take a few moments and reflect on God’s goodness. Praise Him for His faithfulness!

 

 

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #212

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 felt smoother than last week! This week, I received some solid answers about Lydia’s child care, in that they will continue offering services. I am really thankful for their efforts to provide continuity of care. I am also grateful for God’s provision while I work.

The week started off with gray skies but turned out sunny and bright. With Jesus, we are never without HOPE!! Lydia and I saw several birds this week, including a robin, a sparrow, and several geese. Thank You, Lord!

On Thursday night, I was also able to video chat with some ladies in my small group from church. It was fun to see parts of everyone’s houses and hear how they are coping. I’m grateful we can support each other through prayer and encouragement.

One afternoon, Lydia and I saw our neighbors outside enjoying the relatively warm weather. It has been a while since we connected, so we took the opportunity to catch up with them (from ~6 feet away!). It was fun and felt at least a little more like normal!

Because we canceled plans to visit family in Illinois, we switched gears and decided to meet virtually. Last night, we met with everyone online via Zoom! Although we were in four states and two timezones, we had a fun time laughing and visiting for ~two hours!

This week, Lydia was able to do some practice school work online. Her actual coursework will resume online next week. It will be an adjustment, perhaps, but I am glad for this option. Really, it adds another layer of resiliency for our school district! We will get through this together, and I bet many of the kids will remember this as a positive time!

**********

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)!