Tag: family

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #311

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!

Nature, Winter, Tree, Sunset, Dusk, Evening, Sky

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

This was a good week! It was less crazy than last week, for sure. Work was busy, but things were more or less back to normal.

My toenail is still not 100%, but it is slowly getting better with the antibiotic. I made another doctor’s appointment for later next week, but maybe I won’t need to go!

I joined a ladies’ group at church, while Lydia participated in Wednesday activities. We started a book about women in the Bible, which should take us through the next few months. It was fun to see some old friends and meet some new ones!

Lydia had a remote learning day for school (at the Y) yesterday due to another blizzardy Friday! It wasn’t too bad in town, but there were several accidents in the rural areas. I went to work, grabbed some groceries, and picked her up early so we could enjoy a little extra time together. This included a fun 2+ hour game of Monopoly. Lydia really enjoyed being the banker… even though I won!

Yesterday, I had a really encouraging call with my mom. I called just to say hi since I missed her, but then I asked her for some advice. Through her wise words, she confirmed that I am doing exactly what God wants me to do right now. I am so grateful for her and my dad! They truly are the best parents.

Today was another relaxing day with Lydia. We played with hair, clothes, and makeup; I am so glad to have a girl! I talked with my sister and made some delicious brownies, too. Weekends are perfect for trying new things!

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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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #302

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!

Christmas, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Baubles

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

This week was quite memorable! On Sunday and Monday, we were still with family celebrating my dad’s birthday. We flew home Monday afternoon, but we are so grateful for the fun and memories we made together!

Tuesday through Friday went fast. Work went well, though several cancellations meant I could get caught up on some tasks and help others!

Wednesday night was the children’s ministry Christmas party. Lydia really had a lot of fun! But even more important, she has learned more about God’s word!

Friday was Dave’s birthday in Heaven. Congratulations to Jordyn B. who was the winner of the book giveaway in his honor. It was a fun thing to send off the book today!

Today, I finally bought a new snowblower. Every year, I have tried to coax my old one along. It was so finicky and often wasn’t up to the task. I spent a couple of hours yesterday at the store, and even more online comparing prices and features. I reached out to some friends who were able to help me make the final decision. It helped that they have a truck and that I found an online coupon which was honored in-store!

Tonight, Lydia and I are going to finish decorating the Christmas tree. We started it before our trip, but haven’t gotten back to it until now!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Ageless

This past week, Lydia and I took a long weekend to fly to Chicago and visit family. My dad turned seventy, and it was so fun to surprise him!

Dad thought he was flying to see my sister and her family, but Lydia and I wanted to come, too! I had coordinated our tickets with Mom, but the rental car was in my name. Then, Lydia and I had an unexpectedly long delay at the Fargo airport, so Mom and Dad had to wait around. He was a little annoyed, but when Lydia ran up to him, he was completely shocked! He realized the joke was on him!

Lydia really enjoyed being the big cousin, and I rented my first car on a trip! God graciously helped me navigate Chicago traffic, too! We saw a few beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. And all in all, time with family was just what I needed.

In the days and weeks leading up to our trip, my siblings, mom, and a few others came up with “70 Things We Love About Tom.” Basically, we thought of all our favorite things about my dad, though we have done this for others in my family, too. My mom, my aunt, my sister, etc. It is good to honor each other and make them smile, too!

My parents are alive and well, and I am so grateful. But, life is short, and we’ve already lost several loved ones over the years. Now is the time to show our love!

As I think about our trip and celebrating family birthdays in general, the word ‘ageless’ keeps coming to mind. Not in terms of the absence of wrinkles… those are lines well earned! But, rather for those of us who love Jesus, we will keep building upon those wonderful moments for eternity.

Yes, in Heaven, we will be made new, but I have a feeling that those godly qualities or what makes us special will just be made better! All our negative qualities will be swallowed up along with death; only the good things will survive.

My late husband, Dave, has already experienced all for that first hand. He was already pretty amazing, to begin with, so Dave being even more “Dave” blows my mind!

As Christmas is just around the corner, now is a good time to reflect on how Jesus makes all things possible. One day, all we know will be renewed. The old will pass away, and we will become how God sees us already, all He made us to be.

On December 25th, we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, that is, His coming to Earth. But, He always has been and always will be.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient of Days.

Yes, Jesus truly is ageless… but His birth (and death) are also timeless. One sacrifice with an impact that will be felt for all eternity.

I love how Jesus welcomes us in like family and holds everything together. He is unmatched and loves you more than life itself. Life is short, so don’t miss the opportunity He brings. Invite Jesus into your life, and prepare Him room this season!

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God, thanks for the blessing of birthdays and family. Thanks for Your love and for all You do for us. May we remember to look for the best in others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you made a personal decision to follow Jesus? Can you imagine what the celebration of Christmas must be like in Heaven?

Tasks: Spend as much time as possible with family! Also, check out my Grace and Lemonade page on Facebook for a special giveaway, in honor of Dave’s birthday!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Finding Grace #301

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!

Barn, Red, Christmas, Wreath, Farm, Rural, Landscape

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

This week was fun and short! On Monday, we had friends from church over. We enjoyed some treats and had shared many laughs. We also shared some struggles and prayer requests, then offered support to each other. It was such a rich time!

I took a couple of days off from work to spend time with family. That meant I had to cram a whole lot of tasks into just a few days. At home, I kept things simple. At work, I got everything finished thanks to a friend/coworker taking one of my patients!

Sometimes cramming a lot into a little space of time is stressful.  I tried to keep things in perspective and invite Jesus into each situation. And, I took lots of deep breaths.

We enjoyed seeing extended family and celebrating some December birthdays! We pulled off a big surprise for my dad. It was so good to see them since we all live so far away!

This week, I sent out more books and enjoyed hearing from several people about what my words and story meant to them. If you ordered from one of the online retailers, I would appreciate it if you could leave a positive review. Thank you very 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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #295

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!

Wooden Bridge, Autumn, Fall, Season

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

On Monday evening we went to a friend’s house for a dinner meeting. We had a really good meal and some great conversation! I am grateful for godly friends!

Yesterday, I got my COVID booster shot at work. (I qualify because I am a healthcare worker.) I feel a little sore today and have a headache, but otherwise, I feel well. I hadn’t thought much about getting it, but I decided it was a wise idea because it’s been almost a year since I got the first shot. I am still glad I got it.

Last night, Lydia went to a “glamping” birthday party. It was so cool! A local company set it all up, with heaters, little mattresses/bedding, etc. The girls did each others’ hair, played, ate pizza, watched a movie, and slept outside in the tent. The weather was cool, but perfect for a celebration! Definitely a fun, unique experience!

Today, I did a little cleaning, cooking, and organizing while Lydia was still at the party. Then, tonight we are going to see my aunt who is nearby visiting some of her relatives. It will be great to see her!

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

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

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #293

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!

Sparrow, Bird, Animal, Green-Backed Sparrow, Small Bird

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

This was a solid week, full of God’s grace! I had Monday off from work (Columbus Day), and I spent it catching up around the house. Then, I had some friends from church over in the evening. It was a much-needed fun and relaxing day!

Tuesday was quite busy at work and at home. I changed my work hours slightly to accommodate a later patient. Thankfully, I was able to squeeze in a quick appointment beforehand. But, the rest of the day kept me on my toes.

After I picked up Lydia, we ran to the grocery store. Thus, we arrived home about an hour and a half later than normal. That’s when I realized I wore blue jeans instead of my usual dress pants to work! Thankfully, no one else noticed either, including my boss! (I told her and some of my coworkers the next day; we all laughed and agreed it was probably due to stress!) Whew!

My mom’s birthday was yesterday. It was a special birthday (number-wise), and I enjoyed chatting with her after work. It was great to have her all to myself! I am grateful I get off early on Fridays. 🙂

Today, I spent some time exercising in the morning and later went shopping for some new fall and winter decor! It’s fun to get new things from time to time. Lydia was invited to a friend’s house for a playdate, so it was nice to have a few hours to myself on such a beautiful, sunny autumnal day!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #292

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!

Tree, Deciduous Tree, Sunbeams, Sunrays, Linden, Autumn

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

This was a great week! Over several evenings, I raked up as much of the dead grass as I could. My neighbor boy and Lydia helped a bit, too!

It was another busy work week. But, it all went well. I picked up some extra patients, but I also had some cancellations. As usual, I always leave it all in God’s hands. That helps me feel good about what I accomplish (and not to take it too hard when I don’t get it all done).

I had some great phone conversations this week, as well as some fun texts with friends and family. I talked with a woman whose boyfriend of many years died a few months ago. I also talked with my parents in Florida, and it was great to hear their voices. I also talked with my sister and her family in Illinois. My little nephew is in a really fun stage of toddlerhood!

Today, I woke up early and well-rested because I actually went to bed early! Imagine that! 🙂 I took advantage of the opportunity to finish the last round of raking before the rain came. While raking near the bike path, I talked with a lady and petted her two dogs, an Australian shepherd named Rudy and a Yorkshire terrier named Walter. So fun!

Then, I walked a few miles on my treadmill and did some chores before spending the rest of the day resting. I did some cooking and caught up on some reading. I am reading a book called, The Other Half of Church. It was a little therapeutic to relax on a rainy day!

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

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

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #283

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! We started off the week in Ohio family. It felt great to relax with some of our favorite people! Then, Monday we flew back home. We had two flights with a few hours in O’Hare. It was late when we finally went to sleep in our own beds, but it’s always good to be home after traveling.

At work, I hit the ground running. I saw several Veterans and completed some online trainings. finished setting up my new office space, too. I moved a filing cabinet, and swapped the garbage and recycling cans. I organized some drawers and handouts. Also, the printer was moved around the corner and my cabinets and bulletin board were moved up a few inches to give me more space. I am happy with how it turned out! 

The rest of the week was spent unpacking (laundry!), organizing the house, running errands, making phone calls, and catching up with mail. Lydia’s suitcase, which actually belonged to Dave and is at least fifteen years old, came off the airplane with a large hole. It was time for an upgrade! I bought her new slippers, too, since we snagged a good sale!

Today, we mostly cleaned and organized before company comes next week. If we don’t stay on top of things, they quickly get out of hand! So, you we had our work cut out for us. 🙂 Lydia rode her scooter and drew with chalk a bit. Later, some neighbor friends came over to play!

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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, Travel

Like Ants or Amoebas

This past week, Lydia and I flew to Chicago and stayed overnight with my sister’s family. Then, we all drove together to northwestern Ohio to see family for my aunt’s birthday. The party was fabulous, and we loved the dueling pianos!

It was extra special since it was the first time my parents and all my siblings have been together in close to three years! We are now spread out over several time zones, plus we have work and family responsibilities, which can be a challenge to show up all at the same time and place. I’m grateful for calls, texts, and Zoom, but meeting in person is best!

On our way back to Fargo, I let Lydia have the window seat on both flights. She loves looking out the window, and in a small way, I am shielding her from potential trouble by keeping her tucked out of the way. She really enjoys watching earth fade away and then grow close again. The picture above shows Lake Michigan and beyond!

Monday was a beautiful, sunny day, and we watched the lush green Ohio countryside grow into a patchwork quilt of trees and farmland. It was so pretty. We watched river and lakes shine back their reflection to the sky. Stunning!

We saw whole communities spread out before us. We even saw tiny little cars driving along the road. Lydia and I both agreed they looked about the size of ants! 

Then, we had a cool conversation about God. We talked about how people are even smaller than cars, and we wondered just how tiny we must look to God. If you watch this video (below) from the airplane, you’ll see a couple tiny cars! 

Isn’t it cool to think about? God is SO much greater than us, and as our Holy Creator, He so far above us. Heaven is far beyond our flight pattern! Yet, at the same time, God is right here with us. Before us, after us, within us, all around us. Mindblowing!

Our problems really must seem insignificant to God, yet He still cares about every little detail of our lives. Perhaps my problems appear like ants… or microscopic amoebas to God! No worries, He’s got this!

Indeed, a good vacation can remind me that my problems aren’t that important. Time away doesn’t make problems disappear, but when I return, I see they carried on just fine without me! Still, I am grateful for the break!

Jesus ascended in the clouds, and that’s how He will return, too. Whatever problems are on your mind today, trust God. He rides upon the wind and speaks peace to the waves. He calms the storm and controls the weather. He sustains us and takes good care of us, too!

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God, be praised, forever and always! Thanks for the reminder that I don’t have to handle all my burden on my own. God, thanks that You are with me and for me. Help me keep my problems in the right perspective. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When going on vacation, do you prefer to drive or fly? Where is your favorite place to visit?

Tasks: Consider how great our magnificent God is and how small we are. Watch this video by Louie Giglio about our awesome Creator and Father and Sustainer.

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

Finding Grace #282

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 week! On Sunday, Lydia enjoyed telling everyone on Zoom about her adventures at camp.

Work went well, too. A lady in our department is retired after 20+ years, so we had a surprise celebration for her. It was so funny because we chose Wednesday for the actual party, but I suggested Friday as a “fake” celebration to throw her off a bit. My other coworkers  and I had a fun time covertly planning the party. We will miss having her around, but we also have a good plan in place for the transition as she leaves.

On Tuesday I felt so loved at work. A friend, who arrives earlier than me, saved me some coffee from the old batch, specifically knowing I am not a fan of the fresh, flavored kind that she made afterward. It was sweet of her to think of me! Also, a couple of the managers went out of their way to help me transition to my “new” office space. It was kind of them to take the time to help when they are usually so busy!

Lydia and I had a great time visiting family in person this week!! We celebrated my aunt’s birthday, and it was the first time my parents and all my siblings had been together in at least a couple years. We saw my nephew, now a year old, and met my new baby niece. Lydia enjoyed playing with both of her little cousins and seeing much of our extended family. Many of us meet weekly over Zoom, but visiting and hugging in person was wonderful!

Otherwise, Lydia and I did some deep cleaning as we prepare for a busy August full of visitors. She reorganized some of her play areas, desk, and backseat of the car. I worked on the kitchen table and my bedroom, since things seem to pile up there! It felt good to cross these tasks off our list! Now, we just have to keep these spaces looking nice!

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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)!