Tag: Fargo

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Comfort Amid Grief

Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time, and sometimes, that place is church! This past Sunday, I had a God moment at church that I want to share with you.

About a year ago, I met a woman and her husband. They had been watching online through much of COVID, but I met them the first Sunday they decided to “try out” our church in person.

They were really sweet, and I was glad to meet them. Flash forward to the present, and the husband’s dementia has progressed. He is now in a nursing home, about an hour and a half away. His dear wife visits him every other day, though he does not fully recognize her.

I have encouraged this wife whenever I see her; she has become a friend. Though my experience was with cancer, I know how it feels to be a caregiver and decision maker in an end-of-life situation. Watching your beloved spouse decline is difficult, and I have been cheering her on.

So, when I saw this lady on Sunday, I stopped to greet her after the service. She was so happy to see me and shared how she had been struggling. I affirmed her statement that she is already grieving, though her husband is still alive. I agreed with her sentiment that she hopes he “goes soon” rather than have this continue over months or years. (Either way, we know he is in God’s hands and that his suffering is not in vain.)

I listened while my friend conveyed her lack of motivation. In these challenging times, I confirmed it is normal to need to get groceries but feel overwhelmed leaving the house; or, to finally prepare a meal but have no desire to eat it.

She mentioned she keeps forgetting about a support group at the VA (where I work), and I coached her with some tips. Marking her calendar in advance, while she is thinking about it, might help her not feel surprised whenever she gets a same-day reminder.

I also offered to help connect her with someone at the VA who could help guide her through the funeral and cemetery details (when the time comes). As she talked it through, she started to smile, and I could see her burden was lifted a little.

I gave this dear woman a big hug, and she just fell into my arms. I prayed for her on the spot, and she just melted in surrender. Not that my words were so deep, in fact, they were rather simple, but she felt seen and understood. She said it was just what she needed.

We only talked for a few minutes after the service, but it felt like a God-ordained moment for both of us. I am grateful He has used my story and experiences to help and guide others along the way.

I was reminded that we don’t JUST go to church to worship God but to be His hands and feet. My friend said, “And to think, I wasn’t even feeling up to coming today. I was going to stay home and watch online. But now, I am so glad I came.”

2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT, says that God “comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

During the well-timed sermon, our pastor mentioned this all is like a game of tag. God comforts us…and then it’s our turn to comfort others with the peace, strength, and grace He has given us. Tag! You’re it!

So, don’t discount your story or experiences. God can use all your pain, grief, and life’s ups and downs to make something beautiful… if you let Him!

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God, thanks for my friend. Would You please encourage, strengthen, and comfort her? Please meet her needs (spoken and unspoken) and remind her of Your grace and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you seen God at work in your life story? Have you seen Him use your pain and grief in someone else’s life?

Task: Listen to this song! God will never fail you, no matter what.

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

Finding Grace #332

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 really fun week!! You can read some of what happened in Wednesday’s blog post, but the rest of the week was great, too!

On Sunday, we went to a dear friend’s baby shower. This is her first baby, and it is a cool miracle story. It’s not really my place to tell it, but it is wonderful to see God’s faithfulness in giving her what she has desired for so long. We had a lot of fun celebrating her and can’t wait to meet her little baby girl.

On Wednesday evening, we took care of our neighbors’ cats while they were out of town. We fed them and played with them. One is a Maine Coon, and the other is a Persian. They are as gorgeous as they are sweet! I sent a couple pictures to family, and my two-year-old nephew was so excited that he video called me! That was a first, and I was honored (even though it was a mistake). 🙂

We had beautiful weather this week, warm and sunny but not humid. On Thursday, we had a gentle rain, and everything greened up again! It was perfect!

Work went well, and I worked extra on Friday again. It gave me a little extra time to get things done, but I also saw a few patients. We also had a going away party for my coworker. We had some treats and enjoyed our time together. We will miss having her on our team, but we know she will do well in Colorado!

Today, we prepared for the coming week, and now a friend is over to visit. We might order some Chinese food and watch a movie, but it is always fun to see them either way!

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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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #331

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 Marguerite

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

This was week was really good!! We finished up puppy sitting, and Lydia finally understood why an adorable puppy is not in our future. They simply require more time and effort than we have to give right now. We did have fun, though!

Work was very busy, and I was able to work longer on Friday. I usually only work four hours going into the weekend, but sometimes I have the opportunity to stay longer. That means I can see patients, help my coworkers, or get caught up. This week, it was well-timed because there was much to do! Thankfully, I finished a few important things on my to-do list!

This past weekend, a beloved pastor in our community died suddenly. Pastor Cal was well known not only in North Dakota but also had an impact on ministers all over the world. He spent ~30 years at my local church but also led mission trips to Chicago and served elsewhere in our community. His visitation and funeral were on Wednesday and Thursday, with over 1550 people attending in person and over 2000 people watching online. It was amazing to see how much one person can have for Jesus when they live and love intentionally. He will be greatly missed!

On a personal note, I appreciate that Pastor Cal visited us, encouraged us, and prayed for us all those years ago when Dave was sick. He was always full of exuberant joy, but he did not have a lightweight faith! Pastor Cal’s funeral was the first I have attended at our church since Dave’s, which gave me mixed emotions. I was sad but also happy both of them are with Jesus, worshiping Him. I also know they are cheering me on. 

Today, Lydia mowed a bit while I did some weeding. Then, I finished the yard while she showered. It was only her second time, so I want to ease her into it! She’ll probably do all the yard once she gets better at it! 😉 Later, we ordered some pizza and are mostly relaxing after a long, busy week. Thank You, Jesus!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #330

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, but most of it was fairly normal!!

One highlight was meeting with a recently widowed single mom on Monday. We had a great time together, and I think it was just what we both needed!

On Tuesday, we met with some dear friends who are moving in the next couple of weeks. The couple was featured in my book and really were there for us when Dave was sick and after he died. We will miss them, but I am excited for them to be closer to the grandkids and a new work opportunity.

Yesterday, after work, I met with another friend for coffee. She’s been through a lot in the last few years, and it was good to catch up. I’m grateful for how God has carried her through life’s challenges. He always meets us right where we are!

This weekend, we are puppy-sitting for another friend who is moving away. Hazel is half-Dalmatian/half GSP. She is six months, forty-three pounds, long and lean! She loves to explore, and we have been enjoying lots of neighborhood walks! Thankfully, she is fairly well-behaved for a puppy and Lydia is having fun! 

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #329

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 received some more kind words about my book. I’m grateful for all God has done in my heart and that I can share it with others.

Most of the week was hot, but not too humid. We got a storm overnight, and so today, it is a little cooler and very pleasant.

On Monday, I had off work for Juneteenth. I did indeed watch the History Channel documentary about the Buffalo soldiers, and I learned a lot. It was not about Juneteenth but highlighted how the black soldiers were game-changers in many Civil War fights, yet got very little recognition, which is not right. I’d encourage you to watch it if you can!

On Monday, I also got a massage and had another appointment. Then, I took Lydia and a friend to their art class. We went on a wild journey through the country because I put the wrong address into Google Maps. We found it about twenty minutes into the class, but although they were late, the girls had no trouble catching up. They made macrame dipping art and gathered beads to make some jewelry. It will be cool to see the final result!

Work was crazy-busy, but we all were cheering each other on. I stayed later on Friday to help out my team, and it was perfect timing. I saw three patients and was able to really encourage them. I am so glad I was there!

Today, I had Lydia help me mow for the first time. She did great and mowed about 30-40% of our yard. I was thankful and did a little weeding before taking over. It felt good to be outside in the lovely weather!

Then, this afternoon, we went to a wedding of a friend from church. It was an honor to be invited, and it was a beautiful ceremony! It felt good to have a reason to get dressed up (pic above)!

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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, 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 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)!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Wisdom

Yes Day!!

Last Saturday, Lydia and I had a Yes day as we honored Dave’s ninth anniversary of being in Heaven (Sunday). She was so excited to call the shots! While we certainly miss him, we chose to celebrate instead of being sad.

To start, Lydia woke up at 6:50 a.m. which is pretty early for her on a Saturday! She asked if she could have a small cookie for breakfast. “Well… YES!!” I said. We never do that, so I wasn’t too worried about it.

While she ate her cookie, and I ate peanut butter toast, we finished a movie we started the night before. Then, we made a plan for the day. Lydia had a long list of things she wanted to accomplish!

Free vector graphics of Yes

Our first stop was PetSmart, just to look around. We saw some fish and some kittens for adoption. Next door, Lydia wanted to have a shopping spree at Michael’s. Thankfully, she had a gift card and was able to buy a couple of art organizers and some Washi tape.

Then, we went to Ulta because I had a gift card. (She cheerfully agreed to let me hijack her day.) As I looked around, Lydia found some blue fake stick-on nails. Not my fancy, but of course, I said yes!

After that, we ate lunch at Panera. We each had a You-Pick-Two salad and flat-bread pizza. I offered to share, but Lydia wanted her own. She laughed when I pointed out that we both took home leftovers!

The mall was next on her list. She wanted to go to a candy-and-toy store and Bath and Body Works. We also walked to one end to see the fountain and the other end to see some puppies. I asked if we could stop at the kitchen store for some chili-infused garlic oil and jalapeno lime vinegar. A patient told me about the combination, and I was not disappointed!

We made a few purchases at the mall before heading off for boba tea. I really didn’t want to try it, but I asked questions to help Lydia decide what to order. In the end, it sounded interesting after all! Lydia ordered a fruity tea with fruit bobas. I tried a tea with milk and ‘brown sugar boba’… a little hard to describe, but tasty! We each brought home our drinks to enjoy later.

We went home to regroup and put our leftovers away. We put on Lydia’s nails; the process was a little confusing at first but ended up being easy. We also attached some little charms to her Crocs. She was sooo happy and grateful!

We then headed out to a cookie dough and ice cream place. We decided to eat dinner at home first (leftovers) and saved our treats for later. Lydia ended up forgetting about hers in the freezer, which is fine by me. 😉 We ended the night by watching the new cartoon movie, “Bad Guys.” We liked it!

I loved spending time with my girl! The idea of a Yes day was based on a book and movie, where the parents say yes to every request (within certain parameters). I enjoyed seeing Lydia’s idea of fun and automatically agreeing to her plan. She already has ideas for whenever her next Yes day comes around!

As a parent, I spend a lot of time saying no, so it was different saying yes for a day. I was able to relax because I wasn’t automatically thinking of all the other things that needed to get done or why something wasn’t possible in the moment. “No, we have to get the laundry done first… No, you can’t do that right now… No, you don’t need another one of those…”

Bedtime ended up being where all of the day’s excitement hit the fan, so to speak. Lydia grew quiet and sad, missing Dave. This happens sometimes and I just roll with it as best I can, praying for wisdom along the way. We shared tears and her final request for a ten-minute massage seemed to help.

At some point in the day, I was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 1:20, which says, “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.”

No matter how tough Life gets, God never lets us down. While He doesn’t always say YES to all of our requests, He is always working out the ultimate yes in Christ. We can trust Him to do what is best for us!

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God, You are so good. Thanks for always doing what is right for us. Even Your no is a yes in the end! Help us to trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: When was the last time you set aside your to-do list or other expectations to have a yes day or a free day?!

Task: Here is the trailer to the movie, “Yes Day,” in case you want to check it out!