Tag: friends

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

Finding Grace #175

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 a little overwhelming… but still very good. You know it’s a busy week when you run into the grocery store for a few items before swimming lessons and notice bread is on the list three times in different places. 😉

This week and next, Lydia is taking swimming lessons in the late afternoon. Learning how to swim, is in my opinion, non-negotiable. It is a matter of life and death. Still, two weeks of lessons get kind of stressful. It’s two of the busiest weeks of our summer! But again, I am grateful for the opportunity for Lydia to take lessons!

On Thursday, a friend brought a homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie to our ladies small group Bible study. It was so yummy… a real treat with ice cream on top (pic). We all had so much fun talking and catching up. Then, my friend left a piece for the next day, too. Lydia and I each had a small portion for breakfast (no ice cream in the morning)! 🙂

This week was filled with important errands and paperwork and meetings. All good things, but each of those tasks was added to an already busy week. I reminded myself periodically to take breaks and have fun with Lydia. I can always catch up on housework and other tasks, but I can’t get more time with her or other important people in my life.

Today, Lydia and I went to the county fair with another family. We watched their oldest son play drums in a band. Then, looked at 4H projects and other judging events. We ate some fair food and walked around to scout out games and rides. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun with our friends. I’m grateful!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #174

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 a lot of fun. It was pretty normal as far as work and daycare go.

On Thursday, we celebrated the 4th of July. Lydia woke me up by marching down the hall with an American flag… on parade. She also made herself a red, white, and blue breakfast of toast, raspberries, blueberries, and a piece of Swiss cheese.

To celebrate Independence Day, a family from church came to set off fireworks. We had fun watching them all around the neighborhood. We also had a little campfire and s’mores! The weather was perfect and it was a fun, relaxing time!

On Friday, Lydia and I ran errands and did housework. I caught up with a dear friend on the phone, too. Then, we hung out with the neighbors and had another campfire! Needless to say, we’ve slept in the last couple of days!

Today, Lydia and I went fishing with some other friends (pic). We went south of Fargo and enjoyed fishing on the Red River. Lydia and I caught a few small(ish) catfish but opted to let our friends have them since they were kind to invite us. We were grateful just to have the experience, and hope we can go again sometime soon!

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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, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #173

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 went really well. On Monday, I had the painter from last week come back to paint an accent wall downstairs. I really like how it turned out!

All throughout the week, I had great conversations with good friends. It is fun to see how many people God has put in my life from all walks of life. I’m so thankful for the encouragement, support, and wisdom they share!

On Thursday, my friends and I discussed our Bible reading plan on contentment. We had a good time catching up. Someone mentioned that contentment is when we turn our “what ifs” into “even if.” We give our worries to God and trust Him even if things turn out differently than we wanted. Wise words! We also had fun making indoor s’mores!

On Friday, I worked on a project while Lydia read some books and played outside with friends! Then a friend came over for pizza and catching up on a Netflix series we enjoy!

Today, Lydia and I went to Detroit Lakes, MN, with another family. It is about 45-60 minutes away, perfect for a fun day trip. We played mini golf and had a picnic. Then, we heard reports of severe weather at home. So, we came home early. The weather improved on the way back, so we hung out longer. Tonight, Lydia’s having an impromptu sleepover with the little girl (at our house). I’m thankful for God’s protection and summer adventures!

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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, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #172

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 a lot of fun. Sunday was Father’s Day. It was a relaxing day for us, and we just took it in stride. When I asked Lydia if she had any thoughts about her dad, she said, “At least he’s in heaven!” I’m thankful she is so resilient.

On Monday, one of our Caterpillar friends was in town for work at the office here. We went to dinner with him and his family at Spitfire, one of Dave’s favorite places. It was good to reminisce and catch up with people who have had such a big impact on our lives. It was also good to have delicious leftovers for the week!

On Friday, it was the summer solstice (June 21st)! To celebrate, I participated in an online challenge to row 21,000 meters. I actually rowed an additional 97 meters to finish a half-marathon distance in just under 2 hours. Lydia woke up for the last 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) and cheered me on. It was intense, but I’m so glad I did it!

This week, I hired someone to repaint my upstairs living area. It was not something I planned to do. Last week, I was inspired to do some touchups, but I discovered the color I thought it was…wasn’t. The colors didn’t match well, so I took the opportunity to pick a new color! It is a pretty green color that is a little darker and brighter than the original. At times it looks green, blue, or gray depending on the lights, shadows, and angles. I love it!

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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 Miscellaneous, Prayer, Procrastination, Wisdom

Awesome Accountability

What do you do when you have a lot of goals, but keep losing motivation?

You get an accountability partner—or several!!

There are many benefits to having personal accountability. Often, it can mean the difference between success and failure.

We see the lack of public accountability in politics, but I’m not focused there today. In my own life, I appreciate having accountability because I am more likely to meet my goals!

Not meeting our goals can lead to a domino effect. We can slip up or grow stagnant in our life and faith walk. So it is imperative to have others around us who speak into our lives and provide wise counsel.

Thankfully, an accountability partner can check on progress, challenge you, and partner with you in prayer. As we draw closer to God and each other, we are encouraged, strengthened, and grow in character and fellowship.

When someone asks how it is going, it can feel like a pep talk or a call out. It can feel awkward at times, but if we are teachable, we will learn and grow!

Recently, some friends kept me accountable to reach some goals. I was sleeping in a little too often but wanted to maximize my time by getting up early. The hurdle was difficult to get through on my own.

Getting a head start on my day meant I could spend more time with God. I also decided to exercise early before distractions crept into my day. And, I wanted to work toward a personal deadline, where I have previously been procrastinating.

Bring on my accountability partners! I explained my goals to the ladies in my weekly small group. Amazingly, even just the idea of someone checking on me did the trick. I woke up early and did the work!

Friends and family are vital for our own accountability. It is so encouraging to have people rooting for me and cheering me on. Life just goes better together!

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is an ideal accountability partner. He leads and guide us perfectly, though it’s up to us to listen and obey. Jesus personally intercedes for us as well. We can’t go wrong with that!

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God, thanks for putting wonderful people in my life to keep me accountable. Help me seek Your input and guidance every day. Help me make wise decisions as I live for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Who helps keep you accountable? What are some goals you are working toward?

Tasks: Seek one or two people to keep you accountable as you take steps to reach your goals.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #170

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 really exciting! It was refreshing to see God at work around me!

On Sunday, Lydia and I went to a high school graduation party for a friend. We didn’t know tons of people, so we sat down at a table with our food and introduced ourselves. Turns out, the lady across from us was a Christian. She attended our church for many years and we know many of the same people. We had a great time talking about what God is doing in our lives. It’s a small world!

On Monday Lydia and I ran errands and worked on home projects. We attended the Little Red Reading Bus, and Lydia got two new books for the week. Then, we went to Menard’s and Lowe’s for supplies. I installed two new toilet seats and eleven bags of mulch! We also bought a little pool for Lydia. We put it on our deck, which is up high and has a gate. It has been a hot week, so it is a fun way to cool down!

On Thursday, some friends offered to watch Lydia while I worked on a project. Their daughter and Lydia are good friends. They had so much fun Lydia ended up spending the night. I ended up cleaning the office and taking an early morning bike ride (pic)!

Today, two friends came over to help me move my old treadmill to the curb for garbage pickup on Monday (before the new one is delivered). It was easier than I expected, so I’m glad I asked them to come! They also changed a hard-to-reach lightbulb for me. Then, as we were talking, they noticed a couple of areas on the walls that needed paint touch-ups. One is a painter and had supplies in his car! I found the original cans of paint in my storage area, which was still good after almost nine years (with some stirring). We went all over the house spackling and fixing little spots. This was such a joy and relief! I had been prayerfully considering all these small areas that needed work. Now, I don’t have to worry about the blemishes anymore, and it feels like my house got a facelift!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #169

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 really good. I saw God’s grace all around, especially in how He directed our steps. Early in the week my sister and friend were still here. We had a great time together. Then, Tuesday through Thursday, I had work and Lydia had school.

On Wednesday, she went on a zoo field trip about an hour south of Fargo. It was a little strange having her leave town without me, but she did well!

Thursday was the last day of school. I squeezed in a dentist appointment and work before Lydia came home for summer break. She had an awesome year, teacher, and classmates. She was challenged in new ways and grew so much. I am so proud of her!

We had several friends come over this week. One friend came over for dinner and did her laundry. On Thursday, my other friends came over for Bible study. On Friday, several neighbor boys came over for water games on a hot day. Everyone had fun!

Yesterday, we spent most of the day outside. I mowed the lawn which had grown super long. Normally, it takes about 45 minutes, but I spent almost 2 hours bagging grass, mowing, raking and trimming. It was worth the extra effort!

Last night, I introduced Lydia to one of my favorite childhood series. There are 8 books total in the Addie McCormick Adventures by Leanne Lucas. My sister and I received new (autographed!) books for Christmas when they were originally released. Then, in high school, we were camp counselors, and we read these to our campers to calm them down after lights out. Lydia and I already read 90 pages of the first book!

Today is another beautiful day. Lydia and I spent the morning reading together, and then she has been outside this afternoon with friends. I have been knocking out indoor activities, like paying bills and cleaning the bathrooms. I’ll head out soon enough!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Worship

Finding Grace #168

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 God’s grace! It was a normal week overall with work and school and meetings. It was cool and rainy, with little bits of sunshine. I mowed the lawn on Monday and I could almost do it again!

Yesterday, my sister and a dear friend flew in from Chicago for the long holiday weekend. My friend also brought her 2-and-a-half-year-old son. We’ve had a lot of fun so far! We went shopping and walked downtown. We also went to the park and out to eat. Tomorrow, we hope to go to the zoo weather permitting!

God always protects us and today we saw that first-hand. While we were downtown, a car accidentally went over the curb and into a building only about fifteen feet in front of us! A man was driving a car that was unfamiliar to him and narrowly missed hitting another family. My sister, Lydia, and I also could have been hit, but we stopped to wait for my friend and her son who paused behind us. If we had kept walking we would have been seriously hurt. Thank You, Jesus, for directing our path and keeping us safe!

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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, Food and Nutrition, Journey of Grace, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #167

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 I saw God’s grace all around me. On Sunday evening, Lydia and I were playing frisbee in the front yard when a lady from South Dakota stopped by my little free library! She was searching for the geocache inside and laughed when she found it. She was visiting family in Fargo and commented on the variety of books inside the LFL. It was gratifying to see her enjoy herself.

On Monday, I walked Lydia and a friend to the park in our neighborhood. It was a beautiful day to be outside! While we were there, we saw the family of one of Lydia’s classmates. I hadn’t seen them for a while, so it was really nice to catch up!

Wednesday was the 6th anniversary of Dave’s death. After work and school, we invited some neighbor friends to meet us for frozen yogurt. Afterward, they invited us to their house for dinner! It was a good day and I was grateful for all the loving support we received both near and far. Thank you!

This week, my tulips finally bloomed! I love the pink color. I also noticed the leaves on my trees finally popped out! Our grass is growing well, and I’ll have to mow it soon. 🙂

On Friday, Lydia stayed home from school because she was sick. It must’ve been a 24-hour GI bug. We enjoyed a quiet day of rest, though I washed several loads of laundry and did some deep cleaning related to her being sick. I’m glad she is feeling better now!

Recently, a friend who winters in Arizona gave me some fresh lemons when she returned home. These lemons were the biggest, juiciest ones I have ever seen! I also just happened to find a healthy recipe for lemon curd, so used the lemons for that. It is so tasty! (see pic)

Today, it was rainy, windy, and cold. We decided to go see the new movie, “Ugly Dolls,” currently in the theater. It was really cute, and I appreciated the message of accepting others who look or act differently than you. I’m grateful God makes us all unique!

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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, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #166

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 I saw God’s grace all around me. Work went well but was not very busy. But that gave me the opportunity to catch up on other tasks besides patient care. I’m grateful for God’s provision and my job, despite getting a couple of ‘warning tickets’ for parking in the wrong spot! Thankfully, that means I’ll get a parking pass after two years of asking for one. I’m choosing to be happy about the privilege of ‘getting’ to walk a lot further. 😉

I was able to hang out with and help several friends this week. I watched some neighbor kids, gave a friend a ride after her car broke down, and let another friend come over to do laundry. I also hosted my ladies Bible study and had such a sweet, funny time of sharing. It is refreshing to use the resources God has given me to serve others!

Today, Lydia and I stayed home and did several activities together. We played Connect Four and Hello Kitty Bingo. We had a tickle fest, read books, listened to the rain, and watched a couple of shows. I even supervised Lydia taking a shower on her own for the first time. She was so pleased and had fun. I am proud of the little lady she is becoming!

I received several answers to prayers this week for myself and others. I’m grateful for God’s perfect timing. He always directs our path and blesses us. He is so good!

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

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