Tag: house maintenance

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

Finding Grace #422

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. Most of the week was fairly normal with work and school. Friday probably had the most excitement, as you can read further below.

On Sunday, we celebrated Easter. Lydia and I went to one church service and volunteered at another. The kids were very excited, and we had some funny experiences together.

The weather was perfect this week. Although the mornings were cooler, by afternoon, temperatures reached the 50s and 60s.

One cool thing that happened on Thursday was that I finally hit 100,000 miles on my Subaru! I will have had it for eleven years in August. At first, I put a lot of miles on it, driving back and forth to see family in Illinois. But I haven’t done that for a few years, so this milestone took a little longer than I expected. Thankfully, my car is in good condition. I am going to try driving it another 100k!

Lydia’s orthodontist’s wife apparently works at a spa next door to his office. So, on Friday, I received one of three free hour-long facials as a courtesy. Orthodontics are expensive, so this perk is appreciated! Lydia said my face is now glowing…. I’ll take it!

Yesterday was also my parents’ 49th wedding anniversary! They are a blessing to so many, and I am so proud to call them Mom and Dad. I appreciate how they have invested in my life, and I continue to learn from them!

Also yesterday, Lydia and I went to a the funeral visitation for a coworker’s dad. I wanted to go support her, and I also wanted to make sure Lydia had the experience. She has been to funerals before, but it is always good to know how to act in those often sad and uncomfortable experiences. 

Today, I was on-call for work, though I didn’t get called in. I woke up early to prepare and then did a lot of cleaning while waiting for my phone to potentially ring. I descaled my coffee machine, did three loads of laundry, helped Lydia organize her bedroom closet, made some Amazon returns to UPS, and caught up with some reading and bills. It felt great to be 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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Pivot, Worship

Finding Grace #418

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 Geese Pond photo and picture

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

This was a good week, and it flew by! I found myself praising God for many things, including less stress, beautiful weather, Lydia, His provision, and more!

Work went well and was very full—no surprise there! I needed to squeeze in an unexpected home visit and was grateful two coworkers volunteered to take a few of my scheduled patients. I love my team—they are all great ladies and helpers!

Beyond work, I did not feel overly stressed or rushed. I had plenty to do, but I could go slower and relax a bit. As a result, I had the energy to tackle a few small projects without hurrying. So, I feel really good about that!

The weather was great this week. We had a few flurries but no real snow accumulation. It was in the 30s and 40s, with a mix of clouds and sun. I am starting to see and hear a lot more birds, too. Spring is on its way!

Today, I was supposed to meet a friend for coffee, but she had to reschedule. So, while I was out, I ran some errands to pick up a few groceries and home maintenance supplies. I also did a little reading, walking, and played a game with Lydia.

Don’t forget Daylight Savings Time starts again tomorrow! Be sure to turn your clocks one hour forward tonight!

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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 Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Taking Good Care To Not Lose Hope

It has been an interesting week already! I went on a home visit to see a Veteran who is over a hundred years old! He seemed like a nice man, though he had some quirks, and his house was in poor condition. I won’t discuss all the details here, but I will share two things.

First, most of his family is now dead, but his grandson looks after him. They don’t live together, but they see each other at least a few times a week. The grandson grocery shops and takes his grandfather to appointments, when he is agreeable to go. They seem to have a special connection. The grandson is a decade older than me, and I was reminded of the importance of family amid life’s uncertainties.

Second, the man refuses to have a water heater installed. He also declines to learn how to use his microwave and claims his oven is broken (it’s not). He has heat and electricity but still uses his wood stove sometimes.

Oddly, he uses an electric stove for cooking, but not like you or I would. No, instead, he adds a grate on top and uses it like a hobo stove. He cooks eggs and bacon in foil and even heats pot pies that way.

Free Tea Cup photo and picture

As I talked to the Veteran’s grandson, he said they had tried multiple times to modernize the house. The man had said it wasn’t necessary. Perhaps he had just grown used to using his tea kettle for hot water. He washes his laundry by hand, and I suppose he uses it for bathing, too!

We discussed this a little further, and the relative said the Veteran had thought he would have died ten years ago (in his 90s). More recently, he was “sure” he was dying… and maybe he just felt like it wasn’t worth the effort. He spent most of his life without hot water, so why bother now?

It makes sense if you think about it, and why not let him do things his own way? That said, it struck me that perhaps he had spent all these years waiting for his death, yet he has lived at least a decade longer than he expected! Apparently, he was still able to mow his lawn last year, so until now, he has been in decent health.

I don’t know if his choices represent a lack of hope or merely his preferences – the world was vastly different a century ago! I don’t know all the details of how he grew up, but I do know his service in World War II meant he often had to go without ‘creature comforts.’

Either way, I don’t need to figure it all out – it’s not my business! It could be stubbornness or heartiness, both of which have their place. Nonetheless, I am filing this away and documenting my thoughts here in case I need a pep talk someday!

The verse above is such a comfort from God’s Word. In some ways, it’s also a rally to draw close to Him and never give up. We will be disappointed if we put our hope in anything other than Jesus, our Cornerstone.

I don’t want to let things junk up my life or make me miss what God is doing. I don’t know when my last day will be, but I can live my life to its fullest. I can keep growing and learn something new every day. I can trust God’s plan for me while looking forward to the future.

I will walk with Jesus all the days of my life. I will maintain a cheerful attitude and keep the faith. I will take good care of myself and my loved ones.  I will keep moving forward despite obstacles. I will keep hope alive.

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God, thanks for Your work in my life and those around me. Help me accomplish all You have in mind for me. Help me take good care of all You’ve entrusted to me and not resist change. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you placing your hope lately? Are you refusing to let God move in your life, or are you going with His flow?

Tasks: Think about how your typical daily routine and see if something is holding you back from God’s best. Then, bring that to Him and let Him change it!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Pivot, Procrastination, Wisdom

Fifteen Years

On Sunday, I celebrated fifteen years since I married Dave! It was my tenth anniversary without him here, but this anniversary felt fairly lightweight. Marrying Dave was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I am grateful for the time we had together.

Lydia reminds me of Dave daily; she’s a treasure like her dad. This weekend, we made a bit of forward progress… another project requiring more tools.

Fifteen years ago, Dave and I bought a closet organizer that had several pieces. We used it in our old house in Illinois but separated it into different rooms when we moved to North Dakota.


Over the last year or so, Lydia’s been requesting we remove the drawers and shelves that ended up in her room. The drawers have needed repairs on and off for ten years. I suppose fifteen years is a long time for particle board! Nonetheless, I kept putting it off.

Because of its size, it seemed like a lot of effort, mentally and physically. I knew I would have to do it all myself! But it was also emotionally tough because whenever I saw it, I could envision Dave installing it with great love and attention to detail. Oh, how he loved Lydia and wanted the best for her!

Well, thanks to our recent break from work and school, I finally felt relaxed and ready to tackle it. Lydia cleaned it out and cleared space. Then, I unscrewed it from the wall. We removed the drawers and shelves before I slowly pulled the unit down to the floor.

I’m pretty sure that the unit was just waiting to come down! Almost with a sigh of relief, it fell into two sections before hitting the floor! I could see what was happening, so I was prepared. Ironically, it saved me the effort of prying it loose! Then, the hinges on the door gave way, and the rest just came apart.

Finally, I carried it to the curb for garbage pickup on Monday. Lydia promptly moved her desk into that new space. It fits perfectly. In fact, the desk looks much better there than sticking out from the window, its previous location.



In hindsight, it was almost as if the wardrobe was just holding together until I could finally release it. It felt like an object lesson, a statement: It’s okay to hold onto the past for a little while, but it’s also good to let it go. That’s part of healing and moving forward.

I don’t know if you need to let something go… but maybe it’s time. It’s not that it means less now, but consider how you have grown past the point of needing it. Or, perhaps it is keeping you from growth.

Then again, maybe there’s nothing holding you back… But are you holding something else back? No rush. No pressure. Just something to consider. As Lysa TerKeurst says, “Emotions are indicators, not dictators.” God wants us to live a full life. But life is short, and we don’t have time to waste. 

Ultimately, we want to listen to Jesus and follow His timing in our lives. We don’t have to be afraid; He is trustworthy. He will make it clear when we need to keep moving forward!

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God, thanks for blessing me, protecting me, and providing for me. Thanks for the reminder to let go of things that aren’t good for me anymore so I can follow You more closely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What is God asking you to do as a result of this blog post? Is there something holding you back from following Him?

Tasks: Take a little inventory of your environment, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Be brave and let go of what is not serving you well. Trust Jesus and keep moving forward!

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

Finding Grace #409

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 Forest Trees photo and picture

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

This was a good week to jump back into our normal routine. Thankfully, it was relatively smooth sailing, with a four-day week after the beginning of the new year!

Work was quite busy, but I had some really nice patients. They all seemed grateful for my input, which is always gratifying! 

Lydia had an exciting week in that she began wearing contacts. We have talked about it for a while, and she is doing well! I am sure she will still wear her glasses sometimes. But, it is fun to see her take the next step of growing up!

Today, we had a good day of working on a couple of projects. I paid some bills, made a few calls, and put together a veggie tray. We also put away the last of our Christmas decorations. It felt good to be productive!

Tonight, Lydia and I are watching The Hunger Games movie. Lydia has been reading the book series, but I have not. It is dark but interesting… and, more importantly, a good way to spend time with my girl.

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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, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Looking Back: Lessons Learned

Today is the last Wednesday post of 2023! I have the whole week off, the first time in at least five years. Having time to relax and reflect on the year has been wonderful. I have been catching up on a few things, reading, and planning for January.

Here are some changes we’ve made and lessons learned over the last year. 

In March, I worked with a personal trainer for a short time to regain strength after a few minor health issues made me feel weak (all is well, or at least manageable, now). With a clean bill of health, I decided to make some changes! The trainer reminded me of my goals and the importance of compound movements and progressive overload (lifting heavier weights over time). I also brushed up on some basic muscle anatomy. Our bodies and muscles adapt and need to be challenged in order to grow!

The increased strength and confidence paid off when we went to the beach in June. We spent a week with Dave’s family in Florida, and I went surfing for the first time! It felt good to try something new. I was told most people give up after the first few falls, but I stayed out in the water for several hours.

Free Pine Cone Tree photo and picture

Feeling better physically was good for my mental health, too. This year, I learned to cope with stress and perceived stress better. I worked on praying, breathing, stretching, and taking breaks (not quitting). I’m sure my stressors are still similar, but I am just handling them better. Because of this, I had enough mental space and emotional energy to tackle some organization projects around the house. I had put them off for too long, but finally made progress!

Lydia had a big year of growth. She made the decision to be baptized and followed through in May. It was a special blessing that it happened on Pentecost Sunday! Later, when she went to Bible camp in July, she felt a closer connection to God. Since then, she has been spending more time with Him praying and reading her Bible. It has blessed us both, and I am so proud of her!

Lydia finished elementary school in May and entered middle school in August. The difference is like moving from checkers to Monopoly! She enjoys playing the viola and is learning to navigate friendship drama, but also trying to fit in and be her own person. This has led to many conversations about values. Otherwise, Lydia is building her study routine and has realized she can’t rely on the laurels of her past successes. It has been fun to watch her grow; it is worth the occasional struggle.

We have continued to meet over Zoom most weeks with my family. It is something we look forward to on Sundays! We share jokes, updates, and prayer requests. It makes our in-person visits easier since we don’t have to spend as much time catching up. A family that builds each other up is such a gift.

In that vein, another highlight was when my parents came to visit in October! We had such a fun time hanging out. Lydia and I were grateful to have them all to ourselves! My mom built into Lydia with some words of wisdom. My dad fixed several things around the house, some of which I hadn’t even realized were issues. I will try to do a better job of staying on top of things now that I have more energy.

Free Tree Evergreen photo and picture

Work has been steadily busy but also good. I took on some extra responsibilities to cover for others. I was a little nervous, but God has been blessing my efforts. In some ways, I have been mentoring my younger coworkers, too. It’s not an official role, but it is nice that they trust my experience and knowledge. That said, I continue to learn from them as well!

One notable win this year was when the fence belonging to the rental property adjacent to mine was replaced. This is a large corporation with several locations, and I spent several months trying to communicate with them when their fence fell into my yard. They did not respond appropriately, so I spent all summer and fall pushing the city to intervene. They were quick to respond, but it took a while for the legal protocol to play out. I didn’t back down, and finally, the fence was replaced!

Looking back, it seems the common factors are perseverance and growth. We cannot have one without the other. Difficulties are not always bad, and God can use any challenge for our good. With this, I am challenged to keep close to Jesus. He is the only thing that really matters, and everything I need is in Him!

As this new year comes, I am sure there will be more lessons to learn. But I don’t have to be afraid; God never said it would be easy but that He would be with us. He is faithful. We can persevere and grow as we keep moving forward!

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God, thanks for faithfully bringing us through another year. May we reflect Your goodness and grace in every circumstance. May we shine your light on all we meet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is your top highlight of the year? How did God help you through your challenges?

Tasks: Take a few minutes to reflect on the highlights, challenges, and wins of your year. Praise God and commit to trusting Him in the new year. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Garage Door Tune-Up

Happy Thanksgiving! This has been a busy week already! Maybe you feel the same way?!

On Monday morning, I made a list of everything I needed to do after coming home from work. I felt a little overwhelmed, mostly because I didn’t want to forget anything! I prayed for God’s help as I went about my day!

First, I needed to finish wrapping some presents for Lydia’s birthday (on Tuesday). I also wanted to work on this post early so I could focus on her special day. She wanted to enjoy a nice meal and watch a movie. I didn’t want her to feel rushed.

And, of course, it happens to be a holiday week! Lydia and I plan to make a few simple dishes tomorrow. I’m looking forward to a fun day together, but there’s a lot to do before then.

Finally, about a month ago, I wrote that my garage door needed a rubber weather stripping replaced (see picture below). The special order piece took a while to arrive, and on Monday evening, my neighbor came over to help me install it! He works for a garage door company, so together, we were able to install it quickly.

As we tested the door, my neighbor saw a sliver of light shining through, which meant the door was not coming down all the way. I had noticed this over the last month but had forgotten to mention it earlier. My neighbor climbed his small ladder and opened the garage door motor. I handed him a few small tools, and he adjusted the mechanism until the door shut correctly.

By then, he offered to change the lightbulb in the garage motor unit. While up there, he noticed the garage door chain was a little loose. So, naturally, he wanted to tighten that up!

I was so grateful as I watched my neighbor tune-up my garage door. Not only did he help with the original issue, but he was thorough in looking at the entire door. He didn’t stop just when it was convenient. He stayed and did a complete job.

Surprisingly, it feels like I have a new garage door! I can already tell the garage is warmer and quieter, and this year, I should avoid getting snow under my garage door.

That reminds me of God’s grace and provision. I had been waiting patiently for weeks, rescheduling a few times because the piece wasn’t in. I had hoped the chore would be done earlier so I wouldn’t be jammed as this week got closer. I specifically tried to plan ahead! Yet, it seems God used this very thing to slow me down and notice His blessings in a big way.

First, I really appreciated God gave me a good blog topic a whole day early! It was so cool that He perfectly orchestrated my week. God is so gracious and fixed my door, but He also went above and beyond by addressing things I didn’t even know were wrong!

And because of all that, I was able to be fully present with Lydia on her birthday. She is now twelve and was counting down her birthday for months. Lydia is such a treasure to me, and I didn’t want to be distracted by house tasks or my blog. As a single mom, my time is sometimes divided, and I never want to give her less than she deserves!

While these things are important to me, my sweet girl comes first! Lydia would not quite understand my potential dilemma, so I didn’t burden her with it. I’m just grateful I didn’t have to choose – God made it easy for me!

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God, thanks for organizing my week so I can get things done and be fully present. Thanks for the gift of Lydia. Help me be the best mom I can be! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any special plans for Thanksgiving? What are you grateful for this week?

Tasks: Let God direct your path this week. Be grateful for detours and setbacks, as they may lead to a greater blessing!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Fruit, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #400

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 Leaves Autumn photo and picture

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

This was a solid week with lots going on each night after work and school. And work was busy as usual, too!

On Monday, Lydia and I went to the chiropractor for routine adjustments. I’m thankful to have finally found a female chiropractor just a few minutes away. We go every couple months, and I feel much better physically than I did even a year ago.

Tuesdays are usually my blog writing days (well, nights), but this week, it was also Halloween. I had to shovel new snow in the early morning before work. (Most of it has melted!) Then, Lydia went trick-or-treating with a friend, while I stayed home to pass out candy and write. It was a good night, and we enjoyed some classic chocolate treats!

We had a good Wednesday night at church. My Alpha group talked about the topic of evil in the world and how we get distracted from God’s purposes. Lydia said the youth group topic was about dealing with fear. Timely topics all around!

On Thursday, Lydia had her first orchestra concert! It was a combined program with the middle school and high school (6th -12th grades, of course). I sent the link to my family, and it was so cool that they got to watch from several states and time zones. Lydia had a blast and can’t wait for the next concert!

Last night, Lydia and I made chicken fajitas and a delicious fruit salad after I got home from work and coffee with a friend. Then, we relaxed and watched a movie after a long week!

Today, Lydia is not feeling as well, so she is taking it easy. I am trying to get caught up around the house and also doing a little relaxing. I’m thankful for Saturdays!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Help On the Homefront

Lydia and I were so thrilled when my mom and dad came to visit last week! This was the first time they’ve been here since they moved to Florida, and it was a joy and an honor to host them again. My parents are so wise, fun, and just plain cool. They are good examples of hard work and perseverance, and I look up to them!

Mom and Lydia hit it off and did a little shopping. Mom also encouraged Lydia’s musical goals and also reinforced some of the life lessons I am teaching her. I appreciate she was there to plant seeds in Lydia’s heart – and to back me up on some key topics! She is another wise voice who can speak life and truth to Lydia. I am so grateful.

I had a small list of things I wanted input on, mostly minor repairs. The list quickly grew to about a DOZEN different things, but my dad helped me complete most of the projects in just a few days!

As a single parent and homeowner with no family nearby, all of the responsibilities come to me. I make all the major decisions for my household on my own, and while I am comfortable with that, it sometimes weighs on me. It was so nice to set that all aside last week and have help with figuring things out. I thoroughly enjoyed my dad’s “kid in a candy store” excitement at going to Menards since they don’t have that home improvement store in Florida. He really misses it, apparently! 😀

Dad helped me look up some regulations about a fence adjoining my property and helped me craft an email to the City. With his background in construction and inspections, he knew where to find the information I needed. He also gave me some ideas for landscaping and a small painting project next summer. I took notes so I can remember!

I asked my dad for input on my gutters, new weatherstripping on my garage door, and paint for my little free library. I did a little maintenance on the library before I put on a new coat of red paint! This will set it up well for the winter, and hopefully, the wood will stay in good shape for many years.

My dad added a few washers to the track/drawer in Lydia’s dresser drawer. Somehow it got warped and has been a problem for about ten years! I have tried and tried to fix it but never noticed the problem like he did. In fact, we accomplished more in a few hours than I have in weeks or months…. even years. I aim to keep my house and yard in good repair, so finishing these tasks was a BIG relief!

What’s more, Dad found some other things to fix that weren’t on my list! He suggested I trim my three backyard trees. I bought a new little bow saw and went to it. He then added a new bolt to the gate on my deck. I tried fixing it last year, but I probably just didn’t choose a long enough screw or bolt. He also fixed the sliding glass door and screen, both of which have never worked that well. He also fixed my microwave door and tightened up a few parts. It’s as good as new!

God wants us to be good stewards of the resources He has given us. In fact, Jesus wants us to build our lives on Him, but sometimes we need a little hands-on help in our actual houses. (Read Matthew 7:24-27)

Indeed, it was a special blessing that my parents came, and I am grateful for all the help on the homefront! Everything will work much better now, and I can take a little mental break from home repairs!

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God, thanks for the gift of my parents. Thanks for their wisdom and guidance, as well as their help and encouragement. Help us steward and share the gifts and resources You have given us for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you handy with tools? Do you enjoy working with your hands in practical ways, or do you prefer abstract ideas? What is God asking you to steward well?

Tasks: If you have any fall or winter house tasks that need to be done, now’s your chance. In Fargo, the weather is changing rapidly, with potential snow on the way!

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

Finding Grace #398

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 Autumn Leaves Ilse photo and picture

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

This week was wonderful and relaxing, though I got a lot done! We Zoomed with family on Sunday, which happened to be my mom’s birthday. I always appreciate time with family… and mine is pretty cool!

Monday was the only day I worked, but it went well. I took the rest of the week off to spend time with my parents! They came to visit on Tuesday and headed back to Florida today. We had an amazing time!

My dad helped me with quite a few house projects, some that I have been trying to figure out for years. We went shopping and enjoyed eating out at some new restaurants. We watched several episodes of ‘The Chosen,’ too! It was the best week with them.

Tonight, Lydia was invited to hang out with a friend, so I had some free time! First, I did a little cleaning and exercising. Now, I am watching a movie!

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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)!