Tag: house maintenance

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #352

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 bit of a wild card! I didn’t feel great for most of it – just various things, including a cold, gut issues, stubbing my toe (it’s fuschia currently), and of course, my elbow is still bruised (but doing better) from a few weeks ago. I’ll be okay. 🙂

I went to work late on Tuesday due to not feeling well, but also on Thursday due to yet another glitch! On Monday, it was my internet, and on Thursday, it was my furnace! I went downstairs before work and noticed a burnt rubber smell. Thankfully, my neighbor had a reliable contact, and I was able to get a motor replaced right away! They came within the hour, but even then, the inside temperature had dropped five degrees. I’m extra grateful it wasn’t thirty below with a long winter waiting list!

The weather is turning colder, and we got another inch of snow this week. It’s not too bad, and staying inside gave us plenty of time to reorganize the office and a closet downstairs. We also put up our Christmas tree last night! Lydia chose a red theme, and I added a couple strands of lights since there were a few ‘dark’ spots on the prelit tree. We might add a few more ornaments later. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today, we met a friend at a local coffee shop for a book sale. We each brought our self-published books to lay out. It was fun to meet new people and catch up over coffee! Can you believe my book has been out for over a year?!

Tonight, we were invited by some friends for a Christmas dinner at their house. Lydia enjoys playing with their kids, and it will be fun to get to know them better, along with the other guests. It’s always nice to be included!

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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, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

Glitchy

I hope you are having a great week! My week is going well so far, though not quite how I expected. Let’s say it’s been a little glitchy!

Last night, someone came to work on my internet while I was trying to write this post. I intentionally kept it short so all my effort didn’t get wiped out!

If you recall, my internet needed work earlier this year, yet there was one part that couldn’t be fixed. The outside line couldn’t be accessed due to snow. I had forgotten about it for the most part, but I recently noticed it was glitchy while on Zoom or streaming movies. The internet was out for several minutes last weekend, so I called and booked the appointment for Tuesday night.

They worked on the glitches and gave me a few tips to improve it! I might need to buy a wifi extender, but I will have to figure out what I need first. It’s always fun to learn!

Free photos of Laptop

Another thing that hasn’t been working well is… my gut! Without oversharing, I will leave it at this: I decided to go to work about an hour late on Tuesday and also ended up leaving about an hour early due to discomfort (and also a non-COVID scratchy throat and cough). I am grateful for an understanding, boss!

It surprised me because last weekend, I felt terrific gut-wise. Low stress, good food, plenty of sleep, and exercise…. really the best conditions possible for gut health! But, Sunday night and Monday night, I didn’t sleep well, primarily due to my throat and gut. No big deal, in the long run, just a little glitch.

Even when I don’t feel good, I usually push myself to work anyway. So, this week, I am proud of prioritizing my health (coming in late and leaving early). Perhaps it was easier since my patient load wasn’t as busy, and nothing needed to be rearranged!

With gentle movement, medication, and time, I think I am on the mend now.

Free illustrations of Network

As I left work early yesterday, I heard a song by the band, We the Kingdom, called “Miracle Power.” It’s remarkable on its own, but the part that always gets me is this:

“I may not know what a day may bring, but I know who brings the day.”

Isn’t that on point?!

Whatever glitches your day or week holds, God has you covered. You can rest in His grace and sleep well, knowing He will carry the burdens for you. You don’t need to worry.

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God, thanks for working through all our ups and downs… turning them all around for Your glory and our good. Thanks for being with us all the way. Help us rest in Your grace and praise You through all our glitches. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you had any glitches in your week? How is God working through them?

Task: Listen to this song and praise God through your glitches today!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #350

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 Trees

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

This was a pretty good week! It was fairly calm and relaxing compared to some weeks. You could say I am cozy and thankful!

Work kept me busy, but most of the dietitians were back in the office, so I didn’t have quite as much on my plate. I was able to move back into my own office, as my friend is back from her maternity leave. It is quieter at my own desk because my office is a little harder for patients to find! LOL

We had more snow this week, but it was very pretty. I cleared snow several nights after work but thankfully did not slip again! My elbow is slowly healing – it is now a mix of purple and tan. It is still painful, so I appreciate your prayers for continued healing!

I rewatched Seasons 1 and 2 of The Chosen during the week, and then Lydia and I watched the first two episodes of Season 3 in the theater today! It was amazing! If you haven’t already checked it out, please download the free app so you can watch it. Season 3 will be on there soon… you don’t want to miss it!

On Friday, I got a small upgrade to my kitchen! I had a new faucet installed, as the old one was rusting out. It didn’t turn anymore and was having water pressure issues. The new one is bigger and works a little differently, but it is really pretty!

Tonight, Lydia is at a friend’s birthday sleepover. I ran a few errands and am catching up around the house… laundry, bills, cooking, etc. I also need to wrap some birthday presents for Lydia (for Monday!), so this is the perfect opportunity while she’s not home!

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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

Finding Grace #349

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 Snowfall

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

This week, was fun and good, but also a little crazy.

We had a fabulous time on Sunday with our African neighbors. I also called them later in the week to make sure they were prepared for our first snowstorm of the season. I encouraged them to get some groceries ahead of time. After the storm stopped, I called to check in. The kids loved the snow, though they are still getting used to the wind and cold.

My work-week was wild at times! It was a four-day week due to Veterans Day, so we had more to do than usual in a shorter amount of time. We have had a lot of coverage needs lately, but in a couple of weeks, we should be fully staffed again – the first time since July 15th! Nonetheless, I am glad to be doing the work I am called to do!

On Thursday, we had about seven dietitians out, due to the snowstorm, sickness, maternity leave, training, travel, etc. There were four of us left to get everything done! We each earned a ‘golden ticket’ which is a token of appreciation; they can be turned in later for some time off. So that was cool!

On Friday, Lydia and I both were home for Veterans Day. Some friends came over to visit. The mom and I caught up over a cup of coffee, while the girls made resin coasters. It will be fun to see how they turn out!

Today, Lydia was invited to hang out with another friend from school. She was at their house most of the day, so I did a few Saturday chores, cooked some food, and then relaxed.

Of note, I was clearing some snow in my driveway today when I slipped on the ice and fell hard. I hit my head, back, and right elbow. It was a little shocking! I did not pass out, thankfully, but I am fairly sore from my neck to my hips, and my elbow has a distinct greenish-purple bruise. I did put down some salt to help melt the ice, but I appreciate your prayers as I rest and recover!

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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, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #347

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 Deer

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

This week was low-key at first but then picked up at the end.

Lydia was still sick on Sunday and stayed home on Monday. We used the day to rest, and I made sure she ate. Thankfully, she felt better (enough) Tuesday, and we went back to work and school! I am grateful for some awesome coworkers who could cover all my duties!

Work was busy as usual, but I did my best as usual. I had some fun patients and some good conversations with professionals in other fields. My dietitian coworkers and I had fun dressing up for an early Halloween party on Friday. We did a group costume where one person made a pool table costume to wear, and almost everyone else was the colored balls! I happened to be the cue stick. We all had a good laugh! 

My friend with the new baby came over for Chinese food and a movie. It is so fun to see how much the baby has grown over the last eight weeks. It reminds me of how Lydia was once so little… she really enjoys holding the baby, too. 

Today, Lydia had a playdate with a friend. They went to a dance class and had fun! I cleaned the bathtub and paid some bills in peace. 😉 Later, we bought some Halloween candy for trick-or-treat and ran a couple of errands. It was a beautiful day to get outside!

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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, Parenting

Finding Grace #345

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 Coast

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

This week was relatively low-key and smooth. Not much happened out of the ordinary, but sometimes that’s a good thing!

On Monday, I was off for Columbus Day. I appreciated having off the federal holiday; it’s a free day for me because Lydia still has to go to school! I planned to do a little relaxing, but instead I was very productive! I worked on a self-evaluation for work and took a two-hour test for continuing education. I also worked on some business stuff related to my book. It all was a huge relief and accomplishment!

Work was busy, as usual, but I was able to stay on top of my paperwork for the most part. I had several opportunities to advocate for my patients this week, too. On Friday, we had a chili cook-off, and two of my coworkers (on maternity leave) brought in their newborns for a little visit. It was so good to see them and eat some yummy chili!

Ironically, I saw three newborns this week! Two at work and one at our house! Yes, our friend brought her baby over again this week. It was fun to watch Lydia snuggle with the baby. I’m glad we were around to help out!

Today, we called my mom for her birthday, and had a great time talking with her! We also did some chores, and I completed an hour of working out. It was a fun goal, but I don’t do that every day. This afternoon/evening, Lydia went to friend’s birthday party, so I finally had some time to relax. I made some pancakes and brownies… I made them healthier and used up some Greek yogurt in both recipes! I also watched a movie, worked on my blog, paid some bills, and did some reading. It was a beautiful day outside too. Perfect for some alone time!

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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, Perseverance

A Few Loose Screws

Lately, I have done a lot of hands-on work around the house. I have moved benches and deck furniture, and I put up the Christmas lights as I prepare for winter. I have taken a few trips to the recycling station, too.

In addition, I have taken apart several things to sell. These include a table and four chairs, two ottomans, and a weight bench. I was making room for other priorities. Most of the items were fairly easy, but it was challenging to tear the table apart. It hadn’t been moved in twelve years, so the screws were in tight.

And, I have put together some things, too. These include a dolly and two pieces of exercise equipment (upgrades for my personal gym!). The dolly was actually the toughest thing of all because the metal just would not cooperate and the directions were a little confusing! I did manage to get a couple of bruises, but nothing to worry about.

All in all, I followed all the directions, and thankfully, I haven’t had many parts left over!

Free photos of Stainless steel screw

As I was piecing together one item, the directions mentioned how if certain screws weren’t in just right, it could cause an accident, or even death. They were tiny screws!

I made sure to double-check all the nuts, bolts, and screws. Just to be sure. I wouldn’t want to put my weight on something and have it fall apart.

In fact, I was incredulous that my safety could depend on the smallest component. A few loose screws could be quite a problem!

Then, I got to thinking… God holds all things together through Jesus and the power of His Word; no screws needed! Not just my life or yours, but the entire world. He is more than capable!

Whether it is a lot of steps or just a few, God always knows just what needs to be done. He wrote the directions, or guide, to Life! We can trust Him to hold the full weight of whatever we are going through. He will protect us but also catch us if we happen to fall. He’s got us covered!

Ultimately, God loves us even when we have ‘a few screws loose.’ 😉 We fall short, but He accepts us as we are. He can take all of our mess and make something strong, beautiful, and purposeful!

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God, thanks for covering us with Your wisdom, strength, grace, and love. You never let us down! Help us trust You every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy hands-on tasks, like putting together items around the house or refinishing furniture? What are your favorite tools?

Task: Next time you buy something with a lot of pieces to assemble, reflect on how God organizes the pieces of your life, too. You are a perfectly designed masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Finding Grace #343

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 Oak

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

This was a really good week! I enjoyed talking with family, including my parents who live in Florida. Hurricane Ian brought wind and rain, but they were protected. The hurricane was not a direct hit for them. There is much to be grateful for, and my prayers are with those who were affected.

All week long, I was behind on charting at work. I tried not to be too stressed, however. Several of my coworkers helped out, as I kept getting patients which took time away from getting caught up. One day, they took four of my easier patients, and then I got three more since I am in the walk-in clinic. It was a little funny, and I am glad to be part of such a great team of ladies!

I happily noticed our new little neighbor girl was wearing Lydia’s old winter coat! The mornings certainly felt chilly in the 50s and 60s, but of course, it will only get colder! I was honored when the mom called me simply to check on me. She hadn’t made it to the bus stop because of the chilly weather, but she wanted to make sure I was doing well and having a good week. That little surprise made my day!

My medical test went well, and I received excellent news that everything is normal. I had a follow-up on Friday, and my provider said I didn’t need to come back! She made a couple of recommendations to ease my gut symptoms, and I will be implementing those. All in all, it is a huge relief knowing that I don’t have to make big changes. Praise God!

This week, I did some hands-on projects. I bought and put together a dolly/cart and used it to move and assemble some gym equipment. I had asked someone for help, but they weren’t available when I was. It will be a couple of weeks until they are free, and I decided not to wait any longer. The equipment was fairly heavy going down the stairs, which ironically made me feel strong and accomplished just moving it! I prayed for God to help me, and He did! I am proud of myself for doing the hard work and getting it done!

As I drove around town this week, I noticed some of the beautiful fall colors starting to pop! It’s such a pretty time of year! I mowed yesterday, but only did the long parts. Some of the grass didn’t really need it! Lydia was also glad she didn’t have to help after all! 😉

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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 #341

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 Lake

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

This was a great week! On Sunday, we rearranged Lydia’s room which made it look a little bigger. We simply swapped the bed with the dresser, but she is quite happy!

On Tuesday morning, my trees were professionally trimmed! They look so good, and I am glad I finally decided to do it. The cost was in the middle of what the quote stated, so I also feel good about that.

On Thursday, Lydia went with friends to Biogirls while I went to the chiropractor. My back is feeling really good these days, and I am grateful. I also have been strategic in my workouts so that I feel good longer between adjustments.

Last night, we visited our friend with her newborn daughter! We brought Chinese for dinner and enjoyed a movie and baby snuggles! I hope we can do that again soon!

Lydia had a good week at school. She was especially happy to be chosen to ‘help’ the Kindergarteners during their lunchtime. She and a couple of classmates showed them how to go through the lunch line and use the keypad payment system. They also helped them find seats and opened milk cartons. Next week, there will be some other 5th graders chosen to help, but Lydia said how cute the Kindergarteners were!

Today, Lydia went to another birthday party to swim at a hotel. I worked on a few more organization projects around the house and cooked some meals for the week ahead.

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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 #339

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 Wheat fields

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

This week was a good week, made even better by the excellent weather! Slightly cool mornings and 70-80s in the afternoon. The sunshine and blue skies are absolutely perfect. It should be like this for a couple more months, give or take!

Work was busy but good. Right now, I am seeing both my own scheduled patients and walk-in patients. There can be a lot of traffic in the hallway, which makes it noisier than I’d like and a little difficult to concentrate. When I am not with patients, I keep my door ajar so people know I am available. But, I don’t really mind since I know it is temporary; it’s good to keep me on my toes! I actually volunteered to help my team this way, and it does make the days go fast!

Yesterday, I stayed at work an extra hour to finish some paperwork. I didn’t get everything done, but I least I tried. Then, I went to get a facial! Some friends had given me a gift card a while back, and I decided to pamper myself. It was a fun way to relax! Then, I went shopping for some household items and used some coupons before they expired.

Today, we cleaned and mowed. I changed a light bulb on the stairs with a ladder all by myself and took apart a table to hopefully sell. Then, Lydia and I put up the outdoor Christmas lights early! It sure beats a freezing cold, windy day in late November! We also cleared out some cobwebs for the umpteenth time from our porch/entryway. It’s that time of year, I guess! 😉

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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)!