Tag: Peace

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 Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom

Keeping It Simple

Happy New Year! Lydia and I had fun hanging out at home on New Year’s Eve. She really wanted to stay up until Midnight, so we played some games, ate some yummy food, and even did a little painting. Mine was rather abstract, but I did add some glitter, ha!

While we waited for the new year to roll in, we talked about things we are looking forward to this year. She had a great list, including going to camp, joining a volleyball team, and doing some traveling.

On a personal note, I want to build more rest into my daily routine to help me manage stress. By that, I mean adopting a slower pace (which is not always possible), purposeful movement, and simple nourishing meals. I also want to stay on top of my clutter. A tall order, but, I will do my best.

Spiritually, I want to stay present with Jesus and invite Him into every part of my day. That’s one reason I want to have a slower pace – to hear Him more easily and move with Him without delay. The noise of daily life makes it difficult to pay attention to Him!

Thus, Lydia and I decided to read the Bible together chronologically and discuss it.  The Bible shows God’s goodness and love but also how brutal humans can be. That said, some of the content may be beyond Lydia’s maturity level, so I might let her skip those parts. We will see how it goes!

Otherwise, I’m not really into making resolutions but rather setting SMART goals and building solid habits. It’s good to give ourselves a lot of time (maybe, all year!) since it takes a while to build new routines.

A few months ago, I came across the idea of setting goals we are 90% sure we can achieve (rather than a so-so 50%). That way, it is still a stretch, but we are confident. Thus, we are more likely to have success over something we were not fully committed to. It has more to do with building ourselves up rather than just the to-do list.

Free Fireworks Bright photo and picture

That said, keeping it simple is usually the best idea. My cousin is a librarian for kids. She asked them what kinds of resolutions they had. Here are some of their ideas: Be kind. Have fun. Be nice. See the hippos at the zoo. Explore! Paint!

We can learn a lot here and interpret the children’s nuggets of wisdom. Basically, this means to treat people well, pause to enjoy life, and try new things. I am fairly confident we can all be successful with these! 🙂

Whatever you decide to do this year, follow where the Lord leads. Be sure to check in with Him throughout each day. Staying close to Jesus is the best thing you can do!

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God, thanks for Your new mercies every morning. Help us keep You front and center this year. Help us slow down, stay present, and listen to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any resolutions or goals for the coming weeks? Do you have a specific strategy you like to follow?

Task: Be sure to check in with Jesus as you plan your days, weeks, months, and years!

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

Finding Grace #408

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 Bird Cardinal photo and picture

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

This was a delightfully slow week, just what I needed. We have a couple more days before the usual busyness of work and school returns! I am relishing this time together with minimal plans!

On Sunday, we volunteered in the 2-year-old room at church for Christmas Eve. I love that Jesus came as a baby, something even they could understand. Many of these toddlers were walking around caring for baby dolls, and one little boy mentioned his new baby brother. They were all excited about opening gifts, and in their own way, they could grasp that Baby Jesus was special. Jesus is for everyone, regardless of age or any other factors.

Christmas on Monday was a quiet day. We slept in a little, ate a lazy brunch, and opened presents. We played some games, connected with family, and just moseyed around. It was perfect.

The weather this week was a little wonky with rain, ice, snow, and fog! Some people may deal with flooding, and some people lost power! But, we didn’t have any major plans and had no big interruptions. We stayed home for the most part, and so I heard the sump pump going periodically. We eventually ran some errands, but it wasn’t a big deal for us, thankfully.

Today, I did my usual Saturday things, like a few chores and calls. I am thinking ahead to next week, but I am glad it’s not a pressing matter. Lydia is at a friend-sleepover, so I have the evening to myself! 🙂

Well, this is my last post of 2023! I am grateful for God’s grace this year and hope you have also seen God at work in your life. Happy New Year!! I pray 2024 is your best year yet!!

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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 Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #407

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 long, crazy week, but I know God’s grace was in full swing!

Naturally, work was probably the biggest factor heading into the holiday weekend. It was busy, busy, but good. I enjoyed the cheerful atmosphere, along with some treats, and it always feels good to help people. The main challenge was managing the paperwork! I am off all next week, so I was racing to complete everything until the very last minute. It was not all that bad, just kept me on my toes.

This week, I had a rental car for a little longer than expected. I planned for two days but had it for four! Essentially, there were a few cars ahead of mine and they had to order a second windshield since the first replacement had a chip when they uncovered it. But, I was thankful to have an option to get back and forth to work. Even if it did look like a clown car! I was very happy to get my car back Friday afternoon!

The weather held up other than a little fog! We are supposedly getting a little rain tonight which could become slick on the roads. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings!

Lydia worked on some homemade gifts, including some treats, while I was at work yesterday. She then went Christmas shopping with a friend today. I was able to wrap a few gifts and catch up around the house. It was a good day!

Merry Christmas to one and all!! May you find God’s grace and love abounds in 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 Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Big Star or Bust

It amazes me how the Nativity story is something we have heard and read about year after year, but it always has something new for us!

Whether you think about it from the perspective of the Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, the Angels, Wisemen, or even the animals (surely they were surprised, too!), there are so many angles! In other parts of the Gospel of Luke, I’m sure Anna, Simeon, and Elizabeth had some important insights, too.

All of the people in the Nativity story had their lives interrupted by a little baby. And, not just any baby; Jesus was/is God!

It’s likely they were each struggling in one way or another. The Roman occupation would not have been easy. Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds were not made of money. Even the Wisemen would have been worn out from a lengthy journey. Nonetheless, they all regrouped and went with it, apparently!

Lydia made a funny comment about the Wisemen recently, who would have traveled several months or possibly years. She said, “What if they had a sign on their caravan that said ‘Big Star or Bust?!'” We both laughed, but it made me think a bit more.

Free sirius star big dog illustration

Do I go all in as I seek Jesus? Well, I usually try to, but my cracked car windshield is getting replaced today. With the colder weather, I didn’t want to take any chances.

It was rather inconvenient, and I was at a loss for what to do. Then, two friends were willing to help me swap my car with a rental after work (yesterday and today). God knows what I need and how to solve it!

Oddly enough, the car I ended up with last night was not the one I rented; it was one that was available! I could choose between a big truck, a little truck, a minivan, and a Chevy Spark. I was thinking of just getting back and forth to work and didn’t want to have to figure out the size and spacing on the fly. So, I chose the compact Chevy and laughed all the way home.

See the picture – it looks like the back half of the car is missing! At least I saved a little money with the smaller car! 😉

Sometimes, “Big Star or Bust” has to be a group effort. We are not meant to live in isolation. Even Jesus had a family and friends, as he ran a public ministry. He had to rely on others to some degree. Although He was often on the go, He always had time for what mattered.

This season can be tough in many ways. Hustling and bustling often lead to stress, while high expectations can lead to disappointment when things don’t go as planned. If you are dealing with grief or loss, well, that can take sorrow to a whole new level.

I know full well the grief cycle mixed with holidays. Feel free to look back on just about any post from each December I have blogged (starting in 2015). Each year has gotten a little better, thankfully! And, I am grateful for all the continued prayers and support.

Perhaps your “Big Star or Bust” journey is different than mine. Your strengths and challenges are unique, but so are your resources. God’s grace is sufficient whether you have a lot or a little. Just keep bringing Him your best, and be willing to accept a little help along the way!

Keep moving forward, and you will find the Prize you seek (Jesus!) if you don’t give up. #bigstarorbust

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God, thanks for the gift of laughter amid a potentially difficult season. Thanks for taking good care of us. Help us chase after you with all our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have a “Big Star or Bust” experience?! How are you pursuing Jesus this week? What does that look like for you?

Task: Whatever challenges you face today, turn your face to Jesus. Seek Him with all you’ve got. He completely understands and will never let you down!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #406

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 Tree Winter photo and picture

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

This was a fun week full of God’s grace!

Perhaps the biggest “excitement” of the week included a little rock hitting my car on the highway. A few minutes later, I was at a stop light near work and heard a pop as a crack developed across the lower part of my windshield. I called a car repair place and was able to swing by on my lunch break to get a quote. Hopefully, it will be fixed next week!

Later that day, I drove an hour to Pelican Rapids and back again, thankful God protected me and my windshield held up! I went to see a Veteran in a medical foster home, which means he lives with a local family and we go see him there. It was a gorgeous day, and I drove along a scenic byway full of rolling hills covered with a light dusting of snow.

This week, I had a lot of routine health appointments! I celebrated my five-year Lasik anniversary, and my eye doctor said I am doing great! My chiropractor was happy with my back, too. It only needed a few minor adjustments! Lydia and I also had dentist appointments, and everything looks great! I’m grateful for good health!

Today, Lydia and I went to the movie theater for “Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night.” We enjoyed the new presentation and songs. Who doesn’t love Andrea Bocelli?! I was a little tearful at various points, just so grateful for Jesus coming to rescue us from the darkness of sin!

Later, we each got haircuts. I got a trim, but Lydia took of three inches! But, before that, we went to the mall and walked around to kill some time. We loved the bright lights and didn’t even mind the crowd. It felt like a party!

Tonight, we are finally decorating our Christmas tree and doing other holiday activities. It is good to be home after a busy week!

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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

Finding Grace #405

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 Trees Woods photo and picture

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

This was another great week! My sister and dad both had birthdays this week, so it was fun calling and encouraging them. I’m grateful for such a wonderful family!

Once again, work was very busy but good. Somehow, I was able to stay caught up and even work ahead a little bit for the coming week. I did go out to see one Veteran at a nursing home. The change of pace was fun. I also had a few random problems pop up but was able to solve them for my Veterans. All’s well that ends well!

Today, it snowed a little, but this is the first snow we’ve had in quite a while. The entire week was gorgeous and made the twenty minute drive to work so nice. A couple inches of snow on a Saturday at home is no big deal!

We didn’t have big plans this weekend, so we made the most of our time around the house. We went through some old clothing, socks, and shoes. We also cleared out a shelf, bookcase, and some old papers. It felt amazing to set aside some things for donations and toss the rest. We still have a few things to go through, but getting rid of physical clutter helps with mental clutter, too!

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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

All About The Box

Oh, the fun and joy of a big box! We received two big boxes last week with some basic household supplies. Immediately, Lydia wanted to get into one of the boxes and pop out of it! Her laughter was contagious!

Then, at dinner, we discussed the day, that is, work and middle school. Lydia questioned why God lets some people “get away with” something and how He prompts others to apologize or forgive. We had a good conversation about God’s plan and expectations for His children vs. those who don’t follow Him yet (their choice). We also discussed the differences between the Old and New Testaments, and how Jesus’ death and blood set up a new system for dealing with sin. It’s a free gift, but not to be taken lightly!

Then, I decided to use the boxes to help me show Lydia a concept about God. I used one big box and a smaller one from the garage to create a visual.

I told Lydia, “Pretend I am God, and this big box is the universe I created. Then, this little box is Earth. See the LEGO people and animals! While God is outside our understanding of time and space, He’s also here with us. So, no one really gets away with anything. His judgments are right and just because He can see everything and knows our hearts.”

I went on, “Someday, every person will have to give an account for their words and actions. Sure, He could just reach down and deal with everything instantly, and someday He will. But right now, He is so patient with us (2 Peter 3:9)!”

(We can fool others and ourselves, but we can’t fool God!)

God can interact with each of us personally. Like a LEGO set, He can move people, mountains, and circumstances any way He wants. But He also responds to prayer and requests for help.

I imagine God leaning in to look for those who try to please Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). There’s probably a lot of joy mixed with sorrow. May we be found faithful!

Being human, we often lose sight of what is happening in the world. Our little corner of the box has its own issues! But, it helps me to remember this visual because I can more easily see my problems in light of Who God is and how big and powerful He is.

God is all-in and ‘all about the box’ because it contains His most precious creation(s). Us!

This box visual also helps me trust God when there are things I don’t understand. Like when Dave got cancer and died. (Check out my book for more details.) But, God knows what we don’t and sees what we cannot. I don’t have to have all the answers to walk by faith.

Moreover, Jesus humbled Himself and got in the tiny little box so He could truly understand what we go through and rescue us. He is Emmanuel – God with us. Therefore, we are not alone and without hope.

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God, You are greater than anything we can imagine. Your mercy and grace have no limits. Thank You for being so kind and compassionate toward us. Thank You for Jesus! In His Name, Amen

Questions: Are there any household objects or tools that make you think of God and who He is? How would you explain God’s love to a child?

Tasks: Put together your own visual for how you perceive God. Then, share it here or with someone in your own life (corner of the box).

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!