Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Fun in Switzerland

Yesterday we attended a wine/raclette/music festival in Sierre, Switzerland. Our grandson, Mike, was there with his wife, Tania, and our great-grandson, Ethan. Today we are Celebrating Ethan’s 2nd birthday. Here they are … and here’s the fife & drum corps:

Mike, Tania & Ethan
Fife & drum corps

After the festival we had the privilege of visiting with Chantal. She is our son-in-law, André‘s cousin. She lived with us for about 10 months in CA back in the ‘70’s when she was about 17. Such fun to catch up with her again! Being with family & friends is what this trip to Switzerland is all about!

Chantal with us

I went to church this morning with Denise (André’s mom). It was a beautiful morning.

Sierre’s Catholic Church
That round building with the bell tower is right across the street from where Grandmama Denise & De/André are living.
There is their apartment building. And this display of water fountain and flowers is right behind/beside their apartment building:

It’s such a pretty day here!

It’s rare to see these buildings in disrepair… even the ones built in the 1700’s! But sometimes they do show their age.
More typically, the buildings are in pristine condition… like at this winery.
De helped Bob select the perfect bottle to share at today’s party.
Yes!

Santé, my friends. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See you tomorrow.

Here I am with Syli.

Ciao!

Swiss Family

Such fun to be with our daughter, DeAna, and her mother-in-law & her husband, André, and his cousin, Sylviane (Syli)!

Yummy food and great company!

André is our DeDe’s husband. He’s the first cousin of our AFS Exchange student from the 1970’s.

We are loving our time here – and our brains are slowly adjusting to Swiss time! It’s an 8 hour difference!

Pretty sunset last night.
Great accommodations prepared for us by Syli. God bless her.

Nap time 💤 See ya later.

Love, JanBeek

Hello from Switzerland

Yay! We are in Sierre with our DollyWolly!

It’s a beautiful Thursday morning

Sierre, Switzerland
Grandmama (Mammie) Denise was happy to see us!
We were delighted to have all 3 of our Swiss grandsons join us last night
Céline (Nicky’s significant other) joined us briefly. Such a sweetheart!
André (our son-in-law) fixed a gourmet dinner for us. Yummmm!
Which grandson is craziest!?

We spent from 6:30 am Tuesday to 7:30 am Wednesday on 4 different flights to get to Geneva. De & André picked us up there. The 2 hour drive to Sierre was gorgeous! Pictures don’t do it justice. Zoom in on those terraced mountainsides covered with vineyards!

That side of the valley is more rugged…
There are the vineyards on the north side of the valley.
The southern side of the valley doesn’t get the afternoon sun. No vineyards there.
This is the view from our 4th floor patio
“Grampy” Bob is sooo happy to be with our daughter, DeDe, again!
So am I!

See ya tomorrow.

Love, JanBeek

Ready!

We are staying the night in a motel near the airport. Ready for a 4:30?wake-up call and a 6:30 flight to Switzerland. 🇨🇭 yay! Great dinner at Fiesta Mexicana tonight.

Bob loves tacos.
And the margaritas are delicious, too!

Stay tuned as we help you travel vicariously with us.

Have a good night✌🏽

Love, JanBeek

A Night Out

So nice to be able to treat ourselves to a nice dinner every now & then. Continental Divide is guaranteed to satisfy. Wish you could have joined us‼️

First the salad
Then shrimp with pasta – mmm
And next salmon with pasta

Great atmosphere. Excellent wait staff. We love having Deb as our waitress!

Pretty drive home
Beautiful autumn leaves are destined to turn brown and fall off this weekend. Predicted to have 4” of snow on Sunday. I wish autumn lasted as long as winter does around here!
I wish our geraniums can survive the snow. But good luck!

It was a great night out. I hope you can treat yourself to a night out soon, too!

Love, JanBeek

Memorable Trail Rides

Memorable trail rides
Fill Autumn with delight
Mountain top’s a site
Great to behold!

We took TazE along
He sure loved going for rides
Following side-by-sides
Meeting with friends

Picnic in October
High up in the mountains
Far from drinking fountains
Brought our supplies

Our friends followed up close
We all enjoyed the sites
Trees were a yellow bright
Memorable

TankaTuesday.com

Abhanga: 4 lines of poetry; 6664 syllables; abbc rhyme scheme

Try it! It’s fun!!
Love ya,
JanBeek

Awesome Autumn

It’s Awesome Autumn
Clear skies and colorful leaves
My favorite season

Golden autumn leaves swirling in sunlit woodland

Dancing in the breeze
Joy-filled rustling Autumn
It’s God’s gift to us

Soon the colors fade
Giving way to winter’s snow
Celebrate the now

Sending love your way,
JanBeek

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Suddenly October

Where did September go?

Sunflowers turn their faces

To the bright October sun

A new month is upon us

A time to have some fun

Enjoy TMW with friends

Too much wine (TMW)

Gives way to NEW

Never enough wine

For the likes of me & you!

Under a Montana sky

We enjoy our time with friends

We’re looking forward to

October and all its trends

Pumpkins and Halloween
Pexels.com

A time for trick or treaters

But we’ll be off to Switzerland

No tricks and for sure no cheaters!

Ah, October… time to be with our DeDe and family!

What are your October plans?

Can’t beat October in the Alps. Stay tuned!

Love, JanBeek

The left hand doesn’t know
What the right hand is doing.
The left hand doesn’t see
What the right hand is doing.
It doesn’t understand
What the right is doing.
The left doesn’t care
About what the right is doing.

Doesn’t know or see,
Doesn’t understand or care.
Which is it?
Or is it all four?
This can happen in my body –
It can happen in your body –
It can infect any body.

Infection requires intervention.
Intervention is communication.
Communicate to know, to see,
And to understand.
But first, the left must care
What the right is doing.

I can communicate.
I care, so I want to know.
I see, so I want to understand.
Do you see? Do you know
That a part of the body is suffering?
Do you listen, question, care?

Two key people in our body
Have resigned their positions.
We are the left hand…
They are the right.
A crucial part of us.
Do we see, do we know?
Do we understand what’s happening?
Do we care?

The left hand needs to know
What the right hand is doing.
The right needs to know
What the left is doing.

We need to see, understand, care.
I heard. I care. I can commmunicate.
Have you?
Do you?
Can you?
Will you?

We are all in one body.
United we stand.
Fractured we fall.
Communicate!

A symbolic fractured human body

With Love,
JanBeek

Naturally brighter version of the image

P.S. This was written for my Madison Valley Woman’s Club and their “left hand” – The Nearly New. It’s a terrific organization of volunteers. Right now there is a rift. I am praying there is honest communication – and healing. Pray with me, okay?

Inspired

Today I am inspired to write
From the bottom of my heart
The problem however is
Knowing where to start

My heart is full of gratitude
For all the folks I love
Who return the sentiment
Including my God above

My dear church friends
In our Presbyterian congregation
Are a source of pure joy
And a boost to my salvation

We are in a tough spot now
Our church is in transition
We lost our interim pastor
He is off on a pastoral mission

So we’re passing around
The task of leadership
Today I preached the sermon
Next week I’ll lead the fellowship

It’s a privilege to serve –
To use my God-given gifts
I pray my words and actions
Reflect Christ’s love, causing no rifts

The scripture I selected
About a farmer and his sons
Taught “Actions speak louder than words”
And cautioned, “Watch our tongues!”

If we are called to leadership
We must carry on with care
Making sure our words and actions
Are preceded with much prayer

So today I’m inspired to rest
On the task I just completed
And listen for God’s still small voice
“Step up to serve. Your talents are so needed!”

What talents is God asking you
To use for Him today?
Step up and accept the challenge
He will guide you in His Way.

Amen?
Amen!

Love, JanBeek