Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for September, 2020

Another Angel in Heaven

Phyllis Wasick and me –
about 10 years ago

The older we get,
The more ready we must be
For our angel friends
To leave you and me.

They ascend to heaven
Where loved ones wait
To greet them in song
At the pearly gate.

Today’s selfie

When our hair turns silver
And wrinkles show our age,
We have to be ready
To turn the eternal page.

The eighties are great;
It’s a decade of reflection
And a time to appreciate
Every earthly connection.

But it also is a time
When we look at this season
As the winter of our years,
And we search for life’s reason.

Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi on Pexels.com

We look at life differently
Than we did in our teens.
We see through our experience
What life is – what purpose means.

It’s not about what we can get,
Or what riches we acquire.
It’s about the love we give
To the people we admire.

It’s about reaching out to strangers
Who are falling between the crack.
It’s about filling their needs –
Helping give the things they lack.

Photo by Luis Dalvan on Pexels.com

Reaching up in prayer and praise
I thank the Lord for all His gifts.
As long as I have life and breath,
I’ll reach out to give others lifts.

I hope you’ll use your senior years
To do the same – to spread your love –
Because we are blessed to be a blessing.
For every day, I thank. God above.

My Prayer for You

When your time comes
To say good-bye to earth,
May the angels welcome you
And your friends rejoice at your New Birth!
Amen

Welcome to Heaven, Phyllis.
I miss you here…
But I rejoice at your Eternal Reunion.
May all who were blessed by your presence
And who entered the pearly gates before you did
Be there to welcome you HOME.
God bless you!
Keep the light on!

Love,
JanBeek

What Binds Us Together

What Binds Us Together?

A little of this
A little of that
A mountain of snow
A dog and a cat

A look through a window
At September snow
A beautiful fence line
Where horizons glow

A plate of raclette
To make my mouth water
A beautiful friend sharing dinner
With my lovely Swiss daughter

Dear Liz, sweet life-long friend!

A look into hearts
From an angel’s swing
Helps us see one another
With the love we bring

If we can see others
Through an angel child’s eyes,
How much kinder this world
Would be… and how wise!

Look for the magic that binds!
.
2 Sweet Rainbow Lorikeets
.

What binds us together
Like birds of a feather
Is not what you see
On a plate or the weather

What binds us together
Is the love that we share
So, let’s share it generously…
Spread your love everywhere!

Share LOVE!!

What is it that binds you to your loved ones?
Of course, it’s the love… but it’s also shared interests.
How do you cultivate and grow those interests?
Think about it… and buy an extra bag of that fertilizer!

Thanks for visiting
JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.


Anniversary Wednesday, 9-9-20

Happy 31st Anniversary to
our son, Ty & his sweetheart, Monika

Best wishes to Ty & Monika
May they have many more years of wedded bliss!

How many years have YOU been married (if at all)?
Bob & I have 58 1/2 years under our belts.

See ya later…
I’m on my way to Bozeman for the day.
Hugs,
JanBeek

Selfie Poem

https://dversepoets.com/ asked that we write a selfie poem today. You already know me – if you follow my blog. But, if you’re new to JanBeek, here’s a taste of who JanBeek is:

J olly
A nd
N aughty!
E specially
T
alented at
L
oving. <3
A
lways
U
ltra
R
esponsible and
A
ltruistic,
B ut
E ager to be
E ntirely
K ind!
M ostly
A uthentic and
N ever mean.

How about trying an acrostic –
using your full name
(including your middle name)
to describe yourself?

See ya tomorrow.
For sure…
JanBeek

Did You Miss Me?

Yesterday I missed writing for the first time in about 400 days. Did you miss me?

No, I wasn’t out on my ATV with TazE!

WordPress said I was only on my 20th consecutive day – or something like that – but actually what happened was I started the post on one day, finished it the next day and when I posted, they chose the day I started the post rather than the posted date. That caused me to miss a day. Have you ever had that happen to you?

I learned to check the post date in the future and don’t assume it will be exactly when you click on the “Publish” button.

Oh well… big deal!
It caused me to stop being so obsessed with how many consecutive days I have!
Just smile, post when you have something to say,
And don’t sweat the small stuff.

Who cares how many consecutive days you’ve posted? I used to really care a lot. Now I have decided, “So I miss a day… big deal! Ya gotta live your life and eliminate the stress of unreal expectations!”

BUT, you know, I always have something to say! That’s not the issue. The issue is: some days other things besides writing occupy my time.

Two days ago we had the privilege of meeting for the first time IN PERSON a gal who has been my FaceBook friend for at least a decade. She and her husband were on a road trip from Ohio to California. They wanted to visit Yellowstone. It’s only an hour from us. I invited them to come stay a few days with us. They DID!! So, I was much too busy with Margo and Ron to stop and write on my blog. You understand?

Margo and me

It was fun to get acquainted with this gal who was my FB friend waaay back when we were both hooked on Farmville. Did you ever do that?

Margo used to help take care of my Farmville animals if I was away!

Now, we have graduated to helping one another in a different way. We reconnected when I reposted a comment by my friend, Father Keith, who is as concerned as I am about what’s happening with the US Postal Service. I opened Pandora’s Box – and the conversation turned caustic. Margo (who is a retired postal service worker and has a son and many friends who work for the USPS) weighed in on the conversation. God bless her!

Ron & Margo … FaceBook friend comes to life – real and wonderful!

It was wonderful to make a personal acquaintance with an on-line friend. I hope some day some of you who are my WordPress friends will come to Montana and let me meet YOU face-to-fce, too!!

What else occupied my time this past few days?

Walkin’ in the rain

Our weather here in south-western Montana is sooooo unpredictable! On Saturday we had temperatures in the high 90’s – and then Sunday it was lovely in the 80’s. That night, Margo and Ron arrived… and the next day we had rain, sleet, hail, and snow! Welcome to Montana! Let’s go for a walk in the rain!!

The flowers survived –
and by Tuesday the sun was out
and the temperatures were back
to being comfortable again!

They say if you don’t like the weather in Montana, wait five minutes! It changes so radically so fast that it is always a topic of conversation.

I hope you had a wonderful Tuesday…
and you missed me!
Take a ride this week.
Take a beautiful break!

See ya tomorrow… maybe.
What is keeping you occupied these days?
Love ya,
JanBeek

Is Your Cross Too Heavy?

Photo by Vitu00f3ria Santos on Pexels.com

Thank you, Vitu Santos for this wonderful photo.
It speaks volumes to me…
and it exhibits to me
the message of today’s sermon…

Today’s sermon notes

At the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis, MT today,
Rev. Steve Hundley delivered his sermon titled, “Is Your Cross Too Heavy?”
The Lord prompted me to take my sermon notes in the shape of a cross.
The photo of the cross sermon above is the result of that effort.

Photo by Mauriciooliveira109 on Pexels.com

To illustrate his point – that we need to give Jesus our burdens,
lighten our load, and live in joy, Rev. Steve used this story:

“It’s hard for an egg to become a bird,
but it would be harder for a bird
to fly while still in the egg.”

Let go the egg…
and FLY!
Give Jesus your burdens
and follow Him
with JOY,
not because you HAVE to,
but because you
WANT to.

Photo by Joshua Abner on Pexels.com

God bless you
with the JOY
of
Life Given Away
because you WANT to!

Thank you, Ty, for this beautiful image.

Have a Happy Labor Day weekend.
See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Don’t Stress the Could Haves

Do you have “Could Haves”?
What is it you could have done?
So why didn’t you?

We had a pie sale
Presbyterian Women
In downtown Ennis

I could’ve bought some
But I baked four pies instead
Bob bought Kathy’s pie

No one bakes a pie
Like Kathy’s lemon meringue
If I could, I would!

Bob’s a happy guy
With the world’s best lemon pie
Don’t stress the could haves!

What’s your favorite pie?
With or without ice cream?
Enjoy!

Here’s Kathy – the lemon meringue pie wizard!

Bob didn’t sweat the woulda – coulda – shoulda!
He just invited Kathy over to teach him how to make his favorite pie.
She came. He learned. But, he still likes it better when she makes them!

See ya tomorrow.
Have a Wonderful Labor Day weekend.
Don’t sweat the woulda- coulda- shouldas!
Hugs,
JanBeek

Without Water

Have you ever been living in a house for a week without the benefit of running water? That’s been our situation this week.

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

If you don’t have water running in your house, then your toilets don’t work. Have you lived in your house without a toilet working and with no outhouse? That’s what we’ve done… and our dear neighbors let us drive the 1/4 mile to their house to use their bathroom when we needed it this week. At night, we’ve slept in the church manse where we could use the toilet when needed without driving to the neighbors’ place at midnight!

We’ve been updating the water system in our house – replacing the water tank, pump, radiant floor heating system, etc… Long story as to why this was necessary, but suffice to say, I am not complaining. I know I am blessed.

Photo by Artsy Solomon on Pexels.com

I know there are people in this world who have to walk miles to get drinking water – or any kind of water for that matter – and they carry it on their heads to bring it home to their families. So, am I complaining about driving a quarter mile to use a toilet – or about not having running water in my house for a week? No way!!!

Photo by James Frid on Pexels.com

But an outhouse would come in handy right about now! Maybe I should just pretend I’m camping right now. Ya think?

When you go to Amazon.com and buy something on-line, you have a chance to donate a percentage of your dollars to a charity of your choice. I give to

Water To Thrive
which is headquartered in Austin, TX

Water to Thrive provides clean safe water to rural African communities by connecting donors, sponsors, congregations, schools and community groups directly to communities in need.

There are many organizations related to clean water and building wells in remote places around the world – where fresh, running water is a luxury. I hope you find one that you can support – – – The people who receive your support will rejoice, for sure!

Photo by Belle Co on Pexels.com

People all over the world are in need of fresh water for their survival. Being without running water in my home for a week has certainly taught me empathy.

What charity is dear to your heart?
Have you ever been in a situation
where you lacked the water
you needed for your daily needs?

Tell me about it.

See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Wish You Were Here

Hello, my blogging friends!
I wish you could be here in Montana with me.
It’s a beautiful day – and yesterday was equally as wonderful.
I took a video to share with you the gorgeous view.

Life is good!

Here’s to friendship, fresh air, and perfect views!
Love ya,
JanBeek

Scared of Getting Older?

Do we have an obsession with image? More concerned about the outside than the inside? As a nation… as a world?

Photo by Eternal Happiness on Pexels.com

Are you fed up with it? Do you feel it is robbing us of our sense of purpose and our wisdom?

These are some questions I gleaned from Scilla Elworthy, the elderly South African woman in the Ted Talk above:

Are you fully alive in your body? Do you have energy and attractiveness in your soul? Are you content with what is? Can you remove the mask, let the wrinkles show, and still like yourself?

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Self-acceptance is a great, great gift!

Obsession with image is tiring… Yes, I believe that!

What makes you feel electric? Does the world see your energy? Do you have real aliveness?

Health, exercise, purpose, usefulness… those are the keys!

Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

Many people struggle to find purpose in life. Scilla Elworthy said, “Most people fear pain and loneliness.”

We worry about what will happen when we are no longer able to care for ourselves and must rely on other people.

Photo by sergio omassi on Pexels.com

Dementia is a real fear for me. My mother was diagnosed with it before she died. My sister is in a home today – a nursing home – being cared for because she has Alzheimer’s. It is in my family. Is it in my future? I cannot dwell on that! I must live in the NOW and love myself so I can love others. The keys are:

  • gratitude,
  • prayer and meditation,
  • time in nature… being outside with things that are alive
Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

What about death? It is inevitable. Approach it with curiosity. Think through it. Know that death is not finality.

What are the gains of growing older? We can speak out! Dare to speak up about those things that we think are wrong! Stand up for those things! Make a contribution by making a difference – by being true to ourselves.

Know that with age comes wisdom. Wise, experienced leaders are a gift to the world. As we age, we can be that older, wiser person who sees beyond the horizon. The world need us!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

But age and wisdom are not synonymous. Wisdom does not come automatically. We can’t live in a foxhole and gain wisdom. We need to go out and risk adventure. Risk rebuke. Risk the world hating you. We need to be true to ourselves as we lift our heads to what is happening around us and seek the solutions to the challenges we all face. We can’t be ostriches with our head in the sand.

Photo by Frans Van Heerden on Pexels.com

A friend of mine said she has decided that the best way to avoid dissension is just to avoid having an opinion. “I try to remain totally objective – with no opinion expressed. Opinions just garner arguments,” she said.

We can’t let ourselves live in that kind of fear! Avoidance invites stagnation.

“Whoever is free from all fear will always be safe,” Scilla Elworthy said in the Ted Talk above. So, we must let go of any fear we have of speaking out.

What do you care about? What’s your opinion about aging? Let’s hear it!!

Derrick told me I earned every wrinkle.
I told him, “… and every silver hair, too!”

I’m not afraid of growing older.
Just don’t call me old!!
See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek