Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for October, 2021

Embrace Grief

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Jesus began to weep.
So The Jews said, “See how He loved him.”

John 11:35-36

This week we attended the funeral of a friend who died while we were off in Europe enjoying life. My friend, Jeannie, was grieving while I was obliviously enjoying life. We attended his memorial service when we returned. Many tears were shed. He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed. Over the past decade or so, Bob & I enjoyed many hours of four-wheeling on our mountain trails with him.

As many of you know, if you have followed my blog a couple weeks or more, we visited Jackie & Derrick Knight while on our three week excursion. If you follow Derrick’s blog, too, you know he had just lost his dear mom… and he took a break from planning for her funeral in order to host us. We understood the sacrifice of time and emotion that this delay involved… and we appreciated it so much! It was good to hear later that he was able to facilitate a very meaningful funeral for his mum.

A good funeral
Shared grief in community
Be sad together

Lie down in green pastures

Read 23rd Psalm
Sing Amazing Grace with friends
Embrace your grieving



Engaging in the grieving process with a friend
caused me to do a lot of introspective thinking.
What if this was my husband?
How would I be handling this?
How could I cope?
Do I realize how blessed I am
to have had these 60 years together?
Do I cherish each minute
we have together
or do I take these blessings for granted?

1960 – at Bob’s sister’s wedding
1962 at our wedding
Us at our 59th anniversary last Feb.

Embracing grief also means embracing news that grieves us- learning to accept that news – and learning to give it to God. Last week we learned that Bob’s compromised heart & kidney functions are probably caused by “Amyloidosis.”

Oh my! Have you ever heard of that? It’s a condition that causes extra deposits of protein in your weakest organ(s). As I understand it, in some cases the weakest organ is the brain, so the extra protein gathers there and can cause dementia. In Bob’s case, the weak organs were heart & kidney.

The extra protein stiffens the heart muscles and causes them not to pump as efficiently. There are several kinds of amyloidosis. One is genetic. To the relief of our children and grandchildren, that one’s been ruled out!

Next week Bob will have a full body PET scan Wednesday and he will have a bone marrow exam on Thursday. The attempt is to rule out bone marrow Amyloidosis (we were told that version of it can be cancerous). So, the challenge is clear: Don’t grieve unnecessarily by worrying needlessly! Worrying about things over which you have zero control is a waste!

Only embrace grief when such sadness is called for! We weep when we see the depth of sadness in those around us. We all need space to be in our sadness. But don’t invite it! Don’t anticipate it! Take time for “good grief” when it is right to do so, just as Jesus seeped beside us when my friend’s husband died. But know Jesus is beside you, sharing your grief, but also fueling your hope.

Believe His power to create change.


Maintain your hope, dear friends.
When disturbing news is shared with you,
don’t imagine the worst.

Instead, give it to God,
knowing He is with you,
working for your good.

Trust in His Light
which shines in the darkness.

Turn to our Savior in prayer!


Lord, grant us the courage to open ourselves fully
to your word’s power and lean on your mercy.

Amen

Lord, thank You for sharing our suffering.
Help us channel our pain toward you.
Help us embrace grief when appropriate,
but focus on HOPE and Your MERCY always.
Amen

Do you have a prayer request that you are willing to share with me?
I’d be happy to pray for you.
Please add Bob and his situation to your prayer list.
Thank you!

Have a lovely Sunday …
and a Happy Halloween
🎃

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Daily Plans

Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com

How do you plan your days?
There are so many different ways.
Some fly by the seat of their pants.
They do everything by chance.

How do you plan your days?
Do you go with the latest craze?
Do you map days out in advance?
Or do you run with happenstance?

Blessed with a Star on the Forehead
Posted about planning ahead
Then finding something instead
And proceeding with a little dread.

She wrote, “To stop doing something
I had planned to go do
something totally different
and unplanned is exciting and new.”

Check out her blog with the link below:

I have a habit of making
A list – so there’s no mistaking
How my day will proceed.
Getting done all that I need.

I sit in my sanctuary
Where my space is clean and airy,
And I pray for direction.
But sometimes, I need correction!

I know the best laid plans
Can fall into careless hands,
So, I keep my mind open –
Flexibility is copin’


Pexels.com

Take a look at tomorrow –
It’s a day we can borrow
Plans from years before.
But this year there’s more…

More trouble trick or treating;
Because the folks you’re meeting
May not have open doors.
COVID’s changed the scores.

Instead of making plans
For reaching out your hands
And filling bags with treats,
Let’s take those little sweets

And put them in a bowl…
Safe distribution’s the goal.
Be sure your treats are wrapped
And all precaution’s tapped.

This year Halloween is Sunday.
It’s supposed to be a fun day.
Is your costume ready to wear?
Will some kids join you there?

My sis always loved that day.
She embraced it in every way.
My grandkids loved her style.
Doesn’t she make you smile?

Embrace your daily planning
Pray this year no one’s banning
The fun of Halloween!
Save me a jelly bean!

See ya tomorrow… Happy Halloween!
What’s your favorite Trick or Treat?

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Wise Cracks

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission to
join a fitness club and start exercising.
I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.
I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour.  But,
by the time I got my leotards on,
the class was over.

My memory’s not as sharp as it used to be.
Also, my memory’s not as sharp as it used to be.

Know how to prevent sagging?
Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.



I talked with God about this today.

God said to me:
“Folks don’t mind your creases, Jan.
It is part of the aging process –
and those lines are roadmaps to your soul.
They tell how you’ve lived your life.
Your joys are there.
(Those are the creases beside each eye)
The times you were tickled are there.
(Notice those crinkles on your nose!)
Your worries are there.
(Those are the railroad tracks on your forehead;
sometimes caused not by worry, but by pondering!)


Those aren’t wrinkles –
They’re wise cracks!”

One of my favorite Bible verses about aging gracefully is
Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.”

(Psalm 92:14)

God will carry us through, even into our advanced years.
Our Creator has had a plan for us since before we were born.
He had our days numbered since the beginning of time
and it is up to us to make wise decisions
to help our bodies live
a more vibrant and full life
and to impart our wisdom
to those placed in our lives.


How many wise cracks do you have?
Are you trying to hide them?
Or do you embrace them?

In the video below,
Lisa, Domestic Life Stylist,
moves our focus away from our
“Wise cracks” and shares
some wise tips on aging.
It’s worth a watch!

Her final words:
“Embrace the age you are!”
Wisdom indeed!
(I’m 82, how about you?)

See ya tomorrow (God willing).
Thanks for visiting!

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Wordless Wednesday

Embrace Gladness

He has made me glad!
This is the day the Lord has made,
And I rejoice with each breath.
I treasure each beautiful memory.

Memories are God’s gift to us.
Activities are life’s treasures.
Highlights are those that make us smile.
My highlights and Bob’s are different.

Ask him about his favorite time
During our three weeks away,
And he will not hesitate.
It’s the Swiss fighting cows!

(Actually, he corrected me:
Cows are in second place…
Family comes first – whew!)

Visiting Pipo, the Swiss cowboy,
And seeing his award-winning cows
Was a unique, memorable experience.
But it was not MY favorite!

As I have shared in prior posts,
It’s the people who rise to the top.
It’s the people who make me glad.
I will enter their pictures with thanksgiving in my heart:

First of all it’s family:
Our daughter and her husband
And his mom, dear Denise…
How blessed we are to have them in our lives!

Do you have family far away?
So far that it’s hard to see them often?
So far that you missed them during the COVID crisis?
But always in your heart, making you glad?

Of course, in our case, the scenery
Is a huge source of gladness.
DeAna married a Swiss, so we HAVE TO
Go there to visit as often as possible.

Being able to see our children
And spend time with our growing,
And maturing grandchildren
Is my greatest source of gladness.

Throw in the bonus of meeting up
With my cousin, Tommy, in London
And visiting with Derrick & Jackie in Downton,
And you have gladness on steroids!!

You’ve met some of the folks below already.
If you had a chance, and you could post
A picture of the folks who make you glad,
Who would they be?

These boys make my heart sing!!

Mike is our oldest. Here he is with his fiance’ Tania.
Tania gave us a walking tour of Sierre –
And they took us to brunch & to their apartment –
Along with Mike’s middle brother, Nick.

Nicky, the middle grandson, is such a sweetheart
And so is his girlfriend, Celine.
He & Mike created a spreadsheet of our daily activities –
And made sure we were taken care of!

Wouldn’t that make your heart glad?

Our youngest grandson, Chris, is busy –
Busy with his work and his schooling,
His girlfriend in Colombia, and also
His school’s extra-curricular activities.

We treasured the few times he was
Able to make time to be with us.
Here he is with his mom, our DeDe.
These two definitely make my heart glad.

Embrace gladness, dear friends.
Cherish the time you have with your loved ones.
Remember the days of joy and shared love;
Tuck them in your heart – and thank the Lord!

Here I am with our son, Ty.
He makes me glad, too.
Time with him and his family
is a treasure to cherish.

Take time to share your gladness.
This is the day the Lord has made,
So treasure it in your heart…
And sing with me, “He has made me glad!”

What or who makes your heart spill over with gladness?

See ya tomorrow (God willing) –

Love,

JanBeek



Embrace Chalet Dreams

I have always loved Swiss chalets. How about you? I copied the picture of this one off the web at the time Bob & I were dreaming about the possibility of building a chalet of our own in California. (That was before we traveled to Montana, fell in love with the wide open spaces, the wild animals, and the Rocky Mountains – and bought our home here in Ennis).

As you know, we just returned from a trip to Switzerland because our daughter married a Swiss, has three of our grandsons there, and now has a Swiss chalet of her own! We needed to see her in her new setting.

DeAna remembers that when she was a child, we had a Swiss chalet music box. When you opened its lid, it played Edelweiss. Maybe she dreamed of one day having a real one. You think?

Ah, great it is to believe

by Edwin Markham

Ah, great it is to believe the dream
As we stand in youth by the starry stream;
But a greater thing is to fight life through
And say at the end, the dream came true!

Yes!! It is De & Andre’s chalet
Relais des Melezes Hotel and Restaurant

Here are some photos of chalets that we took on our trip to Switzerland this month. The first one of De & Andre’s! It has 4 hotel rooms above with the restaurant below. De & Andre’ live in one of those rooms and rent the other three. We stayed in one of them. Such fun!!

Which one would you dream of having for your vacation home? (I couldn’t afford to live there year-round… oh my, the cost of living is wonderful, but prohibitive unless you work there. The exchange rate for USA dollars to Swiss francs was – oh my!!)

You can see that we were very happy to be blessed to visit Switzerland, to see all those beautiful chalets and tour villages like Grimentz. W do not take this privilege for granted, believe me. God is good! We are living to see our dreams come true – and to witness our daughter’s dreams being fulfilled, too. What more can we ask?

He Had His Dream

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore’er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam —

He had his dream.

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

How about making your dreams come true? Dreaming of a trip to Switzerland, too? Why not go stay in one of De & Andre’s rooms?

Trip Advisor says:

5.0Excellent10 reviews#1 of 2 B&Bs / Inns in Vissoie Family-owned & family-operated auberge/restaurant in the heart of the Val d’Anniviers close to the resort destinations of Grimentz, Zinal, St. Luc and Chandolin. Rooms and restaurant have recently been renovated. André and DeAna have created a cozy, warm, and friendly atmosphere to make your stay/meal in our corner of the world one to remember.

Check it out! Here’s what Booking.com has to say:

www.booking.com › hotel › chRelais des Mélèzes, Vissoie – Updated 2021 Prices

Located in Vissoie, Relais des Mélèzes has a bar, ski-to-door access, terrace, and free WiFi. This 3-star hotel offers a concierge service. The hotel features family rooms. At the hotel, the rooms are fitted with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towels. All rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a kettle.

We’re not prejudiced… We’re her parents!

Go have a cup of coffee with DeDe.
I’ll tell her to leave the light on.
You tell her we sent you!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I hope I fueled your chalet dreams!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)!

Embrace Helpers

Do you have trouble asking for help? Or trouble receiving it? Or trouble knowing when you need it?

All of those are questions to which I must admit – yes! I enjoy being able to say, “I can do this!” Mom told me that two of my favorite words as a toddler were, “Me do!”

So, it should come as no surprise to you that I was reluctant to accept the help of a wheelchair when we were in Switzerland this month. Our daughter and grandsons were very wise, however. They didn’t ask. They just rented one and had it available for the loooong walks they knew would be part of our schedule. God bless ‘em!

Bob, with his congestive heart ♥️ failure – and me with my arthritic knee and ankles, needed it! And we appreciated taking turns being pushed as we toured Sierre (with Mike’s fiance’ Tania, as our gracious tour guide) and as we walked the distances required at the Sion Wine Festival. (Seeing how others see you when you’re in a wheelchair… well, that’s a topic for a future blog!)

The other help that we really treasured was our daughter, DeAna’s tech skills. She helped us find the links to the COVID-19 tests and other paperwork we needed before travel, the taxi we needed to get from airport to hotel/hotel to restaurant/ restaurant to train station, etc. Lordy, we could not have made this trip without her and all our other helpers!

Here are a few more photos of the phenomenal experiences we had:

The train took us from Derrick’s in Downton to London. We had a wait at Waterloo Station before the next train to the airport, so we took the opportunity to relax and grab a bite to eat. (Yes, food always is a highlight of foreign travel!)

The travel in London is very easy if you have someone helping you find the right direction, the right train or taxi. On the train, each stop is well labeled. Away we went… headed for Heathrow Airport and on to Geneva.

De’s husband, André, picked us up at the airport… another helper whose gracious assistance we accepted willingly. It was a drizzly, gray day, but that weather only lasted two days. The rest of our two weeks in Switzerland were gorgeous blue skies!

This is our view on morning #1 from Denise’s balcony in Sierre.

That first Swiss week, we were at André’s mom, Denise’s in Sierre. And of course, more food … and delicious wine. That’s our DeDe getting ready to serve the wine. Our grandsons, Nick & Mike, provided the cheese fondue. More evidence of generous helpers… doing the cooking and serving!

The fondue is always one of our favorite Swiss meals. As you know, Switzerland is noted for its cheese, chocolates, and watches… oh, and banking! It is an amazing, clean, technically advanced, beautiful country!

In advance of our arrival, our grandsons created a spreadsheet of activities they planned for us and sent it out to family, so others could choose times to be involved with our visit. Soooo sweet of them!


Thank you, Nicky, for being such a wonderful, loving helper!
We look forward to your visit here to Montana
this Thanksgiving with your sweetheart, Celine.

Thank you, Mike & Tania,
for taking such good care of us
and showing us so many beautiful sites!
We look forward to returning to Switzerland
next September for your wedding!

Back Home

In today’s sermon at our Madison Valley Presbyterian Church, our pastor, Mary Grace Reynold’s sermon fit right into this theme of “Embrace Helpers.” Using Mark 10:46-52 as her springboard, she shared the helping nature of Jesus. The story of the blind man who asked for Jesus’ help pointed clearly to need for us all to set aside our “Me do” childish attitude and ask for help when we need it. Accept help offered, and praise the Lord with all our hearts when that help comes.

Mark 10:46-52

New International Version

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mmmm …

Thank you, DeDe, for marrying Andre’
and giving us this wonderful place to “have to” visit!
Thank you for all your help & love.



Dear blogging friends,
I pray when you have a chance to travel
and you need help seeing all you want to see,
you will take a lesson from Bartimaeus
and from Bob & me…
Ask for help –
Graciously receive it –
And enjoy the journey with gratitude

and joy in your heart!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Special Friends Make Life Special

Back in April of 21012, when I first started blogging, I posted this…
Today I was looking at old posts, trying to find photos I can erase to make room for the new.
I noticed that back in those days, I had few (if any) followers.
This post had zero likes… probably zero views… but it is still there – and…
It is worthy of a second look. I know that beautiful (inside and out) friend…
I have met other friends like her since then.

Today I posted “Embrace Blogging Friends,” and you, my dear reader, are one.
You are the faithful reader who has encourages me, nearly ten years later, to keep on.
You make like special. You are special. Thank you for loving me here at WP.
Thank you for encouraging me,
Thank you for being you.

Click on that title now… it deserves a couple of reads, I think!

https://janbeek.blog/2012/04/17/special-friends-make-life-special/

Hugs,
JanBeek

Embrace Blogging Friends

I found this in my draft folder… Not on my site. How did that happen? (So, I am reposting it in case you missed it earlier)

How do you embrace your blogging friends? Sure, you can send them virtual hugs, but to embrace also means “to include.” Not just to grasp in your arms. It means “to adopt or take up.” Bob & I have adopted Jackie & Derrick Knight! We included them in our travels to England- and they graciously included us in their lives for three fun-filled days. You’re jealous, I know!

Now, when I go to Derrick Knight’s posts, I see their garden and the ponies, donkeys, and pigs in 3-D!! I feel the Knight’s hugs. I smell the sea snd feel the rocks on the shore at Milford On Sea! I have one of those pebbles here in Montana now. 👌🏽😍

Now that we’re home, I am reliving our European trip and it’s highlights in London, Downton, and Switzerland. I am grateful to friends who traveled vicariously with us on FB. I was unable to post photos here because my WP album was full. But, now I am busy erasing old photos and making room for more. I need you to reach out and “Embrace our Blogging friends” with me! Enjoy! Ah, the memories! So endearing!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Derrick & Jackie. You are wonderful!!!

Jan – so grateful to Derrick & his blog
Derrick & Jackie in their kitchen
Feeling Jackie’s hugs for real!
Visiting their garden under an umbrella
Jan & Bob with Derrick at Milford On Sea
Enjoying Jackie’s food for real

Time to travel around and see the donkeys, horses, swans, pigs, etc … all those roaming free animals Derrick & Jackie have shown us in the past … was amazing! Now when I see them on my computer screen I can feel them. I can smell them. I can place them in the context of their home and their drives through the forest. Ah, there’s nothing like being there!!

Embrace blogging friends/ open your heart and your home/ Mine’s open for you!

This heart-shaped leaf
in Derrick & Jackie’s garden
sums it up!

Love personified/ Gift of hospitality / Nothing can beat it!

Come travel tomorrow with De, Bob & me back to London for a day before flying on to Geneva and then Sierre and Vissoie – De’s home in Switzerland. Thanks for visiting with us on-line! I hope if you ever decide to take a trip to Montana – snd enjoy Yellowstone National Park, you will contact us and let us embrace you fir real at our home in Ennis. Yellowstone tone’is only an hour away!

See you tomorrow (God willing)

Love, JanBeek

Embrace Happy Memories

Why do you Travel?
Can’t you build memories here?
Be a homebody!

The travel bug bites
When you have family and friends
Who live far away

For me it’s not sites
Though they are wondrous for sure
London: AMAZING!

But it’s not the views
Of castles and of churches
That lures me on planes

We endured travel
To get to see our daughter
The lure is people!

Embrace memories
Yes, the sites are wonderful
But it’s the people!

That’s cousin Tommy
He was our London tour guide
Most memorable!

Better than the lights
On the Thames River at night
Was Tommy’s sparkle!

Better than London
And crossing the London Bridge
Was who we were with!

We endured the cold
Ventured out in London rain
Just to be with De

Tomorrow I’ll show
The other reason to go
To travel trouble

Travel in COVID
Is troublesome you can bet
But it’s well worth it

Fill out the papers
Embrace Happy Memories
Keep current passport!

As long as you find
People you miss and you love
All hassle’s worth it!

Thanks for traveling
Vicariously with us –
A magical trip!


Why do YOU travel
Or do you prefer rooting??
Either one’s okay!!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Love & Happy Hugs

(from the homefront),
JanBeek

Tag Cloud

%d bloggers like this: