Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for April, 2025

Love Our Poet Laureate

Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray at the Elling House Arts and Humanities Center in Virginia City tonight, Saturday, April 27th at 7:00 PM. I will not be able to attend, but I will be with him in spirit. He is a gifted man. I love his poetry.

La Tray, the Montana Poet Laureate since 2023, is a Métis storyteller and a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He’s the author of ‘One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large’ and‘Becoming Little Shell’. Why don’t you Google those books… or find ’em on Amazon. You’ll love ’em just as I do!

Chris sees poetry like the spiritual life of an Anishinaabe person: if you live an Anishinaabe life, focusing on the seven guiding principles of the Seven Grandfather teachings – Humility, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect, and Love – then every step you take becomes a prayer.

If you approach poetry in a similar way, seeing that everything that happens can be seen as a poem, and that every moment in life is an experience worth paying close attention to, then every step you take becomes a poem. Whether you write it down or share it with others, poetry becomes another way to tell and share stories. La Tray’s programs remind people that their stories matter, that they’re the only ones who can tell them right, and that poetry, no matter how you define it, is a beautiful way to do so.

Chris La Tray encourages us to focus on
Humility,
Courage,
Honesty,
Wisdom,
Truth,
Respect,
and Love.

Let’s do!

Humility sits in humble silence
While courage asks us to stand
And honesty demands
We approach life with wisdom

Truth is hard to find
In a world that lacks respect
The only way to discover it
Is with love, I suspect.

Reach out in love
Tell others how you feel
We know the world needs
More love. Make it real!

It was true in 1966 when Dionne sang this song…
And it’s even more true today.
Sing along with Dionne…
… and then go out and spread some love.

We all need it!

Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships, writing

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Happy Easter!

People of every faith celebrate the good news tomorrow brings. It’s all about love and grace. I received this beautiful message today from a friend who is vacationing in Santiago, Chile.

“The remembrance of God is like rain and dew, which give freshness and grace to flowers and hyacinths, revive them and make them acquire fragrance, sweetness and renewed charm.”
Bahá’í Writings

Here is my bulb garden with the beautiful tulips and a fragrant purple hyacinth.

The gift that keeps on giving 💕… every day a new blossom!

May our lives be like that. Every day blossom with the sweet fragrance of love. Live in anticipation. He is risen indeed🤩 The long walk is finished.

Silent Saturday is gone. Wake up to the Hallelujahs!

Amen?

Amen!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

Love

How D’ya Wanna Die?

We’re all gonna die someday.
How d’ya wanna die?

When you’re in your mid-80’s
and both your parents
died before their 90th birthdays,
it’s natural to think about your own death.

It’s the winter season of my life.
Family and friends are leaving
this earth before me.
Many are a decade or more younger than I.

Yesterday I received a message from a friend.
Her husband has been battling lung cancer
I’ve been praying for him and his wife daily.
He developed pneumonia recently.

Along with his other health issues,
lung cancer and interstitial lung disease,
she wrote, “That wasn’t a good mix!”
Sadly, he passed away.

But soon the “sadly” changed to “gratitude.”
She continued, telling me, “… alert, no pain,
and telling stories right up to the end.”
What a wonderful blessing that was!


No, this isn’t him, but I can imagine the scene.
“All of us were with him,” she wrote.
“He said he was ready to meet Jesus.
His faith was unbelievably strong.

He let everybody know he was joyfully checking out.”
My friend played Merle Haggard’s song on her cell phone:
Sing Me Back Home, and put the phone by his ear.
He smiled, closed his eyes, “So long ’til we meet on the other side.”

How d’ya wanna die?
I’ve decided my friend’s scenario
is the one I want when I leave this earth.
How about you?

Luke 23:43 

And he said to him,
“Truly, I say to you,
today you will be with me in paradise.”


I want to hear those words, too.
But not too soon, okay?

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Jesus, Life and Death, Living in Christ's Family, Love, music, Poetry

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Oh My! T is for Trouble!!

T is for Trouble!
KT is for Kenny Trouble!!
How long do you think it took Kenny to remove these 8 tassels?

Where did they come from?
Oh, my poor pillow!!
Four tassels gone from each end!!!
I was up in my sanctuary having my peaceful time in prayer, Bible study, and devotionals. And Kenny?
He was barking at Bob to come play with him!
Bob didn’t see him sitting by the door asking to go out. A dump in the floor was the consequence.
Oh my!!!

Kenny sure can get into trouble when we don’t pay attention to him.

We need to keep our noses alert to Kenny trouble!

How about you?
Do you spell trouble with a capital T when you’re ignored?

Yup, me, too!

Facing Trials

In the journey of faith, we encounter various trials that test our strength, resilience and patience. The Bible reminds us that facing troubles is part of life, and rather than shunning them, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth. These challenges, while tough at the moment, can refine our character and deepen our reliance on God. By reflecting on Bible verses about troubles, we can find encouragement and hope, realizing that God walks with us every step of the way. Our “Oh My!” can change to “Oh Thanks!” as we turn in prayer with those trials. God, will You play with Kenny?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

Ah yes… God will make us strong and steadfast. But God, will You restore my pillow?
And what about this rambunctious Kenny? Oh my, will You send over a playmate for him?
Oh, and while You are at it, will you send over a buyer for our kayak? It’s too heavy for Bob to manage it these days. We took it down from its hooks on the garage ceiling… and it’s sitting outside waiting for the right person to come and buy it … and enjoy many years of kayaking fun (just as we have).

Kenny would love to go out on Ennis Lake with it. Wouldn’t you?
Oh my! I need to do my French lesson
and this pup wants to play.
Come play with him!!

Sending playful fun your way.
Hugs, too…
from
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, Bible Lessons, Faith, humor, Life's Challenges, Love, pets, prayer, Serving One Another

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Best Pets

What animals make the best/worst pets?

Of course I am prejudiced!

Playful Kenny
Not just any dog…
…can make this guy smile like this!

Yup, in our house, the best pet is a Boston Terrier …

Yesterday we had him neutered. Coming out from the anesthetic, the cries were so pathetic!
Today he is having digestive problems… but currently he’s resting. Thank God!
Here’s Lacey! My family in Maryland thinks this is the best pet ever!

What do you think is the best pet?

Hard to beat my lapdog! He’s the best!!

Love ❤️

JanBeek

Category:

Animals, Love, pets

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Sharing “The Best of March”

Category:

Animals, blessings, food, friendship, Love, Memories, pets, relationships

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