Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for January, 2026

February Festivities!

First February Festivity: the 11th for our 64th anniversary-
A reason to celebrate and share a fabulous memory.
The year was 1961 and Bob was stationed in Germany
I was teaching a 1st grade in CA; he was in the US Army.

I married that handsome fellow when he flew home.
I left my darling first grade class in Stockton, CA to go roam.
Left my apartment, my language, Suzie, my roommate,
My family and friends… all that was familiar. Not great!

The wedding was spectacular and the reception would make
Family and friends smile & cheer us on and marvel at our cake.
At our 50th anniversary we asked a bakery to duplicate it for us.
One after another they said “Impossible” in an incredulous chorus.

I landed a job on the army base school in Germany, a first grade class,
And finished out the year joyfully, learning a new culture. It was a blast!
Back in California, I continued to teach the little ones in Turlock
And then in San Francisco & Hillsborough… while Bob graduated from SF State.

We started our family during those SF years… a boy, Ty, and girl, De.
They were a delight to us then … and still are a blessing each day to me!
Here’s a picture of Bob & me with Ty when he was a sweet little babe…
And one of DeAna with me in matching dresses I made!

Mother-Daughter

As the years have gone by and our children have grown
We moved from the Bay Area back to the place we had known
As children and young adults; Bob joined the family with bees
While I continued to teach and moved to principal and District Office with ease.

Our 50th anniversary was a time to gather five decades of friends & family
For a weekend in Palm Desert where we golfed, ate, and reunited happily.
The memories of that grand occasion are alive and well in our hearts,
And we continue each February to connect with friends from our life’s parts.

When we retired, we continued to celebrate our February dates with flare!
But we’re doing it in Montana. Twenty years ago we moved ourselves there.
We love living in Big Sky Country, Ennis Montana, where the antelope roam.
We celebrate life every day and invite you to come share the joy in our home.

February 11th is a day each year to celebrate the joy of being together.
Valentine’s Day we celebrate at a Wine Pairings dinner – regardless of the weather.
It’s at Madison Valley Ranches, a beautiful setting for sure, with great food and friends.
Come join us if you wish… spaces are available … right out here where the river bends.

Time to celebrate! This February Festivity is my favorite one.
Having you here to join us would make it extra fun.
Call Manu at 406-660-2959 for your Valentine’s Day reservation.
It’ll make us so happy to see you! Come share in our celebration!

Love ya,
JanBeek (& Bob, too)

Keep the Faith

Today’s message of hope was revealed
Through the scriptures with deep joy
And peace that passeth understanding:
Do not become withdrawn or discouraged.

Keep the faith, reach out and serve.
Set down what isn’t yours and pick up what is.
Love those around you; lift others up.
Psalm 27:1, 5 spoke to me today.

Psalms 27 of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

5 For in the day of trouble

He will keep me safe in His dwelling;

He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock…

We are called to leave what was …

Leave that over which we have no control.

Step out into a great light and rejoice –

Bring gladness into your new, uplifting role.

Keep the faith and walk in the light;

Spread hope and joy and gladness everywhere.

Be so positive and helpful and vibrant

That your faith and light give out hope to spare!

In Hope and Faith and Love,
JanBeek

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Five Ways to Have Fun

List five things you do for fun.

1) Texting with my daughter in Switzerland and enjoying the fun of watching her with her grandson & the neighbor’s little boy
2) Communicating with Laina, our bonus daughter in Maryland, and watching her enjoy Leo, her grandson
3) Volunteering at our local nursing home and watching the residents’ big smiles as they get dolled up for glamorous photos in front of this lovely backdrop
4) Playing with my Boston “Terror” Kenny (he’s such a character)

5) Visiting with my dear hubby (Bionic Bob) and appreciating his recent improved hearing due to his cochlear implant

That’s the exterior that is magnetized to the magnet implant… and the new aid for his other ear. Amazing new technology! Learning to make full use of these? Not fun! A work in progress!
What are your top 5 ways to have fun? My morning chats with De & Laina and my quiet time up in my sanctuary always start my days on a fun, happy note. I hope yours start happily, too.

Love, JanBeek

1940 Tribute to Parents

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Below is a letter I found in Grandma Foster’s Scrapbook. It was written in 1940 by Sheldon H. Kinney… the Fosters’ next door neighbor in Pasadena, CA… quite an accomplished young 25 year old. Here is a newspaper article published in the Chicago Tribune about him:

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Interesting how they published his parents’ home address, huh? I don’t think we’d see that in today’s press, do you?

While at sea, during World War Two, Sheldon wrote this heartfelt letter to his parents:

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How Grandma Foster got ahold of that letter so she could include it in her scrapbook is a mystery. But, it is there… preserved for me to share! I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. Makes me wish I had written something similar to my parents when I was 25! But, did I have the insight at that age to “see my parents as man and woman” the way Sheldon did? I doubt it.

How very precious to read Sheldon’s praise of his parents, and to feel the warmth they must have felt when reading those accolades!

As I continue to sift through the scrapbook’s treasures, I will gladly share others with you. I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am!

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Lots of love to you…
from JanBeek

New Formats?

WordPress is trying to get us to use new formats. In the process, I lost connection with my real site. I have been a member since 2018 and all of a sudden it said I didn’t exist. I guess I was trying to set up a new e-mail since my yahoo account is so full of junk, I lose the things I want to see the most. Hmmm… I finally found JanBeek and for now I will stick with the yahoo email. I don’t want to lose touch with you, my favorite WordPress friends!

Yesterday I was reading through a scrapbook created by Bob’s Great-GrandmaFoster and I stopped to take a picture of this page. I love the poem. GrandmaFoster was born in 1852! She died when my husband was 12 years old. She was sharp as a tack at age 99!! Her scrapbook is a treasure! Here is the poem… it fits you, my friends. Thank you for being here.

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Thank you for caring!
Have a blessed weekend!
Love, JanBeek
(and Bob, too)

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Thursday Beauty

The day was bright and sunny

Traveling from Ennis to Bozeman along the Madison River
I happily wait for Bob as he gets a haircut
Our “Bonus Daughter,” Laina, has a pretty day in Maryland, too.
And DeDe, our daughter in Switzerland, sent a picture of the scene from her balcony this morning.
Laina is enjoying time with her grandson…
While DeDe is reading to her grandson … so cute!
Meantime, Bob’s Diggin’ in to our wonderful lunch at Dave’s Sushi
Don’t you wish you’d had this delightful Thursday with us?

How did you spend your day!?

Love, JanBeek ❤️

January Cheer

A start of a new year

Full of friends and good cheer

May we see peace on earth

And the elimination of war and fear

Have a blessed week!

Love, JanBeek

Gorgeous CA Coast

It was an extra 6 hour drive – stressful in torrential rains, but well worth it to be able to spend time at Carmel by the Sea and experience the Asilomar coast. Sooo beautiful!

We lucked out- a break in the storm!

Don’t know what that white is…

Don’t know what that black spot is!

I know what that smudge on the left is… my thumb!
The waves were crashing, the clouds parted , and we marveled at the fresh ocean air and gorgeous vistas.
And headed back to our son’s in Placerville, the rain was heavy and the traffic was crazy. There was a terrible accident that delayed us awhile – all lanes closed. But on our way again, God sent this reassurance:
A full rainbow with a break in the rain for about 15 reassuring minutes!!

God is good! Now, a safe drive to Sacramento airport early tomorrow- and I’ll see you back in Montana.

Kenny will be waiting for us. But will he want to come home? I don’t know. He’s had a wonderful 3 weeks with his Rover dog sitter. Thank you, Jenna.
Happy New Year.

Love, JanBeek

Wonderful Family Time

The end of 2025

Found us loving life

Spending it with family

Avoiding stress and strife

All should be so blessed

To have such happy love

We don’t take it for granted

Such love is from above!

May you experience such love, too!!
Bob’s brother Bill and Marge
Our love for each other
My cousin, Adrian DeAngelis & Laura
Bob’s 1969 wrestling student, Kevin with wife, Kim
Time with in-laws, the Paynes
Contact with our DollyWolly, DeDe, in Switzerland
Visit with Bob’s nephew, Bryan, and his sweet wife, Michelle
… in their beautiful home
Opportunity to attend church at Harvest – such sweet memories here!
Christmas with granddaughter Faith and her hubby
So proud of our son, Ty, and the life he is living
Ty’s wife, Monika, the perfect partner!
Great food and precious Mable, our great-granddaughter
Time in CA wine country: life can’t get much better!
Thank you, Ty & Monika
May your life be so blessed, too!!

Love, JanBeek

& my happy 87th birthday boy, BionicBob