“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
My special gift is hospitality. I love having family and friends come to spend time with us. Here is our dear 1980-81 AFS son, Christian Zufferey (ZuZu), from Switzerland. No, he’s no stranger to us!!
(Our DeAna married his first cousin!! What a love story that is!)
This week DeAna, and her hubby, Andre’ surprised us by arriving with ZuZu and his wife, Celia, for a four day stay. Here they are this morning… leaving us (boo-hoo!)
But, we were blessed to have them come and spend those days (just not nearly long enough) – and to have Chef Andre’ prepare great meals!
How wonderful it was also to have our grandson, Mike, and his wife, Tania, with us for a week this month. They were so helpful!!
Now this hospitality business would have a full opportunity to be put into practice IF our son Ty & his wife, Monika, would come!
The good news is that Peter, one of Bob’s wrestling students from back in the 1970’s in CA, will be joining us in October for awhile. Yay!
Why don’t you consider Letting me use my favorite trait, HOSPITALITY, On you one of these days?
Sympathy = “I feel FOR you.” Empathy = “I feel AS you.”
Ah, we need more empathy! We need more people who are willing to put themselves in another person’s shoes…
Not just feel sorry for the one who suffers, but feel his/her suffering – and try to do something to alleviate it. I discovered a new blogger today (new to me) – “Ly-die” – who wrote an eloquent post on this topic. I really appreciated it, and I think you will, too.
Have a terrific Thursday! Our daughter, DeAna, and son-in-law, Andre’ are with us this week. They surprised us by bringing along with them our 1980-81 AFS Exchange student (Christian Zufferey) and his wife, Celia. Chris (ZuZu) is Andre’s cousin… and he has not been to the USA in over 30 years! You can imagine our pure JOY at seeing him and his dear spouse at our door!
Yesterday we toured Ennis and stopped at “The Long Branch” for a few libations. That’s De & Andre’ on the left and ZuZu with Celia on the right. I’m the happy camper in the middle!
Bob stayed home and then joined us later when we a went to our neighbors’ place (the Ducsays) for “TMW” – (what’s that – you ask?) – Hah – “Too much wine!” The picture doesn’t show our joy! We were having a grand time!
Today our Swiss guests are spending time in Yellowstone Park. It’s a beautiful blue sky day here. What are you up to??
Enjoy your Thursday… I send my love and empathy your way.
Today’s prompt made me pause and reflect on the why. Why am I here? Why have I posted “stuff” here for so many years? It’s not for rewards or recognition.
The title up there tells the story. It’s my place to stay connected with Derrick & Dwight, Ann & Sue, Richard & Donna, Caralyn & you!! It’s blogging friends old and new who take the time to comment, who post their own inspirational messages … that’s why I’m here. I care about you.
Thank you for also blogging and for staying in touch!
Well, it depends on how you’re looking at the word, huh? ASSet? Or maybe who you are and what you do?
If you are a gastroenterologist, (a GI doctor) like Dr. Gentry, who last Sunday performed Bob’s colonoscopy, then you’re looking for a clear anus!!
Oh my! TMI ?? Too much information!!
BUTT (oops!) BUT, hey, we just went through this weekend from hell… and if you’ve read my previous coupla blogs, you know what I mean. And maybe you are waiting for an update?
Bob received wonderful care at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. The nurse, Ann-Marie, was the reason he was smiling like this! She was as efficient as she was beautiful!
What’s a woman’s greatest asset? She was kind, caring, efficient, and professional. A real delight! Aren’t those the perfect qualities for a nurse? (Or any of us, for that matter!)
Let me digress for a minute, OK? While Bob was waiting and waiting for his procedure, (it was scheduled for 8:00 am and got bumped twice because of emergencies), I decided to go get something to eat. Neither Bob nor I had anything solid for about 48 hours!
I was sitting at the counter at Jam! (my favorite breakfast place in Bozeman) when the hostess seated a coupe next to me. I glanced up from the CA church service that was live-streaming on my cell phone and said, “Hi!” to the couple. Then I went back to listening to our son, Ty, who was delivering the sermon at his church in Placerville, California. (Isn’t modern technology wonderful?!)
That’s Ty with me – taken last summer… We’re so proud of his decision to pursue the ministry.
Anyway, I digressed… What I wanted to share with you was the way God worked miracles in our lives every time we turned around last weekend!
I was listening to Ty’s sermon when I heard the customer recently seated to my left say, “Hello, Mrs. Beekman.”
Surprised, I looked up… and I studied the handsome young man’s face. “Neighbor? Crowley?? Are you Cole?” I had not seen him in a coupe of years. He and his family live right across the road from us. He’s been away at college. What are the chances in a restaurant with 100+ people that Cole would be seated right next to me??
“When things happen in your Christian walk of faith and you say to yourself what a coincidence, you should know that it’s not, it is God’s hand in your life.”
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Open your hands and your heart for God to fill them!
Cole and I chatted for a while, got caught up on what’s new with him and with us… and I went back to listening to Ty’s sermon on-line. Cole & his girlfriend said their good-byes with “Let me know if you need anything.”
When the sermon was over and it was time to get back to Bob before he went in for his procedure, guess what? I asked for the bill…
“That couple that was next to you paid for your breakfast!”
Every time I turned around, God was working His miracles through the generosity, kindness, professionalism, and compassion of others!!
See that latte pictured up there? Do you think it was a coincidence that a happy bee is floating on the top?
Remember, Bob is a retired beekeeper/almond farmer. No accident that they made my dirty chai latte with almond milk and God sent the bee here to say, “Hah! Here I am to remind you Bob is in good Hands! I’ve gotcha covered!”
I got back to the hospital in time to say a prayer with Bob before he was wheeled in.
It was only a short time when he was wheeled back to the room.
Shortly, the doc came in with the good news, “You have a beautiful anus for an 84 year old!” (See, there’s that asset I was telling you about) Only a GI doctor with 25,000 colonoscopies under his belt would be so observant, right?
“Everything is OK! Whatever was causing the bleeding (no doubt diverticulitis) has healed itself. No surgery needed. Eat more fiber. Drink more water.”
Bob was given his marching orders with instructions to follow-up in a week with his primary care doc here in Ennis.
But before they checked us out and sent us happily on our way, Bob was given solid food (ah, a turkey sandwich never tasted so goood!) We were sent home with grateful hearts. Praise the Lord!!
I believe in miracles. We just experienced more than one. Look for God’s miracles. Expect them. He is busy delivering them every day!
God bless you! Thank you for all your prayers. We love you. Bee well!!
Oh, by the way, what do you think is Man’s Best Asset?
I posted this two days ago… before I was bit by a nasty 24-hr. flu bug. Felt like I was hit by a diesel truck! My birthday “Flu By” yesterday. Today this blog sits in “Jet Pack” saying it wasn’t posted. I know it was… some of you responded. But, it’s not letting me respond to your comments. So, here it is again …maybe a little different; (JetPack didn’t keep my latest revisions… siiiiigh!)
I’ve discovered there are many more ways to lower your blood pressure than there are ways to raise it!
Those of you who read my last few blogs know I had a bout with increased blood pressure that went up to over 200/80. Dangerously high!
Well, it’s going down. Soon it’ll be back to normal. Besides meds, here are five ways I have found that are very helpful:
1. Relax. Stay in my pj’s and robe til noon.
2. Spend quiet time in a special spot. Pray. Read my Bible. Meditate on a favorite scripture or poem.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
So many friends/family prayed for my health yesterday as the Flu Bug hit me like a diesel truck! God is good… He answered. Today I feel much better!
3. Latch on to your favorite friend and accept the invitation of other friends to go and do something fun together. (Thank God I got to do that before the diesel truck hit!)
4. Hug a dog … and the friends who brought the dog along while we all went out on their ATV, four-wheeling up into the mountains to a beautiful lake.
Off we go…
Beautiful scenes along the way…
Wonderful fields of wildflowers…
Gorgeous SureShot Lake
Zeke is such an intelligent, sweet dog! He loves riding in the canoe.
I rode in the canoe, too!! What a beautiful get-away! (Can’t get that picture to post here… You can just imagine it!)
Oh, and the fifth way to lower your blood pressure?
5. Get a good night’s sleep after enjoying a beautiful sunset.
Do you have some ideas for how to lower your blood pressure if it’s too high or how to keep it at a normal range?
Let me hear from you.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek I send my love and appreciation for you.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Yes, JUST DO IT!!
Today’s prompt was this: “What things will improve with age?” I do! And fine wine!
Do you optimize The world that is around you? Make it more lovely?
An Optimizer Smiles and laughs and spreads sheer joy You do that daily!
I thank you for visiting JanBeek today. May I ask a favor of you? My blood pressure was through the roof this week and we can’t figure out why! 204/84 … “Stroke City!”
Please pray with me that we (the doctors and I) figure out what’s causing it, OK? We’ve optimized by blood pressure medicine… Dear Lord, help it to “improve with age” – OK? Amen!
