friendship | janbeek

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Archive for the ‘friendship’ Category

It’s Beginning

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

From my toes to my head … see that hat?

Christmas parties have begun

That’s the luncheon at our Madison Valley Woman’s Club yesterday.
45 ladies showed up from our little Ennis community!

My dear friend, Susan P, came and helped me decorate our house from tree to…

…fireplace mantle and lotsa places around the house.
She did things I could never do by myself.
God bless her!

Those candles on the mantle are battery operated
and can be set to change colors!!

Isn’t that fun?
They can all be one of any choice of 8 colors
or they can rotate.
Good ole CostCo.
They have lotsa fun things
to get you in the holiday spirit!

But nothing depicts the Christmas season
quite as well as this treasure
that I found at our Christmas bazaar last Saturday.
It’s a manger scene made by a darling lady in Nairobi.
She used the bark from banana trees!!

It’s not Christmas unless we
recognize the nativity as
central to the holiday!

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas at your house? Tell me about it!

Have fun fixing your home
to reflect this holiday season
in a way that is meaningful for you.

For me and my family, it’s Christmas…

Thanking God for the gift of
Baby Jesus,
sharing time with family & friends,
sending out cards,
decorating with trees, candles, music
and presents…

and the fun has just begun!

Our TazE looks just like this Boston on the right.
She has decided the blanket under the tree is her bed.
She thinks the presents are for her.
Help!

Have fun this Christmas season…
and good luck keeping your dog, cat or kids
out from under the Christmas tree!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, blessings, Faith, Family, friendship, holidays, Jesus, Living in Harmony, Love, music, pets, relationships

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Happy Day After

Happy Day after Thanksgiving! It’s a heat wave – we’re finally above freezing! The icicles are melting.

Time to “cool it” and let the turkey and stuffing settle while making turkey soup with the leftovers.

Our dear friends, the Humphreys, invited us to share the Thanksgiving feast with them. Such a lot of food! God bless them; they sent half the leftovers home with us. We are enjoying them a lot!!

Bob and I tried not to overstuff ourselves. Not easy!!

Kathy set a really pretty table.

Meantime, in Maryland, our friend Laina is recuperating from surgery, so her daughter, Katy, came over and created a phenomenal meal. Take a look at that turkey. Isn’t it beautiful? Katy’s sister and her fiance’ joined them. Thank God for our technology, we are able to share photos and greetings with one another.

In California, our son, Ty, and his wife, Monika celebrated Thanksgiving with his in-laws, two of his kids and two grandkids at a time-share in Napa. Here is a wreath they made with expressions of their gratitude. Don’t you love it?

On Thanksgiving Day, Ty and his son (our grandson,Jordan) plus his daughter (our granddaughter, Faith) and her husband participated in a “Turkey Trot.” Good for them, huh?

I have a wonderful picture of the whole family, but with my two great-granddaughters in the photo, I can’t post it. You’ll just have to imagine it!

I hope your Thanksgiving weekend
is filled with more family and friends
gathering to celebrate your blessings with you.

Do keep in touch, OK?

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Family, food, friendship, holidays, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, relationships, Sharing

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Happy Day Before

Happy Day Before…. the rest of your life … a day of gratitude in the USA,… I pray you are well, anticipating a happy tomorrow, and living the good life.

Thank you for checking out JanBeek today. What are your tomorrow plans? We are planning to go to dinner with dear friends who live just a mile away … that is, if we can get out of our driveway! Look at what’s happening outside:

It’s pretty from the inside looking out! I’m not complaining. We have had several relatively dry years – so we can use the moisture! I just pray the roads are clear enough that we can get out tomorrow!

Yup, like that turkey who avoided the chopping block, I am grateful for life! Grateful for love and health, and all God’s blessings. What are you grateful for today? I pray that you’re feeling blessed, too.

Cheers!
Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow…
Happy Day Before…

Love to you and your family,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, Family, friendship, God, Gratitude, holidays, Life's Challenges, Love, Montana, prayer, relationships

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Reblog #15 – Relationships

This blog was posted in my “Embrace” series a year or so ago. Many of you, my faithful followers, saw it and commented. Thank you so much!

It is worth revisiting! I have several new friends since then, so I think this is a good one to reblog as we approach this Thanksgiving Day 2022. Gathering with friends and family reminds us of the blessing these friendships are to us.

My devotional this morning in These Days, Daily Devotions for Living by Faith, quoted Col.1:11-12 and reminded us, “Being in a healthy relationship is no small task.”

It went on to tell us, “It takes work, sacrifice, and understanding.” Yesterday I reblogged a post titled, “Partners” that pointed to those same requirements for lasting relationships.

I recommend that
you click on the “Best Friendship Songs” below
and listen as you read my Haiku renderings
on this subject of Relationships.

Relationships are
What this life is all about
Friends are our life’s gifts

We need each other
Going through life alone won’t work
Loneliness smothers

We’re never alone
When we’ve a relationship
With God, our Maker

Put God first in life
Let Him help you bind your love
So it never breaks

In an article in Woman’s Day Magazine, I quote:

“Whether you’re starting out a new relationship,
have been married for years,
simply love your friends,
or adore your family,
there’s always a way to
incorporate God
into each of the unique relationships
in your life.”

Choose relationships
Grounded in mutual love
With respect at center

Seek Godly friendships
Not just with your great neighbors,
But with every one

Especially when
You are choosing a life’s mate,
Be centered in God

Men, listen to this:
If she does not know your God,
She doesn’t know real love.

Don’t give up on her!
Teach her about the Savior
Save relationships

Embrace your friendships
Love one another fully
Treasure your family

I am grateful for
The love of my family
I can count on them

I pray your friends care
For you as mine do for me…
And know I love you!

You are blogging friends
Who visit JanBeek to say
“I care about you”

I am inspired by
The way I can count on you
To come, read, and write

God bless you, dear friends
Your relationship matters
It’s more than on-line

It’s alive in me
You’re a friend I depend on
I can count on you!

Have you been listening
To that collection of songs?
Lots of good words there!

Like: “Live your story”
“Know our love will never die”
“Hold on to your friends.”

Thank you for visiting JanBeek today.
You matter to me.
Thank you for being my friend.
See you tomorrow.

My niece, Jodie, with me and her best friend, Melissa…
Such treasures in my life!!

Who do you treasure as a best friend?

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Family, friendship, God, Gratitude, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships

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Reblog #7 – Stay Positive

On January 11, 2020 I posted this blog.
I decided on this Mid-term Election Day, 2022,
it’s a good time to revisit the idea of positivity.
Here is what I wrote then:

“Today Bob & I had the privilege
of the company of two very happy, warm, genuine people.
Friends like these are part of life’s treasures.
We are so grateful for them.

This photo of Terry and me was taken a year ago at their place.

Last year we shared time with these friends at their place.
This year they are sharing time with us here in Rancho Mirage.

When you have friends who are happy and positive,
it is easy to remain cheerful –
even when crazy, bizarre things
are happening in the world around you.

My Haiku on this topic:

Never give up hope.
Find happy, warm, genuine
and sincere people.

Keep your eyes open
And your mind constantly keen.
Joy and kindness reign!

Let joy come to you
In the form of caring friends.
Let them fill your heart!

Today I will be quiet on WordPress.
It is my day to be present with my friends who are visiting..
I hope you have a beautiful …day.

I pray that you have happy,
warm, genuine friends
to share your day with you.
God bless you!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Family, friendship, Haiku, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, prayer

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Reblog #2 – Reflections

NanoPoblano2022 asked us to reblog an old post during this month of November. One a day. I’m going to try to do that.

I added this image to the 2012 post. Back then, I did not understand how to use WordPress to its greatest advantage with memes and images that enhanced the words. My purpose in blogging today remains the same a it was a decade ago: to encourage love, joy, peace, faith, and unity among my blogging friends and to inspire us all to live a happier, more purpose-filled life.

My 2012 post:

“My confession, admission, and plea to God today is this:

None of us lives to just self alone;
Each of us lives for the other.
Whatever we do, be it rosy or blue,
Reflects on our sister and brother.

None of us sits on the judgment seat.
We’re not assigned to decide
If someone’s dull or bright, wrong or right,
Sending them to a corner to hide.

None of us lives a faultless life,
Though we try our utmost to seek
The humble hill to fulfill Your will
In our deeds and the words we speak.

We stumble and fall and fail to be
Examples of the upright and strong.
Try as we may, we know that someday
We’ll have to account for each wrong.

We’ll each have to stand before Your judgment seat
And review how we’ve spent every minute.
So, Lord, help us give every day that we live
All the love and the grace You put in it.

Help us to generously welcome all
To be part of whatever we do.
None of us lives to ourselves alone;
We always reflect on You.

Amen?

Amen!”

Happy Reblogging, my friends.
See you tomorrow.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, blogging, Faith, friendship, Giving, God, life, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, self-esteem, Serving One Another, Sharing

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A Month of Reblogging

Today is the last day to join NanoPoblano2022 … an invitation to look back at your favorite posts and reblog one each day.

I began blogging here on JanBeek more than a decade ago. I think it will be fun to go back and choose 29 of my favorites and tag them each day with NanoPoblano2022… and join the others who are accepting this challenge, too. My reblog for today will be titled “Reblog #1”

Look for it!

Meantime, Happy November 2nd to you. I am praying for my friend, Marcia, who fell (tripped on her way to bed) and broke her hip last night and had to have surgery – and is in the hospital in Bozeman, MT. Please add her to your prayer list for comfort and rapid healing! Thanks.

I shared with Marcia that I relate to her predicament… I tripped last April and broke my pinky. If you’ve followed my blog, you know about that. I was walking too fast and not looking where I was going. That little finger has not healed properly (in spite f weeks of physical therapy)… and I can’t make a fist with that left hand. It’s amazing what you can’t do if you can’t make a fist! It’s not just handy in a fight… you need it for wringing out clothes, or for scrubbing something, or for carrying something heavy. Ah, the lessons we learn the hard way!!

Slow down and watch where you’re going!

Have a Happy and safe November.
See you at Reblog #1…
Come on back!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blogging, friendship, health, Life's Challenges, Love, prayer, relationships, writing

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Remember November

Dig deep in your brain
Remember November now
It’s gratitude month

In Novembers past
Remember who you shared with
Then count your blessings

Time has changed a lot
Large gatherings here are gone
I hope they’ll return

Family is so precious!

Family: the people you choose to love

Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Pexels.com

Remember the days
When decorations were seen
All around the house?

Will we still create
A festive mood this season
Without the big crowd?

Don’t cry for me!
We won’t gather round this table this year
for our Thanksgiving celebration…
but we will be with dear friends –
and our son will be with family
in a lovely California destination.

My heart goes out
to family and friends
who will experience
The Empty Chair
this year.

Several of our friends
Relate to the empty chair
Missing who was there

If you’re only two
And the group is not around
Be grateful for two

Thank the Lord you have
One another and rejoice
Then join friends of choice

Have a Memorable and Blessed November!

God bless You!
Lotsa Love,
JanBeek

God Bless
My “friend of choice!”
I’m so grateful to have him here…
(That was our 60th anniversary photo!)

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, Family, food, friendship, Gratitude, Haiku, health, holidays, Love, Poetry, relationships

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Blessed to Be Home

Travel is wonderful
It takes us to friends
It connects us with family
Our little world extends

DeDe, our daughter, was a wonderful chauffeur

Visiting family is a treat
Especially on special occasions
Participating in events
Receiving honored invitations

Our oldest grandson, Mike
Married the love of his life
We were blessed to be there
When they became husband and wife

Mike and Tania were sweet –
Sent us photos from their honeymoon
Some of the scenery was
Enough to make us swoon

Love is beautiful when it’s new
Full of promise and creating dreams
God blesses those who build hopes
On His Word and what it means

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.”

While we were blessed
To be able to go and see
Our loved ones who live afar,
Home is indeed a great place to be.

I loved being able to go
Up into my sanctuary again
To spend time with my angels
And time in prayer – Amen!

(Yes, I know you can pray
Anywhere you are – every day –
But there’s something about a place
Set aside for that in a special way)

We loved being able to have
Bob’s former student and his wife
Come and spend time with us –
Sharing our home – sharing our life.

So glad Peter & Alice Martin came to visit!

Returning to our church family
Was a treat for us as well –
There is comfort and joy
Being where Christian friends dwell

One of my dear Ennis buddies
Took care of my plants while we were gone
Another came and took care of our yard
Checking the flowers and mowing the lawn

Enjoying the company of our pup
Is another bonus of being home
Our TazE is twelve years old now
She’s loved by dear friends when we roam

Ah yes, it’s a blessing to be home
We appreciate from the bottom of our heart
All that our family and friends did
But we miss our bed and pillow when we’re apart!

We certainly enjoyed Andre’s phenomenal cooking
All the Swiss cheese and bread it contained…
But it’s time to return to my cooking each day –
While we take off the pounds we both gained!

Come visit us, dear friends.
We’d love to see you here.
We’ll take you to Dave’s Sushi –
In Bozeman – a city that’s pretty near.

Or… just feed you here at home –
It’s a blessing to be here, you know.
And a blessing to travel and see family –
Where is a spot that you’d like to go?

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Family, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Memories, music, pets, Poetry, relationships, Travel

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Visiting Zinal

What a wonderful way to spend a Monday afternoon in Switzerland! DeAna drove us up to Zinal… just to enjoy the time together, the scenery, and an ice cream. We did all three. Wanna join us?