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Strength


My “WORD” for 2022 is
STRENGTH,
so I was delighted to see
the Bloganuary#25 prompt is:
“Write about what makes you feel strong.“

Flexibility is one condition related to strength.

More important than anything else for me
Is realizing the Source of my strength
And tuning in to the One who delivers it.
He has strength closer than arm’s length.

In my Morning with Jesus 2022 daily reading,
I find scripture references to draw on.
When I need extra strength, I go where
Help is delivered faster than Amazon!

Ps. 31:24

“Be strong and take heart
All you who hope in the Lord.”

God does not promise we will be without troubles.
He simply says He will walk us through.
So when you feel you’re in the middle of an earthquake,
Rely on God because He is there with you!

Joshua 1:9

“Be strong and of good courage;
Be not afraid,
Neither be thou dismayed:
For the Lord, thy God,
Is with thee.”

He lifts me up
when I can no longer
walk on my own!

2 Cor. 12:9

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you;
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly
about my weakness,
so that Christ’s power
may rest on me.”

And I can rest on Him…
as He raises me up
so I can stand on mountains!

Believe it!
You have the Power of God in you!

Be strong and of good courage!
That’s what we needed this week
As we are at Mayo Clinic looking
For answers. He cares as we seek!

In awe of Him, we are still,
and in His presence we bow
And pray for His strength.
He delivers today… right now!

Thanks for your prayers for Bob.

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love to you…
Have a blessed Tuesday!
JanBeek

Sure do love that guy!
60 years coming Feb. 11 !!


Category:

Bible Lessons, blogging, Faith, God, Gratitude, health, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, music, peace, Poetry, prayer, writing

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Our Trip to Mayo Clinic


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Our Trip to Mayo Clinic

Category:

blessings, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Love, prayer, Travel

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A Half a Dozen Passions


Bloganuary#16 asked us to write about something we are passionate about. I can’t pick just one! Can you? Do your passions include some of the six things I am passionate about?

Here are a half a dozen of mine:

1. Let’s start with my love of home and family and the delight at being safely back here again. That’s passionately on my heart right now after being gone 3 weeks, getting a miserable respiratory virus, and being cared for so lovingly by our son, Ty & his wife Monika:

Home Sweet Home

2. If you have read any of my blogs before this one, it will not surprise you that I am passionate about Jesus and His sacrifice that saved my soul. I love the Lord with all my heart and pray daily for His Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions, and to guard my tongue, and to inspire my writing. I read His Word daily and am passionate about inspiring others to Trust also in His promises.

3. I am passionate about music. Often I include a YouTube music clip at the end of my daily message here. I love to sing. I used to play the clarinet (was quite good once upon a time before arthritis bent my fingers so badly – my skill was thanks to years of private lessons my parents provided for me and hours of happy practice during those ages from 10 to 18 – – – I also play the accordion (you can find posts about that by putting “accordion” in the search bar in the upper right of my blog). I still am passionate about sharing the joy of the accordion with others – – – it’s like carrying a party on your back!

Here’s a wonderful video clip of a great song sent to me by a dear friend this morning:

4. I am passionate about cooking – and providing homemade meals for Bob and me that are pretty as well as nutritious and tasty. Besides music and writing, cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. It’s one of the reasons I love following Caralyn’s posts on BeautyBeyondBones. If you haven’t followed her blog, do yourself a favor and check her out.

5. That’s another thing I am passionate about: finding things, places, people, books and blogs I love and sharing them with others. Here’s a link I hope will take you to the source of the picture below = (Thank you, Caralyn) https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/36990166/posts/3768091539

Isn’t that mango salsa
over a nice piece of flakey,
cooked-to-perfection halibut
enough to make your mouth water?

What are you passionate about?
I’d love to hear.

There I am in those days when I was able to serve as a volunteer at the Food Bank. (I can’t right now… until I am sure this RSV is all gone … and until Bob & I return from our trip next week to Mayo Clinic). BUT, that’s #6 on my list of passions: using the time and talents God has given me to serve others with love and compassion.

I bet you do that, too (or are you waiting until you retire?)… Don’t!
Begin now… it’s so rewarding! In this COVID world, find a way!
Your talents are in passionate need out there!!



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

Category:

blessings, blogging, Faith, Family, food, friendship, Giving, Gratitude, happiness, health, Jesus, Love, music, relationships, Serving One Another, writing

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My Ideal Day


Bloganuary #13 asked,

“What’s Your ideal day look like?”

Open hands
Open heart

Psalm 34:10b
“Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Isaiah 26: 3-4
“Those of steadfast mind
You keep in peace—
because they trust in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for in the Lord God
you have an everlasting rock.”

My Ideal Day is filled with:

  • Enough
  • Peace
  • Trust
  • Faith
  • Love
  • Friendship
  • Affirmation
  • Health
  • Music
  • Writing time
  • Reading time
  • Blessings
    …. to fill my cup to overflowing so I can share.
Share hugs and love

An Ideal Day ends with:

  • Gratitude for today
  • Peace of mind
  • Hope for tomorrow
  • Joy abounding

Romans 15:13

“Now may the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you will abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And then I have
a good,
long,
restful
sleep-
zzzzzzz

My ideal day ends
with this peaceful music
and these beautiful scenes
(click on video/music below)
as I fall asleep
praying for you,
my friend.


Bee well!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow (God willing)…

Me with my daughter-n-law, Monika

P.S.
We’re packing today
and heading back
toward Montana
tomorrow after two weeks
of recuperation time
from RSV
with our gracious,
kind,
generous
son and his wife.
God is good!

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, blogging, contentment, Faith, friendship, Giving, God, Gratitude, happiness, health, Jesus, life, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, peace, prayer, relationships, respect, Serving One Another, writing

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Two Bodies –


Yesterday’s Bloganuary#9 prompt was one I skipped.
I missed a day because I didn’t want to write about the topic:
Assumptions I Think People Make About Me.

Ya, people probably assume…
but my mom always told me
when you assume,
you make an
Ass-
u-
me!

So I have negative feelings about assuming anything.
I’d rather dig out an old blog from the drafts file…
something I started a year or so ago and never finished.
I’d rather read other people’s answers about assumptions.
I’d rather skip a day of blogging
and just apply the 4R’s.
I needed to do that!

Rest
Relax
Rejuvenate
Read

So I did!

And here’s that old blog
that I never finished last August
right around the time my daughter, DeAna,
was having a birthday.
It was titled,
“Two Bodies”:

Two bodies
Two sides of the earth

Two people
One birth
Two hearts
One mind
She’s my daughter
Love binds.

Yup, I decided to skip #9 altogether.
I don’t like assumptions,
even if they are positive ones.
I’d rather talk about today’s prompt.

Bloganuary#10
asked me to post 5 things I’m grateful for.
I can do that… but don’t expect me to limit it to 5!!

You’ll find my answers here:
https://bloganuary.wordpress.com/2022/01/10/5-things-im-grateful-for/

Check it out…
and tell me,
besides your life itself,
what are you grateful for?

I’m grateful for you…
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
See ya tomorrow (God willing)
… unless I decide to skip it!

I’m still at Ty & Monika’s in Placerville –
recuperating from RSV.
It’s a bugger!!

Category:

children, Family, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, relationships, writing

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Why Do We Write?


Here is a link to my post on “Bloganuary” today.
The prompt for today is “Why Do You Like to Write?”

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

I tried posting on the Bloganuary WordPress site
rather than writing the message here.
I am trying to see if that results in more WordPress readers
who also are taking this 31 day challenge to answer
a given prompt each day. We’ll see.

https://bloganuary.wordpress.com/2022/01/08/why-do-we-write/

I am still in Placerville at my son, Ty’s house.
My coughing and sneezing was so bad this morning
that I was banned to my bedroom! No fun!!
But this RSV (respiratory virus) is highly contagious –
and I do not want to give it to Ty & Monika.
(I hope I have not done so already!)

Bob is feeling better,
but getting very tired of being house-bound.
His miserable cough is almost gone.
Praise God for answered prayers!

Now it’s my turn to turn the corner…
Keep those prayers coming!
I need ’em!|
Love,
JanBeek


P.S.
At least I have a warm house
to stay in –
with loving family
to take care of me –
and there’s sunshine outside!
I am not complaining!
Could be a lot worse!!

Category:

blogging, Family, Gratitude, kindness, Life's Challenges, Poetry, Serving One Another, writing

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“Who are you most inspired by and why?” 


Bloganuary #6 asks us to consider the main Source of our inspiration.
That’s a no-brainer! As a Christian, the answer has to be Jesus!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

With the inspiration provided by scripture, prayer, daily devotionals, and a constant walk with my Lord, I am inspired every day be seek His Will for my life. I am inspired to seek His Truth. I am inspired to share His Love. I am inspired to share the Good News!

16 For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

I pray that Jesus inspires you, too.

Now, if I have to choose someone who is on earth today… a living human who inspires me, I would not be able to narrow is down to one person! Here are a few:

  1. Derrick Knight – he inspires me to blog every day as he does, and to respond to all who leave a comment on my post (just as he does).
  2. Ty and Monika – our son and daughter-in-law – they inspire me with their big hearts and open hospitality, their love for one another, their family and neighbors, and their faithfulness. They inspire me to be more open and communicative about my faith in Christ.
  3. Marcie Fernandes – my long-time friend – she inspires me to be more forgiving, more open to seeing the good in others, less quick to be judgemental.
  4. DeAna & Andre’ – our daughter and son-in-law – in Switzerland – they inspire me to be more “in the moment.” Carpe’ Diem!

It would be fun to have those six folks together here at Ty & Monika’s in California right now, but they are spread from here to England to Tennessee to Switzerland! They all live in my heart and my prayers each day, though.

Who inspires you and why?
It’s a thoughtful question, don’t you agree?

Jesus inspires me
to rely on Him

Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, friendship, Gratitude, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Love, relationships, Serving One Another

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Update on 2Beeks


Bob & I have “2Beeks” on our car’s license plate.
With the last name of Beekman, the nickname “Beek” is a natural.
Sometimes we catch people driving past us, looking strangely at us.
I imagine they are looking to see if we have particularly long noses!

I have a few new followers who joined JanBeek this month.
I think WordPress’s “Bloganuary” has brought them here.
Thank you!

If you are one of them, you may not have seen the post
where I showed our family a few evenings ago
sitting around the dinner table discussing our ancestry.

We gave Bob a bad time about his “honker” (beak by another name)
and we showed him how he inherited it from his great-grandfather!
Tonight we are giving Bob a bad time for another reason:
His honker is doing a lot of honking! He has RSV.

This respiratory virus put him in the hospital in Napa on January 1st.
What a way to start the new year, huh? RSV is nasty!
After spending the night there, he was dismissed Jan. 2nd
and we were able to travel back to our son’s to recuperate.

This is not the way we hoped to begin the new year.
But the good news is we had the option of coming
back to Placerville – it was a sunny CA day today.
The recuperation time is greatly appreciated!


Bob’s cough is getting better… and soon we will be
able to hit the road and return home to Montana.
It’s not what we intended, of course, for this “vacation.”
We wanted to visit friends in Pebble Beach –
and spend time with Bob’s brothers in the CA valley.

But, we are grateful that when this curve ball
was thrown at us, we had a beautiful alternative.
Thank God for loving family and friends, right?
God has a plan for why this has happened!

“And we know that for those who love God
all things work together for good,
for those who are called
according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

God knew we needed more rest and relaxation!
Our house isn’t ready to return there now anyway!

Our soft and marred fir floor’s being replaced with amazing old wood from a 1921 silo!

We hope your year has started off happily.
We pray you’re healthy and dong what you want to do.
We trust the Lord has us right where He wants us.
And we hope, dear friends, the same is true for you.

Happy New Year!

What’s an update on what’s happening in your life?
I’d love to know how your New Year began.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, health, holidays, kindness, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Serving One Another, Travel

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Bloganuary #2 – Road Trip


“What’s a road trip I would like to take?”

Each day is a journey
As we travel life’s highway.
Sometimes it’s imaginary
And we wonder where we’d stay.

Each day is a road trip
Whether we leave our house or not.
Sometimes our imagination’s
The only road we’ve got.

But the road trip I imagine,
The one I would have done,
Is in a couple of binders:
“Maine or Bust” with lobster fun!

It may never become real –
So I search the internet
And travel vicariously –
The only trip I’ll get.

But, that’s OK, my friends,
If I never go for real,
Because each day is a journey.
The sights are the appeal!

Photo by Lachlan Ross on Pexels.com

So, off I’ll go a-shopping –
Lobster and oysters I will buy;
I’ll travel with my tastebuds
To Maine in my mind’s eye.

Where is it you’d like to go on a road trip?
Is this Bloganuary prompt one that triggered your tastebuds?

For New Years 2022,
we traveled from home in Montana
to vacation and enjoy wine tasting fun
in Napa, California with friends.

But, as soon as Bob (my husband)
gets out of the hospital
(we traveled there yesterday),
we’ll head back home.

Sometimes our roadtrips
don’t take us
to the destination
we envisioned!

But, my mind keeps travel interesting
and I find adventure
wherever I am.
I hope you do, too.

An active mind is such a blessing!!

Pray with me today, my friends:
“Lord, help me keep all my marbles,
And remind me that happiness
is not where I am,
but who I am in YOU!”

God bless you!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See ya tomorrow (God willing).

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, blogging, Family, God, Gratitude, happiness, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Montana, optimism, Poetry, prayer, Travel, writing

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Embrace Christmas Memories


Time with family is memorable, indeed
We’re grateful for the ones who embrace the holiday mood
We’re blessed to have them open their home
And share their love and delicious food.

Our daughter, De, in Switzerland
shared photos of their beautiful meal
Imagine how plates like these
enchant your guests (think how they feel)!

The family in far-off Europe
included our grandsons with our De
I’m grateful for the internet
and the pictures she shared with me.

Nick, De, Mike & Chris

Here in California
Eleven of us gathered round –
add two big, rambunctious dogs
and laugh as kids and animals clowned.

Christmas Day was a time for fun
with love and gifts exchanged
Friends shared photos of their day
Our family did, too … we got arranged!

Thank you, Ty & Monika
for your gracious hospitality –
we’re blessed to have our son & spouse
share their life & love with Bob & me.

I pray your day was blessed
and you celebrated Christ’s birth
with those you love gathered round –
good food, warm hugs, and lots of mirth!

A note for this day-after-Christmas-morning: Faith (our granddaughter) and Kyle were headed home to S.Lake Tahoe last night and about 3 hours later had to turn around and come back to Placerville. The road ahead was closed due to heavy snow and lots of accidents ahead. The good news is that they were not involved in one of them… and we’re all safe and sound… feeling blessed!

Merry Christmas!
Bee 🐝 well!
Bee blessed!

Keep the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in your heart year-round! May Jesus remain alive in you!

See ya tomorrow (God willing) –

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Christmas, Faith, Family, food, God, Gratitude, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, music, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Travel

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