The story in today’s Daily Guideposts reminded me, It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.
Just a simple “Thank you,” or “Please,” Just a moment to reach out and lend a hand, Can change someone’s entire day. And it may impact those observing the kindness, too.
So, just be kind!
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
Matthew 7:12 ESV
In her story in Guideposts today, Erika Bentsen recounted how (back when she was only 17) she was waiting on a bus in Scotland for the departure time. The bus driver was busy telling stories to the attentive passengers. Suddenly the bus driver dashed from his seat to help a woman across the road who had dropped a package. Then he returned to his seat and continued his story telling.
When her aunt interrupted him and said, “That was awfully nice of you,” he shrugged it off saying, “It costs nothin’ to be kind.”
Years later, that conversation stuck with Erika. Her prayer at the bottom of the page reads,
“Dear Lord, shower me with opportunities to share kindness until it becomes as natural as breathing.”
Like Erika, I want kindness to be as natural as breathing. I know it is an attribute worth cultivating. I pray every morning on my way down the stairs from my sanctuary. I thank God for the
love
joy, and
peace that are mine, and I ask God to help me with
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness (which brings blessings)
gentleness, and
self-control. I ask God to
help me live humbly with an attitude of gratitude, and a response of
generosity and
forgiveness,
obedience and
integrity.
Ask God to help you develop a habit of kindness so it is a natural as breathing to you. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone did that?
Kindness needs to be cultivated!
Who was the last person who was particularly kind to you? What did he or she do? I bet you remembered to say thank you!
Now, pass it on!!
I bet you do that everyday!!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See you again tomorrow. Be well!!
Look carefully – I m in there, holding my grandson’s hand!
On September 10th my oldest grandson, Mike, was married to his sweetheart, Tania, in Switzerland. It was the most enjoyable wedding ceremony I ever have attended. Following the beautiful wedding, the 100+ guests drove to a lovely mountainside venue for appetizers, libations, and music. The music was eight alpenhorns, one of which was played by my grandson. Before the last song was played, the director announced that this number was dedicated to ME!! Mike knows how I love the Lord and how much their horns playing “Amazing Grace” would touch my heart. I wish you could have been there to hear it. What a special moment!
Unique instruments Alpenhorns in Switzerland Play Amazing Grace
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?
The last two days of our marvelous three week trip to Switzerland were a bustling, busy, blessed time. Our daughter, DeDe, and her hubby, André, treated us royally with a trip to Chamonix, France on Monday and then a tour of the Gruyère Cheese Factory in Gruyère, Switzerland on Tuesday.
Up, up, up and over!
That’s the Rhone River Valley below. We were headed through Switzerland to France. It was a surprise gift for us plus De’s best buddy, Laina (our daughter#2), and her daughter, Katy.
Wow! Look at this chalet next to ours. We stayed in one named “Soli.” (That’s De’s hubby’s nickname) Enjoy the views out of every window!
See the snow covered peaks up there? We took a cog train up to that glacier!!
After settling into our beautiful chalet, we walked to the place where the cog train (tram) took us up to the top of the high peaks where the glacier is. With climate change, it is melting fast!
Here are Laina, DeDe & Katy – taking the tram up to the glacier that you could see from that first window view.
Bob with Laina & Katy at the glacier.
Here’s a live view of that trip up in the tram to the glacier…
That night we were treated to a phenomenal dinner. My choice was veal with mushroom sauce. Mmmmm! Thank you, De & Andrê.
We’re so grateful for their love of us and one another … and their generosity!
Tuesday morning we drove back up and over the mountains into Switzerland to another surprise destination: the town of Gruyere. Gruyere is our favorite cheese. How fun to see the place where it is made!
Wow! Look at the gruyere cellar where the rounds are aging!
De is showing us how heavy a round of gruyere is!
Tuesday night we returned to De & Andre’s chalet in Vissoie. We packed, and prepared to go to Geneva to fly home. Wednesday was supposed to be a smooth set of flights home. However, with the Queen’s Procession, our flight to London was delayed, so we missed our connecting flight from Denver and had to spend the night there. This morning we finally made the flight to Bozeman where our kind neighbor, Gary, met us and drove us home. It’s a gray, dull, cool day … not like the warm, blue sky days of Switzerland. We’re spoiled! But our hearts are filled with the beauty and warmth of our fabulous trip.
The rolling hills and milk-producing cows of the Gruyere area.
Here’s the fun of cheese fondue and having our grandson, Nick, join us. Our 3 grandsons & their sweethearts were with us for so many fun and delicious occasions. What a joyous three weeks we had!
Goodbye, France and Switzerland… thanks for the memories!
Thanks so much for traveling with us. Back to reality in Montana now. (Not a bad place to return to – just a little smokey and cool right now)
Seeing the falls he named in honor of his queen, David Livingstone wrote in his journal, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
Waterfalls and all God’s natural beauty affect me the same way. This country of Switzerland is so full of those “scenes so lovely.”
Waterfalls and bridges in Switzerland amaze me!Chalets with lovely flowers aboundThis was on the way to Zinal yesterday But De & André’s is the best!
As we venture out, the lovely scenes are amazing in every season here.
Tania at Hotel Weisshorn – photo by Mike Solioz – taken last autumnWay back when … we climbed waaay up with DeDe.
Scenes so lovely!
Flowers are abundant in private gardens and public places. André’s croûtes au fromage (potato or bread w cheese, etc.) is a Valaisan specialty. It’s a “scene so lovely” too!
André and De are so generous as they share their chalet, meals, transportation and their love with us and with De’s best buddy (our daughter #2 Laina) and her daughter Katy. What a grand reunion we had with them here yesterday!
Katy, Laina, me, Bob & DeDe
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Last night Mike & Tania joined us for a fun evening of raclette & karaoke. Chris & Nick and their girlfriends came, too. Ah, we are so blessed with this wonderful Swiss family!
Thanks for joining me and sharing these “Scenes so Lovely” today. Wish you were here in person! Come back tomorrow, okay? See ya then (God willing).
Yesterday and today we woke to the magical sound of children across the road from our bedroom here in Vissoie, Switzerland. What a joy!
Yesterday evening we were treated to an Alphorn concert. Nine dear people (one being our grandson, Mike) played this age-old instrument. I became acquainted with it when I was a child. My Uncle Hans was my mom’s oldest sister’s husband. He was a young German-Swiss cheese maker when he moved from Switzerland to Washington back in the 1930’s. He & Aunt Evelyn had 3 children. He taught them all to yodel and he taught his son, my cousin, Hanslie, to play the alpenhorn.
Mike is on the left.
My mom would be so proud to know her great-grandson is following in the musical tradition of her family! I get sentimental and cry when I hear these instruments and think of how mom & my aunt and uncle would have adored hearing this!
Today our friends, Jim & Terry, are here to enjoy a few days with us in this marvelous place. Last night they were able to meet Mike & Tania and we all celebrated Jim’s 75th and DeDe’s 55th together. André fixed an incredible dinner of ribs with a medley of vegetables. Yum!!
Here is yesterday’s delicious roast beef lunch.
Last night’s ribs
It is so wonderful to have my forever friend, dear Terry here to share these experiences with us.
This is Vissoie’s Main Street
Later this morning we’ll walk down that street and get a few groceries at the store. Wish you were here to go walking with us!
See ya later! Thanks for traveling vicariously with me. Hugs, JanBeek
Today Denise (our son-in-law’s mom) took Bob & me on a walk in Sierre. Thirty years ago, when we first started coming here (when our first grandson was born), we would have jogged up the trails into the vineyards. Today we were content to take a leisurely walk on a relatively flatter terrain.
We walked up to the hospital where Mike was born. His grandpa was the chief executive officer there. André had been a chef in its kitchen before he came to California and married our daughter.
The grounds around the hospital are beautiful. Lots of trees and flowers and park benches where we could sit and take a break.
The leaves on the acacia trees are starting to show signs that autumn is coming. The grapevines are laden with fruit ready to be harvested.
Look at the base of this grapevine. It’s over 100 years old! All gnarled and twisted behind the protective wire fence.
I thought of Derrick & Jackie Knight and their beautiful garden when I saw these gorgeous rose bushes.
Beyond this water trough, with its constantly flowing fresh drinks for the cattle that used to come through this town, you can see the concrete sides of the round church. We went to mass there this morning with Denise. This morning I posted the sounds of the bells for you. Did you catch that blog?
I pray you had a beautiful Sunday, too, my friends. Tonight we’re going up to De’s chalet in Vissoie. We’ll be there all next week. Wait til you see it!
Oh, and tomorrow is DeAna’s birthday! Our DollyWolly will be 55. Can you believe it?
Our arthritic hands show our age – even if our active spirits deny it! Stay young in spirit, my friends. Thank God every day for the gift of another opportunity to live and play, breathe, and enjoy life. Live in the now! And stay vibrant!!
Happy Sunday, my friends! This is the weekend in Sierre, Switzerland for my oldest grandson’s wedding. The civil ceremony was at the County Courthouse in the beautiful town center yesterday morning. I was having too much fun to stop and post then. Here are the highlights for you to enjoy today…
Congratulations, Tania and Michael Solioz… Such a beautiful couple!
The civil ceremony was attended by their two best friends and 18 other family members. It was all in French, so Bob & I could not understand the words, but the feelings of love and commitment were more than evident.
We are so glad the couple has decided to make their union “legal.” In today’s world so many young people decide marriage is pointless.
Our daughter, DeAna, was a radiant mother of the groom!
Bob & I were so pleased to be among the grandparents who are still alive and well and able to travel to enjoy the festivities. We do not take this privilege for granted!
Following the ceremony, we all went to Tania’s parents’ lovely home. It was about a ten minute drive up into a town (named Chalet) on the other side of the Rhone River, perched on the mountainside with a phenomenal yard and the most spectacular views!
We were blessed with the most beautiful weather! On Friday it rained and was gray & cloudy all day. So this was an answer to prayer to have this gorgeous blue sky and warm weather!
De and I chatted about our arthritic fingers and compared knuckles! “Thanks Mom, for my hands!”
Grandmas of the groom (that’s me and Denise – the one in blue) and between us is the maternal grandma of the bride. Denise speaks some English so she helped translate for me. I wish I could speak French – more than just a few words!
It was a very happy occasion. We’re so glad we could share it with this darling couple!
There you have it! A Saturday to remember! And now on this beautiful Sunday morning, I send you my love 😍 Thanks for vicariously sharing this wonderful trip with me. Tonight we’ll leave Sierre and travel about 20 minutes up the mountain – on an amazing road with terrifying switchbacks – to Vissoie, where DeAna and André have their chalet/hotel/restaurant. See you there!
janbeek 