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Archive for the ‘Gratitude’ Category

Personal Goals

Do you set personal goals for yourself?

Of course I set goals for myself. Doesn’t everyone?

  1. Bee loving
  2. Bee compassionate
  3. Bee as Christlike as possible
  4. Bee healthy
  5. Bee intentional

What goals have you set for yourself?

We are sooo blessed to bee here! Bee present in the moment. Love life!

Those are our “Swiss daughter and Swiss Son” (Sylviane & Christian Zufferey). They are the reason we have such a deeeelightful family here in Switzerland. In the 1980’s each of them spent a year living with us as AFS exchange students- and our daughter, DeDe, married their first cousin after she spent a year here living in their family.

Here are De & André. They live intentionally too!
And here is De with her sweet mother-in-law, Denise.

We just had a lovely lunch prepared by Syli. Bee grateful!

Mmmm!
Bee grateful!

Our son, Ty, and daughter-in-law, Monika, had a great Saturday. Fun with a friend. Flying and experiencing the opportunity to be the pilot!! They are staying in touch. For that we are very grateful. Staying in touch is another of my goals. How about you?

Love, JanBeek

Category:

Belief, blessings, Family, Gratitude, Love

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Mmmm

Mmmeals here prepared by my chef son-in-law, André. Ammmmazing!!

Tasty as it is pretty!
Deeelicious salmmmmon
And a yummmy cake to celebrate our great-grandson’s birthday. Deeelightful!
Our middle grandson, Nick, shaved his head to match our oldest grandson, Mike. They are as much fun as they look like they’d be!

Have a fun-filled Tuesday.

Love,JanBeek

Category:

Family, food, Gratitude, happiness, Love

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Fun in Switzerland

Yesterday we attended a wine/raclette/music festival in Sierre, Switzerland. Our grandson, Mike, was there with his wife, Tania, and our great-grandson, Ethan. Today we are Celebrating Ethan’s 2nd birthday. Here is Mike… and here’s the fife & drum corps:

Fife & drum corps

After the festival we had the privilege of visiting with Chantal. She is our son-in-law, André‘s cousin. She lived with us for about 10 months in CA back in the ‘70’s when she was about 17. Such fun to catch up with her again! Being with family & friends is what this trip to Switzerland is all about!

Chantal with us

I went to church this morning with Denise (André’s mom). It was a beautiful morning.

Sierre’s Catholic Church
There is their apartment building. And this display of water fountain and flowers is right behind/beside their apartment building:
That round building with the bell tower is right across the street from where Grandmama Denise & De/André are living.

It’s such a pretty day here!

It’s rare to see these buildings in disrepair… even the ones built in the 1700’s! But sometimes they do show their age.
More typically, the buildings are in pristine condition… like at this winery.
De helped Bob select the perfect bottle to share at today’s party.
Yes!

Santé, my friends. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See you tomorrow.

Here I am with Syli.

Ciao!

Category:

blessings, Family, flowers, friendship, Gratitude, holidays, Love, music, relationships

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Ready!

We are staying the night in a motel near the airport. Ready for a 4:30?wake-up call and a 6:30 flight to Switzerland. 🇨🇭 yay! Great dinner at Fiesta Mexicana tonight.

Bob loves tacos.
And the margaritas are delicious, too!

Stay tuned as we help you travel vicariously with us.

Have a good night✌🏽

Love, JanBeek

Category:

food, Gratitude, Love, Travel

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A Night Out

So nice to be able to treat ourselves to a nice dinner every now & then. Continental Divide is guaranteed to satisfy. Wish you could have joined us‼️

First the salad
Then shrimp with pasta – mmm
And next salmon with pasta

Great atmosphere. Excellent wait staff. We love having Deb as our waitress!

Pretty drive home
Beautiful autumn leaves are destined to turn brown and fall off this weekend. Predicted to have 4” of snow on Sunday. I wish autumn lasted as long as winter does around here!
I wish our geraniums can survive the snow. But good luck!

It was a great night out. I hope you can treat yourself to a night out soon, too!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

blessings, food, Gratitude, Love, trees

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Awesome Autumn

It’s Awesome Autumn
Clear skies and colorful leaves
My favorite season

Golden autumn leaves swirling in sunlit woodland

Dancing in the breeze
Joy-filled rustling Autumn
It’s God’s gift to us

Soon the colors fade
Giving way to winter’s snow
Celebrate the now

Sending love your way,
JanBeek

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Category:

Gratitude, Haiku, nature, Poetry

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Inspired

Today I am inspired to write
From the bottom of my heart
The problem however is
Knowing where to start

My heart is full of gratitude
For all the folks I love
Who return the sentiment
Including my God above

My dear church friends
In our Presbyterian congregation
Are a source of pure joy
And a boost to my salvation

We are in a tough spot now
Our church is in transition
We lost our interim pastor
He is off on a pastoral mission

So we’re passing around
The task of leadership
Today I preached the sermon
Next week I’ll lead the fellowship

It’s a privilege to serve –
To use my God-given gifts
I pray my words and actions
Reflect Christ’s love, causing no rifts

The scripture I selected
About a farmer and his sons
Taught “Actions speak louder than words”
And cautioned, “Watch our tongues!”

If we are called to leadership
We must carry on with care
Making sure our words and actions
Are preceded with much prayer

So today I’m inspired to rest
On the task I just completed
And listen for God’s still small voice
“Step up to serve. Your talents are so needed!”

What talents is God asking you
To use for Him today?
Step up and accept the challenge
He will guide you in His Way.

Amen?
Amen!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

Faith, Giving, God, Gratitude, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, prayer, Serving One Another

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64 Years of Love

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Who would have guessed
When we married in 1962
That our love would last so long
I prayed it would, did you?

Every autumn I stop to recall
The day Bob proposed to me
He was far away in Germany
I joined him the next February
The fall and winter season
Were busy times for me and Mother
She dove knee-deep into helping
Prepare for a Valentine’s like no other

Have you ever seen a cake
More beautiful than this one?
It was a February 11th wedding
Friends, family, students all had fun

And now, every day is a day
To celebrate being in love and alive
We’re so grateful for family and friends
Who join us and help us celebrate and thrive


Sending love your way
With prayers for your days
To be filled with boundless blessings.
Keep in touch with the God we praise!
Amen?

Amen!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, Family, friendship, Gratitude, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, Poetry

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Change

“Change is a powerful, sacred force… The transitioning landscape is a testament to the Creator’s steady hand in a chaotic world.” (A quote from today’s devotional in These Days)

The snow capped mountains soon give way to barren mountain tops … but each season has a beauty of its own.
“The environment is a living sanctuary…”
In sunshine or rain, give thanks for the natural world’s beauty.

“The psalmists frequently personify the natural world, giving mountains, forests and seas anthropomorphic attributes…”

The trees clapped their hands!

The hills were singing 🎵

Photo by Simon Matzinger on Pexels.com

The Lord reminds us we are new every morning! Embrace change!

Happy Autumn to you, my friends. Embrace the day. May the majesty of the natural world remind us all that God is in control. Breathe deeply in the holy refuge of creation.

Amen?

Love, JanBeek

Category:

blessings, contentment, Gratitude, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, trees

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Kindness

What’s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?

She birthed and loved me

Rocked me gently on her knee

Taught compassion, gave me life

Showed me kindness all her life

Thank you, Mom!

Hugs, JanBeek

Category:

Gratitude, kindness, Love, Poetry, relationships

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