Family | janbeek

Loving One Another

Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

No Friend like an Old Friend

There is an old saying that goes like this,
“There’s no friend like an old friend.”

I choose to say it this way,
“There’s no friend like a long-time friend.”

Can you spot me smiling there in the midst of my buddies?

We’re not old… we’re forever young at heart!
We, the heart of the “Turlock Union High School Class of ’57”
Met at Latif’s Restaurant in Turlock yesterday.
Doris and I came from out of state.
It was such a joy to see everyone doing so well.
None of us used a walker or came in an electric wheelchair.
That’s actually pretty amazing given the fact we’re all in our 80’s.

This is my “old” high school sweetheart (such a nice guy)
with one of my best girlfriends, Sally.
He actually is one of the people
who introduced me to my husband, Bob.
Sally is the one who sends out the e-mails
to get this reunion group together.

Arlene is another of my best high school buddies.
She had a “gym” behind her house
where we used to gather on Friday nights to dance.
My friend, Phil, is one of the guys who taught me to dance.
We have kept in touch through the years.
Such a sweetheart!!

Betty, Linda, and Nelda are girlfriends
who actually knew my husband, Bob,
before I met him.
Bob went to a neighboring high school,
but attended church in Turlock.
Some of these gals were in his Sunday School class from day one!

Doris, Jeannine (she won’t like this picture),
and Mary are girlfriends with whom I never have lost touch.
Doris joined this reunion, coming from her home in Texas.
Jeannine and I see each other annually.
Mary is the one I’ve known the longest.
We went to elementary school together
and were “neighbors” in Crows Landing, California.
(Neighbors can be 10 miles from each other
when you grow up out in the country!)

Do you have “long-time friends” with whom you stay in touch?
It is such a blessing!!

This long-time friend is Ty and his wife, Roxanne.
Ty was my kindergarten student in 1963!!
I love this “kid” so much that in 1965
I named my son, Ty.
Ty & Roxanne came in 2018 to visit Bob & me in Montana.

And this long-time friend was my first grade student in 1961. Can you believe it?
Talk about JOY!
Lorei and I have maintained our relationship
for HOW MANY years??

And this long-time friend is Ly, my hairdresser since 1979.
This afternoon I have an appointment with her in Modesto.
Whenever we return to California
and are going to be in the Turlock-Modesto area
for a day or more, I make a point to see Ly again.

No post about long-time friends would be complete without a picture and mention of my dear Marcie. She’s here in Turlock. We stay with her when we come back to the valley. We are soul-sisters. She’s a gift from God.

I pray that as you read about these long-term relationships,
you are inspired to reconnect with long-time friends of your own.
Maybe there is a person out there that you have lost touch with.
Someone you care about.
Reach out today!

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Family, friendship, Gratitude, happiness, Life and Death, Love, Memories, Travel

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Stay Positive

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.

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 Saturday.

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

Category:

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

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Little Piece of Heaven

I wish you could be here with us!

Yesterday I posted my pictures with angel wings.

I toldja my maiden name’s DeAngeles (of angels). But who woulda thunk that’d pay off in 2020 here on earth?

What a blessing! We are enjoying a little piece of heaven right here on earth today. Yup, God is good!

Those ladies are teeing off right outside our patio.

Inside it’s as beautiful as it is outside.

What’re you doin’ this evening?

Tell me about your favorite place that’s like heaven on earth to you.

See ya tomorrow!

Category:

blessings, contentment, Family, Gratitude, happiness, Love, Travel

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Be Kind – Be Right

Happy Sunday to you, my friends.
What are your plans for today?
Whatever you do,
wherever you go
(even if you stay home),
you will have an opportunity
to be kind
(even if only to yourself).

Choose kindness.
Be right!

Multi-Language Service

If you have followed my blog for a week or more, you know I attend church on Sundays and as I hear the message, I take notes – usually in poetry.

Today we attended the First Presbyterian Church in Redlands, CA. It is a beautiful church in the heart of the city with a mission statement: “Living in the Heart and Mind of Christ at the Heart of the City.” The service was conducted with five languages spoken alternately while the English translations were printed in the bulletin.

It was WONDERFUL to hear the melodic and unusual tongues of Urdu, Indonesian, Banyan, and Chichewa spoken – as well as the familiarity of English.

The pastor, Cheryl Raine, spoke on the topic, “The Mind of Christ.” The scripture on which the sermon was based, Philippians 2:5-8 was read orally in a language I had never heard of before. English-only folks like me read it in English in the bulletin while we listened with fascination to Wilson Kayange whose native language is Chichewa.

Sermon Notes

Morning has broken… like the first day –
Blackbird has spoken … here’s what he’ll say:
Look for the sunrise… it’s the new year –
Praise for the morning… filled with good cheer.

We are God’s people … we live in His love.
We are Christ’s people… we need a good shove!
We try not to stagnate … living in our own will.
We empty ourselves … and try to let Jesus refill.

Leaning on our own mindfulness… we stumble and fall.
We’re two days out from Epiphany … listen for His call.
He asks for patience and grace … decisions slow made.
He tells us to avoid selfishness… my renewal was paid.

Paid by our Lord … with His blood on the cross.
We’re asked to set aside self-interest … at Jesus’ cost.
Self-empty to love and serve others … As an offering, place
our lives before God… Pray daily for His extravagant grace.

Transform my mind … make it more like Christ’s mind.
Give me obedience … and cause me to be kind.
Give me extraordinary focus … on the way I can link
my mind to others’ needs … Let Your love escape with every blink!

The essence of His love… is lodged in me and grows
with each day I live and breathe … and God knows
I am choosing self-emptying … instead of selfishness.
God help me to live in Your will each day … in selflessness.

Amen

Following the sermon, there were more prayers and affirmations in the various languages before we sang one of the closing hymns… a favorite of mine: “Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord.”

Our unison prayer,
following the offering of our gifts,
affirmed the sermon message
and the inspiration of the hymn’s words:

“Holy God, thank you for reminding us
that we are to have the same mind as Christ Jesus,
for Christ willingly emptied himself for the sake of others.
In humility, we gathered these first gifts
of the new year for your ministries
through this beloved faith community.
Help us to be ever faithful
to your word and your ways
as we seek to glorify you with our very lives.
Amen.”

As I left the service and digested the messages of kindness, self-emptying, love, and selflessness … the importance of adopting “The Mind of Christ,” I found this meme. The “listening and loving” and the “be at peace with herself” resonated with me. The “healthy boundaries” are important as we seek to live with “the mind of Christ” in a spirit of joy – the spirit Christ personified.

Happiness in Kindness

As I sang,
“Teach us to know the Truth that sets us free”
and “Use us to make the earth like Heaven above,”
and “… yield ourselves to Thee, time, talents, all,”
I realized that when I yield to God’s will,
spread love and peace
using my time and talents,
and wear laughter and curiosity,
spreading kindness,
I am not only making myself happier,
but I am spreading happiness to those around me.

Choose kindness.
Be right!

What will you do today to
spread happiness to those around you?

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, God, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, prayer, writing

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Wearing Angel Wings

Ever wanted to
Wear your angel wings right now?
Why wait for heaven?

Here I am in wings
Before my heavenly home
How did that happen?

Sadly, fifty-eight
Beautiful souls were gunned down;
But their souls live on.

Riverside City
Has many wings on display
For would-be angels.

They’re just waiting for
Angelic folks like I’m not –
Ready to pose there.

Doesn’t it look fun
To pretend you’ve earned your wings
Long before you do?

Keep working at it!
You, too, can look angelic…
Now – try acting it!!

After our angel tour in Riverside, we went with Janet and Charley to the Mission Inn. The Christmas decorations all still were up – only of course, the outdoor light display was not twinkling. We could see all the light bulbs, though. Must have been a million of them.

I hope you had a happy Saturday, too.
You can see mine was quite enjoyable.
I think I already see some feathers growing …

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Belief, Family, friendship, Haiku, holidays, Life and Death, Living in Harmony, Love, Spiritual Gifts, Travel

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Trust & Step Out

In joy you step out
Trusting every step you take
Listening for His Word

Guided by scripture,
And not your understanding,
You can Walk the Talk!

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.”

Listen for His Leading

In my Daily Guideposts 2020 devotional today, Kim Taylor Henry told us about her trip to the Holy Land. God took away her fear of traveling to that part of the Middle East. She listened to His prompting when an invitation showed up on social media. Signing up for the trip was a leap of faith.

Is there a place you would like to visit, a spot you’d like to go, but for whatever reason, you are hesitating? Take it to the Lord in prayer, and listen for His leading.

I have had Maine and Nova Scotia on my “Bucket list” for about a decade now. I am not sure why that part of the world is calling me. Is it the lobster? The ocean? The farm stays? A cruise opportunity? In my 80 years on earth, I have never taken a cruise. Many (if not most) of my friends have. I can die happy without ever going on a cruise, but I feel God calling me to that part of the world. I wonder why?

Maybe It’s the Lighthouses

I have had a long-standing love of lighthouses. I wrote about them back in November of 2018

https://janbeek.blog/2018/11/16/synchronicity/

Lead with Your Heart

God places in our hearts other reasons to have certain places on our Bucket List. Usually for me, the places I want to travel have little to do with the place. They have everything to do with the people. (That’s why we have traveled to Switzerland so many times… our daughter and her family are there!)

If you have followed my blog for awhile, you will recognize these people below as my cousin, Janine, and her husband, Cliff. I posted about Cliff’s battle with esophageal cancer last November 9th. Since that time he has been through Hell and back… and is a determined survivor.

https://janbeek.blog/2019/11/09/prayers-for-cliff/

Janine and Cliff moved a year or so ago from the Seattle, Washington home where we last saw them – about 5 years ago, I think – to Clinton, north of Seattle on Whidbey Island. Wikipedia tells me Clinton is on this 3.7 sq. mi. piece of land whose total population back in 2010 was less than 1,000. I am sure it grew by leaps and bounds in the last decade. Wikipedia has a few delightful pictures of it on their website:

But, it is not the scenery that draws me to this place. As I said, my motivation is the people I love. As I listen for God’s leading, God calls me to the love.

Faith Step

What is the next step you’re ready to take? Are you leaning on your own understanding?

Ask God to make your path straight. Listen for His leading. Then step out in faith.

2020 is a year for 20/20 CLARITY.
It is a time for New Beginnings.
What will they be?

THESE DAYS,
Daily Devotions for Living in Faith,
ended its 2019 entries with this prayer:

“God of all our beginnings,
plant your hope so deeply within us
that we never lose it.
Show us the beauty of small beginnings
and nurture Your life within our own lives.”