Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘children’ Category

I Can Enjoy Family Times

I CAN enjoy Fun Times with family …
and I DID!!
It’s been quite a week
Here I am with our “bonus daughter,” Laina, who lives in Maryland,
our grandson, Nick, and his mom, our daughter, DeDe,
both of whom flew here from Switzerland.

Our smiles tell you what fun we were having!
DeDe & Laina have been best buddies since their freshman year in high school. Do you have people with whom you have remained friends for 40 years or more?
Laina, my hubby Bob, & Nick enjoyed time together
at Wasabi’s in Bozeman, Montana this weekend.
Yes, DeDe and I were there, too.
It’s a fun place!
Nick entered a “run” on Saturday in Bozeman.
Can you believe he ran (or walked when necessary)
for a total of 17 miles? Amazing!
No, he didn’t finish in the #1 spot,
but what fun he had eating the chocolate
from the 1st place medallion
that Elaina bought for him!!
Gotta keep movin’ to stay fit!
Fun times indeed!!

What do you do to stay fit?
When not busy running or dining out,
“the kids” found other happy things to do –
like a day in Virginia City
and a trip to Yellowstone.
Every day we were on the go!
Here is Nick at our favorite brunch spot
in Bozeman:
Jam!
If you’re ever in our area,
you gotta be sure
to make this one of your stops!
We knew how to wait happily for our brunch table!
Back home, you can see that our family time
was enhanced by “the pup!”
Kenny has loved all the company … extra playmates!

They leave to return to their homes tomorrow.
We are certainly going to miss them!

Who have you hosted in your home this summer/fall?
I hope you had as much fun with family as we did!

Off to bed now.
See ya tomorrow –
We’re going to the airport bright and early.
Good night!


Love,
JanBeek

Category:

children, Family, friendship, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, pets, relationships

Tagged with:

Positive Impact

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

Kenny came and filled all the empty places in our home and hearts! Dogs do that!
Neighbors/friends step up and fill our lives with love
Bonus daughters reach out and help make each day brighter
Sweet daughter, De, makes each day happier
Terrific Ty, super son, positively impacts us and countless others
Our pastor and our God keep us grounded in love
These and countless others are daily gifts that impact my life. How can I choose just one?
Like the flowers in my garden, each loved one impacts my life daily by adding beauty and support.

Who or what impacts your life … or has left a permanent impression? I know you also feel blessed. Life is a gift… and so are you!

God bless you!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Faith, Family, friendship, happiness, Love, pets, relationships

Tagged with:

Dec. 15 Word of the Day

Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart,
I am enjoying the opportunity to share
the “Words for the Beginning”
each day with you during this Advent season.

Today’s Word is:
WORTHY

AI generated that picture above when I put in the prompt.
The guy looks a little like my grandson, Jordan.
Jordy was adopted into the Beekman family as a 3 year old.
His birth mother couldn’t stay off drugs long enough to keep him.
What a shame, huh?
The courts took him away and put him in foster care more than once.
His birth mother was given many chances.
He was worthy of a loving, drug-free family.
So when I think of the word WORTHY, our grandchildren come to mind.
Our son and daughter-in-law adopted four worthy children.
We are so blessed!

Ty is on the left. Monika is on the right.
They are the “worthy” adoptive parents
who opened their homes and hearts
to those dear children…
and the blessings continue.
What picture comes to your mind
when you think of the word “worthy“?

“Worthy is the lamb”
came immediately to my mind…
but it’s not that kind of lamb,
It is the Lamb of God.
Do you know that song?

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11

You are loved.
You are blessed to be a blessing.
You are enough!
Have a blessed Sunday, dear friends.
And tell me,
what image comes to your mind
when you think of the word, worthy?

Come back tomorrow for the Monday Word of the Day.

Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Jesus, Love, relationships

Tagged with:

Dec. 14 -Word of the Day

Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart,
I am enjoying the opportunity to share
the “Words for the Beginning”
each day with you during this Advent season.

Today’s Word is:
GOODNESS
When I put the prompt in AI, it generated
an assortment of blond, blue-eyed,
smiling 20-year-old females.
I kept asking AI to try again until finally it
generated something different.
I got this!

Goodness me!
That’s not what the word conjures up in my mind.
When I think of goodness, I think of the innocence
of babies and young children
and the unconditional love of our furry friends
(maybe that’s what that AI image is depicting).

These are the images that come to my mind
when I think of the word GOODNESS.

I also think of the goodness of a meal lovingly prepared
and shared generously with friends.

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

I asked Bob what image comes to mind
when he hears the word GOODNESS.
His answer surprised me. He said,
“Mothers… and the loving environment a good mother creates.
THAT’S GOODNESS!”

The goodness a good mother exudes
is certainly multiplied when she has
the support of her children’s father, too.
Loving families RADIATE goodness!

What does the Bible say about goodness?

There is more about the root word, GOOD,
than there is about GOODNESS.

So, goodness is a God-like quality in people.
It is a purity and innocence in children and animals.
It is a gift of delectable taste from a skilled chef.
It is a unifying force in a family.

You don’t have to be a 20-something, blue-eyed blond
to exhibit goodness!!
You are in the land of the living…
and goodness is in you
and all around you.
All you have to do is open your heart to it
and exhibit the goodness that is in you!

Aren’t you grateful for that?

What image does the word GOODNESS bring to your mind?

Join me again tomorrow for another
Word of the Day.

Love ya,
JanBeek

P.S. My maiden name is DeAngeles.
It means “Of Angels.”
Do you see the angelic goodness in me?

Category:

Bible Lessons, children, Faith, kindness, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, pets, relationships

Tagged with:

Family Time

Thanksgiving is coming here in the USA.
It’s a time to especially thank God for:

Your children and their father,
Your dear husband
who puts up with you every day
(or for you dads out there:
Thank God for the mother of your children
who puts up with you every day)
Are you fortunate to have a spouse and kids?

Thank God for your in-laws:
For your son-in-law
and your daughter-in-law,
And for their parents.
Are you fortunate enough to have
a good relationship with you in-law’s parents?

We are blessed to have this
sweet, nutty, fun-loving daughter
in Switzerland. As we approach
Thanksgiving, we especially are
thankful that we had the strength
and the stamina to visit her this month!

If you have a child who
married someone from another country,
I hope you know the joy of being able
to travel to see him/her.

God is so good to bless us
with the ability to go to Switzerland.
We now are planning our Christmas trip
to spend time with our son, Ty, and
his family in California.
Thank you, dear Lord, for the
resources and the strength and the help
with choosing our flights
and being able to have that
Family Time.

C’mas 2020

That CA family has grown by two more
great-grandchildren since that photo.
It includes Bob & me with our son & his wife,
her parents, 3 of our grandchildren,
and one great-granddaughter, Cosette.
Family Time is so precious!

I pray that your holidays coming up
find you surrounded by loving family
and friends who are like “chosen family.”
God bless you!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Christmas, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Love, relationships, Travel

Tagged with:

Love is a Mystery

In church today
our affirmation of faith began,
“God’s sovereign love is a mystery…”

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

God’s sovereign love
is a mystery beyond the reach
of the human mind.

Photo by Amber Lamoreaux on Pexels.com

Human thought ascribes to God
superlatives of
power,
wisdom,
and goodness.

But God reveals His love
in Jesus Christ
by showing power
in the form of a servant.

God reveals
His love
in the folly
of the cross.

He reveals
His love
and His goodness
in receiving sinners.

The power of God’s love
to transform the world
discloses that the Lord
is Creator of all things.

He made all things
to serve the purpose
of His Love.
You and I serve His purpose!

God bless our dear daughter
who serves with love
every day.
I am so grateful
for her love.
It is no mystery!

The mystery for me
is why Jesus
blesses me so richly
with His love
and the love of
friends and family
while others
seem without.

AI generated this photo
when I asked for
“Children in Poverty”
Guess what?
All those “without”
are not brown skinned!

Set aside your prejudices.
Look around you.
There are people
right in your town or city,
Maybe in your neighborhood,
who are “without”.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Love is a mystery.
Poverty knows no color.
Hugs know no color.
Generosity is multi-colored.

God’s sovereign love
is no mystery.
It is there for all.
It is a gift.
Unwrap it!!
And then share!!!

Photo by Lum3n.com on Pexels.com

Now, with whom
will you share your
gift of love?

I send my love to you today.
It’s what the world needs…
More love!
Don’t you agree?

God bless you!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, God, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, relationships, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Reason to Celebrate

When you pray to God for a friend’s upcoming surgery and recovery and God responds by helping your friend to come through with flying colors, that’s definitely a reason to celebrate!

Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
View all responses

God is so good!

David is evidence of answered prayers.

Can you imagine how happy we all were when we could see David looking so chipper?

Having projects to complete definitely helps with the recovery process. Sign of success: yay!!


Our prayers for David’s successful life are on-going.


Who’s the first person who comes to YOUR mind
when you think of “Successful?”

What reason do YOU have to celebrate?
Love,
JanBeek

Cheers!!

Category:

blessings, children, Family, Gratitude, happiness, life, Life's Challenges, Love, relationships

Tagged with:

Happy October

Happy October, my friends.
The month has begun wonderfully.
Cool cool mornings and warm afternoons.
Colors changing – and autumn in the air.

The grass still is green
And the aspen leaves still quake,
But the green shrub outside our entry
Has turned a brilliant magenta.

Antelope are out grazing
Finding green nibbles in the browning fields
And trees are turning a brilliant yellow

Autumn is my favorite color
The gold and orange cheer me
From head to toe!

I scolded my daughter
When she thought my shirt was pj’s!
No, it’s comfy and ushers in fall colors.

Our local newspaper published
An article I submitted this week
Inviting writers to come and join us.

Madison Valley Writers are meeting
Every first and third Friday at 10:30 am
At the Madison Valley Bank fireside room.

If you are near, I hope you’ll come.
If you’re too far to join us,
How about submitting something?

I will share your poem or short story
With those who come next week.
Here’s the one I wrote last week.

It was published in today’s “Madisonian.”

Winter comes too early
And it lasts too long.
When God created seasons,
He got it all so wrong.

The seasons should be equal –
Spring Summer Winter Fall.
Each has its own beauty
And I love them all.

But here in our Montana,
Winter comes way too soon.
We barely get a summer
When we see the autumn moon.

The leaves turn gorgeous golden.
The wild flowers die on the vine.
The frost kills the mosquitoes.
But what joy is left is mine.

I take joy in getting ready
For winter’s cold but glorious snow.
Begging neighbors to be willing
To plow us out, you know?

Winter boots and jackets
Come forward in the space
Where sandals and sundresses
Once occupied that place.

So enjoy what little autumn
We are fortunate to see
Because before you are read
Winter’s here for you and me.

Sleigh bells ring and children gather
Near the fireplace to hear
Reindeer bells and Ho-ho-ho’s.
Are you ready? Winter’s near!

Bundle Up!!

Photo by Madeline Bassinder on Pexels.com

Enjoy Autumn!
Enjoy all the color changes.
Write about your favorite season.

Let me hear from you.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, children, Montana, nature, Poetry, trees, writing

Tagged with:

Hard Work

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

Hah! Hard work? How about YOU do that? I just wanna enjoy my retirement!

Maybe work on some creative project … but not too hard!

Enjoy the way cooling temperatures bring an early autumn, and…

smile with little Oliver because his twin, Noah, is coming home from the hospital today. His mom gave birth a week or so ago to two little angels – each nearly 8 lbs. – now, that’s hard work!!

Here’s Noah. Pray for him. Pray hard. He’s been having seizures. Pray for his complete health and happy future.

That’s Oliver, smiling because you’re hard at work praying for his brother!

God hears us. He cares. He answers prayer. Keep on praying. 🙏🏽

Are you hard at work praying? That makes me feel fulfilled: to encourage others and to help us all keep the faith. Yes! God bless you. Have a fulfilling day!

Noah & I thank you!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

children, Faith, God, Love, optimism, prayer, relationships

Tagged with:

Beautiful Connections

Staying in contact
Oh, beautiful connections
Commonalities

Happy with Judy Parks

Yesterday we went
To see friends in Sheridan
Lovely connections

Today I texted
With Elaina and Katy
They’re headed for Disneyland

Staying connected
With the folks you love the most
Makes life worth living

Sue Woodruff and me

Make an appointment
To stay in touch with loved ones
Keep your friends close by

Our DollyWolly, DeDe

If family’s away
Like our daughter overseas
Use your computer

Use your telephone
Text your loved ones every day
Just stay connected

Our son, Ty, in California

Be eternally
Grateful for your kids who care
Enough to call you

Happily receive
Photos of their vacation
Wishing you were there

Me with Bob, my hubby for 62 years

Be eternally
Grateful for those close at hand
Such dear connections

Who have you texted?
Who have you prayed for today?
Stop and do it right away!

Sending love your way
Grateful for WordPress with you
Good friends far and near

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, friendship, Haiku, happiness, Love, Poetry, relationships, Sharing

Tagged with: