I posted this several years ago on this last day of June. It popped up on my reminders today. I decided it was worth posting again:
“There’s nothing like a tender touch to chase away the blues. You need someone who really cares – BEE the tender toucher!”
I hope you have a tendertoucher in your life!
Have a Tender Tuesday!
Love, JanBee
In my devotional, “When God Thinks of You, He Smiles,” the message fit perfectly for us today. I was invited to “Think of a time when God rescued you.” Yesterday I mourned the loss of one of our beautiful big evergreen trees. It blew over in a 50 mph wind storm. God heard my unspoken pleas. Obviously Bob & I needed help cutting up and removing that fallen spruce. We didn’t have time to think about that task before three different friends reached out and offered to come and help us. It was certainly something they (and for sure God) knew we could not do ourselves. Our bodies just lack that capability at the ripe age of 87!
So, that tree that once stood at least 20 feet tall snapped off right at its base… and lay there Sunday pathetically waiting to be removed… and dear friends came Monday to cut it up. A big job for two men with chain saws, a pick up and a borrowed trailer. Took three trips to the dump to get most of it removed. Tomorrow the rest will go and the trailer will be returned to the generous owner. We are so blessed to have such caring, capable friends!
The devotional this morning began with, “God’s love leads Him to do more for us than we can envision.” Certainly the Godly servants of the Lord that He sent our way did more than I could envision.
The message went on to say, “No matter how often you need Him, He will always be there. Trust in Him, for He is faithful and true.”
Thank You, God, for rescuing us. I do trust in You. Thank You for sending Your beloved followers to help us. We delight in You.
My devotional says, “When God thinks of you, He smiles.” Well, guess what, when I think of God, I smile.
Do you?
Love,
JanBeek
This is the anniversary of our pup, Owen’s death. I posted “A Day from Hell” in my blog. So many dear friends wrote, called, came to offer condolences and support.
Yesterday we had a different kind of death here. One of our beautiful evergreens succumbed to the 50 mph winds. It was 25 years old. Looked healthy on the outside, but when it blew over, it was revealed that there seemed to be no root structure to hold it. Hmmm … how had it survived all those years?
But that tree was young and immature.
Life can be like that. Young, immature, lacking a sufficient root system.
Two of our friends lost 30 year old sons to suicide this past month. No tree or dog can compare. It’s an unimaginable sorrow. My heart goes out to those families.
God bless you. May your life be deeply rooted in love and purpose.
Hugs, JanBeek (with my life’s love … thank you, Bob… I am so blessed!)
Here we are at a recent amazing Pittsburgh Pirates game.
No prompt needed
Sitting at the back
Row 19 out of 20
Gives you an interesting perspective
Look at all those people
Row after row
Nothing but houses
A city coming up
No prompt needed
Just look at life
Exciting, isn’t it?
Jodie’s husband in his way home
Life is its own prompt
Enjoy!!
Hugs,
JanBeek
Visiting Marcie meant being able to share time with her daughter Stacey,
son-in-law Jeff, & grandchildren. Such a privilege!
Jeff & Marcie showed us around the area and treated us like royalty.
Stacey & Jeff treated us to dinner in their lovely home! We feel totally loved!
What a treat to travel up to Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and see the homes & vistas up there!
Thanks for traveling vicariously with us…
See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek
Our son, Ty in CA, and our daughter, De in Switzerland , combined forces and bought us a gift certificate for Mother’s Day to one of our favorite Bozeman, Montana restaurants: Dave’s Sushi. Today we used it with great delight!
Who do you think enjoyed theirs more??
Cheers! My Bliss roll was magnificent! But we both equally enjoyed the house red … a delightful blend.
Look at those sushi rolls again.
And we had enough left on our gift certificate to give Thomas , our terrific waiter, a nice tip.
Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, kids! We’re so glad you made me a mother!!
Now tomorrow we’re headed to Chattanooga. Stay tuned, my blogging friends. I’ll let you travel along vicariously.
We’re praying for warmer weather in Tennessee. It’s been a crazy May here in Montana. Today we had gray breezes, restless puffy clouds, snow, rain, and then bright sunny skies…. All within 5 hours in Bozeman. Crazy!!!
Hugs,
JanBeek
M others
O nly
T hink of
H elping
E veryone
R egardless of their
S ituation
I am sure a lucky mama!
I hope your Mothers’ Day has been blessed, too.
Love, JanBeek
We live in a beautiful place with a beautiful view and wonderful neighbors.
Our property has about 4 acres and in the center of those is where our house sits surrounded by 13 evergreen trees.
The lawn and trees require a lot of care to keep the trees healthy year round and the sprinkler system working in the spring, summer and fall.
This is the time of year when turning the sprinklers back on and repairing broken ones and adjusting the direction of the water’s flow has to happen.
We couldn’t possibly do all this by ourselves.
Thank God for the helpful guys in our “hood” who volunteer their services annually because without their help, I’m sure we would find it very difficult to live here!
This is National Poetry Month according to BlueMountain e-cards. So, let’s get started:
They are first to hail the season
The slightest bit of sunshine
Gives us hope … and they’re the reason
Popping out of barren ground
They’re ready to add cheer
Wherever they are found
Their faces bring lots of smiles
Whenever I look at them
Joy radiates for miles
Add cheer whoever they are
No matter where those flowers bloom
Whether near to us or far
And send photos to your friends
They’ll gratefully receive them
From now to when spring ends.
God bless you!
Have a happy springtime day!
Love, JanBeek
This week my dear friend, Mona Durham, age 96,
died peacefully with her family gathered round.
Mona’s family and the leadership team of our church
decorated the sanctuary and fellowship hall beautifully
for her memorial service today.
Her ashes, in a container under the purple cloth,
were sent into the hands of God
as Jesus and St. Peter must surely
have welcomed her into heaven.
She was a True Believer.
There was a beautiful display of photos
depicting Mona with many of her beloved family.
She had four children and seven grandchildren.
Four of the grandkids shared stories about how her life
impacted theirs in such loving, meaningful, lasting ways.
I took notes (as is my habit) as I listened to their stories.
Here are my notes:
Mona Durham’s was a 96 year life well lived.
She lived heartily loving and laughing;
Tough, fair, sarcastic, always available,
Humble, reliable, stable, and always hospitable.
Mona wasn’t delicate or sheltered.
The last of three daughters, she was the son…
The son her dad never had! How he loved her!
Oh how she loved him, others, and this Madison Valley!
She was a woman of grit and grace, loyal and hardworking.
Volunteered with church, History museum, blood draws,
Elections, Women’s Club & Cattle Women’s Association.
Her later years were less busy, but never less purposeful.
She gave her life to quietly helping others.
Her strength, honesty, love, and strong values
Were the glue that held the family together.
Also the fact that she always had fresh cookies!
Mona’s strength was grounded and rooted.
Her faith was deep, honest and clear.
She carried struggles quietly with endurance.
Her life will endure in each of us who loved her.
Deemo’s also prepared this beautiful, tasty tray of veggies.
The family extended a special thank you to the caregivers at Home Park and Madison Valley Manor for the dignity, kindness, and care they showed Ramona in her final years. In lieu of flowers, they asked that donations be made to Madison Valley Historical Museum (where Mona was a faithful, treasured volunteer) or Bear Creek Schoolhouse (where she attended 1st to 4th grade and then later volunteered to help with fundraisers to maintain it – and organized pinochle parties every March). She loved playing cards, doing 500 – 1000 piece puzzles, and keeping in touch always with her family and friends. She will be sorely missed by us all!
Mona’s granddaughter, Tori,
summed up what most of her family
would agree was an important take-away:
“I see so clearly that her impact
isn’t simple or singular, it’s generational.
What she has given us goes far beyond memories,
she’s given us a way of living.”
“She never once told me how to live,
but she sure as hell has shown me!”
Love,
JanBeek
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
