Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘relationships’ Category

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 they are … and here’s the fife & drum corps:

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

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!

Swiss Family

Such fun to be with our daughter, DeAna, and her mother-in-law & her husband, André, and his cousin, Sylviane (Syli)!

Yummy food and great company!

André is our DeDe’s husband. He’s the first cousin of our AFS Exchange student from the 1970’s.

We are loving our time here – and our brains are slowly adjusting to Swiss time! It’s an 8 hour difference!

Pretty sunset last night.
Great accommodations prepared for us by Syli. God bless her.

Nap time 💤 See ya later.

Love, JanBeek

Hello from Switzerland

Yay! We are in Sierre with our DollyWolly!

It’s a beautiful Thursday morning

Sierre, Switzerland
Grandmama (Mammie) Denise was happy to see us!
We were delighted to have all 3 of our Swiss grandsons join us last night
Céline (Nicky’s significant other) joined us briefly. Such a sweetheart!
André (our son-in-law) fixed a gourmet dinner for us. Yummmm!
Which grandson is craziest!?

We spent from 6:30 am Tuesday to 7:30 am Wednesday on 4 different flights to get to Geneva. De & André picked us up there. The 2 hour drive to Sierre was gorgeous! Pictures don’t do it justice. Zoom in on those terraced mountainsides covered with vineyards!

That side of the valley is more rugged…
There are the vineyards on the north side of the valley.
The southern side of the valley doesn’t get the afternoon sun. No vineyards there.
This is the view from our 4th floor patio
“Grampy” Bob is sooo happy to be with our daughter, DeDe, again!
So am I!

See ya tomorrow.

Love, JanBeek

Memorable Trail Rides

Memorable trail rides
Fill Autumn with delight
Mountain top’s a site
Great to behold!

We took TazE along
He sure loved going for rides
Following side-by-sides
Meeting with friends

Picnic in October
High up in the mountains
Far from drinking fountains
Brought our supplies

Our friends followed up close
We all enjoyed the sites
Trees were a yellow bright
Memorable

TankaTuesday.com

Abhanga: 4 lines of poetry; 6664 syllables; abbc rhyme scheme

Try it! It’s fun!!
Love ya,
JanBeek

Suddenly October

Where did September go?

Sunflowers turn their faces

To the bright October sun

A new month is upon us

A time to have some fun

Enjoy TMW with friends

Too much wine (TMW)

Gives way to NEW

Never enough wine

For the likes of me & you!

Under a Montana sky

We enjoy our time with friends

We’re looking forward to

October and all its trends

Pumpkins and Halloween
Pexels.com

A time for trick or treaters

But we’ll be off to Switzerland

No tricks and for sure no cheaters!

Ah, October… time to be with our DeDe and family!

What are your October plans?

Can’t beat October in the Alps. Stay tuned!

Love, JanBeek

I Can Communicate

The left hand doesn’t know
What the right hand is doing.
The left hand doesn’t see
What the right hand is doing.
It doesn’t understand
What the right is doing.
The left doesn’t care
About what the right is doing.

Doesn’t know or see,
Doesn’t understand or care.
Which is it?
Or is it all four?
This can happen in my body –
It can happen in your body –
It can infect any body.

Infection requires intervention.
Intervention is communication.
Communicate to know, to see,
And to understand.
But first, the left must care
What the right is doing.

I can communicate.
I care, so I want to know.
I see, so I want to understand.
Do you see? Do you know
That a part of the body is suffering?
Do you listen, question, care?

Two key people in our body
Have resigned their positions.
We are the left hand…
They are the right.
A crucial part of us.
Do we see, do we know?
Do we understand what’s happening?
Do we care?

The left hand needs to know
What the right hand is doing.
The right needs to know
What the left is doing.

We need to see, understand, care.
I heard. I care. I can commmunicate.
Have you?
Do you?
Can you?
Will you?

We are all in one body.
United we stand.
Fractured we fall.
Communicate!

A symbolic fractured human body

With Love,
JanBeek

Naturally brighter version of the image

P.S. This was written for my Madison Valley Woman’s Club and their “left hand” – The Nearly New. It’s a terrific organization of volunteers. Right now there is a rift. I am praying there is honest communication – and healing. Pray with me, okay?

Friends, Friends, Friends

Nothing like friends

Friends from long ago

Friends to laugh with

Friends who take it slow

Friends who know us well

Friends who love to tell

Stories fun – that swell

To new heights … no one fell

No, we all survived

The great elaborations

Remembrances exaggerated

Enhancing celebrations

This occasion yesterday will long be remembered with enormous joy

Congratulations to our grandson

Who popped the question true –

“Will you marry me, Natalia?

I will always love you!”

Congratulations, Chrissy. We wish you & Natalia a lifetime of marriage bliss. Take it from your parents & grandparents: marriage is a forever promise. God bless you. Be friends as well as lovers!

Friends, friends, friends

Bringing love and laughter

Growing dearer every year

Spreading joy forever after!

Hugs from JanBeek

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

A Blest Week

We just had the privilege of a week with our son here in Ennis, MT. We loved every minute of that precious time together. While the skies were smoky each day (you couldn’t even see the mountains through the smoke), and it didn’t begin to clear until the day he was leaving, we didn’t let that deter us from having a good time.

Talking time in the living room

Yummy time at Dave’s Sushi preceding time at the movies (Odyssey)

Sharing meals together was highlighted by great conversations

The mountains peeked through the smoke and the antelope showed up to say goodbye as we were driving Ty to the airport
We stopped at Fiesta Mexicana for lunch before dropping Ty off at the Gallatin Bozeman airport
Mmm – great margaritas! And delicious food
Mouth watering!

Ty’s flight was delayed and he had a challenging set of flights and car trouble… but God made sure his needs were met and he was home that night safe & sound.

And our home has seen blue skies since then. Come back soon, Ty. And bring Monika!
We’ll keep you up to date on the progress of the house being built in the field across from us!

We were blessed indeed to have such a blest week!

Love,

JanBeek

Best Local Dish

What’s the best local dish you’ve ever eaten while traveling?

My son-in-law, André Solioz, is a phenomenal chef. When we travel to Switzerland to be with him, our daughter, and their family, his food is to die for!! The local dish is cheese fondue and it’s wonderful. But his specialty that I love is a pork roast. Oh, he creates it in such a mouth-watering way. You’d love it! But, his dishes all are amazing!

Here’s André … We get to see him and eat his wonderful food this October. Yay!

Hugs, JanBeek

Happy 2nd birthday to our pup, Kenny!!