Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘relationships’ Category

Speak Up!

Today I wrote a letter to the editor of our local paper, the Ennis, Madison County Montana Madisonian. I decided it is time to write to my state and federal representatives, too, and write to my friends and neighbors locally about my concerns for the present divisiveness and for the future of our country (and the world). The USA is headed in the wrong direction. We must reverse course and reunite with our friends at home and abroad. We must do our part to stop the insanity. Here is what I wrote:

“Dear Editor,

In the February 12th Madisonian Opinion page, Doris Fischer’s letter to the editor, titled “Ignore the Drumbeat at our Peril” was very inspiring. She warned and encouraged us all. In her final paragraph she cautioned, “We citizens all need to pay close attention to what is happening.” She quoted other local citizens whose cautionary posts reminded us that we need to speak up and we need to choose our federal representatives wisely. Doris concluded that we “…must study up on the candidates running for this year’s Primary and General Elections… (and then) Vote.”  It’s never been more important than it is now for us to pay attention to what is happening to our democracy, to our foreign relations, and to our moral base. If you are as concerned as I am about the divisiveness in today’s politics, then it’s time for you to speak up, too. We desperately need fervent voices to promote love and compassion. Join me! Write a letter to your representatives. Tell ‘em what you think. Promote neighborly sanity, world-wide peace and unity, and respect for all. Yes, as Lois Stephens wrote in her letter, “Enough is Enough!” 

Jan Beekman”

Hugs and lotsa love to you from
JanBeek

February Festivities!

First February Festivity: the 11th for our 64th anniversary-
A reason to celebrate and share a fabulous memory.
The year was 1961 and Bob was stationed in Germany
I was teaching a 1st grade in CA; he was in the US Army.

I married that handsome fellow when he flew home.
I left my darling first grade class in Stockton, CA to go roam.
Left my apartment, my language, Suzie, my roommate,
My family and friends… all that was familiar. Not great!

The wedding was spectacular and the reception would make
Family and friends smile & cheer us on and marvel at our cake.
At our 50th anniversary we asked a bakery to duplicate it for us.
One after another they said “Impossible” in an incredulous chorus.

I landed a job on the army base school in Germany, a first grade class,
And finished out the year joyfully, learning a new culture. It was a blast!
Back in California, I continued to teach the little ones in Turlock
And then in San Francisco & Hillsborough… while Bob graduated from SF State.

We started our family during those SF years… a boy, Ty, and girl, De.
They were a delight to us then … and still are a blessing each day to me!
Here’s a picture of Bob & me with Ty when he was a sweet little babe…
And one of DeAna with me in matching dresses I made!

Mother-Daughter

As the years have gone by and our children have grown
We moved from the Bay Area back to the place we had known
As children and young adults; Bob joined the family with bees
While I continued to teach and moved to principal and District Office with ease.

Our 50th anniversary was a time to gather five decades of friends & family
For a weekend in Palm Desert where we golfed, ate, and reunited happily.
The memories of that grand occasion are alive and well in our hearts,
And we continue each February to connect with friends from our life’s parts.

When we retired, we continued to celebrate our February dates with flare!
But we’re doing it in Montana. Twenty years ago we moved ourselves there.
We love living in Big Sky Country, Ennis Montana, where the antelope roam.
We celebrate life every day and invite you to come share the joy in our home.

February 11th is a day each year to celebrate the joy of being together.
Valentine’s Day we celebrate at a Wine Pairings dinner – regardless of the weather.
It’s at Madison Valley Ranches, a beautiful setting for sure, with great food and friends.
Come join us if you wish… spaces are available … right out here where the river bends.

Time to celebrate! This February Festivity is my favorite one.
Having you here to join us would make it extra fun.
Call Manu at 406-660-2959 for your Valentine’s Day reservation.
It’ll make us so happy to see you! Come share in our celebration!

Love ya,
JanBeek (& Bob, too)

1940 Tribute to Parents

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Below is a letter I found in Grandma Foster’s Scrapbook. It was written in 1940 by Sheldon H. Kinney… the Fosters’ next door neighbor in Pasadena, CA… quite an accomplished young 25 year old. Here is a newspaper article published in the Chicago Tribune about him:

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Interesting how they published his parents’ home address, huh? I don’t think we’d see that in today’s press, do you?

While at sea, during World War Two, Sheldon wrote this heartfelt letter to his parents:

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How Grandma Foster got ahold of that letter so she could include it in her scrapbook is a mystery. But, it is there… preserved for me to share! I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. Makes me wish I had written something similar to my parents when I was 25! But, did I have the insight at that age to “see my parents as man and woman” the way Sheldon did? I doubt it.

How very precious to read Sheldon’s praise of his parents, and to feel the warmth they must have felt when reading those accolades!

As I continue to sift through the scrapbook’s treasures, I will gladly share others with you. I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am!

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Lots of love to you…
from JanBeek

Wonderful Family Time

The end of 2025

Found us loving life

Spending it with family

Avoiding stress and strife

All should be so blessed

To have such happy love

We don’t take it for granted

Such love is from above!

May you experience such love, too!!
Bob’s brother Bill and Marge
Our love for each other
My cousin, Adrian DeAngelis & Laura
Bob’s 1969 wrestling student, Kevin with wife, Kim
Time with in-laws, the Paynes
Contact with our DollyWolly, DeDe, in Switzerland
Visit with Bob’s nephew, Bryan, and his sweet wife, Michelle
… in their beautiful home
Opportunity to attend church at Harvest – such sweet memories here!
Christmas with granddaughter Faith and her hubby
So proud of our son, Ty, and the life he is living
Ty’s wife, Monika, the perfect partner!
Great food and precious Mable, our great-granddaughter
Time in CA wine country: life can’t get much better!
Thank you, Ty & Monika
May your life be so blessed, too!!

Love, JanBeek

& my happy 87th birthday boy, BionicBob

Have You Ever Crossed Your Parents?

The “Six Sentence Story Blog Hop” from GirlieOnTheEdge1.wordpress.com for this week is CROSS.

As a child I obeyed without question whatever my mom or dad told me to do.

Likewise, I did not do what they told me I was not supposed to do.

I was a very obedient child.

But as a teenager who began to exert my independence, I had ideas of my own, and they didn’t always coincide with those of my parents.

Oh boy, do I vividly remember those first verbal clashes when I wanted to go my own way – and we crossed paths and mine wasn’t the direction my parents thought was okay!

I asserted my will and to my increasingly cross parents, I shouted, “It’s not up to you!”

“Don’t be so bold, you sassy thing!”
Love,
JanBeek

PS – Have you ever crossed your parents?

Ain’t Love Grand?

My youngest grandson has had a long-distance relationship
with a girl from Colombia for more than 4 years.
With the help of FaceTime
and occasional visits to/from Switzerland,
they have kept love alive.

Now she’s visiting him in the flesh. Ain’t love grand? God bless ‘em!

When Bob & I were dating
and when we were engaged
(back in the early 1960’s),
he was in the army,
stationed in Germany.
We went two weeks between communication
– one letter at a time.

Ain’t technology grand?
Now we have instant communication!

What was your dating experience
with your loved one?
Was it also way back when?
I’d love to hear about
your “Grand Love”
experience!

Hugs,
JanBeek

1959
1960
(his sister’s wedding)

1962
Ain’t love grand?

63 years later
Yes,
Love is Grand!!

Six Sentence Story

I discovered a new challenge. From inlinkz, there is a weekly invitation to write a “Six Sentence Story.” Each week the word prompt that must be included changes. This week it is the word NEED.

Here is my 6 sentences to go to the “Blog Hop” –

Take my hand, I’m a stranger in Paradise.
I’m lost in a Wonderland.
It’s just being with you.
Tell me everything will be alright.
I need to know that’s true!

Love from
JanBeek

I Can Stay in Touch

I can stay in touch
Though miles separate us
Thanks to internet

I love the selection of memes available

I can stay in touch
Thanks to the power of prayer
I feel close to you

I can stay in touch
Using WhatsApp on my phone
It is a great tool

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com

When I stay in touch
With the help of my iPhone
Distance disappears

I can stay in touch
Across wide, long, deep spaces
Nothing can stop me

You can stay in touch
Through the power of WordPress
Come on, write to me!

I’ll write back to you
You are not too far away
We can stay in touch!

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Cheers, my friends!

Hugs,
JanBeek

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

Returning to My Blog

I have had a break from my blog for awhile. Why? Spending time with visiting friends and family this summer and early autumn has taken precedence. Also, for the last 300+ consecutive days I have been doing a daily French lesson on Duolingo. Can I speak French now? No… But I can read and understand some. Time to move on. So, I’m exchanging that focus for now. I’m returning to my daily blog posts. I hope you’ll join me.

Today, I reread a response from a friend who wrote to me back in 2021 with this comment:

“You lit a candle in my mind and heart this morning when I read your blog post … Thank you for spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity through your blog…”

I kept a copy of that blog response in my journal titled, “I Can and I Will, Watch Me!” The entry that day in 2021 was, “I CAN Be an Inspiration.” That is my mission… and I have been neglecting it here on WordPress. But, I’m back!

My journal has 124 entries, each starting with “I Can…” As the “Inspirational Leader” I read one a month last year to my friends at Madison Valley Women’s Club. They responded very favorably to the inspirations. For the next few months, let me share one a day with you, okay? Hopefully you will follow along, and “I Will” be an inspiration to you, too. “Watch Me!”

I CAN Inspire!

I’m not in retirement
I’m in re-inspirement
Each day a new opportunity
To inspire
and
To be an inspiration
grabs me!

What is the secret
to being an inspiration?

Love people
and
Try to understand them.

Reach out in love
today.

Sincerely tell
at least three people
today,
“I Love You.”

Laina, Nicky & DeDe, I love you!

There! I did it! Your turn.

Love,
JanBeek