Yay!! Today’s snow is an answer to prayer. We have desperately needed the moisture. Isn’t it beautiful?
That’s our house behind the snow-laden trees.
And our Kenny absolutely loves it!
Crazy pup!!
Have a beautiful Thursday afternoon/evening, my friends.
I attended an art workshop this week. We all painted butterflies. 🦋 Mine’s not as good as I had hoped, but I had fun doing it. That’s what counts, right?
1) Texting with my daughter in Switzerland and enjoying the fun of watching her with her grandson & the neighbor’s little boy2) Communicating with Laina, our bonus daughter in Maryland, and watching her enjoy Leo, her grandson3) Volunteering at our local nursing home and watching the residents’ big smiles as they get dolled up for glamorous photos in front of this lovely backdrop4) Playing with my Boston “Terror” Kenny (he’s such a character)
5) Visiting with my dear hubby (Bionic Bob) and appreciating his recent improved hearing due to his cochlear implant
That’s the exterior that is magnetized to the magnet implant… and the new aid for his other ear. Amazing new technology! Learning to make full use of these? Not fun! A work in progress!What are your top 5 ways to have fun? My morning chats with De & Laina and my quiet time up in my sanctuary always start my days on a fun, happy note. I hope yours start happily, too.
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!
Today’s Prompt was: What positive emotion do you feel most often?
My Response: Gratitude
I’m grateful for the neighbors who came immediately last night when I called them. I was frantic! Kenny, our pup, was crying. We could hear his barks and his whining, but we couldn’t find him. It sounded like it was coming from under the house. Maybe he went under the deck and got stuck on something. Maybe a rattlesnake bit him (years ago we had that happen to our Boston named Angela). We searched high and low for Kenny. No luck!
We were frantic! So we called our friends. They came. Four of them! We all searched. Still no luck.
So, we went into the house (we’d already searched there thoroughly).
When we walked in through the back door, there was a black and white nose sticking out from under Bob’s chair!! Kenny had squeezed under to fetch a toy – and he got stuck!! Whew!!!😥 We lifted the chair to release him. Gratitude? Ah yes!! 👏🏽
Thank You, Jesus!
Thank You, God, Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for neighbors, for answered prayers, for the safety of our pup! Whew!!
Remember that first picture up there of Kenny lying on a quilt? I’m grateful for it, too. Do you have a memory quilt?
I love mine! And no, Kenny doesn’t usually get to lie on it! It was a retirement gift from my teaching colleagues when I retired back in 1999. The sentiments on it and the remembrances are so precious!
Marta Garcia did the stitching and each of my colleagues at school added a piece with their name and sometimes a sentiment. “Stitched with dreams of traveling forever,” Marta wrote.
If you live in Ennis, Montana with the Madison River running through it and the spectacular Rocky Mountains as your backdrop, and people from all over the world coming here to fish and to just relax and enjoy the peace, the open spaces, the wild animals, and the proximity to Yellowstone, then you live daily with an attitude of gratitude, and guess what? Traveling forever is not a daily prayer. We are grateful that you come to us! Keep doing it!
“Take genuine interest in other people… turn to the person next to you in the grocery store and ask what the highlight of their day has been… Your question … will probably be the highlight of their day.”
That quote is from Bob Goff’s Catching Whimsy, 365 Days of Possibility.
He challenges us with today’s action step:
“Engage the people around you with love and inexplicable curiosity today.”
Time with Saskia & Laszlo is so precious!
I need to be sure and practice “With-ness” with them. God sent them to us so we could really BE with one another.
Who are you going to really be with today? Bob Goff uses Galatians 6:10 to remind us of Jesus’ words to the people: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.”
Let them know you are 100% with them … and curious about how life is going with them.
How is life going with you!?
My life is quite lovely. Kenny’s is, too. I hope yours is, also.
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 loveBonus daughters reach out and help make each day brighterSweet daughter, De, makes each day happierTerrific Ty, super son, positively impacts us and countless others Our pastor and our God keep us grounded in loveThese 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!
T is for Trouble! KT is for Kenny Trouble!! How long do you think it took Kenny to remove these 8 tassels?
Where did they come from?
Oh, my poor pillow!! Four tassels gone from each end!!!
I was up in my sanctuary having my peaceful time in prayer, Bible study, and devotionals. And Kenny?
He was barking at Bob to come play with him!
Bob didn’t see him sitting by the door asking to go out. A dump in the floor was the consequence. Oh my!!!
Kenny sure can get into trouble when we don’t pay attention to him.
We need to keep our noses alert to Kenny trouble!
How about you? Do you spell trouble with a capital T when you’re ignored?
Yup, me, too!
Facing Trials
In the journey of faith, we encounter various trials that test our strength, resilience and patience. The Bible reminds us that facing troubles is part of life, and rather than shunning them, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth. These challenges, while tough at the moment, can refine our character and deepen our reliance on God. By reflecting on Bible verses about troubles, we can find encouragement and hope, realizing that God walks with us every step of the way. Our “Oh My!” can change to “Oh Thanks!” as we turn in prayer with those trials. God, will You play with Kenny?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10
Ah yes… God will make us strong and steadfast. But God, will You restore my pillow? And what about this rambunctious Kenny? Oh my, will You send over a playmate for him? Oh, and while You are at it, will you send over a buyer for our kayak? It’s too heavy for Bob to manage it these days. We took it down from its hooks on the garage ceiling… and it’s sitting outside waiting for the right person to come and buy it … and enjoy many years of kayaking fun (just as we have).
Kenny would love to go out on Ennis Lake with it. Wouldn’t you? Oh my! I need to do my French lesson and this pup wants to play. Come play with him!!
Sending playful fun your way. Hugs, too… from JanBeek
Playful KennyNot just any dog……can make this guy smile like this!
Yup, in our house, the best pet is a Boston Terrier …
Yesterday we had him neutered. Coming out from the anesthetic, the cries were so pathetic!Today he is having digestive problems… but currently he’s resting. Thank God!Here’s Lacey! My family in Maryland thinks this is the best pet ever!
TooraLooraLoora TooraLooraLie TooraLooraLoora It’s an Irish Lullaby!
(Sing with me!)
Sing along!
Here’s to the wearing of the green!
Over in Killarney…
And here in Ennis, MT
Love my little Irish gnome!
Meanwhile in Maryland, Laina & Katy really get into the spirit!
Hope your day was a fun one, too.
Oh, and by the way, here’s an update on our new pup, Kenny, the 7 month old Boston terror!
He’s settling in well! Learning each other’s language. Tough at first. Much better now!
Yay!
Did I show you this earlier? It was his playday with Livvy. So good for them both!
Life is good in this neck of the woods- in spite of waking up to more snow this morning! Are you as ready for springtime as I am?
I miss all that color! Come springtime, come!
Yes, the snow wet the green shoots where crocus & daffodil are trying to pop up. Hang in there, flowers! The sun WILL shine soon!
Have faith! Spring is on its way!
Meantime, sing along…
Nothing like a good ole Irish jig!
Love,
JanBeek
Yup, that’s me! Several decades ago… But today I am wearing that same green jacket! Do you have “old clothes” that are too good to throw away? Hah! Kinda like me…
