This is Hillsdale High School’s winning wrestling team back in the 1970’s. Bob was the wrestling coach. He also taught in the classroom (safety education and behind the wheel driver’s education). Matt Martinelli has ahold of Bob’s right leg. And our son, Ty, is down there looking up proudly at his dad. Ty just had his 59th birthday… and Matt is now in his 70s! Time flies, doesn’t it?
Here’s another of Bob”s former wrestlers from back in the ’70s. Peter is another who keeps in touch and lets Bob know that he made a difference in his life. What a joy it is to maintain those contacts!
Here’s our son, Ty:
Life is worth celebrating! Even though Matt is in CA (and so is Ty), and Peter in in Arizona, we are blessed to stay in touch with them. They let Bob know that Dad/CoachBeek is a champion still! He made a difference in their lives.
Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Making a difference can sometimes be challenging, and it’s easy to grow weary. However, this verse reminds us to persevere in doing good. Even if we don’t see immediate results, God promises that in due time, we will reap the rewards of our efforts. Therefore, we are encouraged to press on and not lose heart in our pursuit of making a difference.
1958
Bob feels badly that he doesn’t have the strength and stamina that he once had, but hey… don’t we all have to accept that? Our bodies change as we age, right? Bob’s with his brother, Bill, there… Looking mighty fit, wouldn’t you say? Both of them are blessed to be alive and functioning as “Champions Still” in their mid-to-late 80’s!! Not everyone has that privilege, right?
Blessed to be alive! Blessed to have one another. Blessed to continue to do good. Blessed to be a champion still!!
I need a break from negativity!! There is too much negativity in this world. It comes in many forms and bombards us from all corners of the globe.
If we let it, the negativity, the bad news, the wars and killings, the inequalities , the catastrophes that the daily news brings into our living rooms can make us really depressed. There’s so little we can do about it!
But…
… then there are people like Bob Goff!! He is doing something about a lot of things! Do you know his book, “Love Does”? Do you know his podcasts and his life’s work? He is one of my antidotes to negativity! His positivity is contagious!!
Do you tune in to his podcasts? https://www.bobgoff.com/listen They are guaranteed to silence the negativity around you – and replace it with hope and love, motivational ideas, and positive energy. Here’s today’s podcast news:
Bob is joined by Jason, the president of BrandHaven, about the heart and process behind the “He Gets Us” campaign. The campaign aims to increase the respect and relevance of Jesus in our culture by promoting unconditional love, radical forgiveness, and confounding peace. He emphasizes the importance of being a student of faith and focusing on the biography of Jesus. Listen in for a conversation that encourages us to be students of faith, cultivating a culture of love, forgiveness, and kindness.Learn more at hegetsus.com and follow along on social media, @hegetsus.
Bob Goff is one of those positive people who has no idea how wonderful he is! His Love Does organization builds schools, educates children in impoverished countries (especially girls where there were previously no opportunities for them to get an education), distributes food to the needy, etc. etc. His voice is a song of cheer. His chuckle will make you smile. His message will inspire you. Check him out and be prepared to let his whimsical ways lift your spirit and inspire your soul to spread positivity and love, encouragement and grace to everyone you encounter!
Today’s prompt on JetPack was: “What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?
Visiting family and friends is my obvious answer! Today we met our dear friends, Bill & Marcia, for brunch in Bozeman before Bob’s ENT appointment.
It’s such a joy to meet up with and stay in touch with loved ones.
Bob & Bill
Fun!
Marcia & me
So dear!! But, oh my goodness, I need a haircut!! We’ve been gone 34 days – vacationing in California. I think I posted a couple times on our trip, didn’t I? That’s leisure time … nearly a dozen different beds in 34 days! Time with dear family/friends. God bless ‘em!!
Great-granddaughter Cosette, daughter-in-law Monika, great grandson Christian 1 month new, granddaughter Faith, and great-granddaughter Mable
What a blessing to be with these dear ones!
My former 1st/2nd grade student, Eva Lear (Stanislaus Co. Teacher of the Year)
Another favorite spare time activity: touching bases with former students and wallowing in their successes!!
Darrell & Ruthie Payne, our son’s in-laws, part of “Mi Familia!!”
Four lovely days with that dear couple – can’t be beat! Went with them to dinner at Fisherman’s in San Clemente- and for scrumptious Italian in Pasadena. Deeeelicious! Such gracious hosts!
Diane, Ruthie & me
Prior to that stay, we were wined & dined in Paso Robles by my “soul sister” Terry & her wonderful hubby, Jim.
Jim & Terry with us at Sculpterra Winery
Time with my dear cousin, Adrian, and his wife, Laura, is hard to beat. Did I tell you earlier about them? They deserve a blog post of their own (coming soon).
Bob with cousinAdrian & his sweet wife, Laura
We also got to spend time with my high school sweetheart, Jerry & his darling wife, Carolyn, and Bob’s former Sunday School buddy, Monica, and his former girlfriend, Sally ( my song girl classmate) and her terrific hubby, Bob Phillips.
The latter two were not able to join us for lunch, but we stayed a night at their house. Do you get back together again with those dear to you from 60 years ago??
Jerry, Bob, Monica, me & Carolyn.
Before that gathering in Turlock, CA, we were in Carmel/Pacific Grove/Pebble Beach with Bob’s two brothers and their wives – and with our long-time friends, the Tillions. Did I post earlier about that 85th birthday of Bob and that New Years Eve experience?
It’s been quite a memorable month!!!
Bob, me, brother Bruce, Ann, Marge, and brother Bill. Me, Ingrid, Bob & Alan
Our “leisure time” activities included a lot of dining out in terrific places. This was Big Sur, CA. Such a pretty day! It was 47 degrees, sunshine & feeling warm while back in Montana there was an Arctic storm and the temp was -47! That’s 100 degrees difference!
Suppose we were happy to be spending our leisure time with family & friends? You bet!!
Bob, Ty, me & Monika
Our last evening in CA we took our son & his wife out to dinner. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And thank you for loaning us your Lexus so we could travel the state in style for a month!!! What a gift!
Home Sweet Home
Time to unpack, do laundry, sort the mail, pay bills, and take down Christmas decorations! Happy 2024, my friends!
What’s YOUR favorite leisure time activity?
Last night we celebrated our friend, Julie’s birthday. The love of time with family and friends goes on…
My career as an educator was more than a job. More than a “dream job.” It was a beautiful calling. It was a gift. I was a teacher. I loved my students, my teaching colleagues, the joy of making a positive difference in someone’s life.
Today I had the wonderful privilege of reconnecting with a student who was in my first and then second grade classrooms back around 1969-70. Today she is a teacher – and has been honored by being selected as the Turlock School District and Stanislaus County “Teacher of the Year.” Congratulations to Eva Marquez Lear!! Thank you for expressing your gratitude and recounting your love and reaching out to tell me I was one main reason you decided to become a teacher. It’s more than our “dream job” … it’s our calling, our gift … pass it on. God bless you!!
In a world filled with war and hate I can shine a light of love from me In a world filled with animosity and division I can shine a light of unity
In a world filled with hopelessness and despair I can lift the light of hopefulness In a world filled with fear and worry I can shine a light of faithfulness
I can be a light in the darkness Because the love of Christ shines through The grim shadows of despair And that light also is in you
As a wonderful God-created child You are part of a magnificent whole So let that Spirit buried in you Shine forth from your blessed soul
Your light shines from your creator Just as mine sparkles brightly, too So fill this world with the light of love Let’s let Love’s Light shine from me and you!
You have access to all the power you need You just gotta be sure to plug in Connect to the source of your power It’s available to you even if you’re shut in
Like a mighty wave or hurricane Power can evoke awe or cause destruction What’s the source of your power? There’s a ready source… what’s your deduction?
I bet you know where I’m going With this line of reasoning. Yup, the power I have in mind Is filled with the best spiritual seasoning!
In yesterday’s Mornings With Jesus devotional comments by Karen Sargent, she shared an experience she had with power cords. She was preparing for a presentation using various technology. Thinking she might need an extension cord, she added it to her equipment. However, after setting everything up, she realized she didn’t have the part she needed. Sargent wrote,
“… There was a problem. In one hand I held a three-prong plug on my laptop cord. In the other, a two-prong plugin. I checked the projector cord. Three prongs. Without the ability to tap into the electrical source… my technology was useless. I couldn’t power up.”
Sargent extrapolated, “That wasn’t the first time I’d failed to tap into a power source. Sometimes I function on two-prong faith. I know Jesus can do anything… And through Christ who strengthens me, I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). But how often do I connect to the power of the Holy Spirit, the mighty third prong?”
Karen Sargent’s message spoke to me. Yesterday friends helped us install Our Christmas tree here at home – Tucked in along the north-east wall.
We plugged the lights in after A lot of struggle to assemble it. Look closely at the lights there A section is missing … do I resemble it?
Do I lack a portion of my power Because I’m not plugged in totally? The message hit me with a jolt. It fit my plight anecdotally!
Karen Sargent ended her reflections with these thoughts:
“After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:22). But it wasn’t until Jesus ascended into heaven that the Holy Spirit empowered them. Unlike that useless extension cord… the ultimate power source, The Holy Spirit, is always on hand.”
