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Archive for the ‘Memories’ Category

Reblog #4 – Nostalgia


Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

NanoPoblano2022 has invited us to reblog an old post each day during this month of November. I’m having fun going back through some of my first posts… Here is one from our vacation in southern California in 2014. The roadrunner picture in the original post was not available so I borrowed one from Pexels. Thanks!

January 27 2014

There was a Time Magazine article by Lily Rothman in which the author quoted artist, Brendan O’Connell, “Nostalgia makes memory warm.” O’Connell stopped to say parenthetically, “That’s actually a significant thought,” and I paused. Hmm – memories, nostalgia, warmth. Yes, it’s true. Not all memories are warm, but all nostalgic memories are warm. Do you agree? When you think of warm memories, what comes to mind? Here’s mine:

Childhood

Climbing
Hillsides
Into
Lands
Dense with
Hidden
Occupants
Ordering Hot
Dogs.

Hah! That’s my whimsical acrostic for today – looking back on yesterdays.

But, how about Making Memories Today?

Image

There’s no better place to make memories than where you are right now today! For me, whether it is in the warm desert on vacation in the southern California sun with roadrunners scampering by and sun casting spakles on cactus, or back home in the cold snows of Montana, each day is a memory in the making. The climate doesn’t determine the warmth of the memories. The people I am with, the events we choose, the lessons I learn, the visions I absorb: those are the nostalgia of tomorrow. I am making warm memories today – wherever I am!

Nov. 5, 2022 – our snow is almost all melted now. With today’s winds, the rest of it will blow off the roof of our house (peeking through the trees there).

That acrostic up there was mine back in 2014… but I have no idea how that could have been true. We lived in the flat central valley of California. No hillsides to climb! If I were looking back at my childhood and creating an acrostic today, it would say:

CHILDHOOD

C hasing
H ounds
I nto
L ittle
D ugouts
H aving
O odles
O f
D ead animals

Oh my! That one is reality! My dad owned a Tallow Works and one of his jobs was picking up dead animals from ranchers and farmers and bringing those animals back to the “plant” where we lived. We always had at least one dog as a pet… and they were always “hounds.” No money for pedigrees!! In our bare fields behind our house, my neighbors (cousins) and I would dig holes and create pretend worlds. That 2014 acrostic must have come out of that pretending. Sometimes our best memories are the imaginary ones, don’t you think?

If you were to write a childhood acrostic today, would yours be real? Or would you pretend?


I hope your real world is full of happy memories – warm nostalgia.
Have a great day today, my friends.

.

I had a warm, huggy, loving daddy. My memories of him are certainly warm nostalgia!!

Thanks for visiting
JanBeek
See ya tomorrow

Category:

Animals, blogging, children, Family, Love, Memories, Montana, Poetry, Sharing, writing

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Reblog #1 – Most Beautiful Things


Beautiful Things
Are sometimes visible things;
Most = Invisible!

This Persian’s pretty;
Her purr’s the absolute best –
And the love she gives.

These roses are grand,
But their fragrance is the best;
And their “giver” too!

This bird is gorgeous,
But its song is the greatest –
And its Creator!

This scene’s amazing;
But the peaceful feelings here
Are magnificent.

Adorable child –
She’s so beautiful to see,
Her trusting heart’s best!

The cake’s impressive,
But memories are more grand.
Beautiful moments!

(By the way that’s us: Bob & Jan… 57 3/4 years ago)

The moments, feelings,
The sweet smiles and the laughter –
That’s where beauty lives.

Life’s luxuriant
When people and places reign.
Beautiful visions!

Thank you for being
A beautiful part of my life
In my WordPress World.
You add JOY by your presence.

See you later!

Category:

blessings, blogging, children, contentment, Gratitude, Haiku, life, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, peace, pets, photography, Poetry, Serving One Another, writing

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Back in the Swing


I’m getting back into the swing of things.
It’s not easy after being gone so long.
The 8 hour time change took its toll.
Awake at 2:30 AM feels so wrong!

Back to sleep a few hours later;
Waking at dawn feeling tired.
Gotta get my zip back again.
Connect to the Source and get wired!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Wired to what, you may be asking…
Well, my home, faith, and community –
Thankful for those things and my family –
Grateful for vaccines and immunity.

A COVID outbreak occurred here
Exposure at a church funeral Saturday.
We were still in recovery mode, so didn’t attend.
Grateful we decided to stay home that day.

Daughter De and her husband, Andre’
Went on a road trip after we left.
I’m missing her lots already …
Knowing she’s OK, I’m not bereft.

Mike and Tania, the newlyweds,
Have been so kind to stay in touch.
They send us pictures from their honeymoon,
Knowing we miss the two of them so much!

Today I returned to my favorite volunteering
At the nursing home here in town.
I helped with the residents’ fun with Bingo.
Helping others picks me up if I’m feeling down.

Getting back into the swing of things –
Cooking, cleaning, laundry, volunteering
Catching up with the lives of dear friends –
Even on a gray, cold day makes me feel like cheering!

Mike & Tania’s beautiful silhouette in Italy

I can look back at the fun we had
And I can see my family from afar.
I can thank the Lord for safe travels
And thank them for letting us see where they are.

I can treasure the opportunities to travel
And share the highlights of our trip…
But it’s time to get back into the swing
Of things here in Montana. Come and sit!

Come walk in the park
and go for a swing with me!

Enjoy your Friday, my friends.
Have a great weekend.

I’ll see if I can get back with you Saturday.
Tell me what you’re up to…
What are you doing that makes you cheer?

I’ll keep you in my prayers.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Family, happiness, life, Love, Memories, Poetry, relationships, Travel

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Blessed to Be Home


Travel is wonderful
It takes us to friends
It connects us with family
Our little world extends

DeDe, our daughter, was a wonderful chauffeur

Visiting family is a treat
Especially on special occasions
Participating in events
Receiving honored invitations

Our oldest grandson, Mike
Married the love of his life
We were blessed to be there
When they became husband and wife

Mike and Tania were sweet –
Sent us photos from their honeymoon
Some of the scenery was
Enough to make us swoon

Love is beautiful when it’s new
Full of promise and creating dreams
God blesses those who build hopes
On His Word and what it means

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.”

While we were blessed
To be able to go and see
Our loved ones who live afar,
Home is indeed a great place to be.

I loved being able to go
Up into my sanctuary again
To spend time with my angels
And time in prayer – Amen!

(Yes, I know you can pray
Anywhere you are – every day –
But there’s something about a place
Set aside for that in a special way)

We loved being able to have
Bob’s former student and his wife
Come and spend time with us –
Sharing our home – sharing our life.

So glad Peter & Alice Martin came to visit!

Returning to our church family
Was a treat for us as well –
There is comfort and joy
Being where Christian friends dwell

One of my dear Ennis buddies
Took care of my plants while we were gone
Another came and took care of our yard
Checking the flowers and mowing the lawn

Enjoying the company of our pup
Is another bonus of being home
Our TazE is twelve years old now
She’s loved by dear friends when we roam

Ah yes, it’s a blessing to be home
We appreciate from the bottom of our heart
All that our family and friends did
But we miss our bed and pillow when we’re apart!

We certainly enjoyed Andre’s phenomenal cooking
All the Swiss cheese and bread it contained…
But it’s time to return to my cooking each day –
While we take off the pounds we both gained!

Come visit us, dear friends.
We’d love to see you here.
We’ll take you to Dave’s Sushi –
In Bozeman – a city that’s pretty near.

Or… just feed you here at home –
It’s a blessing to be here, you know.
And a blessing to travel and see family –
Where is a spot that you’d like to go?

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Family, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Memories, music, pets, Poetry, relationships, Travel

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A Bustling End


The last two days of our marvelous three week trip to Switzerland were a bustling, busy, blessed time. Our daughter, DeDe, and her hubby, André, treated us royally with a trip to Chamonix, France on Monday and then a tour of the Gruyère Cheese Factory in Gruyère, Switzerland on Tuesday.

Up, up, up and over!

That’s the Rhone River Valley below.
We were headed through Switzerland to France.
It was a surprise gift for us
plus De’s best buddy, Laina (our daughter#2),
and her daughter, Katy.

Wow!
Look at this chalet next to ours.
We stayed in one named “Soli.”
(That’s De’s hubby’s nickname)
Enjoy the views out of every window!

See the snow covered peaks up there? We took a cog train up to that glacier!!

After settling into our beautiful chalet,
we walked to the place where the cog train (tram)
took us up to the top of the high peaks
where the glacier is.
With climate change, it is melting fast!

Here are Laina, DeDe & Katy –
taking the tram up to the glacier
that you could see from that first window view.
Bob with Laina & Katy at the glacier.
Here’s a live view of that trip up in the tram to the glacier…

That night we were treated to a phenomenal dinner.
My choice was veal with mushroom sauce. Mmmmm!
Thank you, De & Andrê.

We’re so grateful for their love of us and one another
… and their generosity!

Tuesday morning we drove back
up and over the mountains into Switzerland
to another surprise destination:
the town of Gruyere.
Gruyere is our favorite cheese.
How fun to see the place where it is made!

Wow! Look at the gruyere cellar where the rounds are aging!
De is showing us how heavy a round of gruyere is!

Tuesday night we returned to De & Andre’s chalet in Vissoie.
We packed, and prepared to go to Geneva to fly home.
Wednesday was supposed to be a smooth set of flights home.
However, with the Queen’s Procession,
our flight to London was delayed,
so we missed our connecting flight from Denver
and had to spend the night there.
This morning we finally made the flight to Bozeman
where our kind neighbor, Gary, met us and drove us home.
It’s a gray, dull, cool day …
not like the warm, blue sky days of Switzerland.
We’re spoiled!
But our hearts are filled
with the beauty and warmth
of our fabulous trip.

The rolling hills and milk-producing cows of the Gruyere area.
Here’s the fun of cheese fondue
and having our grandson, Nick, join us.
Our 3 grandsons & their sweethearts
were with us for so many fun and delicious occasions.
What a joyous three weeks we had!
Goodbye, France and Switzerland… thanks for the memories!

Thanks so much for traveling with us.
Back to reality in Montana now.
(Not a bad place to return to –
just a little smokey and cool right now)

Our house is behind those trees.


God bless you, family & friends.
We love you. 😍😘

See ya tomorrow –
Hugs, JanBeek

(of course God is willing, Laina!!)

Category:

blessings, children, Family, food, Gratitude, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, relationships, Travel

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A Weekend to Remember


Happy Sunday, my friends! This is the weekend in Sierre, Switzerland for my oldest grandson’s wedding. The civil ceremony was at the County Courthouse in the beautiful town center yesterday morning. I was having too much fun to stop and post then. Here are the highlights for you to enjoy today…

Congratulations, Tania and Michael Solioz… Such a beautiful couple!

The civil ceremony was attended by their two best friends and 18 other family members. It was all in French, so Bob & I could not understand the words, but the feelings of love and commitment were more than evident.

We are so glad the couple has decided to make their union “legal.” In today’s world so many young people decide marriage is pointless.

Our daughter, DeAna, was a radiant mother of the groom!

Bob & I were so pleased to be among the grandparents who are still alive and well and able to travel to enjoy the festivities. We do not take this privilege for granted!

Following the ceremony, we all went to Tania’s parents’ lovely home. It was about a ten minute drive up into a town (named Chalet) on the other side of the Rhone River, perched on the mountainside with a phenomenal yard and the most spectacular views!

We were blessed with the most beautiful weather! On Friday it rained and was gray & cloudy all day. So this was an answer to prayer to have this gorgeous blue sky and warm weather!

De and I chatted about our arthritic fingers and compared knuckles! “Thanks Mom, for my hands!”

Grandmas of the groom (that’s me and Denise – the one in blue) and between us is the maternal grandma of the bride. Denise speaks some English so she helped translate for me. I wish I could speak French – more than just a few words!

It was a very happy occasion. We’re so glad we could share it with this darling couple!

There you have it! A Saturday to remember! And now on this beautiful Sunday morning, I send you my love 😍 Thanks for vicariously sharing this wonderful trip with me. Tonight we’ll leave Sierre and travel about 20 minutes up the mountain – on an amazing road with terrifying switchbacks – to Vissoie, where DeAna and André have their chalet/hotel/restaurant. See you there!

We are there! More later!!

Category:

blessings, children, Family, Gratitude, happiness, Love, Memories, prayer, relationships, Travel

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Wonderful Weekend


Enjoying Sunday
Remembering Saturday
And Fish on Friday

Sunday began
with this prayer-filled
good morning photo
from my friend Lisa
in North Carolina

After church,
Sunday continues
with our TazE
needing attention
and us
trying to
just relax!

Saturday memories
include a wonderful evening
shared with Bob
and dozens of friends
at the Madison Valley Ranchland’s
annual “Noxious Weed Dinner and Auction.”

Check out
Bonny Morningstar Guzzo
on Facebook
to see her wonderful pictures
of that highly successful event.

Friday memories
include our walk
along the Madison River
in Lion’s Club Park
where this beautiful
painted fish sculpture
greets us.

The painting on the fish inspires the Haiku poet in me.

“Father, please teach me
I want to learn how to fish
To fish like you, Dad“

Back home, the clouds keep the day cooler
as the sun plays peek-a-boo
The trees provide welcomed shade
And the birds serenade you

The breeze causes the wind chimes
To sing a lullaby
Reminding me of my sis, Sally
She’d love this place as much as I

The deer come quietly to rest
Beneath the shade of verdant trees
They promise not to nibble
But who can trust deer like these?

Time to think about a meal
Don’t know what I’d like to cook
Need to go check out the fridge
Maybe left-overs -Have a look!

Mmmm… I can see shrimp
Waiting for the coconut
Time to make the sauce

Hope all is well with you.
Thanks for sharing
my weekend memories
vicariously with me.

Now it is your turn
What are your best memories
Of this great weekend?

Sending love your way…
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, blessings, Family, Fishing, food, happiness, Love, Memories, Montana, Poetry, trees

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Embrace 5 Ways to Keep Long-time Friends


Bob & Victor

Victor Salazar and Bob have stayed in touch for 50 years. How has that happened?

Victor was Bob’s wrestling student when Bob coached at Hillsdale High in San Mateo, CA. back in the 1970’s. Every year at Christmas, we exchanged Christmas cards. Victor let us know where he was each year – and his career took him to over 30 different countries! What a joy to have Vic come from Alabama to reconnect with us here in Montana! (That photo was taken last year when I first posted this blog)

I have had the fun of that kind of connection with former students, too. This is Ty Stiles and his wife with Bob & me. He was my kindergarten student in 1962! I named our first child, Ty. We never let Ty Stiles out of our sphere of contact. He was in my prayers daily. He came with his wife, Roxanne, from California to visit us a few years ago. About a year after his visit, sadly, Ty left this earth for his eternal home. My memories of him and his visit warm my heart every single day as I look at the cross he welded and sent to us shortly after his visit.

There’s no greater joy
Than to reconnect with friends
From long, long ago

Look up for your purpose!
Look up to the cross
Recall its loving meaning
Embrace those friendships

5 Ways to Keep Long-time Friends

  1. Pray lovingly for them daily.
  2. Be sure to keep them in your address book and write to them often (don’t just rely on social media)
  3. Pick up the phone and talk to them, emptying yourself into them… it’s an investment. Be loyal and be confidential.
  4. Let them know how much they mean to you, but don’t force the relationship. It has to be natural. Don’t insist that the relationship is forever reciprocal. Some friendships are meant to be seasonal… and the season may last years – but maybe not. You can’t control that.
  5. Be honest and transparent with them … let them see your warts. It shows you trust them not to hurt you… and you are trustworthy in return.

Embrace Long-time Friendships
Never let those precious folks go
Keep them forever in your heart
How long we’ll be here, we can’t know

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Embrace Long-time Friends
My heart’s covered with footprints.
How about your heart?

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, friendship, Haiku, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, mental health, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Sharing, truth

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The Power of Music


Bee my little Honey
And Love me all the time!

Music speaks of love to my heart!

Recently Gottfried (Banter Republic) wrote about the power of music.
He reminded me of a most unforgettable experience
I had back in the ‘60s when I was majoring in music therapy
at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

My counselor, Wilhelmina Harbert, conducted a clinic for children every weekend. I attended and assisted her. One of our attendees was a 5 year old named Jimmy. Jimmy was a puzzle. He had never spoken a word. The doctors were unable to determine the cause. He could grunt and squeal, laugh and cry audibly, so we knew vocalization was possible. But, he didn’t talk. He was cute as a button and I loved him dearly. He loved me, too. I could tell —- he gave me big hugs when he came into our workshop each weekend.

One Saturday morning I was sitting on the floor with Jimmy in my lap. we were in a circle with other students and children. Mrs. Harbert was playing a silly, rhythmic, nonsense song. The words were repetitive. “Hos-po-di-po-miel-wi” 🎵 “Hospodipomielwi” 🎶 Joyfully, over and over I sang along with the others in the circle. Jimmy clapped along.

Mrs. Harbert played on.

I bounced Jimmy on my lap. I laughed.
I continued singing.
A little girl, next to us, MaryJane – who had cerebral palsy –
turned to Jimmy and sang close to his ear.

Suddenly Jimmy started to sing, too.
🎶 “Hos-po-di-po-miel-wi!!”🎶
“Hospodipomielwi” 🎵

Music unlocked whatever gate was locked to Jimmy’s words!!

I cried as we continued to sing. I hugged that little boy so tightly that he stopped singing and laughed! I’ll never forget that moment! Then he resumed singing :o)

A year later when I saw Jimmy with his mom in the grocery store, she stopped me and said, “ Oh, Jan, it’s so good to see you. I don’t know if I should thank you or not. A year ago I prayed daily for Jimmy to talk. And now I can’t get him to shut up!”

We laughed. I gave her and Jimmy a hug. “It wasn’t me,” I explained. “Thank the Lord. Thank the gift of prayer and friendship. Thank music! It performs miracles!”

Hugs + Friendship + Music = Miracles

Thank you, Gottfried, for encouraging me to tell my story.
Yes, music changes lives!
Thank you for recognizing its power.

Thanks, friends, for joining JanBeek today.
Come again soon.
And sing along with Susie Q and me!

You don’t have to be a senior to sing along to these oldies –
You just needed a dad or mom or grandma or grandpa who sang to you!

Sing Along!
Feel the Power of Music
Lift Your Soul!

Category:

blessings, children, Faith, Giving, God, Gratitude, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, music, prayer, relationships, Serving One Another

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Great End to a Wonderful Day!


As promised, here is the way our 60th anniversary day ended. We took three friends with us physically (and dozens with us in our hearts) to Pompey Grill in the Sacajawea Inn & Hotel in Three Forks to enjoy an evening of thanks and fellowship and good food.

It’s a beautiful hotel.
BW, Ed & Maria helped us celebrate our 60th.
BW and Ed were both soooo helpful
during this recent move
in and out of our house
while the floor was being done!

We had already enjoyed a shrimp hors d’oeuver and a glass of wine and we were digging in to our meals when I remembered – oh yes, DeAna wanted me to be sure and take photos of us at the restaurant and the food we ate… so here are a few of our plates:

I enjoyed rack of lamb.

You decide what the other plates were!
Everyone raved about the flavors
in the plates they chose.

Bob & I shared our special dessert with our friends.

Wish you could have joined us!

When we returned home,
Laina had sent us this collage
of our 1962 and 2022 pictures:

Thank you, Laina!
(Bob’s as handsome as ever, huh??)

It was a wonderful day start to finish.
Thanks for sharing it vicariously with us.

We hope to celebrate
many more
happy anniversaries
together!

God bless you, my friends.
Have a beautiful Valentine’s Day weekend!

Love and Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, Family, food, friendship, happiness, Love, Memories, relationships

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