Today we went to Yellowstone National Park with our grandson, Nick, and his sweetheart, Celine.
The only entrances into the park that were open were the north gate by Gardner and the north-east gate by Cooke City. We were able to enjoy the Mammoth Hot Springs and the road to the Tower. Only on that last road were we able to spot a few bison. Not being able to go through West Yellowstone to Old Faithful was a disappointment, but Nick will just have to return with Celine some summer when the whole park is available. Highlights today were:
TazE enjoying the Bighorn sheep that were right by the road (we did, too)
2. Enjoying a day in Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs with Nick & Celine
3. Being healthy & vigorous enough to enjoy walking the Mammoth Hot Springs trail, too!
4. Stopping in Gardner for refreshments on our way home
5. And enjoying the changing colors of the night sky on our way home
Hopefully next trip we’ll be able to go through West Yellowstone and see Old Faithful in her glory. But meantime, we had a great day with bighorn sheep, bison (at a distance), antelope, mule tail deer, and a bald eagle delighting our visitors.
Nick took lots better pictures than I did… and his Instagram posts will delight his followers, I am sure.
Hopefully you can come some day, too… and enjoy this beautiful park with us.
Meantime, thanks for visiting with us today. See ya tomorrow (God willing) Love, JanBeek
To see more of Yellowstone Park, click on that August 9, 2019 post. Our cousin, Sofia, visited the Park with us on that occasion. Old Faithful and the hot springs were in full array.
Embrace your last best place It’s where you call your “Forever Home.” It’s the place you’re destined to stay When you decide to land – not roam.
“Our Last Best Place” is written on Our Montana license plates. It’s a motto for Bozeman, But Ennis is our place that rates.
It rates a forever stay. It’s where we want to be Until it’s time to eventually Leave for Eternity.
Our neighbors have a sign – It says home is a collection. It says home is a story – One with happy recollection.
I say home is a heartfelt Place where love is true – A place where when you have you go there, They always have room for you.
It’s a place where happy memories Have seeped into the wall And everywhere you look, Is a story to recall.
Grandpa DeAngeles’ cheese press (or is it an apple press – I wonder) Reminds me of my dad who had These treasures out in rain & thunder!
We had the piece restored And found a grape press to match. They sit in dining room corners – This one came without a scratch!
If rocking chairs could talk This would have stories galore. Bob’s great-grandma used it And our grandkids rocked some more.
This clock has a great history – It hung in Bob’s mother’s school. That was back in 1908-16 His mom was certainly no fool.
When the school house caught fire And the kids were evacuated, A lot of stuff ended in a pile. His mom saved this… she was elated.
The clock is not the only thing We inherited from our folks. Our house is full of those memories – Full of love and life and hopes.
The horseshoe has a history – The mortar Dad found in Merced River does, too. The pestle that goes with it Has seen more than a grind or two!
The books that line the living room Have stories – some written by friends, And the picture from Grimentz Has Swiss memories without ends.
I love the little angels On tables, counters and floor. Each one has a story And there’s always room for more.
That first one is from Terry, A friend who has my heart. The next one’s from our Laina – It’s meant for garden art.
Up in my sanctuary, There’s an angel in a dish. She’s playing the accordion – And she came with a great wish:
I wish you happy memories In this “Last Best Place” of yours. I know you’ll live here happily, Welcoming strangers through your doors.
It’s true, we love our Last Best Place – And we’ve welcomed many a guest. And we’re not through inviting them – Come – sit with us – we’re truly blessed!
Embrace Your Last Best Place
Are you in it now? Or do you anticipate where it will be… the one on earth, that is…
Tell me about it!
See ya tomorrow(God willing)
Love, JanBeek
Roy Rogers was my favorite as a kid… And never did I imagine I’d find a Home on the Range where the deer and the antelope play as my Last Best Place someday.
Embrace Fellowship Cherish being together Time is so fleeting
Enjoy sharing time So much, you forget photos! Just be in the now.
Presbyterian Women at Ennis Art Festival and Fly Fishing Festival
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Today our Presbyterian Women met at a gorgeous home right on the Madison River.
Those pictures above were taken several years back at our two annual fundraisers.
Today I intended to take some pictures to post here for you to see how much we enjoy our fellowship. But, I was having so much fun, I forgot to capture the event with my iPhone!
Instead, it is stored up in my memory bank. There were eleven of us. We had Bible Study, then dessert, and then our business meeting.
We planned future events – among them our volunteer schedule at the local Blood Draw next week – and our participation at the Ennis Art Festival (it was cancelled last year due to COVID).
Not being able to hold those functions helped us realize just how much fellowship means to our mental health. We really missed the connections!
I’ll bet you had the same reaction. Being isolated, socially distancing, wearing masks, cancelling events… all took their toll on us! How good to be back together again!!
Dining at Sidewinders in Bozeman
Now we are able to go out to restaurants again. We socially distance, but we don’t have to wear masks. It is so good to feel safe in the company of others!
I ordered my favorite item on the Sidewinders menu: Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries. MmmMmmmMmmmm!!
Sidewinders in Bozeman – Reuben sandwich
This afternoon, after our PW meeting, our new pastor, Mary Grace Reynolds, came for dinner and a fly casting lesson. Bob took her to the back yard and she practiced. Mary Grace is going to love going out on the Madison River. The guys are all lined up ready to take turns…
I took this slo-motion video so she can critique her technique. She’s a fast learner!
It was such a beautiful evening here. We thoroughly enjoyed our fellowship with Mary Grace. The Pastor Nominating Committee process was a long, arduous task that lasted about a year and a half… but MGR was worth waiting for!
Speaking of worth waiting for…
Today our daughter, De, sent us links to this event coming up in Switzerland. (You remember our DeDe lives in Vissoie, Valais Switzerland, right?) We’ve been to this fun event in the past. “The Cow Fights” are an annual event. They are well attended. People go not just to see the excitement of the cows selecting their “Queen Cow” by the survival of the fittest, but for the fun of fellowship with as many friends as they can muster. They bet on the cow of their choice, drink their fill of Swiss wine and beer, and enjoy a picnic lunch high up in the beautiful Alps.
We won’t be there this weekend for the event, but we look forward to fellowship with our daughter and her family this October (God willing). We learned yesterday that she has a polyp on an ovary. It was detected during a routine annual physical. We are waiting for the biopsy report. Please pray with us that it is benign – and she can have it removed with no long-term adverse affects.
Looking out today at our neighbor’s house here in Montana, I can’t help but thank God for this beautiful place we live. I thank God for our “Hood” … gracious, loving, helpful neighbors. The Hockings, across the field from us, installed a gorgeous flag pole while we were on our trip to CA. What a great addition! We look forward to future fellowship with them – soon!
Family time in Placerville
Meantime, here we are in this video – back in CA, sitting around the table at our son’s house, enjoying family fellowship, singing to our grandson-in-law, Drew, who celebrated his birthday back in Montana.
Ah, Family Fellowship… there’s nothing like it! I thank God each day for it. With Father’s Day coming up Sunday after this one, I look at these fathers in my life, and I thank God for their loving hearts.
I hope you have the gift of loving fathers in your circle of fellowship, too. Never take them for granted! Not every child is so blessed!!
EMBRACE FELLOWSHIP
IT’S GIFT FROM GOD!
Happy Bob with his big catch! Catch and Release!! Fellowship with Fish!!
I pray all you dads out there can slow down this week, enjoy life (it’s fleeting – passing waaay too fast), and Embrace the Fellowship of family, friends and fish.
(And I pray Bob can take some time to go out fishing… He’s been working waaay too hard this last few months.)
Embrace family time Our relatives are God’s gifts Cherish time with them!
Bob & me with our son, Ty, his wife, Monika, & son, Sam, and her parents, Ruthie & Darrell, and our grand-nephew, Liam
Lake Tahoe fun A beautiful blue sky day Comfortable breezes
Combined ages equaled 112 Ruthie & Kyle celebrated together
Faith and Kyle have a new puppy “Poppy” will be a big dog before too long!
Visiting Faithy And her brand new big puppy Was a real treat
Two legs on the stairs The other two on the floor Poppy knows comfort!
Cosette in the puppy pool
Our great-granddaughter Figured out how to cool off Showed pup what to do
Fun at Faith & Kyle’s in S. Lake Tahoe Our grandson, Jordan, (Daddy of Cosette) watched while Faith & Cosette cooled their feet… And then Cosette got totally wet and had to wear her dad’s t-shirt
Faith had great hors d’oruvres Then they barbequed chicken No one went hungry
Faith & Kyle’s home
When we returned from a tour of Lake Tahoe, we found a bear who had discovered the garbage bag with BBQed chicken bones
The bear climbed a tree To get away from people Too full to climb far!
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A view of Lake Tahoe
Jan & Bob at the lake
Monika & Ty (the gracious hosts)
Liam & Jodie (my niece & grand-nephew)
Faith (my granddaughter)
Darrell & Bob at Ty’s in Placerville Celebrating family birthdays
Ruthie & Darrell Payne
When our son’s in-laws Have time together with us, Never lost for words!
Celebrate birthdays Treasure the time together Thank God for family
Cosette on horsey
Children grow up fast Get together as often As possibly can
Store up memories Write – so you do not forget – Take lots of pictures!
They came from southern California – They came from Pennsylvania – They came from Sacramento – We came from Montana – There were 16 of us for dinner! When it’s shared family time, the more the merrier. Thank God for gracious family who share their homes, their beds, their food, their car… … and best of all, their love.
Cousins – Liam & Sam
Next time we’re together, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Liam is taller than Sam. Like this sugar pine tree, kids grow taller these days… Must be all that family love!
I pray you have a loving family, too… And you have many opportunities To share family time together.
Time for beginnings Is now – this very morning Baby animals
This “Puggle” says “Hello World!”
Baby platypus Greets the world with a big wave It makes me smile
Baby robins on our porch
Whether antelope Or platypus or robins Embrace beginnings
Mark 10:27
“Without God it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Mary Grace Reynolds
Excitement revealed These Eminent Beginnings Readily perceived
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’ve worked diligently for the 10 months with our Pastor Nominating Committee. We investigated more than 50 candidates, looking at their PIFs (Pastor Information Forms), texting, e-mailing, calling, ZOOMing, checking references, etc.
Our pastor of more than 30 years passed away over a year ago … and we have had the privilege of a wonderful interim pastor who stepped out of retirement to help us keep our church alive during this year of COVID-19. Not an easy feat!
We feel (as a Pastor Nominating Committee) that God spoke through the Holy Spirit to the young lady you see above. She is our chosen candidate – and we all love her! She will preach to our congregation this Sunday. The members will have a chance after meeting/hearing her to vote yay or nay on accepting her … and whether to accept the terms of employment that we and the church leaders (the Session) have put together for her.
This is definitely a time of “New Beginnings” for her – and for our church. Would you add your prayers to ours during this crucial weekend? I’d really appreciate it! I know God hears … and we just want His Will to be done!
The excitement is palpable!
Mary Grace – in front of the manse (the church parsonage where she would live)
Bob (my hubby) has been working long and hard (as the Elder in charge of Buildings and Grounds) to get the manse ready inside and out for a new pastor. He’s there now working on the stairs – getting the old padding out so the installers can come Monday to put in new carpet.
It takes a village to accomplish all we’ve done. Thank God for the church leaders and our Nominating Committee for their arduous work over the past year.
Have you ever served in one of those capacities – selecting a new pastor – or being in charge of buildings and grounds? If so, you can relate to what we’ve been through – – – and are facing.
Prayers are really appreciated for this exciting time in our church life.
See ya tomorrow. Thanks for visiting JanBeek – and lending your support!
Embrace New Beginnings, indeed!! There I was in 1965 with new beginnings for our son, Ty!!
It is our uniqueness that makes us An interesting, diverse, beautiful world. We fly our flags in different colors, But in reality we’re all one world unfurled.
Let’s embrace our uniqueness And celebrate how we see things differently While remembering we are more alike Than not… and we’re all designed magnificently!
There’s no one on earth like me; No one in the whole world like you, So embrace your uniqueness, my friend… Share with others your point of view.
No one sees life quite like you do. No one can paint or write as you do. Let your expression of life splash out of you And help others see the world anew.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Just as no pot created on the potter’s wheel Ends up looking just like another pot, And yet each is beautiful in its own way, So each of us beautiful – no one is not!
Something beautiful, something good – All my confusion He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But He made something beautiful of my life.
Give your brokenness and strife to God. Let Him make something beautiful in you. Then share it – as only you can do – So others can appreciate their uniqueness, too.
Use your unique qualities to make the world a better place. Don’t judge others or turn them away because they’re different. Embrace them. Love them. Appreciate the way they add color to your world. Know God designed each of us intentionally … be reverent!
I love you, my friend. Thank you for adding your uniqueness to my world. See ya tomorrow.
Doesn’t it feel good to meet with your friends Who have had both their COVID-19 vaccines And feel comfortable hugging again? Don’t lose sight of what hugging means:
When I hug you my squeezing says, “I love you! I have missed our touch.” When I hug you my body says, I am so happy to be near you. I’ve missed you so much!
Song of Solomon 2:6
“Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.”
Sometimes the hugs from our pets Have to take the place of others we love – But it’s that feeling of unconditional caring That’s wrapped in a hug – whether human or dove.
A pup and kitty Best friends – inseparable Love that matching pair
Simple Love
Tucked under your chin I feel completely secure It’s true, simple love
Watching
Watching for a friend Positioned so demurely Aren’t I attractive?
Fawn is Flower
Tucked in beautifully Fawn waits patiently for Mom Remember Flower?
Beautiful Buck
Beside the lake’s edge A beautiful buck listens Are you thirsty, too?
Embrace Animal Photography
Embrace animals And those who photograph them They’re a happy lot
I hope my animal photographs Most of which are taken by an anonymous photographer Made you smile the way this darling baby and her pup are smiling They certainly cheered me!
There are days when it seems harder than others to put on a happy face, don’t you agree? I don’t have a lot of those, so when I do, they usually are memorable.
I remember one such day when my dad was out of sorts. He was a business owner. Not the typical image of a “business owner” that comes to mind when you hear that description. His business was a Tallow Works. Do you know what that is? It’s a place that picks up dead animals from farmers and ranchers and meat scraps from butcher shops. All parts of those animals and scraps are processed. It’s a smelly business.
It’s devastating Beloved animals die Someone hauls them off
This is called a Haibun. It is a brief couple of paragraphs of prose, followed by a Haiku that adds dimension to the prose!
Oh, Lordy, Lordy!! My blog is supposed to share love, joy, peace, faith, and unity. How I got off on a kick of wanting to share various forms of poetry is all Dwight Roth’s fault! Blame him! He tried my Shadorma poetry and invited me to try his Haibun.
But he can’t be blamed for my morbid Haibun and photo today. My mind just went there after reading a post by someone who was recalling a sadness from their childhood. That day when Dad and I went to pick up a dead horse sticks in my memory because the horse was a child’s pet. It wasn’t like one of a herd of beef cattle or some old cow that got into the clover field, ate too much, bloated, and bit the dust!
My experiences with my dad, riding with him on weekends as we went to various farms to pick up the dead animals, usually were not sad times. I treasured one-on-one time with Daddy, and I was happy to get that time under whatever circumstances! The death of animals didn’t seem morbid to me. It was just part of the cycle of life! You know – like egg to tadpole, froglet to frog!
But on that particular Saturday, the animal’s young owner was there, crying as Dad hauled her beloved horse into the truck and we drove away. The horse did not represent the cycle of life. It was too young, and so was its owner! That was a day when it was harder to put on a happy face, you know?
This weekend Bob & I are headed to my brother-in-law’s funeral. He was 86. He led a good life. He was a believer who knew where he was headed when he left this earth. But, he had just had a knee replacement – just a week before – and he thought he had a lot of years left to enjoy the greater mobility that knee would give him. However, it is not our privilege to count our days!
Dying is, indeed, part of the cycle of life!
“Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
— John 11:26
S’pose that horse and sweet little girl will be reunited in Heaven?
It’s the life cycle Beloved animals die Are they in Heaven?
My day started with a 7:00 am Sunrise Service at our Madison Range putting green. The sun worked to peek out through the cloudy sky.
A small, but appreciate gathering lifted voices to sing “He Arose!” and “He Lives!”
Mule deer gathered close by to listen to our singing and nibble at the emerging greenery. Spring is just thinking about making its debut here!
Usually right after sunrise service, we go as a group to the Baptist Church and enjoy a yummy breakfast of assorted baked goodies and egg casseroles. This year, because of COVID-19, we had to be content to go home and make our own breakfast. Afterward, we went to church where we wore masks, socially distanced, and enjoyed the sermon of the day delivered by our pastor, Rev. Steve Hundley.
It was Communion Sunday as well as Holy Easter Sunday. A very meaningful ritual … being able to partake in person with other Christian friends. Our sermon topic was “Sometimes It Causes Me to Tremble.”
What are your earliest Memories of Easter Sunday? Yellow crocuses, dogwoods, And eggs hidden slightly away?
What are your earliest Memories of recognizing in your life God, the Risen Christ? Do you have to think twice?
My memory was on a morning When I’d victoriously ridden My bike down a steep hill – Suddenly God was not hidden.
I’m reminded of Mary Magdalene With the other Mary who saw That Jesus was not in the tomb. An angel said He’d risen – such awe!
They were terrified to realize You can’t escape God in Jesus. They told no one what they heard – Too scared… a Savior to relieve us?
They thought their hopes and dreams Had been buried and sealed away, Buried with Him – they believed. They all deserted Christ that day.
Peter had denied Christ three times. The other disciples hid in fear. Have we also denied the messenger Who told us Jesus is alive and here?
The Easter miracle assures us Our crucified Lord is running free. He is waiting for us to come out Of hiding to see Him. He waits for me!
Am I ready to believe the story Of a man who dies, but rose again? Am I ready to understand that He Suffered that agony to free me from sin?
The Risen Christ stands before me With nail prints in His hands and side. Am I ready to hear the Good News And know there’s no where I can hide?
With fear and amazement this Easter, I will not go away from the empty tomb- Back to daily routine, forgetting Him. No, with reverence I acknowledge Christ in this room.
Crown Him the Lord of years, The Potentate of time, Creator of the rolling spheres Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, Hail! For Thou hast died for me. Thy praise shall never, never fail Throughout eternity.
Amen.
EMBRACE EASTER
It comes but once a year Yet its significance Lives in our hearts daily… Thank God for the gift of His Son who secured my spot and yours in heaven.
Praise Him! Alleluia! Amen!
Oh, and in the afternoon, we had the joy of a visit from our granddaughter, Hope, and her husband, Drew, and their two children (our great-grandchildren, Xander and Sienna).
Hope & Drew
Xander
Sienna
Hunting for Easter eggs
Hope with Sienna
Isn’t this a fun appetizer tray?
And for a larger crowd, how about this one?
Did you send out and receive a few Easter cards this season? I did.. and I enjoyed every one. I thought I’d share one of my favorites with you:
That was decorated with a glitter cupcake by our darling Ruby… with a note added from her big brother, first grader, Cord. So precious!!
And now, the eggs are gone. The Easter ham left-overs are in the fridge. The family departed. The dishes are looming large – Begging to be done… But first, join me and the Easter bunny, will you? Sit down and relax. Contemplate the day… Think about what Easter means. Thank God for the gift of His Son. Let’s drink a toast to Eternity in His Heavenly Kingdom. The dishes can wait! My computer’s about to run outta battery…
