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!
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!
Happy Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, my friends! Today’s writing prompt from JetPack asked for a suggested title for a biography should there be one written about me.
Daily writing prompt
If there was a biography about you, what would the title be?
One of my devotionals this morning was about “A Closed Door.” It used this scripture as a prompt for the commentary:
Matthew 6:6 “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees you in secret will reward you.”
There may be a need for some people to pray behind a closed door, but my favorite prayer room is up my circle staircase in our entryway to my cozy 12’x12′ “Sanctuary” where I am never alone. The Holy Spirit is alive and well up there… and the front door in that entryway always is open for you to come and join me. My life is An Open Door – an open book! If you’ve followed my blog for awhile, you know I am quite a transparent person. I have nothing to hide! And my Father is not “in secret.” He has an open door for you, too! Go – and sit with His heart – and Let Him into yours!! Open up your heart and let the Son shine in!!
If you have time, and if you can, click on this delightful children’s song below It will make you smile. It’s guaranteed to make you want to sing along, and open up your heart… the door to heart can remain open without fear if the Son shines there!
“An Open Door – a biography about Jan Beekman“ Waiting to “bee” written – someday – hah!
Meantime, let me share openly with you about this little light of mine that I always try to shine.
1 Corinthians 15:14
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
Today is Ash Wednesday when we begin a 40 day period of waiting with love for Easter (Lent). It is a time to reflect on the great gift of eternal life that Jesus made possible through His life and death and resurrection. May we celebrate Lent with the same fervor that we acknowledge February 14th each year as Valentine’s Day!
My dear friends, Lee & Loleta, know how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in style. And Bob & I celebrated Valentine’s Day early in 1962 by using that red & white, hearts & flowers theme for our wedding.
Here we are 62 years later:
Yup, still celebrating our love… with an open door to our hearts and our home.
Today we’ll get a cross of ashes on our foreheads that will symbolize our devotion to the One who brought us together and whose mercy and grace has kept us together all these years.
Yes, He prays with us He stays with us His heart is an open door Mine is, too. Is yours?
Today’s prompt asked me to “Write about [my] dream home” – but I’m gonna branch out and write about my “Dream Life.” And how my Word for 2024 “SIFT” fits into that picture.
S = Simplify I = Inventory and Itemize in order to prioritize F = FOCUS That’s the word for today… FOCUS on the present!
Here’s my present for today… for yesterday… for everyday… my dear sweet husband, Bob, with whom I have been married for 62 years TODAY! He’s what makes my home a “Dream Home.” He’s what makes my life a “Dream Life.”
Today my FOCUS is on how blessed I am to have the gift of Bob!
That smile is because of our wonderful years together and the opportunity to celebrate the occasion of our anniversary with church friends at fellowship today and with another dear couple at a special dinner last night. Ah, my “Dream Life” is not something I take for granted. Believe me!
Today at church fellowship hour
Last night at a special dinner with friends:
The dinner was our gift to one another… but my gift to Bob is coming. It’s a surprise! I’m waiting for the right time to tell him!!
This is Happy Bob a couple years ago with our Boston Terrier, TazE. We’ve always had Bostons in our “Dream Home” wherever we were living all these 62 years… but TazE died a year ago.
There’s a part of Bob’s personality that is locked into his relationship with a playful pup. I miss that part of Bob as much as I miss the companionship of a pet. I decided I need to FOCUS on how to fix that problem!! Sooooo….
Meet Owen!!! He is my surprise for Bob! He shares my birthday: July 24th! He will arrive sometime here in the next couple of weeks! Our “Dream Home” will be complete again! And our “Dream Life” will resume! Don’t you think I have chosen well?
Or do you think Owen will complicate rather than simplify our lives? Hmmm??
Pups really do require a lot of care! But what dream can you think of that doesn’t? FOCUS on the love! Stay tuned!
It’s hard to beat Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman, Montana for a great sushi meal. This platter was created for Bob & me and our grandson, Nick (and Celine) when they were here last Thanksgiving.
Knowing how much Bob & I relish sushi at Dave’s, our Daughter #2, Laina, sent us a gift certificate for a meal there to celebrate our 60th anniversary. What a thoughtful present! Bozeman is an hour’s drive from Ennis (where we live), so we don’t go there every day – not even every week. But, we had a dental and a doctor’s appointment there yesterday, so we went to Dave’s afterward.
If we look like we’re happy, it’s because we are!
You can count on their specials being wonderful!
Cheers!
Dave’s has a varied menu, a good wine list (that’s what I chose – a house white – while Bob had a cold and refreshing beer), great service, and a friendly, lively ambiance. We are blessed to have this restaurant in our part of the world. Laina told me she was hungry for sushi after she saw our photos, but she doesn’t have a sushi place in the Baltimore area that’s as good as this one in Bozeman!
We began with shrimp as our appetizer. It was delicious!
Our Alaskan King Crab sushi roll was wonderful!!
When my California grandkids were little, I used to take them to lunch every Wednesday while I gave their mom (who home-schooled all four of them) a break. Sushi was one of their favorite places to go… and they called those orange fish eggs “Poppies” because they popped in their mouths when they ate them. I always think of Sam, Hope, Jordan & Faith when I eat sushi rolls with “poppies” on them! This one was as yummy as it looks!
My sister, Sally, used to love to take my grandkids (her nieces & nephews) to lunch, too. It was Jordan’s choice to go to sushi. Sam always liked Burger King! (Don’t ask me why he’s looking so serious in this photo! He’s usually more like that picture upper left where he is smiling big with his sister, Hope)
Bob & I are both particularly fond of sushi. He was not a fan initially… and would order some kind of rice bowl instead (Dave’s does have other choices). However, as the years have gone by, he has become wiser! Ah yes, he loved our lunch at Dave’s yesterday as much as I did!
I had passion fruit sorbet for dessert. Bob chose the mango. He liked mine better! Hah! So did I.
Here we are with Laina.
Thank you, Laina, for your very tasty, and very thoughtful gift!
So, my WP friends, tell me, do you relish sushi?
Do you have a good restaurant in your area where you can go and celebrate a special occasion like we did?
What is your favorite choice of meal?
See ya tomorrow (God willing). Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
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:
For Christmas this year our son, Ty, and his wife, Monika, gave me this book.
The back cover has a an explanation of the author’s purpose.
Each day David Jeremiah, (the author of Turning Point another devotional I have been following for years), selects a scripture, and reflects on it.
Today’s reflection was especially meaningful to me:
It is trusting the Lord’s direction day by day in our lives together that has allowed Bob & me to remain ever faithful to one another for these 60 years!
This Friday we will celebrate our 60th anniversary.
This was last year on our 59th.
Here we are 60 years ago!
Yesterday we celebrated my granddaughter, Faith’s baby girl – due April 3rd – with a virtual baby shower. It was attended by about 20 friends from all over this part of our world – from Alaska and Hawaii to NY and across to CA – and states like ours (Montana) in between.
Our daughter-in-law, Monika (Faith’s mom) did a wonderful job researching ahead of time, planning, inviting, and coordinating the event. She linked in to an app that invited her to post a baby picture of the prospective mom as a baby and the prospective dad as a baby at the same age. Then the app blended the two parents and showed what the baby might look like if she favored the mom more. Another picture showed what she’ll look like if she favors dad’s side more.
Because Faith and Kyle actually resembled one another as babies, the two renditions were quite similar. That was fun!
Another activity had all the participants answering questions about the honored couple. The running scores were exhibited and the “winners” were awarded Amazon gift certificates. I didn’t participate in that… couldn’t figure out how to access the game screen! So much for technological prowess!! But folks who engaged had a lot of fun with it.
We were able see Faith & Kyle virtually unwrap each of their gifts, as each told us a little about the gift-giver… and because we were all on a ZOOM share screen, we could see each other. I was terribly impressed with Monika who was able to put all this together and move the activities along at a good pace.
My blog yesterday, “A Virtual Baby Shower,” showed you this expectant mom & dad. Here’s another photo of them:
Faith & Kyle McSparron
I know you join me in wishing them a happy, healthy pregnancy. Of course, I will share pictures of their baby girl with you when she is born in April.
Meantime, my prayer for them is that they remain “ever faithful” to one another – and are loving, devoted parents when their new little bundle arrives. God bless Faith & Kyle!!
Bee well my friends. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. I’ll see you tomorrow (God willing) What are your Tuesday plans?
Hugs to you!
Oh, before I say good-bye, Here’s a tribute to this age-old tradition: marriage!!
Have you had a worry today? Something you have no control over? I have!
My daughter, DeAna, in Switzerland had surgery this morning. When I went to bed last night, I prayed to God.
“Take care of my girl, God. Be with the surgeon. Guide the anesthesiologist. Make the results perfect. Keep the whole process in Your capable hands!”
I set aside worry. I slept soundly after giving it to God. This morning DeDe sent me a text. “It all came out ok. I am fine!”
Praise God for answered prayers!
Do you turn your worries over to God in prayer? Then, do you remember to thank our Heavenly Father when the things and people you pray for turn out OK?
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Every day I sit in my rocker up in my sanctuary and I pray for my family and friends. I pray for my neighbors and my church friends, I pray for my pastor, my cousins who live in other states, my son and daughter and their families, and I pray for you, my Word Press friends.
If I have know specific needs (like DeAna’s surgery this morning), I will make my requests specific. But most of the time I just ask God, “Please take care of these beloved people. You know their needs. Be with them, Lord.”
Like a river cutting through rock. my prayers are tenacious. I know God hears my prayers. I know the Holy Spirit speaks to me and reminds me of the people I need to remember. I know God expects me to be persistent in prayer. I am inspired by the way Jesus prayed.
This painting of Jesus praying sits in front of me in my sanctuary. So, as I pray, I know Jesus intercedes for me. I know He hears and He models prayer for me.
Luke 6:12
“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”
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Prayers for Yourself
Not all prayers are for others. Sometimes we need to pray for ourselves. We need to ask God to provide for our needs and we need to thank God for the way He provides.
Bob and I will celebrate our 60th anniversary next February. Every day I pray to God for Bob’s health and safety and I thank God for sending him into my life. Every day I spend with him as my partner is an answered prayer.
Every day our lives are blessed by the power of what love can do. Our love grows richer year after year. Are you so blessed, too?
We are grateful for the love we share and the way our friends and family love us in return.
Thank you, friends. Thank You, God… for answered prayer!!
We found a love only few ever find.
If life should end tomorrow, I’d leave this earth a millionaire – Because every day with you, my dear, Is a day of answered prayer.
I love you, BobbyBee.
What answered prayer is your “million dollar gift” my friends?
Happy 59th Anniversary today to my sweetheart, Bob, my life’s partner!!
February 11, 1962
Bob & his brother, Bill… The week when we first met… What a ham!!
While we were dating, and engaged, I was bridesmaid in Bob’s sister, Bonnie’s wedding.
Our engagement was “trying times”
Bob & I both have a deep faith. It was God who put us together. It was our faith and prayer that kept us together. During our engagement, he was in Germany, in the army. I was in college, wanting to enjoy college life. I broke up with him. But, God knew we belonged together. He made sure we got back together again! (Thank You, God!) And He helped us stick it out all these years through good times and bad. I’m so grateful!!
In the car – after the wedding – headed for the reception
We were married nearly three years before I became pregnant
There’s DeDe and Ty with Bob – -blowing out his birthday candles
Our children, Ty & DeAna, have been such a blessing in our lives. Thank You, God, for the gift of these children!! During our early married years (after the first 8 months in Germany), we lived in Turlock (for a year) and then San Francisco and San Mateo. Bob worked for Shell Oil and then went back to college (San Francisco State). He earned his teaching credential and then coached wrestling and taught Driver’s Ed at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, CA.
Bob curled his hair when he became a beekeeper in the 70’s. We had lots of fun on weekends in the winter going skiing together.
We moved from the Bay Area back to the San Joaquin Valley in CA. Bob took over his Dad’s beekeeping business when his father retired. Did you know that beekeepers with hair that is close their head (hair that gets greasy or sweaty) are targets for bee stings? With a perm, the bees couldn’t get to the scalp.
You ask why he didn’t just wear a hat like most beekeepers do? Bob hates wearing a hat! He didn’t wear protective gloves either. Those are topics for another day!
I was teaching in Hughson, Ceres, and Modesto, CA in those days.
Then I moved into administration for a dozen years. Principal and Curriculum Coordinator
Time passed. Gray hair started to change our appearance!
We both claim we were the one who loved the most!!
After retirement, we were able to travel. I dyed my hair for awhile before I learned to embrace the gray. (That’s a good topic for another day)
Our Daughter, De
In 1987, our daughter, DeAna, married Andre’, a Swiss (the first cousin of our AFS exchange student).
She wore my wedding dress 25 years after I did!
I have written about De & Andre’s fairy tale story in the past. She moved to Switzerland when our first grandchild was “in the hopper.” That was nearly 30 years ago! Every other year we would go to visit them (so, no, we didn’t really wait ’til retirement to travel … we just got to do more of it after Bob left beekeeping and we moved here to Montana).
Thank you, Diana Housel, for this gorgeous photo of our dear Montana!!
This is the village of Vissoie, Switzerland where DeDe and Andre’ live now. Andre’ and De have three boys. Our Swiss grandsons are Mike, Nick & Chris. We hope to travel there this October to spend time with them. Virus, be gone!!!
You will recall, they have a restaurant there! We NEED to go and see it in person!!
Our Son, Ty
Our son, Ty, blessed our family in 1989 by marrying his sweetheart, Monika. The two of them adopted four children. Sam, Hope, Jordan & Faith are young adults now. I’ve written about them here on my blog. Our lives are so enriched by this extended family. Ty & Moni live in CA, near Lake Tahoe. This picture of them was taken of them at our youngest granddaughter, Faith’s wedding. We hope to travel to CA to be with them this year in June. Virus be gone!!
Pleeeease God, help us be able to travel to CA in June! I need to see my darling great-granddaughter, Cosette!
Life is Full
Life is full of love and joy and promises for a bright tomorrow. We have so much for which to be grateful. We know we are blessed to have one another and to have lived into our 80s and remained married to that same partner for nearly 60 years.
Embrace Marriage, my friends! And EMBRACE YOUR LIFE’S PARTNER if you are fortunate as I am to have one!
Today, February 11, 2021, our 59th anniversary, starts our 60th year of marriage, doesn’t it? When a baby turns one, they are starting their 2nd year on earth. Yes, that’s the way it works! Sixty years with one life partner!! I am extremely blessed!
With God every day is full of simple delights and unexpected joys.
Couples that pray together, stay together. And it helps to do other things together, too!
On Super Bowl Sunday, we had a Pizza Party. We made our pizza together. Turned out pretty well! We plan to keep on doing things together as long as the Good Lord allows…
The road is long… and We’ve come a long way together.
With God’s grace and blessings, we will continue to travel this road of life together for many more years to come. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future… and we let Him lead us.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart Bob. I love you! Wherever you lead me, I will follow… I’ll go with you, with you, all the way!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. Have a blessed February 11th. See ya tomorrow.
