Yesterday’s Bloganuary#9 prompt was one I skipped. I missed a day because I didn’t want to write about the topic: Assumptions I Think People Make About Me. Ya, people probably assume… but my mom always told me when you assume, you make an Ass- u- me!
So I have negative feelings about assuming anything. I’d rather dig out an old blog from the drafts file… something I started a year or so ago and never finished. I’d rather read other people’s answers about assumptions. I’d rather skip a day of blogging and just apply the 4R’s. I needed to do that!
Rest Relax Rejuvenate Read
So I did!
And here’s that old blog that I never finished last August right around the time my daughter, DeAna, was having a birthday. It was titled, “Two Bodies”:
Two bodies Two sides of the earth
Two people One birth Two hearts One mind She’s my daughter Love binds.
Yup, I decided to skip #9 altogether. I don’t like assumptions, even if they are positive ones. I’d rather talk about today’s prompt.
Bloganuary#10 asked me to post 5 things I’m grateful for. I can do that… but don’t expect me to limit it to 5!!
I tried posting on the Bloganuary WordPress site rather than writing the message here. I am trying to see if that results in more WordPress readers who also are taking this 31 day challenge to answer a given prompt each day. We’ll see.
I am still in Placerville at my son, Ty’s house. My coughing and sneezing was so bad this morning that I was banned to my bedroom! No fun!! But this RSV (respiratory virus) is highly contagious – and I do not want to give it to Ty & Monika. (I hope I have not done so already!)
Bob is feeling better, but getting very tired of being house-bound. His miserable cough is almost gone. Praise God for answered prayers!
Now it’s my turn to turn the corner… Keep those prayers coming! I need ’em!| Love, JanBeek
P.S. At least I have a warm house to stay in – with loving family to take care of me – and there’s sunshine outside! I am not complaining! Could be a lot worse!!
Bob & I have “2Beeks” on our car’s license plate. With the last name of Beekman, the nickname “Beek” is a natural. Sometimes we catch people driving past us, looking strangely at us. I imagine they are looking to see if we have particularly long noses!
I have a few new followers who joined JanBeek this month. I think WordPress’s “Bloganuary” has brought them here. Thank you!
If you are one of them, you may not have seen the post where I showed our family a few evenings ago sitting around the dinner table discussing our ancestry.
We gave Bob a bad time about his “honker” (beak by another name) and we showed him how he inherited it from his great-grandfather! Tonight we are giving Bob a bad time for another reason: His honker is doing a lot of honking! He has RSV.
This respiratory virus put him in the hospital in Napa on January 1st. What a way to start the new year, huh? RSV is nasty! After spending the night there, he was dismissed Jan. 2nd and we were able to travel back to our son’s to recuperate.
This is not the way we hoped to begin the new year. But the good news is we had the option of coming back to Placerville – it was a sunny CA day today. The recuperation time is greatly appreciated!
Bob’s cough is getting better… and soon we will be able to hit the road and return home to Montana. It’s not what we intended, of course, for this “vacation.” We wanted to visit friends in Pebble Beach – and spend time with Bob’s brothers in the CA valley.
But, we are grateful that when this curve ball was thrown at us, we had a beautiful alternative. Thank God for loving family and friends, right? God has a plan for why this has happened!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
God knew we needed more rest and relaxation! Our house isn’t ready to return there now anyway!
Our soft and marred fir floor’s being replaced with amazing old wood from a 1921 silo!
We hope your year has started off happily. We pray you’re healthy and dong what you want to do. We trust the Lord has us right where He wants us. And we hope, dear friends, the same is true for you.
Happy New Year!
What’s an update on what’s happening in your life? I’d love to know how your New Year began. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Time with family is memorable, indeed We’re grateful for the ones who embrace the holiday mood We’re blessed to have them open their home And share their love and delicious food.
Our daughter, De, in Switzerland shared photos of their beautiful meal Imagine how plates like these enchant your guests (think how they feel)!
The family in far-off Europe included our grandsons with our De I’m grateful for the internet and the pictures she shared with me.
Nick, De, Mike & Chris
Here in California Eleven of us gathered round – add two big, rambunctious dogs and laugh as kids and animals clowned.
Christmas Day was a time for fun with love and gifts exchanged Friends shared photos of their day Our family did, too … we got arranged!
Thank you, Ty & Monika for your gracious hospitality – we’re blessed to have our son & spouse share their life & love with Bob & me.
I pray your day was blessed and you celebrated Christ’s birth with those you love gathered round – good food, warm hugs, and lots of mirth!
A note for this day-after-Christmas-morning: Faith (our granddaughter) and Kyle were headed home to S.Lake Tahoe last night and about 3 hours later had to turn around and come back to Placerville. The road ahead was closed due to heavy snow and lots of accidents ahead. The good news is that they were not involved in one of them… and we’re all safe and sound… feeling blessed!
Merry Christmas! Bee 🐝 well! Bee blessed!
Keep the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in your heart year-round! May Jesus remain alive in you!
Mi Familia is such a blessing We’re so glad we are here The trip was long and arduous But we traveled without fear
We knew God was with us Your prayers were felt for sure Thank you, God, for safety With You our trip was secure
God bless “Mi Familia!” It is so good to be with them! Monika, our daughter-in-law, is taking the picture. That’s Ruthie & Darrell, her parents, on the left. Our son, Ty, is at the head of the table there… and of course, Bob & me. We’ll be joined on Christmas day by our grandson, Jordan, and his family – – – and our granddaughter, Faith, and her husband. They are expecting their first child (a baby girl) in April. We are so excited for them!
Monika and Ruthie fixed a wonderful dinner last night: salmon and veggies and potatoes. Yum!
We spent time talking about our heritage and remarking about how much Ty looks like my dad, his Grandpa Sal. Can you see the resemblance?
Then we had fun giving Bob a bad time about his “honker!” See how he inherited his nose from his paternal great-grandfather Davis? That’s his dad’s mother’s father.
Prior to dinner we took time to toast “Cheers!” to all the family and friends who prayed us safely here – and gave thanks to God for answered prayers.
Outside the weather was chilly, rainy, and then foggy … but the spirit of Christmas was alive and well, warm and inviting.
Across the continent – and over the Atlantic to Switzerland, our crazy, fun-loving grandson, Nick (and his sweetheart Celine) celebrated the birthday of the King in their own way with a milkshake from the Burger King!
Don’t you love the way the internet shrinks the world and brings “Familia” into our lives from around the world?
Merry Christmas to you, my dear blogging friends. I pray that you have a meaningful, love-filled holiday with your family gathered round.
Remember the Reason for the Season… and bring that Christ Child into your family circle.
God bless you. Let me know what your Christmas plans are, okay? I look forward to hearing from you… and I thank you so much for following my blog. I post with you in my heart and prayers.
Bee Happy! Bee Well!
I send my love and hugs. Have a wonderful time with your family! See ya tomorrow (God willing) Love, JanBeek
Thank you so much for your prayers for our safe travel and clear roads and beautiful weather. Your prayers were answered.
That was the area we were most worried about: Island Park, Idaho. It was so perfect today. God is good! We could not have asked for more perfect weather and more beautiful road conditions! You were with us, dear friends. Thank you!
Perfect sunset!!
Enjoying a relaxing dinner in Elko, Nevada.
Bob & I traded off driving. It made the 500 +/- miles go much more smoothly.
Have a good night – and continue your prayers, please. They worked!!
Meantime, in Switzerland, DeAna & André are enjoying a busy December at Relais des Mélèzes – their beautiful Swiss chalet/hotel/restaurant in Vissoie, Switzerland. They are in need of health and healing prayers. Can you add them to your very effective prayers, please?
Thanks so much! See ya tomorrow (God willing) … another 500 miles to go through, up & over Donner Pass – Lord, hold off the storm!
Grandson, Nick, and his girlfriend, Céline, joined us for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for family who come all the way from Switzerland to share time with us!
(See the bottom of the post for numbers 2-9 explaining the rest of the photos. Try to guess what you think I may say about each before you peek down there!)
2. Neighbor/friend, “Whooter” (Greg Winden, came at 8:30 am to help Bob prepare the smoker and to help me put the finishing touches on the turkey. I am so grateful for such caring, generous folks. We are blessed to live in this “hood!”
3. Thanksgiving is a day to be shared. I am thankful for those who joined us to make the day festive.
4 – 5. There’s Whooter helping Bob get the bird in the smoker. And there’s the turkey ready to be carved. I am grateful for Whooter’s tip: stuff the turkey with chunks of apple and orange! It kept the meat so moist! Have you ever done that with your turkey or baked chicken??
6. That’s our friend, Kathy, with Nick & Céline, and our pastor/friend, Mary Grace enjoying a few before dinner refreshments on Thanksgiving Day. Those hors d’oeuvres are part of Thanksgiving “trimmings”!
7. Meantime, in Switzerland our daughter, DeAna was having her own reasons to give thanks. Duchess (Pipo’s queen cow) gave birth to a healthy calf (a future queen for sure) and we gave thanks for his gift of naming her after our De! The calf ids (Diana – pronounced Deanna in French)! It’s quite an honor!!
8. That’s SureShot Lake … frozen over and dehydrated. We gave thanks for the fun of driving up there yesterday, but we’re disappointed to see how low it is. Those dirt mounds out there generally are under water!
9. Most mornings I start my day with a very special “Good morning” and a picture of the sunrise with prayers from my friend, Lisa, in S. Carolina.
Do you have a special friend who prays for you daily and greets you with his/her sunrise? If so, you are blessed indeed! I know for sure that I am!
What else contributed to your day of turkey and trimmings? I’m still celebrating… just finished a bowl of turkey soup made from the leftovers. Yum!
Enjoy your Saturday night, my friends. See ya Sunday. When I count my blessings, you’re right up there with the turkey!! Yup, part of the trimmings!
Bob & me on our 59th anniversary- It’ll be 60 in February!!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week, too. Can’t let this weekend pass without telling you how much I appreciate your visits here. Posting on WordPress is one of my favorite hobbies – and it wouldn’t be worth a darn if it weren’t for you. God bless you! Thanks for commenting and telling me a little about those things that count on your list of blessings.
Bee well! See ya tomorrow (God willing)… Love, JanBeek
MMMmmm, it was good! We loved sharing – comparing Naming – Enjoying!
Illuminate Home Get ready to share your meal Thank God for your friends
I thank God for you I pray for health and safety For each one of you.
Tell me about your Thanksgiving. I hope your day is filled with good food, Good friends, and lots of great conversation.
I am sorry that some were unable to come Because not all are vaccinated and some Feel vulnerable with this darn COVID-19 Still threatening to infect even those with Boosters.
I pray for an end to this pandemic And for all who can do so to go and get the vaccine. Embrace illumination – shine your light on healthy choices! But, it is not for me to judge… if you choose not to, You have your reasons – and I love you anyway.
Just BEEEEE SAFE! And Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Missing my sis…
Keeping you in my prayers. Thanks for visiting today. See ya tomorrow (God willing)… Love, JanBeek
What delights you? When you think of that word, what comes to mind? Here are a few things that delight me:
Unlike that chuckler, I actually delight in shopping in the mall with my husband.
I delight in a glass of wine with my dinner each evening. Just one…
It is delightful to return home – especially after being gone awhile.
No, I don’t delight in the prospect of being “old,” but I delight in friends who have a great sense of humor. I embrace the delight of laughter!
I delight in flowers… Every time of the year. Fresh flowers cheer me. I love having them near me.
I delight in prayer. I delight in the Lord. I delight in Susan Boyle singing this prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. I delight in music.
I delight in family. Time together is so precious. That’s “Mi Familia” on our son’s side up there. Below is our daughter with her hubby & mother-in-law. We delighted in our recent trip to Switzerland to be with them.
What delights you, my friend? Here’s that music I mentioned.
Some things that delight me … but not in order of importance are:
janbeek 
Written
on November 27, 2021