1) Time with family & friends is so precious! That time heads the highlights. I hope you had quality time with your loved ones last year, too
Bob’s the middle brother – time with brothers Bruce & Bill can’t be beat!
We love visiting family – like my cousin, Adrian & his dear wife, Laura.
When friends/colleagues from the past take time to share with us, we feel so blessed. This is sweet Suzette Stavrianoudakis who taught with me back in the 80’s-90’s.
The opportunity to go to worship with our son,Ty, his wife Monika, her parents, and our granddaughter & her hubby & Mable, one of our 3 our great-granddaughters, was a very special highlight. Ty& Moni visited us in Montana, and we are enjoying the beginning of 2024 with them.
I loved visiting with my college roomie, Sue Booth, who also was a bridesmaid in our 1962 wedding!
Nothing beats the highlight of seeing your 85 year old birthday boy holding his one-day old great- grandson.
But very close to that best highlight is the privilege of praying for 5-yr. old Eli as he experienced brain surgery and had an amazing recovery. Our last picture of him showed a happy 6-year old smiling as he sat on his surgeon’s lap. Praise God! Answered prayers (too numerous to mention) always are highlights!
It’s hard to beat visits from people like Peter Martin (and Victor Salazar) former 1970’s wrestling students of Bob’s. They came from states away to spend time with their old coach. What a treat!!
When our daughter, De, & her hubby showed up from Switzerland surprising us with our 1980-81 AFS son, Christian Zufferey, and his wife, Célia, the surprise was the greatest one imaginable!
A week before that our oldest Swiss grandson, Mike & his wife, Tania, came with friends for a week. Like I said, time with family & friends we’re our greatest highlights.
Mike’s younger brother, Nick, visited with his sweetheart, Céline, also. Goodness, how blessed can you get, huh?
We love having time with friends and family. When will you come to Ennis, MT to visit us?
July is a great time to be in Ennis. Put it on your list, ok? Make it a highlight of your 2024!
Today’s prompt was, “What was the last thing you did for play or fun?”
The last thing I did for fun was to hold my newest great-grandchild, Christian Beekman (born yesterday) and revel in his tiny hand holding my finger. Life doesn’t get more fun – more special – more blessed than this!!
What joy to welcome this little boy into our Beekman family!
Here’s our son (Grandpa Ty) and our daughter-in-law (Grandma Monika) with their newest grandchild. They have six now!! that makes six great-grandchildren for us. Can you believe it??
Doesn’t that look like fun to you?
Here are Christian’s mom & dad (our grandson, Jordan with his wife, Josniah). God bless them! And God bless Christian’s big sister, Cosette. She’s gonna love having a baby brother … and has to learn he’s not a dolly she can toss around!!
No, seriously, The question should have been “What bookS…” I can never limit myself to just one at a time! I love reading!
So, what bookS am I currently reading? Let me list a few:
The Bible (always … daily)
Devotionals that help me understand better and apply the Bible lessons to my life: a. In Touch by Charles Stanley b. Ever Faithful by David Jeremiah c. Mornings with Jesus and Walking in Grace and Strength & Grace by Guideposts d. Today in the Word by Moody Bible Institute e. These Days by Presbyterian Publishing Corp.
The Last Caretaker: A Novel by Jessica Strawser
I have Jessica Strawser’s book on my Kindle reader. I prefer having a paperback or better yet, the hardcover book, but Kindle books are so affordable – – – and I can enlarge the print to make deciphering easier. So I am getting used to reading from my laptop. The Last CareTaker is a gripping story about a lady who agrees to be the caretaker at a remote nature preserve, but finds herself in the throes of a secretive shelter for battered, abused, and at-risk women. I’m enjoying it.
How about you? What bookS are you reading right now?
Bye for now… I’m off to read some more.
(Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday to my mom. 11-15-15 Elizabeth (Betty)Totten DeAngeles She would have been 108 today!)
Here we are when I was about 2 or 3. Quite the hairdo, huh? Sweet!
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
My special gift is hospitality. I love having family and friends come to spend time with us. Here is our dear 1980-81 AFS son, Christian Zufferey (ZuZu), from Switzerland. No, he’s no stranger to us!!
(Our DeAna married his first cousin!! What a love story that is!)
This week DeAna, and her hubby, Andre’ surprised us by arriving with ZuZu and his wife, Celia, for a four day stay. Here they are this morning… leaving us (boo-hoo!)
But, we were blessed to have them come and spend those days (just not nearly long enough) – and to have Chef Andre’ prepare great meals!
How wonderful it was also to have our grandson, Mike, and his wife, Tania, with us for a week this month. They were so helpful!!
Now this hospitality business would have a full opportunity to be put into practice IF our son Ty & his wife, Monika, would come!
The good news is that Peter, one of Bob’s wrestling students from back in the 1970’s in CA, will be joining us in October for awhile. Yay!
Why don’t you consider Letting me use my favorite trait, HOSPITALITY, On you one of these days?
Sympathy = “I feel FOR you.” Empathy = “I feel AS you.”
Ah, we need more empathy! We need more people who are willing to put themselves in another person’s shoes…
Not just feel sorry for the one who suffers, but feel his/her suffering – and try to do something to alleviate it. I discovered a new blogger today (new to me) – “Ly-die” – who wrote an eloquent post on this topic. I really appreciated it, and I think you will, too.
Have a terrific Thursday! Our daughter, DeAna, and son-in-law, Andre’ are with us this week. They surprised us by bringing along with them our 1980-81 AFS Exchange student (Christian Zufferey) and his wife, Celia. Chris (ZuZu) is Andre’s cousin… and he has not been to the USA in over 30 years! You can imagine our pure JOY at seeing him and his dear spouse at our door!
Yesterday we toured Ennis and stopped at “The Long Branch” for a few libations. That’s De & Andre’ on the left and ZuZu with Celia on the right. I’m the happy camper in the middle!
Bob stayed home and then joined us later when we a went to our neighbors’ place (the Ducsays) for “TMW” – (what’s that – you ask?) – Hah – “Too much wine!” The picture doesn’t show our joy! We were having a grand time!
Today our Swiss guests are spending time in Yellowstone Park. It’s a beautiful blue sky day here. What are you up to??
Enjoy your Thursday… I send my love and empathy your way.
Today is Labor Day in the USA. It’s a day to thank our workers. Thank all who make life better By their diligence … never shirkers!
Regardless of the job they have, They perform with willing heart. I’m filled with gratitude for them. They carefully do their part.
During COVID we took special care To thank our healthcare workers all. We should continue to thank them And all the others whether large or small.
No job is less important than another. All are crucial for the bottom line. Teamwork, passion, determination Are ingredients that make the results shine.
But the worker who inspires me most Is the on the job person who strives To make the world a better place By interacting with others’ lives.
Yes, it can be done at home sometimes, But what about when you want to dine out? The chef and wait staff better be there, Or you’ll be high and dry… without!
So, today I want to shout out a thanks To all the workers who make life sweeter. Here is one… our Dolly Wolly in Switzerland. You should go to her place and meet her!!
This is what it looked like then they bought it. Now the restaurant has taken on a new look. And De’s husband, Andre’ is the chef who Puts out superb dishes – he’s quite the cook!
Here are De and Andre’ with some family Sitting down to enjoy a meal… You can tell by the empty plates and smiles How good it was; how it made them feel!
So, Happy Labor Day, all you workers Who strive to serve the public with care- Whether out in front and quite visible Or hidden in back rooms, with work to share!
We appreciate the way you aim to please With passion and with determination. What you do is important and beneficial Regardless of your chosen occupation.
Thank you!
Hugs from JanBeek (volunteering at the Food Bank)
Volunteer work counts, too! Stay-at-home Mom work counts double!!
Well, it depends on how you’re looking at the word, huh? ASSet? Or maybe who you are and what you do?
If you are a gastroenterologist, (a GI doctor) like Dr. Gentry, who last Sunday performed Bob’s colonoscopy, then you’re looking for a clear anus!!
Oh my! TMI ?? Too much information!!
BUTT (oops!) BUT, hey, we just went through this weekend from hell… and if you’ve read my previous coupla blogs, you know what I mean. And maybe you are waiting for an update?
Bob received wonderful care at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. The nurse, Ann-Marie, was the reason he was smiling like this! She was as efficient as she was beautiful!
What’s a woman’s greatest asset? She was kind, caring, efficient, and professional. A real delight! Aren’t those the perfect qualities for a nurse? (Or any of us, for that matter!)
Let me digress for a minute, OK? While Bob was waiting and waiting for his procedure, (it was scheduled for 8:00 am and got bumped twice because of emergencies), I decided to go get something to eat. Neither Bob nor I had anything solid for about 48 hours!
I was sitting at the counter at Jam! (my favorite breakfast place in Bozeman) when the hostess seated a coupe next to me. I glanced up from the CA church service that was live-streaming on my cell phone and said, “Hi!” to the couple. Then I went back to listening to our son, Ty, who was delivering the sermon at his church in Placerville, California. (Isn’t modern technology wonderful?!)
That’s Ty with me – taken last summer… We’re so proud of his decision to pursue the ministry.
Anyway, I digressed… What I wanted to share with you was the way God worked miracles in our lives every time we turned around last weekend!
I was listening to Ty’s sermon when I heard the customer recently seated to my left say, “Hello, Mrs. Beekman.”
Surprised, I looked up… and I studied the handsome young man’s face. “Neighbor? Crowley?? Are you Cole?” I had not seen him in a coupe of years. He and his family live right across the road from us. He’s been away at college. What are the chances in a restaurant with 100+ people that Cole would be seated right next to me??
“When things happen in your Christian walk of faith and you say to yourself what a coincidence, you should know that it’s not, it is God’s hand in your life.”
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Open your hands and your heart for God to fill them!
Cole and I chatted for a while, got caught up on what’s new with him and with us… and I went back to listening to Ty’s sermon on-line. Cole & his girlfriend said their good-byes with “Let me know if you need anything.”
When the sermon was over and it was time to get back to Bob before he went in for his procedure, guess what? I asked for the bill…
“That couple that was next to you paid for your breakfast!”
Every time I turned around, God was working His miracles through the generosity, kindness, professionalism, and compassion of others!!
See that latte pictured up there? Do you think it was a coincidence that a happy bee is floating on the top?
Remember, Bob is a retired beekeeper/almond farmer. No accident that they made my dirty chai latte with almond milk and God sent the bee here to say, “Hah! Here I am to remind you Bob is in good Hands! I’ve gotcha covered!”
I got back to the hospital in time to say a prayer with Bob before he was wheeled in.
It was only a short time when he was wheeled back to the room.
Shortly, the doc came in with the good news, “You have a beautiful anus for an 84 year old!” (See, there’s that asset I was telling you about) Only a GI doctor with 25,000 colonoscopies under his belt would be so observant, right?
“Everything is OK! Whatever was causing the bleeding (no doubt diverticulitis) has healed itself. No surgery needed. Eat more fiber. Drink more water.”
Bob was given his marching orders with instructions to follow-up in a week with his primary care doc here in Ennis.
But before they checked us out and sent us happily on our way, Bob was given solid food (ah, a turkey sandwich never tasted so goood!) We were sent home with grateful hearts. Praise the Lord!!
I believe in miracles. We just experienced more than one. Look for God’s miracles. Expect them. He is busy delivering them every day!
God bless you! Thank you for all your prayers. We love you. Bee well!!
Oh, by the way, what do you think is Man’s Best Asset?
This coming week is a big one in Ennis, MT. People come from all around to enjoy: 1) the Fireman’s Pancake breakfast 7:-10:am at the FireHall, 2) the old fashioned (step back 50 years) parade at 10:00 am, 3) a walk around our quaint little town for a couple hours, 4) the Lion’s Club BBQ at Lion’s Club Park at noon, and 5) the rodeo at 4:00 PM … or is it later? (there’s also one the night of the 3rd)
Here are a few pictures from years past to help you see what a great set of events it is:
The parade is an event not to be missed!
The rodeo is always fun!
I love the way little kids dress up for the holiday! The adults go all out, too!
