We just had the privilege of a week with our son here in Ennis, MT. We loved every minute of that precious time together. While the skies were smoky each day (you couldn’t even see the mountains through the smoke), and it didn’t begin to clear until the day he was leaving, we didn’t let that deter us from having a good time.
Talking time in the living roomYummy time at Dave’s Sushi preceding time at the movies (Odyssey)
Sharing meals together was highlighted by great conversations
The mountains peeked through the smoke and the antelope showed up to say goodbye as we were driving Ty to the airport We stopped at Fiesta Mexicana for lunch before dropping Ty off at the Gallatin Bozeman airportMmm – great margaritas! And delicious food
Mouth watering!
Ty’s flight was delayed and he had a challenging set of flights and car trouble… but God made sure his needs were met and he was home that night safe & sound.
And our home has seen blue skies since then. Come back soon, Ty. And bring Monika!We’ll keep you up to date on the progress of the house being built in the field across from us!
… her husband, Bill, is generous beyond measure Yesterday he barbecued steaks, chicken, veggies, etc. and created a meal fit for royalty!Of course, Jodie was responsible for all the prep work. No small feat!In this home, tucked among the trees, love grows. And they treated us to a night out on the town, too. A wonderful banjo event!
My maternal grandpa played the banjo, so this took on extra nostalgic meaning for me.
Could you hear me singing along? I loved it!🥰
Tonight we’re headed to a Pittsburgh baseball game. So, stay tuned! I’ll be back!
Our son, Ty in CA, and our daughter, De in Switzerland , combined forces and bought us a gift certificate for Mother’s Day to one of our favorite Bozeman, Montana restaurants: Dave’s Sushi. Today we used it with great delight!
Mmm … a Bliss roll for me and a John Wayne for Bob.
Who do you think enjoyed theirs more??
Cheers! My Bliss roll was magnificent! But we both equally enjoyed the house red … a delightful blend.
Look at those sushi rolls again.
Beef on sushi!? Not my choice. But Bob loved it.
And we had enough left on our gift certificate to give Thomas , our terrific waiter, a nice tip.
Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, kids! We’re so glad you made me a mother!!
Now tomorrow we’re headed to Chattanooga. Stay tuned, my blogging friends. I’ll let you travel along vicariously.
We’re praying for warmer weather in Tennessee. It’s been a crazy May here in Montana. Today we had gray breezes, restless puffy clouds, snow, rain, and then bright sunny skies…. All within 5 hours in Bozeman. Crazy!!!
Traveling from Ennis to Bozeman along the Madison RiverI happily wait for Bob as he gets a haircutOur “Bonus Daughter,” Laina, has a pretty day in Maryland, too. And DeDe, our daughter in Switzerland, sent a picture of the scene from her balcony this morning. Laina is enjoying time with her grandson…While DeDe is reading to her grandson … so cute!Meantime, Bob’s Diggin’ in to our wonderful lunch at Dave’s SushiDon’t you wish you’d had this delightful Thursday with us?
1 Cor. 12:7 “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits.“
What were you given? Wouldn’t it be fun to have your family and friends tell you what gifts they see working in you? I had that unique experience yesterday at a meeting of our church’s elder board (The Session).
The “gift” I most align myself with is: “Intercessor.” My daily prayer time and the lists of people I pray for daily are an integral part of my life. I am grateful God gave me the gift of praying for others.
In today’s devotional by Bob Goff, he dealt with this subject. Quoting 1Cor. 12:7, he went on to say,
” God has created us ro come together and form a beautiful community that highlights what we each have been given and can contribute.”
Using the familiar story of Stone Soup, Bob Goff wrote, “You know where this story ends already: the soup becomes a delicious simmering pot made up of everyone’s contributions… We all need to throw in what we’ve got and it will be enough.”
What other gift attributes did my friends identify for me? writing bedrock firecracker cooking music (and as mentioned:) prayer warrior
Of course, the one that surprised me the most was “Firecracker.” Is that a gift? Should I associate that with being explosive or being a sparkler? There are many ways to define our gifts, aren’t there? What’s yours? Ask a friend. Bob Goff ended his devotional in “Catching Whimsy” with this faith step:
Ask the people around you. “What are you good at? What lights you up and makes you spring out of bed?”
Here are the gifts my friends identified in each of my fellow church elders’ lives. For privacy’s sake, I will identify them only by their initials
PC patience, music, steadiness, kindness, calmness, humor
CD steadfastness, empathy, compassion, devotion, humor, determination
SH faithfulness, dependability, devotion. willingness, generosity, commitment, obedience
We began our Session meeting in prayer with this scripture as our guiding principle: 1 Cor. 12:1 paraphrased “Don’t be ignorant friends. A variety of gifts are given- We all are made to drink in One Spirit.”
We can (or can we?) control how others see us. Would I have liked others to see in me dependability, thoughtfulness, initiative, wisdom? Of course! Those weren’t mentioned. What can I do about it?
Live mindfully. Love outlandishly. Purpose my life to “Show who God is.”
Are you with me? Throw your gifts in the pot, and let’s make Stone Soup into God’s Love Soup.
Independence Day in Ennis, Montana is a happening!
Horses, kids, candy, vintage cars, wagons, clowns, cowboys, singers, you name it!
The Virginia City Players posted this photo on their Facebook page. Main street was crazy today!! There are thousands of visitors who flock to our town for the parade and rodeo today. As I write this, back home after a busy, delightful morning, it is hailing outside! Don’t like our Montana weather? Wait five minutes!!
Our little Ennis bursts at the seams today. Happy 4th❤️🇺🇸
Thank you, Roy & Barbara Washburn, for hosting such a wonderful morning filled with food and friends and treasured friendships. Yours is the perfect yard from which to enjoy the parade! Happy Birthday, USA! We are so grateful to be living in this Land of the Free!
Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart, I am enjoying the opportunity to share the “Words for the Beginning” each day with you during this Advent season.
Today’s Word is: GOODNESS When I put the prompt in AI, it generated an assortment of blond, blue-eyed, smiling 20-year-old females. I kept asking AI to try again until finally it generated something different. I got this!
Goodness me! That’s not what the word conjures up in my mind. When I think of goodness, I think of the innocence of babies and young children and the unconditional love of our furry friends (maybe that’s what that AI image is depicting).
These are the images that come to my mind when I think of the word GOODNESS.
I also think of the goodness of a meal lovingly prepared and shared generously with friends.
I asked Bob what image comes to mind when he hears the word GOODNESS. His answer surprised me. He said, “Mothers… and the loving environment a good mother creates. THAT’S GOODNESS!”
The goodness a good mother exudes is certainly multiplied when she has the support of her children’s father, too. Loving families RADIATE goodness!
What does the Bible say about goodness?
There is more about the root word, GOOD, than there is about GOODNESS.
So, goodness is a God-like quality in people. It is a purity and innocence in children and animals. It is a gift of delectable taste from a skilled chef. It is a unifying force in a family.
You don’t have to be a 20-something, blue-eyed blond to exhibit goodness!! You are in the land of the living… and goodness is in you and all around you. All you have to do is open your heart to it and exhibit the goodness that is in you!
Aren’t you grateful for that?
What image does the word GOODNESS bring to your mind?
Join me again tomorrow for another Word of the Day.
Love ya, JanBeek
P.S. My maiden name is DeAngeles. It means “Of Angels.” Do you see the angelic goodness in me?
