What are you up to on this Tuesday, the last day in June? What a month this has been, huh?
I had to have a COVID-19 test before I was authorized to have my surgery today.
It really was a test with a swab that tickled my sinuses. Results were negative.. so the surgery is a go.
A robot guided by my very capable doctor is going to repair a hernia that’s about the size of a golf ball – it’s right in the front of my mid-section. Surgery is at 12:45 PM. I have to be at the hospital by 11:00 AM.
I don’t expect any trouble. But, just in case there are unexpected glitches, I have my positive mind-set all primed.
And while I am paying special attention to #5 above, looking for some fun in the midst of all this, I am also focusing on #8 and all the ways I am grateful for the ability to get this fixed before it grows and gets worse.
Friends have come by in anticipation of our needs tomorrow when we get home. They have brought us with soup, biscuits, Brownies, muffins, and lots of love and prayers. Our pastor came by to pray with me… and family have texted and called. I feel wrapped in love! I have so much to be thankful for!
So, off we go… Headed for Bozeman…
I’ll see you tomorrow with a report on what’s up (or out). Thanks for your love and prayers. God is good. He’s got me covered! Hugs, JanBeek
Back in the mid-1800’s, the land for this church was deeded to the Methodist- Episcopal Church of Madison County. Sometime in the 1860s, around the time of the Montana Gold Rush, this wonderful church was built on the property.
McAllister, Montana
History of the Church
“Brother Van” served as a traveling preacher/minister and had people from miles around come to worship here in the 1850s through to early 1900s.
Sometime in the mid-1900s, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church traded properties from the Ruby Valley to the Madison Valley. As the story goes, there were not enough folks in each valley to support both a Presbyterian and a Methodist church in such close proximity to one another. (These denominations are so close in theology and worship practices!) So, this church building joined the Presbyterian family while the Ruby Valley Presbyterian Church became a Methodist worship center.
Use of the Church Today
The church has no running water, but it does have electricity. Once a year, in early September, the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis holds services out there in the McAllister Church. Porta-potties are brought in. And it is a challenge to provide coffee and goodies for fellowship in this waterless place! But, the service always is a memorable experience.
Looking at the front of the worship center
Looking toward the back (Bob in doorway)
On the side wall… notice the picture; here’s a close-up of it:
Precious picture!
When we first came here about 15 years ago, this pump organ actually worked. I wonder what it would take to get it operational again?
Isn’t this a grand old stove? It’s in the kitchen behind the pulpit area. I wonder how they cooked here with no water? Must have had a well outside, you think?
There is a place out this back door where it looks like a well once was.
Future of the Church
Last week we had wind gusts up to 62 mph here in the Madison Valley. A few of the roof pieces blew off in the storm. So, we were out here yesterday with a roofer, getting a bid on what it would cost to repair or replace it.
Seeing the trucks on the property, several neighbors, new to the area, came to check it out. It’s a curiosity for those who have never been inside, and they were glad to be invited in.
This dear gentleman, new to Montana, even offered to help with the roofing project. We hope he retires soon from his home in California and moves with his family to our “Paradise on Earth” full time so we can become better acquainted – and take him up on the offer to help.
Donnie – my new friend!
Meeting New people
Do you enjoy meeting new people as much as I do? Donnie is a firefighter in California. He and his wife have built a home in those mountains you see behind him there. Welcome to Montana, Donnie! Nice meeting you!
I hope Donnie and his wife, Cheryl, will come and visit us… you, too, my friends. We have an “open door” policy. Come and enjoy this “Big Sky Country” with us.
Birthday and Anniversary
And by the way, Happy Birthday today to my dear son-in-law in Switzerland, Andre’ Solioz… and De & Andre’s anniversary is tomorrow. Wish we could be there to help them celebrate!
That’s me kissing Andre’ !!
Happy Anniversary tomorrow to my dear daughter, DeDe, and her fun-loving hubby!
Have a wonderful Saturday.
I hope YOU have a lovey-dovey day, too… Enjoy it, wherever you are!!
Hope you enjoyed those photos of our wonderful old church. Do you have old buildings in your area that are worthy of preservation? I bet some of you have places that make an 1800s church look like it’s NEW!!
My good friend, Lisa, who lives in North Carolina, sent me this sunset video last night. I was home here in Montana on a dark, stormy night… missing the chance to see a sunset here… and along came this gift:
Yes, it is God’s gift of love!
In the past, Lisa has sent other sunsets … and a lot of sunrises … along with prayers for blessings and health and happiness. What a wonderful friend!
My collection of sunsets and sunrises come to you with prayers and love, too.
If you love the way God chooses to start and end each day as much as I do, let me share with you other sunsets I’ve received:
And I love sunrises just as much. Let me share a couple of those with you:
Fran McNeill’s sunrise
I shared that last one with you a couple weeks ago, but I couldn’t talk about sunrises and not include hers. Talk about beautiful! Isn’t God the greatest artist ever??
So, whether you are ready for your next sunset, like we are here in Montana, or your next sunrise, like my daughter in Switzerland, let God’s handiwork amaze you…
… and share your love of the Light with all you meet. Have a blessed day – and a restful night. I’ll see you tomorrow.
… but they need to stay out there! No, Annie, don’t come down our driveway!
Yesterday we had a beautiful bed of red petunias in our wheelbarrow…
This morning the blossoms were gone! See that chewed off stem there? Darn those antelope! My attitude toward them today is not very loving.
Fortunately, they left the geraniums alone.
And they don’t seem interested in the columbine…
…or these sweet yellow ones ( I think they’re lilies).
So, while I may be dismayed over the loss of our petunia blossoms, I still have reason to be happy, right?
I found a new book yesterday. It’s a type of journal. I’m going to have fun with it:
I don’t have much to stress over, besides stray, hungry antelope, but life always throws us curves, right? It’s always a challenge to stay calm when trouble strikes, and achieving balance is a constant pursuit for me.
So the topics in this little book caught my eye… especially the “Stay Positive” and “Dream.”
Set your plans for the year ahead, And then make them happen.
Yes! One way to be happy and find joy in life is to dream. Live in the NOW, but never stop dreaming about a better tomorrow.
I signed up for Bob Goff’s “Dream Big” Workshop. Do you have big dreams? You’re never too old to dream big, you know. At age 80 and 81, Bob & I find that our dreams keep life moving forward!
I am dreaming of a trip in the spring of 2021 to Switzerland to visit our daughter and her family.
I took this picture on one of our previous trips, high in the Alps at a restaurant overlooking their valley.
I dream of the day when it will be safe to travel, to freely socialize, and to gather with friends again to enjoy our pastimes.
Enhance your life with a pastime that lifts your soul.
What pastime lifts your soul? I love writing (can’t you tell?) and your responses to my daily posts lift my soul.
I also love music 🎶 – both listening to it – as well as playing my accordion and playing in the bell choir.
I enjoy playing for friends at our Madison Valley Nursing Home, however with this pandemic, they are off-limits now. But they are safe… no cases of COVID-19 there. Keep looking at the bright side. Thank God for their health and ours!
We can’t gather as a group to practice our bells right now. But, think positively! This pandemic can’t last forever! I pray daily for a vaccine or an effective treatment.
Think Can’s – Not Can’ts
Don’t dwell on the “can’ts”… Concentrate on the “cans!”
I CAN enjoy this beautiful day and go for a walk with TazE in Lion’s Club Park along the gorgeous Madison River.
I CAN meet new friends, chat with this adorable little girl, get acquainted with her mom, and keep social distance at the same time.
I’m not standing as close as the picture looks! I edited it so you’d get a good look at that little cutie.
Lion’s Club Park has this great little lake where kids can fish and keep ’em. Our Madison River is a “Catch and Release” only. Today the fish were jumping. I CAN enjoy this beautiful day!!
I CAN visit with my family in Switzerland via social media. Thank God for the internet! We got to share Andre’s birthday with him via the computer. Doesn’t his smile make you smile?
Andre’ Solioz, my son-in-law
Happy Birthday, Andre’
Heck, when Bob and I were dating back in the 50’s, and he was stationed in Germany, it took two weeks to get a letter to him… and another two weeks to get a response. No such thing as computers – and phone calls were too expensive!
Think of how blessed we are today! Instant communication!
Back home, the lawn is mowed. The grass is going to green up again because the automatic sprinklers will water it and the sun is shining to encourage it. Thank you, Bob, for your work on the mower yesterday. (Don’t you love his creative designs?)
This is livin’
Today Bob is out fishin’ … Summertime, and the livin’ is easy! Fish are bitin’ and the …
How does that song go? Let me leave you singing it.
Today my Writers’ Group friend, Janet Muirhead Hill, joined me to share what we’ve been working on. (I was disappointed that three others who might have joined us were unavailable today. Hopefully they’ll be here for our next meeting).
I was inspired to write the poem you see above. Janet shared the book she has just completed and published, Prism. It was started by her deceased sister, Joan Bochmann, who knowing she was leaving this earth before she could complete it, asked Janet to promise she’d finish it for her. Here it is… available on Amazon … I have my own autographed copy… yay!
Writing Together
During our time together, Janet and I used a prompt by
Do click on Clint’s link above and see how he finished those sentences. His site is a new discovery. Living in Africa, his photos are phenomenal, and the way he helps us glimpse at his beautiful country through his words and photos is such a gift!
I wrote the following using his prompts:
“It is the world outside where we find birds, trees, clouds, friends, travel opportunities, and space. It is the world inside where we find peace, God, self-confidence, acceptance, and opportunities. We are especially blessed when from the inside we can hear and see the birds, we can look out at trees, clouds and blue sky, we can feel peace and acceptance from friends, we can plan travel and invite friends to travel here, and from the inside we have space to grow spiritually and the self-confidence to capture opportunities to do so.”
From the inside, we remain child-like, free to paint as well as write, free to dance as well as stand, free to openly express our true selves. Free!
Dance and Create
After that initial activity prompted by Clint Bulongo’s blog, we tried our hand at creating “Eifchen.” This form of poetry was introduced to me this morning by bigskybuckeyeLifeElfchen
Using his definition of this German-inspired poetry, Janet and I wrote our own “Elevenies.” I wish I had saved hers to share with you. Richard, at bigskybuckeye had three of them on his post. Here’s one of his:
Change
Overwhelmed Life’s pace Quickens and races Time to reorder life’s Priorities
And here is one that I wrote:
Eleven
Numbers Bear meaning Forty is magical Seven represents God’s completion Prioritize
Try your hand at an “Eifchen”! Dance with it freely, like my Boston Terrier, Taze, is dancing up there. Don’t let anything stifle you!!
After sharing our “Elevenies,” we read to one another some samples we brought with us of writing we had been working on at home.
Share Your Writing
Janet shared an introduction she has written to go with her book, Prism.
Then I shared some of my journal writing. One of the things I shared was the peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi sung by Susan Boyle. Janet was not familiar with Susan’s angelic voice. This is too beautiful to keep to myself. I’ve shared it with you before, but it is worth hearing again:
I sang along with the words to the song, written on a page in my journal. Janet listened – enthralled – to this gorgeous rendition of the prayer.
Then Janet said, “Oh yes, I used to have that prayer memorized. Haven’t thought about it in a while.”
Time to put those words in our souls, my friends.
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Lord. Help me seek to console, to understand, to bring hope and light, and to just love!
Do you have a place for writing, and people who love to write with whom to share your writing? Tell me about it – and them.
My friend, Doris, who graduated from high school with me back in the Dark Ages, sent me an e-mail today with 48 pictures designed to demonstrate acts of kindness in the midst of this world-wide time of struggle with COVID-19 and racial injustices.
I selected my favorites from the 48 – and want to share them with you here as an encouragement to go out and do likewise. Pick your favorite from these seven that I have chosen. Tell me why it touches your heart.
Each of the seven (selected in random order) were important to me. They demonstrate our need for ONENESS, UNITY, RESPECT, GOODNESS, LOVE, and KINDNESS.
The numbers attached to the pictures were on the website… they are not in any way prioritizing. And that message above was part of the post… “Bored Panda” was the source. Their word “tolerance” is not mine. It seems condescending to me. I prefer “LOVE.” Don’t just tolerate me! Love me… and treat me as I am: your equal! One of God’s children!! Just love me!!
I love YOU!
Can you choose one from those seven? Tell me why it resonated with you.
The YouTube below was also sent to me by that same high school friend, Doris. It’s a wonderful children’s choir singing about the memories that will live on in their lives after this time passes. Click on the arrow, sit back, and enjoy the voices, the melody, and the message.
And don’t forget the message here: ONENESS, UNITY, RESPECT, GOODNESS, LOVE, and KINDNESS.
Bee well, my friends. I’m so glad I didn’t lose you… Memories bring back YOU!!
See ya tomorrow. Hugs, JanBeek
(Oh, leave me a note about your favorite of those seven, will you?)
Two For Sale signs went up in our “hood” this week.
That Mercer sign is for a 7 acre parcel right next door to us.
We could be next-door neighbors!
The ERA sign is at the end of the cul-de-sac – just a stone’s throw away – down where you see the telephone poles in the first photo.
See, there’s our house up there – just beyond the sign. Aren’t you looking for wide open spaces and Big Sky, fresh air and a friendly, cheerful, inclusive neighborhood? Here we are!! You can build your dream house right here.
This beautiful home with the best neighbors imaginable, Rex and Penny, could be your neighbors … besides us, the Beekmans with the robin babies in our back yard. Hey, look closely! That one on the right has her eyes open!
This nest is on this porch where I am sitting right now with my laptop, Rita and Robbie are coming and going, feeding their babies, paying no attention to me! I love it!!
The nest is in the shadow just left of the small bedroom window. My chair is in the sun with my tabletop in the shade. I have a bird’s eye view of the robin activity.
This morning was a beautiful, sunny. warm, still day – perfect for a walk in Lion’s Club Park by the Madison River that is less than 5 minutes from us. I met a couple of TOPS friends and we walked around by the river, the baseball field, the playground…
From this view of the river, there is a bench, a painted sculpted fish, and a gorgeous view of the Madison Range across the valley.
Come go for a walk with me. There are benches along the way, picnic tables, barbecue pits, a baseball field and a playground. Young children usually flock here. But, I was early. They started to arrive as I was leaving.
On the way to the post office after my walk, I passed another For Sale sign. Our friend, Niel, died recently after a long battle with cancer. His cozy little house in town is for sale. Maybe you’d prefer this. You’d be on a smaller lot in a more modest neighborhood downtown. Look at this lovely place. Interested? Call the ERA number on the sign at the top of this post.
Your neighbors across the street have this lovely tree – and these beautiful opium poppies. What a great little town our Ennis, Montana is!!
Driving home from there, I took the golf course route. Here’s the scene just a mile from our home:
They keep it well maintained and lots of our neighbors love getting out on the course on a day like today.
Peaceful, beautiful, clean, clear, friendly … … what more could you ask?
Oh, I forgot to add there’s a darling little lake at Lion’s Club Park where the kids can fish and keep the trout they catch. The Madison River has a “catch and release” policy to preserve the natives. And there’s an old tractor at the park where the kids can climb and pretend FARMER. We have a lot of cattle and wheat farming in our Madison Valley.
But it’s best known for the Madison River and the fly fishing.
Will you come and be my neighbor?
Caroline & Chuck are building right down the hill from us.
They’d be great neighbors for ya, too!!
Have a Wonderful Wednesday. See ya tomorrow. JanBeek
Listening to God Is a daily endeavor It takes intention His Words are clever
God speaks through Jesus Jesus, His Holy Son And He speaks through the Spirit The Holy Spirit, that’s the One!
Listening to God Takes a willing heart It takes a willing spirit Here’s the way to start:
Bee still
Bee open
Bee teachable
Bee attentive
Bee humble
Bee submissive
Bee expectant
Bee responsive
Bee-lieve
Bee-ware… and aware!
Yes, #1 on the list is “Bee Still!” Bee silent – listen – and JUST LOVE!
Isaiah 50:4
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”
Does the Lord “waken your ear” each morning to listen? Every morning my friend, Lisa, who lives across the continent from me – over on the east coast – sends me a picture of where she is and assures me that she has me in prayers. Her pictures show me a scene so different from my own.
Each One Has Their Own Way
In our different environments, each of us is listening and praying. Each of us in our own way. We are open to God’s word – and open to whatever message He has for our day. We share special prayers for one another. It is a beautiful way to start each day.
Do you have a special friend who helps you to Bee more open, teachable, and attentive?
Do you have a system for Beeing more expectant and responsive?
If so, I’d love to have you share with me ways you are open to hearing God speak to you each day.
Through His Word and through music, God speaks to me most clearly. How about you? Which of those ten “Bees” are most helpful to you when you want to tune in to God’s voice?
Have a Fabulous Friday, my friends. Bee well! See ya later. JanBeek
My friend, Doris sends me chuckles each day. They help keep me looking at life’s lighter side. I thought I’d share a few with you this evening. x
x
x
Don’t laugh about my stomach. It’s no laughing matter! Read on, I’ll tell you why…
My buddy, Doris, who send me these is a friend who graduated from high school with me in Turlock, CA back in 1957!
We go back to the Stone Age together!
She lives in Texas part of the year. These billboards came from a place in Austin, TX called “El Arroyo.” She said that translates to “The Ditch.” Do you know Spanish? Is she right??
Go ahead and laugh, my friends. I am told it’s good for what ails ya.
By the way, what’s ailin’ ya?? Read on… I’ll share what ails me. (Ya, I know you may not want to know, but I’ll share anyway!)
Do you have a COVID-19 funny bone you can share with me? I already laughed at these. I need a new one.
I have a hernia that may need removing. That’s not as bad as a kidney stone! But that’s what ails me. Day before yesterday I had an ultrasound to be sure it’s JUST a hernia. Yesterday I had a CAT scan to see that lump more clearly. Today the doc called to schedule an appointment with a doctor who will interpret all these tests. He’s not available til June. Oh well… it’s probably nothing… but I pass this along to you asking for your prayers and a laugh. OKAY?
Pass a laugh along, will ya??
And have a good, restful night.
I‘ll see ya tomorrow. Virtual Hugs, JanBeek
These are my friends, Chuck & Caroline. Come back tomorrow. I’ll show you the house they are building. It’s just down the hill from our house. Oh man! I love this couple of friends sooo much!
OKAY, I’m outta here for tonight. Have a good sleep!
Written
on May 27, 2020