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Embrace Small Delights

What are the small delights that enchant you?
Keep you coming back for more?
What are the small delights that entice you
To return again to your favorite store?

I love wreaths and flowers;
I take delight in their display.
I delight in springtime when its warm
And I can walk in the sunshine and play.

I love Michaels, the craft store, that has
All the items for projects galore.
That’s the place that’s my go-to
For creative activities – and more.

Prayers, pictures, and greetings
From Elaina, my daughter #2
Bring morning smiles and giggles
“Let me share my soup with you!

Let me show you my sweet kitty,”
She declares as she pictures her cat.
We share the things that delight us
In our daily morning chat.

My friend, Lisa, in South Carolina
Finds beauty in sunrises and purrs.
I love the way she shares with me
The views and delights that are hers.

The small delight that grows
To enormous size and glee
Is the joy I find in friendship.
Friends are so dear to me.

Laina and our daughter, DeAna
Have been friends since high school days
They find great delight in togetherness…
A relationship where love always stays.

Some small delights in nature
That we often take for granted
Are ducks on the lake with snowy borders
And evergreen trees God has planted.

“I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10

I delight in having great neighbors
Who bake beautiful cookies and share
The tasty treats from their kitchen.
I delight in those friends over there!

(Thanks, Robin & Whooter & Sue Welna!)

A delight I’ve been waiting for
Is the opening of this daffodil bloom.
Thank God for the coming of springtime
And the flowers I see from this room.

My husband will tell you that nothing
Delights him like a bowl of ice cream.
His favorite is mocha almond fudge –
That’s his idea of a dessert dream!

I take great delight in rainbows.
They keep God’s promise visible & true,
This one over the McAlllister Church
Is a small delight just for you!

Here’s my delightful sunset
reflected over the Madison Range.

Have a delightful Wednesday.
See ya tomorrow (God willing).

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I delight in your comments.

Category:

blessings, Faith, friendship, happiness, life, Love, Montana, Poetry

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Embrace Your Reset Options

EMBRACE YOUR RESET OPTIONS

It’s five o’clock in the morning
I’ve slept the whole night through
But five is too early to rise for me
Is it too early for you?

I pushed the reset button
And told my mind to relax
But it just wouldn’t stop sayin’
Go dig in the fridge for some snacks!

I found some left-over pizza
And a bottle of wine jumped out, too
But it’s only five in the morning
Too early to drink and to chew

Go back to bed said my senses
Close up the computer and fridge
But that pizza looked so tempting
Come join me – we’ll eat just a smidge!

When I saw in the corner a bottle
Of that left-over yummy red wine
So what if it’s five in the morning
Come join me – it tastes mighty fine!

Reset the clock for tomorrow
It’ll be here before we are through
And maybe you can slip under the covers
Before anyone else has a clue

This ain’t my usual posting
No scriptures or sermon notes here
But, heck it’s five in the morning
And the Devil needed his reset, too!

EMBRACE YOUR RESET OPTIONS

Thanks for clickin’ in to JanBeek
See ya tomorrow?

Or maybe at a decent time later today…

Category:

food, friendship, humor, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, writing

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Embrace Spontaneity

Do you plan everything out?
Have a day planner filled to the brim?
Well, today I am suggesting you
Let go the plans. Let spontaneity in!!

Every morning while doing devotionals,
I plan my day hour by hour.
But God often intervenes, and
I relinquish plans to His power.

Yesterday afternoon as I sat
In my chair with my computer,
I received a wonderful phone call
From a neighbor, a lovely recruiter.

Her daughter-in-law was celebrating
Her birthday at their house that night
My friend’s guests cancelled last minute.
We accepted the chance to stand in – with delight!

Spontaneity adds joy to life.
Without it we miss opportunities
To be open to infinite possibilities.
But unchecked, it can lead to calamities!

I love being spontaneous.
Usually it brings me enormous joy.
But, stop a second and ask in prayer,
Is this beneficial or will it destroy?

Last night our spontaneity
Led to an evening of fun and pleasure.
Affirmative thought and an open mind
Can bring you joy beyond measure.

Psalm 119:45

“I shall walk at liberty,
for I have sought your precepts.”

Let affirmative thought and an open mind
Be joined every day with sincere prayer.
Ask the Lord to guide your decision-making
And know He is always spontaneously there.

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I hope you are encouraged to do something spontaneously today.
What will it be?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, friendship, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, prayer, relationships

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Embrace Hugging

My daddy and me
Doin’ what comes naturally

I love that old musical from the 1950’s, Annie Get Your Gun. It is an American musical Technicolor comedy film loosely based on the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon based on the 1946 stage musical of the same name.

Does hugging come naturally to you?
If so, from whom do you think you inherited that quality?
Bob and I had that conversation after breakfast this morning.
His mom and dad were not huggy folks.
Mine were… especially my affectionate daddy.

Bob didn’t learn to be huggy from me.
He came that way… and I feel so blessed.
Marrying someone who was stand-offish
Would have been put me to a terrible test!

Doin’ what comes naturally
Isn’t the same for you and me.
I reach out and hug strangers –
At least ’til this pandemic distanced me.

Bob and I are huggy people
We showed our kids the joy of touch
But not all children are so blessed
Some are abused; some aren’t touched that much.

When our daughter, DeAna’s best friend, Laina,
Lost both her adoptive parents at a young age,
We were blessed to say, “Come be in our family.”
Having a “Daughter #2” was a blessing quite sage!

Our Laina keeps in daily touch. She wrote
A message to me yesterday.
I asked her if I could share it here.
This is what she had to say:

Embrace MomBee🥰
I keep waiting for your blog theme to be “Embrace Hugging” or similar. Technically embrace does mean to hold someone closely in your arms so it’s almost funny to use the 2 words together.
Well here’s my mini blog for the day.
We just don’t hug enough anymore. For one reason, we can’t because of social distancing but also we don’t because we won’t take the time to do something that’s so extremely important.
My genetic nature resisted hugs growing up. I inherited that from Marilyn my Irish born biological grandmother and apparently her daughter my biological mother was the same way. I was adopted by a very different personality.
I would feel myself stiffen up and become uncomfortable when someone hugged me. My (adoptive) mom was very loving and caring. She was a hugger and I reflect back on those hugs and feel bad for my involuntary reaction. I would squiggle (squirm+wiggle) away as fast as I possibly could leaving her unfulfilled. Being a teenager and young adult I was too self-absorbed to notice the sadness on her face or to recognize her need for physical contact. If only I could go back in time and have a “do over”! I would give her a proper hug. It would be a long squeeze and I wouldn’t let go until SHE squirmed to get free. Knowing her, she wouldn’t ever squirm! we’d still be hugging! Hugs instantly boost OxyContin levels. It’s scientifically proven. Hugs help to heal feelings of loneliness and isolation and anger. An extended hug increases serotonin levels and increases good mood. It strengthens the immune system. So why don’t we do it more? We need to do it more! I guess I can’t tell you to hug a stranger because they might smack you or scream but definitely hug those you love whenever they are near… I can’t wait to give you both long hugs in person. I promise I won’t squirm away.

That picture of me with Laina is one of my favorites. I often use it as the “sign off” photo on my blog – edited to just be me. I had forgotten that it was taken on the occasion of my 80th birthday when Laina came to be with us and help us prepare for and carry out a party that included about 50 of our best MT friends. Laina lives in Maryland – and her trip here was such a gift. Helping us was for her, “Doin’ what comes naturally.”

Hugs may not come naturally to all of us.
But it is something we can learn…
and enjoy… and realize
how important that intimacy is.

Yesterday our grandson, DeAna’s youngest son, Chris, went to Vissoie
to have dinner at his parents’ restaurant and to give them a long overdue hug.
It had been over a month since he had made the trip up the mountain to see them.
I wrote to him afterward and said,
“Thank you for going to be with your parents
and for giving your mom great big, heart-felt hugs.
We all need them.“

This morning he wrote back and said,
“Oh! It was my pleasure!
It’s been too long since I saw them,
I needed to squeeze their booooooones.
Can’t wait to squeeze yours, too!”

(Chrissy got that expression, “Squeeze yer bones!” from his GrampyBob…
It’s one of his favorites.)

Whose bones do you need to squeeze today?
Go do it!
Go and make hugging one of those things that is
“Doin’ what comes naturally!”

Thank you, Laina
for sharing your story with us.
Thank you for enhancing our family.

Thank you, blogging friends,
for visiting JanBeek today.
Hugs to you!
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

blessings, children, Family, friendship, Giving, happiness, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Poetry, relationships, self-acceptance, writing

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Embrace Aging

I could have called this “Embrace Maturity,”
but that would have been pussyfooting around the issue.
Not everyone matures as they age,
but aging is not an option.

You do it or you die.

However, I embraced this meme when I saw it:

Aging is a privilege only given to the lucky ones, you know.
So, yes, I will count this year …
but at 81, I sometimes forget if it is 80 or 81
and if I try to get by with the lesser number,
I have an 82 year old husband who is quick to remind me.

Hah! Can’t fool him…
He keeps a check on me – – –
but he’s not big on donuts.
Darn!

My daughter
(most of you have met her on this blog in the past –
DeDe – lives in Switzerland)
sent me this a little while back.
She particularly liked it
because one of Bob’s nicknames for me
is “Rocky”

Most of you also know that I have a sanctuary
where I spend the first hour most every morning…
and in it I have three antique rockers.
Ah, yes, it’s the perfect image of me!

But the chair that brings us
mutual joy
is the one we put in the back of our ATV
and pull out when we stop for a break.
The best way to embrace aging
is to find a hobby that you can enjoy
with someone you love.

For Bob and me, it is joining friends
and going four-wheeling
on these wonderful Rocky Mountain trails. ..
stopping to fish the mountain lakes.
Ah, that’s livin’!!

What hobbies
make your aging process more enjoyable?
One of our mutual hobbies
(besides four-wheeling)
is teaching Sunday School.

COVID got in the way
of being able to meet each Sunday morning
with these two darlings and one other…
and then these two moved away.
As they age, their mom sends us pictures.

Getting picture from family and friends
is a great way to welcome the new day
and look forward to the next time you can visit.

Aging is easier to embrace if you have dreams –
something to look forward to, right?

We dream of next October –
when COVID-19
will be controlled
and it will be safe
to travel to see our daughter,
De, and her husband, Andre’ –
and stay in one of the hotel rooms above the restaurant.

As we age,
some of the benefits
outweigh the struggles
that come with aching joints
and lowered energy levels.

One of them is,
when your grandkids act up
and get on your nerves,
you can just send ’em back to their folks!

Couldn’t do that when you were younger
and they were your own kids!

Gotta look for the perks in this aging process!

Another advantage of aging
is that we have time to reminisce
about the “Good Ole Days”
and the songs we used to sing
that these youngsters with their guitars and drums
don’t seem to understand anymore.

And if those songs
and the memories they bring
aren’t enough to make you feel good
about still being on this earth,
try singing this one:

Another way to “Embrace Aging”
is to relish the extra time
you have to just find a good book,
pour yourself a hot chocolate or a glass of wine,
curl up in front of a warm fire,
and spend some uninterrupted quality time.

When you were younger, that luxury was seldom yours, right?

Now, if you are a youngster (under retirement age)
reading this blog,
you are probably thinking that I am a dreamer.
You’re right. I am!
And each day I dream up all kinds of things
to keep me exuberant about life.

Yesterday it was effervescence.
The day before it was … oh, do I have to go back that far?

Nope!
A trick to aging gracefully is to remain playful.
Keep your hobbies,
and make up ways to keep the sparkle alive.
Take those boots that were left at the front door
and get creative!

If you can’t get out because you’re snowed in –
and you’re longing for sushi,
but the nearest place is an hour away,
send money to your kids
and tell them to go out for sushi on you.
But make sure they send you a picture…
and drool all over the computer screen
when they send it!

Ask your friends to send you a picture
of the table they decorated for some recent holiday –
and then marvel at their creativity
as you sit down for the 10th night in a row at your kitchen counter…
thanking God for your life,
your food, your kids, and your kitchen counter.

A trick to embracing aging
is to always remain thankful for your blessings…
even if they aren’t at a yacht club!!

Now, here’s a couple who knows how to live it up:
My friends, the Rosens.

Embrace Aging
by feeding your mind
Hope, Truth and Love
on a daily basis.

Don’t let your mind tell you you’re OLD.
That’s a state of mind for the senile.
It’s not for you!

Tell your mind
that aging just adds to your story…
and you’re not finished telling it yet!

Have fun, my friend.
Make room for sunsets.

Look forward to sunrises.

And believe in miracles…
Because you are one!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, children, Family, food, friendship, Gratitude, happiness, humor, life, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Montana, relationships, self-acceptance

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Embrace Effervescence

Don’t you love that word?
Effervescence is bubbly;
Bubbly is delight.

Bubbles bring smiles –
They bring us celebrations.
We hear them giggle.

Effervescence helps
Make water taste lots better.
See our Soda Stream?

It is our new toy;
Changes our pure well water
Into bubbly treat.

Yes, I know the “J”
In Montana Majesty
Is replaced by “G”

That’s because MAGIC
Is the root word intended
Montana’s MAGIC!

And this new machine
Changes water magically
Into a great treat.

We have a dear friend
Whose special name is Sparkles;
She’s effervescent!

She lights up a room
Whenever she enters it –
Effervescent friend:

Like the fire there,
Her light is warm and friendly.
Have you such a friend?

What else in your life
Sparkles with effervescence?
Water, friends, and what?

The faith that’s in me
Sparkles with the love of Christ.
Bravely let it out!

I share the Good News
Through my blog and with my life.
It’s my Bubble Source!

Son Shine bubbles up –
Creates my effervescence!
What makes YOU sparkle?

Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.

By the way, did you miss my “Embrace” message yesterday?
It was “Embrace Rest” – and so I took a break!!

I really enjoy this Don Ho song.
It takes me to Hawaii.
Brings back bubbly memories.
Do you have a favorite song
that bubbles up happy memories in you?
EMBRACE EFFERVESCENCE!!

Category:

blessings, Faith, friendship, Haiku, happiness, Jesus, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, Poetry, relationships

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Embrace Wisdom

Thank you, dear blogging reader, for tuning in to Day #40 of my “Embrace” series.

Forty is a meaningful number in the Bible.
But its significance is not limited to biblical application.
Forty days:

is mentioned 146 times in the Bible.
is used to designate important time periods in the Bible.
is the number of days before his temptation, that Jesus fasted: “forty days and forty nights” (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2).
is the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:3).
carries significance in today’s world: Minus 40 degrees, or “40 below,” is the only temperature that is the same in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
was important in the Middle Ages: when the bubonic plague gripped Europe, ships would be isolated in harbor for 40 days before passengers could go ashore.
is the origin of words we use in today’s pandemic: The Italian word for 40 is quaranta—hence quarantine.
is the number of weeks a typical pregnancy actually lasts – Forget nine months!

The wisdom of Jesus’ emphasis on 40 came from God.
Our wisdom has the same source.
All we need to do is tap into it!

James 3:17

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Colossians 3:16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

That state of peaceful happiness,
that contentment,
comes from our ability
to seek wisdom
and to follow the leading
of those words of instruction.

Daniel 1:17

“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Wisdom is not relegated to the aged.
Daniel was a boy of 17 when he was chosen.
You are chosen today to tap into
The wisdom God has for you!

Proverbs 13:20

“Walk with the wise and become wise.”

God gives us true friends
Who are wise and wonderful.
They are His gifts to us
To help us EMBRACE WISDOM

He has chosen friends for us
Who are wise and full of grace.
They walk into our hearts
And leave their footprints all over it!

Watch for those friends
as God puts them in your path!

In today’s Daily Guideposts, Ginger Rue wrote, “…you become like the five people you spend the most time with.” She told a story about how her husband, “Sweet Dwight,” is a person she wishes to emulate. “I hope someday to have a heart like my husband’s: wise, and full of grace… and always looking for the best in people.”

Who is a star in your life, an example of wisdom and grace? Are the five people you spend the most time with people whose lives you wish to emulate? Can you name them?

Bob is a star in my life… and so are CG & Caroline

Marcie is the friend everyone wishes s/he had!
She always looks for the good in everyone.

Daniel 12:3

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

Psalm 147:4

“He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. “

If the God of Heaven and Earth has named the stars,
And if He has created all that is seen and unseen,
How surely can we count on His wisdom, and
How assured we can be of His Wisdom if we but ask.

Look for the wisdom in the friends you choose.
Embrace the love in their hearts that shines
Like the stars in the sky – and reflects
The wisdom of their Maker who is alive in them.

EMBRACE WISDOM

I pray you have the JOY
of wise and loving friends.
They truly are God’s gifts to us.
Terry & Elaine are two of my wise stars.

Thank You for them, God!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek today.
May the words of my blog
And the thoughts in my heart
Inspire you to reach out to your life’s stars.

(They can be friends we spend on-line time with…
especially in these days of COVID-19 social-distancing!)

Thank them…
and thank God
for His wisdom
that sent them to you!

Remember, we become
like the five
we spend the most time with.
Choose wisely!!

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, Family, friendship, God, Gratitude, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, peace, relationships, Serving One Another, truth

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Two Birthdays in Big Sky

Where’s the perfect place
to celebrate a birthday
if you live in Montana?
Well, Big Sky, of course!

Bob & Jan in Big Sky on Bob’s 82nd birthday

And what’s the best way to celebrate in Big Sky when you get there?
With a friend who shares the same birthday, of course!

Caroline & Chuck Feldman –
CG’s birthday was today, too.

It was their first trip up to Big Sky
through the Jack Creek Canyon …
and the day could not
have been prettier for the trip!

Headed up to Big Sky via Jack Creek Canyon

I love the jack fences when they are snow covered!

Gorgeous blue sky and snow-covered peaks

Montana Jack’s – the perfect spot for lunch
Easy to socially distance
Tables set 10 feet apart

Complimentary dessert for the birthday boys!

To heck with a plate and spoon –
We all ate outta the dessert plate!

We stopped for some extra fun on our way out.

Of course, we masked up when we were not eating.
Everyone was equally obedient.
Can’t be too careful in this COVID world!

We hate wearing them… it’s hard to breathe….
But we’d hate more to get the virus, so we comply!

My friend, Doris, sent me this meme this morning.
While up at Big Sky, I saw a lot of mask-wearing
that confirmed the concern!!

Back home to Ennis – cross the Madison River

It was a lovely trip –
and a memorable, fun day.

Back Home with my feet up…
Time to kick off my boots!

I hope your Tuesday was a Terrific as ours.
Do you have a birthday to celebrate this end of the year?
If so, I hope you do something memorable.

Have a Happy last week of 2020…
time to kick it off, too!

Where would you like to kick 2020 off to
while you welcome 2021?
A beach in Hawaii might be nice!

Thanks for visiting Big Sky with me vicariously today.
We all need to look forward to a safe, healthy 2021
I wish you could travel here for real.
We’ll take you up Jack Creek Canyon!

Hugs,
JanBeek