Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘fun’

Just for Fun

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!!

What have you done for fun this week?

Sending love your way. Merry Christmas!

Hugs, JanBeek

Bloganuary #5 – New Learning

Our Bloganuary prompt for today is:
What is something you wish you knew how to do?

I wish I knew how to fly
Really fly into the sky
Fly without a plane
Fly alone way up high

I don’t wanna wait
Until I have angel wings
I wanna fly today
Without cumbersome things

I wish I knew how to fly
So I could visit you
I’d land on your doorstep
Right outta the blue!

What do you wish you knew how to do?

Aren’t these Bloganuary prompts fun?
Thanks for playing along!

In other words..
I love you for visiting
JanBeek

See ya tomorrow {God willing}

Embrace Birthdays (stay 39!)

Dear Friends,

I really appreciate all the Happy Birthday wishes extended my way this past weekend. Thank you so much!

Even though I am happy to tell you I am starting my 83rd year on earth, I am also happy to tell you that I am a fan of Jack Benny. Now, if you are too young to remember who Jack Benny was (or you are in another country where Jack Benny was not a nationally known figure), let me tell you: Jack Benny was a comedian who embraced 39 – and decided to stay that age forever more!

Actually, I embrace aging (I wrote a blog using that title once) – I I have no desire to be stuck at 39 or any other age.

How about you?

http://www.janbeek.blog/embrace-aging

Each year brings new insights. Each year brings new joys. Each year brings new challenges. I don’t want to miss any of them.

How about you?

“Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.”

Each day I pray for wisdom. Each day I ask God to increase my understanding and I thank the Holy Spirit for the fruits of the spirit that are mine: LOVE, JOY AND PEACE. And I ask God to help me with the other fruits of the spirit: patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… those that I work to increase as I mature in my faith.

How about you?

As I gather up those birthdays and mature in my faith, I remember to keep a child-like spirit. Enjoy that song. Sing it often. Teach it to your grandchildren. Sing it with your great-grandchildren. Put it in your heart.

You can’t be a lemon or a grape if you wanna be a fruit of the spirit!! Who wants to grow up to be a lemon anyway?

Work on that patience, Jan … your great-grandchildren need to see you model it! And your grand-dog needs you to exercise that gentleness and kindness, too. Ain’t always easy.

How about you?

My great-grandson, Xander, needs my love and joy,
and I need patience, kindness and gentleness in abundance!

On my birthday, Ty (our son) and Bob went out fishing (not catching… just fishing) … and that required a lot of patience! I went along for the joy of the ride. It was cool on the water in the morning, but the afternoon warmed up.

That evening Ty and our daughter-in-law, Monika, Bob & I went in to Bozeman for dinner and dessert. We had a delightful time at a table out front of “Hooked Sushi” enjoying the music being played down the sidewalk a half a block, and the people and dogs walking by. Such fun!

Only in a college town would you find this kind of vibrancy. I love it!

We went after dinner to a very popular ice cream store … and had great fun with some college students who were in line ahead of us. Look at this cute kid! (Ya, I had fun teasing him …)

Bob, our new friend, Jan (me), Monika & Ty –
Pretty sky, huh?
That’s our son, Ty, with me
We enjoyed the fun of chatting with our son & Moni while we waited.
Back home we found a wonderful
bottle of wine waiting for us –
a gift from our dear neighbors.
Thank you, Charlie & Janet!
Birthday roses from my granddaughter –
Thank you, Hope and Drew!
Flowers from our friends, Kathy & Ron-
with a really cute card!
Such fun! So nice of them!
Happy Birthday wishes from our #2 daughter, Laina…
I loved hearing her sing to me – from Maryland to Montana <3
And our #1 daughter, DeAna, sang Happy Birthday and
sent us a picture of her beautiful flowers at
their restaurant in Switzerland.
Lovely, huh?

Sunday afternoon Bob, Ty & Monika went kayaking/paddleboarding while TazE & I found a shady spot and relaxed.

TazE found some cool grass and took a nap until…
Eloise and her Grandma Susie came.
With such good company, I put my book aside
and TazE left the shade to get acquainted.
It was a smokey day in the Madison Valley…
Lots of forest fires in the area –
and the wind blows the smoke into our
little piece of Paradise on Earth.

You can barely see the mountains outlined back there… not a typically beautiful day on Ennis Lake. Pray for the forest fires to be contained and the firefighters to be safe!

My friend, Caroline Feldman, took this photo
at Ennis Lake last year with the swans clustered.
Here’s my photo taken from that same area
at Ennis Lake last winter…
See, you’re supposed to see the mountains!
Meantime, the paddleboarders returned –
And we returned home
to enjoy our last evening together.
Ty & Monika left this morning…
Thank you, Dear Ones,
for coming to help make
my 82nd birthday so memorable and special.
Now TazE and I are stretched out,
relaxing, and looking forward to an evening
watching the Olympic swimmers.

What are you doing this Monday evening besides surfing the net?

It was a very Happy Birthday…
Forever 39 at heart…
Thanks to all the friends who sent greetings.
I love you!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Hugs,
JanBeek

Embrace Shortness

I’m five feet nothing.
That’s short.
But, I embrace shortness.
It’s fun!

However,
No one ever says
I’m beautiful
That’s reserved
for the statuesque.

But – cute?
Yup!

Photo by Anastasiya Gepp on Pexels.com
“Cute as a bunny”
Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com
“Cute as a button”

Belly button??

It’s not just people and buttons and bunnies that are sometimes short.

Your temper can be short.

No one embraces a short temper!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

I came across a short today…
One that I want to embrace:
It’s an invitation to a short story –
Really short –
Six words!

https://figmentsofadutchess.com/category/six-word-stories/

On her post, Marion Driessen
invited her readers to try it…
try writing a six word story.

Oh, I discovered later that the invitation
was posted on Posted on .
Do you suppose it still is valid?

I’m going to try it…
just a short trial.
I can embrace the fun of it…
Even if it is out of date!

She challenged her readers,
Write a story about SUPERSTITION in just six words.
Let a photo or image inspire you to write a story.
Or first write the story,
and then make or search
for a picture to go with it.

Then she suggested,
Publish your Six word story on your own website/blog
and paste the link to that post
in a comment to this one here at Figments. 
I will include your contribution in this post, forming a list of stories.”

OK… here’s mine!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Black cat crossed my path –
Doomed!

Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

Yup, I’m doomed!
No way this short post
is gonna end up on
Marion’s website.

But, oh well,
it was fun anyway.
My blog is all about
spreading HOPE.
We can hope, can’t we?

You wanna try a six word short story?

Go ahead…
just for the fun of it!

Embrace Shortness!

Funny Friday

One day every week

We need to set aside time

Just to be funny

Today is the day

To share humor with others

Universal smiles

I’ll tell you a joke

If you promise to return one

Share world-wide humor

Well, I must admit

What’s funny to one person

May not make you laugh

Go ahead and try

To send me a laugh or two

I need a chuckle

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

See ya tomorrow
Love,
JanBeek

Launching Lucille

Lucille is our ATV. We named our “all-terrain vehicle” after the popular 1950’s to ’70’s comedian, Lucille Ball, because she has a red head and she’s a “ball!” Look carefully at that photo and you can see Bob, TazE (our Boston Terrier), and me… ready to have a Montana springtime ball!

There I am!!

Just as a ship is launched to the sea,
Bob & I launched Lucille on the mountains today.
It’s not her maiden voyage; she’s a veteran for sure.
But it was her first 2020 opportunity to play.

On our way to North Meadowcreek
in the Tobacco Root Mountains

We went with two other couples;
It’s a good thing we had them along
Because when Bob got stuck in the snow,
Rex was prepared for what went wrong

He had a long rope, and equipment galore-
So he pulled old Lucille out in a flash.
Us gals kept our 6 feet distance and watched.
We didn’t want to intrude or do something brash.

This video shows the end of the trial…
CG pulled the rope by hand at the end,
But Rex used it connected to his ATV
To pull Lucille out – way beyond the bend!

Penny & Rex Hocking

We went to the very top of the mountain
Where the sky was unbelievably blue –
And there we had lunch – a spectacular view –
Wish we could share this four-wheeling ride with you!

Caroline & CG Feldman
Bob and TazE

That snow-covered peak is gorgeous Mt. Baldy.
From here, it’s a much different sight
Than the way it looks from our house
Where it seems rounded and shines ever bright.

Looking east toward the Madison Range
Headed back down the mountain
Beautiful ranch tucked into the hillside
I love seeing the cattle in the field
Newborn lambs with freshly shorn ewes

The weather could not have been
More perfect for this ATV outing.
Life in the Montana mountains is grand!
Keeps me from sitting home – pouting!

TazE hangs out the side, enjoying the views
Back in McAllister
Lucille rides the trailer home
TazE loves taking rides on Lucille,
but now she’s ready to head home now!
Home again…
See Mt. Baldy out there?
I told you it looks rounded from our home.
Strange, huh?

I’m so glad you came to JanBeek today
To join our 2020 launch of Lucille.
Now it’s time to get in the kitchen;
Bob needs a hearty dinner meal.

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

Bee well!
Bee safe!!
See ya tomorrow.

Words Can Be Such Fun!

 BEAUTY PARLOR   
A place where women curl up and dye. 

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com


CHICKENS   
The only animal you eat before they are born and after they are dead. 

    
COMMITTEE   
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours. 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com


DUST   
Mud with the juice squeezed out. 

Photo by Daniel on Pexels.com


EGOTIST   
Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation. 

    
HANDKERCHIEF   
Cold storage.     

INFLATION   
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.   

MOSQUITO 
An insect that makes you like flies better.  

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
A doctrine fostered by a delusional,  illogical minority.    

RAISIN   
A grape with a sunburn.     

SECRET   
A story you tell to one person at a time.  

SKELETON   
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.  

Photo by Chris J Mitchell on Pexels.com


TOOTHACHE
A pain that drives you to extraction. 

TOMORROW       
One of the greatest labor-saving devices of today. 

YAWN   
An honest opinion openly expressed.     

WRINKLES   
Something other people have … similar to my character lines.  

Hah!!

 OLD
I very quietly confided to my friend that I was having an affair.
She turned to me and asked, “Are you having it catered?”
… and that, my friend, is the definition of ‘OLD’!

And just in case you wondered,
NO, by the way, I am not OLD!
80 is the new 40…
Didn’t anybody tell you??

Think young!

Have fun with words and ideas.
See ya tomorrow!

Christmas Time Fun

The season of Christmas is one of my favorites.
It’s a time to socialize with friends and to shop.
It’s a time to enjoy the great outdoors on the slopes.
It’s a time for cards and cookies and eat ’til you pop!

Last night we attended the annual Christmas party that the Madison Valley Medical Center sponsors for its staff and volunteers in the Auxiliary. Bob & I went with our dear neighbors, the Welnas.
Bob & Sue are the greatest neighbors ever!
The Inn was decked out and ready for us. Must have been 100 folks! All part of the Madison Valley Medical Center. We are blessed to have these facilities (hospital and steak house) in/near our little town of Ennis.
This lovely restaurant in McAllister is just 7 miles out of Ennis. They did a super job serving so many people!
This is Ruth, one of our most faithful, long-term auxiliary members. She really gets into the spirit of the season!
Each staff member or auxiliary lady was allowed to bring a guest. My friend, Leah, brought her daughter, Chris. They are such fun!
And now, it’s a lovely day at Big Sky… like I said, “time to enjoy the great outdoors on the slopes.” If you are a ski nut like my husband Bob is, this beautiful photo taken by my friend, Susan Phillips, will start ya salivating!
But I am going to sit by the fire, drink hot chocolate, and write Christmas cards this morning. This is the kind of picture that starts my juices flowing!

What are you up to?
What’s your favorite kind of fun this time of the year?
Have some “Christmas Time Fun”
and tell me all about it!

See ya later.

4-Wheeling in Montana

Today was a beautiful blue-sky day
to go 4-Wheeling on LUCILLE
(our red-headed ATV who is a BALL)

Macatee put-in

We drove in our pick-up pulling Lucille on a trailer
to the Macatee Bridge area about 25 miles south of Ennis.
There we met friends, unloaded the ATVs
and headed up into the Gravelly Range
past the Talc Mine.

Bob -ATV

talc mine

The day could not have been more beautiful!

Sign- Gravelly Range

We had our bear spray with us.
We were headed to the Cottonwood area
where a couple of hunters
were mauled by Grizzleys last week.

6 guys - ATV
There were 6 guys (That’s Bob on the right)
and 3 of us gals

Usies - Jan-Barb-Caroline
Yes, when we got up to 8,000 ft. level at the look out,
it was time to bundle up!
I covered my ears,
Barb covered her neck,
and Caroline covered her head and neck!

Charley on overlook

Barb’s dog, Charley, was not afraid of the cliffs.

TazE in Gravelies-rocky
Our TazE stuck mostly to the rocky lower levels.
Both dogs enjoyed the freedom to explore.

Our goal was to see the Aspen gold-
Autumn in the Rocky Mountains is a spectacular time of year.
The landscape became more beautiful the farther up we traveled.

Wow - Aspen in Autumn

This is what we traveled up the Gravelly Range to the Ruby Valley to see!!

When we got up to Monument Ridge at 9,587 feet,
it was gorgeous, but really cold as the wind
came right off the left-over snow
on the higher mountains.

Black Butte had snow tucked in all its crevices.

Black Butte panorama

Caroline bundled up to stay warm.

Caroline on overlook

Coming back down, we made a potty stop and let the pups do a little more roaming.

ATVs @ bathroom stop

Barb, Don & Charley were ready to be on our way.

Barb &amp; Charley in ATV

We passed at least two dozen of these harvested tree stacks
on our way to and fro.
The forest service has been very busy
cutting down dead trees and clearing out areas
near the road that might cause a fire hazard.

Red barn - Ruby River
Besides the gorgeous golden aspen groves,
my other favorite scene is this red barn on the Ruby River.
Isn’t it gorgeous?

Ruby River - aspen

vibrant aspen grove

We passed some grazing cattle
before following the signs and our friend, Chuck,
who led us back to our vehicles
where we loaded the ATVs and headed home.

beaver dam in Ruby River

See the cool beaver dam we passed on the way down?

Back down in the Madison Valley,
the Madison River,
and the Macatee take-out,
we were ready to return home
and share our great trip with you.

Hope you enjoyed it.
Have a good night.
The End - Lucille
The End!
bob-taze-in-lucille.jpg
See ya tomorrow.

You Have the Power

You Have the Power

This post is dedicated to my #1 Grandson.
He recently graduated from college,
received his well-earned diploma,
and has a couple of part-time jobs,
equaling 100% employment.
It was not an easy road,
but he has tenacity…
He stuck with it.
He did it!

I am so proud of him!

 

z-Perks' Wisdom: Your Power.jpg

Happiness is living life true
In a way that allows you
To be all God made you to be
And doing it on a path of integrity.

No one says it will be easy.
Sometimes it’s light and breezy,
But mostly it’s just hard work
And determination not to shirk.

So, run the race of life with grit.
Set your goal and stick to it.
When times are tough, keep going –
You crossed the finish line  knowing

You Have the Power!

Mike - finished race.jpg

Congratulations, Mike!

Did you, or do you have a person in your life who used their grit and tenacity to achieve a goal in spite of all odds? This post is for you!

And if you are in the midst of a struggle – wondering if the blood, sweat, tears, and heartache, setbacks and discouragements are worth it. Believe in your goals. Believe in yourself. Stick with it.

You have the power!

Have a good night.
It’s my bedtime.

img_8341
See you tomorrow!