grandchildren | JanBeek

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Posts tagged ‘grandchildren’

There Are Angels Among Us

Angels are with us
In every walk of our life
Most have hidden wings

My angel friend, Terry, sent me this Jana Stanfield video.
She said I am her angel.
Truth is: she is mine!

Can it be that we serve one another
As angels here on earth?
Can it be that you are one, too?

Look at these darling children.
Each of them is an angel here on earth.
They just keep their wings hidden!
(Except for the cymbalist… I think I see his wings peeking out!)

“Somewhere amongst them,
or betwixt them,
or gazing adoringly up at them
just like you,
here I am.”

That was a sentence I captured
on a blog yesterday, but didn’t get the author’s name.
I apologize. If you know who wrote this,
please tell me in the comments below and I’ll add it.
It is angelic writing, don’t you agree?

I have a host of angels here on earth
who bring God’s love to me on a daily basis.
I bet you do, too.
Think about them today.
Reach out and thank them today
for the joy they bring to you.

Some of my Angels

Our #2 daughter Laina, and my hubby, Bob

This is Bob’s older brother, Bill, with his wife, Margie.
Bob’s family members are angels in our lives.

With them is our son, Ty, and daughter-in-love, Monika.
We are so blessed to have Tyroneee and Moni as angels among us.

Here is Terry
(the friend who sent me Jana Stanfield’s angel song)
with her husband, our friend, Jim.
Can you just see what angels they are?
We call Terry “SPARKLES!”
She sparkles with love and compassion.

When I came home from the hospital after my recent hernia surgery, Terry sent Bob to get me at the hospital with this angel blanket that’s now draped over my bedroom chair. That’s what angel friends do: they wrap you warmly in their loving arms… and send you kisses!

This collage of photos from my sister, Sally, has several angels pictured on it. My dad to start with – bottom center – what an angel! My sis and my niece, Jodie with her son, Liam and husband, Bill. They are angels in my life, too.

And if you look closely, you can see Sally with TazE… our Boston Terrier. She was going to be named “Angel.” I had that name all picked out for her – until we met her!! TazE was a Tasmanian Devil (Taz) with E for Ears to match her bouncy personality and oversized ears. No, she was not an angel at all. But she has quieted down in her old age (she’s nine now) and maybe she qualifies as an angel in my life at this time. You think?

Chris is one of my three Swiss grandsons. He lived with us for a while last year … and was such an angel in our lives. Our seven grandchildren continue to be angels. Here is my youngest granddaughter, Faith (now 24) … Of course, she’s an angel in our lives!

I hope you have a BFF – (Best Friend Forever) – a long term angel friend – someone you can count on in all circumstances – someone like my friend, Marcie:

She just called me while I was creating this blog…
just to express condolences about my cousin, Cliff.
What a thoughtful, sweet, angel friend Marcie is!!

We all have angels in our lives. People we will love until the end of time… people who exude God’s love. They are compassionate and considerate. They seem to know when we need them and they are there at the most important times. God bless the angels among us!

Each of you who comes to JanBeek
and bothers to read and comment is
An Angel of Mine!

What you mean to me, you’ll never know….
You came at just the right time into my life-
and I want to share it with you…
I appreciate you so much!

Tell me abut some of your angels!

See you tomorrow.
((( Hugs )))
JanBeek

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Belief, blessings, children, Faith, Family, friendship, Giving, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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This Cliff-Dweller is Heavy-Hearted

My heart is heavy.
God answered my fervent prayer.
So why am I sad?

My cousin, Cliff, died.
I received the news today:
God answered my prayer.

I prayed for freedom –
Freedom from this earthy pain.
Our God is faithful.

His family gathered;
All his loved ones surrounded,
And God took him home.

God of Great Mercy,
Thank you for answering prayer.
Now, heal my heart’s hole!

Cliff & Janine
with their two daughters
and sons-in-law,
two sons,
daughter-in-law,
and three grandsons

Cliff and Janine are two of my favorite people in the world!
And now Cliff has left this world…
but he lives on in the hearts of all of us who will always love him.

Janine’s mom is my second cousin, Betty.
Her mom was my mom’s oldest sister’s oldest daughter.

That sounds rather confusing and maybe like a “distant relative”… but there is nothing distant about my relationship with Janine. I was twelve when my family drove from California to Washington to visit mom’s family near Seattle in Issaquah…
and to meet Aunt Evelyn’s first grandchild.

Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Hans were my first connection to the land of Switzerland which claimed our daughter DeAna about two dozen years later! Uncle Hans immigrated from the German part of Switzerland to the state of Washington. Their daughter, my cousin, Betty, with her husband, Nick, lived right across the alleyway from her parents. Knowing we were there, she came over with her new baby, Janine. You know my name in JAN – and so I immediately claimed JANine as my own!!

I was there for Cliff and Janine’s wedding. I claim Cliff as my cousin, too!

Cliff was “Opa” to his three grandsons.
A more doting and loving grandfather never graced this earth!
I am so sad that those three boys will not have
the presence of the Opa as they grow into adulthood.
And the youngest one is too little
to have lasting memories of him.
It makes me cry!

Cliff was a robust man
– a former University of Washington champion rower –
weighing over 200 pounds most of his adult life.
Cancer and the chemo treatments
wasted away his body and took away his strength
– and eventually his life.
But his spirit lives on.

He’ll remain strong and robust forever
in all of us who knew and loved him.

We are a vast array of Cliff-Dwellers!

Love and condolences to
Hans, Stefan, Janine, Heidi, and Erika

God bless you, my Word Press family.
Thank you for praying for my cousin, JANine, and her family.
See ya tomorrow.
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, children, Faith, Family, God, Haiku, Heartache, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Sharing

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Meet Faithful and Faith

Here is Faithful:

Faithful is a Yellowstone moose. He’s 14 years old! When our granddaughter, Faith, was about 10 years old, she visited us here in Montana. As a family, we visited Yellowstone Park. She and her three siblings each were given a little money to select a souvenir from the gift shop. As kids typically do, they chose something for themselves. But, Faith was not typical. She selected this moose – and gave it to me as a present … a thank you for their visit.

Today is Faith and her husband, Kyle’s wedding anniversary. They were married a year ago. Faith is as thoughtful a young lady as she was as a little ten-year-old. Every morning I say a special prayer for Faith and Kyle as I make my bed, and put “Faithful” back in his central place of honor in front of the pillows.

Fourteen years has taken its toll on Old Faithful. His hat is torn – and it was chewed a little by TazE when she was a puppy. But still, I cherish this little stuffed moose.

I tuck the torn hat in under his antler and ask the Lord,

“Please watch over Faith and Kyle.
Tuck them under Your wings, O Lord,
just as I tuck Faithful’s hat under his ear.
Give them health and happiness,
love and longevity.
Keep them safe.
And help them lean on Your love
and their Faithfulness
this day and every day.
Amen.”

May they love with a universal love –
always generous,
compassionate,
grateful and hopeful,
brave and forgiving,
proud and yet humble.

Here is Faith – on her wedding day –
dancing with her dad, our son, Ty.

Do you have children?
Or grandchildren?
How about great-grandchildren?
The most important gift you can give them is the gift of daily prayer.

God bless you, Faith and Kyle. And both our children and their families.
Yes, we are so blessed.
Thank You, God,
for You are always FAITHFUL!

See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Love, prayer, relationships

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Family Connections

Family Connections

Baby robins often hover
Near the nest that was their home.
Soon they’ll spread their wings
And farther they will roam.

Like those little robins,
Our children need to fly –
Spread their wings and explore
The vastness of the sky.

But in this COVID world,
We’ve lost the freedom to soar.
Our children may be caught
Somewhere – longing for more.

If you’ve followed my blog for a year or more, you’ve met this young couple before. They are my grandson, Chris, from Switzerland, and the love of his life, Natalia, who lives in Colombia. Just before this pandemic hit us, Chris traveled to Colombia to meet his on-line girlfriend and her family in person. Now, the two must tuck in their wings and live with the limitations again of on-line romance. Neither is free to travel and face-to-face with the other.

When they were 2 and 4, this brother-sister duo joined our family. Hope Morgan and Samuel Leland were in foster care and God knew they needed to be Beekmans! Now Hope lives here – only a hour from us in Big Sky – and Samuel (who has special needs) had been living happily in a group home near Sacramento. They are now in their late 20’s.

Hope has two of our three great-grandchildren.

Samuel, in the group home, has been in a quarantine mode since this pandemic hit. Life is pretty empty when you can’t go out – and you can’t have visitors. Some of you may know the feeling. Family Connections are SO important!

Family Gatherings

Years ago, when the grandchildren were teens, we would often drive or fly to be together as a family. Now the family is spread out over several states and even across into Europe. Family Connections are sooo important to us! We live in Montana, and this group shot was taken at a gathering in California.

In the picture above you see (l to r) nephew Zak, Samuel, Bob’s sister Bonnie, her husband Stan, sister-in-law Ann beside Bob’s brother, Bruce, granddaughter Faith with her sister Hope (I’m between them), Bob, grandson Jordan, and behind him – daughter-in-law Monika (mom of Sam, Jordan, Hope & Faith) and lastly, Bob’s sister-in-law Marge. I think our son, Ty was taking the picture.

Yes, Family Connections are important to all of us!!

Gathering the Flock

When will we be able to gather the flock again? Is there a foreseeable end to this isolation?

Ty and Monika were so concerned about Sam and his isolation in the group home that they went yesterday to get him. He is now living back in the nest! God bless them for responding to the felt need!

Sam (left) with two friends at Sam’s high school graduation

Returning to the Nest

Sam may not be able to hug friends and visit up close during this pandemic, but at least from his home, he has his parents to hug, and he can see friends from a safe social distance. He is no longer isolated. Social connections are so important to our mental and physical health!

So, unlike the robin parents,
We are free to go and rescue.
Thank you, Ty and Monika,
For returning Sam to the nest and to you!

God bless you!

Have a Happy Weekend.
I hope you have opportunities to make Family Connections.
Tell me about them!

Love ya,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, happiness, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Montana, Poetry, relationships

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Fireworks, Music, and Parades

I’m watching the TV fireworks broadcasts in New York, Minneapolis, Cookesville, and Houston … big cities with great big fireworks displays all over the USA tonight.

But, the music to go with the fireworks just didn’t do it for me. San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies are wonderful, but no, sorry, I need PATRIOTIC music to go with the fireworks! Rhapsody in Blue?? Just didn’t fit!! Try this one:

Oh, maybe we are trying to avoid the subject of battles on this holiday?
Wasn’t it a battle won that won our nation’s freedom from England?

Well then, how about this one:

Or how about celebrating our Independence Day
by recognizing our
INTERDEPENDENCE?

We need one another …
We need our One God…
We need to celebrate and
STRIVE FOR UNITY.

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

One thing that unifies us is our love for family, right?
We all want the world to be a better place for our children.
A modern version of “The World is One” is playing now.
Ah yes, our children unite us.
Did you get to spend time with your children or grandchildren today?

Sienna and Xander, my great-grandchildren brightened my day.

Isn’t that little Sienna a cutie?
TazE is peeking around the corner here.

Here is Hope, our granddaughter, and her husband, Drew –
– parents of those two dear great-grandchildren –
We’re so glad they came to visit today.

On my post this morning, I told you we were not going to have our Ennis 4th of July Parade this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, our neighbors, the Welnas, fixed that problem. They have their grandchildren visiting them, and so we had a private parade provided by the kids! (With a little help from their moms and grandparents)

We brought our chairs and a flag out to the front lawn when we heard the parade coming.
TazE saw them coming… she was all ears!!

Low Budget – High Quality
Best Parade Ever!!

Two moms, two grandparents and three little boys…
One of the boys dropped his bike and ran after TazE!

They gave their necklaces to us… such fun!
And notice the other child in the parade –
He’s the little one asleep in the stroller!

Here are the two moms… great sports…
Helping their little ones experience their very own parade.
Too much fun!

How about this patriotic grandma?
Sue Welna is such a good sport!
Don’t you love her antennae?

Bob & I have never enjoyed a parade more than this one!!

Oh, by the way,
remember that one surviving petunia
I showed you a few days ago?
Look at our wheelbarrow now!
The antelope don’t like that solar light…
Good tip for keeping your plants safe from your neighborhood animals!

I hope you had a Happy Independence Day.
You can see we did!
Our Pastor Steve and his dear wife, Elaine, joined us for BBQ dinner.
That was the frosting on the cake of a great day.

See ya tomorrow, my friends.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, flowers, friendship, Gratitude, happiness, holidays, Love, Montana, music, pets, relationships

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Image

Birthday in Big Sky

Travel with me from Ennis, Montana to Big Sky and back. Let’s celebrate my great-granddaughter’s first birthday!

It was a beautiful blue-sky, puffy cloud day. We left in plenty of time to get to the party by 1:00 PM. But, 23 miles out of Ennis, we ran out of gas!

The nearest gas station was 23 miles back where we came from!

But luckily, we had friends who lived just three miles from where we were, and my cell phone was still in a working range. So I called Nancy and she sent Marty with 1/2 gallon of gas. It was enough to get us back to Ennis. He followed us to make sure we’d make it. Oh my, what good friends!!

There’s the birthday girl, my great-granddaughter, Sienna, with our granddaughter, Hope. We were supposed to be there at 2: It was almost 4: by the time we arrived, but no one had eaten all the cupcakes yet!

Sienna was too busy eating Cheeto puffs!

The party was in this gorgeous setting right on the Gallatin River.

We had BBQed hamburgers before heading back home. We went the “other way,” through Four Corners rather than through Gallatin Gateway to avoid the road construction that delayed our arrival at the party.

The ride home was along the Gallatin River and through the Canyon that separates Madison and Gallatin Counties. Beautiful scenery!

The sky clouded even more as we returned home to Ennis, but the rain held off. It was a beautiful day – and a treat to celebrate Sienna’s #1 birthday with her.

Do you have grandchildren or great-grandchildren?
Do you get to celebrate their birthdays with them?

Thanks for joining me.
See ya tomorrow.
Have a Happy Saturday night.
Hugs, JanBeek

Written

on June 6, 2020

Awesome Weekend

I’ll see you in my prayers.
I pray your weekend is a happy, healthy one.
Bee well!

Oh, but before I leave you,
let me show you
my darling great-grandson,
Xander Cantwell,
who celebrated his 3rd birthday this week.

Xander tried to blow out the candle on his cake,
but he doesn’t know how to blow yet.
Tried to get the flame to go out by spitting on it!
That’s the piece he got to eat.
Ah memories!!
I bet he’ll know how to blow
by his next birthday!

Enjoy your Saturday!
See ya tomorrow.

Virtual hugs from
JanBeek

Category:

children, Family, food, Life's Challenges, Love

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Marvelous Moms

Our marvelous moms

Their unconditional love

Speaks eternally

Love to moms whose children are distanced by this pandemic

Love to our adopted moms/ AFS moms/ chosen children

Our son, Ty, and his beautiful spouse, Monika, mother of 4 of our grandkids

Special love this day to wanna-be moms who would’ve if they could’ve

And extra love ❤️ this day to all the guys who made us moms… and grammies…

Love to all future moms on this day, too. I pray they marry first!!

Happy Mum’s Day!

Category:

blessings, children, Family, God, Gratitude, holidays, Love, relationships

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Where ya Headed?

Philippians 3:13

“… forgetting what is behind
and straining toward
what is ahead,
press on toward the goal
to win the prize
for which God has called me
heavenward…”

Looking Back

I need you to see a photo of my youngest granddaughter when she was a little baby. Read on and I’ll tell you why I want you to see this on a post that’s all about where you’re headed. Here’s Faith Austynn Beekman:

Faith was adopted at birth by our son, Ty, and his wife Monika. The story of her adoption is a good one for another day. But for now, let me fast-forward:

Faith has grown to be a woman of great faith. This photo of her between her two grandmothers was taken two years before she graduated from High School. I tried to find my photo of her at her graduation, but this was as close as I came to it.

Ah, tenacity… it paid off… I found it! Here Faith is with us on the day of her graduation. Look at how much taller she is! Or did I just shrink?

Why do you think it was so important to see Faith on her graduation day – on this post titled, “Where ya Headed?” Well, a scripture with ta similar message as Philippians 3:13 – was printed on the top of her commencement hat! Hebrews 12:1 …

Looking Ahead

Fast forward again. Here is Faith with her fiance’, Kyle McSparron, on the day of their engagement:

And here they are at the rehearsal dance the day before their wedding:

Faith’s life so far is a fairy tale of love and success and faithful direction. Obedience to God and to her parents’ teachings, adherence to Biblical Principles, and the tenacity to “run with endurance the race God has set before [her]” are criterion that characterize her young life.

Living the Race

Faith and Kyle joined her parents (our son) Ty and Monika with their dog, Nakota at our home for Thanksgiving last year. Kyle has an electrical business that is suffering the downturn caused by this COVID-19 pandemic. He needs our prayers as he works to keep the company afloat.

Faith is working for the state of Nevada as a “Disaster Preparedness Advisor” (that may not be the exact title, but you get the idea. Her job is particularly vital right now… and much can be done on-line. Moving forward, we can see the two of them are living Hebrews 12:1 as fully as possible.

Bob & I are in our pj’s in that photo because it was very early on the morning they were leaving to head back to California.

“Don’t look back. You’re not headed that way!”

Looking Forward

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”

I don’t know to whom I should attribute that quote, but it sounds like somebody like Billy Graham would have said it… or Mother Theresa.” And I know it is so true. God is in charge of where I’m headed. If today’s world and our circumstances are any indication, then we know the path to where we’re going is a rocky one. The only way to navigate it is through faith and prayer.

See that moose on my bed? When Faith was about 6 or 7, she and her family came to visit us. We spent a day in Yellowstone National Park. It’s ony an hour’s drive from our home. At the end of the visit, she and her three siblings were given the opportunity to go into the gift shop and buy themselves something to help them remember the trip. Faith bought this moose – and then gave it to me! She has such a loving heart!

If you saw my tribute to Ken Hall on my blog
a few days ago, you saw that photo above the bed,
but I didn’t show you “Faithful” – my moose.

Each morning when I make my bed, I place “Faithful,” this little moose in front of the pillows, and I say a prayer for Faith and Kyle. I thank God for Faithful, my reminder of my granddaughter Faith – and I thank Him for her and her faith, for her beautiful marriage to Kyle, and I ask God to watch over them.

May God watch over you today, too, my friends.
And may He guide you as you
“Run with endurance the race He set before you.”
Look to a bright future…
It’s coming!
Face Forward –
That’s where you’re headed.

See ya tomorrow.
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, happiness, life, Love, Memories, Montana, prayer, relationships

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Keep An Open Mind

Do You Know?

When Bob and I had the privilege of working with a young man from Pakistan who needed help learning to read and write English and eventually pass his GED (I think that stands for Graduation Equivalent Diploma), one of the hardest things to teach Zahid was three little words: “I don’t know.”

My adult children will tell you that their mom had the same problem. When they were little and would ask me a question, I was sure that a good mom always had an answer… and it was not supposed to be “I don’t know.”

It took them years to catch on to the fact that Mom was a good faker, and they should not swallow hook, line and sinker everything she told them!

Be Discerning

It was not so difficult for my grandchildren to discern my {{{BS}}} from the truth, however. See that middle kid up there, the one with the all-knowing smirk? He caught on right away to Grammy’s elaborate answers! Full of sarcasm and wonderful wit, he had the best comebacks – and taught me my come-uppance!

What? You’re wondering what took me so long? Did I really live to be a grandmother before I learned, “Intelligence isn’t knowing everything, it’s the ability to challenge everything you know?” Ask Nicky!

“Be discerning” means we have to question the validity of everything we see and hear! Even if it comes from what we THINK is a “reliable” source. Challenge it!! Especially in this COVID-19 climate that has become so politicized.

Be Positive, But…

It’s one thing to be positive, but it’s another thing to be gullible!

Yesterday I heard one of the news reporters telling us that there are people out there recommending that those tested positive with Coronavirus should take a healthy dose of bleach … Clorox … that it would kill the virus. Ya, well, it’ll kill YOU, too!

Yes, we want to believe that when all this is over (and of course that’ll be by April 1st when we can all go back to work, right?) … we want to believe that the “new normal” will be hunky dory. Games will sell out (NOT!). It may be 2022 before we are even allowed to congregate in stadiums again!

Restaurants will have a two-hour wait. Heck, that’s true of Food Bank lines in big cities already!

Every kid will be glad to be back in school. Of course, and I have a bridge to sell you!

Be Hopeful

While we are keeping an open mind, being discerning and positive, avoiding the hype and maintaining a level head in all this, it is essential that we keep HOPE alive.

Believe that good will come of all this when the dust settles. Be a part of the solution by staying at home if you can, and by wearing a mask when you go out into a public place. And most important of all, keep your faith alive!

God so loved the world – that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him – should not perish, but have everlasting life! Keep that faith alive. Indeed, God is in charge… and He loves you and me!

Spread Your Joy and Kindness

There may be those out there who will read the first part of that first meme on this blog, “Consider evidence that contradicts your beliefs and admit that you may be wrong…” and will challenge what you say. Just as wise-beyond-his-years-Nicky challenged my implausible answers to his questions, listen to their doubts.

Listen to the folks who have a different point of view. Respect their right to believe as they do. Examine the validity of what you think is true. And if you are convinced you’re right, go ahead and stick to your guns. But, do so with kindness and respect.

Maintain your joy… and spread your kindness in this puzzling, troubled world. Honey works better than vinegar every time!!

Don’t you agree?
See ya tomorrow.

Bee well!!

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, children, learning, life, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, relationships, respect, teaching, truth

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Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘grandchildren’

Some of my Angels

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Family Connections

Family Gatherings

Gathering the Flock

Returning to the Nest

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Looking Back

Looking Ahead

Living the Race

Looking Forward

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Do You Know?

Be Discerning

Be Positive, But…

Be Hopeful

Spread Your Joy and Kindness

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