We received a call this afternoon from Pfizer (the manufacturer of the medication Bob needs for treatment of his Amyloidosis- congestive heart failure). They have approved his application for assistance and the drug he needs to treat his problem will be in the mail tomorrow. We are grateful beyond measure! God is good! Thank you for your prayers. ❤️🙏🏽🥰
Lotsa smiles today.
Hugs to you, dear friends. Keep the faith. Be sure to express your needs to our merciful Heavenly Father – and believe your prayers are heard. God hears. God cares. Good is good!
Do you ever doubt your niche? Yesterday I posted excerpts from Gottfried’s Banter, a blog whose niche is humor. No, I wasn’t suggesting that my blog should try to fit that niche. Humor like Gottfried’s doesn’t come naturally to me like it does to him.
Gottfried has an oversized funny bone!
No, it’s not numbers, It’s my purpose that dictates My niche and my style.
It’s my gifts that spell The reason for my blogging. How about your niche?
My niche is “Inspiration.”
What’s your intention? Do you need one hundred one Questions to find out?
The Art of Blogging, Cristian Mihai, has questions Yes, one hundred one!
I could write a million reasons to be thankful, couldn’t you?
But if you had a Thankfulness Journal and each day you were only allowed space for five, what would they be today?
I am thankful for these five guys: Ed Platt, Bob Welna, Joe Stokes, Bob Beekman, and John Hauck. They put our stove back in the kitchen and hooked it up and moved our furniture back into the living and dining rooms. God bless ’em!!
2. I am thankful for our Ennis Arts Association and the program Cindy Owings presented to an appreciative audience at the Madison Valley Library today. Cindy’s book, The Purple Blanket, is available on Amazon. What fun it was to receive an autographed copy today!
3. I am so grateful for each new day… but especially the beautiful Madison Range that decorates our eastern landscape and the amazing sunrises that give us such wonderful views as we start the day.
4. I am so grateful for this fun-loving, faithful, generous, huggy character that I get to share my life with. Bob is the love of my life… and I am blessed to have had his companionship for these 60 years. We’ll celebrate our anniversary this Friday, thankful for each day God gives us together.
5. Listed last, but actually first in my life: I am thankful for God’s Word, my ability to read and comprehend it, the joy of sharing it with others, and the promises it holds for every day of life and beyond. Tonight eight of my friends who live in our local nursing home, The Manor, joined me for an hour of Bible Study. I love being with them and sharing selected scripture. So thankful that we can have that precious time together!
Do you have a Gratitude Journal? Do you take time each day to thank God for all your blessings?
If you do, you have discovered (as I have) that naming those reasons to be thankful has a way of magnifying the positive and shrinking your troubles.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow (God willing) Hugs… Bee well!!
I’m thankful for this Attitude of Gratitude. Aren’t you? What five things would you list today?
Good morning, Good Fairy. Thank you for flying on Delta with us this morning. You guided us onto this flight just in time. Do you guide the elderly often?
Ah yes! It’s my job to keep people safe and to grant their every wish
Well, you did a good job so far for us. We got the car into long-term parking and made it onto the plane on time. But what about those two guys who were sitting in our seats?
Heavens! They just wouldn’t listen. Maybe they don’t know how to tune in to their inner fairy. My buddy tried telling them those seats were taken. They wouldn’t listen.
So sometimes Good Fairies need help from earthlings?
Yes, in order to grant my earthling their wishes, often my friends have to run interference for me.
Well, I’m grateful for your assistance. Now, can you keep us safe and comfortable all the way to Rochester?
Bob & I have “2Beeks” on our car’s license plate. With the last name of Beekman, the nickname “Beek” is a natural. Sometimes we catch people driving past us, looking strangely at us. I imagine they are looking to see if we have particularly long noses!
I have a few new followers who joined JanBeek this month. I think WordPress’s “Bloganuary” has brought them here. Thank you!
If you are one of them, you may not have seen the post where I showed our family a few evenings ago sitting around the dinner table discussing our ancestry.
We gave Bob a bad time about his “honker” (beak by another name) and we showed him how he inherited it from his great-grandfather! Tonight we are giving Bob a bad time for another reason: His honker is doing a lot of honking! He has RSV.
This respiratory virus put him in the hospital in Napa on January 1st. What a way to start the new year, huh? RSV is nasty! After spending the night there, he was dismissed Jan. 2nd and we were able to travel back to our son’s to recuperate.
This is not the way we hoped to begin the new year. But the good news is we had the option of coming back to Placerville – it was a sunny CA day today. The recuperation time is greatly appreciated!
Bob’s cough is getting better… and soon we will be able to hit the road and return home to Montana. It’s not what we intended, of course, for this “vacation.” We wanted to visit friends in Pebble Beach – and spend time with Bob’s brothers in the CA valley.
But, we are grateful that when this curve ball was thrown at us, we had a beautiful alternative. Thank God for loving family and friends, right? God has a plan for why this has happened!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
God knew we needed more rest and relaxation! Our house isn’t ready to return there now anyway!
Our soft and marred fir floor’s being replaced with amazing old wood from a 1921 silo!
We hope your year has started off happily. We pray you’re healthy and dong what you want to do. We trust the Lord has us right where He wants us. And we hope, dear friends, the same is true for you.
Happy New Year!
What’s an update on what’s happening in your life? I’d love to know how your New Year began. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
At the doctor’s office this week, the physician asked us how long we’d been married. As a couple in our 80’s, that’s a question we hear Often in these days of hurry and scurry from the harried.
When we say it’ll be 60 years next February, they say, “Congratulations, Wow!” and then they ask, “What’s the secret to such a long relationship?” They can see our smiles through our masks.
“Mutual respect,” I say. “And Faith,” Bob adds. “We pray together daily because we believe those who pray together stay together.” The doc asks, “Do you have other tips up your sleeve?”
“Of course,” Bob responds with a twinkle, “Never stop showing how much you care!” And I reinforced the idea, “Mutual respect is a must. Add the element of trust – and be willing to openly share.”
“At the same time,” I must add, “Remember this: We are individuals who need to be allowed space. We’re not connected at the hip, and we can go our separate ways while sharing this place.”
Respecting one another means we value the uniqueness each of us brings to our marriage relationship – and its OK for one of us to fiddle while the other one sings.
It’s OK for me to be in the bell choir and blog while Bob watches Monday Night football. It’s OK for him to prefer history or sports while I read a novel or make a phone call.
It’s OK for Bob to sit for a while and read while I clean off the table after dinner. But when it comes time to do the dishes, Get up and help if you wanna win her!
It’s Ok to divide some of the chores. I don’t wanna learn to mow the lawn! And Bob can’t turn on the washing machine; but share some tasks – don’t be withdrawn!
Does that mean we always agree? That we never argue with each other? No, not at all… we’re human after all! But we don’t fight with one another!
You can disagree with mutual respect. The key to that statement is to listen. Honor your partner’s right to an opinion – and enjoy equality – not one forcing dominion.
What’s the secret to a long, happy relationship? Mutual respect, shared faith, and trust – equal rights, space, avoiding fights, and time apart every now & then – if you must!
Bob enjoys fishing… I don’t!
I enjoy volunteering at the Food Bank or Nursing Home – that’s not in Bob’s sweet spot!
We both enjoy a nice glass of wine with a tasty meal – and occasionally eating out. It’s important to find some common ground otherwise you’ll smile less and increase your pout!
So, my friends, what’s the bottom line? God helped us find each other from the start – And through the years we’ve leaned on Him for help. We thank the Lord for His loving heart!
Gratitude can’t be left our of the equation. Don’t forget to thank Jesus and remember to say “Thank you” to one another every day. Thank Heaven, our love is here to stay!
Hah! Do you think I should learn to fish?
What are your secrets to a long and happy marriage? I wish you a life-time of mutual love and respect.
Grandson, Nick, and his girlfriend, Céline, joined us for Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for family who come all the way from Switzerland to share time with us!
(See the bottom of the post for numbers 2-9 explaining the rest of the photos. Try to guess what you think I may say about each before you peek down there!)
2. Neighbor/friend, “Whooter” (Greg Winden, came at 8:30 am to help Bob prepare the smoker and to help me put the finishing touches on the turkey. I am so grateful for such caring, generous folks. We are blessed to live in this “hood!”
3. Thanksgiving is a day to be shared. I am thankful for those who joined us to make the day festive.
4 – 5. There’s Whooter helping Bob get the bird in the smoker. And there’s the turkey ready to be carved. I am grateful for Whooter’s tip: stuff the turkey with chunks of apple and orange! It kept the meat so moist! Have you ever done that with your turkey or baked chicken??
6. That’s our friend, Kathy, with Nick & Céline, and our pastor/friend, Mary Grace enjoying a few before dinner refreshments on Thanksgiving Day. Those hors d’oeuvres are part of Thanksgiving “trimmings”!
7. Meantime, in Switzerland our daughter, DeAna was having her own reasons to give thanks. Duchess (Pipo’s queen cow) gave birth to a healthy calf (a future queen for sure) and we gave thanks for his gift of naming her after our De! The calf ids (Diana – pronounced Deanna in French)! It’s quite an honor!!
8. That’s SureShot Lake … frozen over and dehydrated. We gave thanks for the fun of driving up there yesterday, but we’re disappointed to see how low it is. Those dirt mounds out there generally are under water!
9. Most mornings I start my day with a very special “Good morning” and a picture of the sunrise with prayers from my friend, Lisa, in S. Carolina.
Do you have a special friend who prays for you daily and greets you with his/her sunrise? If so, you are blessed indeed! I know for sure that I am!
What else contributed to your day of turkey and trimmings? I’m still celebrating… just finished a bowl of turkey soup made from the leftovers. Yum!
Enjoy your Saturday night, my friends. See ya Sunday. When I count my blessings, you’re right up there with the turkey!! Yup, part of the trimmings!
Bob & me on our 59th anniversary- It’ll be 60 in February!!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week, too. Can’t let this weekend pass without telling you how much I appreciate your visits here. Posting on WordPress is one of my favorite hobbies – and it wouldn’t be worth a darn if it weren’t for you. God bless you! Thanks for commenting and telling me a little about those things that count on your list of blessings.
Bee well! See ya tomorrow (God willing)… Love, JanBeek
MMMmmm, it was good! We loved sharing – comparing Naming – Enjoying!
Illuminate Home Get ready to share your meal Thank God for your friends
I thank God for you I pray for health and safety For each one of you.
Tell me about your Thanksgiving. I hope your day is filled with good food, Good friends, and lots of great conversation.
I am sorry that some were unable to come Because not all are vaccinated and some Feel vulnerable with this darn COVID-19 Still threatening to infect even those with Boosters.
I pray for an end to this pandemic And for all who can do so to go and get the vaccine. Embrace illumination – shine your light on healthy choices! But, it is not for me to judge… if you choose not to, You have your reasons – and I love you anyway.
Just BEEEEE SAFE! And Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Missing my sis…
Keeping you in my prayers. Thanks for visiting today. See ya tomorrow (God willing)… Love, JanBeek
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”
Life can beat us down with trials, sorrows and debilitating worries. God’s messages about our future hope can deeply encourage, inspire, uplift and motivate us.
Don’t worry; be happy!
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.”
Psalm 16:9
“‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’”
Lamentations 3:24
H ang O n to P ositivity and E ncouragement
As we prepare to return to Bozeman today for more lab work and a bone marrow biopsy for Bob, our hearts are full of gratitude for all the love and support extended to us during this time of tests, unknowing, waiting, and hopefulness. Our faith is strong and our prayers are many. Your prayers for Bob’s good results and proper/effective treatment are heard, we’re sure. Our God cares. Our God’s got this! We can rest in this knowledge. We can feel His loving arms around us. Thank you all!
I will keep you posted as we learn more. Yesterday the gastroenterologist (GI doctor) confirmed that the blood in the stool is not colon cancer… and the cause is more superficial. That was an answer to prayer. Today we are praying the bone marrow scan confirms that this is not AL Amyloidosis (a cancer in the marrow). The doctors are busy trying to rule things out so when they send us to Mayo Clinic, the experts there can move on to finding what type it IS (if in fact it IS that rare disorder)… and then a proper treatment can begin. The symptoms include a lower functioning of both the heart and the kidneys resulting in lack of stamina. That’s really hard for this guy who is used to hard, physical work and never having to think twice about what he is capable of doing!
Meantime, we start each day with grateful hearts for our friends here on WP, our supportive neighbors and family, and our God who holds us all in His care.
God bless you. Have a wonderful Thursday. Embrace Hopefulness!
Love, JanBeek
The Bozeman Library is a great place to be while I wait for Bob’s procedures to be finished!
“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances…”
With the right attitudes, we can be young at heart no matter what our chronological age may be.
No, we are still young… Young at heart! Can’t you see it?
Psalm 92:12-15
“12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
Psalm 70:4
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
Each day has its own personality. There will be happy and sad days. Some will be quiet and restful, while others will be filled with activity.
Some will be brimming with health, others will find you facing unexpected challenges.
But, whatever the circumstance, you can find moments of delight – and you can thrive as you see the blessings hidden – even in the worst of times.
This week I learned that my friend, Paul, who was scheduled to replace our wood floor (while we are gone next month on a trip to Europe) fell off a ladder and broke some ribs. In addition to the body aches, he was suffering massive headaches. So, the doctor took x-rays.
The x-rays revealed that Paul had a brain tumor! If he had not fallen off that ladder, there might not have been the x-rays to reveal the tumor. He had brain surgery yesterday morning. The report came that “all is well.”
I don’t know if that means the tumor was benign, or if it means they got it all and he will be fine. Maybe it means all three! But, I know Who has the answers… and I know He hears my prayers.
I know everything happens for a reason… and I know God is in charge. I am so grateful the tumor was discovered! So, I can EMBRACE GOOD CHEER!
I am grateful for the faith I have that allows me to behold life through the eyes of hope and positivity.
Colors are brighter, laughter comes easier, and the joy of simply being alive sets the tone for daily celebration of life’s infinite possibilities.
On this day of remembrance (9-11), may you – with love and reverence – embrace the good cheer of memories that cherish the family members, friends, co-workers, and tireless volunteers who have made a mark upon your life.
May those memories inspire you to live with such integrity, creativity, faith, and love, that one day the memory of you will bring good cheer to all who know you.
Be in prayer for those who are hurting. Be in prayer for all who are in danger. Be in prayer for all who live in fear.
Be in prayer for those who need happiness to knock on their door today.
You’re in my prayers. God bless you with good cheer!
Written
on November 27, 2021