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Posts tagged ‘growing’

Embrace Your Journey

The word “Race” implies competition when you “Run the Race.”
But life lived in competition rather than collaboration is a lonely one.
When I was an elementary school principal back in the 1980’s,
I wrote our school theme song using the California Poppies tune.

The California Poppies song went like this:

“Poppies, golden poppies, gleaming in the sun,
Closing up at evening when the day is done.
Pride of California, flower of our state,
Growing from the mountains to the Golden Gate.”

The words I wrote for our Caswell Elementary School in California were:

We’re the Caswell Cougars.
We are Number One!
Green and yellow banners
Waving in the sun.
Caswell is a place for
Learning and for fun.
We’re the Caswell Cougars;
We are Number One!”

One of my fellow principals objected to our song.
She felt I was in competition with her school.
I responded, “There’s room at the top
for more than one.
Come up and join us!”

As I have journeyed through this life,
I am going and growing.
I am understanding better
where my colleague was coming from.

Thirty years later I can look back
And I can see my competitive spirit
At work in that school song…
Unintended yes, but obvious to others.



If life is viewed as a race,
then there is room for only one at the top.
The race goes to the swiftest.
But a journey has room for many.

Hold my hand as we walk this path.
Pray with me. stay by my side.
Soon enough we will reach the mountain top
And when we do, celebrate with me.

Today Bob & I are journeying to Oregon
where we will join his sister and her family.
We will gather to give back to one another
The love we have shared on this life’s journey.

We will hear the echo of Bonnie’s husband
As their daughter and son speak of the ways
Their dad sent out, sowed, and radiated love
During his 86 years here on this earth.

As we travel today, Bob and I acknowledge
The grace of God that has allowed us to share
These six decades with one another –
And we take not one of those chapters for granted.

Stan Hunt’s chapters on earth have ended,
But we know his story doesn’t end here.
We know death is not an end to our journey;
It is a beginning of our eternal life – forever with our Lord.

We will share, hug, and weep for our loss,
And we will assure one another of the faith we have.
We know we will see one another in eternity.
We will continue the journey – writing our masterpiece!

Have a beautiful Sunday, my friends.
I send you my love
as we journey this life together.

See ya tomorrow (God willing),
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Faith, Family, Giving, God, life, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, peace, relationships, Travel

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God Loves Vintage

Yes, God loves Vintage
He’s into restoration
Strips away the old

Finds the rust pockets
Things we never knew we had
Old is gone; new’s here!

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2Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come:
The old has gone,
the new is here.”

Does that mean we need to discard the old and buy the new instead?

Not necessarily!
God is into restoration, remember?
Some old things are priceless!

Photo by Hisham Zayadnh on Pexels.com
Photo by Yaroslav Danylchenko on Pexels.com
And these priceless treasures should not be tampered with!
(Well, I guess a chuckle is needed in these trying times!)

There are some aged ones who are wise beyond imagination.
They deserve to be heard!
(Well, this grandma isn’t really aged… is she?)

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas on Pexels.com

Wizened aged ones
deserve to be preserved
and appreciated
.
However, I learned that my grandmother’s old Victrola
was worth much more in its original state – before I had it restored!!
Preservation and restoration are not always one in the same.

But, I believe every soul is in need of constant restoration. Just as we need to remove the rust from the old cars to restore and preserve them, we need to remove those rusty spots from our hearts. You know what they are:

  • greed
  • anxiety
  • lust
  • jealousy
  • hatred
  • grudges

God can help us replace the rusty spots with:

  • generosity
  • peace
  • Agape love
  • compassion
  • joy
  • forgiveness
Ask the Lord to help you.
Train your mind –
Restore your soul.

I’m like Vintage wine.
I think I improve with age.
God grants me wisdom.

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James 1:5

“But if any of you lacketh wisdom,
let him ask God,
who giveth to all liberally
and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.”

Yes, the Bible is old … a Vintage Book …
and the language of the King James version
really is old.

Gratefully, the old scripture, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and ancient copies of the Torah or the Tanakh were not discarded. And as scholars are busy writing new, modern translations of the Bible, we still have the old language. It sings to me and rings true, and teaches me to study and keep learning. When I come to an archaic word that escapes me, I use http://www.dictionary.com and I increase my vocabulary. I may be vintage, but I am a life-long learner… constantly renewing my mind and seeking to learn.

Upbraideth:
root word: upbraid
to find fault with or reproach severely; censure

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Like this wise, old owl,
let’s keep our eyes open to new opportunities.
Let’s keep our minds open to new learning.
Let’s keep our spirits open to renewal.
Let’s keep our hearts open to restoration.

I may be vintage, but I’m not old in my eyes.
My mind and spirit and heart are ready for daily restoration.
How about yours?

Have a Super Sunday!

See ya later!

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Haiku, learning, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, peace, Poetry

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Are You a Writer?

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What’s a Writer?

How do you define a writer? Are you one?

Not everyone who reads my blog has a blog of their own. Not everyone who writes a blog has anything published anywhere else.

Must you write a blog or have something published in order to consider yourself a writer?

Does writing in a journal qualify you to call yourself “Writer”?

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When you create a grocery list or a list of your “To-Do’s” for today, you are writing. Does that make you a “Writer”?

Definition of Writer

—noun

  1. a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.
  2. a clerk, scribe, or the like.
  3. a person who commits his or her thoughts, ideas, etc., to writing
  4. (in a piece of writing) the author (used as a circumlocution for “I,” “me,” “my,” etc.): The writer wishes to state….
  5. a person who writes or is able to write: a writer in script.
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The Key to Being a Writer

The key to being a writer lies for me in the definitions number 3 and 5 above. It’s so obvious!

To be a writer, you must write! You must commit your thoughts and ideas to writing! Not just the ability to write (like writing your signature on a check or signing your name on a card), but the ability to put your thoughts and ideas down on paper or computer or someplace where others can read them.

Are you a writer who writes for others?

Play at Writing

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Write like a child at play –
words are the beads;
string them together
one bead at a time.

Writing should be fun! Cristian Mihai on The Art of Blogging says, “Just punch the damn keys.” In his post today, he reminds us also that we are never finished in our quest to be anything… writers, artists, body builders, you name it!

https://cristianmihai.net/2020/04/16/to-be-human-means-that-our-work-is-never-finished/
His blog is about Art
inspiration
motivation
passion
Personal Development

Cristian Mihai wrote in the blog I imbedded above (for your ease in going to read it in its entirety),
“… we are all works of art. And we are never, ever, ever complete.”

He quoted 70 year-old Seneca who wrote,

“I am still learning…”

Cristian went on to remind us,

“One thing of extreme importance in life is never, ever to be complete.

To always strive for more.

To be able to reinvent yourself on a constant basis.”

He said, “We are not nouns, but verbs. Action is what defines us. And we can change what we do as we learn and develop new skills.”

I appreciate the ideas I glean on a daily basis from Cristian Mihai. He helps me put into action some of my better impulses, and to do it with the Spirit guiding me.

Let the Spirit Guide Your Writing

Let intentionality
yield to spontaneity.
Let the spirit
guide you.

Spiritual direction is as important to the life of a writer as good editing is to the life of the mind. Both deliver us from the blindness of a solitary thinker.

Being a solitary writer squeezes our vision and makes us myopic. Being short-sighted cuts us off from the wonderful world of criticism. Your spirit can guide your creativity, but seeking one’s own center does not mean we should discount others’ opinions.

Writers Are Not Indifferent

In his book, Saints and Writers – On Doing One’s Work in Hiding, Belden C. Lane wrote the following about prolific writer, James Joyce:

“James Joyces’ wife, Nora, loved him for his ordinariness. She paid little attention to his writing. With critics, Joyce had to second-guess himself. With Nora, he never had to prove anything. It was worthless even to try. Loving indifference can prove a safe place – a hidden center – from which one’s creativity grows without being turned back onto itself.”

I am not indifferent to the responses of others to my writing. Unlike James Joyce, who evidently came across as “ordinary” to his wife, my husband treats me like I am anything but ordinary – a very special, talented writer whose ideas are worth reading. He reads each of my blogs before I post them. I am not indifferent to his editorial ideas, and I appreciate his input.

Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com

Let Your Creativity Grow

Just as Cristian Mihai reminded us in his blog today, never ever be complete! Never consider your skill set as mastered. Always keep learning and growing and seeking ways to improve.

You ARE a writer! You DO commit your thoughts and ideas to writing.

A few of your ideas expressed in the comments below will not be met with indifference by this writer. I LOVE hearing from you. You help me to keep growing!

See you tomorrow.

Category:

art, blogging, learning, Life's Challenges, Love, relationships, Serving One Another, Sharing, teaching, writing

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Memories of Childhood

I remember glimpses of my childhood – an Ozzie & Harriet family with Dad going off to work and Mom staying home…

I remember our small, sparkly white house on the end of Fig Lane in Newman, at the center of California’s hot San Joaquin Valley…

I remember sitting around the radio in the living room listening as a family to “The Cisco Kid” and “One Man’s Family” and “Inner Sanctum” …

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

I remember Dad’s three-tiered tulip bed and the day I picked a bouquet of them and got into trouble…

I remember being scolded, and as I stood there with a fist-full of the precious blooms saying to Dad, “I no pick the flaws… maybe Sally pick the flaws!”

Photo by fotografierende on Pexels.com

I remember walking down Fig Lane with my sister, Sally, headed to P Street School wearing my Mary Jane’s…

I remember how proud I was of those new shoes…

I remember trips every September to San Francisco to get new school clothes: new shoes, a new dress, underwear, a sweater, a coat… the essentials…

I remember eating crab legs at Fisherman’s Wharf while I gazed at the boats coming in and going out of the harbor…

I remember my first plane trip, flying to Seattle to be with my mom’s family there when her mom died…

I remember Dewey Wright, my first true love, and the Valentine card he gave me in kindergarten, and how he chased me around the playground until I caught him …

I remember moving from that little white house at the end of Fig Lane to a house out in the country right next door to my Dad’s mom…

I remember the day my cousin, Billy, came to live with us – and how upset he was – and how upset I was when he tore our doll house apart and scattered our toys…

I remember dashing past a gobbling turkey who chased me to my grandma’s back door after school…

I remember my father’s tears when his mother died…

I remember moving out to that God-forsaken place twenty miles from nowhere to begin life anew, with Dad going into business with Uncle Igino and Uncle Melio …

I remember the smell of the Pacific Tallow Works that was about 150 yards from our house, and how impossible it was to close up the house tight enough …

I remember Tiofila and Engracia and Dalia, my sweet little Spanish-speaking playmates, whose mom made fantastic tortillas, and the day they were transported back to Mexico by some cruel authorities…

I remember crying for days when I heard Dalia had died on that trip back to Mexico …

I remember Manuel Ynzunza, his basketball skill, and our first kiss out behind the cafeteria … oh, the thrill of it…

I remember “Dimples,” my Cocker Spaniel who had four puppies – and the fascination of observing the births …

Photo by A.Revolution on Pexels.com

I remember riding a horse, unable to control it, and being pushed into a barbed wire fence, putting a gash in my right leg …

I remember how impossible it was for Mom to leave the office unattended to take me to the doctor (she was Dad’s secretary-bookkeeper), so she taped my gash closed and how it healed leaving a big scar …

I remember the day my Aunt Jean, Billy’s mom, came to take him back … how I was filled with mixed emotions, sorrow and relief …

I remember my mom’s older sister, Aunt Evelyn, coming from Washington to visit and bringing clothes my cousins had outgrown, and Mom spending nights altering them to fit Sally & me …

I remember walking at least a mile (seemed like five) to catch the school bus and riding for at least an hour (seemed like five) while we picked up other kids to go to Crows Landing Elementary School…

I remember Mrs Yetter, my third grade teacher, who was almost bald…

I remember my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Ethel Horwedle, and how she wrote her cursive E, and how she let me sing to the tunes of the square dance records, and let me teach the class new square dance moves…

I remember Mrs. Marlow, the principal’s wife who was my 7th and 8th grade teacher… how she let me go during spelling class to help the kindergarten teacher (because, “You don’t need the spelling lesson,” she’d say after giving me a pre-test on which I always got 100%) …

I remember wearing an “I Like Ike” button and learning in 8th grade about each of his cabinet members as they were one-by-one appointed…

I remember Howard Thorkelson, our class genius, who got polio when we were in 8th grade and was gone a long time… returning in a neck and back brace for our graduation…

I remember learning to play the clarinet and doing so well that the band leader invited me to play with the high school band…

Sally & me with our clarinets

I remember being too small to fit into a high school band uniform, and having suspenders that pulled the pants up under my armpits…

I remember playing an accordion duet with Evelyn at our 8th grade graduation, but don’t remember Evelyn’s last name …

This was my first accordion. It’s over 100 years old!

I don’t remember a lot of things, but I remember feeling cared for, and feeling like I could become whatever I set my mind to, and not realizing we were poor…

We actually weren’t you know. We had each other. We had love. We had everything.

I remember…

Category:

Animals, children, contentment, Family, happiness, Life and Death, Love, Memories, relationships

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Make a Difference

We ALL want to make a positive difference in this world – right?

One way to make a difference
is simply to be kind and helpful!
But there is no “simply” about that.

It takes a concerted effort sometimes
to respond with kindness.
Our natural, almost automatic, first response
when someone is being mean or unkind to us
is to snap back…
at least that’s the way it used to be with me.

It has taken me 80 years of living to learn to guard my tongue!
And sometimes, even now it gets the best of me.
But I usually am quick to realize it when that happens,
and I am never reluctant to ask for forgiveness.

The problem is sometimes
I am too self-centered to even realize
I have hurt someone with my words!!
That never happen to you, does it?

I guess I’m not perfect yet.

Are you?

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Another way to make a difference is simply to plant love.
But there is no “simply” about that either.

Sometimes the seeds
of adversity and division
get the best of me.

I watch something on TV
or I read something in a magazine or newspaper
that is hateful or just plain false and deceptive.
And I let that simmer in my soul.
I want to lash out at the TV person
or rip up the newspaper.

But surely that never happens to you!

Just Love One Another

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Love Everyone!

It’s easy to say, but ever so hard to do!
But if we want to make a positive difference in this world,
it has to be all about
LOVE
first and foremost!

Be Forgiving of Yourself


Even when we try hard,
we may not always be
the loving person
God intended us to be.

But we can make a difference
if we learn to forgive ourselves
for those
mistakes of character.
Others see and are encouraged
by our ability to overcome!

Be Forgiving of Others

Another way to make a difference in this world
is simply to be forgiving of others.
But there is no “simply about that either.

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Sometimes I want to use a “mad” icon.
“Sad” just doesn’t do it.
It’s not enough.

I want to show the world
that what was said or done just makes me angry.

But anger never solved any of this world’s problems.
It only exacerbates them, ya know?

Forgive the ones who anger you,
Pray for your understanding of their position.
Try to figure out where they’re coming from.
Forgive their ignorance (hah!)!

Disagree without being disagreeable!

Be a PeaceMaker

And yet another way
to make a positive difference in this world
is to be a PEACEMAKER!

  • Pray daily for the wisdom,
  • love,
  • patience,
  • kindness,
  • goodness,
  • faithfulness,
  • gentleness,
  • self-control,
  • humility,
  • generosity,
  • forgiveness,
  • obedience to God,
  • and the humility

that it takes to be a peacemaker,
and to make a positive difference in this world.

It’s not a task for the Lone Ranger,
the Lone Stranger,
or the Lone YOU!
It takes the LOVE of the
HOLY SPIRIT
working in you.

Know that God is your heart…
so
Pay attention to His Leading!

He will always lead you to
Love,
Peace,
and
Making a Positive Difference!

PLANT LOVE!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek.

I’m headed off to TOPS.
(Those are my friends who help me keep the weight off.
They make a difference in my life!)

See ya tomorrow.


Category:

Bible Lessons, friendship, Giving, learning, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, self-acceptance, Sharing, truth

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Happy 7th Anniversary

I received this notice today:

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Seven is my magic number!

It’s God’s number for “completeness.” On the 7th day he rested.

Seven is our house number.

Seven is the number of grandchildren I have.

Seven is my birthday month.

Our phone number ends in a 77.

So does our PO Box number.

Our current house is the 7th dwelling
my husband and I have shared in our 57 years of marriage!

IMG_1491

But, my friends, 7 is not my number for completeness. It’s the number that causes me to look  in amazement  at all this synchronicity – and realize, “This is good!”

But, I am nowhere near complete – and neither is this JanBeek blog!  This is good – and it’s fun, but it’s not great yet!

I’m a work in progress, ending my 7th decade on earth … and ready to enter new challenges, new learning, new sharing. Growing in knowledge and grace. Striving to blog with intention and purpose – to make a positive difference for my faithfilled blogging friends.

I look forward to making new friends and keeping in touch with those who’ve hung in there with me. Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog. Please try to check in with me daily and see what’s new – and leave me some encouragement, too!

I will continue to share what I am passionate about as I enter this 8th year of blogging.

As I approach my 8th decade on this earth, I share the love, joy and peace that are mine through faith. I express my gratitude. I seek help with expressions of patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I share ways life is a blessing and ways I have learned to manage the challenges life tosses at us. I write about things I care about (like today’s fire at Notre Dame). Sometimes I write just to entertain. Every now and then I just wanna make you laugh (like Jesus is Walkin’ on Water Again).

I hope my sharing helps and inspires and encourages my followers.

I’m hangin’ in there, and I hope you do, too!

Send seven of your friends this way., will you?
Let’s grow together!

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Category:

Aging Gracefully, Awards, blogging, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Sharing, writing

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So Thankful!

So Thankful!

IMG_5301

That sweet little girl
I hugged tight ten years ago
Is coming today

She’s now twenty-two
Grown up so fast as kids do
Families change, don’t they?

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So thankful for them!
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.
I’m thankful for you!

affection appreciation decoration design

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Enjoy the bounties of this season
And be sure to count your blessings!
What are you grateful for today?

variety of vegetables

Photo by Ella Olsson on Pexels.com

Category:

blessings, Family, Gratitude, Haiku, holidays, Love

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Follow Me

DA1CD509-A1D5-4C43-95BC-5FB717E7597B

Follow Me

Follow me, little one –

I will not lead you astray.

Follow me, innocent one –

I’ll follow you someday.

While you are young

And growing more each day,

Let me guide your footsteps

In a safe and thoughtful way.

When you face some crossroads

And wonder where to turn,

Let me help you choose, and

Let me help you learn.

Soon enough you’ll find me

Needing help, seeking your advice.

But for now, follow me, my love –

Your company feels so nice!

Category:

Animals, Giving, Living in Harmony, Serving One Another

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One New Tooth

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One New Tooth
Shining bright and clean
One Pug Nose
Smelling life, so keen

One Smiley Mouth
Returning lots of glee
Two Sparkly Eyes
Looking back at me

Two Pink Cheeks
Ready to be kissed
Two Darling Ears
No sounds are missed

Two Strong Shoulders
Holding tall the head
Two Flexible Elbows
Bending to be fed

Two Chubby Hands
Reaching for the moon
Ten Active Fingers
Holding bottle or spoon

One Husky Body
Smelling clean and sweet
Two Wiggly Hips
Ready to dance in the street

Two Sturdy Legs
Ready to go walking
Two Bony Knees
Bending, but not balking

Two Balanced Feet
Holding up this chunk
Ten Monstrous Toes
Like mommy’s – who’d a thunk?

One Grand Future
Impacting Mother Earth
One Perfect Great-Grandson
A million dollars worth

Thank You, Hope and Drew
Thank You for this boy
Thank You, God
He brings us so much joy!

Jan Beekman (GG)
March 7, 2018

Category:

Family, Love

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