God bless all those who sacrificed their lives that we might live in freedom. I never take that for granted. Have a blessed Memorial Day🥰, my fellow Americans.
Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Sunday, May 5 in 2024, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican American populations.
I love the color, the food and drink, and the joy associated with this date.
This video is a fun way to learn a few facts about this day from the Mexican point of view:
A very informative video… with a powerful message: “A grain of hope, no matter how small and insignificant to others, can make the impossible possible.”
Will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo today? If so, how? I wish we had a mariachi band here in Ennis. I’d be there in a minute!
Mariachi music is synonymous in my mind with this date. How about you? Are you a mariachi fan, too?
I’m off to make and enjoy a Margarita. Wish you could come join me!!
Today is Labor Day in the USA. It’s a day to thank our workers. Thank all who make life better By their diligence … never shirkers!
Regardless of the job they have, They perform with willing heart. I’m filled with gratitude for them. They carefully do their part.
During COVID we took special care To thank our healthcare workers all. We should continue to thank them And all the others whether large or small.
No job is less important than another. All are crucial for the bottom line. Teamwork, passion, determination Are ingredients that make the results shine.
But the worker who inspires me most Is the on the job person who strives To make the world a better place By interacting with others’ lives.
Yes, it can be done at home sometimes, But what about when you want to dine out? The chef and wait staff better be there, Or you’ll be high and dry… without!
So, today I want to shout out a thanks To all the workers who make life sweeter. Here is one… our Dolly Wolly in Switzerland. You should go to her place and meet her!!
This is what it looked like then they bought it. Now the restaurant has taken on a new look. And De’s husband, Andre’ is the chef who Puts out superb dishes – he’s quite the cook!
Here are De and Andre’ with some family Sitting down to enjoy a meal… You can tell by the empty plates and smiles How good it was; how it made them feel!
So, Happy Labor Day, all you workers Who strive to serve the public with care- Whether out in front and quite visible Or hidden in back rooms, with work to share!
We appreciate the way you aim to please With passion and with determination. What you do is important and beneficial Regardless of your chosen occupation.
Thank you!
Hugs from JanBeek (volunteering at the Food Bank)
Volunteer work counts, too! Stay-at-home Mom work counts double!!
Tongues of fire Descended on the folks Gathered at the Temple
The tongues of fire Were the Holy Spirit Entering the Disciples
Here’s how the story goes:
At the Last Supper, Jesus instructed His disciples to go out into the world to minister and heal the sick on their own. Fifty days after Jesus’ death, the Holy Spirit (with tongues of fire) descended onto the disciples, allowing them to speak in tongues. All the people from all parts of the world who were gathered there were able to hear the Word in their own language as the apostles (filled with the Holy Spirit) spoke to them. Some explanations say that it was the “Pentecostal experience” that allowed the apostles direct communication with God. The PBS News Hour explanation of Pentecost says, “That signaled a major shift in the religious landscape and laid the foundation for what would become Christianity.”
Pentecost shares roots with the Jewish holiday, Shavu’ot. Since that holiday’s liturgical color is red, to symbolize the apostles “tongues of fire” and also the blood of martyrs, sometimes Christians will dress in red or decorate churches with red. Many churches hold baptisms and confirmations on that day, as well. (Our church was decorated in red and we held a fellowship hour after church celebrating the graduation of three of our young people from elementary to high school – and from high school to college.)
Many artists have tried to depict what that day of Pentecost must have been like for the people there.
This is one of my favorites:
Here is another favorite… It shows the people from various cultures, each of whom speak a different language, receiving the Holy Spirit. God’s sign of UNITY through and within our diversity.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all could have a “Pentecostal experience” where we understand every language as if it were spoken in our own tongue? No more language barriers?
How are you celebrating Pentecost today? Are you wearing red? Let’s all celebrate UNITY through and within our diversity.
LOVE is why Jesus came! Pentecost is a day to celebrate His continued presence through the Holy Spirit sent to live in each of us!!
God bless you. See you later… After the pins come out!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Did you serve in the military? When you think of service, Do you think of military service? There are other kinds…
Today is Veterans’ Day in the USA.
It is a day to honor our servicemen/women. Not all our veterans served with a pure heart, Motivated by the desire to serve for freedom’s sake. Some just didn’t know what else to do!
Now, that may sound a little sacrilegious – A little disrespectful to some of you. But, I know for a fact at least one Veteran who served out of frustration.
Hey, Bob, were you ever in the military? “I think so… 2 years, 9 months, & one day. I was in when the Berlin Wall was built. Thank God I got out 3 months early for summer work!”
So you didn’t serve out of love of country? “No! I was told I could learn electronics, So I went into the Nike Ajax Program. Then I discovered it was cancelled!
I ended up learning nothing about electronics. It was a sham. The recruiters lied to me. As a clerk typist, stationed in Germany, I felt trapped by the military system.”
You see not all veterans served in wartime. Not all veterans have a heartwarming, Grateful, fuzzy feeling about their service. Not even those who DID serve in wartime.
So how do we honor our veterans? How do we honor the families of those Who sacrificed their lives for us? How do we honor the clerk typists?
Here’s Bob – a handsome soldier, But don’t let the smile fool you. He was shuffling papers, typing orders, And counting the days ’til discharge.
Some folks enter the military out of high school Because they are at loose ends. They don’t know what else to do with their lives… Not ready to go to college, not sure of a job.
Those folks can end up making a career Of the army or navy, the marines or air force, And can be excellent servicemen/women. Original motive aside, they serve with honor.
So what’s my point on Veterans’ Day? I guess it is… don’t generalize. Don’t assume all veterans served To help preserve our freedom.
Look at the size of our military. Look at the money spent in peacetime. Look at those who served during wars. Look at those who gave their lives.
Look at the whole picture of war And military and fighting and preserving. Honor our veterans, yes… But what about the drop-outs?
I don’t mean to belittle Veteran’s Day. There are people out there who Served for patriotic reasons… And they deserve to be honored.
There are families who lost loved ones Who served to preserve our freedom. They deserve our gratitude and love. Yes, Happy Veterans’ Day!
God Bless America! And God bless those who serve to keep us free!
Go back to your past Embrace cherished memories Cherish family
Yesterday we celebrated family as we gathered at our son, Ty’s place in Placerville, CA. It was Ty’s mother-in-law, Ruthie’s birthday (behind me on the left with hubby, Darrell). We are so blessed to have such a close, loving family! That’s my niece, Jodie, on the right with her hubby, Bill, and son, Liam. Monika’s in back right. Ty & our grandson, Sam are front left.
We were gathered not only to celebrate Ruthie’s birthday, but the day before we all gathered at the cemetery to honor the life of my sister, Sally.
Here is Sally on the right with her best friend, Bonnie Dauley, at a River Cats game. Bonnie & many of Sally’s friends from the Sacramento area joined our family & friends in Turlock for the lovely memorial. It had to be postponed last December due to COVID.
It was a lovely, blue sky day. Here I am reading my poem about my sis to the gathering. Sally’s ashes joined those of her husband and eldest daughter in this beautiful spot where my parents’ ashes also are.
Bob & I have a “drawer” right next to this one where my parents’ ashes are. You may think this is morbid, but I find comfort knowing this detail is taken care of. Do you relate?
Ty introduced the various speakers who remembered the best qualities of my sis. The remarks helped solidify for us all what a unique person Sally was. She was very devoted to her Rebekah and Odd Fellows Lodges, so those organizations were well represented in the service.
Sally’s daughter (my niece, Jodie) has a best friend, Melissa, who came from Utah to celebrate and honor the memory of Sally DeAngeles Butters. Melissa has been Jodie’s best friend since early high school days. What a blessing best buddies are!
My best CA buddy, Marcie, invited us to stay at her place – and had a mini-class of ’57 gathering the night before the service. What a joy to see my old high school buddies! I was so busy enjoying them, I didn’t take any pictures that night. Amazing!
Here’s Marcie out on her patio. And below there is Bob… enjoying the beautiful California sunshine.
After the service, Jodie & Bill invited everyone to lunch at El Jardin in Turlock. It was great food, and a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to connect.
Marcie & Ty with Monika’s parents and Bob’s brothers & sisters-in-law. Below are three of my cousins, Jan DeAngelis Jones, Maria DeAngelis, and Leni Assali. I had not seen them in waaaay too long! (behind Jan is Tim Allen, who enhanced the ambiance with his music)
Jodie, me & Melissa… so good to have time together!
For dessert, we remembered my sister’s love of holidays with cupcakes decorated with all her favorite days.
Wasn’t that a clever idea?
Before returning here to Ty’s in Placerville, we stopped by my cousin, Adrian’s in Modesto, for more visiting time.
Adrian DeAngelis
Leni Assali & Laura DeAngelis
God bless Jodie & Bill! They worked so hard to make this a memorable occasion – One that honored my sister’s memory and will live in our memories for as long as we live.
We wish our daughter, DeAna, and her hubby Andre’ could have been here – but they are in Switzerland. Too far to come … and they are busy with their restaurant right now. But the picture above is De & Andre’ with Ty & Monika two years ago. You can see they enjoy one another’s company! My hope is that someday Ty & Monika can go to Vissoie to visit De & Andre’ and their gorgeous Swiss Auberge.
Sante’, my friends. Thank you for visiting JanBeek today and sharing this important family time with me vicariously. Today is more chance to spend time here in CA with loved ones. We will have two of my other grandchildren plus my sweet great-granddaughter, Cosette, joining us today.
I hope you have a blessed weekend. What are you planning to do?
Don’t let your stories Die inside you when you’re gone Let stories out now
We are headed to California to spend time with our son and his family and with Bob’s brother and his family.
With my niece and her family, we will have the Memorial Service for my sister that had to be cancelled last December. My niece wants me to say a little about my sis at the memorial service. Where do I begin? Where do I stop? How do I choose? There is so much to tell.
That picture of the two of us was taken 30 years ago at my daughter’s wedding. It brings back so many memories!
There is Sally with her two nephews and two nieces (our son’s children)… taken when the youngest two were around 8 years old. They are 25 now! I could write a book about my sister’s affection for holidays and the joy she got out of dressing up for each one of them. Her closet – full of clothes – was arranged according to holidays!
I don’t have to tell you what time of year this was! She and GiGi (or was that MeMe?) were headed to celebrate with us. Life with Sally was one celebration after the next. Lordy! Don’t let the stories die with her. Keep them alive!
Let those stories out Just Embrace Storytelling! Share more tomorrow…
Lord help the mister Who comes between me and my sister And Lord help the sister Who comes between me and my man… (or something like that… hah!) We never had that trouble!
When I was a child at Bonita Elementary School in Crows Landing, California (yes, there is a town by that name), May Day was a very special occasion.
In the classroom on the morning of May 1st we made baskets of paper or ribbon. Then we went out into the fields around the school and picked wildflowers. We hung our baskets on doorknobs around town, rang the doorbell, and hid in the bushes as we watched the surprised resident answer the door and find the colorful, hanging gift. In it was an invitation to come to the school that afternoon for our May Pole Dance.
Sometimes we used our school colors for the ribbons
Other times we used an assortment of colors
It was not uncommon for us to dress in special costumes, but sometime, like the first picture of the Maypole, we would dress in white. Notice the flower wreaths in our hair. Ah yes, we went all out!
We’d weave in and out of each other to create the braided base on the Maypole. You can tell this last picture is recent. Back in the 40s and 50s no girls would be caught dead coming to school in Levis!! We would have probably been sent home!
Music would accompany our dance around the Maypole … The YouTube below shows that in some places, May Day still is celebrated in today’s world.
It’s a more complicated process than you might imagine!
I wonder if they still do the baskets with flowers in school rooms and neighborhoods anywhere?
I love May flowers!
If you don’t have a wildflower field nearby,
maybe you can go to FTD and order your May Day flowers today!
There are lots of beautiful arrangements from which to choose!
Have a Happy May Day, my friends. Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
Are you enthused about life? Have you overcome great strife? Are you ready to step out enthusiastically To conquer your challenges gleefully?
I am enthused because I look forward to returning to my volunteering today at the Madison Valley Medical Center. Ever since this pandemic shutdown last March, all the volunteers were told to stay home, socially distance, be safe, and wait this thing out. So this wonderful group of ladies who have annually saved the hospital the salary and benefits of at least two full-time staff members (as well as raising thousands of dollars in fund-raisers to donate for medical center needs) have been shut out. Yes, it was for our own safety… as well as others … but TODAY I GET TO GO BACK!!
I’m 3rd from the left second row… And yes, you read that correctly – it’s 31 thousand seven hundred dollars!
I am also enthusiastic today because after a year of searching with the Pastor Nominating Committee for a new pastor to lead our congregation forward following this strange year, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel! Our pastor of 32 years died and we’ve had a wonderful interim pastor who went out of retirement to help us. He is enthusiastically looking forward to returning to the retired life. I am looking forward to taking the next steps with our committee and our #1 candidate – – – enthusiasm bubbles over in all involved! What a wonderful way to approach Easter Sunday!
Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s the day Jesus invited the disciples into the upper room, washed their feet, and served the Last Supper. It was not with enthusiasm that they heard Him say He would die, be buried, and rise again in three days. They didn’t understand. But, I understand – so I am enthused!
The Last Supper
I am enthusiastic about the coming of Easter. I know we must endure the pain of “Good Friday” – wondering what’s good about the day Jesus dies on the cross. But, we know the rest of the story, so we can live through the remembrance of Christ’s misery because we know the way the story ends.
As a child I remember being enthusiastic about the Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts. I see no harm in that, but as an adult the focus on Easter eggs doesn’t enthuse me… not unless the story that accompanies them is the reminder of the empty tomb when the child finds the plastic egg with no candy in it… and that child is the one who wins the Golden Egg – and realizes the empty egg was the favored one!
I just returned from volunteering at the medical center as a “Purple Lady” … member of the Auxiliary. I am enthused telling you that the two nurses and a host of staff members made it possible for around 120 Madison County residents to receive their vaccines today. Many of those were receiving their second shot. I enthusiastically look forward to “herd immunity.”
Photo by Edward Jenner on Pexels.com COVID-19 BE GONE!!
Here is my Haiku series celebrating enthusiasm:
Enthusiasm It’s a feeling of great joy Anticipation
It’s sweet engagement In delightful chosen tasks Active involvement
Looking bright ahead Accomplishments come at last Feeling in God’s Will
Seeing smiles around Others feeling included Successful efforts
Anticipating Hearing “Congratulations!” It’s a job well done
It’s shared excitement Knowing we have done our best Enthusiasm!
