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
See ya tomorrow
Love,
JanBeek
Ya gotta read this post!
It’s full of gorgeous flowers from
derrickjknight
and you don’t want to miss seeing more!
It’s full of a variety of humor and thoughtfulness!
Do you know the word “HodgePodge”??
Is it real or is it one that my mom made up?
When I put it in Pexels to look for a picture,
nothing came up.
But my iPhone dictionary had it!
Here are some synonyms:
Don’t you love the concept? It doesn’t say “junk” (which is often what I thought of when I used the word hodgepodge). No, not junk… just a mishmash of unrelated ideas or an assortment of things that can actually be related – like this meat on a grill.
Today’s blog is a mishmash – a hodgepodge of various things, ideas, photos that caught my eye this week. I saved them because I either loved them or hated them, laughed or groaned at them, and I wanted to share them for your viewing, too.
My blog’s subtitle is “Loving One Another” – so I try to share ideas that represent ways we can reach out in love more fully and unconditionally to one another.
A friend (who was born in Canada but is now a USA citizen) sent me these pictures/memes/jokes/thoughts today. I decided if the election goes the wrong way next November here in the USA, Canada may be my next residency! It appears they have a handle on how to “Love One Another.” Even their graffiti is kinder than ours!!
And if they wear a hat with something written on it, I guess it is positive, too…
Going on with my hodgepodge, I received this meme from a friend today. It made me laugh. I think laughter is what keeps me going these days!
You say you have other survivor options? One way my blogging friend, Derrick Knight and his wife, Jackie, are surviving this pandemic is by being voracious gardeners. And Derrick is a phenomenal photographer. Let me add to my hodgepodge today by sharing a couple of my favorite photos he posted recently from his rainy vistas in Great Britain:
In my past life, some of you know I was a teacher for 24 years and a principal for 9 years and worked in the district office as curriculum coordinator (wearing a hundred hats with all kinds of responsibility and no authority to back ’em up!)… and then I decided to do what I loved most – and go back into the classroom before I retired. I taught a first grade and took them on to second. Oh, what a joy that was! Many of those students are my FaceBook friends today… 21 years later!!
That poppy brought back those memories because the school where I was principal for 9 years was Caswell Elementary in the Ceres Unified School District in California. Our school song was:
“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.
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!!
Yesterday, if you read my blog, you know we went for a farewell ice cream social to say “See ya later” to our two favorite little Sunday School friends, Cord and Ruby. We are praying for their happy resettling on their dad’s home ranch in Jordan, MT. It’s a six-hour drive from here. They’ll have horses and cattle and dogs and cats and lots of room to roam. Our love and prayers go with them. We gave them great big farewell hugs and told ’em how much we love and will miss them.
A great end to my hodgepodge for today is this wonderful photo that I JUST received via the magic of WhatsApp from my daughter, DeAna. She wrote,
“I took this photo
from the parking lot
near our restaurant
this morning
while thinking of you.”
Ah, our children certainly know how to melt a mothers heart, don’t they? Nothing could make me happier than to know that when my daughter sees a symbol of our faith, she thinks of me! What a gift, huh?
Maybe I am not so disturbed after all!!
What HodgePodge of thoughts captured your imagination today?
I hope they were
a medley of
love and laughter,
memories and musings
that lightened your soul.
See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek
Thank you, Bob Goff,
for this meme:
We are told we should
Just love difficult people –
No judging allowed.
That’s really hard, friends!
It’s easier to love you.
You’re not one of them.
Or are you?
But only sometimes,
I imagine that I am…
Right?? What do you think?
Thanks for your faithful visits
to JanBeek
See ya tomorrow 🙂
Job 5:9
“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.”
The fact that I was able to go on that ATV ride yesterday on those bumpy, rocky trails is in itself a miracle. You know I had hernia surgery on my mid-section last month. To enjoy yesterday with Bob & our friends was a WONDER, for sure! And today I am no worse for the wear… Thank God!
The miracle of the sea and the tides,
the daily rising and setting of the sun and moon,
these are miracles that never cease to amaze me.
And if miraculous healing, sunrises and sunsets are not enough for you,
look in the mirror!!
It’s a wonder that
We can see the miracle in us
And in others, too.
Keep searching for them
Wonders and miracles are
Everywhere you look!!
Just keep looking up.
God will show you His wonders-
And you will share them.
Thank you to Pexels
For putting God’s wonders here
At our fingertips!
I may not travel
To Thailand to see this sight
But Pexels shares it
Where do you want to
Go – and what do you want to see?
What interests are yours?
I may not see Guam
In person in my lifetime,
But I can Google.
I can imagine
The miracle of the flight
That takes me to Guam.
“Why Guam?” you ask me.
“Why not?” I respond to you.
It fascinates me.
Why does Pexels show
An undersea photograph
Of a Guam turtle?
Surely there is more
To Guam and its miracles –
More than sea turtles!
Did you know that Guam
Is U.S. territory?
I am in wonder!
I wonder when Guam
Became part of the U.S.
It’s a miracle!
A miracle that
I chose that place to learn more –
Not having a clue!
The inhabitants
of Guam are American
citizens by birth.
I must have learned that
When they had a hurricane –
‘Twas devastating!
I remember now
The terrible destruction
And our lack of help.
I wonder why we
Didn’t do more to assist?
Do you wonder, too?
Google says,
“The Micronesian
nation offers beautiful
white beaches, exotic wildlife,
and intriguing culture and history.”
Through the miracle of You.Tube you can take a virtual trip to Guam and you can learn about its history and see its beauty… and you will WONDER how many of these gorgeous places might have survived or been destroyed by that hurricane. This video was created in 2016 and the hurricane was in 2019.
Like me, you will WONDER why this site doesn’t list the PEOPLE who died in this tragic event. Certainly they are more important than the $3.3 million in damage. And you want to hear stories of the MIRACLES of survival in the midst of such devastation, right?
As I quoted from the Bible at the beginning of this post,
in Job 5:9 it says,
“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.”
Everywhere we look in this world, there are wonders and miracles to behold.
Open your eyes to them, my friends.
I told you some of the ones I see
and some I would like to travel and see.
How about you?
What miracles do you see?
What wonders do you want to see?
How do you see yourself?
Do you know YOU ARE A MIRACLE?
How alert is your funny bone?
Are you ready for the miracle of laughter
that brings healthy endorphins into your body?
Keep on laughing.
It does wonders for your mental health!
Love ya,
JanBeek
We’re unreachable
When we are unteachable.
Let’s check our mindset.
Is our mind open
To attentive mindfulness?
Live expectantly?
Anticipate good?
Humbly work for improvements
In self and others?
Develop ideas –
Hopeful and doable ones
In a right spirit.
We close open doors
When we are unteachable.
Let’s check our mindset.
Keep your mind focused
On the good that you can do.
Let’s be teachable.
Let’s be reachable.
Let us reach out to others
With humble mindset.
Pray with me:
“Lord, help us to develop
a heavenly perspective
to look at life’s trials and difficulties
through the Truth and Hope
of God’s Word.
Peel away all barriers to Your wisdom, Lord,
And make us teachable and reachable!
Amen!”
See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek
There are many ways
To keep our spirits rising
Let’s take time for four
Take your dog outside
Or invite a friend to join
Get yourself fresh air
Even through a mask
The outdoors is refreshing
Get up and go move!
Keep six feet apart
And join your neighbors outside
Share flowers and wine
Share love and friendship
Keep the loneliness at bay
There’s no better way
T – M -W
Is the best invitation
Charley’s “Too Much Wine!”
There’s no better way:
Practice positivity
With the Bible and your faith
Hang around fun folks
And keep in touch by the Web
Share all God’s blessings
Don’t dwell on “Don’t Haves”
Concentrate on what you HAVE
Practice gratitude
Son-in-law, Andre’
Decided – save some bucks and
Avoid the virus
He knew just the way:
He could do his own haircut
Well, the front is fine!!
Don’t worry about
Not going to the hairdresser
Just do it yourself
Have clippers, will do!!
Find yourself a friend
Who will be your prayer partner
Daily trade pictures
Pray together and
Exchange positivity
Watch your spirit soar
Connect with the hearts
Of the people that you love
Share each others’ love
As I write this blog
Susan Boyle lifts me up
Non-stop I listen
I ask Alexa
“Repeat” and she repeats this
Until I say “Stop.”
Listen to the words
Let them sink into your soul
You can’t help but smile
Be raised by music
Let the Love of Christ lift you
You must not stay down
Let God live in you
Let the Holy Spirit speak
Be strong and be well
There are many ways
To keep our spirits rising
Take time for these four
Take a Walk
Visit Your Neighbors
Let Go Anxiety
Let God and Music Lift You
See ya tomorrow.
Have a blessed day.
Love,
JanBeek
Well, my WP friends, I told you I’d post pictures this afternoon of our river float, right?
Nope, that’s not my photo. I found it on the internet. It’s where I’d like to have been – with that blue sky dotted with clouds, but alas…
Take a look at that gray sky. Does it look like an inviting time to go out on the river? Temperature’s not bad, though – even though rain is threatening. Look, Bob’s weeding the garden in his shorts!
That’s the direction of the river… and if this were a video, you’d see the trees and bushes blowing in the wind. It isn’t a pretty time to be out rowing!
So, let’s have some fun at home instead.
Set those best laid plans aside.
Make lemonade with those lemons!
That wind and those clouds were sent by God. I wrote a Haiku this morning about the way the wind blows the clouds away. Hopefully tomorrow will be a sunny day.
Meantime, let’s just find some ways to smile and enjoy some laughter inside on this Saturday afternoon.
I needed a therapy dog because my husband has a habit of walking around without clothes on. Well, we ARE separated from other houses by a few acres, right. But still…
Hah!
No, I’m just kidding…
he never walks around OUTSIDE naked!
With all this refrigerator time, I should start using my recumbent bike more often… develop some sort of exercise routine and keep my TOPS weight under control, right? But…
Did that one make you chuckle?
I was looking for something to distract me this afternoon from the coverage of Donald Trump’s rally where all those people are crowded into an arena and only about one in ten are wearing masks.
So I logged on to Derrick’s garden.
Do you follow Derrick’s delightful posts at derrickjknight ? Today his post was “Night and Day” – and his roses were captivating. Check him out! He and Jackie have a flower garden second to none. And Derrick’s photography is magical.
Here is a rose for you from their garden:
Have a Happy Father’s Day, my friends.
If you don’t get to go where you wanted to go
(for whatever reason),
make the most of it where you are.
And don’t worry about being too sexy…
God loves you just the way you are,
and so do I!
What did you do today?
And which of my offerings make you laugh out loud?
Share!
See ya tomorrow.
Love, JanBeek
My buddy, Doris, who send me these is a friend who graduated from high school with me in Turlock, CA back in 1957!
We go back to the Stone Age together!
She lives in Texas part of the year.
These billboards came from a place in Austin, TX called “El Arroyo.”
She said that translates to “The Ditch.”
Do you know Spanish? Is she right??
Go ahead and laugh, my friends. I am told it’s good for what ails ya.
By the way, what’s ailin’ ya?? Read on… I’ll share what ails me. (Ya, I know you may not want to know, but I’ll share anyway!)
Do you have a COVID-19 funny bone you can share with me? I already laughed at these. I need a new one.
I have a hernia that may need removing. That’s not as bad as a kidney stone! But that’s what ails me. Day before yesterday I had an ultrasound to be sure it’s JUST a hernia. Yesterday I had a CAT scan to see that lump more clearly. Today the doc called to schedule an appointment with a doctor who will interpret all these tests. He’s not available til June. Oh well… it’s probably nothing… but I pass this along to you asking for your prayers and a laugh. OKAY?
Pass a laugh along, will ya??
And have a good, restful night.
I‘ll see ya tomorrow.
Virtual Hugs,
JanBeek
OKAY, I’m outta here for tonight.
Have a good sleep!
Just love each other.
Hate ain’t s’posed to be in here.
Don’t say what you hate!
OK -OK -OK – Time to get out of the house and take TazE for a walk.
Are you having a good day? Make it a GREAT one! Pass along these laughs to a friend who needs them as much as I did!
See ya later…
JanBeek
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
