Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘love’

Fun in Switzerland

Yesterday we attended a wine/raclette/music festival in Sierre, Switzerland. Our grandson, Mike, was there with his wife, Tania, and our great-grandson, Ethan. Today we are Celebrating Ethan’s 2nd birthday. Here they are … and here’s the fife & drum corps:

Mike, Tania & Ethan
Fife & drum corps

After the festival we had the privilege of visiting with Chantal. She is our son-in-law, André‘s cousin. She lived with us for about 10 months in CA back in the ‘70’s when she was about 17. Such fun to catch up with her again! Being with family & friends is what this trip to Switzerland is all about!

Chantal with us

I went to church this morning with Denise (André’s mom). It was a beautiful morning.

Sierre’s Catholic Church
That round building with the bell tower is right across the street from where Grandmama Denise & De/André are living.
There is their apartment building. And this display of water fountain and flowers is right behind/beside their apartment building:

It’s such a pretty day here!

It’s rare to see these buildings in disrepair… even the ones built in the 1700’s! But sometimes they do show their age.
More typically, the buildings are in pristine condition… like at this winery.
De helped Bob select the perfect bottle to share at today’s party.
Yes!

Santé, my friends. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See you tomorrow.

Here I am with Syli.

Ciao!

Swiss Family

Such fun to be with our daughter, DeAna, and her mother-in-law & her husband, André, and his cousin, Sylviane (Syli)!

Yummy food and great company!

André is our DeDe’s husband. He’s the first cousin of our AFS Exchange student from the 1970’s.

We are loving our time here – and our brains are slowly adjusting to Swiss time! It’s an 8 hour difference!

Pretty sunset last night.
Great accommodations prepared for us by Syli. God bless her.

Nap time 💤 See ya later.

Love, JanBeek

Hello from Switzerland

Yay! We are in Sierre with our DollyWolly!

It’s a beautiful Thursday morning

Sierre, Switzerland
Grandmama (Mammie) Denise was happy to see us!
We were delighted to have all 3 of our Swiss grandsons join us last night
Céline (Nicky’s significant other) joined us briefly. Such a sweetheart!
André (our son-in-law) fixed a gourmet dinner for us. Yummmm!
Which grandson is craziest!?

We spent from 6:30 am Tuesday to 7:30 am Wednesday on 4 different flights to get to Geneva. De & André picked us up there. The 2 hour drive to Sierre was gorgeous! Pictures don’t do it justice. Zoom in on those terraced mountainsides covered with vineyards!

That side of the valley is more rugged…
There are the vineyards on the north side of the valley.
The southern side of the valley doesn’t get the afternoon sun. No vineyards there.
This is the view from our 4th floor patio
“Grampy” Bob is sooo happy to be with our daughter, DeDe, again!
So am I!

See ya tomorrow.

Love, JanBeek

Ready!

We are staying the night in a motel near the airport. Ready for a 4:30?wake-up call and a 6:30 flight to Switzerland. 🇨🇭 yay! Great dinner at Fiesta Mexicana tonight.

Bob loves tacos.
And the margaritas are delicious, too!

Stay tuned as we help you travel vicariously with us.

Have a good night✌🏽

Love, JanBeek

Suddenly October

Where did September go?

Sunflowers turn their faces

To the bright October sun

A new month is upon us

A time to have some fun

Enjoy TMW with friends

Too much wine (TMW)

Gives way to NEW

Never enough wine

For the likes of me & you!

Under a Montana sky

We enjoy our time with friends

We’re looking forward to

October and all its trends

Pumpkins and Halloween
Pexels.com

A time for trick or treaters

But we’ll be off to Switzerland

No tricks and for sure no cheaters!

Ah, October… time to be with our DeDe and family!

What are your October plans?

Can’t beat October in the Alps. Stay tuned!

Love, JanBeek

I Can Communicate

The left hand doesn’t know
What the right hand is doing.
The left hand doesn’t see
What the right hand is doing.
It doesn’t understand
What the right is doing.
The left doesn’t care
About what the right is doing.

Doesn’t know or see,
Doesn’t understand or care.
Which is it?
Or is it all four?
This can happen in my body –
It can happen in your body –
It can infect any body.

Infection requires intervention.
Intervention is communication.
Communicate to know, to see,
And to understand.
But first, the left must care
What the right is doing.

I can communicate.
I care, so I want to know.
I see, so I want to understand.
Do you see? Do you know
That a part of the body is suffering?
Do you listen, question, care?

Two key people in our body
Have resigned their positions.
We are the left hand…
They are the right.
A crucial part of us.
Do we see, do we know?
Do we understand what’s happening?
Do we care?

The left hand needs to know
What the right hand is doing.
The right needs to know
What the left is doing.

We need to see, understand, care.
I heard. I care. I can commmunicate.
Have you?
Do you?
Can you?
Will you?

We are all in one body.
United we stand.
Fractured we fall.
Communicate!

A symbolic fractured human body

With Love,
JanBeek

Naturally brighter version of the image

P.S. This was written for my Madison Valley Woman’s Club and their “left hand” – The Nearly New. It’s a terrific organization of volunteers. Right now there is a rift. I am praying there is honest communication – and healing. Pray with me, okay?

Inspired

Today I am inspired to write
From the bottom of my heart
The problem however is
Knowing where to start

My heart is full of gratitude
For all the folks I love
Who return the sentiment
Including my God above

My dear church friends
In our Presbyterian congregation
Are a source of pure joy
And a boost to my salvation

We are in a tough spot now
Our church is in transition
We lost our interim pastor
He is off on a pastoral mission

So we’re passing around
The task of leadership
Today I preached the sermon
Next week I’ll lead the fellowship

It’s a privilege to serve –
To use my God-given gifts
I pray my words and actions
Reflect Christ’s love, causing no rifts

The scripture I selected
About a farmer and his sons
Taught “Actions speak louder than words”
And cautioned, “Watch our tongues!”

If we are called to leadership
We must carry on with care
Making sure our words and actions
Are preceded with much prayer

So today I’m inspired to rest
On the task I just completed
And listen for God’s still small voice
“Step up to serve. Your talents are so needed!”

What talents is God asking you
To use for Him today?
Step up and accept the challenge
He will guide you in His Way.

Amen?
Amen!

Love, JanBeek

64 Years of Love

Screenshot

Who would have guessed
When we married in 1962
That our love would last so long
I prayed it would, did you?

Every autumn I stop to recall
The day Bob proposed to me
He was far away in Germany
I joined him the next February
The fall and winter season
Were busy times for me and Mother
She dove knee-deep into helping
Prepare for a Valentine’s like no other

Have you ever seen a cake
More beautiful than this one?
It was a February 11th wedding
Friends, family, students all had fun

And now, every day is a day
To celebrate being in love and alive
We’re so grateful for family and friends
Who join us and help us celebrate and thrive


Sending love your way
With prayers for your days
To be filled with boundless blessings.
Keep in touch with the God we praise!
Amen?

Amen!
Love,
JanBeek

Autumn Bouquet

Nothing refreshes an autumn bouquet quite like peacock feathers!
Here’s kiss to fill your autumn day with love

And hugs

Soon it’ll be time for our autumn jackets again!

Have a blessed day.

Hugs from JanBeek

Nod

Give a nod to Autumn 🍂

Its colors make me smile.
The bush outside my window announces that gorgeous season.
We kayaked to this lake for many a beautiful mile.
Give a nod to the fall season in Switzerland for a reason.
Soon those leaves will fall into a pile.

Love our 4 Seasons!

JanBeek