Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘love’

Five Ways to Have Fun

List five things you do for fun.

1) Texting with my daughter in Switzerland and enjoying the fun of watching her with her grandson & the neighbor’s little boy
2) Communicating with Laina, our bonus daughter in Maryland, and watching her enjoy Leo, her grandson
3) Volunteering at our local nursing home and watching the residents’ big smiles as they get dolled up for glamorous photos in front of this lovely backdrop
4) Playing with my Boston “Terror” Kenny (he’s such a character)

5) Visiting with my dear hubby (Bionic Bob) and appreciating his recent improved hearing due to his cochlear implant

That’s the exterior that is magnetized to the magnet implant… and the new aid for his other ear. Amazing new technology! Learning to make full use of these? Not fun! A work in progress!
What are your top 5 ways to have fun? My morning chats with De & Laina and my quiet time up in my sanctuary always start my days on a fun, happy note. I hope yours start happily, too.

Love, JanBeek

1940 Tribute to Parents

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Below is a letter I found in Grandma Foster’s Scrapbook. It was written in 1940 by Sheldon H. Kinney… the Fosters’ next door neighbor in Pasadena, CA… quite an accomplished young 25 year old. Here is a newspaper article published in the Chicago Tribune about him:

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Interesting how they published his parents’ home address, huh? I don’t think we’d see that in today’s press, do you?

While at sea, during World War Two, Sheldon wrote this heartfelt letter to his parents:

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How Grandma Foster got ahold of that letter so she could include it in her scrapbook is a mystery. But, it is there… preserved for me to share! I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. Makes me wish I had written something similar to my parents when I was 25! But, did I have the insight at that age to “see my parents as man and woman” the way Sheldon did? I doubt it.

How very precious to read Sheldon’s praise of his parents, and to feel the warmth they must have felt when reading those accolades!

As I continue to sift through the scrapbook’s treasures, I will gladly share others with you. I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am!

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Lots of love to you…
from JanBeek

New Formats?

WordPress is trying to get us to use new formats. In the process, I lost connection with my real site. I have been a member since 2018 and all of a sudden it said I didn’t exist. I guess I was trying to set up a new e-mail since my yahoo account is so full of junk, I lose the things I want to see the most. Hmmm… I finally found JanBeek and for now I will stick with the yahoo email. I don’t want to lose touch with you, my favorite WordPress friends!

Yesterday I was reading through a scrapbook created by Bob’s Great-GrandmaFoster and I stopped to take a picture of this page. I love the poem. GrandmaFoster was born in 1852! She died when my husband was 12 years old. She was sharp as a tack at age 99!! Her scrapbook is a treasure! Here is the poem… it fits you, my friends. Thank you for being here.

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Thank you for caring!
Have a blessed weekend!
Love, JanBeek
(and Bob, too)

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Gorgeous CA Coast

It was an extra 6 hour drive – stressful in torrential rains, but well worth it to be able to spend time at Carmel by the Sea and experience the Asilomar coast. Sooo beautiful!

We lucked out- a break in the storm!

Don’t know what that white is…

Don’t know what that black spot is!

I know what that smudge on the left is… my thumb!
The waves were crashing, the clouds parted , and we marveled at the fresh ocean air and gorgeous vistas.
And headed back to our son’s in Placerville, the rain was heavy and the traffic was crazy. There was a terrible accident that delayed us awhile – all lanes closed. But on our way again, God sent this reassurance:
A full rainbow with a break in the rain for about 15 reassuring minutes!!

God is good! Now, a safe drive to Sacramento airport early tomorrow- and I’ll see you back in Montana.

Kenny will be waiting for us. But will he want to come home? I don’t know. He’s had a wonderful 3 weeks with his Rover dog sitter. Thank you, Jenna.
Happy New Year.

Love, JanBeek

Wonderful Family Time

The end of 2025

Found us loving life

Spending it with family

Avoiding stress and strife

All should be so blessed

To have such happy love

We don’t take it for granted

Such love is from above!

May you experience such love, too!!
Bob’s brother Bill and Marge
Our love for each other
My cousin, Adrian DeAngelis & Laura
Bob’s 1969 wrestling student, Kevin with wife, Kim
Time with in-laws, the Paynes
Contact with our DollyWolly, DeDe, in Switzerland
Visit with Bob’s nephew, Bryan, and his sweet wife, Michelle
… in their beautiful home
Opportunity to attend church at Harvest – such sweet memories here!
Christmas with granddaughter Faith and her hubby
So proud of our son, Ty, and the life he is living
Ty’s wife, Monika, the perfect partner!
Great food and precious Mable, our great-granddaughter
Time in CA wine country: life can’t get much better!
Thank you, Ty & Monika
May your life be so blessed, too!!

Love, JanBeek

& my happy 87th birthday boy, BionicBob

Happy 87th

Hard to believe! BionicBob is 87 today! Happy Birthday to my dear, sweet husband! I’m so glad he is here, hearing, and healing!!

Great visiting with old friends!

Feeling loved and pampered!

Staying with my dear cousin, Adrian & Laura DeAngelis
Visiting former students ❤️👍🏽 Yes, this is Kevin from Bob’s 1969 wrestling program!!
Time in Placerville with family … precious!
Blessed to have each other!

Happy New Year, dear friends. We send our love.

Hugs, JanBeek

Merry Christmas!

It is Christmas Eve

Santa is loading his sleigh

Wisemen on their way

Following the Star

Presents under tree

Just like those of Wisemen three

Selected with care

Praying Christmas is

A time to stop and believe

Why we celebrate

What do you believe?
He came for you and me!

Enjoy family

Cherish all the memories

Praise God for His Son!

Merry Christmas from JanBeek & Bionic Bob

Cochlear implant

Brings back the world of hearing

Best Christmas of all!

Merry Christmas!

Take Joy!

The following poem was inspired by the message from our visiting pastor this morning, Phil Taylen.

Be anxious about nothing
Let your requests be known
To God who hears your pleas
In you, His love has always shone

Read one chapter of Philippians each day for a week
Your life will catch the contagious joy
God has a plan for your life
He’s sending that message daily through His Boy!

Don’t let your struggles pull you down
Lean on Jesus and celebrate His love
Behold, the Savior of the world is here
God sent His Son for us from Heaven above.

Philippians 2:2
New International Version
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
New Living Translation
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
English Standard Version
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Hallelujah!
Take Joy!!

Love,
JanBeek

King Sunday

What does it mean to have a date in the church called King Sunday?

When I googled it, I learned, “Though the date is variable, Christ the King always occurs in late November. This is especially providential in America, where elections happen in early November. After the long drama of election season, both winners and losers are reminded that Christ is the true King, and that his rules will ultimately judge all human authorities.”

It went on to say, “In the Presbyterian Churches, such as the Presbyterian Church (USA), at the Feast of Christ the King (Feast of the Reign of Christ) “the church gives thanks and praise for sovereignty of Christ, who is Lord of all creation and is coming again in glory to reign (see Revelation 1:4-8)…”

With that in mind, our sermon today at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church explored the life of Christ and how we interpret the Kingship of Jesus in today’s world. Here are my sermon notes:

This is the beginning
Of Advent season.
We get caught up
In the season’s reason.

Yet as we move
Into the humble life
Of Jesus, we see
A family facing strife.

Luke tells us of Jesus’
Arrival at Golgotha Hill
And he asks us to look
At the Truth – and be still.

Jesus (King of the Jews) was handed over
To face death on the cross.
Some people want to pass by
That time of pain and loss.

We want to skip the crucifixion
And go from Virgin Birth
To Christ’s ministry and then
His ascension from this earth.

But during this time of year,
We need to embrace the season
Of Christ the King’s ministry
And see Jesus’ life’s reason.

Why was Jesus condemned
When His was a life of love?
He extended grace to all
Who believe He was God above.

He was superior to all creation
And He lived a life of peace.
We need to align ourselves with
Jesus’ teachings. He’s in our reach!

As people of faith, we must
Reflect Christ’s justice and grace.
Christ died to redeem us –
Us believers who will see His face.

Endure – because Christ the King promised
We will be with Him in Paradise.
Pray for justice for all – Turn from evil,
Accept His enduring Faith – and be nice!!

Amen?

I hope your Christ the King Sunday was a blessed one!
Love ya,
JanBeek

Embrace Your Uniqueness

What makes you unique?
Your fingerprint and your eyes,
Your hair and your smile.

Your conversation,
And your own brand of whimsy.
Do you embrace these?

Bob Goff wrote today,
“God made you this way
On purpose, freckles and all.”

He had lots of spots –
As a kid, lots of freckles.
He was teased a lot.

His grandma told him
“Those spots are angel kisses.”
So be proud of them!

“Don’t tell anyone,”
She cautioned him not to share –
“Friends would be jealous!”

That very mean boy
Who teased Bob, calling him Spot,
Wilted his soft heart.

With grandma’s advice
His insecurities left,
Finding acceptance.

Accept uniqueness!
Embrace how you’re different.
Congratulations!

Love,
JanBeek

P.S. Bob Goff puts this message at the end of each of his books:

CONNECT WITH BOB
“Bob’s passion is people.
He’d love to hear from you
if you want to email him at info@bobgoff.com.
You can also follow him on Instagram and X: @bobgoff.
Here’s his cell phone number if you want to give him a call:
(619)985-4747.”

Now how unique is that??