Invite the neighbors.
There’s no need to be lonely;
They’re good company!
Also, go on out –
Invite your friends to join you.
Embrace company!
Kalena’s Tea House:
a great place for having lunch.
Sit outside -enjoy!
Headed to pick up
Bob & his buddies
at the airport today.
It’s been 9 long days
without him…
but I survived it!
Thanks to friends here
And my blogging friends out there,
I was never lonely!
Thanks for your company!
See ya tomorrow (God willing!)
Love,
JanBeek
Do you have a hard head?
Have you ever tested it out?
I tested out the strength of my skull yesterday!
Not on purpose, of course.
I was walking to the back of the car
to push the button that closes the hatchback.
Friends approached from my right, so
I turned to greet them as I kept walking.
Little did I know Bob had pushed the button
and the hatchback door was on its way down.
I walked right into it! Ouch!!!
I heard a loud crack when it hit.
A softer head would have split open
and (as head wounds go) it would have
bled profusely! But, I have a hard head, my friends!
The blood stayed inside and created a
black and blue goose egg!
Speaking of friends, Bob drove me home.
My head was throbbing like crazy!
I called our neighbor/friend, Janet, who is a nurse.
She came right over. Ice packs, pain killers,
Hugs and consolation… then alternating heat & ice.
Just what the doctor would have ordered!
As if the care of a friend wasn’t enough,
I was blessed with a very concerned, loving TazE.
She never comes and crawls in my lap,
but yesterday she wouldn’t leave my lap
(except to get up every now and then,
look me in the eye, kiss my cheeks and chin,
and then crawl back into my lap).
Aren’t animals amazing? So intuitive!
She knew “Mama” was hurting… and she
was there for me until the neighbors all arrived
to make sure everything was OK
and to pamper and feed me.
Then TazE was content to go back to her own bed!
This morning, after a shower and a couple of pain pills,
I was smiling once again… feeling no pain… and grateful
that the swelling had gone down and the bruising had not
traveled too far into my face.
Ah, my friends, EMBRACE HARD HEADS!
They come in handy at a time like this!
Oh, and by the way,
watch in the direction you’re walking today, okay?
Hah! No point in testing how hard-headed you are!!
It helps to comb my hair over the bruise.
You can hardly notice it, right?
See ya tomorrow (God willing) –
Love,
JanBeek
Vistas
Broad, expansive
Ridge to Valley
Valley, Mountains, Big Sky
Beauty
Poetry
Embrace Elfchen
It’s eleven words
Set in number pattern
Fun!
Montana
Mountain Majesty
Expansive blue sky
Delightful precious generous friends
Home
Neighbors
Beautiful “Hood”
Always making improvements
Delightful to have around
Friends
Changes
Always beautiful
As evening came,
The shadows grew longer
Moon
Sundown
Pink reflection
in the north-east
Cool, crisp, refreshing air
Beautiful
Invitation
To dinner
On Father’s Day
Couldn’t have been better
Delicious
Visitors
From Alaska
Friends from Pakistan
Young man I tutored
Gratitude
Gifts
Beautiful Friends
Staying in Touch
Long after they move
Blessings
Meantime
Back Home
Father’s Day roses
Showing evidence of love
Forever
Flowers
God’s Beauty
In full bloom
They always are appreciated
Roses
Elfchen is a form of poetry
Sometimes called Elevensies
Because it consists of 11 words
In this configuration:
1+2+3+4+1 = 11
(You probably figured that out by now.)
Write an elfchen for me in the comments below, will you?
Be sure and use the word BEAUTY in your poem!!
Home
Embrace Beauty
Come visit us
We’d love seeing you
Welcoming
Music
Tells stories
Ed Sheeran sings
In a musical video
Beautiful
Define
What’s beauty?
I’m not beautiful…
Beauty’s as Beauty does
Hugs
Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting;
but a wo(man) who fears the Lord is to be praised. …
Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
honor Him, for He is your lord.
~ Psalms 45:11.
Love,
JanBeek
Embrace Fellowship
Cherish being together
Time is so fleeting
Enjoy sharing time
So much, you forget photos!
Just be in the now.
.
Today our Presbyterian Women
met at a gorgeous home
right on the Madison River.
Those pictures above were taken
several years back at our
two annual fundraisers.
Today I intended to take some pictures
to post here for you to see
how much we enjoy our fellowship.
But, I was having so much fun,
I forgot to capture the event
with my iPhone!
Instead, it is stored up in my memory bank.
There were eleven of us.
We had Bible Study,
then dessert,
and then our business meeting.
We planned future events –
among them our volunteer schedule
at the local Blood Draw next week –
and our participation at the
Ennis Art Festival
(it was cancelled last year due to COVID).
Not being able to hold those functions
helped us realize just how much
fellowship means to our mental health.
We really missed the connections!
I’ll bet you had the same reaction.
Being isolated, socially distancing,
wearing masks, cancelling events…
all took their toll on us!
How good to be back together again!!
Now we are able to go out to restaurants again.
We socially distance, but we don’t have to wear masks.
It is so good to feel safe in the company of others!
I ordered my favorite item on the Sidewinders menu:
Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries.
MmmMmmmMmmmm!!
This afternoon, after our PW meeting,
our new pastor, Mary Grace Reynolds,
came for dinner and a fly casting lesson.
Bob took her to the back yard and she practiced.
Mary Grace is going to love going out on the Madison River.
The guys are all lined up ready to take turns…
I took this slo-motion video so she can critique her technique.
She’s a fast learner!
It was such a beautiful evening here.
We thoroughly enjoyed our fellowship with
Mary Grace. The Pastor Nominating Committee
process was a long, arduous task that lasted
about a year and a half… but MGR was worth waiting for!
Today our daughter, De, sent us links to this event coming up in Switzerland. (You remember our DeDe lives in Vissoie, Valais Switzerland, right?) We’ve been to this fun event in the past. “The Cow Fights” are an annual event.
They are well attended. People go not just to see the excitement of the cows selecting their “Queen Cow” by the survival of the fittest, but for the fun of fellowship with as many friends as they can muster. They bet on the cow of their choice, drink their fill of Swiss wine and beer, and enjoy a picnic lunch high up in the beautiful Alps.
We won’t be there this weekend for the event, but we look forward to fellowship with our daughter and her family this October (God willing). We learned yesterday that she has a polyp on an ovary. It was detected during a routine annual physical. We are waiting for the biopsy report. Please pray with us that it is benign – and she can have it removed with no long-term adverse affects.
Looking out today at our neighbor’s house here in Montana,
I can’t help but thank God for this beautiful place we live.
I thank God for our “Hood” … gracious, loving, helpful neighbors.
The Hockings, across the field from us, installed a gorgeous
flag pole while we were on our trip to CA. What a great addition!
We look forward to future fellowship with them – soon!
Meantime, here we are in this video – back in CA,
sitting around the table at our son’s house,
enjoying family fellowship, singing to our grandson-in-law,
Drew, who celebrated his birthday back in Montana.
Ah, Family Fellowship… there’s nothing like it!
I thank God each day for it.
With Father’s Day coming up
Sunday after this one,
I look at these fathers in my life,
and I thank God for their loving hearts.
I hope you have the gift of loving fathers in your
circle of fellowship, too.
Never take them for granted!
Not every child is so blessed!!
EMBRACE FELLOWSHIP
IT’S GIFT FROM GOD!
I pray all you dads out there can slow down this week,
enjoy life (it’s fleeting – passing waaay too fast), and
Embrace the Fellowship of family, friends and fish.
(And I pray Bob can take some time to go out fishing…
He’s been working waaay too hard this last few months.)
See you tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek
When a friend comes up with an idea
And you concur, what do you do?
Do you encourage your friend to progress?
Do you join in and help the idea come true?
My neighbor, whom I had not seen in a while,
Said, “We need to have a get together.”
I concurred and suggested a dinner –
A progressive dinner – pray for good weather!
Well, the weather cooperated, and so did
The “Hood” – our neighbors on our ridge.
Last night we had a wonderful time…
Time to set aside masks – cross that bridge!
So we did it… the first hosts had appetizers.
Then it was lasagna at our house with yummy bread.
Across the road we went for dessert —
Our tummies and our hearts were well fed!
We are blessed to live in a place where we
All get along with our neighbors as friends.
We’re so relieved this pandemic’s isolation
Has finally subsided – The separation ends!
When a friend comes up with an idea,
Encourage the thought and run with it!
You never know til you give it a try
How very much you’ll have fun with it!
The outcome of Karen’s idea to get together
As more successful than we could have guessed
So – if you have an idea, my friends, share it!
Don’t keep the outcomes buried in your chest!
What idea are you ready to share and run with?
Trust your instincts.
EMBRACE the OUTCOMES!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
See ya tomorrow.
(God willing!)
Have a great weekend.
Love, JanBeek
I recommend that
you click on the “Best Friendship Songs” below
and listen as you read my Haiku renderings
on this subject of Relationships.
Relationships are
What this life is all about
Friends are our life’s gifts
We need each other
Going through life alone won’t work
Loneliness smothers
We’re never alone
When we’ve a relationship
With God, our Maker
Put God first in life
Let Him help you bind your love
So it never breaks
In an article in Woman’s Day Magazine, I quote:
“Whether you’re starting out a new relationship, have been married for years, simply love your friends, or adore your family, there’s always a way to incorporate God into each of the unique relationships in your life.”
Choose relationships
Grounded in mutual love
With respect at center
Seek Godly friendships
Not just with your great neighbors,
But with every one
Especially when
You are choosing a life’s mate,
Be centered in God
Men, listen to this:
If she does not know your God,
She doesn’t know real love.
Don’t give up on her!
Teach her about the Savior
Save relationships
Embrace your friendships
Love one another fully
Treasure your family
I am grateful for
The love of my family
I can count on them
I pray your friends care
For you as mine do for me…
And know I love you!
You are blogging friends
Who visit JanBeek to say
“I care about you”
I am inspired by
The way I can count on you
To come, read, and write
God bless you, dear friends
Your relationship matters
It’s more than on-line
It’s alive in me
You’re a friend I depend on
I can count on you!
Have you been listening
To that collection of songs?
Lots of good words there!
Like: “Live your story”
“Know our love will never die”
“Hold on to your friends.”
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today.
You matter to me.
Thank you for being my friend.
See you tomorrow.
Do you plan everything out?
Have a day planner filled to the brim?
Well, today I am suggesting you
Let go the plans. Let spontaneity in!!
Every morning while doing devotionals,
I plan my day hour by hour.
But God often intervenes, and
I relinquish plans to His power.
Yesterday afternoon as I sat
In my chair with my computer,
I received a wonderful phone call
From a neighbor, a lovely recruiter.
Her daughter-in-law was celebrating
Her birthday at their house that night
My friend’s guests cancelled last minute.
We accepted the chance to stand in – with delight!
Spontaneity adds joy to life.
Without it we miss opportunities
To be open to infinite possibilities.
But unchecked, it can lead to calamities!
I love being spontaneous.
Usually it brings me enormous joy.
But, stop a second and ask in prayer,
Is this beneficial or will it destroy?
Last night our spontaneity
Led to an evening of fun and pleasure.
Affirmative thought and an open mind
Can bring you joy beyond measure.
Psalm 119:45
“I shall walk at liberty,
for I have sought your precepts.”
Let affirmative thought and an open mind
Be joined every day with sincere prayer.
Ask the Lord to guide your decision-making
And know He is always spontaneously there.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I hope you are encouraged to do something spontaneously today.
What will it be?
I am grateful for you, dear WordPress friends.
I pray your day was blessed indeed.
Merry Christmas!
Did you get to actually be with your family? Or did you ZOOM with them as we did? The picture above is Christmas Eve morning. Bob & I had the opportunity to see and talk with (left to right) our son, Ty, [then that’s us], group shot of our grandson and granddaughter with our son’s in-laws, then my niece, Jodie & her husband, Bill and son, Liam, from their home in PA, our daughter #2 Laina in the Baltimore area, and our daughter-in-law, Monika, in CA. We had a wonderful hour-long conversation. Next best thing to being together in person! Thank you, ZOOM!!
What are the gifts that brightened your day today?
I hope you are feeling as blessed as we are.
Bob & I are using our relatively new smoker to smoke a standing rib roast for our Christmas dinner. Like technology, things like smokers and cell phones require a learning curve. We’re on the uphill side of that curve!
We called our neighbor/friend, Whooter, for help this morning when we were trying to figure out how to do this. Dear Whooter texted us back, sent us a photo that made our day, and gave us the advice we needed. Love that guy!!
Whooter gave us a great recipe for a rub to put on the meat, and meat thermometers to help us know we are headed in the right direction in the smoking process. God bless him! Do you have neighbors who are life-savers for you at times like this?
As we prepare for our Christmas dinner, we are listening to the horrible news about the bombing in Nashville this morning. So sad that there are such sick people out there! How could someone intentionally do something so devastating?
Our prayers go out for those who were injured and prayers of gratitude that there are no known fatalities. We have friends who live in Nashville- not far from this blast. And I have a cousin who lives there. My heart goes out to all those in Harm’s Way. We all are affected by such atrocities. It makes us all feel vulnerable. It saddens my heart.
God be with those firefighters who were injured.
May they recover fully and be home with their families soon.
Thank God for each minute you are given to share
the love, joy, and peace that are Jesus Christ’s gifts to us.
Have a very Merry Christmas, my friends.
Our standing rib roast WILL be done soon.
I am counting on it.
Sigh…
The smoker keeps shutting off.
We may have to call Whooter again!
(That’s just an internet photo!!)
Merry Christmas, my friends.
What did you do today?
Hugs from JanBeek, Bob & TazE!
Don’t laugh at others
Who are faced with challenges.
Seek to understand.
We are divided
In this world that’s filled with hate.
Why can’t we just love?
It’s intolerance
And a lack of compassion
That sows evil seeds.
People point fingers
At those they see as different.
Let’s see their beauty!
People point their guns
At differing opinions.
Let’s just live and learn!
Learn to see others
As God’s children; we’re the same.
Let’s make love “catching!”
I had not heard this song before Peter, Paul & Mary made it famous (I think it was back in the late 60s – early 70s). I love their version of it, but some of the words were hard to understand. Now that I have heard the song writer, Mark Willis, sing it, and I have seen the lyrics, I logged on to the Peter, Paul and Mary version and wondered why I ever had trouble understanding.
With their chosen video clips on this You.Tube, I dare you to listen and look and let it soak in and NOT cry!!
Oh, my dear blog friends,
How can we bury the hate?
Make love contagious!
Look at these dear ones –
See into their hearts and souls
Through Jesus glasses.
Look at your neighbors;
Really see the ones in need.
Then reach out in love!
My heart is hurting
For the disenfranchised ones.
What’s YOUR handicap?
I’m short…
I’m dense…
I barely matter at all…
Don’t laugh at me!
See ya tomorrow.
I’m headed to my follow-up appointment with my surgeon.
You have a safe, healthy, and meaningful day…
And see who’s out there who needs a helping hand.
Let’s just love one another!
Hugs,
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
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
