Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘parades’

Happy 4th

Independence Day in Ennis, Montana is a happening!

Horses, kids, candy, vintage cars, wagons,
clowns, cowboys, singers, you name it!

The Virginia City Players posted this photo on their Facebook page.
Main street was crazy today!!
There are thousands of visitors
who flock to our town for the parade and rodeo today.
As I write this, back home
after a busy, delightful morning,
it is hailing outside!
Don’t like our Montana weather?
Wait five minutes!!

Our little Ennis bursts at the seams today. Happy 4th❤️🇺🇸

Thank you, Roy & Barbara Washburn,
for hosting such a wonderful morning
filled with food and friends and treasured friendships.
Yours is the perfect yard from which to enjoy the parade!
Happy Birthday, USA!
We are so grateful to be living in this Land of the Free!

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Love,
JanBeek

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Time with Family

Hello, my WP Friends!
How are you this lovely December weekend?
I hope your Thanksgiving was everything you dreamed of…
and your December has started off nicely.
What are you looking forward to?
We just enjoyed a 3 week trip to Switzerland
where we spent quality time with our daughter
and her family… highlighted by meeting our
Number One Swiss Great-Grandchild.
Now we are anticipating our Christmas trip
to California where we will spend quality time with
our son, our daughter-in-law, Monika, and our grandchildren.
Here is our daughter-in-law, Monika,
with our great-grandchild, Mable. Aren’t they a cutie?

You can see how Grandma Monika is enjoying her granddaughter.
We expect to get in on some of that love in just a couple of weeks.
Christmas needs to be “FAMILY TIME”
Don’t you agree?

How about you?
Do you have fun plans for this holiday season?

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season
filled with all your favorite people, events, and treats.
Be sure to celebrate “The Reason for the Season.”
Go to church. Worship the One who gives us HOPE.
Pray for peace in our war-torn world.
Attend those special events that are happening in your community.
Bob & I went last night to our local “Christmas Stroll”
and enjoyed the “Parade of Lights” in our little town.
What special events do you anticipate in your town/city?

I couldn’t get my video of last night’s little parade
to show up here… so here is one generated by AI.
It’s obviously in a larger venue that our little town.
But, you get the idea, right?
Christmas is a season of celebrations!
I hope you and your family enjoy every opportunity
that your community offers you.
And don’t forget the “Reason for the Season.”

Enjoy family time as you pass along the
REAL Christmas story to the next generation.

Love,
JanBeek

Expressing Gratitude

Today’s prompt was:
How do you express your gratitude?

Whenever I feel grateful
Which is certainly most of the time
I cheerfully, freely express it
Often in cards I write in rhyme

I’m grateful for the animals
That come and rest in our space
But when they eat branches or flowers
I shoo them off – give them chase!

I thank God for our sunsets
That reflect on the mountains east
The beauty of their presence
Is for my eyes a heavenly feast!

I express to our sweet visitors
Who came from Switzerland to here
How much we enjoy their presence
Creating memories so dear

Here they are on the Madison
Fishing with Bob on the shore
The peacefulness and the beauty,
Made up for no catches, zero score

Our hostess was Fran, the musician
Who entertained us with lunch and a song
We thanked her with hugs and elation
With such beauty, what could go wrong?

I thank God for USA’s freedom
For the way we celebrate each year
Parades, the rodeo, barbecues… what a crowd
All came to see the bronc riders and to cheer

Our Swiss guest, Laszlo, really caught the mood
Donning a cowboy hat, he weathered the rain
He enjoyed all the cowboys and cowgirls
Watched many get bucked off- lose the rein

Saskia smiled at the chance to be here
Their first USA trip – They chose this Montana spot
I’m expressing my gratitude for their visit
And thanking God for perfect weather -not too hot!

Of course, you can count on huge crowds
On Independence Day every year
The parade is the main attraction
Literally thousands come to view and to cheer

Horses are plentiful, some large, some small
And the floats are the old fashioned type
Throwing candy, waving flags, squirting water,
They live up to all the hype!

The Bible says:

“Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 (NIV)

If you’ve gotten out of the habit of being thankful, it’s time to get back into spiritual shape. Every morning, as soon as the alarm goes off (or you wake up on your own… this side of the grass), make a habit of thanking God for a new day — and ask Him for guidance as you embark on new victories and challenges in the hours ahead.

We began our day at the nursing home
Grateful we could help the residents out
Pushed them in their wheel chairs
Where they could hear the crowds shout

We thanked Madison Valley Manor
For placing a row of chairs at road’s side
We had first class seating to view
All the cars, horses, floats… want a ride?

Back home we were treated
To our own neighborhood parade & song
The neighbors’ grandkids rode their bikes
“Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam!” Sing along!

How do you express your gratitude
When you are overwhelmed with glee?
I wish you could have been here
To say Thanks to the kids with me!

Thank you for the daily prompt
That encourages me to write
I don’t get at it every day, but often…
You inspire my muse’s light!

How do you express your gratitude
To those who touch your heart
I hope you do it daily & often –
If not, now’s a good time to start!

Thanks for visiting
JanBeek

(Happy Independence Day!
and
Happy Birthday to our pastor,
Mary Grace Reynolds,

28 today!
Hooray!)

I’m grateful for her
presence in our lives!

God bless you, MGR!!

July 4 in Ennis, MT

This coming week is a big one in Ennis, MT. People come from all around to enjoy:
1) the Fireman’s Pancake breakfast 7:-10:am at the FireHall,
2) the old fashioned (step back 50 years) parade at 10:00 am,
3) a walk around our quaint little town for a couple hours,
4) the Lion’s Club BBQ at Lion’s Club Park at noon, and
5) the rodeo at 4:00 PM … or is it later? (there’s also one the night of the 3rd)

Here are a few pictures from years past to help you see what a great set of events it is:


The parade is an event not to be missed!

The rodeo is always fun!

I love the way little kids dress up for the holiday!
The adults go all out, too!

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Fortunately, this year we don’t have to wear face masks!

The Boy Scouts, the 4-H Club,
various churches, the Lion’s Club,
cowboys, and our school kids
all join in the fun!

This year, I will again
help the folks
in our nursing home
(the Manor)
get front row seats
on the parade route.

Come to Ennis this week!
Enjoy the festivities!
I wish our daughters
could be here again this year.
Alas, they’re too far away!

DeDe & Laina,
we’ll miss you!

Ray Easter will be in the parade
with his pristine old convertible!
Look for him!!

Of course, little kids on their ponies
must always be a part of the fun!

Carts, dogs, clowns, fire trucks…
you name it! They’ll all be there!

Will we see you?
I hope so!!

You’ll love our little town!!

And our neighborhood celebrates, too!

I send my Love to you,
JanBeek

Embrace Freedom

God Bless America
Land of the Free…

God Bless America,
My home sweet home.
From Detroit to Houston
From San Francisco to New York,
It’s time to say,
“I love this land!”

There’s nothing like
a good ole hometown parade…
Celebrating our freedom –
Celebrating our love of this land.

Our little town of a thousand
Saw about 20,000 pour in today
To watch our old fashioned parade.
It’s like stepping back 50 years!

No fancy floats worth thousands
With hundreds of hours donated
To create a great big splash…
No sireee! Just good ole home-spun fun!

The Grand Marshalls were ladies
From the Madison Valley Woman’s Club
Celebrating one hundred years of
Service to this wonderful community.

You know you’re in Montana when
The town’s physician and his wife
Enter the parade on horseback
Celebrating their equine family!

Thanks, RJ and Andy!

We’re so blessed to have the MVMC
(Madison Valley Medical Center)
In our little community… so blessed!
Our nurses and doctors’ kids donned the float.

Bob & I had the fun of front row seats
Because our friends who live
Right on the parade route invited us to join them.
Main Street would not have allowed us these views!

Barbara & Roy … Thank you!

Their darling grandkids kept us entertained
As they watched the parade, too –
And ran to gather up the candy
That some of the participants threw to us!

We saw vehicles of every kind,
Decorated with flags and competing
To be chosen as the most unique
Or most beautiful, or most aged.

The Shriners are annual participants
Businesses used this parade
as an opportunity to advertise.
Ray Easter is a mainstay in our parade…
A native of Ennis – a rare breed, indeed!
Wouldn’t be complete without ponies!
The children love this little guy!
Puppies for Patriots
Maybe you can put Ennis, Montana
on your calendar for July 4, 2022.
Come and enjoy the fun!
I think it was 2019 when our daughters,
De & Laina, were able to be here.
Of course, we missed the parade
in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Maybe they can return to enjoy this holiday with us next year!

So nice to have this fun event back again
And the weather cooperated.
Parade was 10: to 11:30 and the
Rain didn’t come until later this afternoon!

Rain? Yup, surprise!
It was not predicted…
.
.

If you’re in the USA,
what did you do to celebrate
this special Independence Day today?

In another country?
Do you have parades like this?

Time for dinner…
Thanks for celebrating with us!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Hugs,
JanBeek

Fireworks, Music, and Parades

I’m watching the TV fireworks broadcasts in New York, Minneapolis, Cookesville, and Houston … big cities with great big fireworks displays all over the USA tonight.

Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

But, the music to go with the fireworks just didn’t do it for me. San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies are wonderful, but no, sorry, I need PATRIOTIC music to go with the fireworks! Rhapsody in Blue?? Just didn’t fit!! Try this one:

Oh, maybe we are trying to avoid the subject of battles on this holiday?
Wasn’t it a battle won that won our nation’s freedom from England?

Well then, how about this one:

Or how about celebrating our Independence Day
by recognizing our
INTERDEPENDENCE?

We need one another …
We need our One God…
We need to celebrate and
STRIVE FOR UNITY.

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

One thing that unifies us is our love for family, right?
We all want the world to be a better place for our children.
A modern version of “The World is One” is playing now.
Ah yes, our children unite us.
Did you get to spend time with your children or grandchildren today?

Sienna and Xander, my great-grandchildren brightened my day.
Isn’t that little Sienna a cutie?
TazE is peeking around the corner here.
Xander is a Mickey Mouse fan!
Here is Hope, our granddaughter, and her husband, Drew –
– parents of those two dear great-grandchildren –
We’re so glad they came to visit today.

On my post this morning, I told you we were not going to have our Ennis 4th of July Parade this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, our neighbors, the Welnas, fixed that problem. They have their grandchildren visiting them, and so we had a private parade provided by the kids! (With a little help from their moms and grandparents)

We brought our chairs and a flag out to the front lawn when we heard the parade coming.
TazE saw them coming… she was all ears!!
Low Budget – High Quality
Best Parade Ever!!
Grandpa Welna, the parade leader
Two moms, two grandparents and three little boys…
One of the boys dropped his bike and ran after TazE!
They gave their necklaces to us… such fun!
And notice the other child in the parade –
He’s the little one asleep in the stroller!
Here are the two moms… great sports…
Helping their little ones experience their very own parade.
Too much fun!
How about this patriotic grandma?
Sue Welna is such a good sport!
Don’t you love her antennae?
Bob & I have never enjoyed a parade more than this one!!

Oh, by the way,
remember that one surviving petunia
I showed you a few days ago?
Look at our wheelbarrow now!
The antelope don’t like that solar light…
Good tip for keeping your plants safe from your neighborhood animals!

I hope you had a Happy Independence Day.
You can see we did!
Our Pastor Steve and his dear wife, Elaine, joined us for BBQ dinner.
That was the frosting on the cake of a great day.

See ya tomorrow, my friends.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek

Celebrate July 4th, Ennis, MT

Celebrate July 4th in Ennis, MT

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Independence Day in Ennis, Montana is like stepping back 50 years.

The Firemen put on a pancake breakfast and feed over 800 people.

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The parade blocks off Hiway 287 traffic for two hours. The floats are simple. The horses are wonderful. The old cars are fun to see. The children are delightful.

Grand Marshalls' buggy

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This video taken when we were watching it from Main Street a couple years ago gives you a real good glimpse of our parade. My friend, Mary Oliver, was Grand Marshall.

This year we watched from across the way from our Manor, the nursing home. The residents come out in their wheelchairs to enjoy the festivities. Some voolunteers served them rootbeer floats and presented the with July 4th hats or crowns. Adorable!!

Betty Blue-eyes

It was overcast and a little cool
when the sun went behind a cloud,
but it did not rain on our parade!
Thank you, God!

Manor residents ready for parade

Manor ice cream floats

I volunteered at our Senior Center to offer coffee, water, donuts, and restroom facilities to the more than 6,000 visitors who came to our little town of 1,000 residents on this special occasion.

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My friend, Lynn,
who is President of our Sr. Center Board of Directors,
spear-headed the effort.

Lynn @ ESC

The rodeo is good-ole western down-home country.

And after the rodeo, we all have a BBQ
or invite neighbors and friends to come home with us.

July 4- girl

The neighbors invite the neighbors to come dine with them in their welcoming homes.

Ducsays home sign

Dinner at Ducsays

What a lovely evening we had!
Just look at that view from our neighbor’s patio!
(Our house is beyond the trees to the left.)

You gotta experience it to believe it.

Maybe next year YOU can come to Ennis, Montana to experience the Firemen’s breakfast, the parade, the hospitality of the Sr. Center and the residents’ homes, and the rodeo.

Hope you had a Happy 4th of July.

What did you do if you were in the USA? And if you’re in another country, do you have similar celebratory experiences to celebrate your country’s independence or founding? Tell me about it!

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Thanks for joining me!
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See ya tomorrow.