Yay!! Today’s snow is an answer to prayer. We have desperately needed the moisture. Isn’t it beautiful?
That’s our house behind the snow-laden trees.
And our Kenny absolutely loves it!
Crazy pup!!
Have a beautiful Thursday afternoon/evening, my friends.
I attended an art workshop this week. We all painted butterflies. 🦋 Mine’s not as good as I had hoped, but I had fun doing it. That’s what counts, right?
1) Texting with my daughter in Switzerland and enjoying the fun of watching her with her grandson & the neighbor’s little boy2) Communicating with Laina, our bonus daughter in Maryland, and watching her enjoy Leo, her grandson3) 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 backdrop4) 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.
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.
I CAN enjoy Fun Times with family … and I DID!! It’s been quite a week Here I am with our “bonus daughter,” Laina, who lives in Maryland, our grandson, Nick, and his mom, our daughter, DeDe, both of whom flew here from Switzerland.
Our smiles tell you what fun we were having!
DeDe & Laina have been best buddies since their freshman year in high school. Do you have people with whom you have remained friends for 40 years or more?
Laina, my hubby Bob, & Nick enjoyed time together at Wasabi’s in Bozeman, Montana this weekend. Yes, DeDe and I were there, too. It’s a fun place!
Nick entered a “run” on Saturday in Bozeman. Can you believe he ran (or walked when necessary) for a total of 17 miles? Amazing!
No, he didn’t finish in the #1 spot, but what fun he had eating the chocolate from the 1st place medallion that Elaina bought for him!! Gotta keep movin’ to stay fit! Fun times indeed!!
What do you do to stay fit?
When not busy running or dining out, “the kids” found other happy things to do – like a day in Virginia City and a trip to Yellowstone.
Every day we were on the go! Here is Nick at our favorite brunch spot in Bozeman: Jam! If you’re ever in our area, you gotta be sure to make this one of your stops!
We knew how to wait happily for our brunch table!
Back home, you can see that our family time was enhanced by “the pup!” Kenny has loved all the company … extra playmates!
They leave to return to their homes tomorrow. We are certainly going to miss them!
Who have you hosted in your home this summer/fall? I hope you had as much fun with family as we did!
Off to bed now. See ya tomorrow – We’re going to the airport bright and early. Good night!
Today’s Prompt was: What positive emotion do you feel most often?
My Response: Gratitude
I’m grateful for the neighbors who came immediately last night when I called them. I was frantic! Kenny, our pup, was crying. We could hear his barks and his whining, but we couldn’t find him. It sounded like it was coming from under the house. Maybe he went under the deck and got stuck on something. Maybe a rattlesnake bit him (years ago we had that happen to our Boston named Angela). We searched high and low for Kenny. No luck!
We were frantic! So we called our friends. They came. Four of them! We all searched. Still no luck.
So, we went into the house (we’d already searched there thoroughly).
When we walked in through the back door, there was a black and white nose sticking out from under Bob’s chair!! Kenny had squeezed under to fetch a toy – and he got stuck!! Whew!!!😥 We lifted the chair to release him. Gratitude? Ah yes!! 👏🏽
Thank You, Jesus!
Thank You, God, Thank You, Jesus! Thank You for neighbors, for answered prayers, for the safety of our pup! Whew!!
Remember that first picture up there of Kenny lying on a quilt? I’m grateful for it, too. Do you have a memory quilt?
I love mine! And no, Kenny doesn’t usually get to lie on it! It was a retirement gift from my teaching colleagues when I retired back in 1999. The sentiments on it and the remembrances are so precious!
Marta Garcia did the stitching and each of my colleagues at school added a piece with their name and sometimes a sentiment. “Stitched with dreams of traveling forever,” Marta wrote.
If you live in Ennis, Montana with the Madison River running through it and the spectacular Rocky Mountains as your backdrop, and people from all over the world coming here to fish and to just relax and enjoy the peace, the open spaces, the wild animals, and the proximity to Yellowstone, then you live daily with an attitude of gratitude, and guess what? Traveling forever is not a daily prayer. We are grateful that you come to us! Keep doing it!
“Take genuine interest in other people… turn to the person next to you in the grocery store and ask what the highlight of their day has been… Your question … will probably be the highlight of their day.”
That quote is from Bob Goff’s Catching Whimsy, 365 Days of Possibility.
He challenges us with today’s action step:
“Engage the people around you with love and inexplicable curiosity today.”
Time with Saskia & Laszlo is so precious!
I need to be sure and practice “With-ness” with them. God sent them to us so we could really BE with one another.
Who are you going to really be with today? Bob Goff uses Galatians 6:10 to remind us of Jesus’ words to the people: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.”
Let them know you are 100% with them … and curious about how life is going with them.
How is life going with you!?
My life is quite lovely. Kenny’s is, too. I hope yours is, also.
Today our 9 1/2 month old pup, Kenny, received a new toy in the mail from our bonus daughter, Laina. She seems to find just the right things for us and for Kenny, and manages to send them just when we need them most. Cookies and a book for Bob. A special message and gift for me… her timing and choices are perfect! Kenny really is enjoying his new toy:
Kenny is so playful! He heard this video and it really set him off!
I hope you are having a lovely, playful start to summer, too. Kenny wears himself out and then goes to sleep. Cheers, my friends!
Happy 2nd day of Summer. I hope you’re having beautiful weather. Our rainbow tonight as beautiful as they come!!
God bless you and give you peace. We need peace in this world. Let’s create it in the corner where we are!
God bless you all… and pray with me for peace in this troubled world.
Air: an essential… treat each breath as a luxury. Never waste a minute of the breath you receive. It’s the gift of life. Every day is a luxury. Cherish it!
Here are some ways I live and share the luxuries inherent in every day:
Big Sky country – headed from Ennis to Bozeman, MTTaking time to smell the lilacs!Enjoying and relaxing in the gift of sunshine with KennyCelebrating music with the Bozeman SymphonyVicariously traveling to Europe with Adrian & Laura
Can’t live without the contacts with loved ones … so grateful for the luxury of their shared experiences!
God bless those loved ones in our lives who share their experiences with us, huh? Such sharing definitely is a luxury for us as receivers. Thank you for sharing yours, too🥰👌🏽!
Family sends love out and…… we hug love in. We follow along for a lifetime!
See that cute little boy up there with his loving mom & dad? Well, look at him now!
That’s Liam, our grand-nephew, who just graduated from high school. We are overjoyed that we were able to travel to Pittsburgh, PA to help Liam celebrate. While there, we got to attend a couple of Liam’s hockey matches.
My niece, Jodie (Liam’s mom) and her hubby, Bill, have a gorgeous 1790’s BarN. They held a graduation party for Liam there. About 200 attended!!
Uncle Bob & I are mighty proud of this successful young man!
While in PA we also got to visit the National Aviary. What a beautiful, elegant collection of birds!
Wow!
Meantime back at home, our pup, Kenny, enjoyed playmates and our son, Ty in CA, counted down days til retirement.
Kenny’s happy we’re home!Ty’s ready for the next chapter in his life. I pray that Ty & his wife, Monika, can find a way to go visit his sister in Switzerland. DeAna would love it!Hey, Bro, come visit us! Put it on your 2026 calendar!
Let Love In!!!
Hugs await you wherever you go!
I hope your June started out as beautifully as ours!
Enjoy!
Let Love In!
Hugs,
JanBeek
Thank you, Jodie & Bill, for your love and generosity.
Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
Kenny came and filled all the empty places in our home and hearts! Dogs do that!Neighbors/friends step up and fill our lives with loveBonus daughters reach out and help make each day brighterSweet daughter, De, makes each day happierTerrific Ty, super son, positively impacts us and countless others Our pastor and our God keep us grounded in loveThese and countless others are daily gifts that impact my life. How can I choose just one?Like the flowers in my garden, each loved one impacts my life daily by adding beauty and support.
Who or what impacts your life … or has left a permanent impression? I know you also feel blessed. Life is a gift… and so are you!
