The GATES’ POST: Happy Birthday, Abigail!

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

- G.K. Chesterton, in Orthodoxy

... from Charlotte Mason’s Home Education Volume 6: “a well-educated man with cultivated imagination, trained judgment, wide interests…is prepared to master the intricacies of any profession; while he knows at the same time how to make use of himself, of the powers with which nature and education have endowed him for his own happiness; the delightful employment of his leisure; for the increased happiness of his neighbours and the well-being of the community; thst is, such a man is able, not only to earn his living but to live.

If you teach a child to learn; if their minds are cultivated to enjoy learning, reading, the humanities; if their spirit has not been neglected, but rather good character has been nurtured and duty to others made important, they will excel in whatever profession they find, and enjoy life too."

re: Home Education....In the first place, there is a time-table, written out fairly, so that the child knows what he has to do and how long each lesson is to last. The idea of definite work to be finished in a given time is valuable to the child, not only as training him in habits of order, but in diligence; he learns that one time is not 'as good as another'; that there is no right time left for what is not done in its own time; and this knowledge alone does a great deal to secure the child's attention to his work.

...I suppose we are all ready to admit that it is not the things we do, but the things we fail to do, which fatigue us, with the sense of omission, with the worry of hurry in overtaking our tasks. ~Charlotte Mason (from her book, Home Education, bold-faced print my own highlight)

Make a memory with your children,
Spend some time to show you care;
Toys and trinkets can't replace those
Precious moments that you share.
Money doesn't buy real pleasure,
It doesn't matter where you live;
Children need your own attention,
Something only you can give.
Childhood's days pass all too quickly,
Happy memories all too few;
Plan to do that special something,
Take the time to go or do.
Make a memory with your children,
Take the time in busy days;
Have some fun while they are growing,
Show your love in gentle ways.

Elaine Hardt, 1977

SMILE!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Happy Birthday, Abigail!

Grandpa & I are sorry we can't be with you on your 5th birthday.
But we are thinking about you and planning to see you soon!
We thank God for you. You were our very FIRST granddaughter.
We rejoiced the day you were born and you have brought us much joy ever since.
We are thankful that you are learning to be obedient to your father and mother.
We are thankful for the way you share your toys with your brother and sister.
We are thankful that you have a healthy body and a good mind.
We are praying that you will always choose Jesus and His will.
Happy Birthday!
I hope you'll dance to the Happy Birthday song today!
ALL of you! Up and dance now!
Abigail comes from the Hebrew origin. In Hebrew The meaning of the name Abigail is: Father rejoiced, or father's joy. Gives joy. The intelligent, beautiful Abigail was Old Testament King David's third wife, described as 'good in discretion and beautiful in form.'

8 comments:

EileenJune 25, 2009 at 7:17 AM
Happy Birthday, Abigail! God's Blessings on you today and everyday! 'Hope your special day is as full of joy as I'm sure you give to others! Enjoy!
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Wanda.....June 25, 2009 at 7:38 AM
Happy Happy Happy Birthday Abigail!!!
You are a treasure to your grandparents I'm sure! Love the photo of you on your bike!!!
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DeeJune 25, 2009 at 7:42 AM
^i^ Happy Birthday ^i^ Abigail...May god bless your special day. Dee
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DianaJune 25, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Happy Birthday Abigail, Five years old is the best age to be!!!
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BernieJune 25, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Happy Birthday Abigail, you are very pretty and so big...WOW...your 5 years old and this is going to be a very special year for you, I hope you have lots of fun today with my favorite thing in the world, "cake and ice-cream" oh you are so loved.....:-0 xoxo
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Blessings each dayJune 25, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Here's wishing you a fun filled and super HAPPY BIRTHDAY Abigail...may it be full of laughs and fun for a sweet and pretty girl!

blessings and hugs
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DeniseJune 25, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Happy Birthday dear Abigail. May all your birthday wishes come true.
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AngelaJune 26, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Happy birthday Abigail =- sorry it is a day late
Blessings on your special day and love from England x
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The Old-Fashioned Homemaker. . .

~Does her best, and leaves the rest to God.
~Does not indulge in self-pity, but loses her life in the service of her fellow man.
~Dresses to please her Lord and family.
~Guards her health as her greatest wealth.
~Knows that an apron is a girl's best friend.
~Knows that home-making is an art and a science, and is always learning something new.
~Lets her joy bubble out in song, all day long.
~Lives in His light, not her own.
~Loves Nature, and teaches her children to respect its Creator.
~Never gives up.
~Strives to be self-sufficient.

A Prayer for our Children's CHoice of Spouse

Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide our children in the choice of spouse. Don't let them be carried away by false charms or be fascinated by mere outward glamour, but guide their minds to look beneath and beyond all external attractiveness for the deeper things which alone are worth while.

Especially let the choice be of one who is a fervent (Christian) Catholic, true in thought and word and deed to those ideals which are Yours, especially the value of their purity.

Dear Father of us all, give Your guiding help to our children, who are Your children, too. We will be letting them go soon, but please don't ever let our children go from you. Amen

Taken from a Catholic (obviously) prayer to St. Valentine. I have no idea why it is so labeled when the Father is clearly addressed....