Things I'm glad my parents did #3

taught us to be faithful to our spouses

surrounded me with beautiful antiques, thereby shaping my aesthetic

gave me beautiful antiques for my home

taught us to not turn to medicines for every ache and pain, but do turn to them when absolutely necessary

to always love children (especially the naughty ones :-)

Things I'm glad my parents did #2

having us grow up next door to our grandparents

being an example of hard-working free Americans

raised me with Christian principles, and without legalism

had us watch It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken as a family - in other words, we laughed a lot

fed us liver and onions

Things I'm glad my parents did

I thought I would start a list, that I would add to over time, of the things that often come to mind of, as the title states, things I'm glad my parents did.

Here's the first installment:

gave me braces

taught me to be able to live in other cultures - and not just live, but learn from and appreciate

grew gardens every summer to make sure we had lots of great produce to eat

fed us raw milk

let me have a dog when I was a little girl

If guys were like girls...

I've tried to avoid raising girls like this...(except for the end - going to the bathroom together :-)

The Good Mother: Life-Giver and Lady Wisdom

This is by Barbara Mouser. She has written a Bible study for women called the 5 Aspects of Woman or something like that. I didn't actually do the study; a friend did. To be honest, I don't think I would agree with the study. But I loved this.

Someone I knew once said it wasn't practical enough for her. She wanted concrete - "do this," "don't do that." But from reading this, I got the point. Someone else wouldn't be able to tell me actual daily do's and don't's for my life. The spirit of the thing, the concept, the idea is what I find helpful. I'm not going to write out the whole thing, just some of my favorite parts.

"Every mother and teacher of children needs the qualities of Life-giver and Lady Wisdom continually coursing through her veins.

"Life-giver wins love by loving first; Lady Wisdom earns respect by never forsaking her standards."

"Life-giver sings you lullabies; Lady Wisdom keeps you practicing your piano."

"Life-giver gives suck at her warm and gracious breast; Lady Wisdom sets the banquet of life before you and requires you to be worthy of it."

"Life-giver meets your drool, vomit, and excrement with coos and soothing words, counting it her privilege to serve you in your helplessness. Lady Wisdom won't tolerate tardiness, dangling participles, or slouching shoulders, counting it her duty to whip you into shape for the rigors of life."

"Life-giver without Lady Wisdom is a servile puffball, not worthy of respect. Lady Wisdom without Life-giver is a cold, hard jewel; all of her notes are perfect, but she has missed life's song."

"Every woman must be both."

I just loved that.

Now back to my book study. :-)

For the pleasure of it

A man is not a good man at all who feels no pleasure in noble actions.

~Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

Kiernan graduates!

Yay!

Kiernan, you have made us so proud.

Devoted follower of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Virtuous and beautiful lady.

Summa cum laude. One of the Top Ten Academic scholars of her graduating class of 332.

Great daughter, sister, friend.

Funny and fun.

Lover of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.

Wise beyond her years.

Hard worker.

We ask God to bless you and keep you throughout your life.

We ask God to make His face shine upon you and

give you His peace.

Mom and Dad

Salutation by Ezra Pound

O generation of the thoroughly smug

and thoroughly uncomfortable,

I have seen fishermen picnicking in the sun,

I have seen them with untidy families,

I have seen their smiles full of teeth

and heard ungainly laughter.

And I am happier than you are,

And they were happier than I am;

And the fish swim in the lake

and do not even own clothing.