6/16/05 FATHERS, QUOTES, HOUSEHOLD TIPS, FUNNIES, BATTERIES, SUMMER
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
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6/16/05 FATHERS, QUOTES, HOUSEHOLD TIPS, SMILES, BATTERIES, SUMMER
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HOUSEHOLD HINTS FOR YOUR HUSBAND
Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called, a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?" she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories; he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart.
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far.
You see, he was a fireman and died just this past year,
When airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
QUOTES ABOUT FATHERS
"Directly after God in Heaven comes Papa." - Mozart as a boy
"No man is responsible for his father. That is entirely his mother's affair." - Margaret Trumbull
"One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters."
"A Daddy is a man who has photos in his wallet where his money used to be."
"A father is someone we can look up to no matter how tall we get."
"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone very special to be a Daddy!"
HOUSEHOLD HINTS FOR YOUR HUSBAND
Thunderstorm Company ~ One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by his shaking little voice: "The big sissy!"
Stork Reunion ~ A man took his little boy to the zoo for the very first time. Each time they would see a new animal the little boy would ask, "What's that?" And each time the father would explain. When they came to a pen with a very large bird inside the father said, "And that, Timmy, is a Stork." The boy stood there for a few moments and then began to wave and say, "Hi! I'm Timmy!" After several times of repeating this he finally turned to his father and exclaimed, "Guess I'm all grown up, Dad, he doesn't recognize me."
Something Nice For Dad ~ Unable to attend the funeral after his father died, a son who lived far away called his brother and told him, "Do something nice for Dad and send me the bill." Later, he got a bill for $200.00, which he paid. The next month, he got another bill for $200.00, which he also paid, figuring it was some incidental expense. Bills for $200.00 kept arriving every month, and finally the man called his brother again to find out what was going on. "Well," said the other brother, "you said to do something nice for Dad. So I rented him a tuxedo."
Read the Label ~ A three-year-old boy went with his father to see a litter of kittens. On returning home, he breathlessly informed his mother that there were 2 boy kitties and 2 girl kitties. "How do you know?" his mother asked. "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath," he replied, "I think it's printed on the bottom."
A Man Hated His Wife's Cat ~ A man hated his wife's cat and he decided to get rid of it. He drove 20 blocks away from home and dropped the cat there. The cat was already walking up the driveway when he approached his home. The next day, he decided to drop the cat 40 blocks away but the same thing happened. He kept on increasing the number of blocks but the cat kept on coming home before him. At last he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a perfect spot and dropped the cat there. Hours later, the man called his wife at home and asked her, "Jen, is the cat there?" "Yes, why do you ask?" answered the wife. Frustrated the man said, "Put that cat on the phone! I am lost and I need directions."
4 years old: My daddy can do anything!
5 years old: My daddy knows a whole lot!
6 years old: My dad is smarter than your dad!
8 years old: My dad doesn't know exactly everything.
10 years old: In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.
12 years old: Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn't know anything about that! He is too old to remember his childhood.
14 years old: Don't pay any attention to my dad. He is so old-fashioned!
21 years old: Him? My, he's hopelessly out of date!
25 years old: Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he's been around so long.
30 years old: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he's had a lot of experience.
35 years old: I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad!
40 years old: I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise!
50 years old: I'd give anything if Dad were here now, so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him!
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the
paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"
God gave His Son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him has everlasting life! - John 3:16 That's love!
MAKE SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES COUNT
By Lois Breneman ~ © June, 2004 ~ Heart to Heart Newsletter ~ [email protected]
Now is the time to find fun, yet beneficial, activities for your children to do during the summer, if you haven't already done so. This is a perfect time to help them learn new skills. Don't forget to teach forgotten skills like cooking and sewing. These skills will go a long way in helping your daughters - even before they get married. Then when they have children these skills may even help them to save on expenses so they can stay at home to raise their children. Teach your sons how to cook, as well. Both of our sons enjoy cooking are using those skills as they have their own apartments, and some day they can help their wives by pitching in with the cooking.
It may be beneficial to have your child take a speed reading class or a computer class during the summer. One mother told me that is what they insisted their son do before heading off to college. He griped and complained, but he followed through with his parents' wish. Later he told his parents that was one of the best things they could have ever done for him, because all through college he was able to speed read through his thick text books and comprehend what he read, and not have to cram before exams. Today he is very capable on the computer and is high up in the business world - doing computer work! He and his family also love and serve the Lord in their lives. So taking a class or two is another way to make the summer count.
This summer many young people and adults from our church are going on missions trips to minister to the Weber family in Thailand and the Roberts family in the Czech Republic.
Other skills that your children might choose to learn are photography, painting, drawing, calligraphy, making jewelry, quilting, crocheting, knitting, making crafts, gardening, landscaping, wood carving and writing stories or poems. In some cases, going to the library and finding information on the subject of interest is a good place to begin.
Talking to those who are able to do these skills well is another starting point. You may find that your parents would be just thrilled to teach their grandchild a new skill. I know I would! One of the Heart to Heart grandmothers, Dolly Buterbaugh, taught her granddaughters how to quilt as they each spend several weeks with their grandparents each summer. What a time of bonding and learning a skill that will be used the rest of their lives!
A mother could help a daughter to find books on interior decorating and study up on how they could redecorate her bedroom as a summer project. Or organization could be taught in small steps as you and your children tackle organizational projects around the house. If you still have the newsletter full of organizational tips, that would keep you all busy!
One mother could teach her daughter and her friend how to do a particular skill. Later the friend's mother might want to teach them both a different skill.
Summer is a good time to begin learning how to play an instrument or take voice lessons. It's also a good time to learn athletic skills, as long as athletic activities aren't all your children do.
Encourage your children to help a neighbor or friend and not expect or accept payment in return. If cooking is one of their skills, a home cooked meal or even one dish would be so much appreciated!
Encourage your children to continue with math, science, reading and writing all summer long. For math go to http://www.coolmath4kids.com and do the two math puzzles below. For science go Robert Krampf's Science Education Company at http://www.krampf.com or subscribe to Robert Krampf's Experiment of the Week by e-mailing [email protected]. For reading, choose biographies and the Bible for starters. For writing, try short stories or poems. Write to a military soldier that you know.
If you still have the Heart to Heart Newsletter of "175 Things You Can Do Together with Your Family," your children won't have a chance to say, "I'm bored, Mom! What can I do?"
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