Charity's 25th Birthday

Charity (n. Fr. charité) 1. In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of the heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. (Webster's 1828 dictionary)

We are blessed with Charity's love in this home as she blesses us with: her computer skills; her enthusiasm for those little caterpillars that go through a wonderful transformation right before our eyes; her knowledge of essential oils and other natural remedies; her skill in making sour dough by catching the "wild" yeast in the air; her excitement for books and skill in ordering for us through the library system; her enjoyment in organic gardening (we enjoyed her delicious crop of green beans this summer) and many other ways that she does us good.

We are also blessed with Charity's supreme love to God which shows: in her love to listen to and sing God's praises, especially Handel's Messiah; and in her occasional heart-felt poems. We thank God for sparing her life earlier this year and pray that He will bless her soon with good health that she might enjoy and do many more things for His glory.

Charity's birthday got a little stretched out this year. She went out for a special lunch the day before with her dad at the White Horse Inn (a historic restaurant in Metamora - horse country here up north), then Sunday (her actual birthday) we went to Messiah practice after church and opened her presents later that evening. The picture shows one of her favorite gifts - a book on herbs and their usage. Finally, the day after, we had her requested homemade apple pie (we made 3 of them) and our friends the Bryson's came down to help her celebrate. She received many nice cards from their children and a CD.