From The Book Of Joanne

1 A Latter-day Saint girl went to work in a restaurant.
2  She was in extreme financial difficulties.
3  Her overseer didn't like her very much.
4  Everyone was swearing except for her and a few others.  Her overseer noticed this and said,  I've never heard you swear.  I'm going to teach you how.  Repeat after me.
5  He didn't know she was a Latter-day Saint, but his boss did know this and took him aside and explained the situation to him.
6  He never tried to get the Latter-day Saint to swear after that, and he was from that time forth, kind to her and tried to make her feel welcome.  He was a changed man.
7  The Latter-day Saint was so relieved he didn't make her swear, because she didn't want to.

Journal

     Last night I felt so happy and excited about life that I didn't want to go to sleep all night.  I just wanted to stay awake and celebrate.  But I did sleep, and well.
     This morning I felt very grateful and remembered with dear feelings the time when I was singing a lot of The Sound Of Music, and my then two-year-old sang out from the back seat,
     "She's a cat, she's a dog, she's a bunny!"

Life In Holland

      When I visited Holland when I was younger, on more that one occasion the lady wives of my cousins took me on day trips sightseeing.
      Hanneke was the first one.  She took me sightseeing in Rotterdam.  I thought at the time what a sweet kind person she was to do such a thing.
     A second time, my other cousin's wife Claudia took me on a sightseeing visit around Amsterdam.  I thought that was very kind of her.
     The Dutch are very kind people.

The New Girl

     Once upon a time there was a school, a boarding school.  It was the first day of term and several new girls had arrived, some from foreign shores.
     One new girl was particularly lonely.  She was the farthest from home.  She sat at the breakfast table feeling incredibly despondent.  What was she going to do without a friend at this new school?  There was nobody there from her country.  Who would understand what it was like to be a foreigner?  No one at her table was from abroad she suspected.  No, there was one girl.
     When it came time for her to ask for someone to pass her the milk, she hesitated.  Would they be friendly?
     Please pass the milk, she said.
     Nobody near her responded.  But then the other foreign girl at her table looked at her understandingly and passed it to her.
     Here, she said.  What's your name, little girl?  she asked.
     Mildred, said the shy little girl.
     They became firm friends.  So when you see someone who needs a friend, could you please be friends with them?

The End

Journal

     I am sick again!

               ~

     I just had a miracle happen.  I drank the juice of a lemon, and suddenly felt marvelously better.

Addie Made A Fearful Mistake

     Addie made mistakes.  One of them was that she called God a No Mind, and went her own way occasionally.  Not in so many words, but you know what I mean.
     One time she needed something and she had the money so she went out and bought it - a tie for her brother - and he liked it so much.  And did she thank God for it?  No, I'm afraid not.  She did not thank God for it.  And do you know what He did?  He left her with no money and she had to thank Him for everything or she didn't get anything.  So there you are, children.  If you're ever left with nothing, did you ask God for things and not thank Him for things afterwards?  Don't overdo it though.  If you thank God for the selfsame blessing three times in two days, like I do sometimes, He might get a little bored.  Addie just made a mistake.  She can make it right by repentance.

Journal

     Many years ago I took a sensational magazine article writing workshop from writer John Lekich.  I wanted to write a magazine article and I've decided this morning to aim to write one when I'm 60.  Or maybe on second thoughts, I should submit lots.

I've Come Such A Long Way

     I've come such a long way since I got out of the mental asylum!  I used to lie on the bed and wonder how I would get motivated to do anything, because I felt so down. 

The Tale of Addie And The Stand Up For Herself Day

     One day Addie had had enough.  The Monster was getting her down.  He was always getting his way.  And she was never getting hers.
     So she stood up for herself.  Do you know what that means?  That means she said, No, I want to do it my way. 
     She had done it his way about a million times and didn't get anywhere.  Sometimes his way was just plain wrong.  Sometimes her way was right.  And this time it was.
      So she did it her way and won.  Boy, was he mad.  He stomped down the mountain and knocked on her door with a mad look on his face.  She wouldn't let him in. 

Until tomorrow, children, when I will come back with a new episode of Addie's life.

Journal

     I got better!  Isn't that amazing?  And then I did my Christmas shopping...all $11 of it.  I did some errands for my business.  And for Family Home Evening, a friend showed us how to make Christmas decorations out of cookies, we learned about the story behind two Latter-day Saint hymns and we ate meringues and fruit.  Paul made dinner and I washed up. 

The Tale Of The Scary Monster Called A Bigfoot And How He Chased Little Addie Down The Snowy Mountain To The Mall

     Once upon a time there was a mountain.  On that mountain lived two people or rather two beings:  one, a Scary Monster called a Bigfoot, large and hairy with big feet (you might have guessed that) and the other a little tiny girl with nothing better to do all day than smile at people and her name was Addie.  You might have guessed which I like the best:  yes, it was Addie.  She was kind and you might think that was all she cared about, but she liked going to the mall.
     One particular day, the sun was shining brightly, and to signify that we would have a harp play a few notes, as the snowflakes drifted down in the sunlight onto the mountain.  Addie, represented by the piccolo, was just getting ready to go out for the day.  She uttered a little prayer, that God Almighty would help her
be safe and do her best.  Then she threw on her coat, hat and scarf and started off skiing down the mountain to the mall.
     She had just got started when you know who, the Bigfoot, happened to look out of his window on the mountain above her, and to the sound of the trombones, went into a rage.  How dare she go shopping!  How dare she go out and have fun!  he raged.  He set off down the mountain after her, trombones roaring, and the drums beating, stomp, stomp, stomp.
     Addie, who fortunately had quite good hearing, heard all the commotion and turned around to see the snow flying around the enraged Bigfoot, just metres behind her.
     I prayed for safety!  What's going on?  she wondered.  The piccolos sounded alarmed.
     Just then an avalanche happened behind her and she skied swiftly away, only to fall in a lake!  What would she do now?  Help me, Heavenly Father, she prayed fervently and little woodland creatures came to get her out, represented by triangles playing.
     Thank you, said Addie and hastened away before the Bigfoot could reach her.  She got as far as the mall and was sharing smiles with people there, especially those who didn't have the dough to enjoy Christmas as much as they would have liked, (dough is money in this context), when the Bigfoot landed in his helicopter on the roof of the mall.
     Oh, help!  cried Addie.  He's going to get me!  she said.
     Fortunately the security guards, with the sound of the trumpets and tuba, came running and told the Bigfoot that landing on the roof of the mall to get little girls was definitely not cricket and to go away and bake Christmas cookies instead and at the very least, stay out of trouble.
     The Bigfoot was disappointed, but he liked cookies, and hadn't thought of anything as fun as that.  So he flew home and the trombones played happily as he baked his cookies.
     Addie did all her Christmas shopping and walked home with her skis, up the mountain and had a very merry Christmas.

Birth

     I don't think newborn babies need music at the birth.  I think they just want to hear Mummy's lovely voice!  The music might be for the mother though.

Journal

     I did laundry yesterday.  I was still sick, but at the end of the day I set up a workspace to do a painting today, so I am looking forward to that.  I had a good morning.  I made Vegetable Cheese Soup which I like from Pam Crockett's cookbook, Wheat Cookin' Made Easy.  In the evening I missed my children, so I wrote them an email.  Boy, am I grateful I'm going back to church on Sunday.  This morning I plan to bake Havurah Hallah out of the same book.  Havurah Hallah is Jewish Sabbath bread.  This evening I hope to see my children.

Easy Reader: We Can Receive Answers To Prayer

     When I was a pregnant Mum, my doctor wanted me to have an ultrasound.

     An ultrasound is a picture of the baby inside the mommy.

     They take the picture through the wall of the belly of the mommy, and through the uterus.

     I was running late and I didn't have the location of the four cup jug.

     I needed it to fill with water to drink, for the ultrasound to work.

     It was somewhere in Grandma Nobuko's large kitchen.

     But where, I didn't know.

     I kneeled and prayed.

     Dear Lord, Where is that jug?

     I need it now please.

     In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

     Right away I found it in a corner cupboard.

     I filled it with water.

     I drank the water all up.

     I made it to the appointment on time.

     Everything went fine with the ultrasound.

     God answered my prayer.
    

Easy Reader: Peace

     I wonder what the world would be like if everyone prayed for peace.

     If everyone tried to give a soft answer to turn away anger.

     Or to stand up for themselves in an inspiring way when called upon.

     I wonder what would happen if all the vegetables in the mental asylums were made to come out.

      And dance in the streets.

      Would there be peace?

Journal

     I got a lot done even though I was sick, so it was a good day yesterday.

Easy Reader: Pregnancy Cravings

      Mummies get prone to certain kinds of foods when they are expecting.

     Different babies need different foods, it seems.

     With my first baby, I craved brussel sprouts.

     With my second baby, I ate dandelions.

     With my third baby, I ate ice cream and pickles.

     With my fourth baby, I ate everything in balanced proportions.

Easy Reader: Scapula, Vertebrae, Who Knows?

     I was eating my chicken soup one suppertime.

     I noticed the bones.

     I am an anatomy student.

     I wondered what the names of them were.

     One looked like a scapula.

     One looked like vertebrae.
    

Easy Reader: Henry Moore's Farm

     Out in the countryside in England is Henry Moore's Farm.

     Henry Moore is a famous sculptor, children.

     I went there one day on a school outing in my sixteenth year.

     We met him.

     He was kind and told us about his art.

     He was a little old man with white hair.

Easy Reader: No More Lies

     If someone tells you lies, should you follow them?

     I don't think so.

     They might lead you down to hell.

     End of story.

     That's a very short story, isn't it children?

      That's my quip to you today.

Journal

      I really enjoyed my day yesterday, even though I was ill and didn't get as much as usual done.

The Danger Of Making Assumptions

     When we make assumptions, we place ourselves in jeopardy of making wrong decisions.  The thing to do is ask the Lord.  He'll tell us the right way to go.  Amen.

Easy Reader: Gratitude

     I am grateful for the snow.

     Grateful for snowmen.

     Grateful for mittens.

     Grateful to be warm inside afterwards.

     Grateful for a warm fire.

     Grateful for warm cups of hot chocolate.

Journal

      Last night I had my boys in for a fun time having fantastic Family Home Evening songs (one of which I don't even know the name of - my boys came up with it), a thought-provoking lesson from the teachings of prophet George Albert Smith, an activity we did to the sound of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sound of Music, Called to Serve and Can A Little Child Like Me? which we played on the piano. For a treat Paul made Bundt cake (which the boys ate) and I made honey and lemon juice to drink (I am still sick).  We had a glorious time.  Oh, and I forgot to say, we had hamburgers for dinner.

Easy Reader: Rain

     I hear tapping on the window.

     What is that sound caused by?

     I puzzle for a second.

     It's raining!

     I love the rain.

     It makes me feel all warm and cosy inside.

Journal

     I didn't have a very nice weekend, because I was ill, but I saw my boys and talked briefly to my daughter on the phone, and that was nice.  I haven't been to church for the last three Sundays because I was ill.  I slept a lot.

Mummy, She Said

     I have a lovely daughter who has a blog of her own.  Her name is Shoshana.  When she was a few days short of two years old, we were out on a walk.  She was in the baby carriage.  We heard some people speaking Chinese pass us by on the street as we walked.
     "Those people are speaking Chinese," I said to her.
     "Chinese is a kind of food too, Mummy," she replied to my shock.

Journal

     Sequestered in my humble abode, I have the flu.  I am making a big pot of lasagna for the boys to come over and eat with moi.

Reader: Weight Loss

     I feel full.

     So full it is like a sack of potatoes attached to my tummy.

     I think my stomach is shrinking.

     It didn't used to feel like this when I ate this amount.

     Hallelujah.

     I'm starting to lose weight.

The Story Of The Spider

     I was living in Abbotsford, British Columbia.  Two nights in a row I had horrible nightmares of HOUSE-SIZED SPIDERS crawling in my room.  Is there any special significance to these nightmares I wondered?  "No," I thought each time nonchalantly and got some rest for the night.  On the second night I sat up in bed as I wasn't tired and felt guilty I hadn't studied my anatomy book.  Whist learning about joints of the upper limb, a GIANT SPIDER ran over my bedcovers.  I weighed up in my mind what I should do and shook the bedcovers a little.  Where was it?  It seemed to have disappeared down the side of the bed by a wall.  Usually at an earlier hour I would throw a spider outside, but as it was late I didn't.  I put away my books and pens and settled down for the night.  Again I couldn't sleep so I read about wild grasses (another of my interests) and a few pages from a biography and went to sleep.  Soon I was in dreamland, when suddenly I awoke to feel something crawling on my hand.
     I imagined a little voice saying: "I crawled along her leg and there was a spider at the end of it -"
    "- her hand," said God.
     "What," asked the spider, "was her hand doing on the end of her leg?"
     I swept the spider off my hand and onto the carpet with my other hand and wrote down the whole story.  What a night!

The End

Journal

     I'm so old, 50 years old, I'm from the days when they still had ink pots on the desks in the schools in England!  For those of you who don't know, the ink pots were for filling the cartridges of your ink pens with so you could write your essays and Math and geography and so on.

The Waiting Room In A Station by me

I painted this after sitting at the Waterfront Station for an hour or two of my life.  Seated on the left is a perky poodle with her owner.  "I'm a typist" says her owner in a thought bubble over her head.  Above her you see two gentlemen passing by the window, one in raingear ("Rain, rain, always rain" he says to himself) and the other a sea captain ("My ship is in" is his quip).  Standing at the doorway with a cap full of money, small coins mind you, is a fiddler and his fiddle with a dancing girl standing next door.  ("Dance, little children, dance" thinks the fiddler, and the girl's thoughts are "I'll dance and you play - Righty Ho").  Sitting down on a bench for passengers next to them is a workman, auto mechanic by trade (his thought quip is "I'm going to fix a car") and lastly but not least is President Monson ("I'm looking forward to General Conference where I'll be a speaker" he says in his thoughts).

Reader: My Tummy Is Full

     I am on a diet.

     I am trying to lose weight.

     I used to eat a lot.

     Now I eat less.

     I wish I could stop.

     My tummy feels as full as a refrigerator jam-packed with food.

Didgeridooing It By The Stream

Didger want to go in
Or didger want to stay out?
I said to myself
At the sight of the stream.
I think I'll go in and paddle.

Cold remedies for me

I like to take garlic

When I am on my own

It takes away my symptoms -

And leaves me all alone.

It scares away the onlookers

With quite a scary smell

But kills the virus and bacteria

And leaves me feeling well.

My latest find is honey

With cinnamon to boot.

I'm really not sure if it works

But it really is a hoot!

Journal

     Last night I stayed up half an hour later than my usual bedtime and painted a scene in a waiting room.  I like people-watching so this is a people-watching scene.  I painted a man with a long white beard, shoulder length white hair, smiling and wearing blue overalls.  His compatriot is a portly man with a red face, a big red nose, a black overcoat, a green coat and green shoes and a big soppy smile.

Reader: Elevenses At Five

     I was just having elevenses, I said to myself.

     At five.

     I wonder how that happened.

     I know.

     I was just answering the door, when I noticed my hot chocolate cooled off, not a few minutes ago, but hours ago.

     Oh well.

    

Reader: Snazzle Loves Us

     Snazzle has a ball.

     Snazzle loves us.

     We are sleeping.

     He wakes us up.

     Please could we play ball, he says.

     We've had more than enough.

     Doesn't look like we're going to play ball today, says Snazzle to himself.

     We are snoring.

     We abruptly awaken.

     Oh well, I guess we could.

     Joy unbounded, says Snazzle, tail wagging.

Reader: Lots Of Love From Sparky The Dog

     Sparky is a dog.

     Sparky wants out.

     I let him out.

     He rolls in the puddles.

     He scampers back into the house.

     No, Sparky, no!

     He rolls on the sofa.

     He leaves trails of mud throughout the house and on the sofa.

     Lots of love from Sparky.

     Bad dog!

     Sparky is in the dog house.

     This will take me all day to clean up.

  

Reader: Dogs Are Fun

     Snazzle is a dog.

     Snazzle loves dogs.

     Dogs love Snazzle.

     Snazzle loves you.

     You love Snazzle.

     Dogs are fun, and so are you.

The Bedtime Story Monster

     One day, a little boy named Larry had a bedtime story conundrum.  (That means he didn't know what to do.)  He HAD to have a bedtime story, or it just wouldn't work.  Going to bed, that is.  It was like a monster, this need.  Do you know how this bedtime story monster got tamed?  By having his sister tell him a story.  His sister was an old maid who had no children, who looked after him herself because their mother was dead.  Their father was, too.  She sat beside his bed in a rocking chair and told the following story on the day we are talking about:

     There was once a bad boy who didn't do anything he was told.  He was scared.  What if he was found out?  People would know how rude he'd been to his parents.  He had told them "no" all the time if they asked him to be polite.  He had run away when they tried to take him hand-in-hand across the street.  And so on.  But that was not all.  He was rude to his teachers too.  I wonder why?  Do you know?  He didn't know right from wrong.  That's all.  But one day Jesus came to see him and asked him to come home with him if he wasn't going to be better, and he was.

     And I was that boy, said he, wasn't I?  I knew you would make that into a story some day.

The End

Journal

     Hi there, children!  I'm not completely better yet, but I thought I'd try and write you something so you wouldn't have to go to bed without a bedtime story!

Journal

     I'm not feeling well so may be off for a few days.

Reader: The Composer

     The composer had a smile on his face.

     Something had come to him.

     Can you guess what?

     A song.

     He wrote it down.

     Then he played it.

Journal

     I was feeling down and lay down for a nap for a while, yester even.  I got up and played the guitar and felt intensely better.

Journal

     I passed a happy day yesterday until I realized the lights were off and the computer was off, and then it came to me what a blessing they are.  They help me see what I'm doing and communicate with friends and family.

Reader: The Haloed One

     One day a mother came into my life.

     The haloed one.

     She lived with her family down a road nobody went on.

     A happy family.

     A happy husband, a happy wife, happy children.

     Isn't that nice?

Reader: The Cat And The Dog

     The cat and the dog loved each other.

     They used to sit together in the sunshine.

     The dog would wag its tail.

     The cat would purr.

     Then the puppies came.

     They were cat-puppies, but nobody minded.

Reader: The Two Ladybugs Go On Holiday

     Once upon a time, there were two ladybugs: a gentleman Fred and a lady Lila.

     Come here, lady-wife, said the gentleman bug Fred.

     Yes gentleman-husband, said the lady Lila.

     Let's go for a holiday.

     So they flew over the hills together.

     They were so in love because they were so kind to each other.

Journal

     Obama won and we are pleased.  I don't agree with everything he does, but I think he's trying to do his best and he is kind.  I think Romney has good qualities too, mind you, and is most generous with time.

Reader: The Surprise At Fraser Lake

     There is a surprise at Fraser Lake.

     I wonder what it is.

     Do you know?

     If you live there, you will know.

     I wonder if we can see it.

     Yes, lots of trumpeter swans!

    

Reader: Shoshana's School Year In Burns Lake

      Shoshana went to school for a year in Burns Lake.

     Too easy, she said.

     She went back to homeschooling again.

     "Been there, done that", was it?

     No, it was too easy.

     Later on it was hard enough so she went back, in the Lower Mainland.

Reader: Sister Robin

     My sister is named Robin.

     She is very good at kickboxing.

     She runs far, sometimes up mountains.

     She surfs.

     She does Bowen and Reiki.

     She does much travelling.

Reader: My Mother

     My Mother worked in hospital.

     She was a physiotherapist.

     She learned how to care for the sick.

     She was very loving and kind when I was sick in particular.

     She brought me scrambled eggs and toast in bed.

     She talked kindly to me and then she went away.

Reader: Aurora Borealis

     The family went out for a drive.

     We took friends with us.

     They pointed out the aurora borealis.

     It was light in the sky.

     It came when they whistled, like a dog.

     It made a whooshing sound.

Reader: The Creature Who Lived Under The Garage

     Under our garage in Burns Lake, lived a creature.

     It was brown and looked like a large prairie dog.

     It was funny and made us laugh.

     Every so often it would appear.

     Then it would go under again.

     I never did find out what it was.

Funny Moments With Joanne

     I have a blind spot which is that I have difficulty following verbal directions from one room to another.  If I had a map I would be okay, as I have followed maps of Europe from one country to another on the train by myself, but one room to another, no way.  ~

Reader: Pine Beetles

     Forestry is a big industry in Burns Lake.

     Then the forest was invaded by pine beetles.

     They made the wood blue-coloured.

     They even changed the weather, by eating away the trees.

     What can we do?

     Does anybody know?

Reader: Homeschooling In Midwinter

     I am a Mama.

     I homeschooled.

     Right up to the roof the snow was.

     It was fun.

     The children thought it was funny.

     They learned so much, and had fun at the same time.

Readers: Swimming In Francois Lake

     The ferry goes over Francois Lake.

     You can also go swimming there.

      You have to shower off afterwards.

     Otherwise you can get something called Duck Itch!!

     The birds like it.

      And the people like it.

Reader: The Midwives Drove To Burns Lake

     The midwives drove to assist me in my birth.

     They drove a long ways.

     The doula came from next door.

     The baby came.

     He cried.

     But he was alive and well - hallelujah!

Reader: The Loons On Burns Lake

     In the evening in Burns Lake, you could hear the loons.

     Loons are a kind of bird.

     They live on the water.

     They make a sound I like.

     They live in the north.

     They are the sound I like best up there.

Reader: I Love Michaelmas Daisies

     Michaelmas daisies grow up north in Burns Lake.

     They grow along the road.

     I used to live right in Burns Lake village.

     I liked it there.

     It was beautiful.

     It was peaceful.

Reader: The Apple Tree

     Red juicy apples on the apple tree.

     The apples are ripe.

     We pick them off the tree.

     We place them in a bucket.

     We place them on the kitchen table.

     We eat them all winter long.

Reader: Pleasant Family Times

     My family has pleasant family times.

     The Prophet said have Family Home Evening.

     It comes on Monday evenings.

      First, we have a lesson.

      Next, we have an activity.

     Then we have a treat - hurray!

Journal

     Yesterday my family had one of our pleasanter Family Home Evenings.  We occasionally watch a video for family night.  This one was a funny show about everyday make-believe events in a child's life in 1950s England.

Reader: God Rewards People

     God rewards people for doing good.

     When it rains, he is rewarding us for righteous living.

     Then there will be enough water to drink.

     In the Bible this happened.

     It happened in Elijah's time.

     There was so much rain, he ran.

Journal

     This month I plan on writing some readers, so be on the alert for them, children.

Reader: Dad's Pancakes

     My Dad is a pancake maker.

     He makes pancakes well.

     Dutch pancakes.

     Thin pancakes, crepes.

     He tosses them in the air.

     And they land perfectly.

Reader: Auntie Mabel's Art

     Auntie Mabel was my auntie.

     She was very old when I knew her.

     One day I saw a book.

     There were drawings in it.

     Those were Auntie Mabel's drawings.

     In her seventies she became an artist.

Reader: Uncle Tom's Spectacles

     Uncle Tom wore spectacles.

     He knew more about spectacles than most people.

     He looked at people's eyes.

     He was an optician.

     On weekdays he was an optician.

     In spare moments he played golf.

Reader: Auntie Pam's Teddy Bears

     Auntie Pam knitted.

     She knitted teddy bear vests.

     She was kind.

     She loved me.

     And she still does.

     And she knits baby clothes too.

The Man Who Helped

     One day Roland got up out of bed and looked at the sunrise.
     There is someone to help, said a voice, don't you know why?  He needs you to pick him up from the station and bring him to your house and put him up for the night.
     It was someone from his high school who had nowhere to live all of a sudden.  He went and picked him up.  He helped, and the man found his way home to a new house where he was welcome.

The End

Journal

     When I gave birth to my son Somerset, I called him a "lovely Japanese baby".  He cried heartily because in his view he was a lovely baby from Heaven. 
     My son is so like Justin Bieber, it is hard to tell them apart.  He is talented musically too.

Uncle John's Downfall

     Uncle John helped the police keep the area free of criminals with a citizens' organization where he freely helped.
     One day he gave up, because he moved to another province, and everything went wrong.  Next thing he knew, he was up to his tricks and he was one of the criminals. 
     Be on your guard, children, when Satan tries to get you away from your good works.

Journal

     It is my opinion, Reader, that thumb-sucking could be eliminated in this nation if babies and toddlers were nursed at the breast enough, not only for nourishment from the milk when hungry but also for suckling for comfort.

Children Used To Play Outside More Often

     When I was a little girl at Baston School in England, I disliked the cold so much that I used to hide in the library at lunch break and read a book instead of going out to play in some winter months.  I found many treasures there and that is probably one of the principle reasons I am a writer today.
     But other times I used to play outside often.   My neighbourhood for much of my childhood was in the countryside and we used to play that we were living in our adventure playground, as we used to call it.  We spent hours outside in good weather, weaving our adventures, imagining we were running our own civilization in the jungle and had great fun at it.

Journal

     I attended the Temple again last night and I am glad I did.