A Zoo Story

A few months ago, Jillian wrote out this story as Peter dictated it for her. I loved their collaborative effort.

A Zoo Story
By: Peter

Ther is a Ber, a snell, some fish, and a graf at my zoo. A zoo-keeper named Sam tacs good kar of the anamols. They never wontid to lev. But they had to. I wonder wiy they had to lev?

Not a fun day

November 28, 2012

Not a fun day!

It was not a fun day for me. I was at home. I was mostle with my mom and my baby sistes. And with my brother haf of the day. The bad thing that was I throw up. I wisht that did not hapin. Some of the day I was even saing "I wish this did not hapin!" But I ckep throwing up. I had a bol to throw up into.

Jillian's School Journal

October 2, 2012
I help wen I take care of m brother. Wen he gets to a hord word I help him rade that Word. I teach him haw to do the monkey Bor's.

October 8, 2012
On Sunday I went to my Grandma's haws. We wocht cofrins. Then we went to Oscors haws. We had dosort at Oscors haws. On Saturday my brothor went to Oscors Bothday Party.

I can get drest.
I can brosh my teeth.
I can make my bed.
I can pot on my pojamas.
I can riad my tow weler bike.

October 9, 2012
I can riad my tow weler bike. Forst you pot your foot on the hist petol. Then you rone a little. Last pot your othor foot on the othor petol. And your going.

October 15, 2012
Weekend news
On Sunday, my Grandma G and my onfym ckam ovr to my haus! It was fun! For dinor we had befcasrol with corn and bicis. For dosrt we had hot coklit and cookies!

October 16, 2012
I want to be a police womin. I wood capshor bad gis. I wood pol pepl ovr that wor jriving to fast.

October 20, 2012
My friend and I like to play baby-dolls. We take good kaer of Rosie.

October 22, 2012
My friend and I like to play family. My friend and I like to play prinsus. My friend and I like to go swimming.

October 25, 2012
On Sunday I spnt time with my kosins all day! On Saturday, I also spnt time with kosins all day! Ystorday I did a sigeing contest. It was fun but we didt get to finish!

Safe

Jillian came home from school with a vocabulary worksheet that had me tearing up. The words underlined are the ones she had to put in the sentences and then the fourth sentence is one she wrote herself using one of the words...

The allosaurus was an enemy to many dinosaurs.

A stegosaurus could protect itself with its spiky tail.

Today dinosaurs are extinct.

My mom protects me.

I think she literally brought it home the first school day after the CT shooting. I know I can't protect her all the time but I am grateful she feels safe and knows that, if we could, her parents would stand between her and danger.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

The past few days, well, since Friday, have been draining. It weighs so heavily to think of the children and teachers in the Connecticut school shooting experiencing such terror. There are children who suffer in violent situations around the world on a daily basis, but this situation hit so close to the average American child's. Their faces flash up on the television, the computer screen, and they are just like the children in our lives. It's impossible to not think that my own daughter is six years old, the age of some of the children who were killed.

There are so many questions swirling through the air "how could this happen?," "where was security?," "why did he have a gun?," and above all "how can we prevent this from ever happening again?" The difficult answer is that we cannot. There is no guarantee that a child will not be taken from their family early. There is no guarantee that we can protect those we love ALL of the time. And while that is a very real fear I have as a parent, I am realizing that I cannot allow my driving force as I parent my children to be out of fear. And for that reason I am so grateful for Faith. 

I had read on Facebook that a friend was going to be fasting on Sunday for the families and victims of the Shady Hook shooting, and I thought that was the least I could do to join them in prayer and fasting on Sunday. I went to church with the families of those lost in mind. As the Sacrament was taking place I prayed that the children who had died would be watched over, that something be done to comfort their parents and siblings, that they be cared for and given an extra portion of Heavenly Father's love. And before those thoughts even had a chance to complete themselves in my head, I had the strongest feeling "I already have! It's okay, I already have. Long before these people were born, I knew what pains they would face. I knew and I provided an Intermediary for them. They are not forgotten. They are mine and they are not forgotten! "I sent my Son to die for man, and rise with living breath." (Words from a sweet children's song that one of the speakers quoted.) 

The Primary children also sang "Away in a Manger." The last verse could have been written for this week. 

"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there."

Two of the speakers were a wonderful couple who will be moving from our congregation this month. It also seemed like they were picked specifically to speak after the tragedy last week, although I'm sure the assignment was made long before. They shared the story of losing their only son suddenly when he was a teenager. Brother Fraley shared how since he lost his son, he has learned the importance of speaking to God in prayer every day, as though every day were a crisis. Four years ago he would not have believed he could live without his son, but through Jesus Christ he has received so many blessings even after the time of his son's passing. His testimony was so sweet, humble and sincere, as was his wife's. They showed us through their own experiences that it is possible to rise after such a terrible blow. They reassured me that God is aware of each man, woman and child who walks on this earth. And while God does not control each man's actions, no matter how harmful, though I am confident He could, I am certain He was there comforting those children in their suffering. 

Isaiah 49:16-17

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.