story Niva 3

  As she followed Bob out to the fields, she saw the big, orange tabby cat the farmer owned to keep the mice at bay. When Niva and the cat had first met the tabby had tried to eat her, but over the first week since Niva had come to the farm, they had become friends. She had snuck the cat tidbits and morsels of the fishes or meats the family had eaten for dinner hoping the cat would see her as closer to a human than a bird or a bug to be pounced on. The tabby let her hop on his back and take a ride as they followed Bob.

  Out at the field Bob was using his tractor. Niva thought this tractor was cool; she also recognized the danger the large machine could present to a fairy who was only three inches tall. She had snuck in a window once when Josaphine had left some sewing stuff out and had taken the opportunity to measure herself. She knew she was a bit tall for a fairy but tiny compared to the big tractor. To keep out of harms way she flew up into a tree next to Tabby. He didn't seem to mind her using him as a pillow as they lounged on the tree branch.

  Soon she began to bore of watching Bob. She decided to go home and finish repairs to her house. Some rain storms were none to kind to it. As she flew to her house she passed the stable. She decided to say hi to Lucy, the chestnut quarter horse Bob sometimes used for farm work.

  Niva often gave Lucy a scratch behind the ears like she saw Bob do, but she thought it probably felt like only a mere tickle to the mare. However, since it was the best she could do it would have to suffice, and she could fly around the horse to keep the flies off. The curry comb was too large for Niva to try to use it on a regular basis. She tried that once, but it took her whole strength to move it along Lucy's fur so she figured she'd leave grooming to the humans. Maybe if Lucy was really in need of a cleaning, Niva could try again, but Lucy looked okay today. After chasing some flies around for a bit, Niva headed on out.

Edmund rant

Dear people,
I would just like to say that being sick is stinky. I do not like having my nose wiped. Who cares if it's leaking down my face? I especially hate having my nose sucked with that bulb syringe. I scream every time they do this, and still they want me to be able to breathe through my nose. Gunk must be draining down my throat because I keep coughing. Also, Mommy and Daddy still expect me to sleep when I don't feel good; in fact, they expect me to sleep even more because I don't feel good. The one upside to being sick is sitting in front of the humidifier and trying to grab that air coming at my face.
Sincerely,
Edmund
p.s. I might have accidentally leaned a bit too far and landed on Daddy's electric train today while it was going past. I would tell you not to tell him, but I guess I already did with the crying I did. Oops, but I guess he would have noticed anyways that his train wasn't on the track anymore.

Scripture Mastery fill in the blank

Test your scripture mastery skills. Or use as a family home evening or Sunday activity.

1 Nephi 3:7

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will ________ and ________ the things which the Lord hath _________________________, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall __________________ a way for them that they may _____________________ the thing which he commandeth them.

1 Nephi 19:23

And I did ______________ many things unto them which were written in the books of ________________; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their ____________________ I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet _______________; for I did ______________ all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and ____________________.

2 Nephi 2:25

_____________ fell that men might be; and ___________ are, that they might have ___________.

2 Nephi 2:27

Wherefore, men are ______________ according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to _______________ liberty and eternal _____________, through the great Mediator of all men, or to _______________

captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be _______________________ like unto himself.

2 Nephi 9:28-29

28 O that __________________ plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are ___________________ they think they are wise, and they ___________________ not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore their _____________________ is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall __________________.

29 But to be _________________ is good if they hearken unto the _________________ of God.

2 Nephi 28:7-9

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: _______, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, ___________, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God--he will _________________ in committing a little sin; yea _________ a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a _________ for they neighbor; there is no _______________ in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are ___________________, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be ________________ in the kingdom of God.

9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, _________________ and vain and ____________________ doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to _________________ their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the _______________.

2 Nephi 32:3

_________________ speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of _________________. Wherefore, I said unto you, ________________ upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you _____________ things what ye should do.

Story Niva 2

      Every morning Niva usually sat in the flower pots outside the kitchen window to listen to them talking at breakfast. She liked to start the day off with some human observation. As Niva settled in under a pale purple petunia plant she heard Josaphine say to her husband who was already eating, “Bob, would you go wake the boys, please,” as she was setting their places at the breakfast table. Just then however it became apparent that they wouldn't need waking up as they came running down the stairs arguing.

      “You stole my sock,” claimed Joe rather loudly.

      “It's my sock. It has a D on the bottom; you know, for Devin,” his brother Devin retorted.

      “Yah, only because you wrote it there after you stole it,” came Joe's reply.

      “Boys, it is just a sock. Chill out,” their mom interrupted. “Now sit down and eat, or you'll be late for school.”

      Niva thought that Josaphine was nice and sensible. The boys usually always found something to argue about, and Niva hoped some day they would learn to get along. She'd never had a sibling, but thought it would be nicer to have one for a friend than a foe.

      “Well, I have to get to work. You boys behave at school,” Bob said as he kissed his wife, waved to his sons, and walked out to his fields. Niva decided to follow him today instead of staying at the house with Josaphine or following the boys to school. She had already seen Josaphine do plenty of cooking, laundry, mending, and cleaning. Niva liked to stay at the house if Josaphine was planning to have any visitors or her reading club, but she hadn't heard her mention any appointments for today. The boys did learn pretty interesting stuff at school, but today she was more curious about what Bob would do in the fields beyond the backyard.

Edmund hack

Dear Mommy,

Here's a list of the things I don't like:

1. I don't want to sleep. There is too much to be done to waste time sleeping. Just because I'm tired doesn't mean I want you to leave me in my bed. I would have thought you would catch on by now with the noise I make when you do so. Isn't it like your job to hold me whenever I want you to?

2. Sometimes I don't want to be stuck on my stomach. Just because I can roll back over doesn't mean I always want to. I will just cry until you come do it for me.

3. Sometimes I don't like it when you leave me alone. If I cry come back where I can see you.

Well, that wasn't very long so on to the list of things I do like:

1. I like it when you tickle me. This is why I laugh when you do so.

2. I like to do word flashcards. I try to show you my excitement with my giant smile and bounciness.

3. I like to wrinkle papers. Any paper will do whether it was junk mail, something important, or pages of a book; I'm not picky.

4. I like to splash in the tub. Sorry, but you will get wet. I do appreciate the ducks you have put in for me to smack at while I splash. Maybe you should find me a baby pool.

5. I like to play with your phone. Be on your guard if you do not want it in my mouth.

6. I like to drop stuff. Every time I do the thing I drop goes down. Who knew?

7. I like my hands and feet. Sometimes I catch myself just sitting there staring at them because they are fascinating.

8. I like to bang on the piano. What fun noises it makes.

9. I also like to sing. I like Wheels on the Bus, Popcorn Popping, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, If You're Happy and You Know it.

10. I like to grab the cats. They are so fluffy. Unfortunately they like to stay out of range.

11. I like mirrors. Maybe it's because I'm such a cutey.

So overall it looks like I'm a pretty happy guy.

Love,

Baby Edmund

Story Niva 1

I started the first draft of this story in high school because our English teacher gave us journal time in class. Here's starting the second draft.


     Once upon a time in a land called Stev, a province of Kedavin, there was a fairy named Niva. Oh there were plenty of humans in Stev just as in the land you probably live in, but unlike your land, this land also had fairies.
     The fairies lived in trees in the tiny houses they built high in the treetops. Usually fairies preferred to stay in the forests; but, Niva's parents had died when she was ten years old, and she hadn't felt exactly welcome with the fairies that had taken her in. She was also very curious about the humans she had heard about in her parents' bedtime stories, so when she was 12 she figured she was old enough to take care of herself and moved into an old oak in a farmer's backyard away from any other fairies.
     Niva liked to watch the humans, but she didn't know how they would react if they saw her, so she usually stayed out of sight. From her observations she had learned that in this human family the dad was named Bob, the mom was named Josaphine, and they had two sons named Joe and Devin.

Poem Braille

Here's the poem I wrote last night, probably while bugging my husband because I kept turning the lamp on when we were in bed.

Braille

Blank dots
On a blank page,
Though the story's plain to see,
If you know the code.

Blank bumps
On a blank page.
Some say,
"Not a word in sight."

White dots
On a white page.
Do you feel it?
Can you find the bugs?

Six dots
In a rectangle.
One two three four five and six.
The story's in the dots.