90. A Love Poem To Bacon From A Vegetarian

I know that you aren't right for me.

But that doesn't help me, dear.

For though I tore myself from you,

I miss you more each year.

I love the way you smell, sweetheart,

And all the sounds you make.

I wish that we were not apart,

As soon as I'm awake.

The day I left, I felt no strife,

To go our separate ways.

And though I'm happy with my life

I think of you most days.

Occasionally I wonder if

I'll be with you again.

I hope that we can mend this rift,

But, dear, I don't know when.

89. The Do

Pointy, scaley, reach to the sky

Gone on the sides, green with dye.

You may ask yourself, "but why?"

Cause I'm a Mohawk. Cya, bye.

88. Palm Sunday.

With feathered palms and open arms

They welcome Him that day.

They shouted and with great alarms

Rejoiced to make His way.

They placed their coats along the ground

To make a path for Him.

Their friends, their family all around,

They cheered the great Lord in. 

With great Hosannas, praised the Lord,

They mighty one of all.

He entered and they heard His word.

He blessed them, great and small.

87. After Ever Happily

And the moral of the story is "work hard and you won't be lunch."

The wolf landed in the pot and was scalded so badly that he jumped back up the chimney and ran away, never to be seen again.

The three little pigs heard the wolf coming down the chimney so they put a pot of water on the fire to boil.

The wolf realized he couldn't blow the brick house down, so he had to find another way in.

He huffed and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, but he just couldn't blow the house down. 

"Not by the hair of our chummy-chin-chins!" Replied the pigs.

The wolf called. "Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in."

The two little pigs ran to the third little pig's house and slammed the door.

He did.

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in."

"Not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins," the pigs replied.

"Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in."

He knocked on the door of the stick house.

The first little pig ran to the house of the second little pig and slammed the door.

He did.

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in."

"Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin," the pig replied.

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

He knocked on the door of the straw house.

The big bad wolf came into town.

The third built a house of brick.

The second built a house of sticks.

The first built a house of straw. 

There were once three little pigs.

86. Pitched

Try again. Try again. Donny, dear.

Your father is watching. Your mother is near.

Your brother is coming. Your sister is here.

Try again. Try again. Donny, dear.

Swing again. Swing again. Lenny, love.

Your father is wearing his baseball glove.

Your grandpa is watching from up above.

Swing again. Swing again. Lenny, love.

Run again. Run again. Sammy, sweet.

Your mother is cheering your little feet. 

Your sister can't keep herself in her seat.

Run again. Run again. Sammy, sweet.

85. Basketball Jones

Dribble dribble. Pop pop.

Dribble dribble jump.

Pass it out. Put it up.

Slam the ball: dunk.

83. Axle-Free

The afternoon was beautiful. After four straight days of rain, the skies had finally cleared. The sun shone, warm and pleasant, and the trees and grass shone a brilliant green, full of renewed life after the long storm.

I rolled the windows down as we drove, enjoying the beautiful weather and the wind as it played with the wisps of hair that escaped my ponytail. Jane sang along with the radio, badly mangling the words with her limited three-year-old vocabulary, and Thomas noozed peacefully in his car seat, tuckered out from a morning of hard play.

I took the entrance ramp for the freeway, my movements routine, having driving this route a hundred times in the year since I'd moved here. I waited for my turn to switch lanes. It was less than a mile of driving on the freeway, and yet one exit stood between me and the exit for my home. 

Ahead of me, a small white pickup drifted to the shoulder. It was too early for the lane to split for the exit ramp, so I watched the truck, casually wondering why he was pulling over and if I should merge early to give him some extra space. With the lane to my left packed with a line of traffic, I turned my attention back to the pickup.

I became mildly concerned for him when a bit of smoke rose up from the back of his undercarriage, but it was the concern of a complete stranger feeling pity for someone she'd never meet, knowing how unpleasant car trouble can be.

And then his wheel fell off.

It was one of those incredibly-fast-slow-motion moments. The wheel just disappeared. It shot forward, continuing in the path it had been tracing. The truck slammed to the ground, sparking as the metal shaft dragged across the freeway cement at a rapid pace. The screeching of the metal sent shivers through me. The sparks turned into flames as the driver pulled the pickup completely out of the lane and onto the shoulder. 

There was still no sign of the tire. I knew there should be shreds of rubber littered across my lane at any second, so I hit my brakes, prepared to avoid what I could, knowing that my little car could be seriously damaged if I ran over a chunk that was too big. The cars in front and behind me slowed as well. But there was no debris. And still the truck was skidding to a halt.

By the time the truck was stopped, I was passing him. I looked at the driver, my stranger-pity raised to a considerably higher level. Still I didn't know him, but for a moment there all our lives had been at risk together. If he hasn't been turning for the exit early, any number of us could have been hurt. Whether he could feel the truck giving him trouble or he had a premonition of danger or it was just luck, but I was grateful to him for pulling off.

He sat there, both hands gripping the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. He didn't move. And then he was behind me. The whole thing was over in about five seconds.

The cars in front of me didn't speed up as we passed the exit. The lane split off, and I stayed left. The exiting cars to my right slowed to a crawl, and I looked over to see why. There, rolling down the middle of the lane, peacefully leading the way up the exit ramp, was the lone wheel, completely intact. Even the hubcap was still connected. 

As I took my own exit and headed for home I looked back at my children sitting behind me. Jane had found her princesses and was making them dance to the song on the radio. Thomas had turned his head but was otherwise undisturbed from his peaceful sleep. 

The sun still shone down on me, the wind still played with my hair. Everything was the same as it had been. The only remaining evidence of the near-disaster was my quickened heart rate. Only I was changed.

82. Primping Time

Grab a friend and take a ride

Come on girls. Let's go inside.

It's time to dress, not time to play.

Come on, we don't have all day.

Petticoats and skirts galore.

Ribbons, buttons. Shut that door!

Don't let them see your stockings, dear.

Let's tie your corset, over here.

Frills and lace and velvet, too.

We have got some work to do.

Do your hair and pinch your cheeks.

Pull them, tug them, pump those peaks.

Almost done, slip on your shoes.

No more time for don'ts and dos.

Now it's time to dance with joy.

Go on, girls. Collect your boy.

81. Book of Mormon (Women) Stories

Sariah was the mother of the Nephites in the land.

She left all her stuff behind to live in lots of sand.

Nephi and his brothers learned from her how life should be,

She taught them how to live righteously.

Abish was a Lamanite whose love for God was true.

She had waited many years to share just what she knew.

When the court was passed out Abish told the whole city.

She declared Ammon taught righteously.

Isabel the harlot stole the hearts of many men.

One was Corianton. To her bed he'd prob'ly been.

Alma said, "She's bad for you. Repent. Come teach with me."

He left her, and he served righteously.

80. Falling Star

Falling star,

Fallen far,

Don't forget

Who you are.

84. Accursed

Curses come in all forms. They come from many sources. And a single curse affects more than just the Accursed.

I know this better than most. I'm am an Accursed. 

You see, I didn't know he was a genie when he first spoke to me. I should have seen it, I know, but when you're caught up in the moment and as frustrated as I was when he showed up, you just don't think straight. Sure, I'd heard all the stories about genies appearing when you rubbed oil lamps, but I didn't think pulling the lamp out of a bog counted as rubbing it. And he looked nothing like what I had ever imagined a genie would look like. He just looked like a regular boy. 

I didn't really think much about how he got there. I was upset and figured I just hadn't heard him approach. And we get caravans passing through the village all the time, so I just assumed he was the son of one of the merchants. 

He just sat down next to me and held my hand and let me cry on his shoulder. He didn't scold. He didn't tell me I should keep my emotions to myself. He didn't laugh at me. He just let me cry.

When I had cried myself out we talked. He asked me why I was so upset. I told him. My brother and sister were the source of my troubles. There was always something for them to tease me about or some favor for them to deny me. This time they had found out I had a suitor.  Instead of being happy for me or at least glad that they might finally be rid of me, they turned against me. Maeri was jealous, I suppose, because I am younger than her and yet I got the first marriage proposal. For Jarom I think it was just spite. So they tittered and tormented and tortured and teased.

Now I have no suitor and I have no escape from them than this oasis where my genie found me. So I ran here to get away from them. But they followed me and listened as I cried to him. Then they jumped out and cackled and scorned as they always do.

"You twit!" They called. "You whining ninny! He would have seen your worthlessness in his own time anyway. He would have left you to rot with your arms full of brats just like you." And maybe he would have. But at least I would have been away from them.

If I had known he was a genie, perhaps I would have been more cautious. But then, I may have said something worse in my anger. I jumped to my feet and screamed "I hate you! I wish I could never hear you again! I wish I could never see you again! Leave me alone!" 

And, well, he was a genie.

79. The Feminine Rhyme is Sublime

Sometimes when you're a writing poet 

You come across a word

That makes you cringe and groan to know it,

'Cause rhyming is absurd.

You want to know what Wyatt Earp'll

Wear on Easter Sunday?

I bet he won't wear any purple

'Less it's Crazy Fun Day.

You want to eat some breakfast? Orange

Or an apple? Yummy!

You want to be quite careful, for ing-

esting is your tummy!

You didn't win a medal? Silver 

Can't be twice-awarded. 

But doing all you can do will ver-

bosely be rewarded.

Now see what I have done this morning: 

Three words that can't be rhymed

Have all received of my adorning.

Now you can make them mimed.

78. Baby Loves

Rolling eyes, Soft and sweet

Gentle hands, Little feet

Cuddles, hugs, fluffy hair

Baby snores, loving stare

77. It's Mr. Banana beak to you, fuzzy.

It's my duty to keep the king's day from becoming overwhelming. I take care of the mundane. The household affairs. The smaller details of his affairs. I make sure information goes to the right people. 

I am NOT a babysitter. 

That is not part of my responsibilities. I have no experience with children. They should never have asked me to take the prince and his lady friend to the lake. How was I know that they were trying to cross the border? I may be older than them, but their status is greater than mine. I can't control them. And now they've run away from me. The queen is going to kill me. What am I going to do?

76. Heavenly

They say that Mercury is swift.

He flies around the sun.

The closest of the planets and

He is the smallest one.

Venus is a glorious sight,

Most beautiful of all.

She shines the brightest in our sky

A cloudy yellow ball.

Mars means war. He's red and hard.

He's in our thoughts forever.

He is closest to the Earth.

Our friend and foe together.

The mighty one is Jupiter.

He isn't one to bother.

The biggest and most powerful,

He is the all father.

Saturn spins trapped in rings 

Where ice and rock are found.

And all about him satellites,

His kids, are gathered 'round.

Uranus is on his side.

He's old and out of grace.

He's pushed away out of the light,

Sometimes forgetting his place.

The last of all the mighty powers

Neptune takes a bow.

And if you can't distinguish him,

His trident shows you how.

And then there's Pluto, banished now,

Forgotten by the others.

He is the farthest from the sun.

The darkest of the brothers.

75. Funky Chicken

Dance the funky chicken.

Move your body now.

Dance the funky chicken.

Let me show you how.

Dance the funky chicken.

Pop your frisky hands.

Dance the funky chicken.

Pretend you're throwing sand.

Dance the funky chicken.

Flap your crooked arms.

Dance the funky chicken.

It can do know harm.

Dance the funky chicken

Shake your hiney fast.

Dance the funky chicken.

You can make it last.

Dance the funky chicken.

Move your body now.

Dance the funky chicken.

Dance and take a bow.

74. Revelation

When Joseph Smith was just a boy

Confused by church division

He went to pray about his choice

And then he had a vision.

He saw the Father and the Son

Surrounded by bright light.

Glorious and heavenly,

They stood there dressed in white.

They told him that no church on earth

Had all their gospel true.

They told him in the years to come

That he'd have work to do.

He listened to their words divine,

Just like it was before.

Through him they gave the priesthood power

Back to the world once more.

With prophets and apostles dear

God tells us of His will.

If we listen and obey

Our lives the Lord will fill.

73. Will, Phil, Bill, and Bob

"They're going there," their mother said, 

A-pointing to their raft.

"For 'fore ya know it the four of them

Will sprawl from fore to aft."

"What will they wear?" Their father asked.

"Where will they sell their wares?

"It's not for naught if they can knot 

That knot they've got up there." 

Some summer day they'll come away

And sum up their misgivings.

Then will Will will away his will?

Will Will give up all their livings?

No, Bill will bill the governor 

whose bill he brought to bear

Upon the fill that Phil would fill 

when he brought home a bear.

Or Bob will bob above the sea

Of people we can see

Or bob the hair of his poor hare 

Or be just like a bee.

Now here they come, it's time to hear

Just what they have to say.

"We're Will, Phil, Bill, and Bob," they laugh.

"We weigh more than you. Way."

72. Groaning Sigh.

What once was full now is vacant.

What once was rotten now is clean.

What once was active now is latent.

What once was hidden now is seen. 

71. 1980

We didn't mean to insult the world. It was meant to be a great idea. Useful. Productive. Efficient. 

Oops.

We didn't want to spend millions or billions of dollars to build a facility that would go to waste after only two weeks of use, so we designed the buildings to fit the needs of the facility's post-Olympic life. It made sense at the planning meetings. Build a prison, use it as international housing for two weeks, and then let it fulfill a useful purpose. I guess none of us really considered how the foreign guests would interpet this move. 

I can see now why they weren't too pleased. I mean, would you want to spend the night in a prison? Or several nights? And then have to go give your best physical performance of your life in front of the whole world? After sleeping in a prison cot? 

Me neither.

But, truly, we thought we were being forward-thinking. We thought we were brilliant! We wouldn't let our facilities go to waste! And since the state was already planning on building the prison, we didn't have to use our Olympic budget for it. Win-win!

Just don't ask the athletes what they thought. Good thing we had the Miracle on Ice to take away the attention. That's the only thing anyone remembers about the 1980 Winter Olympics now.

70. Growing Pains

Perhaps one day you'll come to know

About the truth from head to toe

I'll tell the tale before you grow

No more tonight. I love you so.

69. Unsanctioned Romance

They say that I'm in love with you.

That you are really bad.

That you once had your brother killed,

At least he's not your dad.

They say that I'm in love with you.

That evil is your name.

That you love hatred, fear, and lust.

At least your home's not lame.

They say that I'm in love with you.

That you destroyed the world.

That you are chaos incarnate.

At least your hair's not curled.

They say that I'm in love with you.

That you're a man of war.

That you cause death, and pain, and strife.

At least you're not a bore.

They say that I'm in love with you.

That you could never feel.

That you would be a bad boyfriend.

At least you are not real.

68. Danny's Treasure

"Danny stole it! Danny stole it!"

Cried the his merry aunts.

"Get back here, Dan," his mother called, 

Grabbing for his pants.

The little lad, he toddled fast

For such a little chap,

But mother caught him up again

And hugged him to her lap.

"Now give it back," she placed her hand

Palm open to the skies.

But Dan would not relinquish yet

His long-awaited prize.

He wiggled and he tried to run,

From mother's grip so strong. 

But though he tried with all his might 

She'd trapped him, right or wrong.

With fist held tight, his treasure safe,

He gave a little pout.

Then came one long horrid scream

Far louder than a shout.

"It's mine! It's mine!" He cried aloud.

"Don't take it! I won't share."

He sniffled and a little tear 

Dropped down upon the chair.

"How 'bout a trade," Mom offered him

A racecar, top, and ball.

Dan shrieked with joy at his new toys

And traded for them all.

His mother smiled and gave a hug,

She didn't even mock,

That all the fuss and rumpus here

Was for a dirty sock.

67. Abish

I am Abish. I wash the clothing of the Queen. I was there when they brought in the Nephite. He was tied and gagged. They treated him like he was a captive, but he showed no signs of struggling. He just walked in behind them as calmly as if he were one of us. I have seen many Nephite captives before they are executed, but this man was different. He was not afraid. He did not try to escape. And then he told the King he wanted to be his servant. 

Now, I don't mind being in the when's service. It pays well, I eat heartily, and she is very kind. But I am a Lamanite. This man is a Nephite. Our peoples are sworn enemies. It has been so for generations. So when he asked to be a servant to the King, we all thought he was crazy. And then when the King assigned him to watch his sheep, we thought he was dead. 

We had been losing dozens of sheep to some bandits and the King, frustrated by this loss of wealth, had executed all those who were guarding the sheep any time the bandits came. So assigning the Nephite to the fields was as good as killing him on the spot.

His first day in the field, I had taken a basket of the queen'so ribes to the stream for washing. I was curious about this Nephite. Everyone was. I settled by the stream behind a bush where I could see but not be seen and I began my washing.

It was not long before the bandits came agsin, blowing their horns, screaming their war cries, and beating their clubs against their hands. It's no wonder the sheep fled. I was scared, too. I couldn't move for fear they would see me and attack me. I stayed hidden and I watched as the Nephite took charge. None of the men sent with him ran, as so many before them had. When the bandits drew back to find the scattered sheep, the Nephite sent his men to find the sheep first. They found them all and brought them together again. When the second charge came, he sent them to guard the sheep while he stepped away, toward the bandits. He took them on alone.

It was watching him protect the sheep that I realized he was sent by God. He must have been a messenger of the Lord, protected by Him, to fend off so many without even a scratch. It was not his strength but the Lord's who cut off the arms of his attackers. 

I knew the time had finally come. I didn't have to keep my secret any longer. Ever since I was a child, I had believed in the Nephite God. My father, having had a vision, taught me the truth of God, His power, His wisdom. And yet, as a Lamanite, I could never speak of my knowledge. But my father said that one day a Nephite would come and lead our people to the light. And this was him. He had finally come. 

By the time I had gathered my wits about me and the queen's linens into my basket, all the men had gone. I had spent the whole day in hiding, afraid that the surviving bandits might return or that some left for dead might only be injured and attack me in anger or pain. 

I tried to return to the queen's rooms but the doors to the royal household were shut and the guards refused to give me entrance. I went home and tried to sleep, but I was too excited. The time had come.

Morning came and as soon as I woke I hurried to my lady's chambers. She was alone. She was crying. Never before would I have approached her in this state. Clearly none of my peers would either. But at that moment I felt a hand on my back, pushing me to comfort my queen.

I asked her why she cried and she told me of the events of the previous night, why the guards permitted no one. The King was struck down. Some believed him dead. He was not dead. I don't know why I said it, but I did. I don't know why she believed me, but she did. Together we sat while the day passed around us. I slept in the queen's rooms that night. No one questioned it. 

The next day I was woken by the sound of arguing. Some of the King's servants had come to tell the Queen her husband needed to be prepared for burial. She refused to believe he was dead. She turned them away and I crept quietly to her side. I told her to ask the Nephite to help him. It was after hearing him speak that the King collapsed. Perhaps the Nephite could help.

She called for him and he came. I stood in a corner and listened as she asked for his help. His voice was so strange. He was a servant from a foreign land, speaking to a queen. He should have been meek and lowly. He should have cowered before her. But he spoke to her like an equal. He was kind and caring, but bold and straightforward. He told her the King would rise in the morning.

It was a lonely night. The Queen stayed by the King's side. I waited on her. I didn't sleep. I just waited.

The sun rose. The King rose.

He spoke of God. The spirit of the Lord filled the hall around us as he spoke. He spoke of the Lord who would come. He spoke of the great sacrifice. He spoke truth. And then he prayed. He prayed and he fell. The queen prayed and she fell. The Nephite prayed. He prayed with so much joy. He thanked God for the Lamanites. For us. The enemies of his people. And he fell for joy. Then, one by one, the spirit of God overtook everyone in the hall until I am the only one left.

The time has come for me to share the light. God has come to the Lamanites. It is time.

66. Daddy's Always Right

"The moon is made of cheese" she said, 

When gazing in the night.

"Of cheese and corn and peppermint.

 Of snowflakes, joy, and light."

"Not so," he said, his finger up, 

determined to be right. 

"The moon is made of rocks and dust, 

reflecting sun so bright."

"The clouds are made of fairy dust," 

she sang without a care. 

"Of tricks and flips and happy cries. 

Of love and unicorn hair."

"The clouds are made of water, dear," 

he corrected with a glare.

"Of gaseous water, hot and cold, 

electricity and air."

"The rainbow's made of bubblegum,"

She giggled playfully.

"Of skittles, sweet tarts, m&ms,

Of sugar and sweet tea."

"No, no," he said again distraught 

He could not make her see.

"The light and water make the arc 

and colors that you see."

"The world is made of pain," she said.

Her eyes were full of tears.

"It's cruel and mean, and full of men

Who prey upon my fears."

"Indeed, my child, the world has pain,

But have a little cheer,

For hope and love are also real

And you will find them here.

65. Colors of Nature

Ruby

Autumnal Leaf

Io

Nausea

Bluebird 

Ocean

Wild Lilac

64. Afterlife

Close your eyes.

Cross the floor.

Turn the knob.

Open the door.

Open your heart.

Wish to stay.

Say goodbye.

Walk away.

Walk through life.

Hide the fear.

See the joy.

Rise with cheer.

Rise no more.

Cease your cries.

Hail the train.

Close your eyes.

63. Nur Mir

Who is your mother, child, dear?

Only me. Nur Mir 

Who will wipe away your tear?

Only me. Nur Mir.

Who will calm you when you fear?

Only me. Nur Mir.

Who will always keep you near?

Only me. Nur Mir.

Who will guard you, sword and spear?

Only me, Nur Mir.

Who will your great vict'ries cheer?

Only me. Nur Mir.

Who will be your friend, your peer?

Only me. Nur Mir.

Who will always be right here?

Only me. Nur Mir.

62. Little Brother

Only a little brother would let me paint his nails bright red.

Only a little brother would let me bounce him off the bed.

Only a little brother would let me dye his hair,

Even when it's purple and looks like a teddy bear.

Only a little brother would scowl at Buckingham palace.

Only a little brother would pretend his name is Alice.

Only a little brother would model my George Wasington wig,

Even when the wig is a pillow and his head is way too big.

Only a little brother would wear a dress to a movie.

Only a little brother would tell me that I'm groovy.

Only a little brother can make me laugh with ease,

Even when he's miles away, from all these memories.

61. Fairy Godmothers

Being a Fairy Godparent isn't as easy as humans seem to think. It's not all about those we protect and serve. We have our own lives to live. We can't always rush to our children's aide. If I am trying to keep a hurricane from destroying a chain of islands, I can't just up and leave because one of my children has scraped his knee. And not every wish my children make can be granted. I won't make it snow in the middle of summer just because a child wants to play. There are limits and there are boundaries. We all do what we can, though, if we are able. We love our children. It's in our nature. When I feel a wish, I want to grant it if I can. And we all feel the same way. 

Well, almost all of us. The exception is Fnola. I'm not really sure what happened in her designing, but she's about the least attentive Fairy Godparent I know...and I know all of them. She's a great fairy. She plays with the animals all day long. She encourages the young to come out in the Spring, she settles disputes, she helps the old find hibernation holes. She's wonderful with them. It's her Godparenting duties that she struggles with. And by struggles I mean ignores. Her children are abandoned by her, and she doesn't even care.

I know she feels the wishes. She's feeling one now. I can see the shimmer of the wish brushing her ears. It wants to be heard. All wishes want to be heard. Even the tiniest wish of wonder wants to be heard. Those are the easiest to set aside. Wishes of wonder are rarely granted by any of us. But this wish for Fnola is a wish or sorrow, one of the strongest and boldest wishes in our world, and yet she just shakes it away. She doesn't even listen to this wish. How can she know if it is grantable or not? And now, pushed away, it is fading. I cannot take it anymore.

I am at her side in seconds, hovering just higher than her. "Fnola," she jumps at my voice. The kittens she has been tickling scatter away from me. "Why did you not allow this wish to speak to you?" The wish is shimmering in the space between us, its dark mist sparkling as the sun  shines through it. It has regained its form at my touch, but this is Fnola's wish. I cannot grant it. I cannot even hear it. But it knows a fairy's touch. 

"I don't know what you mean," she says simply, flying away from me. I follow her, guiding the wish in front of me. 

"This wish of sorrow needs to be heard, Fnola. It is important. This is what we are here for. These wishes can do nothing without us." My cry is urgent, but she doesn't care.

She waves me off with her answer. "Humans can take care of themselves," 

I circle around her and dive low and close to her face so she cannot avoid my gaze. "So can kittens and rabbits and tigers. So can the wind and the rain. So can the flowers and the trees. They can all get along just fine without us. But we can make their lives richer and fuller and calmer. We can give them joy and peace. That's what Fairies are for, Fnola. That's why we are here."

"What do you want me to do, Ftari? Should I let these animals die so that a few humans can lay waste to their world? Humans are fools. They don't know what will make them happy."

She has gestured at the animals around us. I shake my head in despair at her. "Fnola, we are on a farm. These animals will not suffer if you look away for a few moments. They are we taken care of." I push the wish into her arms. "But this --this wish-- will fade and go out if you do not listen to it." She looks at the thing as if it were disgusting. "This is a wish made in sorrow. Fnola, one of your children is in need of you. You cannot be such a stoneheart that you will not even listen to her cry." 

Apparently I hit a hard point. Her eyes flash and she snatches the wish away from me. "I am no stoneheart."

"Are you not?" I scold. "I have not seen you grant a single wish this season. I have barely seen you listen to one at all." 

She glowers at me for a moment but in only a moment her glare turns into a sweet smile and she answers "fine. I will listen to this wish. And to prove to you I am no stoneheart I will grant it."

"If you can," I interrupt.

"If I can," she repeats. "I will grant it with great splendor. You will see. This child will get her wish. And a beautiful sight she will be."

As she spoke she let the wish in, absorbing with the wish all the hopes, dreams, fears, and tears that brought it to her, and then she disappeared.

I hope I have not doomed this child.

60. Falling

A few days ago I went rock climbing with my husband. I was having difficulty with the route I was taking, but I was near the top and I wanted to complete the route. My husband could tell I was struggling and suggested that I come down and try again later when I was a bit rested. But my pride got the better of me and I decided to keep going. I lunged for a hold just out of my reach, but I missed. Because I was overtired and positioned poorly, my feet slipped from under me and I fell. Because I had moved too far out of line with my pulley, I was swung around, banging into the climbing wall and several holds, and I became entangled with the belaying ropes near me. I was completely out of control as I fell. I grasped at the ropes around me but they didn't stop my fall. Fortunately, I had chosen to take the harness and automatic pulley system, since I'm not a huge fan of heights, but even so, I was falling faster than I wanted and I couldn't tell where I was headed or how to regain control. I just felt scared and lost. Just before I dropped to the ground, my husband stepped under me and caught me. He very calmly steadied me, untangled me from the belay ropes, and helped me calm down while he detached me from the pulley. Once he knew I was okay he led me to a place where I could sit down and collect myself before I decided to climb again.

When it happened all I could of was "gee, that was unpleasant," and "boy, I'll be feeling these bruises for a while," but as the weekend has gone on I've kept thinking back on it and I can't help but think how similar my experience was to every day life and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

As we go through life, we are presented with challenges. Sometimes we just need to back off for a while or leave it altogether. Often, God sends the Holy Spirit to warn us that what we're doing isn't right. And because we're human and fallible and stubborn, we ignore those promptings. And then we get hurt. But Jesus Christ will always be there for us, no matter how stupid we are or how bad the mistake we make, he's there to catch us when we fall. He's there to keep us safe, loving and protecting us, slowing our descent as our mistake pulls us downward. He wants to help us recover. He's there to help us disentangle ourselves from the evil around us that could hurt us more. He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us. And He's there when we're ready to come back to Him and try again. 

He suffered so that He could heal. He knows the pain that we feel. He knows the fear, the hurt, the sorrow, the worry. He died for us and was resurrected again so that one day we might live again. Through His Atoning sacrifice, we are able to be made clean again when we sin. When we turn to Him, humble and repentant, He is there to welcome us back. I am so grateful for my knowledge of my Savior and the Atonement He made for me.