127. Cruising

I hear a baby crying.

It isn't mine today.

I hear a toddler whining.

It isn't mine today.

I hear a crash of dishes.

It isn't mine today.

I feel the bed beneath me.

It isn't mine today.

126. Cairos

The mother came to my home on the seventh day to fetch little Denise. Seven days and she sent no word, no messenger, no concern. She knew her child was ill. Ella sent word after her collapse. Three days later when her mother had still not come, we moved Denise to my home where my wife and I could better care for her. 

Then on the seventh day, she simply came and expected her daughter to go home with her. Jenny refused her entrance at first, but it is not our place to keep a child from her mother. She came in with all her bustling fabrics and clinking jewels and demanded to see her daughter. I led her through to where Denise lay, still weak from her ordeal. I expected joy or excitement and maybe a little anger. 

There was nothing. 

Denise said nothing to her mother. Not a word. Not a glance. She just looked out the window, unmoving. The mother yelled. She screamed. She coaxed. She bribed. But Denise said nothing. The mother stayed less than an hour and then she was gone. And she never came back.

125. Tummy Trouble

Tummy trouble

Underneath

Makes me feel

Sick and weak

124. "Don't Drop Her"

My little brother, Josh, has never been great with babies. He wasn't even two when Steeny was born, and she was the last child. He had no real experience. Jane was a novelty to him. The first grandchild of our parents. The first real baby he'd ever been allowed to hold. 

That didn't stop his confidence, though. He threw her up over his shoulder and she gave a little three-month-old laugh. Steeny, mom, and I watched, enjoying the interaction. I wanted Jane to have an early memory with her uncle, so I took a video of the two of them playing together. 

Josh flipped her and spun a bit, putting on his "I'm the coolest dude" face. He was macho.

And then Jane drooled.

Teenage boys don't do well with drool. He shrieked a little and pulled Jane off his shoulder, trying to get away from the string of baby saliva. 

Amused at his concern (I had grown immune to the grossness that is drool) I jokingly told him not to drop her.

It wasn't even three seconds later that he did.

Lucky for Jane she was only a few inches off the ground when she twisted out of Josh's hands. 

Unluckily for Josh, we caught the whole thing on camera. It's been three years and he still won't hold another baby.

123. Righteous Immigration

Adam took his wife and left his Eden home.

Abraham left his father's house and struck out on his own. 

Moses left a kingdom for a promised land divine.

Lehi took his family from Jerusalem in time.

Alma left the courts of Noah to establish a city of right.

Brigham Young took the early Saints to settle with work and might.

Our reach into the Solar System grows longer every day.

If you are called to start anew, will you follow the way?

122. Saturday

Why is Saturday the best?

You can rest and rest and rest.

You can run and work and play.

You can swim on Saturday.

You can shop or build or clean.

You can do most anything.

For Saturday is when you can

Do what you want. Do it, man!

121. Who Can You Be?

Can you fly like a bird

With your wings and a tail?

Can you glide like a boat 

with your rudder and sail?

Can you swim in the sea

Like a fish or a whale?

Can you gleam in the sun 

Like gold hay in a bale?

Just be who you are

And you cannot fail.