What a Dream!

At 2 am, I lay wake wondering about the dream I just had. The dream started off with thirst. As I tiptoed down the stiars, hearing sirens not far away. Through the closed drapes, I see the distinct light of a flashlight. I open the screened door and see him. He was trying to break into our shed, dressed in black. I slam the door closed and run upstair to alert my parents. My brother grabs his shotgun, and heads downstairs. Then I woke up.

Salem Escape

The light in the farmhouse was dim. Milana Cooper could not read her journal. She reached under the sink cabinet for her oil lamp. With a brighter light, she dipped her pen into the ink. Then with no hesitation, she began her adventure.

"Life in Salem couldn't be worse. My friend Sarah's trial starts tomorrow. They are going to hang her or burn her, for sure. She's innocent. I'm going to use my powers to help her. There's a sudden knock at the door and it's the townspeople. They want me to confess. Then I wake grasping for breath. I am so frightened I begin to think of ways to escape. I put on my dark cloath and left, traveling to New York. I am staying here."

Junior Year Begins

I am now a Junior in High School. I am still working at Lagoon on the weekends, while I am in school.

Sinking Ship

The water raises up toward me like my lungs inhaling air. I tremble from head to foot. I slowly close my eyes and lay my head against the soft velvety pillow case and cover myself with a large blue afghan. I lay on my side facing north. The light of the oil lamp flickers off. I feel my bed slide into the west wall. I look over at my dresser, floating upside down. The water is twice as high now. My childhood replays in my head, growing up in Liverpool. I wish I would have been able to reach New York and become an actress. Now I am dying, there is no hope for me.

California

On June 26th, we picked up Dad from the airport in SLC and drove to Mesquite. On June 27th, we stopped in Las Vegas and ate the Breakfast buffet at Circus Circus. Then we drove to Anaheim, California. We went to KFC, a T-Shirt outlet, and Triangle Center. On June 28th, we went to Newport beach and collected sea shells. We went to Fashion Island and ate lunch at the Crab Cooker. On June 29th, we went to Knott's Berry Farm. We ate fried chicken and funnel cakes. We ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory at Newport Beach for dinner. On June 30th, we went to Newport Beach. We left for Las Vegas. We went to the forum shops at Caesar's Palace, saw the Treasure Island pirate show, and the Mirage Volcano show. On July 1st, we came home from Vegas.

A Powerful Message

I was given a copy of this prayer at school and it had a profound effect on me:

A Prayer of Responsibility for Children



by Ina J. Hughes



We pray for children who put chocolate fingers everywhere, who like to be tickled, who stomp in puddles, who sneak popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math books, who can never find their shoes . . .



And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who are born in places we would never be caught dead, who never go to the circus, who live in an x-rated world.



We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish, who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money, who cover themselves with band-aids and sing off key, who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink, who slurp their soup.



And we pray for those who never get dessert, who have no safe blanket to drag behind them, who watch their parents watch them die, who can’t find any bread to steal, who don’t have any rooms to clean up, whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser, whose monsters are real . . .



We pray for children who spend their allowance before Tuesday, who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick their food, who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub, who love visits from the tooth fairy, who don’t like to be kissed in front of the school bus.



And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime, who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist, who aren’t spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep.



We pray for children who want to be carried, and for those who must, for those who we never give up on and for those who grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it. On this Children’s Sabbath Weekend, hear our cries, Adonai, and listen to our prayers.



Amen

Seattle

We went to Seattle, Washington for UEA Weekend in October. It rained the whole time we were there and we ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory twice. We also went to the Pike Market, Space Needle, Aquarium, Science Center, and the Art Museum.

June Occurrences

Ryan has been playing baseball in the community league on the Atlanta Braves. He also has been mowing Grandpa's lawn. Dad has been taking Ryan golfing. On June 22nd, We went to Ryan's baseball game. His team won 8 to 4. Ryan got hit in the foot so he got to walk to first base.

We went to the Drive-In. We saw the movies, The Phantom and Mission: Impossible.

Dad had to go to Oklahoma on business from June 17th to June 19th.

Mom and I went to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on June 18th. Grandma and Grandpa watched Ryan while we were at the play. The play was amazing. Phantom is one of my favorite musicals of all-time.

I have been reading, Gimme a Kiss by Christopher Pike.

Dad bought a boat, so we have been boating at Pineview and Willard Bay. It makes me sick to bounce up and down in the water.

California

We went to Mesquite on May 31st. My aunt Janet watched Patches while we were away. We saw the movie, Spy Hard, at the Virgin River hotel and casino, and it was dumb. On June 1st, we went to Las Vegas and stayed at the Palace Station. We went swimming. On June 2nd, we drove to San Diego and went on a harbor cruise. I bought a bracelet. On June 3rd, we went to Sea World. I bought a Shamu keychain. During the night, someone tried to break in the back door of our motel room. On June 4th, we went to the Wild Animal park. On June 5th, we went to Disneyland. On June 6th, we went to Universal Studios. I bought a Casper keychain. On June 7th, we went to Knott's Berry Farm. We got soaked on the rapid ride. We also went on the slingshot, the log ride, the mine ride, and the dinosaur ride. On June 8th, we drove back to Las Vegas. We ate at the Stardust buffet and stayed at the Virgin River Hotel in Mesquite. Today we came home.

No One Would Tell

I watched the tv movie, No One Would Tell, starring my childhood crush, Fred Savage. It's about a girl named Stacy who is has an abusive boyfriend and no one tells the authorities or her mom, before he kills her. It was weird to see Fred Savage in a villain role.

Lake Tahoe

We went to Lake Tahoe and I got a keychain from Planet Hollywood. We went to Carson and Virginia City and I fell and scraped my legs on the wooden boards outside the shops. It seems like every time I go there, I fall.

Idaho

On August 8th, I went camping with my young women's group in Idaho. On our way, we stopped at a farm and milked cows, gathered eggs, and took a tour. Then we stopped at Pepperidge Farm factory. Then we drove to the Fishers's house and set up camp in their private park. They have a big yard, with picnic areas, with public showers and restrooms. We did a lot of boating in Bear Lake and Twin Lakes, and swimming at a public pool. We also went and explored Minnetonka Cave. I got bit on the shoulder by a horsefly. We also had a "Hold to the Iron Rod" activity, where we blindfolded and had to hold on to a rope and walk through the property, including up into a truck, while the others were trying to lead us astray. We also went on a hike.  On our last night, one of the girls knocked down the tent I was in, so we had to sleep on the picnic tables and benches. I got a certificate for "The Most Peaceful Attitude."

Tonight, I got my Young Woman of Truth award at mutual.

Jackson Hole

We went camping in Jackson Hole with my mom's side of the family, which made a group of 39. We left on July 1st and came home on July 5th. On Saturday, we went to the Dirty Jack's playhouse and saw Gorgeous George at George's Gorge. On Sunday, we woke up and had a fast and testimony meeting on a hill surrounded by sunflowers and roses all around it. We went to Jenny Lake and hiked up to the Hidden Falls. It was raining when we got back and rained till Monday. On Monday, we went to Yellowstone and shopped and went to the fishing bridge. On Tuesday, my cousins and I played Family Feud and Ryan bought a slingshot.

Orlando

We went to Orlando, Florida for the first time this week. This was the first time we went to Florida as well. We spent a couple of days going to each of the parks at Walt Disney World and Typhoon Lagoon. We had a really good time and enjoyed this trip. I definitely want to go back.

My mom is missing her mom a lot. Ryan has been playing on the community basketball team, but they haven't won a game.

Junior High Begins

I am now in Junior High as a seventh grader. I have been going to Central Davis for three weeks. I am taking Gym, TLC, Life Science, Art, English, Math, and Reading. Two days ago was our back to school dance in second period. It lasted 45 minutes. I didn't dance with anyone. I hung out with my friends, Chelsie and Rachel. I had a fun time. Yesterday, after school, I went with my young women's group to the Powder Puff football Game at Layton High School. It was pretty funny to see the guys wearing the skirts and pigtails as the cheerleaders. The Juniors and Sophomores won 22 to 14 over the Seniors. Today was our back to school assembly. The assembly was two hours long. I ate lunch with my friends Jackie and Jamie T. It is hard to wake up at 6:30 AM to go school everyday.

Moab

Over Memorial Day weekend, Mom and I went with my Girl Scout troop down to Moab for the whole weekend. We all stayed in the Girl Scout house they have down there. We hiked up to the Arch in Arches National Park, we went river rafting, went to the history museum in Price, and saw the Bar-J-Wrangler's show.