Dear Leah,

Thank you for the book that you gave me. I love it but it is all used up. I used it for drawing pictures of you. I also used it for writing letters to you. I also drew pictures of Grandpa and Grandma. 

What do you draw in your books? May you please write back to me?

Love,

Abigail

P.S. I wanted to write this letter in my book that you gave me but it’s all used up.

I lived in a castle with my brothers, sisters, Mommy and Daddy. I was a beautiful princess. I loved to go out for adventures and not just sit in the castle all day. One day I really, really wanted to go on an adventure but Mommy and Daddy said no. But when Mommy and Daddy weren’t looking, I snuck out the door and went looking for an adventure (even though they told me not to).

I went out of the castle and it was a hot day so I went to the river. When I got to the river there was already people there. I saw my brothers and sisters and Mommy and Daddy! I was so surprised. How could this be? Maybe it was my birthday? Wait a minute. It can’t be my birthday because it is summer and my birthday is in December!

“How did you get here before me?” I said. “We drove in the car,” said Emily.
“Hunh? I didn’t even see you guys get in the car.”

Then I saw Daddy get out the fishing rods. When all the fishing rods were in our hands, Mommy told us the rules. When Mommy was done telling the rules we started fishing. Sophia got none (because she doesn’t know how to fish). Emily got 2. I got 3. Gabe got 4. Nathan got 5. Mommy got 6. And Daddy got 7. And Joshua didn’t get any because he doesn’t know how to fish and he is too small.

We cut up the fish and ate sushi on the beach.

Then we went home.

The End.

Dad, let’s make spam sushi today! I like spam sushi because I like the spam inside. And, I like the seaweed on the outside and I like Soy Sauce with it. My brothers and sisters REALLY like it too! We should have it because it is healthy for us and everyone will finish their food quickly, completely and wisely. We will also help by bringing the food to the table. Afterwords, we will help clear the table, wipe and sweep. While the boys are wiping and sweeping, I will do the dishes. Mom and Dad will be very proud of me! Please can we have spam sushi?

Jonah is a man that God sent to Nineveh because he wanted Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh to turn away from their sins or else God would overthrow their town.  Instead of going to Nineveh he caught a ship and went to Tarshish. Before he could get there, the Lord sent a bad storm and Jonah told the sailors to throw him in the sea so that the storm would stop. The sailors didn’t want to throw Jonah in the sea, but they did because the storm was getting worse and worse. And then, God sent a great fish and told the fish to swallow Jonah. Three days later, Jonah prayed to God and God told the fish to spit out Jonah onto dry land. Then Jonah got up and God said to him for the second time, “Go to Nineveh and tell the people to turn away from their sins.” This time, Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh and told the people to turn away from their sins. And Jonah said, “If you do not turn away from your sins, God will overthrow your city.” The people believed Jonah and turned from their sins. Jonah’s message got to the king and he said, “We have disobeyed God. We should turn away from our sins.” And they did. Jonah felt angry about that, that God didn’t overthrow their land.  And God asked him,”Why are you angry?” Jonah was angry because God didn’t overthrow their land and Jonah wanted God to overthrow their city because of their sins. But God wanted to give them another chance.

“Yesterday was the strangest day!” said Emily, who was laying down on the sick couch. 

Sophia said, “What happened yesterday?”

“Well, yesterday I saw two people talking about Milly Molly Mandy.”

“What about Milly Molly Mandy?” asked Sophia.

“They were talking about Milly Molly Mandy’s manners.”

“What manners?” asked Sophia.

“Like, ‘Yes, Mommy’ or ‘Yes, Daddy’ or ‘Yes, Uncle’ or ‘Yes, Aunty’ or ‘Yes, Grandma’ or ‘Yes, Grandpa’,” said Emily back to Sophia.

“That is strange,” said Sophia.

“Well, you’re right, Sophia,” said Emily.

“Do you want to play the piano?”

“No thanks, ” said Emily. “I would like to continue the story.”

I have a cat
He is so fat
I sit on a chair
With my bear.
I have a dog
He likes to sit on a log.

My dog scared my cat.
He ran under a mat.
The dog ran on top
Of the mop.
Then he ran under a chair
And got eaten by a bear.

Once upon a time I didn’t know that I was soaring in air. I thought I was flying but I don’t have wings. So how could I be up in the air if I don’t have wings? I would just fall down. But that wouldn’t be true. So I looked down and I saw that I was on bird skin. I looked down from the bird and I saw Emily riding on her bike and I called down, “EMILY!” And Emily heard me and looked up. Emily said, “How did you get up there Abigail? Can I come up too?”
“How will you get up?” called Abigail.
Emily said, “I don’t know. Maybe the bird will come down and I will get on. Do you know how to steer the bird?” asked Emily.
Abigail said, “No. How will I get the bird down?”

Abigail also saw Gabe riding on his bike. Emily stopped her bike, put it on the grass, and called Gabe and said, “Look up Gabe! Look up Gabe!”
Then Gabe looked up and saw Abigail in the sky and Gabe scratched his head. “Emily,” he said, “How did she get up there?”
“I don’t know” said Emily.

Then Abigail had an idea. “I know,” said Abigail. “How ’bout I tell the bird to come down!”
“How will you do that?” asked Emily. “The bird doesn’t know what you are saying.”
“Well then,” said Abigail, “I will yell really loud and call Mommy and Daddy.”

When Mommy and Daddy came they said, “Abigail, how are you going to get down?”
“I don’t know” said Abigail.
Daddy said, “Maybe we can grab long ladder, climb up that ladder, grab Abigail, climb down that ladder, and have Abigail again.”

Daddy’s plan did work and they got Abigail back and they hugged Abigail and ran home.
“Don’t forget the ladder!” said Mommy to Daddy.
And Daddy said, “OK.” And he grabbed the ladder and went home.

They all lived happily ever after.
The End.

One day, Abigail was so excited she went down and told Mommy, “Can we go to a race today?” 

Mommy said, “Yes!” 

Abigail said, “Mommy, can all the kids go?”

“Of course,” Mommy said.

Then, Abigail ran upstairs to tell Gabe and the others. Then they drove off to the race. The race was so exciting! It was exciting because it was a running race between Abigail and Gabe. As they ran, Gabe tripped over a stone and Abigail kept on running. Then Gabe got up and started running but before he started to run, Abigail already ran passed the finish line. Then Gabe was sad that Abigail won and he saw her holding the trophy and people surrounding her taking pictures and cheering. Then Abigail ran to Mommy, “Mommy! Mommy!” cried Abigail. “I have won the race!”

“Where’s Gabe?” asked Mom.

“I think he’s still running around the track to see if he can win too.”

The End.

Dear Leah,

Thank you for the book that you gave to me for my birthday. I love it so much. I have wrote you in my book and drawn some pictures. It is pink and that is my favourite color.

Thank you, Leah.