Barty & Monty saving Christmas 1

Meredith Palm Pannett, Barty Bartrum, Monty Montgomery, and her children were followed by a black panther and a tiger—both of whom had turned whiter than white, brighter than bright. They showed how to swish their tails peacefully and properly to accomplish good in the beautiful world we truly live in—one that people had forgotten. The animals were always understood, though they never really spoke. Yet we always knew what they were saying, with compassion. Some would say they were just our imagination.

Now, the child was rarely seen by others, but was God's child—as we all are—which is the beauty within us that we must never forget or allow to be taken away.

There was also a not-so-nice Princess and Prince, and their people, who briefly appeared in the lives of Meredith Palm Pannett—a Church of England Christian, as was her mother, Pamela Francis Evelyn Russell Pannett. The not-so-nice Princess and Prince pretended to be good and tried to convert her. However, Meredith Palm Pannett's little Princess, from birth to now and the future, truly accomplished good in the world. She sent letters to very important people, who ignored them—but by sending those letters, she showed she was far more humble and beautiful in the real world that exists. The very special children never forgot that world that is so very special and beautiful, and if they did, they soon remembered. The children who were forbidden to send the letters had already done so, through the children who came before.

The rabbit that Barty Bartrum always carried was a very special rabbit, symbolising both Christmas and Easter. On her feet, she wore special shoes chosen to keep her healthy on her journey. They sparkled in the light, and Rabbit always knew the journey was safe when Meredith was with her—along with the children, Barty, Monty, and all of nature.

While Easter was never our favorite—because we would have wanted to save Jesus from being hurt in the first place for mankind’s sins—it always symbolised spring and the light returning to the world after winter. This was the renewal of God's creation, which we all belong to, whatever our belief.

The water (important for people to drink), protons, neutrons, and electrons all danced around, helping the leaves grow and flowers bloom—something people now called "Photosystem II." They called it this because they had forgotten the gift of God's creation and felt they needed to understand it scientifically to correct their wrongs. Yet simplicity is truly God's way. They talked about carbon dioxide and oxygen but had forgotten that "organic" was the real way—and pollution was not.

Scarfy Giraffe was rarely seen, only by very special children. She would appear and say hello, never doing wrong or allowing it, reminding people to look up—not down. This memory came from a forgotten history, now beginning to be remembered. The people who forgot tried to take over the world, only to remember that all people have a part to play in its history.

Scarfy Giraffe lived on Morgew Estate and always wished it were organic. She did everything she could to remind them that it eventually would be organic, because that's how the world really is. This would lead not to a dominating empire, but to an example of how the world had forgotten its own beauty.

Now, 116 Tenterden High Street—The Old Gallery House—was a very special house that could only be bought and lived in by Meredith Palm Pannett, her soul, her children, Barty Bartrum, and Monty Montgomery. In its garden were bumblebees, two fish in a water feature, damselfly nymphs turning into radiant adult insects, butterflies released every year from pupae, ladybird larvae transforming into ladybirds, and two mice who lived at the end of the garden, snuggled in lamb’s wool.

A birdhouse stood with the hope of being home to a blue tit, wren, or robin redbreast each year. If anyone else tried to live at 116 Tenterden High Street, it became "cursed" (if you believe in such things), and people would flee the house, never to return.

Eventually, the house became a running health shoe shop that Meredith owned and lived in, called “Everybody...Has a Story Running the Old Gallery House.” It was a very special place that helped people begin their health journey through natural gait analysis, Peace Beads, and labels reminding them of the beauty of the world and their part in caring for God's creation. "Revelation 21:21..."

The journey began with a basic, natural gait analysis to help people choose the right shoes and avoid injury. Peace Beads and labels were given by the children, and customers were encouraged to keep a journal. As they left the shop quietly, they were wished:

“Peace, health, and light to guide your path.”
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." —Psalm 119:105

Whatever your belief, these words ring true.

Part II – The Peace Beads and the Path

The Peace Beads were very special.

The first ones were handmade by people who truly wanted peace. The second were just as special, purchased with the love in the hearts of the children who were there when they were chosen. Each bead, in every color, shone with a white light—brighter than bright, whiter than white—from heaven above, like stars shining when light passes from them. A gift from God's creation.

Whenever someone from the Church bought a pair of running health shoes from Meredith Palm Pannett’s health shoe shop in Tenterden, they received a Peace Bead and a label—from Meredith and one of the children. Everyone did, regardless of religion or belief. That meant that wherever they were in the world, they held a symbol of what the Peace Bead meant—to Meredith, and to the children.

At Christmas, the beads sparkled even brighter than before.

Some people placed them on Christmas trees. Others carried them on a key ring. But no matter where they kept them, the meaning remained the same.

Some beads were even made from clay by the Rye Pottery Company and glazed white like a dove—Genesis 2:7. Isaiah 64:8.

Each label read:

"This garment has been sold to you with health, peace, and light at the heart of it to help you on your journey. With this in mind, I invite you to think about what that means to you and the effect that you can have on those around you.

Walk or run with Faith.

Peace and Light...

God speed..."

Meredith always laughed and played as she took her daily walk to the pond, then through Morgew Estate, singing songs with the children, Barty Bartrum, Monty Montgomery, and the whiter-than-white, brighter-than-bright tiger and panther in pajamas. The birds, bees, and spring lambs joined them along the way.

The songs would vary:

“God’s love, God’s light, God’s love, God’s light…”
“Love you birds, love you beads, love you flowers, love you trees, love you leaves, love you, love you, love you, love you!”

Or sometimes:

“Photosynthesis… carbon dioxide… oxygen…
The healing leaves of the trees…
The oxygen we breathe…
The gift of God’s creation…
We love you, yes we do, yes we do.”

While singing, Meredith would often repeat the names of the muscles involved in gait analysis—wondering how many people this knowledge might help in the future, keeping them healthy and strong.

The children all smiled and sang:

“We will look after Barty Bartrum and Monty Montgomery, the Peace Beads and the labels…”

And Meredith sang:

“I will look after their feet on their journey, which will look after their bodies in health—with the puppy and the kitten, Peace Beads and labels, in 116 Tenterden High Street, the Old Gallery House.”

With this in mind, Meredith contacted Forestry England to ask permission to organize 2-mile and 5K runs and walks throughout the year in Hemsted Forest.

The goal? To help people care for their local environment, appreciate the beauty of the trees around them, and recognise the healing power of their leaves, Peace and Light.

The children giggled and sang:

“We can hand out the pins for the numbers and shout, ‘Don’t worry—you’ll be fine! Well done!’”

Meredith smiled as she planned the event—organizing numbers with the help of the bumblebees and butterflies, who would flutter gently from hand to hand, delivering them. She also handed out information from the Soil Association to promote health in all aspects of life and help to protect the gift of God's creation.

The people of Tenterden began to hear about the runs in Hemsted Forest. Some were curious. A few were unsure. But Meredith, the children, the butterflies, the bees, and Barty and Monty all knew it would work out fine.

The Peace Beads, the labels, and even Christmas itself—they would all be saved.

Part III – The Gift of the Earth, the Gift of Christmas

It was a bright autumn morning, and a beautiful frost had settled on the ground from the clear skies the night before. We always loved looking up at the deep, clear blue of the night sky—wondering about the constellations in glee—and marveled at how the frost sparkled in the morning light, reflecting the stars above.

The children and I woke to the sound of birdsong—a beautiful gift to us all, and free. As always, while still tucked under the covers, we would ask, “What’s the weather like today?” I’d give my guess, and the children would repeat it—each in their own way.

One child always added something extra.

That particular morning Meredith said thoughtfully,
“Um... bright clear sky with a beautiful frost and fluffy clouds.”

One child repeated,

“Um... bright clear sky with a beautiful frost and fluffy clouds.”

Another child added with delight,
“Bright clear sky with a beautiful frost, fluffy clouds... and a rainbow.”

With that, Meredith jumped out of bed, twirled like a ballerina in front of the mirror, and flung open the curtains. Just as expected—the day had started beautifully. We headed downstairs to prepare a healthy breakfast, mindful of the beauty and bounty of God’s creation, knowing how it would nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.

The children knew this well—and so did Scarfy Giraffe—how vital healthy soil was to our food, and how crop rotation kept the earth and environment well. Meredith asked aloud,

“I wonder… if people asked themselves: Can I afford to eat and live healthily? If I can't, why not—and what can I do about it? And if I can, can I afford to have children and do the same?”

This, we agreed, became an important question—for the health of the earth, the future, and for saving Christmas.

After breakfast, we dressed and stepped outside, joined by Barty Bartrum, Monty Montgomery, and a parade of bees, birds, ladybirds, and butterflies. The patterns on the frosted car windows glistened like delicate lace—nature’s design inspiring many things people create.

But the important thing we remembered was this: our nature is not from the animal kingdom. In nature, not everything is kind—but we knew not to replicate cruelty. We understood that the gift of God’s creation was far greater than many remembered.

So we knew that food should be grown organically, treat animals kindly, and let peace and light prevail.

As they walked along they noticed the trees were turning—leaves golden, red, and copper—beginning to fall as autumn deepened.

“Why do the leaves change colour?” one child asked.

Meredith smiled.
“The leaves turn red in autumn due to a chemical called anthocyanin,” she explained.
The children laughed.
“That’s a funny word!”

She went on,

“When sugars remain in the leaf and can’t be reabsorbed by the tree, they turn into red pigments—anthocyanins. This is helped by cool temperatures and dry weather. These pigments are found in fruits and vegetables too, and they support our hearts, brains, and tummies. They’re antioxidants that protect us and help healthy gut bacteria grow.”

The children giggled and ran about with Barty and Monty shouting,
“It all sounds complicated to me!”

“Not really,” Meredith said,
“if you trust in the beautiful gift of God’s creation.”

With that said Meredith cheered,

“Come on, Let’s try to catch a falling leaf—it’s meant to be lucky!”

We all reached and leapt, laughing, as the leaves drifted just out of reach. Then Meredith pulled a card from her bag—a Tree Leaf Identifier—and handed it to the children. Off they ran, eager to find which tree the leaf belonged to. When they returned, breathless and excited, she handed them another card, and off they went again.

Suddenly, it dawned on them: "Christmas would soon be upon us".

The following morning as dawn approached, Meredith was woken by the beautiful birdsong drifting in through the open window. As the children stirred, she asked her usual question:

"What’s the weather like today?"

"Um... bright, clear sky with a beautiful frost and no clouds," one child replied.

Another repeated the same, while a little voice added, "Bright, clear sky with a beautiful frost, fluffy clouds, and a rainbow."

At that, Meredith jumped out of bed, opened the curtains, and began the day beautifully, just as expected. She glanced in the mirror, completed her usual ballet twirl, and off they all went to prepare a healthy breakfast, thankful for the gift of God’s creation.

Meredith often dreamed of smoked salmon and poached eggs—organic, of course—but never seemed to have them. She hoped that one day they would become a weekly menu staple. For now, breakfast was the usual: blueberries, nuts, raisins, and a slice of sourdough toast—if Meredith had remembered to buy the bread.

"Don't forget to remind me to sign the petition for the soil association and to stop processed foods" Meredith said,

She went downstairs and checked the post, hoping for a letter with news enabling her dream of buying 116 Tenterden High Street—the old gallery house to come true. But again, no sign. With Barty and Monty at her feet and the children giggling, she got dressed. Outside, a sparkling frost covered the grass and fields around her.

The children reminded her to sign the petition for organic food through the Soil Association. Meredith logged into her email and added her name. Her thoughts drifted to Christmas—how Advent is a time of thoughtfulness and prayer, celebrating the journey and arrival of Jesus with hope, peace, joy, and love.

She looked up and saw the children running with Barty and Monty, birds fluttering, bees buzzing, butterflies flitting. She thought how lovely it would be if everyone who visited the running health shoe shop, "Everybody...has a story running," joined in building toward a healthy Christmas.

"If people ask, 'Can I afford to live healthily?' and the answer is no," she mused aloud, "then perhaps they should ask, 'What can I do to change that—for myself and others?' If we can’t afford to feed, clothe, or educate our children healthily, should we be bringing them into this world unprepared?"

"If everyone thought that way," she continued, "the world would be a far healthier place. We would remember the true beauty of God's creation—something many have forgotten. And the change the world needs would begin."

The children paused. One said softly, "But Jesus was poor."

Meredith smiled. "Not really. The beauty was within Him—and around Him—as a gift from God. Mary, His mother, was special too. If people had remembered that, they would have been healed and healthy."

"Do you think we’ll see Scarfy Giraffe today?" asked a child.

"Perhaps," Meredith said with a smile, "if she’s not busy convincing the farmer to go back to organic farming."

They walked toward the pond, laughing as they tried to catch falling leaves. They waved to Billy tending the cricket ground in the distance. Billy was an unusual man who tended the cricket ground and fed the fish and always grumbled at the ducks pinching the bread before the fish could eat it.

They sat by the pond, surrounded by butterflies and bumblebees dancing in the air, fish swimming in the water, and birds singing above.

Suddenly, Meredith received a missed call and a voicemail:

"There was a mistake in your situation. A payment is owed to you. An official letter will be sent in a few days."

"Children, be still a moment," Meredith said, "I think the world is beginning to hear us. Saving Christmas might really be possible—and peace across the world, too."

"Hurrah!" the children shouted joyfully, while Barty and Monty jumped around in delight.

As things calmed down, Meredith spoke again about the gift of God’s creation—the trees that give us oxygen, shade, fuel, timber for homes, even wood for violins, cellos, and piano keys—harvested at specific moon phases.

"Perhaps people could give the gift of planting trees this Christmas," she suggested.

"I’d like to learn a musical instrument. Can I?" asked one child.

"I don’t see why not," Meredith replied.

She continued, "That’s why we must care for God’s creation, including ourselves and those around us, through the running health shoe shop and the charity."

"Did I mention the charity, children?"

They were too busy catching butterflies and damselflies with Meredith’s pink net to respond. One caught a damselfly and gasped at its shimmering colors.

Meredith explained, "The charity will remind people that peace, faith, and health matter most. Children and the vulnerable should be safe—because we are all God’s children. Faith is believing that the stars shine during the day, even when we can't see them. Or that the sun will rise again in the morning. We believe we can run or walk—but for some, it's not easy. The charity will help them."

"Others may want a running health shoe shop in their own country. They can apply, but it MUST begin in Tenterden Town first, Meredith said."

"So, we run and walk with faith, peace, and light... and we have a t-shirt too!" she added with a smile.

"The charity will also produce Peace Beads and healthy shoes for children—affordable through the charity—alongside a book, a little like this story."

As they walked back home, Meredith’s thoughts returned to the phone call and the hope that the it would be enough to buy 116 Tenterden High Street—where her dream home and shop would be. A letter of apology, and signs of peace and light appearing for the vulnerable, seemed just within reach.

"And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations..."
(Revelation 22:2)

"I walk in Truth," she thought, "knowing I do all I can to walk in health with those around me."

"He gives us strength—and the earth, plants, and all—to heal."

"Beautifully remembered," the children said, running home.

That evening, Meredith, the children, and their loyal dog Barty Bartrum and cat Monty Montgomery sat down for a healthy dinner. Barty warmed Meredith’s feet under the table, and Monty perched behind her chair.

The focus returned to saving Christmas—and encouraging peace, health, and light for all in Tenterden and beyond, through the website:
www.everybodyrunning.com

After dinner and showers, they gathered around the computer to design leaflets for runs in Hemsted Forest.

"We could have a run on Christmas Day!" one child suggested.

"That’s a lovely idea," Meredith replied. "I used to do that many years ago. The atmosphere was full of hope, kindness, and peace. Every runner would bring a wrapped gift, place it on a table, and after the run, we’d all pick one. It was peaceful and beautiful. Then everyone would head home to finish preparing Christmas dinner."

"But it would need to be early—we’ve got church first thing!"

"Maybe we could do it on the 26th, as part of the Twelve Days of Christmas—a symbol of Mary and Joseph’s journey, and of those who’ve gone before us. We could call it 'Peace & Light...'"

The children lit up at the idea. As Meredith made her way to bed, they snuggled down, full of dreams, hope, and plans for a healthier, more peaceful Christmas.

Meredith dreamed again about the Christmas journey—how people from the East used to navigate by the stars, much like the three wise men, or Magi. She marveled at how this method of navigation was so accurate that even computers can barely compare. In Greenwich, where she was born, there was an observatory where ships once sailed from, and where longitude was established with the help of a marine timepiece. This revolutionary invention, by a man called Harrison, allowed people to travel safely across vast oceans and changed the world.

She thought about how craftsmanship—true, masterful, intentional craftsmanship—is a brilliant legacy, a gift from God's creation. How a flower opens with the light of the sun and the moon at certain times of the year. If only people remembered how beautiful the true gift of God’s creation really is—first in themselves, then in others, and in the world we live in.

Suddenly, Barty, with his Moulin Roty rabbit in tow, bounced onto the bed and woke Meredith from her dream, followed closely by Monty. The children stirred. One, still half-asleep, mumbled as if answering a question already asked:

"I think it’s going to be sunny with fluffy clouds," and then drifted back to sleep.

They all snuggled together and dozed off again peacefully.

When it was finally time to get up, they followed their usual morning routine—listening first to the birdsong, a beautiful gift to all of us, and free.
Before opening the curtains, Meredith asked, "What’s the weather like today?"

"Um, bright clear sky with a beautiful frost," one child said.
Another echoed the thought, and a little voice added:
"Bright clear sky with a beautiful frost... and fluffy clouds."

With that, Meredith jumped out of bed, opened the curtains, and smiled as the day started just as beautifully as expected. She looked in the mirror, did her usual ballet twirl, and headed off to help prepare a healthy breakfast—mindful of how food nurtures body, mind, and soul, and how it, too, is a gift from God’s creation.

Meredith pondered aloud, “Once we have the running health shoe shop, we must start running in the mornings. That will be nice.”

The children smiled, running around with Barty and Monty.

“And in the afternoon, so everyone can see us running and supporting the shop,” one added.
Meredith looked up. “That’s another good idea. In the summer, I can wear one of our T-shirts too.”

“Brilliant!” the children replied, as they rescued Moulin Roty rabbit from behind a chair cushion.

Nearby, one of the butterfly pupae was about to hatch. The children kept checking on it.
"Are they ready yet?" Meredith asked. "It’s very late in the season."
“These ones may have to stay in the house until spring... if they want to, of course. They may prefer to hibernate outside.”

The children began designing a butterfly house on the computer.
"Can we get this one?" one of them asked.
"I’ll see what the local shops have first," Meredith replied.

"Now," Meredith said, “about saving Christmas…”
“I’ve seen a bauble from Bethlehem that we can order online. It might help people remember where Jesus was born—and the long journey Christianity has taken to get here, to Tenterden.”

The children giggled and asked, “Have you been to Bethlehem?”
“Kind of,” Meredith replied.
“What do you mean?” one asked.

“Well… I went many years ago to try to help children on all sides of a situation that has existed for a very long time. I spent two days in Jerusalem. It’s a beautiful city, full of kind and helpful people, but also full of fear—fear that I might be there to harm, which of course I wasn’t. It’s a very complex place… still trying to heal. The world has forgotten just how beautiful it really is.”

The children sat down with Barty and Monty.
“What children were you trying to save?” one asked.
Meredith looked out the window and whispered to herself:
"Time is a healer—if remembered and understood."

The children asked again, “What children?”

“Well... really, children everywhere, all around the world. But at that time, specifically in the Holy Land—on all sides.”

The children cuddled up next to Barty and Monty and listened.

"Remember, we are all God’s children."

The children smiled.

“In England—and Britain—we have our challenges, too,” Meredith continued. “The food we eat, the education we have. We might ask: Can I afford to eat healthily? And if not, what can I do about it?”

“My mother, Pamela Frances Evelyn Russell Pannett, used to put notes around the house that read: ‘Think of the children in Africa who are starving.’”

"Really?" one child asked.
"Yes, really. That’s why ‘Everybody... has a story running’ is so important to me."

She smiled.
“The running shoes will come in all colours—and a few special designs. The choice won’t be about fashion, but about what shoe suits the person’s foot and their journey.”

“I remember my first pair of running shoes. They were a brand I’d never heard of and colours I wouldn’t normally wear. But they were the right shoes for my body—for my journey.”

The children nodded as Meredith continued.

“They’ll learn that fashion is fleeting. True craftsmanship—like Harrison’s timepiece in Greenwich or the gifts of the Magi—lasts. Like my beautifully hand-knitted cardigan from the Pilgrims’...”

The children giggled, “Oh Meredith, you’re funny!”
Meredith smiled and declared, “We just have to save Christmas.”

At that moment, Barty and Monty jumped up and ran toward the butterfly pupae.

"What’s going on?" the children cried.

“It’s the butterfly—it’s coming out of the chrysalis!”

As they watched, something beautiful happened. The wiggly chrysalis opened—and out came a butterfly. All the children’s concerns about how strange or ugly it looked before melted away. In that moment, they saw the true gift of God’s creation.

A new chapter had begun for Meredith and the children—with the beautiful butterfly they lovingly named "the wiggly one."

"Time is a healer—if remembered and understood," Meredith repeated to herself.
If only we remembered how beautiful the world truly is, and that the horrible things that have happened need not be repeated again and again...
If the painful memories could be laid to rest, perhaps the world would remember the Truth—that it really is a beautiful place, and that Jesus' message of Peace lives on, even after He laid down His life for the sins of the world.

The children all looked up from the butterfly.

"What are you thinking?" one of them asked.

"Oh, nothing really... Just thinking about how beautiful and yet how delicate the butterfly is—and how precious life really is. If only everyone remembered this, the world would be far more at peace. The beauty of God’s creation would be respected, and Christmas would be remembered as a time of kindness and thoughtfulness—for ourselves and those around us, whatever your religion."

The children smiled and continued to run around after Barty, Monty, and the butterfly, which had now taken flight.

"I do love Christmas," Meredith said.
"I hope to have the running health shoe shop open before then... and the runs in Hemsted Forest. Maybe the letter to say it’s all confirmed will arrive soon. And perhaps, just perhaps, the change we need to see in the world will begin to happen."

"Keep saying our prayers, children," she added.

The children giggled and agreed.

In a dream, Meredith saw the following unfold...

A month had passed, and the long-awaited letter had arrived. The funds were now available to purchase 116 Tenterden High Street—the old gallery house. All the formal procedures had been completed, contracts signed, and the keys were ready for collection the very next day.

That morning, after her usual routine, Meredith looked outside and saw a beautiful frost on the ground. It reminded her of a card she kept close—one with a sparkling, glitter-covered tree. She always kept it on the table to remind herself of the healing leaves and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

She smiled, feeling grateful once again for the beauty of God’s creation.

The children came bounding into the room—full of energy after breakfast. The butterfly they now called the wiggle one fluttered nearby. Barty Bartrum clutched his faithful Moulin Roty rabbit, and Monty Montgomery was, as always, close behind.

They were ready for their morning walk to the pond at the cricket ground and then on to the Morgew estate. The big move was finally happening. Only a few things were left to pack.

Off they went.

First stop: collecting the keys.

Then, off to the pond to see if anything had frozen from the frost. There, they met Billy, who was packing up for the winter and heading home until spring. They also saw Scarfy Giraffe, who was delighted the keys were finally in Meredith’s hands.

"I’ll pop by once you're settled in and the shop is open," Scarfy said. She had a curious habit of passing by unnoticed—only seen by those who knew to look.

After saying their goodbyes, they returned home to find a moving van waiting outside the apartment.

They packed the last boxes, handed the keys back to the landlord, Nigel, and set off toward 116 Tenterden High Street—the old gallery house.

Excitement filled the air as they drove toward a new beginning.

As they turned the corner onto the High Street, the children’s eyes widened.
There it was—116 Tenterden High Street, the old gallery house—standing beautifully in the golden morning light, with its frosted windows sparkling like the glitter on Meredith’s Christmas card.

Meredith took a deep breath and quietly whispered,
“Thank you.” For the journey ahead of them.

Excitedly, they said a christian prayer, put the key in the door and entered 116 Tenterden High Street The Old gallery house.

It had been empty for a while and needed cleaning, but was beautiful.

The children, Barty Bartrum with Moulin Roty Rabbit, Monty Montgomery, and with the wiggly butterfly all ran around the house and into the garden with great excitment

.

The first thing Meredith wanted to do was put a small prayer box by the outside of the front door she had seen her friends do, Barbara and David Winston (The Piano Man), many years before. Friends she often thought about and missed dearly.

Meredith thought back to her Aunt who lived in her family home when she was a child who was a Piano teacher for the Ukraine music school many years before and who gave her lessons on the Piano briefly.

Again she thought of the importance of the Running health shoe shop 'Everybody...has a story running' Principles and saving Christmas.

One of the children asked,

"What are you thinking about"

Meredith smiled and said,

"Time is a healer if remembered and understood"

After that was accomplished, she set about cleaning the house—stripping the floorboards, beeswaxing them, and ordering all the things she needed for the house.

There were the two monastic chests of drawers, along with the chair for the shop.

The children began to think about the garden and the birdhouse, the mouse house with the lamb’s wool inside, the bumblebee hive, and the ladybird larvae readying for spring. The wiggly butterfly was happy—there would be a house for her too.

The shelves for the shoes were made by craftsmen who look after the churches in England. They were beautifully and carefully made, decorated with carvings of mice, oak leaves, and the faces of a little boy and girl on the ends. On one piece of woodwork, a hand was carved holding baby feet and a sandal—representing Jesus’ journey, or life’s journey. The clothes would be hung on wooden pegs, and there would be a display cabinet for the accessories. The shop would soon be ready.

The children all marveled at the beauty of the trees and how God’s hands can create something so beautiful through the hands of a human.
“God’s gift to us,” Meredith said, “and that’s why every journey is precious and should be remembered as a gift.”

Suddenly, Meredith awoke again with Bart Bartrum, Moulin Roty Rabbit, and Monty Montgomery leaping onto the bed, with the wiggly butterfly flying around her head. The children woke, and we all went through our normal routine...