CHAPTER 1

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall liedown with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatlingtogether; and a little child shall lead them.

—Isaiah 11:6

INNOCENCE

by Zarriah Polk

Once upon a time, there lived a fairy princess. Her name wasMarygold. She was very kind to everyone she saw. She had twosisters. One was sixteen, and one was ten. Marygold was the oldest,at seventeen.

Marygold was so rich that she even had a prince. His name wasCharles. He was rich too, but he didn't have any brothers or sisters.He was sad that he did not have any brothers and sisters to look after.

The prince was concerned that he would not get to marry the fairyprincess if he did not have a sister. So he pretended that he hada sister. He tried to use one of the princess' sisters, but she knewthat it was her sister. So he used his cousin instead. He showedthe princess his sister (that was really his cousin), and the princessbelieved it.

The next day, the prince came to the princess' castle. He knockedon the door. Once inside, he asked the princess to marry him,and the princess said, "Yes!" The prince was very happy that theprincess said yes to him.

Two months later, the prince and princess were finally married.She wore a new dress her father got her.

In the end, they had three kids. Their names were Tana, Trania,and Talya.

And they lived happily ever after.

And here is a picture.

CHAPTER 2

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and nakedshall I return there: the LORD gave, and the LORD has takenaway; blessed be the name of the LORD.

—Job 1:21

LOSS

by Ursula Lovely

This is a story that began in the year 2004. It is a story of puppylove that will last forever more. Two young people, who decidedto become husband and wife, made a decision together as theybegan a new life.

Oh, who am I, you might ask? I am the mother of the bride, and Iam privy to the story from the inside.

The couple, Pamela and Martez, decided that they wanted topurchase a puppy. They wanted to get a Tosa Inu mastiff. WhatI didn't know was that this particular breed would grow to beso massive. They began their search for breeders and even on theinternet far and wide. Would you believe that on their way to thegym one day in a yard nearby the pup was spied? They felt she wasthe cutest and most perfect dog they had ever seen, but they had towait a little while for her to be weaned.

It is funny as I look back on it. For all intents and purposes, Kaidawas their first baby. She was good training for them because of thethings puppies and babies have in common. Puppies and babiesneed to be taken care of. They both slobber a lot, and both, in away, have to be taught to use the pot. Now, it wasn't a surpriseto the kids how much Kaida grew. The size of this pup wassomething that they always knew.

At the beginning of the story, my husband and I had moved toArizona for a while. Then we received a cute little bear in the mailthat informed us that the couple was now with child. When wegot over the shock and the excitement settled in, we couldn't wait.We sold everything that was not nailed down and headed back toWashington State.

On December 2, 2006, a new chapter of the story begins. That iswhen Makaila was born and Kaida got a new friend. I rememberafter the baby was born, we took a receiving blanket in whichMakaila was held, so that Kaida could sleep with it and getaccustomed to the baby's smell. When we finally brought the babyhome, we let Kaida smell her and kiss her little face. After this wasdone, it was like Kaida said, "Okay, she's all right. She can stay inthis place."

They grew together for seven months or more. During this time,Makaila was poking eyes and pulling ears, and one day we placedMakaila on the floor. Can you imagine what Kaida was thinkingas the baby started to crawl her way? Maybe something like, "Whotold you guys that I was ready to play?" Makaila had a determinedlook upon her face, a look like, "This will be fun." Kaida saw hercoming and turned and immediately started to run. Makaila wassmall but never frail. The only problem that she had was withKaida bumping her and wagging and hitting her with her tail.

Picture this: Kaida sitting in an open back door. Makaila crawls tothe door and seems to be asking her, "Okay, what are we waitingfor? Let's go." We thought it was bad for poor Kaida when Makailalearned to walk. We had no idea what the puppy would be in forwhen the baby started to talk. Makaila would take Kaida's toys andrun as a tease. Kaida couldn't ask her to please give it back. Theonly way she could communicate was to growl. That's the way shecould get through. Makaila would look at her and say, "Kaida, stopit. Nobody's afraid of you."

Then there was the time Uncle Craig gave Makaila a toy truckto ride. You guessed it. Makaila chased poor Kaida, who couldonly run and search for a place to hide. Makaila was never afraidof this dog that was four times her size. Kaida would give in to hercommands and just step aside. When Makaila was just two yearsold, she would walk Kaida outside on a leash, and Kaida wouldobey and do as she was told. This odd pair had a friendship thatwas good as gold. Kaida was such a good dog, and she loved thefamily so. She would protect them at home and wherever theywould go.

In 2010, two things happened, one good and one that was bad.The good thing was a beautiful baby, a little sister, McKenna,joined the family. And then the news that was sad. Kaida hadbegun to lose weight and be less active. The young couple took herto the vet to get an answer. The news was not good. We learnedthat Kaida had cancer. They told Makaila that Kaida was ill andgoing to die. The only question she had for them was, "Why?"

They watched Kaida carefully for any serious signs she wouldshow. A week before Kaida died, Makaila informed her parentsthat she didn't want Kaida to go.

It was a Sunday morning, and we were at church when mydaughter and son-in-law brought Kaida to say goodbye. It was asad morning, and all of us had tears in our eyes. I am just so gladthat Makaila had been prepared because on February 13, 2011,Kaida, a part of our family and our friend, went to be with God inheaven.

I Miss My Sister/IWant My Sister Back

by LaTonja Brown

Mid-September to early October is a hard time for me.

September 21 is my sister Honey's birthday. She died in a caraccident when I was twenty-three, in other words, sixteen years ago.

The last conversation I had with her was in mid-September. Shecalled to talk to me, but I was too tired to talk. I remember uslaughing as I was trying to hang up, but she wanted to talk. I waslike, "Dude, I have to go," and practically hung up on her. Shetried calling back, but I did not pick up the phone. She urgentlywanted to talk to me.

Fast-forward about a week to her twenty-fifth birthday, and Icould not reach her. I tried and I tried but just couldn't connect.I was not able to wish her a happy birthday. I urgently wanted totalk to her.

Fast-forward a few weeks to the call I never wanted to get.

My sister knew/knows I love her. But that final conversation wehad when I did not tell her one last time will always stay with me.That final conversation when I was too tired to take the time totalk to her will always stay with me.

Now I try to hug my friends and family when I see them. I try totell them that I love them because you never really know when itwill be the last time.

Her death taught me a lot about who actually cared for me. Iremember I sought out comfort from people who I thought wouldcomfort me, but you know how that goes.

I went through a lot of guilt over her dying and not me. She hadkids; I had none. I kept asking God why (and I still haven't gotten ananswer to that question). I was so angry when she died. I rememberwhen I turned twenty-five; I didn't feel like I had the right to turnthat age. Then I turned twenty-six, and so on, and so on.

I remember sitting at her funeral stone-faced and mad at the world.The only person I was not mad at was our sister, Cathy.

I still haven't cried about it. I just suppress the emotion, like if I cryit will be admitting that she is gone from this life. It's like the lastpicture I have with her. That's it.

The funny thing is that I still expect to pick up the phone and hearher voice. She still owes me money. She used to make me laugh.She could have been a comedian. I am thankful for the time wehad as sisters, and what a time it was.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I singing "We Are Family"with towels on our heads when we were little.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I staying up everyChristmas Eve and watching A Christmas Story all night.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I staying up watching NightTracks on Fridays and Saturdays.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I staying up all night thenight before the first day of school each year.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I doing our first solo planetrip together.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I being in Jump Rope forHeart together.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I playing house and dollstogether. I also remember early on when LaQuita, ourcousin, would play with us. LaQuita was Big Tina, Cathywas Judy. I forgot Honey's name, but I was CeCe, and Ihated that name.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I used to gotrick-or-treating, and we would go far from home.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I working in our aunt'sgarden like slaves. We were so bitter to be out there.

• I remember Cathy, Honey, and I picking plums from thistree in Moses Lake.

• I remember the time Honey got stung by a bee and swelledlike a balloon and had to be taken to the hospital. Wedidn't realize it was actually life threatening and laughedand laughed and laughed. Actually, it's still funny.

• I remember Honey was allergic to everything and hadasthma.

• I remember Honey teaching me how to fight.

• I remember one night at dinner Honey didn't want toeat what was on her plate. Our aunt made her sit there,and then she started crying because she said a spider wasfollowing her. That was hilarious!

• I remember when Honey made some rolls from a recipeshe learned in home economics, and they were harder thanrocks.

• I remember Honey coming to visit me when I was at the UW.

• I remember Honey doing my hair when I was a teenager.

• I remember when I was in sixth grade, I used to wear mysisters' clothes without them knowing it. They left forschool before me, and I got back before them. I wouldwear their stuff and then rush home and put it back in theirclosets.

• I remember that it's good to remember.

In Sixty Seconds

by Ursula Lovely

I have no major desire to fill you with fear,But do you realize that in sixty seconds every earthlyThing that you value could just disappear.

I understand the need to get all we can.That seems to be in the nature of man.

Be assured that measure of a man is not his worth.What people truly remember him for is the love he getsAnd gives while he is on this earth.

As we mature,Life sometimes seems like a never-ending nightWith little or no hope of ever reaching the light.

Is there someone you intended to call today?Is there something you meant to say,But somehow forgot to say?

Don't keep putting off things until tomorrowBecause if you wait the only thing that may come is sorrow.

Reach out and express your loveTo family and to the Lord above.

In these past few months,Have we not seen the things people have gathered aroundDestroyed and turned into nothing but empty ground?

Treasure the people around you andThe God you must reckonBecause what we know today is that everything can be gone injust sixty seconds.

The Bold Ones, the Hybrids,and the Equipped Ones

by Angela Davis

My cousin, Karryl Yvette, died December 2011 at the age offorty-four. I can't believe she is gone, but the fact of the matter isthat we are all going to die. During the death of a loved one, wetry to reconcile internally whether we will go to heaven or hell.Do we live to die, or do we die to live?

During the repast after her service, I saw so many contrasts andcontradictions. It is amazing how, through a spiritual eye, dark,muted hues and bright, exhilarating hues are illuminated throughthe bodies of those at this repast. The contrasts and contradictionscan be metaphorically explained as stages of spiritual awareness.They can be described by three spiritual stages that I have namedthe Bold Ones, the Hybrids, and the Equipped Ones.

The Bold Ones were genuine for Satan regardless of the situationsin their lives. They were drinking and cursing up a storm. I musthand it to them; they were wholehearted in what they did andwho they represented even if they don't have the awareness ofdoing so.

The Hybrids talked about the Lord and accepted Him in their livesbut drank, smoked, and cursed. Accepting and acknowledgingthat Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords ignites an eternaltransition that creates growth—naturally, emotionally, andspiritually, which is crucial during the loss of a loved one.

The Equipped Ones were the individuals representing Jesus Christto the best of their human abilities. They regularly witness, praycontinuously, and love beyond natural comprehension. They arededicated to God and use their vessels for the Lord. During therepast, the Equipped Ones saw, heard, and prayed while sittingstoically in their chairs. They responded outwardly only by theprompting of the Holy Spirit, and that was amazing in itself, basedon the many forms of human interaction that occurred that day.

These three "types" were harmoniously in the same house. Butthere was a forceful battle raging that was audible to the spiritualear and visible with the spiritual eye but not visible to the naturalear and eye. I do not judge anyone because we determine ouroutcomes by our choices. Choices cannot be rationally decided ifyou do not have adequate information. Similarly, in the spiritualrealm, we cannot be the Equipped Ones until we becomecompletely dedicated. Even the Equipped Ones are in the sametransitional process of dying daily as the Bold Ones and theHybrids.

There becomes a realization that, as long as we are in these earthlyvessels, there are no individuals who have "arrived." God has nobig I's or little you's. Christians just choose to be used by God withthe ultimate goal, through our passion and love of God, to becomea witness for Him through our lives. I process the sorrow of losingmy cousin with the hope that we will all meet again. We musttransition from the Bold Ones to the Hybrids, and finally to theEquipped Ones.

I pray, as time brings about many changes, that our familybecomes an army of equipped soldiers—hearing and marchingto the audible voice of the Holy One, the lover of my soul, JesusChrist.

In loving memory of my "cuz" Karryl Yevette Smith, who lovedbig, smiled widely, and died too soon.

By LaTonja Brown

There has been a lot of death in the last several months.

On May 1, the pastor of the church I attended when I was a childpassed away. I was able to reconnect with him and his wife a fewyears ago and thank them for all they did for me and my sisterswhen we were growing up.

On May 14, my grandmother on my dad's side passed away.Although I didn't know her that well, it was sad to hear of herpassing. She was my last living grandparent.

On June 7, the aunt of one of my close friends passed away. I spenttwo and a half weeks with my friend's aunt during my trip toIndia. She was such a strong woman, a historian, and a storyteller.She and the other ladies I stayed with found a sacred place in myheart.

June 3 was the one-year anniversary of the passing of my aunt whoraised me. As the day grew closer, I felt the same raw emotion arisein me that I feel each year at the anniversary of my sister's death.My subconscious becomes sad and tender, and then the date hitsme like a ton of bricks. I remember all the things I didn't say andall the things I didn't do with a deep regret, but I can't change thepast.

Death brings about questions and thoughts about my ownmortality. What will I accomplish before my appointed timein this life ends? There are things I want to do. There is theever-growing list of places I want to travel to. I also want to writea novel. But what do I need to accomplish that is for God thatwill last? What is my legacy? What is my assignment? What is myfunction in the body of Christ?

I am inspired by the accomplishments of my friends. My friendToyia completed her master's degree and is working towardestablishing a school in the Seattle area. My friend Samarah isholding a summer program for women of color in the L.A. areathat is focused on college preparation and entrepreneurial training.As their dreams begin to unfold and take shape, I am motivated tofulfill my own destiny.