Coping

There are certain trials in life that force you into coping mode.  While, this trial makes every other trial in my life seem like a cake walk, the coping mechanisms for trials are the same.

What I AM doing.

Surrounding myself with loved ones.

Keeping busy,

Reading scriptures, conference talks, etc... lots  ... alone, with Jon, and with the girls

Praying ... lots and lots ... as individuals, a couple, and a family

Allowing myself 15 minutes each morning and night to cry in my closet and just let all the hurt out.

Trying to get back to normal life -- (went to pilates today)

Writing 

Loving and cherishing my kids

Talking to my kids about Camille

Repenting ... Sincerely ... Every day  -- to ensure I am as pure as Camille is pure

Going to the temple

Trying to keep my mind firmly on today and not let it wander to last Friday

Trying to learn and grow all I can from this loss

What I am NOT Doing ...

 

Asking why me.  I don't believe in that question.  

Isolating myself 

Crying with every person who comes over, even if They cry on My shoulder

Blaming -- not me, not any member of my family, and NOT God

My dishes (thanks family ;)

Cooking (thanks my sisters in the gospel)

Writing my talk for the funeral (been blogging instead)

Dressing Camille -(thanks Moms)- want to remember her how she looked before the autopsy 

Pulling away from my husband

Being angry or feeling life is unfair

Well I think I better change one of those.  Better move the "writing my talk for the funeral" up to the "DOING" list.  

Good night and again THANK YOU for your support and all those prayers from all of you known and unknown.  I REALLY feel their strength pulling me through each day and especially each night.  I am frankly overwhelmed by all this loving support.

Feeling the Weight of my Lightened Load

Our Family

June 7, 2008

This is one of the family pictures taken of us last week.  It is not the best picture of us.  I think Jon and I slept about 4 hours a night for 3 nights before this.  All of us were staying in a 10' x 12' bedroom.  Yes, all six of us.  And we are from Vegas, where in June it is summer.  This vacation we were in Utah at Aspen Grove and it was 40 degrees everyday.  The morning of this photo it was snowing heavily.  My kids were not happy about having to shed their coats for the photos. It was 11 a.m.  An hour past Camille's nap time and right at Lauren's nap time.  Plus both Sabrina and Annie could have used a nap after their late nights waiting for Lauren to quiet down to let them sleep and early morning waking with Camille's cry at 5 a.m.

Personally, I was on the verge of losing it in this photo.  Sleep deprivation does bad things to people.  I know.  I have experience in that department more now than ever before.  With four young kids, I often felt overwhelmed.  I struggled juggling with the youngest two--trying to Lauren the attention she needed and still take care of all Camille's immediate needs and cherish the moments she was in.  I wanted to just hold her and rock her because she was so little and I knew she wouldn't stay little forever.  I didn't want to miss her first step, which she just started doing last week.   She wasn't so busy yet that she wouldn't let me just hold her and love her.  She would snuggle against my chest and wrap her little arms around me.  She loved the attention and being held.  

But I still had Lauren, who was still trying to find her place in our family now that she wasn't the baby.  That was a hard transition for her.  And I was trying to give her all the attention she needed.  I was the third kid in my family.  My younger brother's were identical twins.  As soon as they came along, well, let's just say I was attention deprived as a child and did all I could to get attention.  Our family videos are filled with my parents telling me to move out of the picture.  That it wasn't my birthday etc...  So I wanted to give Lauren the positive attention so she wouldn't have to act crazy to get it.  It was a difficult juggling act most of the time.

Lately, I had been seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.  Lauren and Camille had been playing together more.  Camille was finally old enough to play a game or two.  Lauren had been playing better with Ann Marie as well.  Lauren was finally old enough to get Annie's games.  Once in a while I felt like maybe I could have another kid someday.  Three had been easy for me.  Four felt overwhelming, but I knew it would get better and it was getting better.

Now I am back to taking care of three.  And Lauren is not acting out for attention anymore. The girls all play well together most of the time.  Three is easy.  Three is easy and yet Only Three is so so hard.  

Hands

So many hands,

Here, 

Reaching,

Lifting,

Praying,

Working,

Helping,

Comforting,

Caressing,

Strengthening.

So many hands,

There,

Welcoming,

Playing,

Loving,

Holding,

Teaching,

Working,

Helping,

Comforting,

Strengthening.

Hands crossing the generations,

Interwoven between Heaven and Earth,

Knit into a circle of strength,

Forming a circle of prayer and love.

While Camille was in the hospital I had my sister in law Elizabeth (who is an awesome photographer) come from California and take detail pictures of every possible part of my little baby girl.  I don't want to forget any part of her tiny body.  The picture is the first she has shared with me.  It is when I was lying in the bed next to Camille with my arm around her and my mother is on the other side of the bed holding Cami's little hand in both of hers.  Thanks Elizabeth.  Priceless seems an inadequate expression at the moment.  Thanks also to Heather Gibb who took our family photos last week and has generously shared her work with us so quickly.  My heart is so grateful.

Matters of Business

You know one of the hardest parts of this experience has been all the jobs to be done.  The police doing their investigation of the incident to determine if there was criminal negligence, the interviews only minutes after we called 911, the search warrant on the house, Child Protective Services interviewing us and visiting the house that night, the coroner having to question us an hour after she died.  All these good people just doing their jobs.  All standard procedure in death not by natural causes.  But these are not talks you expect or even consider when this nightmare of finding your baby... I'm not going go back there.

Now today we have to go pick out a coffin, another matter of business.  Not as distasteful as those already attended to but certainly not one I ever wanted to do.

I have to throw out an enormous thank you to my family.  They have attended to so many matter of the matters of business.   They are helping with compiling photos and videos of Camille, helping with funeral arrangements, fielding questions and talking on the phone for me so I don't have to start crying again.  They are working on flowers and programs and my dad is working on finishing the construction around our spa to make it safe with a gate. (We had only had the spa for 5 days).  All these matters of business that I am just not wanting to do.

Speaking of matters of business I have a couple for those of you reading:  anyone who wanted to send flowers we would rather you send a card to us letting us know you sent a donation to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund or LDS Humanitarian Services in Camilles name. We want as much good to come from her short life as possible.  In fact we were able to donate her heart for heart valves to save the lives of 2 other children.

Last matter of business, it has come to my attention that there may be some people coming in town for the funeral who are not immediate family.  I am so touched that you would come.  The funeral itself will be short and I will have no time to hug and say hello to people at that time. We are limiting the graveside service to immediate family only.  However, for any who have traveled from out of town to come we want to see you.  Please come to my parents house after lunch.  We will be gathering there at my parents at 1 p.m.  This invitation is only for those traveling from out of town.  The rest of you I can greet another time.  

Again thanks for the prayers.  I really do feel them.  I have a strengthened testimony of the power of prayer to strengthen and steady in times of trial.

loves,

Stephanie

An Angel in the Family

A couple of things have really struck me as precious blessings at this time and I wanted to note them.  Two weeks ago we went on vacation and left Camille with her grandmothers.  This gave our grandparents their first real time to get to know Camille.  During this time Grandma Waite was able to write a song for Camille.  (she writes one for every grandchild and hadn't gotten to Camille's yet)  Also, last week we went to a Waite Family reunion where all the extended Waite family got to enjoy Camille.  At this reunion we took family photos.  I hadn't gotten a good one with Camille in it yet.  I cannot express how grateful I am that we have a decent family photo with her.  We also got some great individual shots of her and wonderful shots of her and me together.  The one above is one of those and just looks angelic to me.  How many people get to have a bonafide angel in their family?

Thanks again for the comment posts, and the prayers.  I have really felt strengthened today.  It has been so much better than yesterday and worlds better than the day before.  Day by day I guess.

Camille Kathleen Waite

Thank you all for your prayers.  I have felt their strength today.  I will be brief in this post.  

We removed the ventilator today just after 4 p.m. today.  With the tubes removed I was able to hold Camille's limp heavy body and rock her for a few minutes.   Jon then took a turn holding her. It was extremely peaceful.  She took a couple of scatter shallow breaths and quickly let go of her last physical tie to this earth.  The doctors called the time of her death at 4:15 p.m.  We were able to hold her and bath her and be with her little body till 6 p.m.

We will hold a memorial service at the LDS Church on Tropicana at Burnham (just west of Eastern) on Saturday at 9 a.m.  No one should feel obligated to come but anyone who would like to is welcome.  It will be simple and short- 30 minutes at most I hope.  There will be no viewing.  

Please be at peace.  We are.  Our sorrow, which knows no bounds, comes in waves crashing over us, but we do feel peace.  In the great plan of our Father, All is Well.  

"And should we die, before our journeys though, All is well All is well."  Come Come Ye Saints

Thank you again for your faithful fasting, prayers, and support.  It is needed and felt.

Stephanie

Camille Update

Thank you all for your comments of support and love. I wanted you to know that Camille is fine. Her body is not but she herself is fine. Jon and I have felt that strongly over the last 2 days. Her body functions have begun shutting down over the last day or so and she will not be with us much longer on this earth. I feel strongly that she has not been in her body since the accident.

Thank you for your prayers and faith and fasting on her behalf. We all feel that she is whole and well and not in pain where she is. Unfortunately for us, we see that it is not the Lord's will that she remain here with us. It is a difficult answer to receive. But we do feel a great peace and a sense that all of this - all the events of the last two days -- even the last few weeks have been in the Lord's plan for us and for Camille.

We will most likely be turning off her respirator this afternoon at four o'clock. Her heart is the only part of her body still functioning. We ask that your prayers be with us today- this afternoon- especially and in the coming weeks and months. We do gain strength from them and right now we need more strength than we have ever needed before.

Thanks again for the comments of support. I read them when I feel strong and able.

Stephanie

Pray for Camille

As some of you have already heard, late yesterday afternoon Camille was involved in a tragic accident. She fell into the hot tub at the house and drowned. When found she was unconscious and not breathing. She is currently in an extremely critical condition and in a comatose state at St. Rose Sienna Hospital.

Jonathan, Stephanie and family have been exercising the principle of prayer. We would ask you to do the same. We know that what happens to Camille is in God's hands. While we don't know what his will is with her yet, we would never ask anything less from God than what He can do. We ask you to be specific in your prayers and only ask God for the miracle of a full recovery. If you are able, please couple your prayers with fasting. Also, talk to any others you know of great faith and pass on this request.

At this time we ask for no calls but for you to wait for word from us and to continually keep Camille in your prayers until then. Thank you for your support at this difficult time.

We are finding comfort through these passages on prayer: Mormon 9 and Joshua 1.

Books

One of the defining features of a true vacation for me is getting lost in a good book.  Some trips we take as a family don't allow me the pleasure of reading because I am too busy being Mom to take the time out for myself to read.  On the other hand, when I allow myself the pleasure of reading a good book it is always a mini vacation no matter where I am.  This feeling is enhanced ten fold if my reading is not interrupted by changing diapers, sorting out arguments, helping with homework, or cooking meals.

Recently I have had two very nice book vacations.  First, a couple weeks ago I read "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer.  This is the adult science fiction by the author of the Twilight series.  I loved the Twilight series and though I was skeptical about reading a book about aliens, I loved the Host.  I am not sure I loved it as much as the Twilight series, but it kept me turning pages and wanting to know what would happen next.  

I read this book at home.  I read a bit here and there at first.  Then after about 250 pages or so I woke up at 6 am one morning and after putting whoever woke me up back to bed I started to read.  I kept reading.  I did have to stop to change a diaper or two.  I did have to put people down for naps.  But mostly I just read.  I didn't cook.  I didn't eat.  I didn't really move from my chair.  I just wanted to devour that book and do it all at once with as few interruptions as possible.  Thanks to my husband working from home and totally picking up my slack that day, I finished the 617 page book by dinner time and was able to "come home" from my mini vacation day and cook food for the family to eat.

Now Jon is reading the book and though he thinks parts are slow, I think he likes it overall.  I have been reading some of it to him out loud in the car as we have travelled and have been enjoying a second go round at it too.

So if you want a fun read that will help you explore what it truly is to be "human."  Take a mini vacation with the host.  It will help you see humanity and love through new eyes.

The second book I have vacationed with was The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  This book came highly recommended by my sister and aunt to my mother.  I stole it from her before she could start it so I would have something to read on my trip to the family reunion in Aspen Grove, Utah.  Next to spending time with family, this book was the highlight of the trip for me.  Utah was pretty darn cold for June.  It snowed one day.  So I snuggled up with my book and enjoyed a rather crazy demented story of a fictional author's real life story.  

The book was very well written and kept me in suspense about the truth throughout.  The story line itself was ... well it kinda reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriela Garcia Marquez.  It was lots of crazy, somewhat uncomfortable relationships and events that were tied into one life story.  I told my husband the basic story after I finished and he kept saying "WHAT???  He did WHAT?  And you liked this book?"  But I have found that a really talented writer, like a really talented teacher can make almost anything interesting.  I was fairly engrossed in this novel and enjoyed my reading in the beautiful setting of the mountains.

Anybody out there got any suggestions on what to read?  I am sure I will be needing another "vacation" before too long.

   

Surprise Party

This past Tuesday we pulled Sabrina out of school a day before her track break began and kidnapped her on a surprise trip to Disneyland for her 7th birthday.  It was so much fun.  We left the baby home with Grandparents and took Lauren and Annie on our surprise party vacation.  They were in on the surprise too and had such fun "keeping" the secret.  

OK so Sabrina might have had some idea there was going to be a surprise party but she didn't know we were going to California to go to Disneyland and see cousins.   Her Aunt Elizabeth went all out throwing her an awesome circus party with face painting, clown hat crafts, balloons, favors and great food.  I made the ice cream cakes Sabrina had requested.  She loved all of it.  Here are a couple party pictures and a few at Disneyland:

I can't believe it has been 7 years since this sweet angel of a girl came into my world and changed me forever as a person.  She has taught me a new kind of love and is a pure joy to my soul.  I have never known such a pure, guileless, loving being until I  came to know my Sabrina. She is a beauty both inside and out.

Blooms

These are some of my favorite flowers from my garden.  I wrote previously about this Dahlia that I fell in love with.  Here is a photo to give some perspective on just how big those blooms are.  I love them!  I just hope I can keep them alive.

Here is a close up I took and make my desktop photo.  It is so sunny and cheerful!

Here is the first Lily that has bloomed.  I love the color on this one.

Life in the backyard

Yesterday our backyard came to life!  The landscaper came with his men and they worked most of the day putting plants in the ground and preparing the middle for the turf to go in.  It was really exciting to see all the beautiful plants going in.  I snapped some photos this morning of the progress.

Here we have a Meyer Lemon tree, some agapanthas or lilies of the nile, a gardenia bush, and in the front there will be some Gerber Daisies (the nursery ran out yesterday).

This side of the walkway has a lime tree two Dahlias, and 3 gerber daisies.  I love these Dahlias!  I'll have another post about them.

This is from the spascape.  Along the back wall are shrubs, lilies, irises, star jasmine in the corner, red lantana, and more agapanthas.  There will also be a couple rose bushes over in the corner.

I love that so many of my favorite flowers are now in my backyard!  Such fun!!!

So You Think You Can Dance

In honor of the return of my favorite show, I thought I would share a bit of a dance clip with you.

Sabrina and Ann Marie had their dance recitals this week.  Ann Marie's teacher changed a bit of choreography mid year and Annie didn't like the new move.  She decided to do her favorite move instead.  There was no convincing this little one to follow the others.  It was my favorite part of the recital.  I was trying so hard not to just bust out laughing.  Here is the tiny part of the recital.  I may post a bit of Sabrina's favorite move, which she executed with gusto, another day.

And by the way, if anyone wants to come watch SYTYCD with me-- come on over.  Party at my house thirty minutes after each show starts we will be watching it TiVo over here.

Play Gym

I guess the fourth kid just gets treated differently from the first. There is no getting around it. With the first you buy toys for them to play with. By the fourth, well let's just say there hasn't been any need for toy buying. Camille has made her own play gym in our house. Here are some photos of her in action.

Camille thinks this drawer is her personal ball pit. It is filled with plastic IKEA kid cups and bowls, which are as colorful as the balls in a ball pit. She climbs in here by herself and throws the cups and bowls out and stands up to rearrange the plastic plates in the next drawer up.

Note the cups and bowls all over.

This is another of Camille's favorite places to play. She likes to climb into this side compartment of our media center. This is where the speakers should go if we had any. It is just her size and she likes to climb in there and look out at everyone.

We love our little Cami!

Chapter 9 The Homecoming

Chapter 9
The Homecoming

Fannie picked up the telephone as soon as she got into the house. Her family was still piling out of the car and getting settled after their trip to the promenade. She ran up to her room with the flowers in one hand and the phone in the other. Some of the petals had fallen out of the flowers and all four of them looked droopy and withered.

Fannie placed the flowers on her desk carefully and jumped on her bed while dialing Berk’s phone number. Fannie got lucky and Berk was the one to answer the phone.

She told him about her night at the promenade. Together they hatched a plan to return to the cave of colors as soon as possible. They wasted no time setting up their scheme. The flowers would not last much longer and Fannie couldn’t risk them dying by waiting much longer. They would have to make their move at first light the next morning. If she and Berk were quick they could be home before her parents even woke up.

Fannie set her Barbie alarm clock and got everything she would need laid out then she went to bed. She did not sleep well. She was too nervous about being able to find the cave again. When her alarm sounded at 4:30 she jumped up and dressed anxious to get started. She sneaked out of the house and ran in the dark using her flashlight to show her way to the place by the old oak tree where she and Berk had agreed to meet. He was waiting for her when she arrived.

Fannie led Berk through the woods as the dark sky got gradually lighter. She was not completely sure of the exact location of the cave but she knew the general area fairly well. Once she was near she was having a hard time decided which way to go next.

Suddenly she heard a strangely familiar noise in the dawning sky. It was a dull roar she had only heard once before. She ran to Berk and grabbed his hand hoping he could somehow save her from what she expected next. Then she saw them. Swooping down in the sky toward her were the bats. Berk grabbed Fannie and they both dove to the ground. The bats dove inches from them but did not stop. They continued on in a southern direction. Fannie jumped up and cried, “Follow them!”

She and Berk ran as fast as they could to follow the bats before they flew out of sight. It was hard to miss them because there were so many of them. They ran for about 5 minutes and then the bats seemed to disappear. Fannie and Berk reached the point of the bats’ disappearance and there was the opening to the Cave.
Fannie pointed her flashlight in the cave and nothing looked out of the ordinary. There was no other world in there—just a normal dark cave. She hoped she was not too late. She retrieved the flowers from her backpack and hand in hand she and Berk boldly stepped into the cave.

As soon as they crossed the threshold the cave began to change and the world of the undiscovered colors open up before their very eyes. Berk’s jaw dropped seeing all the incredible colors for the first time. Fannie was beaming and tears of joy were falling from her eyes. Its seemed like years she had spent in black and white even though it had only been a weekend.

Fannie ran to the field of flowers where she had picked the beautiful flowers and carefully laid each one down on the lush ground. When she laid the last flower down sparkles of all colors began to dance around the four flowers and they began to change from their withered droopy state to a perky healthy looking state. Then they started to change shapes. Leaves started to grow in strange directions. The flowers were growing as if they were moving with a life of their own.

At the same time the rest of the flowers in the field began to move together and to grow up as if they were creating something new together. Berk and Fannie watched in shock as the four flowers turned into four fairies that looked very much like flowers. These four fairies did not look at Fannie and Berk but instead bowed down to the earth before a large image that now stood about 10 feet from Fannie and Berk. It was an image of the Queen Fannie had met previously, only it was made entirely of flowers.

Fannie felt the need to bow as well and she pulled Berk down with her as she did. Then the Queen made of flowers began to speak.

“You have done well human child. You have helped these younglings attain a greater purpose to their lives and they are now forever changed,” she said. “They wish to thank you for the adventures you gave them. They watched you interact with your family and friends and know you are a soul of great compassion and beauty. If you will permit them, they wish to return with you to your world to watch over and protect to you till the end of your days. Is this acceptable to you?”

Fannie looked up and saw the pleading concerned faces of the four fairies staring up at them. How would she explain them to others and how could these tiny little fairies protect her? The Queen seemed to read her mind.

“Only those who have been to this land will be able to see these younglings. You and your noble kinsman here will always be able to see them but others in your world will not know of their presence. This world has a magic all its own and these four younglings will always have access to this magic. Those in your world will feel the effects of the magic but will never know the source of it. These younglings will always be watching you but not always from a place you can see them. But in any time of need you can call upon them with the secret signs they will show you and they will appear to aid you in anyway they can. Is this acceptable?” she asked again.

“Of course,” Fannie agreed. With this the four fairies flitted up to the Queen’s face and kissed the flowers of her cheeks then flew down to surround Berk and Fannie.

“Adieu humans, adieu!” the flower Queen called as she faded back into the meadow and the flowers retook their original places.

The ground started shake and the fairies flew twice around Berk and Fannie. Berk and Fannie turned around to see the opening to the cave opening up. They followed the first two fairies to the opening as the second two fairies followed behind them. In seconds they were standing outside the cave entrance. The sun was still not fully up in the lightening sky. Still stunned by their time in the cave, they raced home to climb back in their beds before their parents discovered them missing.

Berk and Fannie knew one thing even without having to say it as they left cave that morning…this was only the beginning of many fabulous adventures to come.

The End

Rattler

For those of you who wanted to know exactly how big the rattlesnake was... Here is a better angle. He was about 3 feet long. And yes he is very dead or I would not be this close to it.

Backyard Developments

We have offically made our mark in the territory surrounding our new home. I have been planning our backyard for months now and this week constuction commenced. The cement is dry and tomorrow the guys will come clean it up more. Then the landscaper will come do his thing. It has been so fun seeing something I created on paper come to life in 3D. Here are some photos of the progress:

The girls and Jon and I made our mark here.

Even little Camille's hand print is there. Can you see it?

This is the bike path for the kids to ride on.

We will have a veggie planter, fake grass and a playhouse

where the dirt is in the middle when we are done.

This structure will surround the portable spa we have ordered.

The plan is to face this with cultured stone.

Steps up to the spa will also serve as a place to sit during parties.


Here is the arial view from the balcony of the spa hardscape. Party time is coming!

Neighbors

It is always a new adventure moving to a new neighborhood. We always like taking goodies around to meet the neighbors and getting to know new friends. This neighborhood has proven to have some very interesting neighbors. We met this one face to face this morning.

Lucky for us our neighbor Michael met him first while walking his dog and had a few rocks to share with him. This is the second rattlesnake our neighbor Micheal has killed in the last month. About 4 weeks ago he took his dog out at night to do its business and the dog got bit on the nose by a small rattlesnake. It almost killed the little dog. They had to get human anti venom from UMC to give the dog. This time they were more lucky and got the dog pulled back with the leash before the snake got its fangs in.

We have introduced all the kids to the neighbor and told them to turn around and run if they ever see or hear one of these critters. I guess that is just one of the perils of living in the desert.

Quote of the Week

Mama to Sabrina and Ann Marie who share a bedroom and stay up talking half the night on a regular basis-- "You girls go to sleep now or I will come in here and spank your bottoms!"

Ann Marie -- "Man, you sure are a rough Mama!"

Chaper 8: The Final Flower

Chapter 8
The Final Flower

Monday morning Berk and Fannie headed off to school. It was another unremarkable day at school. Fannie had carried her four flowers in the side pocket of her backpack. By now they were looking a bit haggard and droopy. She knew she didn’t have much time before she had to get them back to their mother vine. She needed to find the last person and quickly. This seemed a difficult task. Each person who had seen one of the colors was not someone she had found. It seemed more that they had found her.

No one at school seemed to notice her flowers. Now it was time for Family Night and Fannie didn’t know how she was going to find someone who could see the last flowers color. Her Dad told her they were going to the Promenade for Ice Cream for Family Night. She said a little prayer in her room before they left that she would find someone who could see her flower.

The promenade was a large outdoor shopping area. People loved to go there and walk up and down looking in the shops. There were all kinds of stores there, clothing, jewelry, food, games. Another fun aspect of the promenade were the street performers. There were singers, mimes, fire eaters, painters, magicians. They all performed with an open hat next to them hoping someone would throw a bit of money in their hat.

Fannie’s family got ice cream and then walked up and down the promenade watching the performers. There was a man doing amazing paintings with spray paint. He was concentrating on his work when Fannie’s family came up to watch. When he finished he turned and showed his work to the waiting crowd.

Fannie took her last unseen colored flower from her purse and put it in her hair behind her ear. This caught the man’s attention.

“Little lady,” he said. “How about I paint a picture of you next?”

Before she could answer, he had begun painting again, this time staring at Fannie the whole time. He painted her face and all the features. He painted her hair. He painted the background. When he finished he had the whole picture filled with paints except for one conspicuously blank flower-shaped hole where she had the flower in her hair. His work was very good, but this puzzled her.

Just before he presented the picture to the crowd he asked Fannie is he could place the flower from her hair directly onto the painting. Fannie froze. Could he see the color?

“why do you want it?” She asked.

“Because I cannot paint it,” he responded. “This work would be a masterpiece if that flower were on it. Where did you find it anyway and what color is that?”

He could see it. But he also wanted the flower. Fannie needed to return it. This was a dilemma. Suddenly Fannie had an idea. The Queen never said she had to return the whole flower. Just that she had to have them back before the last petal fell. She plucked off all but one petal and gave them to the artist. He applied them to the painting and held up his work. Fannie’s dad offered to buy the painting. It was an amazing likeness of Fannie.

The artist refused. He said this was a work he needed to keep in his studio to inspire him to use his imagination more in his work.

Fannie had found her four people and completed this part of the mission. Now she just needed a plan to return the flowers and the courage to face the queen again.