This is a post I began 2 years ago. It got stuck in the purgatory of saved drafts, and I forgot about it. Reading through it was cathartic for me. The story had a happy ending. The little girl was reunited with her mother. The separation should never have happened in the first place, but they are together and happy now.
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Dec 1, 2016
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness
Today I went to a court hearing as a support to my friend. Due to an overreaction at school and some language barrier problems, and probably some racism, her 8 year old daughter was taken into state custody 46 days ago. She and her daughter have basically suffered all the agony of a kidnapping without the support of having a community behind them trying to help, because the state did the kidnapping. Today was the hearing to determine what should be done next. There is no evidence of abuse or neglect happening in the home, other than what the juvenile officers claim was told them by a little girl who has only spoken English for a year and was clearly asked leading questions that she nodded and smiled to because she didn’t understand what was being asked. I’m devastated that the decision was made for the government to retain custody pending more counseling for the daughter until March of next year, when another hearing will be held. That is months away. The harm and trauma it is causing this little girl and her mother can not be measured. I do not wish at this time to write a post about the terrifying amount of power that DFS and CPS have. My friend came to this country legally about a year ago, and our government has just bulldozed its way over her family.
I went to try to share my friend’s burden. I do not know how to comfort her. I cannot get her child back for her. But I was there, and I promised I would keep being there, and I assured her that in the end, right will prevail.
when I got home, I was pretty emotionally exhausted–too tired to do home school. I suggested to my girls that we do a service, and they voted to take cookies to our friend who is the primary care giver of her elderly mother with dementia. The girls enjoyed making the cookies, and delivering them lifted my spirits after such a difficult morning.
Best Oatmeal Cookies Ever:
1 cup coconut oil (the fragrant unrefined kind–butter also works here)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1. Preheat the oven to 325*F
2. Cream coconut oil/butter and sugars together.
3. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
5. Add the flour to the coconut oil/butter and mix thoroughly.
6. Add the oatmeal and raisins and stir until they are evenly distributed.
7. Drop the cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and firm when lightly tapped in the center.
(Apparently “what do you want to be for Halloween?”
and “what do you want to be when you grow up?” are the same question in Banana Cream Pie’s mind.
She was really angry with me when I thought she wanted to be a squirrel.
“That thing that lives in a tree” is clearly a sloth. Fortunately, once I did understand, my last minute face paint and purple-gray clothing combination was acceptable.
First day of home school for Cherry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Peach Pie. They were so excited, and humored me by dressing up for the first day of home school like they always have for public school.
First day of the public school year for these two. Junior in High School and Second Grade. (Key Lime Pie only lasted about two weeks in public school before I decided that she needed to switch to home school like her sisters.)
The babies who are not in school.
Banana Cream Pie did not want to be in a photo. She is not in school either, but I feel sure she is benefitting from hearing me read aloud to her sisters and having them home to read aloud to her.
Today we specially remember those who served the United States during war, especially those who gave their lives. War is terrible.
The way to spread peace through this world is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we share the message of His love and change our own hearts to be more like Him, hate will die out and brotherhood with all will grow. The pure love of Jesus Christ will change the world. Nothing else can. But we who call ourselves Christian must do better. We must live what we profess to believe.
I believe we can remember and honor our Heros without holding onto malice and hate. I believe we can even admit the mistakes of our leaders without dishonoring the brave soldiers who followed orders and loved their country.
My Grandfather’s brother, Peter Nelson Hansen, was stationed at Del Monte Field in Manilla in 1941. On the morning of December 8, he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor over the radio. That evening, Japanese fighter planes attacked Del Monte Field.
Mothers Day 1942, he and the other American soldiers there were taken prisoners of war. He was a prisoner for 3 ½ years. He was given only rice and water to eat during that time and suffered from beriberi because of malnutrition. He was tortured. When the Marines rescued him on September 9, 1945, he weighed only 120 pounds, about half his normal weight. His legs were shriveled like dry sticks. The doctors told him he would probably never walk again. However, he was eventually able to walk with the use of a cane. My father described to me how Uncle Pete’s finger tips were disfigured because the Japanese guards had driven bamboo slivers under his fingernails when they tortured him.
After the end of the war, Peter Hansen was freed from the Japanses prison and spent several months recovering in the hospital. One week after he was discharged from the army hospital, he left on a mission for the church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) to the Central Pacific Mission.
He said,
“Yes I have seen the inhumane treatment by the Japanese in their prison camps. It was torturing alright. But, fundamentally, the Japanese people are not bad. They have been brought up wrongly in an atmosphere of regimentation. They need democracy. They need Christianity. They need the restored gospel of the Master as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Then they will be alright.
A great work lies ahead. I have not hate in my heart towards the Japanese. My desire is to help them. I want to lift them up to the heights I found in that little Japanese Sunday School I visited in Hawaii before the war.”
Peter Nelson Hansen served 28 months teaching the gospel to Japanese people living in Hawaii in the Central Pacific Mission. Returning home in March 1949, he bore a simple testimony stating his readiness to accept another mission call. Soon after, he was called on another mission, the Far East mission, and served in Japan itself.
This was a really fun day, and provided totally free of charge to National Guard families. It’s a big effort to get all the kids to something like this, and there are plenty of unfun moments, but it was worth it.
Us checking in. Notice how Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Pie and both carrying toddlers on their backs.Apple Pie likes the snacks.Cherry Pie plays basketballI show off my sweet moves. Apple Pie is only interested in eating.The Skooter Pies are chasing this ball.So fascinating.Rock, Paper, Scissors is not food.Peach Pie is not winning Rock, Paper, ScissorsBut she is still having fun!Foosball The Resident Captain, rock climbing Blueberry Pie, rock climbingPumpkin Pie, rock climbingKey Lime Pie, rock climbingKey Lime Pie, playing Bow ‘n’ Arrow TagPumpkin Pie, waiting to play Arrow TagDad and Mom spectateBanana Cream Pie, are you ready to play chess?
“Yes, first I have to hug all my people.”Apple Pie is feeding the horsey.Skooter Pies playing with the checkers .Zekey Pie, showing off his baby blue eyes.Skeeter Pie is just as cute.
First day of home school for Cherry Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Peach Pie. They were so excited, and humored me by dressing up for the first day of home school like they always have for public school.
Marvelous Pigs in Satin 