For Little Friends

By

My Sister Speaks Russian

By Janice Porter Hayes

(Based on a true story)

My sister speaks Russian. Since she came to live with us, I have learned the Russian words for ice cream (morozhennoye), cat (koshka), and thank you (spasibo).

My sister’s name is Sophie, and she is four years old. When she lived in Kazakhstan, her name was Nasipzhan. Mama and Papa changed her name after we adopted her and she came to America to live with us.

Sophie doesn’t look like me or my brother. We have red hair, freckles, and a gap between our front teeth. Papa says we look like peaches with nutmeg and cream.

Sophie has black hair, no freckles, olive-colored skin, and eyes shaped like almonds. Papa says Sophie looks like a porcelain doll. When she smiles, there’s a dimple in her cheek.

We look different, but Sophie is still our sister. We play soccer together. We ride scooters together. We eat popcorn and drink chocolate milk together. We even wear chocolate milk mustaches together.

My brother and I want Sophie to be part of our forever family. So do Mama and Papa. Soon we will go to the temple. We will wear white and meet together in a beautiful room. We will become a forever family.

Until then, Sophie will come to my soccer games. We will go on long walks. We will eat popcorn and chase the cats and make lots of chocolate milk mustaches together.

And I will tell Sophie how much I lubit her. Because lubit is the Russian word for love.

[illustrations] Illustrated by Julie F. Young

Janice Porter Hayes is a member of the Highland 16th Ward, Highland Utah West Stake.

See the Covered Wagon

By Barbara Wren Tuttle

See the covered wagon
(Point to eye.)
With its big white top.
(Hold hands over head, forming an arch.)
See the oxen pulling it—
(Use pointing fingers to show horns on head.)
Clop, clop, clop.
(Slap thighs three times with alternate hands.)
See the wagon wheels
(Hold hands over head, forming a circle.)
As they roll, roll, roll.
(Roll hands in a circular motion.)
Sometimes they go fast
(Roll hands faster.)
And sometimes they go slow.
(Roll hands slower.)
See the father walking,
(Walk in place, swinging arms.)
So big, strong, and tall.
(Stand tall.)
See the mother walking,
(Walk in place.)
In her arms a baby small.
(Keep walking and pretend to hold a baby.)
Pioneers who crossed the plains
(Hold hand above eyes and look out.)
So many years ago,
(Walk in place.)
Walked beside their wagons
(Hold hands over head, forming an arch.)
Sometimes fast, and sometimes slow.
(Roll hands fast, then slow.)

[illustrations] Illustrated by Julie F. Young

Temple Blessings Make Us Happy

By Julie Wardell

Heavenly Father has commanded us to build temples for Him. In the holy temple we can hear His word and receive important blessings. Look at each picture below and tell what temple blessing is shown and how it can make you happy. Then in the blank space draw a picture of the temple nearest to your home and tell how it has blessed you and your family.

Temple blessings(click to view larger)

Illustrated by Beth Whittaker

Frozen Fun Suns

By Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

12 paper baking cups

3/4 cup crushed graham crackers

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

1 package (8 ounces/227 g) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup commercial sour cream

1 package (3 ounces/85 g) lemon gelatin

2 tablespoons hot water

1/2 cup chocolate chips

  1. 1.

    Place baking cups inside a muffin tin.

  2. 2.

    Mix crushed graham crackers with melted butter or margarine. Drop approximately one tablespoon of crumb mixture into each baking cup and press it firmly against the bottom to form a crust.

  3. 3.

    In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, gelatin, and water; mix well.

  4. 4.

    Spoon one heaping spoonful of cream cheese mixture onto each crust and spread evenly.

  5. 5.

    Form smiley faces with chocolate chips on top of each “sun.”

  6. 6.

    Freeze suns until firm (approximately one hour). Serve frozen.

[illustration] Illustrated by Beth Whittaker