Gardner and The Kid: To My Pen Pals from Oma

My Dear Darling Maddy, Samantha, Fox, Ruby, Eleanor, Olive, George and Klina Claire,

Around the corner from our house is the path that leads to open fields of beautiful green farmland with cows, horses and sheep.

In the middle of the farmland is a forest of tall leafy trees.

We call it the sacred grove because when you go inside,
you can feel the Holy Ghost and Heavenly Father close by.

Every living thing has a spirit inside, carefully and lovingly created by our Heavenly Father.
In this forest the trees protect the creatures and they have strong and dependable spirits.

The birds have busy little spirits and tell the trees that the sheep are getting sheared and the horses have their blankets on. If you listen closely, you can hear the soothing song of a father cuckoo bird.

The bright red poppy flower's spirits are grateful and remind everyone of the promise of the resurrection.

The white daisies are the first flowers to open their petals in the morning sun.
They have an innocent, pure spirit and love to feel the sunshine on their faces.

Every creation is different, but beautiful, just like you.

One day, while we were there, it started to rain.
They call it mot regen.
It is just like a very soft, fine mist.
I try to breath it into my lungs as far as it will go.
It tingles through out my body and bursts into a tiny sparkler of joy inside my heart.

Next to the forest lives a beekeeper. She is tending to her bees.

We drove through little farm villages the other day to find the oreo cows for a picture for you.
They say their milk tastes just like an oreo cookie and in the winter, it tastes like oreo icecream.
(Maddy's Dad would love that!)

The animals here are very fat and happy. Their grass is sweet and soft.
The farmers love them and take very good care of them.
Sometimes they live in the same house with them.
So they have lots and lots of pets!