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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Holiday (04/05/12)
Wrigley picked up the last of the torn wrapping paper and threw it away. She jumped into the chair and snuggled with Mommy. “Thank you for all of my birthday presents. This was the best day ever!”

Mommy hugged her. “Scoot off to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a busy day.”

“Ahh, I wish every day was a holiday.” She looked at Mommy and raised her eyebrows.

Mommy gently tapped her daughter’s nose. “Don’t give me that look.”

“Please, Mommy, let’s make every day a holiday in our house. We could have Kids’ Day.”

Camden jumped up. “Yeah, it’s not fair to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day without a Kids’ Day.”

Daddy ruffled his son’s hair. “Every day is Kids’ Day. You don’t have to work or worry about the bills.”

Mommy held up her hand. “For the next couple of weeks, we’ll make every day a celebration.”

Camden and Wrigley danced around the room. Dad put his head between his knees and moaned. Wrigley screamed, “Presents and cake every day!”

“Now wait, you two will have to agree upon what we’ll be celebrating. Plus, you’re in charge of everything. No arguing or the experiment is over. And yes you still have to go to school.”

The kids ran upstairs. The next morning, they came down with a list. Camden cleared his throat, “Today is now known as Dog Day. After school, we’ll invite the neighborhood dogs over to celebrate.”

Daddy stroked his chin. “Funny, I thought the first day would be Kids’ Day.”

Wrigley wiggled her eyebrows. “We saved that for Saturday so we didn’t have to go to school. Plus we wanted breakfast in bed. Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day. Everyone gives one another funky socks. Then it’s Eat Cake and Candy Day, where every meal has to have cake and candy in it.”

Mommy started to speak but Wrigley held her hand up. “You said we got to plan the holiday. No complaining.” Mommy just nodded.

Camden listed off the rest of the celebrations. “Wednesday is Watch TV Day, Thursday is Take Your Kids to Dinner Night and Friday is National Baseball Day. Now here is a list of presents that we think would be appropriate for each day. This will give you enough time to get me that new catcher’s mitt.”

Smiling, Dad spoke up. “I wouldn’t mind baseball tickets for the game Friday night. Keep that in mind, kids.”

“Also, I think you should make hot dogs for dinner on Baseball Day. Remember you’re in charge of the celebration.”

Wrigley and Camden stopped laughing and looked at each other. Camden whispered, “You think that’s the catch?”

Wrigley nodded. “But we have to do it. We deserve our Kids’ Day.”

That evening, after all the neighbor’s dogs left, Daddy handed the kids a present. Wrigley squealed as she started to rip the paper off. She picked up the box; her eyebrows furrowed. “What’s this?”

Daddy opened the box and put the pieces together. “You each have your very own pooper-scooper. Have fun cleaning up after the dogs. Remember, that was part of the deal.”

The next day in school, they shared their lunch of cake and candy with all of their friends. At dinnertime, Wrigley saw strawberry short cake was the only thing on the table. Rubbing her belly, she groaned. “May I skip dinner tonight? My tummy hurts.”

The rest of the week flew by. On Saturday, the kids were exhausted and didn’t even enjoy breakfast in bed. At the end of the day, Mommy asked, “What’s tomorrow? I think because it’s Sunday and the word holiday actually means holy day that we should dedicate this day to God. Wrigley, you should read from your Bible.”

On Sunday morning, everyone gathered in the kitchen. Wrigley opened her Bible to Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Everyone was silent. Wrigley and Camden lowered their heads.

Wrigley wiped a tear away. “We’ve been kind of silly this week. By Wednesday, it wasn’t even fun anymore. Sure the kids in school all thought you guys were cool for letting us do this but it was kind of selfish of us. Plus it was a lot of work. I guess Jesus is trying to tell us every day is already special because we are all here together.”

Camden hugged his parents. “Amen, Sister!”

*Bible Verse is from NIV Bible
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This article has been read 1129 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Dannie Hawley 
04/12/12
I love both the article and the idea! Very clever and nicely done. Could be interesting to try this with kids/grandkids.
C D Swanson 
04/12/12
I enjoyed this story. It as complex, yet simple in delivery with an important conclusion.

Thank you. God Bless~
C D Swanson 
04/12/12
I enjoyed this story. It as complex, yet simple in delivery with an important conclusion.

Thank you. God Bless~
C D Swanson 
04/12/12
I enjoyed this story. It as complex, yet simple in delivery with an important conclusion.

Thank you. God Bless~
C D Swanson 
04/12/12
I am so sorry! I don't know how my comment appeared "three times?"

My apologies to all!

God bless~
Joe Moreland
04/12/12
This story is well written with a solid message and realistic and believeable characters and dialogue. It's also creative and fun. In the beginning I wondered if you were going to present to us a lesson for the kids on the need for structure and delayed gratification, or for the parents on loosening up a little. I think your ending verse makes a case for both, actually. Overall a great read. Very well done!
Genia Gilbert
04/13/12
Good illustration of the minds of kids. Also a good verse to make the point that God has given us so many great days to rejoice in - far better than just the human concept of holidays. Praise His Name! Good writing.
Leola Ogle
04/14/12
Such a clever, delightful story! I loved it, especially the gifts of pooper-scoopers. LOL Good job! God bless!
Kristi Huseby
04/15/12
This was such an enjoyable and easy read! Great story, believable characters and a great twist. Nicely done!
Graham Insley
04/17/12
I enjoyed this. I know the word limit makes it difficult, but I wanted to read more about the 'catch', some more twists in the tale's tail so to speak.
Colin Swann
04/18/12
An adorable and interesting story. I hope they didn't invite too many dogs!
Laura Manley
04/18/12
This story had me intrigued from the very first word. It was such a delight to read; what an imagination! Totally different from anything I've read thus far. I was intrigued by the names of the children...another lift from the every day names we all use. I love the way you used Scripture to bring them back to reality. Very fitting!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
04/18/12
Shann, I love your story. It would be a delightful story for children, as well as adults. You have some wise parents there!
Edmond Ng
04/19/12
A nicely written piece and an enjoyable read. Thank God everyday is a day the Lord has made—a holy day to celebrate the life He has given us!
Sherry Hoffcastel 
04/21/12
You are such a sweetheart to leave such a loving comment for me! Your compliments warmed my heart so much! I thought this story was incredibly creative and well thought out. What a fun concept! I wish you had scored better because I think you deserve to be above me ;) 12 is a great number and it's an honor sharing it with you :)