Publisher Copy (Sasha The Swan).pdf by LivingWaterBooks

Sasha The Swan The Meaning and Understanding Of Love In The Eyes Of A Child

Renee’ Boykins-Addison

Living Water Books The Christian Imprint Of Butterfly Typeface Publishing House Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 ISBN 978-1-7373292-5-1 All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. Any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Renee’ Boykins Addison except for brief quotations in a book review or occasional page copying for personal or group study and encouraged.

Source Textbook Swans: Their Biology and Natural History This book and all other Living Water Books are available at Christian bookstores and distributors worldwide.

Dedication My dad, Reverend James Boykins Jr. (Deceased), and Betty J. Terry-Boykins (MaDear)

I would like to dedicate my book to my children (Earl Jr. III, Sharda', Alexis and Amir) and my beautiful grandchildren (George, Earl Jr. IV, and Montana). I would also like to dedicate the book to my future grandchildren.

Table Of Contents

DEDICATION............................................................... 07 FOREWORD.................................................................. 11 PREFACE...................................................................... 13

Chapter One NO PLACE LIKE GRANDMA’S HOUSE............................. 19

Chapter Two NO WORRIES IN THE WORLD......................................... 23

Chapter Three BACKYARD ADVENTURES................................................ 31

Chapter Four LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE.................................................. 39

Chapter Five FAMILY TIME.................................................................... 47

Sasha's Activities coloring - word search puzzles - mazes

Foreword

Greetings! It is my pleasure to present to you a lady who is an excellent writer and one who has “something of value” to say. Her name is one that you’ll want to remember because you will see this one’s name many times in your days to come. I’m speaking of Renee Boykins. Many years ago (in 1998), as the music pastor of the church that I was attending at that time (New Life Fellowship), I was conducting a Saturday morning meeting with the choir (The Voices of New Life) and Jehovah-Nissi (our Flag Ministry team.) As I spoke to everyone, the Lord began to speak, interrupting the proceedings, as only He can! I stopped speaking and looked about the room for Renee, as He definitely had something to say to her. I looked her way and asked her if she enjoyed writing. Renee responded, “Yes.” The Lord’s presence in the room was very pronounced! The Lord said, “Renee is to be a writer,” and He explained (in great detail) all that this act of faithfulness would entail.

I understand that Renee did try to pursue publishing opportunities that seemed available in the past, but she reached a dead end. To quote Renee: “It wasn’t until many years later, exactly two months ago, I was "FINALLY" able to connect with a Christian book publishing office in my hometown Little Rock, Arkansas." I am in the process of publishing a children’s book, and it’s entitled “Sasha the Swan." Now, what is this book about? Well, in the words of the author: “The storyline is pertaining to a young child, staying a weekend with her grandmother, and her grandmother taught her about the meaning of ‘love,’ and she used a swan to illustrate the meaning of ‘love’ to her grandchild.” I recommend this book to all children (and adults) who know that “Love is here to stay!”

Alvin Parris Associate Pastor/Joy Community Church 890 N. Goodman St Rochester, NY 14609

Preface During my early college experience, I enrolled in an English class. I wrote an essay on a movie that I had watched, and I submitted it for a grade. As I reflect on the outcome of my assignment, I earned an “A” on the activity. My professor informed me that I had done an excellent job, and he encouraged me always to keep writing and never stop. At that moment, my consciousness of writing became rooted within my spirit. I was incredibly proud of myself, as the genuine words from my professor uplifted and restored the self-confidence that was robbed from me while working in a secretarial position before attending college. In my position, I was responsible for typing business letters and mailing them to clients. My supervisor at the time informed me that my letters weren't good and the structure of them, whereas a young girl drafted them. She was upset with me regarding another situation, and she used that opportunity to insult and defame my letter-writing abilities. 13

I felt embarrassed and incompetent. A few years later, I was at a church meeting, and multiple individuals were in attendance. A wonderful pastor was facilitating the meeting, and in doing so, I was writing notes as he presented the information to everyone. I recall him glancing over at me, and he inquired if I enjoyed writing. I stated yes, and then he said that God said I’m supposed to be a writer. At that very moment, the awareness of writing began to develop intensely within my spirit, and it became apparent that my purpose on this planet was to become an author. As I currently reflect on the ill-mannered and insensitive

demeanor

the

supervisor

who

humiliated me, I can now testify that the hurtful encounter that I experienced with her was a blessing in disguise. During the season when she broke down my self-confidence, unbeknownst to me, God was stirring up the gift of authorship within my spirit. I desire to publish a children’s book because I want to encourage and bless the hearts and mindsets of children while they are at a tender age. I feel that I can achieve this reality as a result of the knowledge 14

they will learn from the positive words inscribed in my book. Last but not least, my first children’s book will be birthed in 2022. I want to whisper in the ears of authors who aspire to write a children’s book, and I humbly encourage you to join me on this exciting journey. Your positive expressions of wisdom and your creativity could transform the delicate mindsets of children worldwide.

Introduction

A young girl named Amira visits her sweet grandmother during the second weekend in July. This weekend will not be like any other weekend when Amira stayed with her grandmother. She is excited to finally see a swan swimming in the lake near her grandmother's house. Grandma would always call and let Amira know each time she'd see the big beautiful bird. While the excitement is high, the swan is not the only thing that will bring joy to Amira. She'll learn the meaning of love, and her grandmother will surprise her with a special gift that she will have to cherish forever.

"Being able to love yourself first is the highest order of love"

Renee' Boykins' Addison

s n by Am o i t a m r i ira f f A

I will make an effort to do something nice for someone today.

Chapter One

Amira starts her Saturday morning by enjoying a delicious breakfast with grandma and visiting the lake.

No Place Like Grandma’s House After eating breakfast, I will take a walk along the Bird of Paradise Lake. The lake is behind my grandmother's house, and I will see the big white swan that I’d always heard about but never visited. The smell of blueberries filled the air as my grandma made my favorite blueberry pancakes for breakfast. She drizzled the yummy maple syrup over my short stack of fluffy pancakes, and the sweet blueberries melted in my mouth with each bite. I felt thrilled to be eating my favorite breakfast and drinking a tall glass of cold almond milk. As I sat at the table eating my food, I couldn’t help but think about the big white swan at the lake. After eating, I gave grandma a big kiss on her soft right cheek, and I said, "Grandma, the pancakes were delicious." She smiled at me and said, “Thank you, sweetheart.” 20

s n by Am o i t a m r i ira f f A

I was created by God to love, and I am committed to showing kindness.

I said, "Grandma, I will visit the swan at the lake and return home by noon." It was around 10:30 a.m. already, and I knew I needed to get going if I wanted to see the swan. She said, “Ok, make sure you don’t walk too close to the lake.” With a big grin on my face, I said, “Don’t worry, grandma, I will be extra careful.” Grandma said, "Have a nice time, I will be sitting on the back porch waiting for you to return." As I walked towards the back door, grandma gave me a small brown bag of blueberries for the swan. I grinned and politely asked, "Grandma, why are we giving the swan blueberries?" She said, “Well, one day, I was eating them by the lake, and the swan came up to the edge of the lake. As soon as I put one of the blueberries on the ground, the swan picked it up and flapped its beautiful wings. Amira, when the swan comes out of the water, place the berries onto the ground so that it may eat them. The swan will like these for sure.”

Chapter Two

Amira and Sasha are together at the lake. She is happy to finally see the swan and is surprised to see a shiny object around Sasha's neck.

Backyard Adventures

Once I started strolling down the grassy hill, I could feel the heat from the sun beating softly on my face like a drum. Today was a beautiful day to be outdoors. I heard a delightful sound of a “Morning Dove” in the sugar maple tree next to grandma’s garage. The echo of the dove was lovely, as it was sweet music to my eardrums. I could see that it rained last night, as there were two large puddles of water next to grandma’s van, and the rain filled the garden. I skipped over to her garden and noticed about fifty big, red,

juicy

tomatoes and bell peppers near the basement window. My grandmother loves tomatoes and uses them in most meals she prepares for dinner. Just thinking about her tasty home-style beef stew, I could hardly wait to eat dinner this evening. 24

Grandma said, "Tomatoes are very healthy to eat." While walking, I started feeling a bit anxious, mainly because I was getting ready to experience something I had never seen before. After wiping off a small dirt stain on my left sneaker, I looked up, and all of a sudden, I caught a glimpse of a big object in the sparkly water. The sun glowed brightly in my eyes, so it was difficult for me to see what was in the water. I turned my head to the right for one or two seconds, so that the glare from the sun could disappear from my eyes. When I turned my head back toward the water, I was amazed. It was the most beautiful bird I'd ever seen. The nervousness that I felt quickly resolved. The bird that I was gazing at was the big white swan that my grandmother told me about. It sat gracefully at the edge of the lake with its long neck in an upright position as if it was posing to have its photo taken. 25

As I walked closer, I could see the swan’s orange beak. Oh!….How stunning the swan looked! It was more beautiful than any swan that I had seen in the books at school. I remembered what grandma said, “Don’t walk too close to the edge of the lake.” I made sure that I was extra careful. I quickly sat down on an old orange bench near the lake, and I stared at the swan as if I was in a daze. Suddenly, the swan flapped both of its wings. It could spread its beautiful white feathered wings apart so fast, and I was amazed at the speed and width of the swan. I remembered the small brown bag of berries grandma gave me for the swan. I took it out of the pink duffle bag strapped around my back. I walked a bit closer to the swan and poured the berries onto the ground, then waited to see if the swan would come over to eat them. I tip-toed back over to the old bench, sat down, and waited to see what would occur. After about five minutes, the swan came out of the water and slowly 26

wobbled towards the berries. Wow!... The swan was a wonderful sight to see! My heart began pounding as if I were in trouble for doing something naughty. Suddenly, sweat began dripping down my face, and I was nervous all over again. I started thinking good thoughts, and I imagined the swan filling its belly with delicious berries. These thoughts allowed me to feel less anxious. My heart stopped pounding, and the sweat stopped trickling down my face. The swan extended its long neck to the ground to eat the berries. I could see the swan’s neck going up and down, enjoying the berries. The swan looked up at me and stared. I was gazing into the lovely eyes of the big white swan. There was a connection between us then I noticed a silver tag around its neck; in small black letters, it read, “SASHA THE SWAN.” My skin puckered up, and I felt small goosebumps on my arms.

28 `

I only felt bumps in the past when the weather was freezing. Today, the temperature was warm, the sun was shining brightly, and the bumps were not due to it being cold outside. I felt goosebumps because the swan I had heard so much about had an identity. Sasha The Swan was a beautiful name. I was thrilled to be in her presence. I couldn’t imagine a swan having a name, but she really does, and that was amazing to me. Wow! I’m so excited about Sasha eating all of the berries, and I can’t wait to tell grandma the good news! I locked eyes with the swan once again, and I said, “Hello Sasha, I hope you liked the delicious berries as much as I do.” Sasha flapped her wings fast and wide, as she did in the water. She turned around and wobbled back slowly towards the lake. I was speechless. When Sasha flapped her wings, I thought that was her way of letting me know the berries were yummy. I wish I had more to give her, but my bag was empty. 30

Chapter Three

Dinner time is not just for eating, It's time for good conversations with people you care about.

No Worries In The World As I walked toward grandma’s house, I stopped and turned my head towards the lake. It was there I saw Sasha standing gracefully in the sparkly water with her head held high as if she didn't have a worry in the world. Sasha was peaceful yet exciting! The beauty of her appearance was impressive, and it included a large body, a long curved neck, and big feet. The sun flickered from her body as her wings moved creatively. I remember learning about a swan's intelligence, devotion, and protective skills from my science teacher. I arrived back at grandma’s house, and she was waiting for me in the backyard. She was gathering a few tomatoes from her garden for dinner tonight. She asked, “How was your journey to the lake?” I replied, “It was wonderful!” I ran up to grandma, gave her a big hug, and said, “Grandma, did you know that the big swan has a name?” 32

Grandma said, “No, I didn’t know that. Tell me more about your experience, and how did you learn that the swan has a name?” I explained everything to her about the name tag around Sasha’s long neck and the name "Sasha The Swan" printed on the tag. She said, "I'm so surprised the swan has a name. Did you give Sasha the berries?" I replied, “Yes, I did, and Sasha ate every bit of them.” I even told her how Sasha flapped her wings, which was a sign of letting me know that the berries were tasty. Grandma was so happy that I enjoyed my time at the lake. I picked up the green basket and brought the tomatoes inside the house for grandma. As we walked toward the kitchen, I was distracted by the yummy food cooking on the stove. Grandma was not only preparing my favorite beef stew but there was cornbread and a sweet potato pie baking in the oven. Oh my goodness!! The house had a delicious smell, and I could feel the hunger pain rising within my belly.

ions by Am t a m ir ira f f A

Today, I will treat people in a way that I would like to be treated.

The aroma reminded me of this small restaurant near my home. I could hardly wait for the food to get done. It was a Saturday afternoon, and my parents would be picking me up in the morning to take me home. I didn’t want the day to end. I was having so much fun spending precious time with my grandma. I enjoyed it. She and I sat down at the table to eat dinner around 5:00 p.m. The food was nicely arranged on the table, and it looked so good! The beef stew was bubbling in a pot, with pieces of meat, potatoes, peas, carrots, and tomatoes floating in the thick red sauce. The cornbread was golden brown with a light clear buttery glaze on top. Grandma and I held hands as she prayed and blessed our meal. She poured beef stew into two country bowls, and they had beautiful blue jay birds printed on them. I carefully sliced four small pieces of cornbread with a butter knife, and I placed them on a small blue decorative dish. Grandma and I had a great time talking and eating the yummy food. Grandma asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I replied, “I want to be a lawyer.” Grandma said, “Sweetheart, that is wonderful. 36

You can attain any career you have a passion for; you just need to keep a positive mindset.” She then said, “Hold onto your goals and don’t ever lose sight of them. If anyone ever tells you that you are not good enough to be a lawyer, respond to them by saying, your opinion of me doesn’t define my future.” Lastly, she reminded me to keep up the excellent work in school and shared that I would be the best lawyer in Rochester, New York. I appreciated talking to grandma. She is a clever woman, and she supports my goals. She loves me dearly, and I love her more!

Chapter Four

Grandma teaches Amira the importance of loving herself, and she explains to Amira that swans can express love as well.

Let’s talk about love As I was gazing at the beautiful country-style decor on the walls in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice a large gold frame hanging on the wall near the left side of the fireplace. Inside the frame, it read, “Being able to love yourself first is the highest order of love.” I didn’t know exactly what that meant, so I asked grandma if she could explain it to me, and she said, “It means in order for someone to show love to someone else, they first need to love who they are." I giggled and said, “Well, grandma, I must really love myself; if I didn’t love myself, how could I feel admiration for Sasha, the swan.” Grandma giggled and said, “You are right, darling; you do love yourself, and everyone who knows you can sense it. When you serve food to the people at the homeless shelter, and when you visit the sick children and read to them at the hospital, that is a passionate act of showing love towards people.

ions by Am t a m ir ira f f A

Being kind does not cost me anything, and that is what I strive to be.

It would be challenging for someone to express love to other people if that person doesn’t possess self-love.” I said, "Thank you, grandma, for putting the words on your wall. I finally understand what the words mean." She smiled and said, “You’re welcome, darling, but Amira..." I said, "Yes, grandma." She replied, "Did you know swans usually remain with their mates for life?" I said, "Grandma, what do you mean?" Grandma said, "Well, Amira, I heard some time ago that swans grieve, and when a swan is separated from its mate, it is likely that the swan that was left alone will not search for another mate." I was so surprised to hear that swans are loyal birds. Grandma had a piece of white paper with red writing in her hand. She invited me to sit next to her on the couch, 42

so I came closer to give her my undivided attention. I learned that big fancy word from her (giggling). She went on to state that… An adult female swan can weigh approximately 22 lbs. A swan can live up to 25 years. A swan can fly up to 80 miles per hour. Swans can hear and see things very well. They are very smart.

My grandma is a wise woman, and I was surprised that she shared similar information as my science teacher. She said, “You can keep the paper with the details so that you can let your friends know about the things you’ve learned."

I looked at

grandma with a big smile, and she smiled back at me. Suddenly, I put my hand over my mouth and let out a huge yawn as I felt myself getting sleepy. Grandma and I talked about so many topics that I didn’t realize how late it had gotten. I took the yummy leftover pie into the kitchen while grandma picked up the crumbs I dropped onto the sofa.

ions by Am t a m ir ira f f A

I will cherish my friends, family and other relationships.

I peeked at her from the kitchen with my hand holding tightly onto the corner of the wall, and I said, “Sorry, grandma, for spilling the crumbs onto the sofa.” With a giggle, grandma said, “No worries, you just have to pick up after me whenever I make a mess.” I laughed and said, “You’ve got a deal, grandma!" I came back into the living room, and I said, “We can go to bed now, grandma. I’m pretty tired.” She said, “That sounds like a good idea, as I can hardly keep my eyelids open,” Then she put her hand over her mouth and yawned. As I was heading upstairs, I glanced outside of the window and into the giant dark sky. I couldn’t help but notice the stunning full moon. I smiled and started thinking about my day at the lake with Sasha.

Chapter Five

It's family time at the lake and Amira, will receive a special surprise from grandma. The special surprise will cause her to have happy tears.

ions by Am t a m ir ira f f A

Every time I smile, it makes the pitter-patter of my heart stronger.

Family Time After entering the bedroom, I kneeled next to the bed and said my prayers. I took my shower and then jumped in the bed, and the pillows felt super soft and fluffy against my face. Grandma told me that this bed used to belong to my dad when he was a teenager, and I felt honored to be sleeping in the same bed. Once again, I started thinking about Sasha, wondering what she was doing and if she was safe in the dark, cool water. I put my hands over my mouth and let out another big yawn; boy, was I tired and sleepy. I was awakened by soft voices coming from downstairs. I glanced over at the gold clock mounted on the wall, and it was 8:00 a.m. I quickly got dressed so I could go downstairs. I love the color pink, so I decided to wear my pink and white outfit and sneakers.

Lastly, I rubbed coconut oil in my hair. I

love the smell of coconut oil, and grandma puts it in her hair as well. 49

I walked quietly down the stairs because I wanted to surprise my parents. As I was carefully stepping down onto each step, I could smell breakfast cooking in the kitchen. I could also taste the delicious maple syrup, then my mouth began to water. My stomach started growling like a lion (giggling). I knew for certain that grandma

was

making

favorite

breakfast;

buttermilk, blueberry, and banana pancakes! They are all so yummy! I can’t wait to see which one she is cooking this morning. Then again, it really doesn’t matter, as I love to eat them all! I peeked around the corner of the stairway, and as soon as I looked into the kitchen, my mom looked in my direction. We both smiled at the same time. “Mommy and daddy, I’m so glad to see you.” My dad walked toward me and gave me a big kiss on my forehead. Grandma was standing at the stove flipping the fluffy pancakes back and forth in a black cast-iron pan. My mom said, “How are you doing, Amira?” Dad said, “Did you have fun hanging out with your grandma?” 50

I replied, “I’m doing pretty good, and of course, I had a blast with grandma!” I couldn’t wait to tell them about my visit to the lake. Mom asked, “Did you get a chance to see the big white swan?” I replied, “I’m so glad you asked; I enjoyed visiting the swan. Dad, did you know the swan has a name, and it is Sasha?" "Sasha," dad replied... "How do you know the swan has a name." I exclaimed, "Well, dad, while visiting the swan, I noticed a silver tag around the swan’s neck, and it read Sasha the Swan!" Mom said, “Wow, that’s a pretty name.” In excitement, I yelled, "Mom...dad, can we walk down to the lake to see Sasha before heading back home?" Dad said, “Yes, I would love to see the beautiful swan." Grandma said, “Sweetheart, I made your favorite banana pancakes.” My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and I smiled and said, “Grandma, thanks for always thinking of me when you are making breakfast.” 52

ions by Am t a m ir ira f f A

I will be careful to not judge anyone for their actions, as I am not walking in their shoes.

You are the best grandma a girl can have! My plate had a short stack of pancakes with maple syrup drizzled all over them, and there were about six thin slices of bananas on the top pancake. Grandma said, “Sweetheart, here’s your milk.” Thanks, grandma! The milk was cold as ice, and it quenched my thirst. My breakfast was really delicious, and I ate every bit of it. After drinking my milk, I told my parents that I was ready to see Sasha down at the lake. My mom said, “Well, show us the way!” My dad asked grandma if she wanted to come along with us, and she said, “I think I’ll stay right here so that I can finish working on my puzzle.” Grandma loves puzzles. When she puts them together, she usually puts them in a frame and then hangs them on the wall inside her bedroom. Grandma has about nine framed puzzles of an elephant, lion, bear, tiger, rhino, cheetah, zebra, antelope, and a giraffe. She loves animals so much. 54

Every time I go into her bedroom, it feels like I’m on a safari (giggling). As we were heading towards the back door, grandma gave me a brown bag of blueberries for Sasha. I smiled at her and said thank you! Grandma said, “My pleasure!” My parents and I started walking down the grassy hill. Mom and dad were very excited to be able to finally see Sasha. My dad asked, “Amira, where is she? Where is Sasha the swan?” I looked around, but I didn’t see her. The water was sparkly, just like when I came to the lake yesterday, and the water was pretty as a picture. Suddenly, my mom said, “She is simply beautiful.” I quickly turned around to see what she was looking at, and just like that, Sasha was at the edge of the lake. She was more beautiful than when I saw her the first time. My dad just stared at her and said nothing at all. Sasha sat elegantly in the water with her neck held straight up, and her beautiful white feathers were white as snow. 55

I remembered the bag of blueberries that grandma gave me, and I said, "Dad, did you know that swans eat berries? Just walk closer to the lake and place the berries on the ground." My dad took the berries and poured them onto the ground next to the honeysuckle tree. We waited to see if Sasha noticed the berries, then Sasha gracefully stepped out of the water within a couple of minutes and wobbled towards the berries. She began to eat them. Mom whispered, “I can’t believe she's eating them. She must have been hungry.” Sasha gazed toward us as if she heard what my mom whispered, and she immediately flapped both of her wings in a fast motion. Sasha turned around and gracefully wobbled back slowly towards the lake. My dad said, “Sasha is one of God’s beautiful creations, and he made her perfectly.” My mom sat on the old orange bench, videotaping Sasha with her cell phone. I told my parents that it was her way of saying thanks for breakfast whenever Sasha flapped her wings after eating. 56

My mom said, “Why do you think she was saying thanks?” I replied, “After I fed her berries yesterday, she flapped her wings in the same way.” Sasha made it back into the water, and we watched her swim gracefully toward' the middle of the lake. She sat in the deep sparkly water with her neck held straight up; wings relaxed on her sides as she gazed into the distance. There were no other birds in the water with Sasha, and I felt sad for her. I remembered grandma's story about swans not wanting another mate if they became separated from their mate, and I wondered if Sasha was separated from her mate. I began to feel very unhappy for her, and a tear dropped down my cheek. My dad asked, “Are you okay, Amira?” I replied, “No.'' I began to tell my parents about the story grandma told me. 58

Then my mom said, “If Sasha’s mate is no longer with her and she is living alone, then she is at peace now.” At first, I was hesitant, but then I said, "Oh, mom, how do you know Sasha is at peace?" She said, “Do you see how the water is sparkling?” I said, “Yes, mom.” She said, “It is sparkling because Sasha’s heart is smiling, which means she is happy. Sasha flapped her wings to let you know she was thankful for the berries. When she is happy, the water knows it and shines brightly." As I watched Sasha in the water, the sadness I felt for her was gone. Thanks to my mom for showing me that Sasha is happy. My parents and I headed back to grandma’s house. I was walking in the middle of them, and the three of us held hands. When we arrived at the house, grandma stood on the back porch. 60

Sasha The Swan

She looked so beautiful as she was wearing a pretty white sundress, with her hair tied neatly in a pinnedup ponytail. She was smiling as we walked toward her. Grandma asked, “How was your visit to the lake?” Mom said, “We had a wonderful time, and we were glad we had the opportunity to finally see Sasha." Dad said, “Yes, we are glad, but it’s about that time for us to return home.” I began to feel a bit sad because I had a wonderful weekend with grandma, and I had fun spending time with Sasha. I didn’t want the weekend to end just yet. Grandma held my hand and said, “Darling, there’s no need to feel sad. You are always welcome to come back and spend the weekend with me. I promise I will take some berries to Sasha every weekend until you return." I gave her a big hug and kiss. I said, "Grandma, you're so thoughtful and awesome. Thank you for teaching me about the meaning of love and for being my grandma." 62

I noticed a gift on the table, and it was in pretty pink wrapping paper with a big white bow attached. Grandma said, “I have something that I would like to give you.” She picked up the gift and handed it to me. Surprisingly I asked, “Is this for me, grandma?” "Yes!" She replied. I enjoy receiving gifts, but I wasn’t expecting to receive anything from grandma. I quickly tore open the gift wrap. I looked up at my parents and grandma; they were smiling at me. I looked back down at the gift, and my eyes filled with tears of joy. The gift was a large puzzle of a beautiful white swan. It was completely put together and arranged nicely in a silver frame. The swan had a silver name tag around its neck. Also, at the edge of the puzzle, it read,

“Being able to love yourself first is the highest order of love, ~Sasha.”

This was the best gift that I had ever received. I asked grandma, “When did you have the time to work on such a large puzzle?” Grandma said, “I worked on it every night after you went to bed.” She told us that she really wanted to go to the lake with us today, but she needed to finish the puzzle, and that is what she was doing while we were gone. I smiled and thanked her for the precious gift, and I told her that I was going to hang it on my bedroom wall so that it would remind me of Sasha the Swan. I ran inside the house to grab my duffle bag, and when I came back outside, my parents were already in the car. Grandma was sitting on her favorite brown recliner chair on the porch, and she was sipping on a cool glass of lemonade. As I looked at grandma, she said, “Amira, I saw you gazing at the moon through the window last night. Whenever you see the moon and the stars in the sky, always remember that both the moon and the bright twinkling stars provide light to Sasha, 65

so that she can see her way around as she sits and swims in the dark, cool lake." I squeezed grandma tightly as I hugged her, and the fragrance of her perfume was a delightful smell to my nose. I said, “I love you, grandma.” She smiled while looking at me and said, “I know you love me, sweetie, and I love you more.” As I ran to my dad’s car, I turned back to look at grandma. She rubbed her hazel eyes as if she was shedding tears. I shouted, “Grandma, I’ll be back soon!” She replied, “Ok, babe, Sasha and I will be waiting for you!”

The End

Sasha The Swan Interactive Guide Coloring- Word search - Mazes

Color Grandma's house

Color the diamonds according to their numbers

Create your very own swan by adding all of your favorite colors

Sasha The Swan had a necklace. Can you draw it again and then color your picture?

There were flowers surrounding the lake. Can you color this flower to match the one in the story?

All kinds of swans exist. Have fun coloring the swan while studying the facts.

An adult female swan can weigh approximately 22 lbs. A swan can live up to 25 years. A swan can fly up to 80 miles per hour. Swans are very smart, they can hear and see things very well.

Mazes Help Amira find her way to Sasha

Start Here

End Here

Start Here

End Here

Start Here

End Here

Start Here

End Here

Circling Sasha

LIFE MOM DAD VACATION

BLUE SWAN SCIENCE

WISDOM WINGS FRIENDS WATER

HAPPY MOMENTS

ADVENTURE GARDEN LAUGHTER

CHANGE HOPEFUL SASHA

FAMILY FIRST LANDSCAPE SPRINGTIME

Tasty Foods

BREAKFAST FOOD LUNCH SAUCE

BUTTER FRUIT MEAL TOMATOES

DINNER GRACE PANCAKES VEGETABLES

Explore with Colors

BLACK CREAM ORANGE RED

BLUE GOLDEN PINK WHITE

BROWN GREEN PURPLE YELLOW

Seasons With Sasha

FALL LIGHT SUMMER WINTER

ICE RAIN SUNNY

LEAVES SPRING WINDY

Journal with Amira

List of Affirmations 1.) I will make an effort to do something nice for someone today. 2.) Every time I smile, it makes the pitter-patter of my heart stronger. 3.) Being kind does not cost me anything, and that is what I strive to be. 4.) I will treat everyone with respect, no matter who they are. 5.) Today, I will treat people in a way that I would like to be treated. 6.) I will cherish my friends, family and other relationships. 7.) I was created by God to love, and I am committed to showing acts of kindness. 8.) I will be careful to not judge anyone for their actions, as I am not walking in their shoes.

Journal with Amira