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“Didn't you have any sadistic nannies who told you these tales to keep you quiet and well behaved at night? Heavens, what's to become of the Empire if governesses have lost their touch for scaring the wits out of their girls?”
― Libba Bray, A Great and Terrible Beauty

“The stories we are told as children do, undoubtedly, mark us for life. They are often stories of dark and terrible things, and we are usually told them just before the lights are turned out and we are left alone; but we love them. We love them when we first hear them, and even when we are grown, and think we have forgotten them entirely, they never lose their power over us.”
― Neil Bartlett, Skin Lane

“In the deep woods of the far North, under feathery leaves of fern, was a great fairyland of merry elves, sometimes called forest brownies.

These elves lived joyfully. They had everything at hand and did not need to worry much about living. Berries and nuts grew plentiful in the forest. Rivers and springs provided the elves with crystal water. Flowers prepared them drink from their flavorful juices, which the munchkins loved greatly.
At midnight the elves climbed into flower cups and drank drops of their sweet water with much delight. Every elf would tell a wonderful fairy tale to the flower to thank it for the treat.

Despite this abundance, the pixies did not sit back and do nothing. They tinkered with their tasks all day long. They cleaned their houses. They swung on tree branches and swam in forested streams. Together with the early birds, they welcomed the sunrise, listened to the thunder growling, the whispering of leaves and blades of grass, and the conversations of the animals.
The birds told them about warm countries, sunbeams whispered of distant seas, and the moon spoke of treasures hidden deeply in the earth.

In winter, the elves lived in abandoned nests and hollows. Every sunny day they came out of their burrows and made the forest ring with their happy shouts, throwing tiny snowballs in all directions and building snowmen as small as the pinky finger of a little girl. The munchkins thought they were giants five times as large as them.

With the first breath of spring, the elves left their winter residences and moved to the cups of the snowdrop flowers. Looking around, they watched the snow as it turned black and melted. They kept an eye on the blossoming of hazel trees while the leaves were still sleeping in their warm buds. They observed squirrels moving their last winter supplies from storage back to their homes. Gnomes welcomed the birds coming back to their old nests, where the elves lived during winters. Little by little, the forest once more grew green.
One moonlight night, elves were sitting at an old willow tree and listening to mermaids singing about their underwater kingdom.
“Brothers! Where is Murzilka? He has not been around for a long time!� said one of the elves, Father Beardie, who had a long white beard. He was older than others and well respected in his striped stocking cap.
“I’m here,� a snotty voice arose, and Murzilka himself, nicknamed Feather Head, jumped from the top of the tree. All the brothers loved Murzilka, but thought he was lazy, as he actually was. Also, he loved to dress in a tailcoat, tall black hat, boots with narrow toes, a cane and a single eyeglass, being very proud of that look.
“Do you know where I’m coming from? The very Arctic Ocean!� roared he.
Usually, his words were hard to believe. That time, though, his announcement sounded so marvelous that all elves around him were agape with wonder.
“You were there, really? Were you? How did you get there?� asked the sprites.
“As easy as ABC! I came by the fox one day and caught her packing her things to visit her cousin, a silver fox who lives by the Arctic Ocean.
“Take me with you,� I said to the fox.
“Oh, no, you’ll freeze there! You know, it’s cold there!� she said.
“Come on.� I said. “What are you talking about? What cold? Summer is here.�
“Here we have summer, but there they have winter,� she answered.
“No,� I thought. “She must be lying because she does not want to give me a ride.�
Without telling her a word, I jumped upon her back and hid in her bushy fur, so even Father Frost could not find me.
Like it or not, she had to take me with her.
We ran for a long time. Another forest followed our woods, and then a boundless plain opened, a swamp covered with lichen and moss. Despite the intense heat, it had not entirely thawed.
“This is tundra,� said my fellow traveler.
“Tundra? What is tundra?� asked I.
“Tundra is a huge, forever frozen wetland covering the entire coast of the Arctic Ocean.”
― Anna Khvolson

“Never and never, my girl riding far and near
In the land of the hearthstone tales, and spelled asleep,
Fear or believe that the wolf in a sheepwhite hood,
Loping and bleating roughly and blithely shall leap,
My dear, my dear,
Out of a lair in the flocked leaves in the dew dipped year,
To eat your heart in the house in the rosy wood.”
― Dylan Thomas, In Country Sleep, and Other Poems

“To book your next dream, read before bed...”
― Nanette L. Avery

“A beverage of leisure is a serious business,â€� Shane Bowermaster was known to declare. “There can be no product of pleasure without the inverse on the end of the producer.”
― Jeff Phillips, Whiskey Pike: A Bedtime Story for the Drinking Mankind

“My dreams keep me up at night”
― Ricky Maye, Outsiders: The Story of Success

“Protect us bees,
Don’t burn our hives.
Protect us bees
And spare our lives.
We pollinate trees,
And now you know,
Without us bees,
Some plants won’t grow.”
― Wayne Gerard Trotman, The Last Honey Bee

“The bedtime story is a genius invention. A tiny gift of wonder before you fall asleep.”
― Carolyn Watson Dubisch, Fireflies

“Nobody gets me like paper and pen”
― Lisa Sharpe

“Stories are like islands, go out exploring and you're bound to get lost fantastically.”
― M. Robert Randolph

“Toilet paper unrolled and slithered
then wrapped around my tummy.
That paper tried to roll me up
into an Egyptian mummy.”
― Melinda K. Trotter, Pixie the Night Watch Cat

“He’s very cute and lots of fun
and certainly means you no harm.
But sometimes he acts really silly
and wears a sock on each arm.”
― Marie Blair, Bobby and the Monsters

“To book your next dream, read before bed!”
― Nanette L. Avery

“That inner space where you keep your wishes and dreams is a special place. Your thoughts, no matter how big or small will always be right where you are.”
― Anna Florentina Junker, Shall We Go Adventure?

“Stories have the power to spark wonder, shape young minds, and leave footprints on the heart. I hope my books create a little magic in every child's world."

Renjitha Manish”
― Renjitha Manish, The Rustling Forest: Tiny Tales of Courage, Kindness, and Fun

“I read you guys your bedtime story, go to bed!" my sister shouted as she put water into the
kettle.

"But Mom," a small voice whined. I smirked, ready for what my sister was about to bestow.

"But nothing, you two bet�-"

I interrupted, unable to control myself. "Get back into bed before the monster tries to bite your
ankles!”
― Ottilie Weber, Beneath the Scars

“Now I lay me down to sleep upon my pillow fluffed up so deep my dreams will take me far away to the land all children play when I wake with that new yawn shortly after the new dawn I'll try to have the best day I can until I return to my dream land”
― Stanley Victor Paskavich

“A Book A Day Keeps the Naughty Away...”
― RK Bandi

“Introduction

This book is devoted to the blessed Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Daily working together as unified Godhead for our best interest. Would be incomplete without Jesus direct love bestowed upon me, through a perpetual act of faith in God. Fully trusting Jesus to lead me into a carefully laid-out plan.
Dedicating this book to my children: Faith is 6, Christian 11, Christina 12 years old. Izzabella, my niece, is also featured in the story, Sally Saved Three Times. These Children are the inspiration for the characters in the stories. Added some personal experiences acquired during my childhood.
Appreciate the support of my Mom, Dad, brother, Jacob, for being here for me the last five years. They helped me through hard circumstances when I needed them the most. Thank You!
My second family is at the Erie Wesleyan Methodist Church on the corner of 29th and Liberty. They covered my life with prayer; great friends from the Lord; Supporting me on my journey towards my heavenly home.
I am also thankful for Mike Lawrence who encouraged me to keep writing. Thanks, brother! This spectacular close friend of mine wrote the Forward of this book. He is God-given for moral support and prayer. Friends forever from Erie, Pennsylvania!
There are scripture references, along with Bible lessons featured in each story. These short stories are ideal for devotions or bedtime stories. Suitable for parents and grandparents to read to children, grandchildren.
Forward
It is rare today to find Christians who are in love with doing the Lord's service. Many would sit to the side and let others bush-wack the path, but Bryan has always been the one who delights in making the way clear for others. His determination, commitment to producing these writings was encouraging to watch come to fruition. Take time now see for yourself how God is directing these works to provide something sincere, pure, innocent for families to enjoy. A pleasant respite from a sin-sick world. So, please, feel free to find a quiet place today and enjoy them alone or with your family. This body of work calls upon us to take time to be holy. I believe with all my heart that this is the authors intent, the Lord's plan, my hearts prayer that they bless you as much as they have blessed me. May God bless the time and energies sacrificed by the author in its production. Sincerely in Christ, Michael Lawrence.
When writing with Shirley Dye on messenger about editing the book, she commented that this book would be a blessing to many people. That is my solemn humble prayer.

Short Story Content
1. Mr. B.G. (My Testimony)
2. Trevor Wins Three Times
3. Winning The Man ON
Rock-Hill
4. Sally Saved Three Times
5. Jonathan and Family Find
God
6. Upright and Prideful

Key Text, (Matthew 18:3), “And (Jesus) said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
― Bryan Guras, Kids Following Jesus: One Step At A Time

“Part One

1. Mr. B.G.

(My Testimony)

Mr. B.G. Lived in Erie, Pennsylvania, One of my memories is attending the Mill Creek Baptist Church between the age of 8-10. What I remember most about this church is the way they emphasized working with youth. Occasionally heard preaching before Sunday school. Followed by going downstairs to learn an hour-long Bible Lesson. They invested time with us outside regular church hours; Mr. B.G. And his brother would eat pizza at Sunday school teacher's house. Church even planned an all-night sleepover in the basement one time. Never can forget drinking coffee all night, which caused me to have an energy boost. Followed by overwhelming tiredness the whole evening. Played on tennis tables, among many other events. Thinking back, I did enjoy a church that cared about me at such a young age. Only participated a couple of years then stopped going. Thankful for their kindness to teach me from God's Holy word a way to Jesus for the years attended. John Paul Guras and Mr. B.G. both were blessed to have an excellent Sunday school teacher, Mr. Walt Silman.
After making this choice, I could have traveled the remainder of my eternally bound life not seeking a real, living God. Many times, Holy Spirit was trying to speak to me, Ignorantly avoided influences like church, praying, reading the Holy Bible. Lost in the jailhouse of sinful darkness, with no care in the world to allow Jesus to direct my decisions.
I wanted to lead the helm of my life the way I thought was best. Choosing our selfish way is like shooting an arrow at a target wholly missing the center of the bulls-eye. Doing what pleases me, me, me, leads us astray. Sin leads us to destruction. Jesus alone can change our inward nature to fulfill the center of the Father's will.”
― Bryan Guras

“Mom laughed and said, “It’s just Rocky Plum.â€�
“Who in the world is that?”
― Marie Blair, Bobby and the Monsters

“He hated songs like that, the kinds that should stay in nursery rhymes and bedtime stories. Fee-Fi-Fo-Fumâ€� He was plagued by them.”
― Emory R. Frie, Giant Country

“I wait for her eyes to open like a flower awaits for sun to blossom
Early Morning Bedtime Stories”
― Kshanasurya

“You are BRAVE.
You are strong.
You are safe.
You are loved.”
― Kathleen Davis

“Life is good, but reading a good book makes it great!”
― Prudence Williams Shipman

“Strangers in bed cause your eyes never meet with mine.”
― Serena Deena

“Every day, and every night The Magical One with deep blue feathers flew, gathering flamingos to help her spread the message to the four corners of the entire world.”
― Suzy Davies, The Flamingos Who Painted The Sky

“This lovely tale of a family of sweet peasâ€� bedtime routine is beautifully written, skillfully told, and full of both humor and warmth. Young readers will love this story’s humorous conclusion and caregivers will love reading it to them for the lovely bonding moment that it provides.”
― Louise Jane, CEO The Golden Wizard Book Prize

“This is a wonderful read-together book that might encourage little ones to wash up, and settle down for a cozy bedtime story with their loved ones and caregivers. Beautifully written in rhyme, with bright and vibrant cartoon-like illustrations, this book will become a bedtime favorite for children and adults alike.”
― Reader's Choice Book Awards