Through the Year with Johnny and Brenna Written by Mandy V. Bendt, Photographs by Randall P. Bendt, Doll designs by Valerie L. Bendt
Through the Year with Johnny and Brenna Written by Mandy V. Bendt Photographs by Randall P. Bendt Doll designs by Valerie L. Bendt
Text Copyright 2003, Mandy V. Bendt Photo Copyright 2003, Randall P. Bendt Doll Design Copyright 2003, Valerie L. Bendt
Through the Year with Johnny and Brenna Bendt Family Ministries
I dedicate this book to my brother, Randall and my mom for helping me with this book; I also dedicate this book to my two friends Johnny and Brenna whom I modeled the characters after. M.V.B. I dedicate this book to my mother and my sister, Mandy. R.P.B. I dedicate the dolls in this book to my children, Mandy and Randall, and I also dedicate the dolls to Johnny and Brenna Maio. V.L.B.
The Missing Seeds One spring morning shortly after breakfast, Johnny and Brenna went to the shed to get hoes, shovels, and seeds. They were going to plant Mama s vegetable garden on the family s small plot of land. 1
Gee wilikers, these hoes sure are heavy, Sis! said Johnny as he panted to keep alongside his sister. Here, you can drop them now, Johnny, said Brenna kindly. Johnny sighed as he dropped the heavy garden tools on the soft brown soil. 2
Soon they were busy. They dug holes in the neatly plowed earth with the shovels they brought from the shed. Then Brenna dropped the little seeds into the holes. They covered the seeds with dirt. 3
Together they worked until they reached the last row where Johnny said Mama wanted her turnips planted. Sis, where are those turnip seeds I told you to bring? asked Johnny. I don t know, Johnny, I thought you had them, she replied. Well, they re not in my pockets, he said as he rummaged in his work overalls. Check your pocket, Sis, he called out as he headed toward the shed. No, they re not in my pocket, said Brenna. 4
Johnny nodded his head, and a brown paper packet with the word Seeds printed on it, fell from his straw hat. Look! The seeds! cried Brenna happily. 5
Johnny stooped down and picked up the packet. Yes, here they are! he said tossing his hat up in the air and letting out a loud whoop for joy. Let s get busy! called Brenna. Together they dug holes, dropped in the turnip seeds, and covered them with dirt. 6
Soon the sun was high in the sky. With a final pat to the last hole, Brenna said, Look, it s lunch time! And I m ready for it! said Johnny. Together they walked toward the house just as Mama came to call them to lunch. 7
The Missing Cookies One summer morning shortly after breakfast, Johnny and Brenna went on a picnic. They rode their bicycles down to the lake. In their picnic basket they brought a watermelon, lemonade, bread and butter, and cookies for dessert. of her. This surely is a good day for a picnic, Sis, said Johnny as he pedaled ahead Umm hmm, she said dreamily. 8
Soon they reached their favorite picnic spot by the lake. Let s play now and eat later, suggested Johnny as he and his sister arranged the food on the checkered tablecloth beneath a shady tree. 9
All right. Let s go wading first, suggested Brenna. Johnny agreed, and soon they were splashing in the cool water. After awhile Brenna hopped out and pulled on her shoes and socks. 10
She looked on the tablecloth to see that everything was ready. She burst into tears because the cookies were gone! Oh, Johnny! she said sadly. He came quickly, and when he heard the story he said soothingly, Well Sis, I just spotted a hundred ants carrying bits and pieces of your cookies to the ant hill. So you see, they were just hungry to taste your good cooking. Oh, but I still want dessert to go along with the bread and butter and watermelon, she complained. Let s go on a walk, Sis, said Johnny trying to help her forget about the cookies. All right, Johnny, she said sniffling. Johnny handed her his handkerchief. 11
While on their walk, they found a patch full of plump, juicy, ripe strawberries! Oh, look! called Brenna joyfully, and together she and Johnny picked as many berries as they could hold. Hey, Brenna, said Johnny, Maybe Mama will help us make a strawberry shortcake. Yes, so we will get our dessert after all! she squealed. 12
They walked back to the lake and ate their picnic lunch. 13
When they finished their picnic, they cleaned up their mess, and rode home. 14
The Missing Nuts One fall morning shortly after breakfast, Johnny and Brenna, with baskets in their hands, went to gather chestnuts for Mama s Thanksgiving stuffing. In one basket they carried a picnic lunch. Umm, I can smell that stuffing right now! said Johnny as he swung his basket in the air. 15
So can I! said Brenna skipping through the multi-colored leaves that crunched under the toes of her new black boots. Oh, how lovely fall is! thought Brenna as she began filling her basket with chestnuts. 16
After half an hour or so of picking, the children sat down to eat their lunch under a nearby maple tree. 17
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After eating they returned to their nut basket and found that half of their nuts were missing! Now who could have taken those nuts without our noticing? said Brenna. I don t know, Sis, said Johnny. Now, we won t have stuffing! That s Papa s favorite! cried Brenna tearfully. Her brother handed her his handkerchief, and she blew her nose and wiped her eyes. 19
Suddenly something small and hard hit Johnny on the head. Ouch! he said. Then more fell and Johnny looked up, Well, what do you know? A fat gray squirrel sat on a tree limb spitting nuts out of its bulging cheeks onto Johnny s head. Look, Sis! he said pointing to the little rascal. A squirrel! she said surprised at the ball of gray fluff pelting her brother with chestnuts. 20
So Johnny and Brenna took their basket, held it underneath the tree, and caught the falling nuts. Then they went home to help Mama make the stuffing. 21
The Missing Scarf One winter morning shortly after breakfast, Johnny put on his coat, cap, and scarf. Brenna put on her little red cape and hood. Then they ran out to play in the snow. 22
Johnny, let s make a snowman! said Brenna happily. Together they rolled three large snowballs for the snowman s head, tummy, and bottom. 23
They dressed up the snowman with a scarf, button eyes from Brenna s little heart box, a carrot for a nose, and an old pair of earmuffs. 24
The children went home for lunch. After lunch they went out to try their new sleigh with its fine shiny runners. Brenna put on her wraps while Johnny hitched Star, their pony, to the sleigh. They had a lovely sleigh ride. 25
Then Brenna said, Johnny, you re not wearing your scarf! I am too! he said. He opened his coat, but there was no scarf wrapped around his neck. Did you leave it in the house? asked Brenna clapping her hands together to keep warm. No, I don t think so, said Johnny a little bit worried. Brenna and Johnny thought of all the places Johnny could have left his scarf. Brenna shouted, That s it! 26
What s it, Sis? asked Johnny a little puzzled. There! On Mr. Snowman! called Brenna pointing at the snowman. You re right, Sis! cried Johnny happily, and he untied the scarf and tied it around his own neck. Brenna said sadly, Poor, Mr. Snowman. He ll be all cold now. No, he won t, Sis! said Johnny. He won t? How come? asked Brenna. 27
Maybe Mama has some scraps left over from making my scarf in the ragbag, said Johnny. Maybe she ll let us use them. Oh, goodie! squealed Brenna. Let s go see. Brenna and Johnny hopped in the sleigh and started homeward. 28
Join Johnny and Brenna in their adventures throughout the four seasons! Mandy, Randall, & their mom, Valerie, worked together to make this book.