The late afternoon sun was giving way to the twilight and in between a golden glow was filling the clouds on the Western horizon. It was a peaceful time on the farm when the work was almost done and everyone’s thoughts were filled with the anticipation of a hot dinner. Laura was five and full of love and life and wonder. Running up to her father, a big man with callused farm hands and a soft heart, Laura nestled her little hand into the confines of his and walked along beside him.
“Where’s heaven Daddy?”
“Well now that’s a big question for a little girl.”
“I’m almost six Daddy.”
“That’s right, I forgot. Well, heaven is up there,” he said pointing to the gorgeous sunset.
“In the clouds?”
“In all that gold up there.”
“Wow. Can I go there?”
“Well not tonight, God willing.”
“Aunt Sarah says you have to die to go to heaven.”
“That’s what I’ve heard too.”
“Can’t you just go and visit and come back?”
“Girl, I don’t make those rules, but I suppose if you had a good enough travel agent.”
“Well, I’m going to go visit heaven and then I’ll come back and tell you all about it.”
“That’d be fine. Can we have a little dinner first?”

The next morning before dawn Laura slipped out of bed and got dressed as quietly as she could. She walked outside and looked toward the West where the sunset had glowed so golden the night before. Sparkles, her dog, stood by her side her tail wagging with a quizzical look on her face.
“Would you like to go for a walk Sparkles?”
Then Laura quietly unlatched the gate that led to the dirt road in front of the house and headed for heaven, Sparkles skipping along beside her.
With the morning sun at her back, Laura walked a bit and then ran a bit and soon came to the base of a small hill that overlooked her farm. She hadn’t brought any food and felt very tired so she decided to lie down in the grass beside the road. Sparkles snuggled up next to her and she fell fast asleep.
And as she drifted off something amazing happened. A beautiful woman with a whitish glow all around her came and stood over Laura.
Laura sat up and asked, “You’re so beautiful. Are you an angel?”
“Thank you,” the woman said “I am an angel. I hear you’re on your way to see heaven.”
“Yes I am!” Laura answered excitedly. “Do you know how to get there?”
“Yes I do. Would you like to see for yourself?”
“Oh, yes. Did you hear that Sparkles? We’re going to see heaven!”
With that, the woman took Laura by the hand and they headed up the hill. Soon they reached the top of the hill and stood looking out over the valley below.
“Hey, I can see our farm!” Laura said. “And there’s Daddy!”
“Do you love your farm?” The angel asked.
“Oh yes, I do. Can’t you see how beautiful it is?”
“Oh yes, I can.”
“Are we still going to heaven?”
“Well, do you know what heaven is like?”
“No, I guess I never thought about it.”
“Do you think there’s a lot of love there?”
“I’m sure.”
“Just like your farm and your family?”
“Yeah, just like that.”
“Well, look down there. Do you think your family loves you?”
“Yes, we tell each other all the time.” “Is heaven like our farm?”
“Just like it.”
“Can I go home now?”
“Of course.”
When Laura awoke her father was running up the road, a look of panic in his face. She sat up and waved to him. Panting and crying all at once her father scooped her up in his arms and exclaimed, “Where have you been child. We’ve been worried sick!”
“I found heaven Daddy,” Laura said, her blue eyes looking deeply into his.
“You’re our heaven child.”
“Yes, and you’re mine,” she said.