I would like to acknowledge all those who helped to bring this little story to fruition. In September of this year, 2004, Scott and I visited our daughter, Sandra Orrock Marquez, and her family in Madison, Wisconsin for a couple of weeks. Just as we were leaving, Sandra said, "Mom, do you remember the story about the elf you used to tell us?" I told her I did, vaguely. Our granddaughter Emily (12 years old), spoke up and said, “I loved that story." Sandra had told it to her when she was little. Sandra then spoke to me in her "You must do this, Mother,” voice. "I want you to go home and write up that story for your grandchildren!" And so I did. Only two of our girls, Sandra and Kristen, remembered my telling the story. Kristen has a little boy named Ben. The names Ben and Emily stuck with me for my little story. My computer had to listen to the story told over and over again. Realizing I needed more help, I gave a copy of The Elf to my dear friend, Ann Wing. She has written children's stories. She gave suggestions to add more detail to Cat and the fairies. Her suggestions gave more life to the story. After I read the first paragraph to Lynne Orrock LeBaron over the phone, she said, “How old are Ben, Emily and Elf? What do Emily and Ben look like?" I'm grateful for Lynne's practical approach. Kristen suggested having the grandchildren who are between the ages of seven and ten years old illustrate the story. Our illustrators are: Jacob Stephan (9 years old), Malarie Orrock (9 years old), Jared Justice (10 years old), Joseph Justice (8 years old), Bryan Brittain (10 years old), Hunter Brittain (8 years old), Andrew Marquez (9 years old), and Jonathon Marquez (7 years old). Kristen Orrock Brittain offered to edit the punctuation and spelling and put the pictures with the story. What a project! All the mothers of the children were "under the gun," so to speak, to get the pictures to Kristen a.s.a.p. Thanks!!! to all those grandchildren (and their mothers)! Lana Orrock Putman, having just finished her huge, several-years-long project of getting her doctorate as a school psychologist, was visiting Kristen before leaving for Alaska, where she is completing her internship. She gave Kristen some invaluable tips on the computer to make the fitting of pictures and text work. Kristen said, "She saved me hours.” The suggestions continued to come in to me after the story was completed. It was decided to tell the story on CD. I was invited to Jon and Susan's home where they set me up in their office; a tiny microphone was clipped to my blouse, a tiny CD was set up to catch my little story, and water was at hand to quench my dry mouth as I read. Jon and Susan Orrock White said they would copy the CD’s; however, realizing the time and effort that would take and wanting the best recording possible, they took the mini CD to a man by the name of Dan Whitley to copy the 30 CD’s for distribution throughout the family. (In the end, it turned into 100 CD’s!) Dan Whitley — what a wonderful, sweet, and talented man. He was just going to copy the CD’s as usual, and then he said he made the mistake of listening to my little story. He has been so supportive and kind. He asked Jon and Susan if he could put music and sound effects on the CD’s. The OH, SO generous Whites approved the project. In addition to this, Susan spent hours working with Dan. Both Susan and Jon have been willing to listen twice to the story to correct sounds and make suggestions. Nate Mathews took time out from his day off and drove to American Fork to take pictures of me reading to our darling great-grandchildren, Hayden, Abbey, and Bastien LeBaron and Annebel Mathews for the back cover of the CD. He then went home so he could enhance the pictures on his computer. There went his day off! Jen White, David's wife, heard me tell about the story and said she would like to illustrate it. It was a casual remark, but I didn't forget it. I asked her to illustrate the front cover of the book for me. We all love it! Oh, wait! David White felt he could improve the drawing with his expertise on the computer. He made the adjustments and said it was fun to do. Thanks David! Thanks to everyone that helped on this project....AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.....HO, HO, HO! Love from, Dawn, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma Orrock THANKS TO ALL