Reading with Grandma Shirley

This is Becca reading a story with her Great-Grandmother "Grandma Shirley" and Braden. This was taken last summer at our family reunion in Island Park.

Becca *ALWAYS* had a real interest in reading. She loved to read books, and taught herself to read - even though she was a long way from Kindergarten. Before she died, she and Brenda started reading "Frog and Toad All Year" - which is listed as a 2.4 grade level equivalent. She wouldn't read all the pages...the two of them would trade off pages.

She never got to finish that book. We put it in the coffin with her - and Brenda and Becca are going to finish it later together.

Becca missed the cut-off for school by just a couple of weeks - so she was still a year and a half away from going to Kindergarten. She was SO excited to go.

Rachel also loved reading - and one of the favorite things that I would do with her (and Becca) was to sit on the couch after dinner and have them bring me books to read to them. Neither one of them really had a "favorite" book - they would keep bringing different ones.

I miss having a little girl sit on my lap for me to read them a story. I'm glad for friends and family members that will lend me their daughters occasionally to read to them. (Thanks Jenny!)

I'm a bit sad today to think about what could have been accomplished by such a bright and intelligent little girl. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair that someone so smart would have to leave so early. However, I know that knowledge is one of the few things that we get to take with us into the next life - along with our family - and that we will never stop increasing in knowledge. I'm proud of my girls - I love them so much - and I can't WAIT to be with them again and help to teach them.

Hopefully, I'll be able to teach them at least *half* as much as they have taught me this past month.