The Barb Petersen Fund for Children's Literacy

Yesterday evening was a very special night for us.

C&E had their music program at school - a fun-filled program full of lullabies and rowdy night-time songs.  They got to wear their jammies as costumes and bring a favorite stuffed toy from home as a prop.  They were darling on stage and because they get their height-genes from me, they were a front-row sensation.  The teachers were nice enough to coordinate them standing together so that I didn't even have to move my camera to get shots of both of them.

Willa is never one to be left out of anything. Ever. So she was her own sort of sensation with her bouncy (albeit short) red curls, up on the mats in the very back - jamming and singing along with the big kids.

Afterwards we went out for a treat at Orange Leaf with Gramma Lynn, Papa Bill, Papa Pete, the Morrises (is that right? What is the plural of "Morris"?), and the Kathmanns.

(Notice here that Willa didn't think there was enough room on the orange couch, so went to sit by herself on the white one)

But, as lovely as all of that was, the real reason that last evening was special happened just before the official program began.

The girls attend a wonderful school (Van Buren) and I cannot say enough about the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness of their principal, Mr. Ryan, and the rest of the teachers and staff.

You see, when Barb started her teaching career she started at Van Buren.  And then when she went back to work after staying home with Ian and Jennifer when they were young - she went back to Van Buren.  She eventually went on to work for many years at Hoover, but she started her career - twice - at VB.

A good portion of her memorial fund has gone to creating the Barb Petersen Fund for Children's Literacy.  Barb cared so much for teaching children to read - and for teaching children the joy of reading - that this memorial seemed more than fitting.  This Fund is providing copies of the first and second place Caldecott winning books every year to both Van Buren and Hoover Elementaries.

Last night before the program, Mr. Ryan arranged for Cora and Evaline to present the books to the school.  And, since the books will be added to the regular library circulation, he made a plaque to hang in the library as a lasting tribute to Barb.

It was so touching to have a chance to present this in such a way, and wonderful to have the girls involved in the presentation.  It was a truly special evening for all of us.