Day 1176

Ranger has a special friend…actually two! His dear Sarah, from our Oxbow visits, always has treats at the ready for Ranger Days! This afternoon, Miss Sarah and her amazing daughter, Charlotte, stopped by the front porch to share a book or two. There were also Sarah treats! Two friends + Treats + Books = One Happy Golden! Ranger was beyond excited!

Due to our special friendship, Sarah and Charlotte visit us each summer to share a few books with Ranger. It is a joyful time for me because I am able to visit with our friends and listen to Charlotte’s incredible improvement with her reading skills! Not only has this child advanced with fluency and comprehension, but her inflection as she reads makes it a joy for the listener!

The ability to read is such a gift! Many take it for granted, as I do most of the time, but books open a world of adventure, information, mystery, excitement and a plethora of other amazing offerings our way! Without even thinking about it, we can read the text of a book and a visual arises in our brain. From that, we fall into the setting and experience events and storylines as if we were actually “flies on the wall!”

As our sweet friend Charlotte read aloud, we learned about the amazing life of Wilma Rudolph. Being in a family of over 20 siblings, beating the odds of polio and gaining the respect of millions through her athletic ability, were fascinating tidbits from a life well lived. Ranger enjoyed the story almost as much as I did!

Thank you, teachers!

Thank you, authors!

Thank you, illustrators!

Thank you, young friends, who help us remember what a gift reading truly is!

Ranger would agree…and, of course, there were “Sarah Treats!”