Wordless Wednesday: Ellie Girl, 3.5 years.

My Ellie Girl at 3.5 years

Sharing Trixie Belden with 3 Generations

What do Crabapple Farm, William, and allowance money have in common?

The Trixie Belden children's mystery series and my family.

William and I have been enjoying Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion together.  That boy loves mysteries just like his mama did when she was a child!

I'm happy to report that I like re-reading Trixie much better than re-reading Nancy Drew.  It could be because I'm reading with Will.  Or because the Belden family has a boy, boy, girl, boy (just like us!).  Or because Trixie speaks respectfully to her mom, does her chores, and plays with her little brother; all while trying to solve a mystery.

On a recent phone call with my mom Will and I told her about reading the Trixie book together.  I inherited the books from my mom but didn't know much about their origin.  It was fun to hear that she would save her allowance and buy each new book for less than $2.

I currently have books 1-9 that were published between 1954-1964.  I value these books today not only for their fun stories but because my mom read them as a girl, I read them as a girl, and one day Ellie will read them (though for now, Will is reading them).

What a fun legacy for 3 generations of girls to share!

Have your received any books your parents read as children?

For more Children's Classic Mystery book reviews visit 5 Minutes for Books.

I finished a 5k race!!!

I did it!  I completed a New Year's Goal!!!

You might remember my crazy plan to run a 5k this year.  Well, May 2nd has come and gone and I walked/ran the race.  I wasn't fast or graceful but I accomplished 1 of my goals for the race - I finished it!

The finish line was in front of the hotel where our church meets each Sunday.  It worked out great for Joel and the kids to go to church and then cheer me on just as I got to the end. (The blue dot in the middle is me.)

The clock on the right is for the 5k.  It shows 53:08 but my "official" time was 52:35.  I wasn't last but only by about 30 people; which I am totally OK with.

The members of Ocean State Runners.  Jess and Maria did awesome and left me in the dust.  We each have our own special medical issues so we joked that we should have called ourselves Ocean State Invalids.

The weather was beautiful, the people were friendly, and I had a great time.  So, my first goal for this 5k was to complete it.  I've done that. 

My second goal was to raise $600* for Jenefer Sarrosa, a student in Compassion International's Leadership Development Program.  I need your help to complete this goal!

Will you give $5 for each mile I walked/ran?  That's just $15.

Here's how you give today:

• Visit CompassionRun.com.
• Fill out the Sponsor form.
• Write a check to 'Compassion International' with 'CompassionRun.com-Jenefer Sarrosa' on the memo line**.
• Mail the check to:  CompassionRun.com, 864 Diamond Rim Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.

Thank you for supporting me and Jenefer as we accomplish our goals! 

*$600 covers Jenefer's costs (tuition, room, board, misc.) for 2 months.
** Donations to Compassion International are tax deductible.