Mardi sits in a chair in the Marble Falls Library Children’s Activity Room on a Friday

morning. Seated on rugs around her are fifteen children--babies to toddlers--and their mothers. All are singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm, making the animal noises, and waving the Beanie Baby animals she passed out to each of them. Some of the kids are so excited they do tumbles or spin around and chatter joyously. The mothers clap to the music, sing along, and cuddle their darlings. It’s a cozy chaos Mardi has created and yet has under constant, gentle control.

She’s been doing her program every week for thirteen years at Marble Falls Public Library. Mardi has taught hundreds of children to love reading, singing along, dancing, and just being friends with each other. Now Mardi is reading them a story about a fluffy dog. Some are all eyes and ears. Some hug each other or point to the pictures in the book.

At the end of the thirty-minute program, Mardi blows bubbles about the room to the children’s squeals of delight. The moms are all smiling, knowing their kids have had a wonderful experience, have learned a lot about goodness and beauty without realizing it, and will soon be ready for their naps. Thanks, Mardi, for all you do for these little ones. You’ve proven you don’t have to be the Cirque-de-Soleil to produce enchantment.

-Michael Baldwin, Board Member