Grateful.

I apologize in advance for the length of this post. It's a novel.

I love November. I love the cute fall clothes, the beautiful fall colors, the snuggling, and of course Thanksgiving. I love reflecting on the many blessings that I have in my life and outwardly expressing thanks. This week at school has been the best first week of November ever to remind me of the many things that I have to be grateful for.

My school has a tradition of having a Make-A-Wish week. Basically we choose a kid to sponsor through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and have a week long fundraiser where we raise all of the money to grant that kid's wish. I have heard a lot about how amazing this week is, but honestly words cannot describe.

Tuesday, November 1st: The whole thing kicked off with an assembly where this year's Wish kid was introduced. We held a school-wide "Best Dress Day" for the assembly. I was absolutely shocked by the number of students that dressed in their finest clothes. Immediately I could tell that this was going to be something powerful. At the assembly there were several guest speakers who shared their own personal Make-A-Wish stories and the affect it had in their lives. Then the big moment...we got to meet Quinton! As him and his family approached the stage everyone in that auditorium were on their feet, erupting in cheers. For the record, I hate crying in public. But let me tell you, I was a hot mess sobbing all over the place. They told their story and offered their gratitude toward our school. As his mother recounted the painful summer they have had I was filled with emotions. At only 11 years old "Q" is one of only 7 people in the entire world to ever have had this certain type of tumor inside of his spinal cord. I couldn't even imagine the pain he must have went through to endure the surgery to attempt to remove it and then go through hours of therapy as he learned to walk again.

After hearing from Q and his family, one final guest speaker came to the stage. As he slowly got up and walked to the stage, immediately the crowd rose to their feet and began to cheer. I didn't know who he was, but I knew he was amazing. As he made it to center stage he simply stated, "I'm back!" He then told his story. Last year he played for the Salem Hills basketball team. He soon suffered from a "leg injury" which he attempted to treat in physical therapy. After that wasn't helping he got an x-ray that revealed a fractured fibula. A later MRI revealed a tumor in his leg. The news quickly spread around school and he prepared for his final basketball game before he began treatments. He told the story of walking into the gym for that final basketball game. The entire crowd was decked in white sporting his #5. The students, community, and friends and family chanted his name. He then went on to endure 18 chemo treatments this year, an amputated leg, and learned to walk on his new prosthetic leg. He spoke with such confidence, maturity, and poise. I just kept thinking to myself, this kid is a senior in high school?? He could have been bitter and angry about his situation, but rather he was positive and inspiring. After telling his story he invited Q back onto the stage and gave him a couple gifts and some words of encouragement. I sat there bawling my eyes out thinking how grateful I was to be a part of this.

Wednesday-Friday, November 3rd-5th: We held several spirit days in honor of Q's favorite things. Wednesday was "green day" for Q's favorite color. Thursday was "snow day" for Q's favorite season, winter. Friday was "superhero day" because Q is a huge fan of the Marvel comic book characters/movies. Each day there were fundraiser activities as well. All week we also sold t-shirts and dog tags for Q. The t-shirts were awesome! They have the green lantern symbol, but the circle in the middle was changed to a Q. I sold t-shirts with student council on Thursday and Friday. We sold out of shirts and then ordered 100 more, only to sell out again!

Monday, November 7th: Students and teachers all wore their Q t-shirts. Then that night was the annual Great Skyhawk Gorge. Basically all the clubs and organizations in the school have a booth set up throughout the school where they give out a food item related to their club. My club, the Basketball, Badminton, and Bacon club, gave out bacon. Students, families, and community members were invited to attend. They paid an entry fee and then enjoyed all of the food from the various clubs. Again, I was shocked by the support of the community.

Every event that I attended this week far exceeded my expectations. After this amazing week of participating in this amazing cause, one word comes to mind: grateful. I am so grateful to work in a community that is so supportive and so united in serving one of its members. I am so grateful for an amazing school with great traditions of service. I am so grateful for the strong youth I am surrounded with that go through so many challenges and teach me lessons everyday about perseverance. I am grateful for good health that I so often take for granted. I am grateful for a husband that is willing to come down to my school after his own long day and cook bacon with me in freezing temperatures and crazy wind to help support a worthy cause.

I could go on for paragraphs about the many things in my life that I am grateful for. After this amazing experience I've had this week, I'm offering myself (and any other willing person) a challenge. Complain a little less. Serve a little more. Offer gratitude everyday. WE ARE SO BLESSED.