I am finally home after a month of goodbyes. It has been a tough week, trying to absorb this year from afar. Many relationships will be severely missed. I am so proud of my students and so grateful for our little town of CofradÃa, which will continue to live in my heart forever.
This year has been a tremendous learning experience for me and I sure do owe many, many thanks to many, many people for all you have done to make this all possible. Thank you, BECA, for a wonderful year... and to my friends and family for all of your love and support along the way. Your patience, kindness, and contributions have made a big difference in the lives of many, many people, including my own:
Mom- I can't list all the goodies you sent to all of the volunteers and to our students. It was such a special treat for me to share your gifts with everyone. I'll never forget walking down the street handing our your chocolate chip cookies to all of our buddies along the way. The children LOVED the abundant books and art projects. Thanks for the ointments that saved our fingers after fan blade cuts, our feet after stepping on glass through shoes, Sean's disgusting infected hand- ha! Thanks from all of us to our Momma Z! From me, especially, thank you for providing me a warm place to stay through transitions, for calling AAA when my car wouldn't start (many times- ha!), taking care of that darn thing for a year in my absence, for every last email, word of encouragement, midnight airport run, and just for being my Mom.
Dad and Kim- Thank you for the art supplies, books on CD, the care package, and all of the hours you spent searching, dubbing, listening, etc.
Grandma, Adelaide Simpson- Grandma, thank you for the extra financial support this year, which really helped during a year with NO PAY! Thank you for your generosity and for all of your emails, for being my Grandma, the strongest woman I will ever know.
The Simpson Family- Thank you for the enormous contribution of books made to our school libraries!
Ken, Katie, Ashley- Thanks for all of your support and kindness throughout this year and for being involved as much as you could be from afar. Katie, you are famous for your letters with shiny stickers. Ken and Ash, it was so hard to miss this year in your lives with little Leyton, missing Rowan's birth by not even 24 hours... Thank you for throwing me back in, like no time was missed, for all the updates and pictures. Those really lifted me up when times were tough this year! Thanks for keeping all my mail straight this year, too. It was a gigantic help to me!
Penny Helmore- You have always been our family, our friend. Thank you for picking us up when we are in need and always being there through thick and thin. Lord knows our calls are not always "fun," yet you and Nick are always there to say, "How, when, where can we help? We love you!" Just want to remind you how much we love you, too and how much I appreciate your friendship. Thanks for driving around THAT CAR all year! That was not a fun job, wrestling with the cover, getting my inspection, etc. This means a great deal to me!
Kathy Phillips- WOW! Thank you for the amazing art supplies, which I mostly used to help children process our group work. 2nd- 9th grade all participated in groups to assist with the death of a parent, and/or parents living abroad. These projects made our students comfortable receiving help, provided means for them to express some very difficult feelings, and made some of their favorite memories permanent.
Cara Jean O'Neal- Thank you for your generous contribution of books and games! They have made a huge difference in these children's lives, as most households have none. Please give Turner and Ashton a great big hug for sharing!
Georgia, Lilac, Abel, and Dustin- Thank you very much for being email pen pals with Francis, Reina, Andres, and Eferson this year! Your companionship meant the world to our students! You are very special in their lives.
Natalie Allen (Henrico County Public Schools), Peter Phillips (Ward Elementary), Tiffany Morgan (Fairfield Middle), Donna Dockery (Virginia Commonwealth University)- Thank you so very much for providing me the opportunity to share my Honduran experiences with others in hopes to inspire some positive change… in the way counselors work with students from different backgrounds, in the way students treat each other, in the way students embrace their educational opportunities.
Tara- Thank you for the care package, your friendship, your interest in my life always. I love you!
Niki, Ben, and Eric- You are the world to me. I would be lost without your friendships through joy and tears.
Dexter- THANK YOU FOR THE SPANISH LESSONS!
To everyone else who supported our journey… it is impossible to list you all- PLEASE ACCEPT THIS BIG HUG and THANK YOU! My love to each and every one of you whether, or not your name is on this list.
