I’ll try to keep this short. And, I’ll send it via hotmail to the Book Fairy group also.
Visited with the kids yesterday and stuck around for their holiday party. Had a great time. The kids loved their books from you guys and they loved the extras some of you sent. 
Couple of memorable things from the afternoon:
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The kids know I usually visit them during my lunch time. I normally just grab some crackers or something from the machine on the days I visit. When I got there yesterday they had all waited to have lunch and the cafeteria had set up hot dogs, nachos, chips, cupcakes, etc. in the classroom and we all ate together. Now, I don’t really like hot dogs, but I can honestly say that was the best hot dog I’ve ever eaten.
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rocking chair sent her Book Fairy child (Anton) a cool 76ers ornament for his tree. He had it sitting on his desk and as he stood up to go throw some paper away it fell onto the floor and broke. I was heartbroken for him and walked over and said, “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry!” All the kids in the class were telling him they were sorry it broke and this little guy looked up at everybody and said, “You know what? I HAD it…it was mine for a little while and that’s all that matters.” I kid you not…this is what the kid said. Amazing.
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I got to meet Reverend Gilbert, a local minister who volunteers at the school and has a heart for kids. He helped me carry all my packages in from my car and told me that in case I didn’t know it, I have 24 kids that love me and look up to me and respect me. He also had taught the kids the “Times Table Rap” and they performed it for me. Hilarious.
It went something like… 5 times 5…hit the floor…when he got up he had 25 more. And so on for each number group. Very cute.
- God (fate, destiny, coincidence…whatever works for you) really comes through for me when I need it. I realized about half way into my day that I walked out of the house and left my wallet. On my way to the school my gas light came on and I further realized I had exactly $17 cash in my purse. The tiniest minion of Sauron had a doctor’s visit at 3:00 so I needed $15 of that money to pay our co-pay. $2 in gas wasn’t going to cut it and I didn’t have my credit card or bank card since my wallet was at home.
I said a quick little prayer that somehow I could make it to the school and back and figure out a way to make this work given the circumstances.
Before I left the school the kids gave me a card with a $20 gift certificate to a local store from all of them and there was $6 cash enclosed with the card from one of their mothers. Enough to get gas for the car to make it back to my office, to the doctor’s office and then home.
Isn’t that neat?
Anyway, thank you again for all of your support with this program. The books you have mailed. The money you have Pay-Paled. The notes of encouragement and the emails asking about your kid. I appreciate them all.
Hope you and yours all have a Happy Holiday.
Aries/Kristin