Even More Thankful
Yesterday we spent the morning at David's school putting together Thanksgiving dinners for students and their families. There is a wonderful organization at the school that raises money throughout the year and helps the kids who are living in poverty. There is a food pantry at the school, funds for clothing and school supplies, and money for these kids to pay for extra curricular activities. David is very proud to work at a place that cares deeply for its own.

This year over 100 Thanksgiving dinners and food items were organized and set up in the gym. We went to help with the loading/delivery process. Families could come to the school and pick up a dinner, or staff was there to help deliver the food to those that needed it. I brought my camera, but my kids were working too hard for me to capture them together in one shot. Did they groan and complain that we were going to donate our time to this on a Saturday morning? Absolutely. But once we got to the school and they saw how they could help, they got down to business and worked with joy. I was a proud mama.

As the morning drew to a close, we took a dinner with us to deliver. David had the address, which was a pay-by-the-week motel. Picture something very sad and then multiply that by 100 and you'll get the idea. David knocked on their motel door and the kids unloaded all the food from our car to hand to them. A family of four was in there, and David knew the students. By name. My kiddos were very quiet as we pulled away, as the severity of the situation sunk in. David and I had to blink back tears for the drive home.... Life is hard enough without the added burden of poverty and despair.

If you have not read Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich yet I implore you to do so. It will radically change you. And be thankful for everything you have. Which, unfortunately, is something I am still working on.

Driving to the high school on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Carver and Z take a quck break in the process to run on the gym floor.

Lily loading up a cart to make another delivery.