The place our boys go to school is incredible.  Yes, they learn how to read and write, they learn their math facts and about history but the real core of why we have them there is the community.  There are so many people helping them realize who they truly are and how to be the best they can be.  They listen to them, encourage them, support them and challenge them.  They also hold them accountable for their actions and help them to find ways to work through any obstacles or problems they may run into.
Last night was the annual auction, and as it’s a really fun night to be a part of, it’s also a chance for the school to raise money for financial aid.  There is ZERO chance that we could send our boys there without the significant financial aid we receive.  We are so grateful to have them there.
So every year we go to the auction, ALWAYS raise a paddle for the financial aid flurry (sometimes it’s $50, sometimes more…we give what we can) and last year we even got a framed art work from Carlos’ class for $100 (which is unheard of!).  Other than that we try to help out by bidding items up and bidding on some of the smaller silent items.  We usually don’t take much home.  Last night was pretty typical, Dee bought me a beautiful little bracelet, we got a couple raffle tickets and felt great to put $250 toward financial aid.  We threw up our paddles for each and every one of the boy’s class art projects but were quickly outbid. 
When the quilt made by Carlos’ class (the Pandas) came up, we did our bid and set the paddle down.  As always, we hope those items go for a lot as they are incredible works of art and such mementos to treasure but  get a little sad that we can never afford to bring one home.  It sold for over $400 and when the bidding was over I wasn’t sure who had won, because they were behind me.  Then I got a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around, I was being handed the quilt.  Another parent had bought it for us.  Immediate tears, gratitude, loss for words.  This community is what makes the school so incredible, the genuine kindness and compassion.  I am grateful and humbled by the generosity. 
When we got home it was late, we had tears from Trey because he didn’t understand why we couldn’t buy one of his class projects and auctions and economics are tough to explain to a 6 year old.  We are going to try and recreate one so that helped.  He went off to bed and Carlos curled up with the Panda quilt and I was overcome with a rush of emotion.  I know we are where we need to be, with this amazing group of people surrounding us and our boys.