When "Thank You" isn't good enough...

It's always such a wonderful feeling when the kindness of people is what is overwhelming you and bringing you to tears.

Saturday was the first of what will probably be many fundraisers for Abram. My dear friend Sara (whom I have been friends with for more than 20 years) decided to volunteer her time and giant garage to having a Rummage Sale and Bake Sale in the honor of my little man. We had been throwing around the idea of having a Garage Sale in the Spring so we already had some stuff to put into it but not nearly enough to have a sale on our own. Sara was awesome and went about asking for people to donate things for us to be able to sell and before we knew it we had tons, and tons, and TONS of stuff!! So there were many nights with Sara, Shannon (whom I have been friends with for thirty years) and Alli (Shannon's daughter) sorted, and re-sorted and then sorted again trying to get some sort of organization to all the goodies that we had! It was so amazingly overwhelming! Not only did we have a lot of stuff but seeing that heaping load of goodies stuffed into my friends garage meant a lot more than that. All of that stuff was just a physical representation at how much people actually really DO care! There are people who want to help and there are people who understand what we're going through. It was unbelievable.

The sale started off quickly with people showing up an hour early to pick through stuff even though we hadn't even gotten it all pulled out of the garage yet! One woman even climbed over stuff and pushed past us just to get in there! It was crazy! Then the baked goods just kept coming in! I saw so many friendly faces and old friends whom I haven't gotten the chance to see since we closed the shop and we had Abram!! It was the best. It was heart warming. It was humbling. I CRIED A LOT.

The entire day was one kindness after another one. I even had my old Art History Professor do a surprise appearance. If you are reading this.... I just wanted to thank you. The handwritten note and the contents in the envelope you gave us brought every single woman at that sale to tears. I tried chasing after to hug you but wasn't fast enough! That was incredibly kind and generous of you and it is so appreciated. I wish you and your beautiful family all the best. You put me in awe.

The day was definitely an emotional one for all of us. It was surreal to sit there with two of my oldest friends and their three daughters (among them) all while trying to raise money to help my little baby boy. I'm lucky. I am so so so lucky to have this amazing group of friends and a community of amazing and compassionate people. 

We managed to raise $1,416 on Saturday. That was enough to make us cry AGAIN and I'm sure when I deposit that money into my boy's account today I will cry again. The kindness and outpouring of love and support is phenomenal. It warms my heart and makes me feel like we can take on the world! I had a nice lady at the Garage Sale (whose Grandaughter has muscular atrophy) who reminded me that it takes an army to build a village. It just feels good to realize that you all have our backs. That my little boy is so loved and that his story has touched people. I can't wait for him to go back through his little baby book and find that note from my Art History Professor.  My little boy will know how special he is and how hard we tried to do everything we could for  him. He will know that he was ALWAYS LOVED (even by complete strangers) and that is the best thing that we as parents can ever do for our children.

So no matter what happens in my baby boy's life he will always remember that we loved and adored him more than anything in the world and that he saved us. This journey we are on has not been easy and I have cried more than I would like to admit but this little man is teaching me so many important things like compassion, patience, true selfless love, humility and that having faith in the kindness of people is the best feeling this mama can have.

To those of you who donated items and helped sort or baked a ton of goodies for the Bake Sale portion of Saturday's event.... I am humbled by you. I am so lucky to be able to count such generous people in my life. I know that many of you have helped me on more than one occasion even (like when my shop needed help or when my cat was sick) and I just wanted you guys to know that I will never ever forget all of the kindnesses that you have shown me and that there aren't even ways to put into words what you have done for me, for my family and for my son.

Life can be cruel and so can people. However, it is true that in dark days the kindness of old friends, new friends, strangers and even an Art History Professor will remind you that there really is goodness left in this world.

Your kindnesses and generosity will never be forgotten.


Here are Abram and I after the Sale on Saturday. I was hot, sweaty, overwhelmed and emotionally drained and without make-up but I still love this picture. 

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