Family...the ones you live with, laugh with, and love

Family...the ones you live with, laugh with, and love
Summer 2009

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Stoneybrook Retirement Yard Sale

On May 14th the residents at Stoneybrook Retirement Center in Riverdale held a yard sale in behalf of my family. One of my previous students, her grandma's sister is the director. When she heard our story of my husband losing his job and me being diagnosed with cancer, they decided to make it a service project. I was so touched when they called me this week asking me to come see them so they could present me with the funds they raised.

There were about 8 residents waiting when I got there. They are very elderly and most are in wheelchairs. The director said they worked on the yard sale for weeks, pricing and organizing. One man in particular took most of the tasks on himself. He told me he was a little worried that they wouldn't be successful that day, but in his words they were "really busy". The director also told me it was so good for them because it gave them something to work for that had meaning. I was so touched. For most of the day they sat out in the parking lot selling items that had been donated. Most items were priced at 25 cents. They even sold baked goods and cotton candy. Some stayed outside the entire day selling things.

You can imagine my surprise when they handed me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a card signed by all the residents and a jar filled with $453.00 that they had raised. My eyes filled with tears. To see these people who have so many limits themselves, raising money in behalf of my family. I was speechless. I had so much love in my heart for them. It makes me feel so good to know what kind people there are in the world. To show so much love for my family that they have never even met. I just hope that my children can see the examples of all these kind people and that someday we can return the favor to someone in need.

3 comments:

  1. This is awesome! It should be a lesson to all of us when we think we are not significant enough to make a difference. We always can, even in the smallest ways.
    Hugs to you and your very cute family.

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  2. Thank you for bearing your testimony! Thru your testimony you will touch other people and make a difference in their lives. You are an amazing daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves you! I appreciate you sharing the challenges and the blessings of this journey called cancer: your illness and the side effects; your love; your strength, your courage; and your enduring with grace. You are blessed with a wonderful husband and children! The Tapias are praying for y'all and we love y'all!

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