A Cold December Morning

Written by Mary Stephenson

After scrapping ice off the windows on the car we headed out for Sycamore School.

Was a reminder of days when this task was done more often.  Glad for retirement, where most days we enjoy the warmth inside and the pleasure of drinking a cup of coffee.

Today (12-7-16) we were scheduled for a meeting at 9 AM.  Jim, Ernie, Gary and I were to meet with Susanna and Olivia at the school.

Our original plans were aborted last month and we regrouped as to a new approach.

After our weekly meeting we had a meeting to sit down and decide what to do. Since we had worked together with Sycamore School to create the now famous PALZ room, this was the direction we needed to focus on.

Today was the day we presented our box of gifts to the PALZ room.

We had purchased glitzy pencils, erasers, stickers, pencil sharpeners, dinosaurs, horses, assorted gift packs for boys and girls that could be divided up, and 20 bears in 4 different brown colors.  The plan was that they could be used as rewards for achieving the “Skills of Independence” and to whatever those working in the room felt the need might be to get results.

Grateful that both Susanna and Olivia were delighted with the gift and how it could be used.

Two of the boys that excelled from not learning to actually being able to stay in class were immediately summoned to the office.  The decision was to give them each a bear.  It was really an emotional moment for all of us.  Check out the photo by clicking here.

The boys were so delighted their eyes sparkled and with big smiles they each hugged their bears so tight, you could feel their joy. 

Everyone needs something to hug and probably these boys need it more than any of us.

This was a validation of all the work we did in the PALZ room and the real meaning of having adopted Sycamore School.  An act of kindness goes a long ways and sometimes we never know how much impact it makes.  But today we had an example.

There is a Christmas Program at the school on December 16th at 10:00 AM and the Lions are invited.

Susanna has given me a schedule of ways we can help out next week. It would be real nice if we can help them.