Valley Family

The school that our kids attend is Valley Elementary in Beavercreek. They pride themselves on being a "Valley Family" and treating each other with respect. I am sure lots of schools say this, but at Valley they live this motto everyday. Which, when your child is diagnosed with leukemia, it is wonderful to have people like this in your corner. It is not just one person, it is all of them together that make our kids feel so welcomed and safe and just loved. I know there is also supposed to be church and state separation, but these are also some of the most prayerful and caring people you can meet.

They try to make my lives easier by keeping tabs on sicknesses, even providing me anonymous reports on what is going around and how many kids are out, etc. I speak to Ann and Linda (our school nurses) all the time. They call and warn me about everything from chicken pox to flu to rashes.

Valley sent a huge contingent of people to the Light the Night Walk too. Some of them were not even Ally's teachers, but they are just the caring sort of people.

On Friday, I had the opportunity to go to both of my kids Fall Parties in their classroom. I would love to be helping out in that school all the time. But my circumstances do not give me that chance very often. I hate it, but I can't change it. So I really enjoyed going into their rooms and helping a little bit.

In Evan's room, he had a party with about six different craft/game stations. He absolutely loves things like this. I loved seeing his little face concentrating while playing bingo or while cutting out his bat. He is lucky to have several good friends in his class. And while I wish I could spend more time with Evan and all things kindergarten, I feel that he is happy and learning and I am thankful. Here he is:

Concentrating on pumpkin bingo

With his teacher, Mrs Howell

More concentrating, usually he sticks his tongue out....

And Ally had a similar party. She seemed a bit nervous to go. She hasn't been to school in a long time. As soon as I walked past her room, I could smell lysol and disinfectant. They had scrubbed the room clean because they knew she was coming. See?!? Who does that. Well at Valley they do. Ally's teacher is so loving to her you wouldn't believe it. And she also spends her recess/lunchtime helping Ally and keeping her up to date. (This is when most teachers probably take a breather or get their paperwork done)

As soon as I walked into Ally's room for the party, I saw this.

Wow! I choked back every single tear...trying not to make a spectacle of myself in front of the class. The entire school....EVERY PERSON....signed this banner for Ally. It is huge, probably 15-20 feet long. They also made her several books to cheer her up. Joke books and letters about how much they love her and how they love her hats and how much they miss her....these are treasures. She has to feel loved. I am going to find a big long wall in my house and hang this banner up for Ally.
This brings me to one final request to all my Beavercreek friends. ( I know this eliminates most of my readers.) But one of my good friends (and loyal workout partner) is running for the local school board. KIM GRANT! She is such a good friend that if you look really close you will see my name on her campaign signs. I am her campaign treasurer! She is very dedicated to the cause of keeping Beavercreek Schools in the excellent status that they currently hold, but which could slip away if we are not careful. She has always been the kind of person that can get things done. The motto...if you want something done, ask a busy person...well that was written for Kim. Last fall she was right there with me when I was managing the campaign for the passage of the Beavercreek school levy. We both spent many a Saturday going door to door and campaigning for what we believe in. She does a lot for our community, she works at the Children's Hospital, but most importantly she can be our voice for what is best for our kids. So vote for Kim Grant.

This is Kim and Me! (some think we look like sisters!)