Solstice Attitude of Gratitude

As we celebrate another turn around the sun and enter into the time in the North Country when all things grow prodigiously (including children) and garden abundance overwhelms our kitchen tables, I feel an intense desire to give thanks to everyone who has offered unconditional support, understanding, and love, as well as a shoulder to lean on, and an ear for listening, also to those who have donated time, energy, and dollars to Deep Root Center (you know who you are).

I have to start with my family, most especially Mike (still my love after twenty-three years, this coming Saturday), who has stood steadfastly behind me and my decisions through these past two roller-coaster years of tumultuous, exciting, joyful, pain filled, overwhelming, ecstatic, and confusing times of pure reinvention of myself and career. I am sure it has not been easy for him to stand back and watch his life partner quit her job, weep intermittently for months on end with little or no provocation, start a non-profit, dye a purple strip in her hair, and become that weird, enthusiastic lady who will drop everything to talk to anyone about kids, personal passions, education, and self-directed learning.  Mike you are my rock!

I am so grateful for my two grown-up children who live their intentions authentically everyday and are following their dreams wherever they may take them (currently to their summer work and home at Camp Unirondack and then to Hampshire College in the fall). Ian and Kenzie, you guys are my inspiration!

The Deep Root Center Board of Directors are dedicated beyond comprehension to our mission and vision. They are the sturdy foundation of morals and ideals which hold DRC to the highest standards of integrity. To put it quite simply, they keep me in line and I am indebted to them forever!

Thank you to the families who chose Deep Root Center as their child's educational option this past year. It has been my deep honor and pleasure to work with all of you and I look forward to future collaborations, offering you support, space, and resources as your self-directed learning explorations lead you to new and exciting adventures.

Many thanks to the members of the Canton Community Fund Board of Directors for your confidence in Deep Root Center's mission, vision, philosophy, and future. Many young people will benefit beyond imagination from your grant for computers and creative software to DRC. This amazing gift is also a statement to the community that Deep Root Center is a viable, exciting, and competitive educational resource for any child who seeks to live and learn without school.

A note of gratitude to Jim Snell (one of the good guys) for his willingness to provide us with our beautiful new location, by renting us a small percentage of the available space in the second floor of his building. We are still working hard to find additional, compatible organizations to rent the remaining space.

Lastly, an immense thank you to everyone who has stopped at the DRC table at Farmer's Market, has picked up a DRC postcard and passed it on to someone else, has told another family about our programs, sent their child to a DRC Workshop, forwarded and shared these blog posts, liked and shared info from the DRC Facebook page, and has brought DRC up in conversation. Keep it up!

We are building this amazing thing for you and because of you, our community!

Gracias!

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