Look. I'm gonna be real here: I've had one of the worst/best weeks of my entire life. And before I get to my thank you...you'll have to understand the depths of the worst/best week...

Worst/best weeks are rare. The last time I had one was 6 and a half years ago when I was put on bedrest at the hospital for my first baby during a snow storm and was wheeled into L&D to deliver my son 5 weeks early because my kidneys were failing, and the kiddo had immature lungs and a septal defect and was promptly whisked to the NICU. (And breathe. I know, I know: I'm an English teacher and that sentence was EPIC. But it was epic on purpose. This whole thing is epic.)

Worst week: Health issues for me and my baby. Best week: MY SON WAS BORN! So, whatever health issues. LOOK AT MY BABY!

And here we are now.

Worst week: Multiple personal and occupational set-backs that left me at the end of my emotional resources. As a matter of fact, on August 30th (my freaking birthday), I received such a horrible phone call that I broke down sobbing in the middle of a Pier 1. (If you're in the market, the Nyle loveseat is super comfortable for all your crying needs.) It was a straw on the back of what I can easily categorize as one of the craziest and most challenging years of my life so far.

But then something really amazing happened.

I received a box before Saturday with some Expo markers and some small white boards for my classroom from my Santa and I was overjoyed. I cried a little (happy tears -- I sign up every year for this exchange and emotionally prepare myself to not get a match, just in case); and I took a picture and was about to post it on to Reddit. Then everything fell apart and posting a thank you took a backseat.

Then Monday rolled around.

I come home and there, on my porch, are two more boxes. And Tuesday came: more boxes. And today: MORE BOXES. All from my Reddit Santa. Markers and pads of easel paper and clorox wipes, and buzzers for games, and a book I had wanted! And a poster I love!

So, being snoopy and a cheater...I thought I'd log on to my Amazon wishlist to just double-check what I'd put on there...because it was starting to appear that the gifts were coming en force. Sure enough: MY REDDIT SANTA BOUGHT MY ENTIRE WISHLIST.

Let me repeat that: EVERYTHING.

Everything.

And here's the best part -- there will be more packages tomorrow! (I'm sorry, I cheated -- I was in shock.)

I'm at a new school this year and I'm starting over with supplies. Everything purchased with district funds for my old classroom had to stay. I was feeling so overwhelmed with starting over completely, so I put some things on the wishlist that were really pie-in-the-sky items; things I had to leave, but used a lot!

And here is this stranger -- whom I've never met, who doesn't know me and my life and what kind of person and teacher I am -- who just decided that I needed everything I had asked for. No questions asked.

I wish someone had videotaped me. Because I went from crying on the gray Pier 1 loveseat, to crying in my family room surrounded by highlighters and Expo markers. Sobbing. Just me and a bunch of office supplies having a very real moment together. I scared my kids and my dog. There was a lot of, "Mommy, why are you sad about the packages?"

The timing was perfect.

Not because I specifically deserve this blessing (EVERY SINGLE TEACHER DESERVES THIS BLESSING), but because I needed something good; I needed someone to remind me that there are good people out there who do nice things, generous things for strangers.

I wish I could hug Amera (are they a hugger? I don't know). I wish I could look this person in the eye and say without hyperbole: You turned one of the worst weeks in my life into one of the worst/best weeks. Amid the turmoil of what I'm facing, you gave me hope, excitement, and joy. And I was genuinely afraid it would be a long time before I felt those things again.

Next week, I get a new group of students at a new school. And instead of feeling disconnected and lost because the supplies I use every day are absent...I get to start the year with the things I need to make my classroom feel like home.

Because Amera received my name, looked at my suggestions, and thought, "This teacher needs everything she asked for."

It's unbelievable. It's astounding. It's epic.

I'm crying right now thinking about it. (Just me and my laptop...and I'm not in public. I think Pier 1 has a one-strike you're out policy anyway.)

Sorry this is so long. Big gifts require long posts.