Too close to home.....

Sandy Hook. I've been there. It's a sleepy little town, much like the one I live in. I have a friend who lives there with her four children, two boys and two girls, much like my own. We have a lot in common - we love coffee and wine, complaining about things; we're the same age, our kids are the same age, and we have husbands who love us in spite of the things we might say in a mood. I met her through blogging; we shared a hotel at a conference in NYC 2 summers ago, meeting for the first time in the lobby. She came to visit my family, we visited hers last summer. Laura had two children in that school on Friday. It still doesn't seem real.

Laura doesn't blog anymore, I like to think she doesn't need to; or that she's got a fabulous book that she's working on that takes up all her time. I don't blog much anymore either, so we've kind of fallen out of contact. I'm very glad to say, though, that she answered my text within minutes last week, assuring me that her children were safe and in her care. That is NOT to say that they hadn't seen things that no child - or anyone, for that matter - should ever see. My heart aches for that entire town, but most especially for the family that I've come to know and love - I can't imagine having to live through a situation like this.

When things are uncertain in our life, Matt has often heard me say 'Everything works out the way it's supposed to, things happen for a reason.' I would like someone to point out to me what possible reason there could be for what happened on Friday.  Various groups will use this incident to further their own agendas - gun control/we should all carry guns/better health care for the mentally ill/lock up all the mentally ill. I have no idea what the answer is - I don't know that there is an answer. Humans  being human, we've done horrible things to each other since the beginning of time. Right now, all I know is that if I think about it for too long, I start to cry - and I'm so grateful to the teachers and administrators who did what they could to protect the children in their care.

None of us knows what is waiting for us around the corner - we make plans to the best of our ability and then something nudges us off our path or spins us around so we have no idea which direction to head. Am I now thinking about the schools my kids go to, and what security measures or lack there-of are in place? Absolutely - my first thought when I walked into our brand new high school two weeks ago was , wow - the cafeteria is right up front by the main entrance and completely open, what if a nut-job walks in with a gun? - but off to school they will go, with an extra tight hug, a big kiss, and a fierce "I love you!". I don't know what else to say, other than that I am heartbroken for the families grieving the loss of their children right now, and for my friends and the other families who have to journey through this awfulness. Pray for them with me.

Comments

  1. A few days out....it feels like a really bad dream.

    I don't know how to let the kids out of my sight today. But I have to do it. I can't live in fear.

    Thank you for YOUR quick response to my text on Friday!

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  2. So well said. We are all grieving and trying to understand why this happened is just impossible for me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
    Kate

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  3. I'm with Connie...I can't get around it...it's like a horrible dream. :(

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  4. I so agree with you on all accounts. My son and I have been reading King Arthur and there are some horrible atrocities in that book from way back in medieval times. There has always been evil in the world. There has always been good too. I try to focus on that, but find myself getting sucked into watching the news where tragedy is at every turn(that is how I found out Laura was ok though...saw her quoted in a CNN report.)
    Trying very hard to focus on the hope and joy of Christmas and giving my kids extra squeezes(when I can drag them away from their video games..sigh).

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  5. How terrifying for them. So glad your friends are OK, but yes, grieving for the ones who aren't. xoxo

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  6. Thought about Laura right away when I heard the name of the town......I've never met her, but I feel like I know her through her blog. I emailed Meg right away to know if she had heard anything (don't really know her either) and she thankfully told me that they were okay. My heavy heart has been praying all weekend. Thank you for the update.

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  7. Unfortunately our world is filled with such sad & pointless incidents. Can only pray for all those affected by this and other violent crimes. Glad your friends children are okay, physically at least.

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  8. Thank you for letting us know that Laura and the kids are okay. I don't know what to do or say so I just pray.

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  9. i love you too...

    and in the midst of this tragedy and in our unspeakable grief and sorrow...
    there is HOPE

    so do not be afraid
    be grateful for this moment and worry about nothing else

    xo

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  10. Thank you for updating about Laura and her family! I've been thinking about them for the past several days and praying for them!

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