So many thoughts have been running through my head the last few days following the horrific events in Newtown, CT. \u00a0 20 beautiful, full of life, \u00a0first graders savagely killed in their own classrooms along with 6 administrators and teachers. \u00a0One of the clergy said something that really struck home, he said “It’s right before Christmas and these families lost their joy.”<\/p>\n

As I went through my days after this, I could not help but think about what these families are going through, the what ifs and if onlys, the reminders, the heartbreaking sorrow, their lives forever changed. \u00a0The lives of the siblings who had their sister or \u00a0brother just ripped from their lives, the youngest ones who may not even be able to understand where their sister or brother is and why they’re not coming home. \u00a0The fear this strikes in all of us as parents, the not wanting to send our kids to school or let them out of our sight. \u00a0Last weekend when my little ones were\u00a0opening\u00a0the wrapped packages of ornaments for the advent tree and begged to do one more, I let them, knowing we are not promised tomorrow and to cherish the moment.<\/p>\n

I imagine the heartache the parents \u00a0may feel as the wrapped gifts that were hidden for Christmas morning will not be opened. \u00a0They will not see the look in their child’s eyes as they open something they were longing for or see the wonder of Christmas through their eyes. \u00a0To have to make decisions no parent should have to make, to have the dreams they had for their child extinguished as their grief roars.<\/p>\n

Today, as I sat watching Ethan and all the kindergarten classes\u00a0perform\u00a0the Nutcracker on stage, it was not the police presence at our rural school, or the heightened security or even the moment of silence we all observed, that struck me the most. \u00a0Seeing those precious 5 year olds so full of wonder, so full of life, so vibrant, so innocent and\u00a0realizing\u00a0that the actions of one individual took that away from so many families. \u00a0The hearts of the nation are breaking \u00a0for these families, keep them in your prayers.<\/p>\n

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