Say "I love you" & Do what's RIGHT.

Say "I love you" & Do what's RIGHT.

Today I'm making sure I'm taking my time to cherish the moments I have with my loved ones. Especially my kindergartner (she's in 2nd grade now!) that I'm SOO thankful that I have more time to spend with her and show her all the wonderful things in the world and how much she is loved. Harsh reality of yesterdays events has really hit home. The children that were so tragically murdered in Connecticut yesterday at Sandy Hook Elementary school were all young children and mostly kids that are the same age as my beautiful 5 year old. I heard the news when I got home from volunteering at Alexa's school and I couldn't contain my tears. I grieve for those children and their families because as a mother I automatically put myself in the situation. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like if I was a parent that lost their innocent little baby to something so tragic. I cried all day. Once I got home from work and Alexa ran up to me and gave me the biggest most loving hug (I think god knew he should give me an affectionate child) I just burst into tears. She didn't understand of course and I wasn't going to tell her exactly why, but I did tell her because I loved her more than life itself and that she should just remember that always. I had multiple people who called or stopped by just to talk to her and say hi and tell her they loved her because she was the first little person they thought of when they heard the news and although they all knew she was alright because she was here in Wisconsin I think we all needed a little reminder that she was okay and here with us still. I let her stay up late and we watched polar express because I just needed to cherish my time with her the best I could.

She really enjoyed her self. We loaded up with hot chocolate with my homemade whip topping, popcorn and each others love and snuggles. I cried again, but this time she couldn't see me. I just held her tight and thanked god that she was still here and prayed that the families of these babies (because really - they all were just babies) find some peace eventually and prayed that they will all be okay. I prayed for the brave teachers that saved other children risking or giving their own lives. I could only hope (and I do believe) that Alexa's teachers would do the same for her and her classmates. 

Everyone has been reacting in their own way and thankfully I've seen a lot of prayers and condolences. I have also seen people talk about how we need increased gun control and that this was a prime example why. I get it, I really do, but this is a time of mourning. I agree we may need stricter gun control. I can see both sides, but sadly our country has so many violent crimes regarding guns compared to other countries that I can't help but think that there is something to it. HOWEVER, most importantly I think there needs to be a huge focus on helping individuals with mental illnesses. Sadly most of these people committing these crimes have all different types of mental disturbances and a lot of times they're over looked because of stigma or people surrounding them are uneducated on what could happen. Our country needs to reform the way we handle individuals with a mental illness and so much heart break could have been avoid. That's my piece. I'm not right or wrong, and neither are you. It's a huge area of grey...the world isn't as black and white as we'd like.

Something like this (or columbine, or Virginia Tech, or Aurora theater, or September 11th, or Oregon shooting, or any other tragic situation) shouldn't have to happen for people to realize that there needs to be a change in policy and most importantly a change in how we as individuals and families live our own lives. 

Again... take a minute today. Actually, take the whole day to enjoy your family. LOVE your children, play with them, teach them how to be a great person and a loving person by hugging them and smothering them with kisses. Love your significant other, other family members  and friends. Shoot, do me a favor and love a stranger. Be KIND to people. You never know if you're the person that restores their faith in humanity and could be the person that keeps them from doing something they'll regret later. If we all looked at life this way and acted the way we want to be treated the world and people in it wouldn't be so depressed and losing faith in humanity. 

That being said - I'm going to cuddle with my #1 kindergartner and make sure that there is NEVER a doubt in her mind that she is loved.

To whoever is reading this even if I don't know you - you are loved. 

xoxo

 

 

12/15/2014- Still holds true today, You are loved. I love you. And I plan on LOVING this whole lifetime I'm given. Loving as many things as possible. ]

Thanks for listening... :-)