My heart is heavy this morning after the tragedy yesterday in Connecticut

I know that I do not blog as often as I would like, but this morning I felt compelled to put my thoughts into writing.  

I spent yesterday at work constantly checking for updates on the school shooting in Connecticut, as I'm sure many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles did, as well.  My first thought was "I want to go get my boys and take them home!".  However, the logical part of my brain knew they were safe and I had a responsibility to my employer.  Yet that anxious feeling continued throughout my work day.  My boss, who also has children in VVSD schools, stated "I want to go get my kids & never let them leave the house again".  I'm sure this sympathy was echoed throughout our Country & and even the world.

This morning, I woke up and immediately went to the family room to hug and kiss my sons and tell them I love them.  I slept next to my husband last night.  These are things we take for granted every day, yet there are 26 families that will never get to do them again.  There are 26 families that will not be able to "celebrate" Christmas.  

This week, I was sad because I got the news that my sister will not be able to join us on our family vacation at Disney World due to work responsibilities.  I haven't gotten to see my parents or my sister & her family since April of 2010 so I'd been very excited about the fact that we were finally all getting together.  Now, I'm thanking God that my family is still just a phone call away.  There are many waking up today knowing they will never again talk to their family member.

Today, I have a busy day planned shopping for my nieces & nephews and I've been hoping that I can find this one specific gift for my twin nephews who are 6 and in First Grade.  After the events of yesterday, while I still hope I can find the gift, I'm going to remember that I'm merely thankful that I get to see them this evening.  My heart hurts with the knowledge that 26 families today are not shopping for toy and gifts but for caskets and headstones.  I realize that seems morbid, but I feel we all need to remember how truly blessed we are this morning.

I hope that today all who read this take a moment to stop and count their blessings.  If you pray, say a prayer for all those effected by this tragedy.  Including those who experienced the terror of the ordeal and now have to try to deal with the after-effects, probably for the remainder of their lives.