Our SweetCheeks is in
Kindergarten.
She is spending the weekend
with me...while Mom and Dad
are away.
I picked her up at noon
from school yesterday.
I wanted to keep her close.
Her parents send her to
a small, protected school.
A school where visitors
have to be buzzed in
and have to be buzzed out.
A school much like the
one where the tragedy
that will haunt all of us
happened yesterday.
I cannot begin to imagine
losing this precious
child of the Lord.
How?
How can these parents
survive this travesty?
How?
How can this happen at
Christmas time when
their presents are
surely purchased and
waiting for them?
How?
Which begs me to ask
WHY?
WHY is such a senseless
act of violence
aimed at those,
the most innocent
among us.
I will never understand.
But I will pray.
Please pray!
God bless us each
and every one.
Give her an extra hug from miami. I can't stop thinking about it....my elementary school is the same way. Small. Safe...those families...how will they ever get past this. :(
ReplyDeleteOur grand started kindergarten as well this year, two of our DD's are teachers, I wanted all of them home with me last night and never leave the house again. It's all just too much
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea...a prayer chain. I don't blame you for grabbing your precious girl early. Sometimes I think there is no safe place anymore but I know we can't live like that. Still...a reminder to appreciate every moment and keep things in perspective. Hugs, Suzanne
ReplyDeleteDiana, I feel the same as you. I have cried watch the news. I can't help but think of the families. Praying for the people of Newtown. xo,Susie
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIt's horrific! I just don't understand why ...
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, this is one of my greatest fears.
Hug Sweetcheecks extra tight!
Jo
My sentiments are the same as Jo's . . . As a teacher this is unimaginable to me - the slaughter of innocent children, & the adults who sacrificed their lives most likely trying to protect those babies. May God bless their souls & may they rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThe ages of the victims make it all the more devastating, sweet little angels too young to be taken. I had just left my daughter's kindy class where we had been building a gingerbread house together when I heard of this tragedy and all I could think was those poor babies and their families... I wanted to drive back to her school, back to her, and take her home. Those poor parents can never bring their babies home again. How can this happen?
ReplyDeleteIt's so unthinkable. So heart wrenching. Give her a hug and hope for a better future.
ReplyDeleteDiana, I thought about your little sweet cheeks when I saw the news of this tragedy. I prayed that none of my friends in blogland lost a dear little one a loved one.
ReplyDeleteThis world makes no sense to me anymore, when someone can in cold blood, kill an innocent. We here about child abductions, and little ones being killed almost daily.
But this, this is too much to bear.
I pray for the families of these little ones. I pray for the families of the adults who were killed as well. I will continue to pray for the families as well as some kind of understanding of why, why all this had to happen.
I am heartsick over this tragedy and I am praying with you.
ReplyDeleteHold her close and love her big- big!!! As a teacher, this really frightens me. xo
ReplyDeleteHi if, it's a scary world. My heart is broken as well! Thanks for the pick me up, greeting card.
ReplyDeleteLove you my friend!
Xoxo
Another senseless act of violence.I am keeping them all in my prayers.Although I heard about this on the radio I have not seen any of it on the television.I chose not too.I don't want to hear them analyze this person.I don't care why he did it.It breaks my heart.All I can do is pray for them and for a change.Something needs to be done!
ReplyDeletexx
Anne
Oh Diana, I know exactly how you feel. I phoned my DIL last night and told her to please hug my favorite 5 year old and tell him Grandma loves him. Unspeakable grief for those dear families.
ReplyDeleteOh Diana, this is more than people can take I think. Something has to be done, but what I don't know. Those babies...my heart hurts and I know yours and everyone in blogland hurts too. My daughter's two are in a school about two miles from me where you can't get in unless buzzed. My two sons are teachers...how did schools become a battleground?
ReplyDeleteBless the parents of these angels.
ReplyDeleteSo sad that those babies are gone, and those parents are suffering. And all those children who lived through it, will never be quite the same innocent and happy children that they were yesterday morning. And imagine their parents having to send them off to school again, how sad.
Thank you for sharing this. I am praying for the people there.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is breaking and there is so much sadness!! I hugged my kids when they came home yesterday!!! I hope the community in CT can heal from this and they are all in prayers!!
ReplyDeleteYesterday at lunch, Pres Obama came on, and as I looked around there was not a dry eye in the room...even the men were crying......
ReplyDeleteDear Diana, I was just thinking & posting the same... My Grandaughters are in Kindergarten & 4th grade, you also have to buzz to get in there school~ My heart is aching, just like the rest of the world. We will never make sense of this, The Best thing to do is to continue to Pray!
ReplyDeletexox
Cheryl
Can NOT comprehend how this happened! I asked myself the same question, how can parents survive something like this when all you did was to take your child to school? Such unbelievable grief!
ReplyDeleteJust so heartbreaking. I am trying so hard not to think about those sweet little faces of those involved and our own little ones. ((((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those families affected by this terrible tragedy.
ReplyDelete:(
ReplyDeleteUnreal, unfathomable. That town is probably considered one of the safest in Connecticut.
It's a horrible tragedy....our hearts are breaking for those families.
ReplyDeleteJen
Last night, I could not do anything. I just kept thinking that those beloved children should be at home now, playing with their toys or doing whatever they like to do after school and before bedtime. But, whatever they're doing, they should be safe and at peace, I kept thinking. Those poor parents! It has to be one of the greatest tragedy in the life of a parent to have their child taken this way.
ReplyDeleteToo easily, we tend to forget that we are surrounded by evil. It's out there, it's everywhere. It's invisible but it's there and it strikes when we least expect it.
Let us ask the Lord to be with us in this horrible time of grief. Let us ask Him to surround us with His peace which has nothing to do with the peace of the world but is this blissful, heavenly peace that nothing can destroy and that no one can take away from us because it comes from the Lord's Holy Spirit. Let us ask that this divine peace enter the hearts of all those parents afflicted in this horrible tragedy so that they may be uplifted and sustained by our Lord's mighty power. This powerful peace which penetrates every part of us, body and soul, and surrounds us, and strengthens us when we have been hurt.
Bad things happen to good people because we were created free. Free to do evil or free to do good. There is no other reason. People are free to do what they want.
We live in a fallen world and if we forget it for one moment, it is a tragedy like this one that reminds us. That's why we need to pray always and to ask our Lord to keep us and our loved ones safe. But, failing that, then to give us the strength needed to sustain us, to see us through all this pain. Faith is a powerful weapon against evil. Faith and prayer are the only weapons we have.
We are all hit by evil at one time or another in our lives. It's impossible to live in a fallen world and never be hit. Even those who pray are hit. Sometimes, they are hit the hardest.
We often wonder why bad things happen to good people because we forget that we are all created free to do evil or free to do good. Being a good person is not a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to us.
In my opinion, faith in our Lord's love for us is the only thing that can sustain us through a tragedy of this magnitude. In my opinion, faith is the greatest of all treasures.
A short prayer to our Lord Jesus:
"Most merciful Jesus whose Heart is Love itself, please sustain all those whose heart is broken by this horrible tragedy. We lift them up to You, dearest Lord, and we ask you to strengthen them, to fill their shattered hearts with your peace, this peace of yours which surpasses all human understanding. We ask you to hold near your Heart each fallen child, each fallen adult, and to give them a very special hug. We ask you to deposit in the hearts of all those grieving parents a special grace that will strengthen them and sustain them through this most difficult time. Thank you, dearest Lord.
It's hard to think about how much evil there is out there. I will never understand
ReplyDeleteYes, I have been praying, Diana. It breaks my heart. It is so special of you to make a post on this. Love you, dear.
ReplyDelete~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
I am heart broken too, Diana. I didn't hear the news til last night, and can't stop thinking about it. Praying for all those who lost loved ones. It's all just so unthinkable. Give SweetCheeks a hugs for me today, will you? And giving you a hug, too:)
ReplyDeletePraying also. One of my thoughts yesterday was... God why don't you just blow up the world. Right or wrong as that sounds I really was wondering how much farther as a society we can fall. When I saw that Fleet Farm (and other places of course)were starting to sell the high power guns I thought were do we go from here. Who NEEDS them! There have been so many shootings lately! It is just getting easier to get weapons that can take out even more lives. Let's remember the kids, families, teachers, cops, medics and anyone else there. They will never be the same. Innocencs lost. I wish though that the media would get facts right though. I also feel sorry for the 24 year old brother as he was falsly accused. Besides losing his family his reputation has been tarnished. Even though he was cleared he will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteHope that made sense.
My heart hurts.....I can't stop thinking about it. I didn't sleep well last night. :(
ReplyDeleteBeen praying for everyone since I heard about it.
Big hugs to everyone..God bless
A complete tragedy. I have 2 children in Elementary school and I work for the school district, it's a very scary place these days... In fact, I don't feel America is safe at all.
ReplyDeleteI hope that every child in our land has someone to hold them a little tighter, pray with them and listen when they need to talk-it is just
ReplyDeletesuch a scary world right now.
XOXO
Sadly, we will probably never know 'why', Diana. The only thing most of us can do is pray...and pray...and pray. Somehow, though, that just doesn't seem to be enough.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful post.
Nancy
Hi, I'm grabbing your graphic to post this weekend-hope it is o.k. Also went to the Sandy Hope site but didn't see the graphic you left me, so will post that one on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
I can't imagine what the people in that town are going through..So very sad..
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, I am heartsick over this and praying for the families and the community constantly. Going to post the graphic for Tuesday as well.
ReplyDeleteHugs and a hug for sweet cheeks too.
I am sure you are holding her close this weekend.
XO Celestina Marie
Terrible tragedy ! From Canada our hearts and prayers go out to all . I posted the prayer chain on Friday from another Canadian blogger !
ReplyDeleteGod Bless that little Sweet Cheeks....I was at a bloggers house for lunch when one of the ladies got a text message about the school shooting but no other info...they didn't want to put on the t.v. so it wasn't until I headed home and called the Boss when I heard it was little children and they said kindergarten kids...My heart sank....ofcourse my first question was "did it happen in NYC"....you must have thought the same thing as me....this could have been our baby....it's horrible and I don't blame guns I blame all the violence these young boys see in video games and horrible movies that they make today.....
ReplyDeleteOh Diana, this tragedy is unbelievable and unthinkable. Like you, I am heartbroken. The world is feeling such sadness right now. How do those parents go on? There is no sense to be made of this.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for picking up SweetCheeks a bit early yesterday. I would have done the same thing.
I haven't been blogging in a couple of months but hope to start up very soon. I have missed you.
My heart is breaking for Newtown, CT. right now. We will all keep them in our prayers. XO
Prayer is more powerful in numbers so this is an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteMy boys went to a small Catholic grade school at our church that had separate buildings and no security. After Columbine, I prayed for their safety but anything could have happened.
I hate that we live in a world now that a school has to be like a prison but it seems to be the way of the world now to keep are children safe.
It is just so sad all around.
I don't know how those parents and families move on? I have to imagine that it will help that unfortunately they have a large support group. Oh Goodness, I wonder what the lords lesson was in this....Maybe it WAKE UP ..we have to do something? We have almost become immune to it. I don't know the answer, I am hopping there is sharper minds than mine who can come up with the answer!
ReplyDeleteCarol
I share your broken heart, Diana. I think the world is stunned right now and this kind of pain does not go away. So many lives were shattered and taken yesterday by the act of one disturbed individual. Prayer may be the only thing that can help at a time like this. God bless all the children for they are our most precious gifts.
ReplyDeleteHi, Diana, I am a neighbor from the Madison area. This is so horrific, I don't even know what to say. I have a daughter who is a principal and a husband who is a teacher. I worry about these things every single day. Seriously, assault weapons?? Anyone who has one of these has it only to kill someone or something. These are not necessary for hunting. This craziness must be stopped. I understand the first amendment, but where and when is MY freedom considered? It seems there are bullets flying, and no where that we can feel safe any longer. Does ANYONE truly believe our forefathers had assault rifles in mind when they wrote the constitution? They would think we have all gone mad. Buzzing into a school does no good when the person who wants to come in has an assault rifle. They just shoot their way in. God bless us all. We seriously need it.
ReplyDeleteWe have 6 grandchildren, and I just cannot imagine how horrible those poor parents are feeling. I just don't understand how someone can do something so hanis. Thank you for your beautiful Prayer Chain.
ReplyDeleteIt is all too overwhelming to even comprehend. I am just so sad for those families. A true nightmare they can never wake from. Hold your family close.
ReplyDeleteI have all the same questions and no answers. I cannot imagine this happening, and yet it has. Why inthe world would this person go after these innocent babes? I he wanted to kill himself, go ahead. Why bring others into your nightmare? It just doesn't make sense. It never will. My heart aches for all those involved. I cannot comprehend such a thing clearly. Horrible. Simply horrible! I have shared the prayer chain and will continue to do so as I see it show up on Face Book. xoxo, Leena
ReplyDeleteJust as the priest on the news said when asked if people should turn off their Christmas lights... "Don't turn off your Christmas lights...let them shine even brighter, for there are 20 extra stars in this night's sky." It's the only thing said that's eased my heart at all. Twenty little shining stars shining down on earth.
ReplyDeleteLet us all light up the night and shine with those sweet babies.
Dearest Nana Diana,
ReplyDeleteWhen mere spoken words can't suffice...Oh, the blessing of song seems to lift my heart heavenward.
Thank you for sharing this comforting post, my sweet friend!
Blessings,
Carolynn xxx
Dearest Diana... this is the first time I have been able to read this post, as I feel I know your precious Sweet Cheeks personally... my heart is aching, like yours... I cannot look at another piece of news or listen any more to the television... we all grieve in our own ways... I did a post last night in remembrance, then pulled it... the words just did not seem to say enough... I know some are not posting today... some are posting as usual... but we all have one thing in common... we are mourning the losses and praying for all... sending you much love dear friend, xoxo Julie Marie
ReplyDelete