jesus loves the little children.

December 17, 2012

december 14, 2012.

the day the world stopped turning. the day that will change all of our lives forever. the day that we will mourn as a nation. as moms and dads. as sisters and brothers.

there are no words. i have no words. maybe because i’m one of those “never-can-think-of-the-right-thing-to-say-at-the-right-moment” kind of people or maybe just because THERE. ARE. NO. WORDS.

but we, as a company & as a family, instantly felt the need to be off the grid digitally so to speak. no tweets (what?!). no instagrams. no facebook posts. i’m not sure why…it’s not social media’s fault that the world stopped turning. but for some reason, it just seemed the right thing to do.

we, like all of y’all, want desperately to help. we want to turn back the clocks. we want the families of newtown to be able to send their sweet babies off to school, with backpacks and lunchboxes, new crayola boxes & glue sticks and then to come home to stockings and letters to santa.

we want to close our eyes. stick our heads in the dirt.

but for now, we’re going to do all we know…we’re going to donate to the UNITED WAY …. and in the meantime, we’ll look for a time machine.

to newtown, connecticut…we send you our broken hearts full of love and prayers. we send you peace. we send you strength. we send you our tears. we send you healing.

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. . . “

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40 Comments

  • Reply Kelly December 17, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Yes, you are so right. There are no words. And when the words come they stay stuck in the lump in your throat. And when you lay your head down at night and all the imagines are swirling in your head you wonder how you will possibly fall asleep. And then you think of the family members of the children and teachers and wonder if they will ever be able to rest again. Life goes on even if you want it to stop but if you stop moving you become paralyzed with sadness. May God be with all those who suffered loses. May God be with us all.

  • Reply Hannah December 17, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    I have repeated Psalm 34:18 over and over trying to lean on the Lord after such a tragedy which followed a personal tragedy Thursday night. I pray for the families of those babies and brave school employees. As a teacher, this hits hard. It has changed the way I think and pray that this horrible event will lead to good, somehow. God bless everyone involved.

  • Reply Molly December 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    Well said words from well bred ladies.

  • Reply Mary Ann Potter December 17, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Our hearts are heavy. It is unimaginable how those precious parents feel right now. Prayer accomplishes more than we’ll ever know down here in this fallen world. In Jesus’ matchless name we declare healing for those involved and the victory that God intends for them.

  • Reply Kay Roscoe December 17, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Tragedy isn’t strong enough a word for the horror of having children die in such a way. God give the families of each person so wrongly killed the strength to carry on and to forgive. God heal this great nation.

  • Reply Wendy December 17, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    It is one of those days that we will always remember and never be able to forget. No parent should EVER have to live with this or through this… God bless us and keep us as we continue to work through this tragedy. ” Jesus loves the little Children, this I know for the Bible tells us so”

  • Reply Stephanie December 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    I’m an elementary school teacher and I’ve never felt such an amazing responsibility to my students as I feel now after that day. Believe me, I’ve always felt the need to protect my students but now…I have no words either. I can’t fathom…I do know this-I will continue to teach my students right from wrong, they will know I love them, and I will teach them to love one another beyond measure…

  • Reply Mandy Sapough December 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    I am a director of a Montessori school in S.C. and a mother to a first grader. My heart is so heavy, but in the Lord I trust. Lord help the families, teachers, staff, neighbors….Lord, please help us all.
    Amen.

  • Reply Casey Owens December 17, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    I am 2nd grade teacher in Bremond, Texas. I am also the mother of a 1st grader. When we started our morning all I could do was walk around the room & hug all these precious babies. Today & tomorrow we are practicing our intruder drill as we do everytime something like this happens. I’m so sad that we live in a world where things like this happen. ;( Prayers, comfort, & peace going out to the community of Newton, Ct.

  • Reply Lynsey December 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    I’m literally still in shock. The lump in my throat is still there. These families had something ripped away from them too soon. Meaninglessly, horrifically, suddenly. This happening around Christmas time has really lit a fire within me in a different way. It’s given Christmas a whole new meaning. It’s made me realize what really IS important and what ISN’T.

    I keep saying over and over in my head…”All that they want for Christmas is their lives before December 14th back.” And I know it to be true. They’d give everything if they could just go back to before this tragic day that has changed them forever.

    Thank you for writing about this. Praying for His nearness to be felt by the families who lost a daughter, son, brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, or grandparent.

  • Reply tammy ely December 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    my prayers go out to the boken hearted families ~` i cannot even phantom what kind of heart ACHE THIS IS ~ ALTHOUGH MY HEART IS BROKEN OVER THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY & THIS BROKEN WORLD ~~~ I think the only thing that is keeping me going is the picture in my head odf all those babies lost playing on Jesus’s lap with the teachers & principle that left this world also sitting @ the feet of Jesus ~~I know that ,that does’nt bring them back , but it does comfort me to know our Lord is there in our trying times ….. I am praying for all the families in conn. , I pray they feel a peace that surpasses all understanding ~~In Jesus name Amen ~~

  • Reply Barbara Wiggibs December 17, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Exactly what I did, no words. to speak from my broken heart. No blame no politics just healing and love

  • Reply Melissa December 17, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    My heart goes out to the families in bearish… Words cannot express how I feel..it’s a comfort to know that Jesus is there to hug and kiss those precious babies…God Bless …

  • Reply linda roderick December 17, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    My heart hurts every time I see pictures of their innocent little faces. We are reminded once again just how fragile life is. We also want to hold those who are near and dear to our hearts a little tighter and tell them we love them each time they walk out the door. My prayers are with the families who lost their precious babies.

  • Reply Shelly Stoffel December 17, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    Well said ladies….I happened to be off from work that day and didn’t see/hear anything about the events until shortly before my two daughters (12 & 15) came home from school. They came through the door and asked if I’d heard the news and I told them yes and we sat and discussed this tragic event. I didn’t have answers for most of their question of how or why this happened (as most of us don’t and probably won’t ever). All any of us can really do is keep this community and the countless families in our prayers.

  • Reply cindy craine December 17, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    I’m speechless like you. I sat here and watched the tv and thought, one of those teachers could have been my mother, as most of you are thinking that could have been my child. I guess I just don’t understand the unfairness of it all. You both are precious girls and I know you and your families truly grieve for those families, as we all do. Maybe one day we’ll have an answer. Hugs to your and yours. Much love-cindy

  • Reply Footloose Cowgirl December 17, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    As I read your words, Alan Jackson’s song The Angels Cried played on Pandora Radio, and as my tears flowed, I thought that your words and his song express well the grief I feel for the loss of the children and their faithful caretakers. Those with violent mental illness need to be helped or isolated to protect the rest of us, and it needs to be treated as a public health issue. I’m from Tucson, and we are fresh with our sorrows. It is too much for this to happen again, ever again, never again. God save the little children.

  • Reply Debbie DeGroff December 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Blessed are the children of god anad the shepards who cared for them. Mark 10:15. Now they are all safe. Well said ladies, thank you for the forum to show how we all care. I wish we had the answer to…Why? God Bless

  • Reply Sharmin December 17, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    You are right, there are no words. How do you rationalize what happened? It can’t be done. Last week was one like we have never seen’; here in our tiny school in north central Arkansas someone called in a bomb threat to the county sheriff stating there was a bomb in a high school in the county. We evacuated, as did 6 other schools in our area. Friday, tragedy in CT, and I was brokenhearted for them. I can’t imagine the terror those babies felt….and the teachers. We were very nervous with just a threat, I can’t imagine coming face to face with that threat and knowing it had just become a reality. As teachers we run drills, we train for such a time as this, but we pray that it never happens. You are right, there are no words, only prayers. . . that’s the answer. The government has removed God from our schools to what sacrifices?

  • Reply jeri lynn December 17, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    to jolie’s post:

    amen.

  • Reply Judy Gorrell December 17, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Lord have mercy on us all.

  • Reply Vici Hughes December 17, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    I cannot stop my tears. I cannot stop thinking about the presents under the tree and the stockings that will never be filled. All of this is unimaginable. My 10 year old daughter told me not to be worried about her because her principal and her teachers will protect her, but this morning, like every other morning, I watched her get out, told her I love her, she smiled and said she loves me too. I drove away crying. Bless those mother’s hearts. It just hurts my soul.

  • Reply Susan Esparza December 17, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    From one school district to another… you do not walk alone. Our hearts go with you in the days ahead. May God Bless You with comfort & strength…!

  • Reply Jillian Welles December 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    Not to break up the grieving, but their actually ARE words. You can stop praying and quoting bible verses because clearly that isn’t going to change anything. Put words on paper and write an email or real letter to your Congress man or woman, copy the president and John Boehner, and tell them to vote for the new assault rifle ban that is coming from Dianne Feinstein next month. Because to not do something and ban this militia weaponry is to silently say you’re OK with more kids (or anyone) dying from them. Now then yoy can pray.

    • Reply Sylvie December 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm

      I absolutely agree. I’m from the UK and believe you must do something to get gun control in the USA. This happens too often,and it will continue to do so unless you act now. Don’t let these children and teachers die in vain.
      I can’t even begin to imagine the pain those poor families are enduring.

    • Reply Po December 19, 2012 at 11:09 pm

      I know the first thought is to *get the guns* but that won’t change the heart of someone who is determined to do harm. Just imagine if even one of the teachers in the school had been licensed to carry a handgun that day. How many of those children would have gone home with their parents?

  • Reply Misty Marshall December 17, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    I hope you gals will take this tragedy to heart the next time you produce t-shirts with guns on them. Many schools ban clothing with depictions of firearms.

    • Reply Jennifer December 18, 2012 at 5:04 pm

      Junk Gypsy is not responsible for those creatures that lack humanity, and take it out on the world. How unfair to even elude such a thing.

  • Reply Janet Breidenbach December 17, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    I still can’t fathom this. I have a broken heart for all the families that have lost a precious child or other loved one…the bravery of the teachers…what we all hope we would do under the circumstance…prayers for all of them and all left behind.

  • Reply Deanna December 17, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    My heart aches for all those who were touched by the tragic events of that day. On Friday, December 14th, 2012 twenty-six angels got their wings when God called them home.

  • Reply Judy Ann December 17, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    As I watched one of the most heart wrenching stories unfold, I sat with tears. I remembered dropping my own little boy off at school, and each day, I couldn’t wait to return to him as I picked him up with his innocent smile. My heart sank, when I thought of those Mother’s who did not know that this would be the last morning they would look into those innocent children’s eyes. I can not comprehend or understand why. How can any of us understand, such a horrible act. This morning as I was leaving my house, I came across a scripture plaque I had made, It read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” We can not trust in this world, This is a fallen world, God gave us free will so that we would choose to have fellowship with Him, because he wanted a true relationship with us, not robots being forced to serve Him. So with this free will, so many have chose to do evil, like this man. So many say where was God in this, but God did not do this, a man did this. Though this is most horrible, God will have the last word, and I believe that young man has come face to face with an eternity of unimaginable consequences. This is sad all around. As a Mother, I worry for my own son’s safety, but put him in God’s hands every day. I am sure so many of these Mothers did the same, that is what makes it so hard. Even in the darkest hour, there is a light that shines, His name is Jesus. God Bless you all, Judy Ann

  • Reply Nancy December 17, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    We all are heartsick over this tragedy. I couldn’t even speak on Saturday I was so upset. We all need to stay vigilant, hold our children close and start those letter-writing campaigns to our politicians for change. Peace be with those of Newtown.

  • Reply CARLO BETTI RICCI December 18, 2012 at 5:31 am

    AMERICAN THE HOME OF THE BRAVE…..

    DAWN HOCHSPRUNG
    MARY SHERLACH
    VICTORIA SOTO

    MORTI PER PROTEGGERE I PICCOLI…..

  • Reply Penny December 18, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Ican not begin to imagine what the families of these loved ones are going through. I can only pray.. pray.. pray and keep praying that God will somehow give them strength and some comfort during this terrible time. We all need to love one another and stay close to God. When I feel things are too hard for me to bear, I remember God’s promise …. ” I will never leave or forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 . GOD BLESS YOU !!!!!!!

  • Reply Terri Watson December 18, 2012 at 9:04 am

    My heart, soul and prayers go out to those Newtown families and I can’t imagine Christmas will ever be the same for them. It’s natural for decent human beings to try and make some sort of sense of tragedies like this. Unfortunately, as so often is the case, there are no sensible answers. We want to feel in control, but you can’t always control these situations without living in a military state. And I’m sure we wouldn’t want our children living their lives in that manner. The fact is, you can’t always predict this sort of thing, and even a ban on assault weapons will only do so much. I don’t feel the average person would feel a need for an assault weapon in the first place and people intent on doing harm will always find what they need to inflict it, whether it’s a gun or a bomb. Most “bad guys” don’t obtain their weapons in a legal manner anyway. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is the mentality of our culture—everyone wants to be a celebrity and some will go to any lengths to “go out in a blaze of glory”. What these disturbed individuals don’t realize is that their final acts are those of cowardice and evil, not “glory”. Newtown, you do not grieve alone. And your little angels and the heroes that died trying to save them, are forever in our minds and hearts.

  • Reply Jessica Dougherty December 18, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    Damask Love started a great project collecting funds & supplies for art supplies to give all the students in Newton in hopes of helping them cope. I think this is something you artistic Mothers will think is very worthwhile! http://www.damasklove.com/

  • Reply Baarbara December 18, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I used to give to the United Way in the early 90’s straight out of my $16,000 a year salary until I read that the CEO was flying the Concord and making a 6 figure salary. Well thing’s haven’t changed for the United Way. I am sure that you can contact the City Offices and find out where you can donate $ for the families of these Angel’s. So that they get 100 % of the donation and are not paying the CEO $350,000 a year plus benefits.

    Good to know before Christmas Holiday ….
    (or any time of year)

    The American Red Cross
    President and CEO Marsha J. Evans’ salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
    MARCH OF DIMES
    It is called the March of Dimes because only a dime for every 1 dollar is given to the needy.
    The United Way
    President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
    UNICEF
    CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k permonth) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE. Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
    GOODWILL
    CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
    Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business. You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
    He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy.
    $0.00 goes to help anyone!
    Stop giving to this man.

    Instead, give it to ANY OF THE FOLLOWING GO “GREEN” AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE IT WILL DO SOME GOOD:

    The Salvation Army
    Commissioner, Todd Bassett receives a small salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.
    The American Legion
    National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
    Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    The Veterans of Foreign Wars
    National Commander receives a$0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    The Disabled American Veterans
    National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
    Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    The Military Order of Purple Hearts
    National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
    Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    The Vietnam Veterans Association
    National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    Make a Wish: For children’s last wishes. 100% goes to funding trips or special wishes for a dying child.
    St. Jude Research Hospital 100% goes towards funding and helping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and can
    not afford to pay.
    Ronald McDonald Houses All monies go to running the houses for parents who have critical Children in the hospital. 100% goes to housing, and feeding the families.
    Lions Club International 100% OF DONATIONS GO TO HELP THE BLIND,BUY HEARING AIDES, SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THEIR LATEST UNDERTAKING IS MEASLES VACCINATIONS (ONLY $1.00 PER SHOT).

  • Reply Baarbara December 18, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Opps I said the CEO of United Way makes $350,000. It is actually $375,000. plus benefits.

  • Reply Gail M Caldwell December 19, 2012 at 11:22 am

    As all of you I pray I cry my heart goes out to all those parents, grandparents, and families as they are hurting beyond words can ever help! I know God has a plan we do nit understand although he loves us and we are not to doubt his love. I too wish I could turn back time, and bring those sweet innocent babies and adults back home to their families. My family in honor of those slot so early in their lives will be having candles burning and a moment of silence on Christmas Day to honor them. God Bless and hold the families left to carry on in his hands -hugs sassy

    • Reply Micelle December 20, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      This is another reason for the schools to let God back in, to keep our kids safe!!!!!!!!!! My heart and prayers go out to all the families and friends and the whole community. I am so sorry to all of you fo you having to go through this horrific tragedy. Just please know that they are in heaven and looking down at us and wanting us to know that they are happy and having the time of their lives.

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