onward

Today was a normal day.

Praise God.

My first graders laughed like normal. Were tired like normal. Whined like normal. And couldn't sit still like normal.

Praise God.

As I continue to reflect on what happened on Friday, I am so incredibly thankful that unlike too many other families, my life gets to go back to normal.

However, I can assure you, it is not without grief. Not without change. Not without a different perspective.

But we must move onward.

Newtown, I will pray for you every day in hopes that someday you will be able to move onward as well.

Onward.

I recently created a Christmas countdown for myself. There were 15 days until Christmas at the time. Now there are 8. How am I doing?

Let's see.

1. Read the Christmas story from the Gospels.
2. Take pictures of what's important to me.
3. Drive around with junior and hubster to look at lights.
4. Spend an entire day TV-free.
5. Read the Christmas story to junior from his Bible.
6. Turn off the lights and light candles.
7. Hold my tongue. A.k.a mission impossible.
8. Start the day by making a 'thankful' list. {still counts in the evening}
9. Put on Christmas records.
10. Go Christmas caroling {I'm cheating; already scheduled for Wednesday}.
11. Family photo-ish session. At home. Just us. In our element.
12. Do something for a friend.
13. Pray for those who anger me. {did this a lot this weekend}
14. Read a book {a non-toddler edition}.
15. Give a compliment when I feel myself ready to criticize.

8 down. 7 to go.

I will echo my sentiments from yesterday. Please think before you react. Remember the children & the adults who perished. Focus on their memory. Their impact. Save the politics for another day.

Be the light, just as they were. 

via

 

 

Peace.