For the Children of Sandy Hook

Tragedies such as yesterdays killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have always saddened me, but now as a mother it hurts so much worse. I cannot fathom what the survivors and families are going through. Though I wish I could help more, I just want to offer comfort and reassurance that those little ones and brave teachers and faculty members are at peace and with the Lord now. To surviving children and teachers as well as family, I pray that you find the peace and comfort you need to go forward in your lives, knowing these sweet angels are watching over you.

For the victims and survivors of Sandy Hook Elementary School, I have this picture hanging in my home and it always brings me happiness and peace when I look at it. May it do the same for you:

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

         - Matthew 19:14

It just gets better every day...

It also gets harder every day, but that is beside the point. I am trying to make this a positive post in the hopes of overcoming my bad mood of the past few days. Will I succeed? I'm not sure. For the most part I just feel frustrated about E's bed time (or lack thereof). He just does not like sleep. We have tried different forms of sleep training...3 times. Everything seemed to work at first, but in the end we are always right back where we started. I'm throwing in the towel. It's easier for me to accept that he doesn't sleep than it is to feel guilty for yelling at him because I want him to.

Despite that, he is the cutest little boy to ever grace this earth (if I do say so myself) and the light of my life. That's cliche, but it's true. Especially at this time of year, I am enjoying the wonder of childhood. It is pretty darn awesome to get to experience everything for the first time (again) through him. We took him to the city's Christmas lights last week, and just as we pulled into the parking lot he shouted out, pointed out the window, and got a huge smile on his face. We let him walk, and he LOVED it. Except for a brief incident (he fell), he smiled and giggled the entire time, and I think we must have walked back and forth through the light tunnel about a hundred times.

I am so excited to celebrate Christmas with my little family this year. I know we had E last year too, but this year I feel like he's old enough to really enjoy himself, even if he isn't quite old enough to understand what is going on.

At the same time, I find myself asking, "does my little boy have to grow up?" Sigh. I guess that's part of life, but I love this age (despite the fact that he loves pushing boundaries these days) and I wish it wouldn't fly by so fast.