Showing posts with label Newtown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newtown. Show all posts

Saturday, June 13, 2015

A Day At Elizabeth Park



On Thursday the girls and I met my mom for lunch in West Hartford and then the four of us ventured over to Elizabeth Park. The last time that we were there was probably about six years ago when the girls were little and we were on our way down to New Jersey for a family gathering. It was so lovely to be back after all this time, and to see my girls see this magical place (again) for the first time. We walked around exploring, enjoyed ice cream cones by the duck pond and then ended our visit to Elizabeth Park with a trip to the Ana Grace Memorial Playground (in honor of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene daughter of two University of Hartford alums and one of the young victims of Sandy Hook). 
In the words of Ana's mother: "Love wins." 
It does indeed. xo

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Our Hearts Are Broken, Our Spirit Is Not

I have been sad all week. 

Last year, in the wake of the horrific events that took place in Newtown, my heart started aching for the families that lost loved ones that day and it hasn't stopped yet. When this week began I woke up in a funk and couldn't figure out why. It was only when I was adding something to our calendar that I realized what would arrive at the end of this week: the Newtown anniversary. As soon as I noticed it my mood made complete sense. And while noticing it didn't make it go away it at least cleared up why I felt like I had a little grey cloud hanging over head. 

The deep sadness that I feel can in no way compare to the emotions that the families have gone through and the feelings they've experienced over the course of the last year. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like for them. Many of them have shared their words and thoughts so beautifully. This video from Emilie's mama had me weepy from her very first word. And this gorgeous letter that Jimmy Greene wrote to his younger self brought the cleansing cry that I had been waiting for all week long. If you watch these amazing tributes to these sweet children please be sure you have a box of tissues nearby. 

And so I leave you with their words, along with a link to my blogpost from last year and finally the encouragement to go out into the world and spread as much love and kindness and goodness as possible. If you already spread lots of love and kindness and goodness spread more. For this world of ours could surely use it.

Monday, April 15, 2013

For Boston

"Boston is a tough and resilient town. So are its people. I'm supremely confident that Bostonians will pull together, take care of each other, and move forward as one proud city. And as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way." —President Obama

The words of these two men are just what we who love (or live in) the city of Boston needed to hear today.  Marathon Monday is normally a fabulously joyous day where hard work and dedication are celebrated. Today started out as any other Marathon Monday but it surely did not end as such. As I result, I find myself heartbroken once again. Three months ago, I was rendered utterly speechless and totally heartbroken when my beloved home state was thrust into the news due to the tragic events that took place in Newtown. And now, here I am today feeling just as sad and disappointed in the world. Needless to say, Gandhi's words could have not have come at a better time. 

I am eternally grateful to know that all my friends and family are safe. And I am even more grateful that Dave was three days late in submitting his application to be part of the Boston Marathon medical tent staff this year. Otherwise, I would be going out of my mind with worry right about now. Thank you to everyone who has checked in on us and who has let us know that if we need anything they are here. We are fine. Heartbroken but fine nonetheless.  

For those wanting to do something the 26 Acts of Kindness Facebook page posted the message below:

The Boston community is in need of signs of love and support, and that's what we are all about. Please consider sending a card or hand written letter showing you care. These letters will be reviewed to make sure they are appropriate and then forwarded to the Boston community to pass out to whomever wants them. Do not send any donations at this time, this page is not authorized to collect on their behalf. We only want to show support and love through words and kind acts.

26 Acts of Kindness
PO Box 185083
Hamden, CT 06518

Together we can stand up for one another and spread love, not hate.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Hearts Of Hope

The last few days have been very somber here.  And yet, I have been longing for something to do.  Some way to let the people of Newtown know that we've got their backs.  That the world is holding them close and sending them lots of love and peace during this most tragic of times.  I kept trying to come up with something that we could do as family but nothing that popped into my mind seemed quite right.  And then, while I was checking in with the world this morning (Facebook, email, the blogs I follow) the perfect project was right there before my eyes.  Thanks to today's post on Frontier Dreams my answer had finally arrived!

"In memory of the recent tragedy in Newtown we are hoping to come together as a community in the thought that “those children are our children” and show the people of Newtown that we are in this together. So many of us watched the news with broken hearts and a feeling of helplessness. Here is the opportunity for all of us to show our love for Newtown, to let them know they are not alone. To let them know as they piece their lives back together that we are there to shed tears with them, prayer with them, and help in anyway we can.

Here is what you can do: Cut out a paper heart, decorate it, and write a message of love (positive messages only please). Address them to Hearts of Hope and send one or many and mail them to:

Newtown Congregational Church, UCC
14 West St, Newtown, CT 06470 or

First Church Congregational, UCC
148 Beach Rd, Fairfield CT 06824

We are going to take these hearts and cover Newtown with our love from around the world. We are going to take these hearts and hang them up in local businesses, churches, and banks so that no matter where the people of Newtown go they will be surrounded by love and reminded that from hate rises love and support. That humanity is still very much alive and if we band together with love and hope in our hearts we can accomplish so much more. It really does take a village..."

Yes!  This was just what was needed! This, sweetly simple project was clearly what my heart was yearning for.  I quickly got to work sharing this on Facebook and on the homeschooling chat boards that I am a part of.  I knew that the odds were good that others would want to send notes of love along too.  

Once everything was shared and we'd gotten our day started, I gathered the necessary supplies and we got to work. The girls know nothing of the events on Friday. They simply know that something happened that made their mama very sad. When we sat down to begin this project they were very surprised to see hearts.  "Valentine's!"  they exclaimed and I replied "Well, sort of.  There is a town not too far from Gramma and Grandpa that is in need of some cheering up right now, so I thought it would be fun if we decorated these hearts and sent them their way."  The girls agreed and quickly got to work.  You could have heard a pin drop, everyone was so focused.  Lots of love was poured into the creation of each heart.      

And, while these hearts surely aren't going to take away the incredible amount of pain that the people of Newtown are experiencing right now, we surely hope that they bring some kind of comfort and peace to all who come into contact with them.  

Our friends over at Frog Creek have also listed a few ways to make donations for those who would like to do so.  You can check out that list here.  

We hope that you will join us by sending a heart (or two, or three, or four) to Newtown. Such a simple project, and yet, I have a feeling it will make such a huge impact on a community that so in need of some love right now. 

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Sadness

Before I begin I should say that I have gone back and forth about posting something in this space, normally a place for peace and love, about the horrific events that took place in Connecticut yesterday.  After much contemplation I realized that I should go ahead and do so.  After all, had I maintained this blog during 9/11 I am sure that I would have written something about that fateful day back then.  

This has hit just a little too close to home for me.  First, it took place in my beloved home state.  A place I thought I would never leave.  That I would stay in and raise my children in and live out my days in (and who know, that may still happen). It took place a scant thirty miles from where I grew up and where my parents still live.  Second, it took place in an elementary school.  As a former elementary school teacher (one who would often times have to lead her students through lock-down drills) that made it all the harder.  Harder still was the notion that the children whose lives were lost, or, for the survivors, those whose lives were forever changed yesterday, are the same ages as my girls.  Kindergartners and first graders.  The idea that that could have been them yesterday absolutely rendered me a puddle.  If Grace and Emma were children who attended school, even though we are up here in Massachusetts, I know that I would have sped to wherever they were yesterday and pulled them out just to have them near me.  

I had to walk away from the computer yesterday.  I had so sign out of Facebook and find other ways to keep busy 'cause if I had stayed longer than I did (which was longer than I initially planned, mind you) I would have become more of a puddle than I already was.  The President's speech totally did me in.  The shock was palpable from each status update I read.  My heart was broken.  My stomach in knots.  I cannot imagine what I would be like had I known someone who was personally living this hell.  In an attempt to find normal in a day that was anything but we took the girls to the Christmas event at Old Sturbridge Village.  Being transported to the 1830s, when events of this nature did not take place, was a great escape, even if it was only for a few hours.  

Sleep last night was not to be had.  I tossed and turned, my thoughts constantly returning to those in Connecticut (who surely were finding sleep hard to come by as well). Around 4:30am I finally gave up and checked in with the world.  With CNN.  With Facebook.  In the quiet of the morning, while I lay next to Dave, and the girls were asleep down the hall, tears quietly trickled down my face.  There are families that will never have that again.  

So today we shall continue in our gentle ways.  We will figure out how to spread just a little more love.  How we can send a just little more joy and peace out in to a world in such desperate need of it.

"This morning, I want to keep our spaces sacred and fill them up with love.  May those suffering pain, fear, sadness and anger be held in the light, and may we all hope an strive for a little more compassion, love and peace in the days to come." -Amanda Soule