We have an old Beatrix Potter story book, well worn from 12 years of sharing and enjoying with my girls. Her prose is so rich and vibrant, it never fails to draw my children close to the page. Last week, a friend mentioned that she always takes her daughter to visit Peter Rabbit’s House when […]
Now is the Time – Stand with Newtown
Time has passed. For some, the impact of the tragedy of 12/14 is fading. The pain has not eased, withered or faded for the people of Newtown. It has not faded for the families. While the emotions are still raw, the families of the victims are standing up and demanding to be heard. They are […]
Mom, Can We Move to Canada?
The Adventurer (13) wants to move to Canada. Her reason is simple. Gun violence in the U.S. is out of control and it isn’t getting better. It’s getting worse. She doesn’t want to live in a country where the people are bent on killing each other. Her feelings are understandable, considering our proximity to Sandy […]
Our Kids Deserve Better
We all do. No one deserves to have their self-esteem battered daily. No one deserves to be called names or fear going to school each morning. I came across this incredible video today and I knew that I had to share it here. Please take the time to watch this powerful animation, narrated in spoken […]
Send a Heart to Newtown on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. It’s also the two month anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Can you take a minute and send a little piece of your heart to the people of Newtown? Show them they are not alone as they continue to grieve and struggle with finding peace after heartbreak. I made the Sandy […]
To Newtown, With Love
We rushed out of the cold and into the warmth of Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. We had three minutes to spare before my daughter’s performing arts class. That’s when I noticed the open door, to the side of the lobby. The room was lined with tables, covered in cards, artwork, notes of love and […]
Toxic School Environments Bolster Violence – Parent and Educate for Peace
What role do public schools play in boosting aggressive behavior in the children that walk their halls? There is no denying that violence in our schools has become epidemic. In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, the conversation must continue. We are addressing the issue of guns and mental health, but what about the […]
What Dreams May Come – Life After Newtown
I awoke suddenly again. Trembling, crying, covered in sweat I stared into the a.m. darkness. Nightmares. Nightmares of a loss so close and real that I couldn’t shake the feelings for days. I hugged my children tighter than my usual grip when the sun came up. And one girl, the one from my dream, wiggled […]
Homeschoolers Support Newtown
My friend Eileen from Little Acorn Learning, shared this video with me last night. A group of homeschooled students and families from the Hartford area came down to Newtown on Christmas Eve, at 11:30 p.m., to show their love and support for the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Their effort is […]
Let It Be
Last night I attended the viewing for Benjamin Wheeler. The family graciously met a constant line of visitors for nearly 5 hours. People lined up around the small church in the dark, in the cold and waited to pay their respects. Let It Be played in the church as I entered, because Ben loved the […]
When Pain is Palpable
The pain could nearly be touched on Main Street in Newtown this morning, as two more families buried their precious children. My mind is scattered. My photos are out of focus. I try to process all that I see and hear and feel as I see people cry on the street, watch the police move […]
Blogger Day of Silence
A Special Thank You
The fundraiser A Star for Ben is closing tonight. Thank you to all of my readers who took the time to send prayers, support and donations to this grieving family in Newtown. I am overwhelmed by the efforts of my blogging friends and the generosity of readers from 24 states and 3 countries. With all […]
I’ll wait for you to calm down
I’m longing for comfort and peace today. I wish I could go to the barn, watch the horses run, hear the sounds of their hooves in the grass and feel their freedom. There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. Winston Churchill I haven’t much […]
A Star for Ben
Far Off Friends Help a Newtown Family I woke this morning with tears in my eyes. I simply cannot process the horror. With each story I hear of the events of Friday, I struggle to comprehend. I wonder how the survivors will ever heal. I put myself in the shoes of the mothers. I think […]
Weep With Those Who Weep
It happened today, as I began to prepare my daughter for her final performance of A Christmas Carol at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. The news came through of a shooting at the elementary school in Sandy Hook. Last night, I stood in the Newtown General Store with my daughters, chatting with the musical […]
