but momma they're kids just like me.....

When Cookie, Sweetheart, Fifi and Bam came home from school on Friday they had already heard about what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary school via the teachers,  smart phones, and from other students. This was the buzz...

They were sad for the murdered children and teachers from Connecticut.

It was true, I told them.

We talked about it the horrible, terribly awful thing that happened in Newtown, Connecticut.
Cookie and Sweetheart said, "But Momma, they're kids just like me. Why did he do that to kids??"

My heart tore...

I had to try to explain mental illness to my elementary school, middle school and high schooler...... People who suffer from mental illnesses have moments when they do not think like you or me. There is something in their brain that does not allow them to comprehend reality, common sense,or humanity; there is often a blurred definition of good or bad to them. Sometimes they know they suffer from mental illness and sometimes they don't know...

It's ALL so hard to explain.
The heart break is real.
Even though we're over 2,000 mi away, it still doesn't make it any easier to tell a child.

We hug, we shed a tear and we say a prayer...

America the beautiful

We have tears in our eyes...... as we drive through Joplin, Missouri.
We've never seen (first hand) such mass destruction.

Joplin was hit with a very destructive tornado a couple of weeks ago.....

As we drive through the main part of town we see construction materials scattered, trash blowing, trees down.
Then we see homes and businesses completely destroyed.
Business signs missing, glass windows and cars scattered, playground equipment mangled and twisted

Huge trees completely uprooted and stripped bare without leaves or even bark.....

Store fronts and many houses ripped from the foundation and carried across town.

 scattering pieces of someone's life everywhere......

Vehicles smashed and destroyed.

Our eyes are filled with tears....

As we drive Cookie notices a sign that said, volunteer check in.

We decided to stop and inquire if we could volunteer for a few hours.
They did need our help.....they were thankful that we took time away from our vacation to volunteer.

We separate and pack donated snacks for the local residents in need. 

We had the chance to listen to some locals talk about the traumatic experience of a tornado.

They were not sad, upset or bitter.

They said the disaster only made their community stronger, their families closer and their faith more powerful.
♥♥♥♥♥

Joplin: Amazing community.....

(www.donate.aspca.org/donate) (www.redcross.org)
Click above to donate to the rebuilding of Joplin.....