Silence and Support

A Day of Silence

Blogger Support For Sandy Hook

To the Blog World and Anyone Else who Wants to Help,

On Friday, tragedy struck so many of us in ways we did not foresee. An elementary school and small town in Connecticut were shattered by a mass shooting. We knew we wanted to help and we came up with this:

On Tuesday, December 18th, there will be a blogger day of silence. We will post the button and that’s it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called The Newtown Family Youth and Family Services. Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to:

“Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING.”

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

We can’t imagine how they must be feeling, especially this close to the holidays. We would love for you to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Let’s make a difference and use blogging in a positive way. Thank you in advance for participating.

Love,
The Blog World

p.s. If you would like to, copy-paste and repost any part of this, please do. Share on.

THIS BLOG IS 100% NOT MINE. I COPIED THIS FROM MEGAN BLOGGER OF  BABY MAKES FOUR AND WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD DO THE SAME AND PASS IT ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

*Thank you so much to Neely, Michelle and Meg for organizing this!

Sleep With Him

Yesterday 20 elementary school children, in a small town in Connecticut, woke from their slumber to dress for school. Some chatted with their parents or siblings about Christmas coming soon. Some probably looked for their right shoe, or left. Or for the mischief their elf got into. They forgot their homework in the merriment of Friday.

They went to school, but they never came home. They never got the chance to grow up and so we remember them as the innocent babies they are.

This same morning six adults woke to care for, teach and expand the minds of children at Sandy Hook Elementary. They woke to a quick cup of coffee, maybe some cereal. They checked Facebook, or kissed their significant other. They sent a text message and wrote a note about what would be for dinner that night. They hopped in cold cars and drove to work. And they’ll never drive home.

Twenty six souls set free in a world of Hell, while in an elementary school. A mother dead. The gunman, too. 28 people. Human lives.
Is no place on earth sacred? Is there no where safe?
Twenty souls who never had the opportunity to cause trouble, gunned down without cause. Seven adults sharing their lives to grow young minds, now lost in senseless violence. One man who turned his life-calling into the nightmares of countless others.

Today, as we woke up, our heads hurt from the tears we shed, our hearts hurt- trying to beat for 20 children throughout the night.
This day and every day after may we hug our babies a minute longer, enjoy each day just a little bit more, and cherish each moment for moments are so fleeting.

For the times you are blessed with; to watch your child on their first date, drive a car, graduate, get married, start a family. Everyday is your best day, your luckiest day. Hold on to them, as it takes just one to rip you from your dream and into Hell on Earth.

Time is all we have, and it is never time enough.

God rest those 20 souls of children, and the 7 brave adults who are caring for them still. May you all sleep in peace with Him.

This might not be about gun control, or the mental health sector finally being as important as physical health, or, even bullying and the effects it has later in life. Sadly, evil has and always will exist in this world. While I do not own a gun, I know many responsible people who do. And, growing up the daughter of a psychologist, I know the way mental health is still regarded as unimportant and often not covered by health insurance. There is a belief that hotlines and ten visits per year with co-pays of $20 each are enough to “cure” someone of their imbalances. Physicians, untrained in mental health disorders, are supplying medications unfit for the minds of their patients. Patients who may use guns. Or knives, or fists. Who may one day hurt others or themselves. There are no excuses, and what is wrong will always be wrong, but maybe, just maybe, this is a call to take the true threats we face everyday as humans a bit more seriously, and stop playing the terrorist game in America. There have been too many shootings. There have been too many threats, and punches thrown. Let us reflect and bring what peace and love we can to this world of chaos. A tweet I can relate with spoke so true to this thought, including the idea that one person tried to light their shoe and now we all have to take our shoes off at airports, but there have been multiple mass murders, and yet there is not enough being done to prevent them. I do not and will not speak to gun control, as a non-owner, it is not my place. I do not care if you have a gun. I care if you are responsible. What I will support, and hope you support as well, is the mental health of my fellow Americans. Not all shooters are depressed, or crazy. A diagnosis of mania, bi-polar or schizophrenia is not what makes a killer. The more educated we are about these issues, the more outlets we have for help, the less trauma (I believe) we will see in this country.

Have a blessed weekend.
Love,
Chelley