The World (Or, a magical moment memory)

I explained magical moment memories here.

This one happened during a weekend hike back in mid-December. As usual, I didn’t recognize it at the time, but it has echoed in my mind ever since. It isn’t funny at all but it is a story I’m compelled to write.

It was a particularly heavy week. Do you remember?

It was one of those weeks where something terrible happened to children and it was all we heard about in the news. Sandy Hook. It shook all of us as parents. How do we keep them safe? How can we raise our children in a world where such horrible things happen? How can we even fathom the grief those parents are experiencing?

I read news feed after news feed and cried and cried. The lives and innocence of so many people and children shattered. I felt helpless.

What do you do? How do you even process something like this?

I was full of angst. Full of distrust. Full of fear for their future. Full of gratitude that my children are safe. Full of guilt. Full of sadness.

So I shut off the computer and took them outside. A hike in the woods to clear my head.

We reached the top of a hill where you could see for miles and miles.

The view was gorgeous but I couldn’t see it. My thoughts were still wrapped up in current events. How could something so tragic happen? How can I continue to make jokes about bedtime routines and other trivial crap in the face of real parents suffering?

Crappy Baby interrupted my thoughts and said:

see-the-world-1

His voice was filled with awe and it snapped me back into the moment.

I said, “Yeah?”

He replied:

see-the-world-2

And with tears streaming down my cheeks I picked him up and held him. I breathed in his innocence. And I begged it to last forever.

 

 

—————

I rarely mention current events because I’m fairly certain nobody comes here to read the news. Plus, the news is pretty exclusively unfunny. But I do want to say my heart goes out to all those affected and that I’m right there with all of you trying to make sense of it, even when I completely ignore it here. Much love to Oklahoma. ย 

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144 Responses to The World (Or, a magical moment memory)

  1. Liz says:

    Tears are streaming down my cheeks. You summed up how I feel so well each time something tragic happens now that I’m a parent.

  2. Karen says:

    Heart wrenching, beautiful post, thank-you.

  3. Angie says:

    Thank you for the OK shout out, we appreciate all the love coming from the rest of the world. We live about 45 minutes away and things will never be the same.

  4. KD says:

    Tears.

  5. K says:

    Tears here, also. x

  6. Tanya says:

    Thank you for this.

  7. Dawn says:

    It would truly be a wonderful world if we could all keep a child’s perspective. Sounds like the hike was exactly what was needed at that moment. Thank you for sharing that story.

  8. guinnessgirl says:

    Made me cry – so true. My son’s moments of beautiful innocence often give me pause for thought. That moment sounds pretty special ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Joe says:

    Wonderful and eloquent.

  10. Laura says:

    Children put everything in perspective. Even with all the tragedy in the world, we have to keep living life to the fullest.

  11. Heather says:

    Amber, I do count on you sometimes to bring levity to my Facebook page when there is no one else to do so. Thank you, and much love.

  12. Christopher says:

    Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.

  13. Alicia says:

    Wow. Your posts usually make me laugh but this one made me cry. Thank you for this.

  14. Vikki says:

    Thank you Amber. I have my Memory moments too, but this one is pretty amazing!

  15. Veronica says:

    Crying as I read this. We live about an hour and a half from Moore, and I know 3 people who lost their homes. It has been a rough week. I know I’ve held my boys a lot closer this week.

  16. Ryan says:

    I’m from Oklahoma. Thank you.

  17. Jessica says:

    I love this. Crappy Baby’s words are a gift to so many of us – usually a gift of laughter, but today, a gift of the reminder of sweet human spirit. Give him a hug (and a pirate sword) from Wisconsin.

  18. rachel says:

    i can usually count on tears when reading your posts… just not usually this way. ๐Ÿ™‚ <3

  19. Nicole says:

    Yes.

    I love this.

  20. Jodi says:

    I was shedding mad tears when all that went down and completely relate to the feelings you had when it came to your children. My son is 9 going on 30 but I try to revel in his innocence every moment I can. Children are so precious and time slips by so quickly. You have to catch every moment you can with them. Great post Amber!

  21. As a new mom I was unprepared for how having this little creature makes the news so much more painful.

    This says it all. All you can do it hug them tight and appreciate having them and their unique view.

    • Marie says:

      This is exactly my feeling. I expected my life to change in a million ways once I became a mom, and it has, but the hardest, absolutely biggest change is in how I read stories about families. LM Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables) lost her mother when she was less than 2 years old and was raised by her grandparents. I visited her home when my little girl was just over two. I knew this story before, but reading it as a mom was completely different. My constant prayer is that God allow me to raise my children to adulthood and that I go to be with him first.

  22. Beautiful. For all the evil and sadness, there is also beauty still in the world. Just like a child to point it out.

  23. Andrea says:

    Being a mom to a 2 year old and with another one on the way, the Newton shook me to the core. But after days of listening to the news and reactions of how this world has become a horrible, cruel and godless place, I felt the exact opposite reaction rising in my heart. I wrote a piece about it and here is a little bit I would like to share:
    “This world is what it has always been – a beautiful place where ugly things happen. A place where good people live and bad people live, too. As for my children, I prefer to show them both as they grow up. I hope I can teach them to tell right from wrong and make good choices. I am not going to bring them down by telling them they are spoiled little brats who don’t value anything, because anyone who says that is most probably wrong. I will do my best to show them the beauty in this world, make them fall in love with it and get them feel responsible for keeping up the beauty. So back off if you have nothing nice to say to them. And please, share the good. I saw a picture of my friend’s little toddler picking out and donating a toy just the other day. It didn’t make the national news. But it made a difference in one (or more) little kid’s life. Share that.” (The link to the whole post is here: http://cheerstothesecondtime.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-day-world-didnt-end_21.html)

  24. Jackie says:

    Don’t ever feel that what you do by providing laughs to parents is trivial, it has been a blessing for me on many rough days. This was a beautiful post and I’m going to go hug my little girl.

    • Marie says:

      Yes. Laughter heals. Laughter helps us get our heads back on straight after a day of never ending “whys”, cleaning poop, and once again failing that diet. Thank you for your humor.

    • Chantelle says:

      Exactly! And sometimes the best thing for grief is being reminded of the lighter side of life.

  25. Brenda says:

    You made me cry. Children’s innocence is so beautiful. We must cherish them every moment.

  26. marilyn says:

    From the mouth of babes…how they can truly simplify and brighten the world sometimes.

    On a side note, your book was featured in a daily newspaper here in Toronto, Canada today ๐Ÿ˜‰

  27. Marci says:

    This is fantastic! What a wonderful reminder sent from the universe via your sweet crappy baby to embrace the beauty even in a world of shit! Thanks for sharing this! I hope it helps some moms to focus on positivity even in tragic times bc really that’s all we can do!

  28. Krista says:

    Thank you. I was in the same place after Sandy Hook, just so distraught. But Crappy Baby is right. It’s a great reminder, so thank you.

  29. Carrie says:

    I felt the same way after Sandy Hook and recently in looking at the images from Oklahoma and hearing about the kids at the school. Can’t wrap my brain around it and don’t even know where to go with the feelings. Leave it to a child to sum it up the good so effortlessly, what a beautiful reminder.

  30. Helena says:

    There’s something in my eye…

  31. Heidi K. says:

    I love this so much.

  32. Amy says:

    Beautiful.

  33. Cherryll Campos says:

    Reading this with tears in my eyes.. Indeed, this is a beautiful world, just how babies see it.

  34. Kristiana says:

    Exactly. And Thank You!

  35. sarah says:

    This was a lovely post! Yet sad but none the less, lovely. xo

  36. Michele C. says:

    You brought tears to my eyes. It’s so true – I wish we could just bottle all of the goodness and keep them so sweet.

  37. Michelle says:

    Tears here too – but wonderful post. Love your work =)

  38. Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for sometimes, aren’t they! Over the weekend, my son (5) was playing with the coins in his piggy bank. “Momma,” he asked. “Are we rich?” His sister (9), walking through the room, replied, “We’re rich in God’s love.” and kept on walking. I couldn’t answer him because of the tears in my eyes at the time. I’m glad she got to him first.

  39. Megan Brace says:

    Thanks for the Moore love. It’s been a rough week here and I’ve asked myself a lot of those same questions. My home and family are safe, but the gratitude, guilt, relief and fear are hard to swallow, especially when we drive through the destroyed streets of our friends and neighbors. Thanks for sharing your magical moment and reminding us to look for the beauty.

  40. Rachel says:

    That was beautiful, Amber. Thank you.

  41. Matthew says:

    >this<

  42. Beautiful. Children keep us grounded.

  43. Beth says:

    Sandy Hook devastated me. I cried so much with every newspaper article or news clip I saw. You summed it up perfectly. It’s times like those that really terrify me as a parent and make me wonder how we’re supposed to protect our children when even the simple act of going to school can be dangerous. I always try to remember this quote from Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.” I try to remember that in bad times. I focus on the people who are running towards the destruction to help others.

  44. Lori Weeks says:

    touching. truly touching. Everything you wrote was everything I felt. Thank you for sharing.

  45. Jen may says:

    Tears.

  46. Samantha says:

    I’m crying writing this. I have a 1st grader. Watching him try to wrap his head around what had happened was absolutely heartbreaking. Sending him back to the place I wasn’t sure was safe anymore was almost unbearable. Sometimes 6 year olds see things through such different eyes. So different than we’re trained to see through as we grow older. My children are a window to innocence and peace for me and I pray always that they don’t lose that view. Thank you for sharing your magical moment and your lives with us. Your posts are sometimes the comic relief I need in the middle of my day that keep me going.

  47. Lidia says:

    Thank you for this post. With summer here I was feeling overwhelmed having my whole brood home, but I must remember to recognize those magical moments from my kids.

  48. Tiffany K says:

    From the mouths of babes, huh? Thank you for sharing this.

  49. Tina says:

    Nothing like a baby’s innocence!

  50. Wonderful. Just wonderful!

  51. Kate Wilson says:

    This is a beautiful post and I am SO glad you shared it.

  52. Lauren says:

    Usually your posts make me cry with laughter. But as I have a little one of my own currently kicking the hell out of my uterus, I cried because I love this. Because this is the thing that should be on every news outlet. Thank you so much. I hope God keeps your little boys and your family safe. ๐Ÿ™‚

  53. Chelsea G. says:

    Thanks Amber, that was perfect. Lots of love to those who have lost.

  54. Larry S says:

    I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse that I see my daughter’s face in every victim of senseless violence. It took days for the tears to stop flowing after Sandy Hook, and you, beautifully, brought them back in a sublime way.

  55. liz says:

    Loved this *tears*

  56. wendy says:

    really good post. necessary. i normally shut out the news, but couldn’t escape this horrific story. for some reason i needed to talk it out, and my close mom friends refused to discuss it. as much as i hate to admit it, facebook served as a good outlet that day, and my kid-less friends. really good post.

  57. Amy F says:

    I did a similar thing. I told my husband to leave work early. Hysterical of course. Packed all 4 kids in their Christmas best in our car and stood in line to visit Santa. But the magical part was there was NO line on a friday night. We walked right up and tge kids were talking to Santa. And my own personal miracle was I got tge BEST Christmas picture. Everyone was smiling wven the 8 month old! It was the greatest relief to be caught up in their innocence and the magic of the season. I played “we need a little Christmas” the rest of the weekend.

  58. Alex says:

    Thank you for this delightful perspective. Here in MN, two 4th graders just died in a landslide in a park last week. The park is a block from my house; we have hiked there many many times. The sound of helicopters had never sounded so oppressive to me as it did during the search and rescue. Two kids made it out with injuries and the rest of the class was safe. It’s a super popular park for school trips and boy scouts. My kids will most likely go there on a school trip at some point in the future. I don’t know if I’ll let them go with their class. Focusing on the life and love in my children does help in getting through the ugliness of the world.

  59. Wow. That was really beautiful. Where are the damn tissues?

  60. Margaret says:

    Amen. That horrific tragedy happened on my daughter’s 3rd birthday and we were headed to Legoland to celebrate her. I completely remember trying hard to soak up all her sweet innocent while praying for those families who wouldn’t be able to do that anymore with the children they lost that morning. I love your blog, and it’s more than acceptable to write a post like this every now and then, thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

  61. Jenny says:

    that? That is why kids are awesome. Thank you for sharing it.

  62. Angela says:

    I read & love your blog because you are so damn funny. But this is my favorite post I’ve ever read. So beautiful & touching. Gripped my heart.

  63. Zsuzsa says:

    Thank you. This took me back to the time I had to talk to my older son (6) about what happened because by then it was everywhere and he told me “Mommy if anyone tried to shoot you I would pull you out of death!”. Needless to say I took some “sanity” days at work that month to enjoy them to the fullest I could as a single working mother. Xoxo

  64. Kate says:

    Beautiful post. Thank you.

  65. Nat says:

    Thank you. I need that today.

  66. Tina says:

    I love your blog! You have made me smile and cry tears of joy and now sadness. I am from MN and just in the last two weeks I have had to stop watching the news. There was a group of school children in the 4th grade on a field trip when a landslide happened in a local walking park taking the lives of 2 children. Then no more than a week latter a 2 year old was out camping with her family and got into the river they just recovered her body. Now being a mom of 3 children, 10, 6, and 2. these stories all of them have hit close to my heart. I too Joke about bedtimes and the everyday things that go on in my home. Lately the special times such as going on a walk with my kids, or having my 2 year old crawl into my bed at night I want to make time stop with every fiber of my being. Because all too soon they will be grown up and all I will have left of the innocent times are going to be the memories. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face on the days that I have needed them the MOST and for reminding us that time with our Children can be cut all too short also a reminder that I think a few parents need myself included.

  67. Cheryl P. says:

    You usually make me cry because I’m laughing so hard. Today, I cry real tears of sadness. I can remember that day, just grabbing my boy and hugging him until he said, “Mommy, let go. Too much hugs.” I didn’t want to but he was squirming too much. I prayed. I prayed that God would keep my child safe whenever he wasn’t with me. I still pray every day. We can’t keep our children isolated or they won’t live. They won’t be able to see the beauty that is around them despite others hate and crimes. You took your child out on a hike. I sat on the floor and played with toys for the rest of the day. Everything else could wait that day but not my child’s time.

  68. Julie says:

    Tears.

    Perfect innocence and bliss. This is how we all go on.

  69. Tara Hamel Mayo says:

    Children are so much wiser than adults. Their perspectives aren’t tainted and their honesty is so profound. Love those moments when you get a life lesson from your greatest teacher. And it always comes just when you need it. Thanks for sharing.

  70. Leah S says:

    A beautiful thought. Thank you!

  71. Patti Halstead-Jude says:

    One of the beauties of little children is their ability to be “in the moment”! Thank you for sharing.

  72. Ginger says:

    So glad I didnt read this at work, tears welling up!

  73. Kelli says:

    This. This is what parenting is about for me.

  74. colleen says:

    Crying. This is my favorite blog if all time. Thank you.

  75. colleen says:

    Damn phone. Should say OF

  76. Sav says:

    Yowza! Right in the feels. Great post.

  77. Cassi says:

    “If I could see the world through the eyes of a child,
    What a wonderful world this would be.
    There’d be no trouble and no strife, just a big, happy life
    With a bluebird in every tree.”

    Not sure who wrote it, but I know Patsy Cline recorded it. You could probably find it on YouTube. I’d do it for you, but I’m not sure how to make a link work here anyhow. ๐Ÿ™‚ The world IS beautiful–the people in it just suck sometimes.

  78. dreamyowl says:

    thank you <3

  79. Kendal says:

    Aaaaah verklempt.

    Thank you for a beautiful post.

    And I remember that week, I had to play my violin in a church Christmas program. It was maybe one or two days after sandy hook. And the children’s choir got up to sing Silent Night, right before we were supposed to play. I started silently freaking out, thinking, “nooooo please noooooo I cannot handle children singing that song right now, nooooo” and I started weeping and couldn’t stop…until I saw one boy in the middle of the choir just standing there with a giant scowly face, not singing. Just scowling. And I watched him, and laughed, and thanked God for the comic relief because it held me together enough to not become a wailing puddle of tragic feelings at the Christmas program.

  80. Michelle says:

    I had my daughter the day after that happened. I was in labor the day of Sandy Hook, so I didn’t find out about it until after I had delivered. It seemed so wrong to be celebrating the beginning of parenthood when so many others were mourning the loss of their children. You have captured that feeling perfectly.

  81. Candi says:

    Wonderful. Both the moment and this post.

    Patton Oswalt, whom I really never watched in anything, posted this great little piece on Facebook right after the Boston Marathon bombing. It’s worth a read.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/patton-oswalt-on-the-boston-marathon-bombing/275015/

  82. So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

  83. Hayley says:

    This brought tears to my eyes, tha is for sharing. I’ve had a particularly difficult day with my 21 month old and you helped me remember how blessed I am, thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  84. This simple story makes me cry. Touching story and worth to share. I will share this story for sure.

  85. RedinNC says:

    Sweet kid you’ve got there ๐Ÿ˜€

  86. stephanie says:

    Awesome post. Perfect feels you made for me. The timing couldn’t have been better and I am grateful our local news has not gone national yet, else I would have to breakdown in the work lavatory all over again. This entry gives me some hope for my babies. <3

  87. Katy says:

    :’)

  88. Just stopping by to let you know I featured your blog on What We Like Wednesday! Thanks for all the laughs! http://www.craftinterrupted.com/2013/05/what-we-like-wednesday-with-tiffany_29.html

  89. Carol says:

    Thank you for sharing this story. I think you’re right to treasure these moments. The world can be an ugly place, but it’s also full of beauty and children are often very good at seeing that beauty.

  90. Weeping openly. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this magical moment indeed.

  91. OldTime Mama says:

    Tell Crappy Baby he put a smile on my face…and I really needed it. Thanks!

  92. jackie says:

    Wow. His 4 simple words have me sitting here covered in goosebumps and tears streaming down my face. Well said, Crappy Baby. Well said.

  93. SassyDandelion says:

    Gah! Thank you so much for ruining my makeup while I’m at work! And, it was an awesome makeup day today, too!

  94. SD Murray says:

    Crying, touched, inspired & Less likely to strangle the sassy know-it-all 13 year old because he was once a sweet angel and I’m hoping that kid will resurface. Soon would be good.

  95. Nora N says:

    I got a bit choked up since this made me thinks of my 15 month old’s smile every time he discovers something new

  96. Liz says:

    Oh man, you made me cry. Which is not good because I am at work. Awesome post!

  97. Miranda says:

    I love that you went out hiking with your precious children to help yourself feel better. That always works for me, too! Keep enjoying those kids and keep writing about it!

  98. renee w says:

    As adults, we get so wrapped up in the day to day, that we forget this is our only lifetime. Kids remind us of this from time to time.

  99. Jenny says:

    What a beautiful post. Thank you!

  100. LML says:

    I feel really strongly that little kids have a direct line to their hearts from heaven. My littler has said exactly the right thing, so many times. Thank God for littlers.

  101. Rosie says:

    Like I’ve always said, you need a comic strip. You’re this century’s For Better or Worse. You have the right nuance – in your highly expressive but overly simplistic artistic style (my MFA art professor (USF Tampa)/historian sister says that’s artistic genius – Genius, I tell you!) AND your light touch with the words. I like to sing Crappy Boy’s song at parties.No – I don’t drink a lot of win. I mean wine. How dare you!!
    ๐Ÿ™‚
    Rosie

  102. Laurie says:

    Everyone else has already said the heavy stuff. So I’ll say, I love how you go hiking in your long purple dress! Thanks for all of your laughs and reflections on life!

  103. hannah says:

    oh gosh, that got to me. <3

  104. Sabrina says:

    Thank you, Crappy Baby, for letting me see the world through your eyes for a moment.

  105. julie says:

    Crying too! you’ve got a gift. Awesome writer. Thanks for sharing.

  106. Hello, I never comment on blogs or websites but felt the need to comment here. I am a Sandy Hook, CT mother and resident (thought currently living in China for the past three months). On December 14, 2012 my three year old son’s school was in lockdown, and living less than two miles from SHES, I was hiding on the floor of my own Sandy Hook home with my infant daughter after reports that there was a gunman still at large. In our dense CT forests, he could have been anywhere (of course the world later learned these reports of course were untrue thank God).

    While this post didn’t make me cry (not that it isn’t precious and beautiful!) I cry enough on a regular basis remembering what our community and my family endured on that terrible, terrible day. Thank you for keeping our little town in your minds and prayers–we still have a lot of healing to be done.

    ***Oh boy…here come the tears!

    • Cassie B says:

      I didn’t see your post before I posted my comment below.

      Just letting you know that you (and the recovery of the whole town/everyone affected) are in our thoughts and prayers over here in Australia too.

      Would that we could do more xo

  107. Cassie B says:

    The last picture made me sob-laugh.

    The wonder of it all kept the tears back though (only just). Kids, aren’t they just what’s right in the world? =)

    Thanks for sharing xo

  108. Stacy says:

    So sweet — i fully hope the innocence stays forever!

  109. philosomom says:

    I came for lolz and instead I got tears. Lovely post! These moments define motherhood too.

  110. Cate says:

    Thank you for this beautiful and simple message.
    I will keep and read this post every few days for a while. My nephew is a surviving Sandy Hook first grader and I have been really struggling as I watch my own children, 6 and 4, who still have their innocence. Life isn’t fair.

  111. Michelle I. says:

    I like this post. I think it’s ok to tell us your thoughts about trageties like Sandy Hook. Thank you for mentioning Oklahoma too. I live in Oklahoma and That day I happened to be very close to Moore. I was stranded in OKC for most of the day. What should have been a 1 and a half hour drive home took 7 hours. I’m glad I had a home to go to.

  112. Karen Walker says:

    My daughter was 2.5 years and I was due with my second in two weeks when 9/11 happened. Like many kids, my daughter at that stage was difficult to put to bed and had a ritual of excuses to delay the inevitable. Our home is under our main airport’s circling path, so when air traffic is backed up and the windows are open, we hear them on clear nights. Not to the level that an adult would find disturbing, but my daughter found it scary. When I put her to bed that night, she asked me, as usual, if there were going to be planes. Generally, I would explain that the aircraft were very high in the sky, would never be a threat to our safety, and that airplanes were great because people used them to travel and visit places and people. Instead, I told her that that there weren’t going to be ANY airplanes that night…not a single one…and probably none for a while. She was surprised, and asked me if I promised that was the case. With tears running down my face (hardly the first that day), I said “Yes” emphatically. My daughter was one of the very few who went to bed (uncharacteristically) swiftly, and slept better that night than she had for weeks.

  113. You’re totally allowed (and welcome) to be unfunny when you’re unfunny is THIS. Thank you <3

  114. Sarah N says:

    Tears here too. I am generally not that outwardly emotional, but news involving kids really gets to me now I have my little boy! Beautiful post ๐Ÿ™‚

  115. Stephanie says:

    Love the post and as a fan living in the Moore, OK area, appreciate all the love we’re feeling!

  116. Andrea says:

    Thank you for giving us perspective, that even though the world is ugly sometimes, it is still beautiful to a child. Although we need to teach them the reality of living in it, we owe it to them to show them the beautiful side, too.

  117. Jen says:

    There still isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of those babies in Newtown and their families. Christmas (which is also my birthday) wasn’t the same this year. On the one hand, I was full of joy to watch my 3 daughters open their presents and ooh and ahh over what they had received, yet on the other, I couldn’t stop thinking about the families of the victims of Sandy Hook.
    A few days prior to Christmas, my middle daughter (age 6 and who shares a birthday with one of the victims) fell asleep in the recliner with her daddy. Normally, I’d stop and look and say “aww”, then go on about whatever I was doing because things of that nature happen fairly often around here, but this time I grabbed my camera so that I could preserve that moment for eternity. My mind immediately reverted to the daddies that wouldn’t get to fall asleep in the recliner with their babies anymore. Just when I thought my heart was starting to heal from the events of that day, it shattered all over again.
    It’s “funny” how sometimes it takes something so tragic to make us wake up and realize just how EVERY moment, every smile, every giggle, even every mess, is completely precious and should never be taken for granted. I’ve never looked at my girls the same since.
    For those of you that live in OK, I am your neighbor directly to the north, and my love and prayers are with each one of you as you begin to put the pieces back together and rebuild.

  118. Lavanya says:

    Beautiful post.

  119. Mrs. P says:

    My daughter was born a day before the tragedy. I was still in hospital soaking up her new-ness when it happened.since then I have done 2 things; stop watching the news, and absorbed every moment of my children’s innocence. They don’t stay that way for long.

  120. Devan says:

    Wow, Amber, great timing on this! <3

  121. amanda says:

    My almost 4 yr old has such optimisim that no matter what’s going on in my head it becomes contagious. So every morning if the sun is shinning when he waskes up he happily exclaims “the sun is up it’s a BEAUTIFUL DAY!” and he’s oh so happy and ready to start his day. So even if I got little to no sleep it helps to put a smile on my face and start my day off *better*. I should mention that this is usually talked about in MY bed as he still sneaks in and sleeps with us. *sigh* longing for the day that my bed will be mine again

  122. Gosia says:

    A comment that will surprise you: I cry my fuckin heart out.

    I’m going to eat my baby, brb.

  123. Corina says:

    Thank you so much from Moore, OK. The support and love we have received over the last few months has been overwhelming. I LOVE this post so much.
    I’ve just recently discovered your blog and you, my dear, are delightful. I woke my husband up laughing so hard! Congratulations on all your success and many blessings for the future.

  124. Trish says:

    Holy Toldeo, so glad I clicked on this site first!