Reflections

Some of you know me well enough to know the community I grew up in... rode my bike around...  walked to the post office to pick our mail up everyday... and the woods I hiked around while visiting my step-dad was shaken to the core this week.  I'm still in mourning for the lives lost and the senselessness of it all.  And the one survivor whose ordeal we will never understand.

I was also shaken by the realization that with it being dark out, being a mother (and having children to distract me during my every task), I am a target.

My kids gymnastics center was offering a free women's self defense course put on by a new dojo opening in 2011 and I thought "Thanks God.  I don't need another sign except this one staring at me right now."  So, I went.  I am so, so glad I did.  I'll be honest, it wasn't easy.  When I punched and acted through every scenario, I wanted to apologize profusely to the nice young men who were helping us by volunteering their time and bodies so that we could learn how to be better equiped at protecting ourselves and our families.  They challenged us to think ahead of time- what would I be willing to do to get home safe?  Who depends on me to do so?  And reiterated...  I AM worth fighting for.

We had a nice family day of just normal activities so I took the chance to journal about my day in a scrap page and also participate in my own challenge this week over at TwoPeasinaBucket.  My husband snapped a couple of pictures before we headed in to a birthday party and I used one in my layout. Click the title to see full credits.

Thanks for listening...  and to add the families hurting from these senseless murders in your prayers tonight.  We can't know God's plans but we can ask His healing for those in pain.

Reflection