In the wake of The Hobbit: Remembering Connecticut

Holly and Kelly: Our hearts are heavy this afternoon.  Despite the amazing motion picture event we witnessed last night/early this morning, we were hoping to be blogging about The Hobbit and providing a bit of a review.  But that is not the case.

We got home today and were shocked, saddened, by the news of yet another school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  26 people are dead, and at least 18 of them are children, all between the ages of 5-10.  There really are no words to describe this type of tragic loss.  It's simply deplorable and unimaginable.  Besides the words that we are typing today, we are simply speechless.

We're just saddened by this.  Literally, our hearts are hurting.  Why would somebody do something like this?

The President just finished speaking.  Today, I didn't see our country's leader.  I saw someone just like us: wondering how in the world someone can do this.  He spoke as a father.  

In the midst of all of this, it is imperative that we speak messages of love over hate, compassion over ignorance, tolerance over intolerance.  We need to pray for those who are hurting, those who are lost.  We need to be lights in this world that is growing increasingly dark.

If any of you reading this have children, hug them tonight, and hug them often.  Tell them you love them, and tell them often.  Be a friend.  Be a shoulder.  Be a light.  Our country simply cannot go on like this.  It just can't.

To speak lightly of The Hobbit, Bilbo sacrifices everything to join a company of dwarves.  Towards the end of the movie, Thorin asks Bilbo why he returned.  Bilbo notes that yes, they do doubt him, but he has a home.  He has a life that he often thinks of.  The dwarves don't have any of that.  But, in probably one of the most beautifully written scenes, Bilbo swears that he will help the dwarves reclaim their home.

Today, many people have lost everything.  We should all have a little bit of Bilbo in us; reaching out and helping to those in need.  We will be praying for those affected and we pray that any who read this will do the same.  <3