It was an ordinary morning.  Everyone got ready for the day like any other Friday.  Dad’s in the shower thinking of his presentation that afternoon, mom’s in the kitchen packing lunch and checking the family’s calendar for the weekend, the kids are half awake rubbing the sleep off their eyes.  Everyone was doing their thing.

Some families sat down for breakfast, others just grabbed something and dashed off to work and some sipped their coffee while the kids worked on their bowls of cereal, then off to school they went.

A few hours into the morning, the phone rings.  Your child’s school is in lock-down.  Someone decided to do a terrible thing and your child’s situation is unclear.  Is she alive?  Did he get hurt?  What’s going on?  Dear God, please let them be ok, please let them be ok.

The lives of families who lost their loved ones that day will never be the same.  Every year, the holidays will be a bitter reminder of their loss.  There are gifts under the tree that will never be opened.  We all know what took place that day and I have no words to describe one terrible act that took 26 lives.  My heart goes out to the town of Sandy Hook.

On day 23 of this series, I want to share with you an opportunity to give.  United Way of Western Connecticut set up an official fund for the families of the victims and the community as a whole: The Sandy Hook School Support Fund will provide support services to families and the community. All donations to this fund will go directly to those affected.