December 15

A few months back Jay purchased an annual family pass to the new Portland Aquarium and we penciled in a day during opening week when we would pull the kids out of school and go as a family.

That date was this past Friday.

As we drove we listened to the news and I was so thankful to have my people with me. Safe.

Since then I've felt a range of emotions. Sadness, confusion, anger, grief, and even guilt. Why do I get  to have my family here, healthy, and looking forward to Christmas?

Even though the news has been on in our home a lot lately, Lucy has no clue about what happened. She's forever in her own happy little world. Sadness doesn't penetrate it too easily.

Monty gets it though. He's a news junkie to begin with so he's already heard way more than I would have liked.

As I look at these pictures of my rag tag crew (taken at a local park on the way home from the aquarium),

I cannot believe how lucky I am.