5-months and reflecting on today's Colorado tragedy

[caption id="attachment_319" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Coop. 5 months.[/caption]

Today Coop slid right into that 5-month mark while news broke of a horrific shooting outside of Denver. It definitely has overshadowed this beautiful day today in Colorado, and of course taken over all news channels across the country.

I’m sure if you are up-to-date on the details of last nights midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado, than you know this movie experience turned into a nightmare when a 24-year old gunmen open-fired on a packed theater. The local hospitals saw victims ranging from ages three-months to 31 years, however most of them were teenagers. Teenagers! Going to see a movie on its premiere night. The whole event is just unfathomable.

As a born worrier (thanks mom), now “going to the movies” has officially made my “things to worry about your kids doing” list. I definitely do not want to be the mom that fears their child doing everything, namely, entering society. Considered who I am married to, my son will likely be on ski’s by the time he can walk. Do I choose not to allow him to fall in love with being active because of the risk? What about driving a car? But going to the movies? Where is the risk in that? I often think about the different experience that our parents had growing up, and especially the generation before them. I plan on blogging about it one day, but was life simpler back then? Safer? Or do we just have the means to know things immediately now?

I’ve always been intrigued with how one small decision can change your LIFE. What about those people that tried to buy tickets last night to that showing, and they were sold out? It’s reminds me of the stories we heard after 9/11, of employees that called in sick that day or were running late to the office at the Twin Towers- and thus were not there that day when they could or should have been. All of these people avoided a life-changing moment. Unfortunately we are not guaranteed another day. Life truly hinges on the moves we make and the moves others who cross our paths make – some outcomes within are control but many are not. We can't avoid bad things because we often don't know when they are going to happen - and we sure as heck can't stay inside all day. So at the end of the day we just live. Make smart choices when we can, pursue what inspires us - enjoy life.

"The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I am keeping those affected by this morning’s tragedy- the children, teenagers, adults and their respective family members- in my prayers. I am choosing not to take today for granted, not to dwell on the "unimportant stuff" that I all to often spend way to much time on, and to love those in my life with all I have. And I’ll start with this munchkin, who is (one of) the light of our lives.

[caption id="attachment_320" align="aligncenter" width="300"] You thought I was lying when I said he can hold himself up and stand. I wasn't. Proof.[/caption]

Gratefully,
Lauren