Every. Single. Day.

Honestly, I don't even know what to write.  Our world can be so beautiful and life can be so wonderful.  It makes me very sad that sometimes that is not the case.

Five days ago there was a mass shooting in our city.  On Saturday afternoon, I was waiting in Dallas to fly into Odessa, Texas when a friend texted and warned me to stay inside due to an active shooter.  Soon, I started receiving several other texts warning of the danger and so I pulled up a website of our local news.  Everyone around me at the airport was heading to Odessa/Midland as well.  We were standing in line to board and quietly sharing what we knew/heard while everyone was trying to figure out what exactly was happening.   How many people had been killed already?  How many gunmen were there?  Were family members and friends safe?  We boarded.  It was the longest 45 minute flight of my life.

One thing that was comforting during that time is I knew most of my immediate and extended family were out of town for the three day weekend.  Brian was in Dallas with the boys.  Brinley was in Utah.  However, poor Aubrey (12 years old) was home alone with her cousin Lauron.  They were hiding, scared, in a closet.  Lauron had a her phone, and they were watching way too much social media about the terrifying events.  I was worried about my brother, Kerry, who is a trooper.  I knew he would be very involved trying to capture the suspect/s...and he was.

The shooter went on a crazy driving shooting spree all over town.  He killed 7 innocent people and injured 22 others.  He shot at and chased one of my dear friends.  He killed a 15 year old girl while her family was shopping for a new truck.  He murdered a 29 year old postal worker so he could steal her mail van.  He killed the father of my eleven year old nephew's friend.  The family was on their way to take family pictures.

The shootings took place in areas my family is in Every. Single. Day.

They took place were we grocery shop and eat out and work out.  They took place on the streets I drive on to visit both of my brothers and their families and my sister and her family.  One of the shootings took place by our High School football stadium.

In the days since, as I drive along 42nd street, or loop 338 or Yukon/Grandview, I think of the families whose lives have been changed forever.  Of our town which has been changed forever.

I am heartbroken.  His senseless acts of violence will scar so many lives for years to come.

I am heartbroken, but I am also in awe.  The outpouring of love and support for our community and within our community has been a blessing.  Officers from other areas came in to add extra support and security.  Businesses in the area offered free food to first responders and free funeral services to the families affected.

There have been lemonade stands and benefit concerts and blood drives to support those injured.  Tanner and I went to the mall two days after the shooting and there were comfort dogs.  Kind people from all over Texas drove in to share their trained dogs so anyone needing extra love could receive some from petting the dogs.  Their thoughtfulness brought me to tears.

Witnessing the many kind and generous actions of others has been a blessing.  It's a reminder to me of the overall goodness of humanity.  It's a reminder to be kind and to reach out to others.

It's a reminder to slow down and treasure the most important parts of life Every. Single. Day.