Farris family blog: One day....

Today we returned from another funeral. Last week we got a call that Bret's grandma had a massive stroke while driving. A few hours later she was unresponsive. The next day she went HOME forever with our Savior. We got to celebrate her life today of 83 years, just like a few weeks ago we celebrated my Grandma's life of 68 years. We celebrated their lives. As hard as it is to lose someone, I still feel like we were able to rejoice at the lives well lived.

Friday our world was hit with an unthinkable tragedy. Children, mothers, daughters, sisters, friends were taken from this world from a terrible act of violence. I was at the gym that morning when the TV screens starting flashing about a shooting at an elementary school. I used to teach in an elementary school. All I could imagine was those kids I loved so much being in that situation. My precious 6 and 7 year old kids I used to teach. I couldn't tell where my sweat begin and my tears ended. I used to think an elementary school would be one of the safest places for your children. That parents would feel so secure dropping their kids off at school. All that has changed. In the midst of Bret and I losing both of our Grandma's within weeks, my heart has been broken for these families, for this community, for the school, and those 26 lives were so short lived. Especially those 20 children who had their whole lives ahead of them. We were able to celebrate our Grandma's lives, but I feel like those precious kids lives were just cut so short. Innocent precious children.The question that everyone asks is "why?"

My only answer to that why is that we live in a broken and fallen world. Since the beginning of creation we all have seen this sinful nature. We are all broken people. There is only one fixer of our broken souls. His name is Jesus. No gun control, stricter laws, more police, NOTHING will ever make everything right. Only the King who sits on the throne will ONE day make it right. One day our rescuer will come. Days like these it cannot seem soon enough. One day He will come to make all things new. One day. My hope and trust rests in that alone. Until then we continue to pray and mourn with this community in Connecticut because they sure do need it.

My kids are not old enough to understand this terrible tragedy or the loss of loved ones in our own family. Right now I don't even know if I have would have words to try to be able to explain it to my kids. I find myself so grateful for that sweet innocence to not know the hurt this world can bring quite yet. I am thankful that when I came home tonight Carter greeted Bret and I with " I am so glad you are home and I missed you so much". I pray I would never take another day for granted with our two precious boys. If there is one thing this tragedy shows us it is truly that we are not promised tomorrow. May we make the most of every single minute we have with our kids today.

While we were gone at the funeral last night and today my incredible sister, Ana, and our amazing friend Amy watched our kids. I miss my kids when I am away from them. Like.Crazy. But going through things like this makes me so thankful that when we have to be gone for a day or two, we have SO many that we trust and love our kids like their own.
Some pics while we were away.....