December 14, 2012

During an horrific ordeal, resulting in the deaths of twenty innocent children, numerous heroes emerged.
 We count our daughter among them.
Julie did not step in front of a murderous bullet, she did not lead a class room of kids to safety.  She did not rid the earth of a menace.  Other heroes performed those acts.

Mid morning, December 14, 2012, Julie was worried about her family of friends in Sandy Hook.
Early afternoon, information sketchy and incomplete, she was distraught.
Late afternoon, information all too clear, she was overwhelmed with grief.  Julie's best friend's daughter, her  God daughter, Olivia Rose, was gone.  Julie suffered, severely, for 3 days.

She cautiously reached out to her friend, Shannon, mother of her God daughter, offering to help in any way.  Shannon accepted.  Julie de-emphasized her own agony, and crawled into the lowest depths of hell on earth for five days, to help her friend heal.



Julie didn't retrieve Shannon from this living hell, but she did drag her closer to the surface, with kindness, love, and as much understanding as possible, for a circumstance far beyond comprehension. 
She eulogized a 6 year old darling little girl.  I can't imagine.

Julie's actions were indeed heroic.  She is a hero.  She is our hero.

But wait; as is often the case......there is more

There was a reception after Olivia's funeral; Julie was asked to take care of Brayden, Olivia's 3 year old brother.  She, of course, did so, without hesitation.

She had help.

Miles, with an apparent understanding far beyond his mere 9 years, was attentive, nurturing, loving, to his little friend Brayden.     It was a joy to witness.

Julie, like her mom and dad, know the joys of being an
oh so proud parent.

Mom & Dad

Hey Jude

When I first met Jude, some thirty years ago, I simply wanted him to make my sister happy.  He did.
Hey Jude, you took a sad song and made it better.  Yes, he made my sister happy, but he did so much more.
Jude was a blessing to my parents, a joy for my family, and an inspiration to us all.
Thank you Jude.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.