For Abigail & Anna

June 27 part 1 - I woke up knowing today was going to be a big day. Not big as in get-a-lot-done big. But big as in bigger than me. Powerful. Moving. Today has been on the radar for many months and has been pulling me across the country like a fishing lure through the ponds waters to its rod.

Today was the Love Rocks Run. Many of you know  Tom & Susan and their beautiful girls Abigail & Anna. Many of you know the story that no one would want to claim as their own reality. Many of you know the strength, love & compassion these two have. Today they didn't want the Love Rocks Run to happen. They didn't want to be out celebrating love & joy. They wanted to have their girls back in their arms and have no reason for this fundraiser. But the strength and love both Tom & Susan have found in themselves, in each other and in this amazing community has brought them humbly to a place where they can share the love and joy they knew as a family with the rest of the world. They did not ask to be in a position of guidance for so many, but through their display of love in a world that could so easily have stripped them of it, they have risen, and people hold on to them knowing what Tom & Susan are doing is quite possibly one of the most difficult things in life. Everything I've ever tried to write, or say, sounds trite. "You're amazing", "you're inspirational", "you're strength is admirable".... In my head I can hear what my response would be "I don't want to be inspirational". They gracefully led an incredibly professional and top-notch 5K run/walk where literally all eyes were on them. Where the community who grieved with them, who held their hand and helped keep them standing, wants to let them know they still have their backs.

As I stood and watched everyone embrace Tom & Susan, friends, family, neighbors, and people who have just heard their story and wanted to reach out and connect, I saw the strength that it took for them to just stand there and say thank you. To me, it was as if every person that needed or wanted to talk to them first had a ball they had to throw at them. Each ball had to be caught and put down, but they kept coming. Imagine several hundred people, all with only the very best of intentions, throwing a ball at you, and you having to control all these balls. They handled each one, they took their time with each person, making sure they didn't drop a single ball. They are truly incredible people.

Susan stood at the finish for the kids 1K and made sure every little got a high five, along with the Storm Troopers

Sierra crushing the 5K with Uncle Michael

She was so proud to see her sign on the course

Sierra kicked it in to high gear for the finish

Grandma, Grandpa and Mckenzie at the finish line after the 5K Walk

Emily (Tom's oldest daughter), Susan, Tom & myself

The entire experience was amazing. I had a lump in my throat as I both smiled at the beauty of the event and wept with sadness that we even had to be there. Two little angels worked their magic that day and kept the predicted triple-digit temperatures at bay and brought in the clouds, taking care of everyone there.