Because of the Day of Remembrance, SIT is getting a bit of a later start than usual. I thought it was more than appropriate to take time to honor those who lost their lives in Connecticut as well as all those affect by this unnecessary and unfathomable tragedy.
I have no words to describe the overwhelming grief I feel for all the little children, the families, the adults, the school, and the community. All I can do is pray constantly for God to restore their lives. At the same time it’s hard to imagine that it’s even possible.
I am being completely honest when I say it feels wrong in every sense of the word to host a linky party less than a week after this international tragedy.
Wrong because so many people are grieving. Wrong because little children lost their lives and their innocence. Wrong because families are left with broken hearts in the middle of what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.
But, it remains that life has to go on. We can’t let evil win and stop us from living.
As we move forward, we can commit to living more meaningful lives. We can commit to letting go of things that just aren’t important. We can commit to being more loving, more thoughtful, more giving, more tolerant.
As we move forward it’s not because we forgot and we don’t care. It’s because we care deeply with a renewed commitment to make our lives and our world a better place.
May God bless all of you and keep you safe throughout this holiday season.
Much love,
Amy
Last Week’s Healthier Highlights
My Picks
- 5 Minute Sour Cream Dill Dip from Beyond the Peel
- Savory Butternut Squash Soup with Thyme from City Life Eats
- Chili-Seasoned Mashed Pumpkin Sweet Potatoes from Gluten Free Cat
Reader Favs
- Butter Tart Squares from Sandi’s Allergy Free Recipes
- Gluten-Free Brownies (Grain Free Too!) from Food and Yoga for Life
- Flourless Peanut Butter Brownie from Part-Time Health Nut
Linking Up Guidelines:
- If you leave a link in the comments, my blog will automatically mark it as spam.
- Please link back to this post NOT A STATIC “BLOG PARTY PAGE” so that your readers can find the recipes here.
- Link to your individual post, NOT your home page.
- Recipes DO NOT have to be sugar-free or gluten-free – just healthier in some way. The idea is to share our ideas and inspire each other in the kitchen.
- When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
Miz Helen
posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:21 am
Your post is well said Miz Amy and thank you for hosting. I am sending you and Nate a very special hug today.
Love to you both!
Miz Helen
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Peggy
posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:36 am
I love what you had to write Amy. Thanks for those wonderful words and the Day of Remembrance yesterday was wonderful. Thank you.
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Hannah Healy @ Healy Real Food Vegetarian
posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:20 am
I think it’s great that you’ve really taken a moment for the sandy hook victims. It is truly tragic what happened.
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Lauren
posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:44 am
Thanks for hosting Amy! I’m adding my Ooey, Gooey S’mores this week. Have a great day!
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France @ Beyond The Peel
posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:48 am
Amy,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It’s important for us all to be examples of light in the world, even more so when tragedy happens. Blessings to you and your family.
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Sandi
posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:15 am
Everyone’s thoughts and prayers are needed for all who are involved.
Thank you for mentioning my Butter Tarts Squares. This week I shared 20 other Christmas Goodie Ideas for everyone to make.
Amy to you and your family have a safe, joyous and very Merry Christmas!!
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lori
posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:42 am
Amy, I’ve just found your wonderful site. Thank you for hosting and for your day of remembrance…Lori
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Jen | my BIG FAT grain free life
posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Amy – Thank you for your sensitivity to the tragic events that took place at Sandy Hook. I, too, thought what you wrote was beautifully said.
I’m linking up a gluten free and refined sugar free “World’s Best Fruitcake Ever”.
Take care- Jen
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Laureen @ Fox in the Kitchen
posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Amy,
Poignant thoughts. In honour of lost loved ones, lets do move move forward and make our world a better place. Thanks for sharing. God bless you and your family.
Laureen
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Tessa@TessaDomesticDiva
posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I think everyone has hard time grappling with these vents. Part of our being screams out “What is happening to our world?! ” And while violent media, gun access and mental issues surface and are possible contributors..ultimately it comes down to how we treat one another. Take an extra minute to try and touch either someone you know or a stranger in a kind way..a smile, words of encouragement, a hug…it can look different but let that other person know they matter. Burying your head in the sand with people who make you uncomfortable while understandable can also push those people further down….
My heart is with the families who mourn. Thanks Amy.
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Devin @ Nom Yum & Free
posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Amy,
Thank you for your Day of Remembrance yesterday, and for taking a moment to pray for the families and spirits of everyone who lost their lives in such a devastating, disgusting tragedy. As a parent, I look at my young ones and dream for and with them. I wonder how they’ll be when they are 5, 10, teenagers, can drive a car, fall in love, are parents themselves . . . . My heart goes out and my tears are shed for those children who were unjustly frightened in their last moments in this world, and to the families who are mourning the loss of their dreamers. Thanks again for sharing.
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Eileen @ Everyone Eats Right
posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:09 pm
This week’s post: Baked Maple Custard Mini Pumpkins. The recipe worked well with almond milk and is naturally gluten-free.
Thanks Amy for hosting, to all for linking, and for a Day of Remembrance to help us pause and pray together.
–Eileen
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Marya@parttimehealthnut.com
posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Hi Amy,
Thank you for sharing these sentiments. Words cannot express my sadness over the shootings. Not only for the lives lost, but for the perpetrator who experienced such pain that he couldn’t imagine a more peaceful resolution. With compassion, I’m praying for peace and grace to touch the lives of all involved. Namaste, Marya
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Anna@GreenTalk
posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Beautiful spoken. I too am so numb from all the pain that the Sandy Hook families and community are experiencing. I wonder why it takes such a horrific tragedy for change to happen. I wrote about this on my own website as well.
Thanks for keeping the link up. Wonderful recipes as well. Sometimes it is like Pinterest over here. You get sucked into reading everyone’s recipes! Happy Holidays.
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coleen
posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:37 am
thanks, amy, for your heart to keep important things first! tragedies such as the murders @ sandy hook school SHOULD compel us to recommit our hearts and lives to loving with all that we have and to serving the One Who Holds us in His hand. thanks for your blessings…may God bless you and your loved ones, too <3
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Mireya Merritt
posted on December 21, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Thank you for the day of remembrance. It’s time are country started looking at the problems that many families are dealing with when their child has mental health issues. We just had another scare here in Arizona, but fortunately, the plan was thwarted.
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NCSue
posted on December 25, 2012 at 5:59 am
I’ve found it somewhat difficult to move on as well, so chose to do so with a different form of remembrance. For each of the 28 people who died, I am performing an act of kindness. With each act, I am giving a card explaining in whose name I’m doing a kindness and why.
If you wish to download a copy of the card or learn more about it, please go to http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/2012/12/can-sense-be-made-of-senseless.html or, if you want a tiny url, to http://tinyurl.com/d3syye7.
Thank you, and may God bless you this Christmas and always!
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