Click here for last week's Silver Linings moment. This Wednesday, I'd like to take a break from my usual Silver Linings post to pay tribute to a senseless tragedy that has never been far from my thoughts this past year. This Saturday marks the one year anniversary of that awful, awful day at Sandy Hook Elementary school. It will forever be one of the "what were you doing when" moments of my life. No other news story has ever touched me more deeply. On Friday, December 14th, 2012, I started my day much like the parents of those children. I woke up the kids, packed up their lunches and sent them off to school with a hug and a kiss. A few hours later, my husband called and told me to turn on the news. I wish he hadn't. I felt numb from that moment onward. I couldn't comprehend what I was watching. I felt sick but I couldn't turn away from the screen. I was anxious to pick up my kids. The after school bell couldn't come fast enough that day. The world seemed so still and silent during that walk. I saw a lot of parents with tear-stained faces. No one spoke. We kept to ourselves with our thoughts and our sorrows. Everyone was in mourning. We just wanted to grab hold of our children and take them home. An immense blessing, it seemed that day. Something that the parents of the Sandy Hook victims would never be able to do again. We had previously arranged for my daughter to have a friend sleep over. Just recently, her mom told me how difficult it was to follow through with the plans that night, but did so because both girls were looking forward to it. I'm so grateful that she did. There was so much life in my house that evening. The sound of little girls giggles and laughter never sounded sweeter than they did that night. I think of the Sandy Hook tragedy often. I think of the parents and wonder how they are coping. I can't imagine the extent of their insurmountable pain. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to get up each morning and live their lives when their precious children can't. I think about the little brothers and sisters and how their lives were forever altered that day. And I think about why this stupid senseless tragedy even had to happen. So, on the one year anniversary of this horrible tragedy, I will light a candle and say a little prayer for the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and send a virtual hug to their families and loved ones. I will never forget!