11-11-11 + Birthday + Loss + Kindness

I came home from a normal day at my high school, turned on the t.v., and instead of the usual shows I watched while I did my homework, there was live coverage from Columbine High School. I just sat there, stunned, thinking about how easily that could have been my high school. Those could have been my friends.

The next morning, I went straight to our Guidance Counselor's office to ask what we could do, as a school, to show our support, thoughts, and prayers to their school. Together, we had the idea to get this amazingly talented girl to create a huge card for our whole school to write messages on, and mail it to them.

Not long after, Rachel Scott's dad visited our school to share her story with us about how she wanted to change the world with kindness. Listening to his words about things she had written, not knowing her life would be cut so short, left our entire gym completely silent. I think that day it all hit home to us that one person can change the world.
 After his speech, our Guidance Counselor came and got me so I could meet him. She told him about our card, and if you know me at all, then you know all I could do was cry. It seemed very real while watching the news coverage, but to have her dad standing in front of me, knowing what he lost, was just heart-wrenching.

Years later, today, Rachel's dad and brother are here, speaking at 11 Alive's Rachel's Challenge, Chain of Kindness 11-11-11 event. I think it is just amazing that one girl can be the cause of a 10 miles worth of chains linked together from acts of kindness.
If that is not proof that if we could all take even one moment a day to think of someone other than ourselves, how much our world could improve. It's just an amazing thought.

Another huge thing for me today is that I get to share my birthday with Veterans Day. I grew up knowing that I lost an uncle in the Vietnam War. My mom would tell me stories about him, and we always had photos of him around our house. I grew up knowing how much families sacrifice. 

Last year, my job took me to Washington, D.C, and I paid a visit to the Vietnam Memorial for the very first time. It was Winter, and snow was everywhere. Everything was so quiet, and I never imagined it would be so emotional. Standing there, overwhelmed by all of those names, it definitely got to me.
I found my uncle's name, and they had given me the paper and charcoal to rub his name onto the paper from the wall. What a moment. I was so happy to be able to bring that back to my mom. I just wish her and my grandmother could have been there to see what I saw.

Earlier this year, the world lost another great man. My husband's grandfather. He was a Navy Veteran, and led an incredible life. The family I have come to know is proof of the wonderful person he was.

Sorry for such a long post, but I just feel so overwhelmed, and blessed that I get to share my birthday with a day that people come out to appreciate others. I think it amazing that today, the Georgia Dome has been filled with such thoughtfulness and I hope each of those school children carry what they have learned this year, with their Random Acts of Kindness, throughout the rest of their lives.

God bless Rachel's family, and all of the families who weren't torn apart that awful day, and God bless all of our Veterans who have sacrificed so much.