This isn't in regards to a loss personally, but one that hurts none-the-less. I live in Utah, and I don't know what coverage y'all get, but last night was the 24th of July and in our state, we celebrate Pioneer Days, fireworks and all....anyway, on July 16th, a little girl in Salt Lake City was abducted and there was no sign of her until last night...I waited for the news to announce it, my hubby and kids were outside watching fireworks and I was sincerely hoping to be able to run out and yell to the neighborhood that they had found the child. That didn't happen.

Instead, as the finally went off, they announced she was found murdered, she was 5! She had been dead since the first hour after a neighbor conned her into his back yard and then took her in the house. I burst into tears and it's tearing me up. I think it reminds me of when my cousin was killed. She was 11 and she was raped and strangled and left on my aunt's bed to find when she got home from work.

I had a sinking feeling she was dead when the news came out that Destiny had named her soon to be born baby sister...FATE! Not Faith, but Fate, almost like she knew that something would happen. Today they celebrated the 1 yr birthday of their other child, Trinity...there's so much anger right now at the police for not telling the family what was known, and that although they searched the home 3 times, they did not find her body until the 4th time....all these searchers and volunteers scoured the mountain sides, parks, dumpsters, everything...and all the while, she was 150 feet away from her home.

I want to do something to help them, but now does not seem to be the time or the place as they have not just lost their baby, another baby is on the way, the investigation is under way and their's so much going on, I feel helpless.....I am designing some new jewelry for the mom, the siblings and for Destiny (which I'm hoping to get to the parents before she is burried)...as anyone who knows me, I design jewelry to deal with emotions, good or bad and I'd like for each of them to have matching pieces that they can wear to keep her close....

I don't understand how this can hurt so bad without directly knowing them or the family...but over the last 1 1/2 weeks of news casts, you can't help but feel as if you know these people.

Anyway, please everyone, keep the Norton family in your prayers and pray that they will find the peace that their daughter knows now.

Angel

angel77--------i think i told you this before "you are a wonderufl person" My prayers will be with the Norton family in their loss. How sad it is each and every time we here of one of our children being murdered. Having lost a child i know the horrible pain her family suffers. I do not know how any parent lives with the knowledge that their child was abused, murdered. You ask why you hurt so much not even knowing the child. on 9/11 i started watching all newscasts. i would sit and cry endlessly. I was seeing a grief counseler at the time who told me that when you know pain and see someone else's it feels like your own because you understand what these poor people are going through. You are a kind person. there should be more like you and this country and the world would be a better place.

Thankyou ICC...I haven't posted more on this because it's still tearing me up. They caught the guy, he raped her after she died, then we had three more kids murdered by parents or so's....I can't believe this is the world today. It is amazing how someone you've never met before can not only touch your heart, but break it as well. One child was close in age to my oldest, the other, my youngest and it brings back memories of past family tradgedies....it just isn't right.

Do you ever find that when you're in the grieving process, things hit even closer to home. My husband gets angry (for lack of a better word) with me for watching the news, because he can see my heart break every time...I have tried to explain to him that it's God's way of making sure I'm able to help those I need to...I can't help if I can't feel the pain they're going through. Many times I've had people ask if I've been in the same situation as them because I seem to feel it the same...

All I can say is, no, thankfully, but I'm here for a reason. Does that make any sense or has the last remaining parts of my brain tip toed off through the tulips???LOL

I wouldn't trade the gift of true empathy for anything, but I would kill for an on/off switch! It gets too hard some days....but it's always been worth it.

Toodles for now, hope this finds you all doing a bit better than the day before.

Angel77 Sending you and the norton family prayer's from the U.K
and yes you are a caring person.
God Bless you all ...Mandy