9:30 a.m.

At 9:30 this morning, all of the first graders at my school were in the cafeteria. Laughing their little butts off at seeing my teammates and me dressed in our pjs and taking a picture.

They went off to each of our classrooms and did their final winter station activity. Mine came back and we worked for a bit on writing letters persuading the Grinch to smile. Some of the reasons they came up with? "Christmas is awesome." "being happy is better than being sad" "it's important to be nice."

We wrapped up the day by drinking hot cocoa, finding a comfy spot and watching The Polar Express. I passed out candy canes and even though I was losing patience with how rowdy they were, I still smiled and gave them great big hugs and wished them a good break.

I write this, because at 9:30 a.m,. at another elementary school far away from mine, these fun events were not the case. It makes me cry when I think of how someone went and killed innocent children. Innocent children that just want to be loved. That had their WHOLE lives ahead of them. That were probably excited that Christmas is getting closer and Santa will soon be here.

So just like many of you, I too am sending prayers to Newtown, CT. But I'm also sending prayers to each one of my students tonight. Prayers that their parents hold them tight and give them hugs and kisses and that they stay safe over break. And when I see them again on Janaury 2nd, I will give each one the biggest hug and tell them how I happy I am to see them.