When NEWS Hits Home

Boy found DEAD in South Berwick, Maine. It's all over the news, and it's my home.

The local news stations describe the boy as being 4 or 5, he still had all of his baby teeth, found dead on Saturday on a dirt road here in South Berwick. The dirt road is less than 1 mile from my home. This poor little boy, that not only is now dead, but no one knows WHO he is! I'm not sure which is more disturbing.

Maine State Police have checked all the missing people reports in Maine, NH, and Massachusetts. Nothing. NO ONE is missing their little boy?!

Updates have been flooding the Internet and local news stations, but with nothing that has proved fruitful. The kiddos and I walked downtown tonight regardless of the cool, rainy weather to join dozens of others there to light candles in front of Town Hall for little John Doe.

As we were getting ready to leave, my almost 4 year old said "mama, where are we going?" I replied, "to light candles for a little boy who's missing his parents" My little Spiderman pondered a moment, and then said "I could use my superpowers to help him find his parents, but I think he's already Home"

Yes, I had goosebumps.....

.... toddlers don't always make sense, no my son doesn't really have superpowers, and yes I capitalized 'Home' on my own based on how I heard it; but it just seemed so fitting that it literally gave me chills.

And yes, I suppose little John Doe is already Home.

Another vigil will be held tomorrow night, in honor of the little boy and in hopes that he is identified, at the First Federated Parish Church, also in South Berwick, at 7pm. All are welcome.

The point of this blog post is to help get the word out there about this little boy, again in hopes that he can be identified and that someone can find his family. And also, to remind everyone to hug their little ones a bit tighter tonight....

Has there been a time when the news has hit home for you?

SPRING is finally here!

Wow! Not sure where you have been these last few days but the weather in my little slice of heaven has been FABULOUS!! Baby A has been rockin her g diapers and Baby Legs and my little spiderman was able to run around like a crazy man at the park in nothin but a T-shirt and some light khakis. And frankly, I probably could have had him in shorts- but he resisted.

Since Sunday, we have enjoyed several outdoor adventures, and it has been a great reminder about not only how nice it is to actually BE outside and smell the fresh air, and hear the birds, etc. but that nature is FREE people! Ok, so we did have to make a $3.00 donation when we visited Vaughn Woods State Park for a hike, but it was well worth it!

Check out some pics from our most recent family adventures:

baby A enjoying the swing at the park, it was sunny but still a bit cold :)

1st family walk of the spring! my poor stepdaughter and her crutches :(

Sunday hike in our beautiful town- Vaughn Woods State Park

my Superman, baby A, and me xo

superman and wonderdog, aka Mackey <3

Hamilton House South Berwick, Maine

mommy & her baby

Hamilton House Gardens- such beautiful sites made for an amazing day!

clearly Mackey enjoyed the hike :)

Superman took over backpacking duties halfway through :)

GORGEOUS day!

my spiderman at the park with his friend Lucas, this was the other day when it was still chilly :)

pushing baby A on the swings

:)

baby A and her BFF Peyton :)

The moral of this photo album, is that having fun with your family (or by yourself) does not need to cost money! Just getting out and walking, running, taking the dog out, all of these things decrease stress and lighten your mood. And it gets the kids to burn off energy! :)

Our community park is within walking distance of my home, so we all walk there, the kids run crazy, then we walk back. By the time we get home, they're exhausted :) (albeit so am I)

During our little jaunt to the park today, I met a woman that works at the Thrift Store at our church (which I have yet to check out) and she says there is a whole closet of FREE baby clothes! Ummmm, hello??! You know where to find me on Thursday night!

So my lesson of the day? Get outside. Walk places. Talk to people. Hug your kids. It's all good for your soul.