Father, into your hands we commend their souls...

While returning from our vacation in Guadalajara, we drove past the scene of the horrifying day care center fire in Hermosillo, Mexico. There were police officers and crime scene tape everywhere. 40 children perished in the fire, including two who's little bodies could not take it anymore, and died in hospital.

Initially, Spanish language CNN and FOX News reported that several children had been airlifted to Phoenix area hospitals, but English language reports state one child was flown to the Shriner's Pediatric burn unit in Sacramento.

We throw around the words "tragedy", "horrific", "horrible", etc so much that they lose their meaning. Driving past the building on Monday brought such a sense of pain and sorrow down on me that it was all I could do to not cry while I was driving.

Somehow I could sense and feel the fear that those children must have felt, to some degree. It weighs down my heart and hurts. No parent should have to bury their child. And to lose so many dear hearts in such a way is too horrible to find adequate words to describe.

Even though I was in no way directly touched by this incident, I am grieving as a parent to another parent who has lost a child.

I will never know the parents of the children that went home to God through this event. But I grieve for them and pray for them. God has a plan. While we are walking through the fire, we may not see a path or know the reason, but God is there with us, by our side. These 40 children are free from the pain and in a better place.

Let us walk beside those who have survived and now must live with burns and pain. A child of that age has no understanding of burn recovery, and the pain to come. God, please be with them on their road to recovery. And please let their parents know that parents around the world grieve with them, and stand with them for the long recovery process to come.

To the parents who lost children in this fire...know that God is with you. The jagged hole in your heart will never go away, but in time, God will heal the tattered edges and you will be able to continue on your journey through life. Remember the joys, and the sorrows, of your child, and pray that you are reunited with them again in Heaven, after your journey here is finished.

As for me, I am going to go dry my eyes, blow my nose, wash my face and pray for my children. I am in agreement with St John, when he writes in the last chapter of Revelation, "'Surely I come quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev 22:20b.

Vacation 2009 - Day Whatever

Help! I'm being held prisoner in a small room in a foreign country.

Actually, it's not that bad. We stayed in Mazatlan the first night and then traveled on to Puerto Vallarta area where we shacked up in an all-inclusive for the night, our beachfront plans having changed at the last minute.

Then, we packed up and drove to Guadalajara, where we've been since Sunday afternoon. Staying with family is always fun, but it is cheap. Good food and lots of Mexican city traffic. So far the count is me 1 - taxi drivers 0.

Sunday we're headed back north again to do it all in reverse (minus the Puerto Vallarto sidetrip).

Next year, I'm going to San Diego. Whew.

I'm posting pictures online as often as I can get high-speed internet access that's worth a darn. The rest of them will have to wait until we get home.

Our 2009 Vacation Photos. Updated as we get them cataloged and remember where we took them at.