Colorado has been in the national media waaaaay more than I would like–between the horrible wildfire season and the Aurora theater shooting.
Most recently this little girl was kidnapped and her body was found in my community last week. I went mountain biking near the site on Friday and was touched a makeshift memorial has been set up in her honor.
An LA Times reporter contacted me last week and asked to accompany me to our bus stop to gauge the temperature of local parents. In a few words: caution, sadness and fear. (Read the article in the Sunday edition).
On Sunday after church, we went for a walk at Standley Lake, one of my favorite areas. We had a nature-exploring, log-crossing, rock-throwing good time.
But at one point, Hadley took off as she is often prone to do when we’re outside. She and Bode were chasing prairie dogs in a vast field and she was almost out of sight.
And suddenly my stomach dropped.
We were in the very epicenter of where the little girl went missing and was later found. I lost it. Started screaming for her to come back. The wind drowned out my cries. I chased after her. An overreaction? Sure.
I’m determined not to stop living and exploring as we have always done. But until this man is caught and our little community is healed, things are going to be very different around here.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 