Hold your families tight tonight.

         So I just wanted to share what happened to me yesterday. I was working, and decided to take Sammy to the park that Aaron and I have gone to for the last 3 months every morning. It was about 7pm or so and there was a large family gathering/ picnic.  A fight broke out, nothing too severe at first, but the one man was very upset. I was throwing the ball with Sammy in the middle of the park, and playing with some of the kids who were with this family, because they wanted to see Sam. After about 10 min of being there the fight got really bad and someone started to drive away. I started to hook up Sammy and told the kids I needed to take her home. Then I heard 7-8 gunshots by the car, about 50 yards away. I fortunately ran to my car that was very close and got Sammy and myself in. While I was getting in, I turned and saw a man with a gun about 10 feet away from me. I didn't see his face, nor he mine, but I was close enough to see that it was a revolver and make a brief description of him. I immediately drove through the parking lot and away, almost running over several people. As I was driving away I saw a man grabbing his leg. He was near where the shots were fired but I didn't see any blood, so I am unclear about what happened there. I immediately called the police and made a report. The woman was very nice and firm in getting information, which was surprisingly helpful for me to process what had just happened.  I was not hurt at all and I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for watching over me. He kept me safe. I am grateful for Aaron who just held me and let me cry about it. Tom and Greg came over and gave me a blessing, which was much appreciated and needed. And then today we (California Gibbons+Bateman) went to the temple. Obviously I am glad nothing happened to me, and I am glad I had family to support and comfort me. But what I was most grateful for was being sealed to all of you. I cannot tell you exactly what the kind of horror it is to be in a situation like that, but what I can tell you is that if something had happened I knew I would still have you all as my eternal family. Thank you Mom and Dad for giving us reunion because we get to be together and have small glimpses of the eternity because of that. Thank you all for being temple worthy and not compromising our "No Empty Chairs" motto. I have our family picture on my desktop on my computer and I see each of your faces and I am glad we have everyone that we do in the family.  I am telling you all this because it helps me and because I needed to let you all know how much each of you mean to me. So hold your family tight tonight. Kiss your spouse, tuck your kids in, and give your pets an extra biscuit because I totally made Sam a small burger to make her and myself feel better.

Love you all, Shannon