October 19th Cruisers again and again...

[Mickey02]

Thought I would check in at the end of the day. We are getting ready to go out to dinner.

WE GOT A 47" TV FOR OUT BEDROOM!!!!! I am SOOOO excited I have wanted one for a while. Now we can watch movies in our room. It is a flatscreen and mounted on our wall.

It is sooo cold and snowy here. We got most of our decorations up outside but still have some more stuff to do. I really want to win the contest this year.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Barb, spaceship earth. Ted wants a big tv for our bedroom. Yours would be bigger than our room. LOL

Jeanne and Joyce just got to WDW today. LUCKY LADIES!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Oh Barb, you need this. I wish we were in the Springs for you.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Barb - Your and all of your church are in my prayers. If you need anything, please let us know....we are only right up the street.

 

[Mickey02]

Heidi & Sandy- Thank you so much for your support you will never know how much it means to me. yesterday was a day I spent once again in disbelief and denial. hard to believe a year later we are going through another crisis.
This morning I drove by the church and saw every entrance blocked off and news trucks lining the streets. I just started crying. When we lost Pastor Ted last year we still had the church to go to for comfort. Being inside the church made it feel like everything was going to be ok. The aloneness I felt this morning knowing we were "locked out" was more then I could take. I know they have to keep us away and I know that it is temporary but it still hurt. I have spoken to several people from the church and talking to them has helped. I got a hold of most of my Missionette girls families and they were ok. I also know names of the victims the news has not yet released. I know for sure one of them was about 16 and pretty sure it was her 18 year old sister that died later last night. Dad is still in critical condition.

Thanks again for being there for me. I love you guys so much.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Barb, they have released the names now and the girls are related. I heard a 15 year old and an 18 year old. I do know the names if you would like to know. You have NOT left my mind this morning. As I told you on the phone, I can relate because of the Columbine shootings. Not knowing who, all the details, hearing the shots, pacing up and down the living room, TV coverage, phone calls from people you haven't talk to since college and the list goes on. Just know that the Van Horn's are here for you in whateve capacity. Our hearts and prayers go out to you, the church and the community. We love you Barb!

 

[Mickey02]

Thank you so much Sandy.

I know the names of the victims. One of the elders told me last night. It was one of those things were you know OF them but don't really know the family. Judy one of the victims is in charge of the homeschooler program at the church so her life is very woven with the lives of my girls. The shooter shot 6 shots into their car but only hit her in the shoulder. That was a miracle.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Wow Barb, what a nightmare. I can remember the feeling with Columbine, and I can't even fathom some psycho to open fire in a religious community, somewhere you are suppose to be safe from harm. Please let us know if we can do anything for you or your church. You have been on my mind from the second I heard it on the news. By the sounds of it, it sounds like one family has been harmed? Thankfully the security guard was there. The pastor almost brought me to tears when they had him on last night.

 

[Mickey02]

let me see if I can explain what happened that will make sense.

The shooter walked up to the car holding the Works family and shot in the car hitting Dad and both girls in the back seat. One died right away and the other was in really bad shape. The Purcells were behind them and saw the shooter Judy husband tried to run him over and hit the gas pedal. His car stalled the shooter then walked back to the Purcells car and shot into it 6 times only hitting Judy in the shoulder. He then walked towards the church where the next guy was shot at but the bullet only grazed him, the shooter then walked into the church towards the cafe since the staff had been put on alert because of the Arvada shootings and they knew what was happening in the parking lot the security guard was ready she shot him 10 to 12 times and he went down. The shooter was dressed in all black had a bullet proof vest on an automatic weapon and a hand gun. he went in the church to kill as many people as possible. The security guard usually is with Pastor Boyd but was stationed at the front of the church because of the high alert. If she wasn't a few more people may have died.

 

[Mickey02]

I was going to cancel my class on Sunday night because Michelle's school is having a Christmas thing and she is directing her band. But with everything that happened I really want to connect with the girls. I want them to feel things will be ok at the church. We all need to feel safe again.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Barb - that description gave me chills, what a scary experience. I agree with you, the girls (and everyone else) need to get back into the routine and would probably be better for everyone to be together. I am sure Michelle will completely understand.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Barb - Is your church in any way possibly tied to the missionary in Arvada that was also shot at the same day? I know both places are really big, but is there any ties between the two?

 

[Mickey02]

Youth with a Mission aka YWAM is connected to New Life. They have an office at the church.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Youth with a Mission aka YWAM is connected to New Life. They have an office at the church.

Hmmmm. The just released the name of the shooter, Mathew Murray.

 

[Mickey02]

I am really anixous to hear what the reason was.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

They said that they had investigators at a house in South Arapahoe and they think it is tied to the shootings. I was wondering if it was mom and dad of the shooters house or something. How horrible for his family as well! I heard that they do in fact think that both shootings are tied together. I was wondering about the reasons, too, Barb. I don't think anything that happened can ever justify something like this.

 

[Mickey02]

Finally the connection.

The source -- a long-time member of New Life Church, site of the second shooting -- said Murray had a falling out with Youth With a Mission after working with the organization a couple of years ago and that he sent antagonistic and threatening correspondence afterward.

Murray fired on people at the missionary center in Arvada early Sunday, then drove to New Life Church in Colorado Springs, where the center has a satellite office, the source said.

Murray, carrying a great deal of ammunition, threw a smoke grenade into an area in which some people were gathered at the church after services, then got in his car and drove around to a different entrance, where he fired into a car -- killing two teenage girls and wounding their father, the source said.

Murray apparently fired at other cars as well, the source said.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Gosh, I'm sorry but he just didn't have to take innocent lives!!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Unbelievable. I can't believe someone would be that angry to do those kind of things. Thanks for telling us the connections.

Prayers said again for the poor family members who lost a loved one and for all the church members.

 

[Mickey02]

Thank you Sandy & Heidi for being with me today. I started out this day in tears but feel a little better.