<DIV>SCARLETT’S STORY:<BR>Several weeks after Jesse’s physical body died, I found his handwriting on our chalkboard in the kitchen.<BR>It is clearly his six-year-old printing, at just the height he could reach on the board. In carefully formed<BR>letters, and phonetically spelled, it reads, “Norurting helin love” (Nurturing, healing love). Jesse’s<BR>babysitter, who was staying with us at the time, had been with him every afternoon and evening. Neither<BR>of us, including his brother, had seen him write this prophetic statement. When you read this, you know<BR>it was written by the spirit within Jesse, one that was determined to leave a message for his mom, his<BR>brother, his extended family, and the world that would comfort and inspire us.<BR>JT found a personal message from Jesse left in his room, on a piece of paper folded several times in a<BR>small rectangle. It was printed with carefully formed letters and said simply, “Have a lot of fun.” I have<BR>no doubt Jesse wanted JT, (who tended to sometimes have a more serious attitude towards life) to<BR>remember to have fun. JT treasures this; he will always know that his little brother was caring about him<BR>and had left him this gift of love.<BR>Over a month has passed since that terrible day, and I still do not read the news, watch TV, or listen to<BR>the radio. I have chosen not to hear any facts or rumors surrounding the horrific event that has<BR>irrevocably changed my life. Instead, I have chosen to surround myself with the comforting and warm<BR>embrace of my family and friends who shared my love for Jesse. The have shown me their love, support<BR>and generosity of spirit in ways that I would never have imagined I would need. God is here on Earth—<BR>He did not allow this to happen. The outpouring of love from my family and friends, and from all over<BR>the world, has shown me that He, without a doubt, works through people to show us His compassion and<BR>love. He is with us.<BR>I made a conscious decision to face this personal tragedy with love and forgiveness. The outpouring of<BR>love and support of our town, the nation and the world has shown that we can unite as one in love, and<BR>have victory in the face of evil. I believe this tragedy has changed many lives; many are not choosing a<BR>more loving path. We are all faced with a choice when we wake up in the morning—will we choose to<BR>live our lives in fear or faith? Then we step out into the world where good and evil do battle every day. It<BR>is the charge of each one of us to bring light and love into the world and we do this by every thought and<BR>interaction we have on a daily basis.<BR><BR></div>