Blessings.

Yesterday Steve and I took the kids to Costco. We needed to pick up a few things and were going to have hot dogs for lunch. We also needed to go over to Marshalls for some swim suit shopping - not fun. We decided to go to Marshalls first. We were there for about 45 minutes. We made our purchases and then started to walk out the door. As we were leaving, Steve turned to me and said, "I want to check on some shoes real quick. Take the kids to the car and I will meet you there in a few minutes." I took the kids to the car and buckled them up.

Steve came out to the car about 5 minutes later. We drove across the street and pulled into Costco's parking lot. It was packed. We found a spot near the entrance. Fortunately there was a family in the next spot loading up their stuff. Their cart was in the way of the spot so I rolled down the window and politely asked them if they would mind moving their cart so we could park. The mom then turned to me and said,"You may not want to go in. They are evacuating the store for some reason." Steve and I decided we would drive to the other Costco and not deal with whatever was going on at this one. As we were pulling out of the isle (facing the store), a cop car pulled up right in front of us. An officer got out with one of the largest riffles I have ever seen and walked toward the entrance. Shocked to be witnessing what we were seeing (at COSTCO - REALLY???), we just started driving around to the back of the store. As we rounded the side, we saw the side door swing open and about 6 people run out, they were all ducking for cover. We decided we didn't want to stick around to find out what happened so we drove off.

When we got home it was all over the news that there was a shooting. There are lots of conflicting eye-witness reports, but as far as the media is reporting a man was acting berserk and had a gun. When the police came they confronted him, told him to disarm, he didn't comply and was shot. It was near the entrance. Right were they were evacuating people to. Right where my family would have been. Nobody else was injured but there were many people standing around where this happened and many children witnessed this. I am so grateful that my children were not there. I am so grateful that we were not in harms way.

Everyday I pray. I ask my Heavenly Father to bless me and my family to be safe and protected. I know that my Heavenly Father was answering my prayers yesterday. If Steve had not decided to run back and check on the shoes we would have been right in the middle of all the commotion. My kids would have witnessed something that would have been imprinted on their innocent minds for the rest of their lives.

Today I am grateful for the many times my Heavenly Father has protected me and my family and I am so grateful to have a knowledge that prayers are answered.