In the wee small hours of the morning, while I was rocking Ruby back to sleep after a rare late night waking I found myself thinking about Kati Kim and her family. Kati and James Kim and their two daughters (one not much older than Ruby) were traveling through Oregon after Thanksgiving, and were lost, stranded in their car in the snow for nine days. They rationed what they had, burned tires for warmth and did all they could to stay alive and stay together. After seven days, James went to look for help, and Kati and the girls stayed in the car. Kati and her daughters were rescued. James' body was found two days later. Kati kept her daughters (4 years old and 7 months) alive by breastfeeding them. This story has broken the hearts of many Oregonians, and it's weighed heavy on my mind.

So as I rocked and sung to my sweet baby at 5 am on sunday morning, I thought of this family. As tired as I was, I was still in my warm house, with plenty to eat, and my husband was safe and alive sleeping (or trying to) in the bed next to me. My baby was warm, safe and her biggest concern was trying to fall back to sleep. Everything I hold dear was in it's place. Everyone I love more than life itself was safe. I have no reason to complain.

I just kept imagining this woman sitting in her car, trapped in the snow, watching the man she loves walk away. And the hours, upon hours waiting for his return, alone in the car, in the snow with her two babies. And I wept. I kissed Ruby and tears dropped on her sleeping face. I thanked the universe that my family is safe. And I prayed that in his last moments, James Kim somehow knew that his wife and daughters would be safe. That where ever he is now, he knows that his family made it home alive. Because I just can't bear to think otherwise.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find healing as time passes. Please hold your loved ones close tonight, and say a prayer (if you're the praying type) for this family.

I won't leave you with complete sadness, here's the fam at my work holiday party. Ruby came as Santa Clause.