We're facing an issue that's new for us, a local "officer down" story. It's so tragic. A pursuit ensued after a hit & run. An officer was working to get motorists safely out of the way, knowing the speeding driver was heading their way. Sure enough, the man being pursued did continue in that direction and decided to "go out with a bang and kill an _____ cop." He plowed into the back of the patrol car, reportedly driving about 100 mph, killing a young officer. Sgt. Randy White was only 32 and left a wife and five year old child behind.

The driver, of course, lived, suffering a broken leg.

Usually, I wouldn't purposefully expose my children to this sad event, but this time I had to. It's been hard to allow them to hear about it, to see the pictures of the wreck, but as Shane works through his grief for this local officer (he's shared a pot of coffee with him, but is mostly grieving for his child), the girls have to know about it.

This brings up a good issue for law enforcement families: having kids exposed to the hard stuff.

My girls couldn't understand why anyone would do what that driver did yesterday. I don't either, for that matter.

The death sentence came up, as well as what the Bible says about punishment for purposefully taking a life.

Human execution verses inhumane execution styles were discussed at our table today.

Does the Lord forgive sins like this? If he trusts Jesus for his salvation, will they let him go free? Consequences. All of these were touched on as we worked through the news today.

Finally, before we started our school work, we prayed for Sgt. White's family and for the salvation of the driver.

How do you work through these things with your children? How do you help your husband grieve? Shane had to guard the car yesterday, as it had been towed to the SO. He saw the blood stains in the wreckage. How do you enjoy a weekend with that imprinted on your husband's mind? He holds our own five year old closer today, and I know he's aching for a five year old half an hour away. What do you do with that as a wife?

I'd love your thoughts...