Charlie Kirk
Babe!
I don't have to tell you what just happened. You know more than us right now.
I saw Jaroms text come through on my watch and I didn't understand why he was asking her if she was ok. I wondered if I missed a text. Before I could get to my phone to look she called. She was running to her car. She said she was sitting in class when a man entered the room and told them there was an active shooter on campus and they needed to evacuate the building. We debated weather she should try to get out in her car or to run to her apartment. At the time it wasn't clear if the shooter was a mass shooter. That was a terrifying moment for both of us.
"Mom! What should I do? Should I get in my car or keep running?" She cried into the phone.
I didn't have an answer, but I called out to you to help her. I was completely helpless but knew you knew what was happening. I prayed to God to send helpers to Jennica, to send YOU. The only advise I had was:
"I don't know Jenn, what does your gut tell you? You'll be guided. Take a second and listen."
She decided she would try to get away in her car. She was parked near the exit and felt she could get out quickly if she moved right then. I stayed on the phone with her for 35+ minuets while she inched her way off campus.
She drove here instead of her apartment and stayed the night.
Being the Charlie Kirk fans that they are, I am surprised Jarom, Jennica, and Jace were not in the crowd.
Jace sent me this text just after the news:
Later I asked Jarom how he knew so early. He told me he was following the event on X. I asked him why he wasn't there in person and he didn't really have an answer. He said it wouldn't have taken any convincing, it just didn't come up with anyone. Jenn said she decided she was going to go because
1. She was on location and
2. Dad would have thought this was cool.
She got to school and went on "auto" and just walked to her class and forgot to go! When class started and it came up that Charlie was there she remembered and was mad she ended up in class instead.😆. Only 20min into class they were evacuated. She was telling me what that experience was like. She said the class kind of froze and didn't know what to do. She said on the first day of school she noticed the evacuation posters in the class and she went and reviewed them. (she's my kid 😆). So when the class didn't know what to do she spoke. She went to the wall and read it out loud so everyone could hear. Hours after the fact, she was laughing at herself while feeling a little bit embarrassed at her "girl scout" behavior. We brought that up a lot for comic relief over the next 24 hours. 😂
Today, 2 days later, she got this class text:
😂
This event was at their fingertips and none of them went. Sadly, we know now that Charlie was the target, not students, but I can't help but think it was best they didn't witness the shooting. Videos are all over the internet. They ARE witnessing it but maybe if they were there, it would have compounded any suppression of grief they already have? It seems like the opposite effect is taking place. It's bringing to surface emotions, perhaps of your death that they haven't expressed yet?
Jennica slept in my room the night he was killed and was wondering why she was so emotional over the situation. I don't think she is alone in feeling that. Charlie reached the youth in unique ways, not only the youth but the entire US! His death is devastating. Jarom said this is his generation's 9-11. It's big. During our conversation I told jennica she needed a good cry. She said she hadn't even had her good cry over you. This shocked me. She said she didn't have time to cry about you because as soon as she arrived home and I told her, she went straight to pick up Abi at school and then was thrown into "strong mode." 😢
Maybe Jarom and Jace did something similar? Charlie's Assisination was so close, raw and devastating , it might be triggering some deep emotional connections to you.
Jace told me he keeps wanting to text you about it. I wish you were here to "circle the wagons."
You're not here to "circle the wagons"but I do think you were there with each one of them.
As a mom, in that horror of not knowing if Jennica was in danger, I knew you could be where I couldn't. We made a deal! "Deal Proposal". 😂
Are these the perks of our situation?
Experiencing "terror" is different from knowing what the word means. I hate that Jennica experience that terror. She kept yelling into the phone: "I knew this would happen! I knew someone was going to shoot him!"
Being on the other side of the phone with her during it was awful.
Liz was so thoughtful and reached out to Jennica once she heard the news. I exchanged some texts with her. Her comments about you were touching:
The World changed on Wednesday. It was a hard day for the Hobi's. I started the day in the Temple and ended it asking God to fill me with more peace, more love, more security.
On days like September 10th and 11th, I need your strength to comfort me.
We need more Sam Hobi's and Charlie Kirk's in the world, not less.
Thanks for being "there" for us. I wish I understood more clearly what your role actually is. I know you and I are still connected. I feel you still. I know you will do whatever it takes to protect us. If your death puts you into a better position to protect our family, I'll trust the process.
It's you, God & Jesus. I'm 100% all in...to all of you!
It's looking like God is gathering quite the army on the other side.
I LOVE you Sam Hobi!
🤟
Stay close!! 😘