I Remember…

{There are no photos in this blog post. Images of 9/11 are everywhere most of us remember seeing them on that fateful day.}

 

I was up early for being so pregnant, helping Mark get ready for work.

I flipped on the news to see what the day’s weather…

I was unprepared for what greeted me.

I never did figure out what the weather was going to be that day,

instead I sat glued to my TV, tears streaming down my face at the images I was viewing.

It was about 6am, here in Oregon, when I turned on the news.

The first plane had just hit tower number one.

I was confused, then confusion turned to shock, and with when the second plane hit tower two…

…it turned to horror.

 

I sat glued to my TV all day.

Sick to my stomach.

Very hormonal and emotional.

It was, and still somewhat is, surreal what happened on that day eleven years ago.

 

A baby shower was planned for that night at our church, in my honor.

Some wanted to cancel it saying we couldn’t go on with it because it wouldn’t be right…

but I felt that if we cancelled it we would let the terrorists win.

They want us to live in fear.

They want us to shut down and wither away.

 

But that’s not what Americans do!

We stand strong and united!

 

We did have the baby shower.

It was good to have something to smile and laugh about in the midst of such horrors.

It was good to know that even though such a horrific tragedy had just taken place,

God was still in control and a new life would be joining our family very soon.

It was good to take time, with fellow believers, to pray for all those affected by the attacks.

 

There is so much sadness in the world… but there is a Hope.

 

Psalm 62: 5-8

My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.               Selah.

 

Today I sat down with my kids today and showed them the 9/11 materials I’ve collected.

As we were discussing what had happened, looking at images of the day and I was sharing where and what I was doing during all of this, my son started this conversation:

Son (looking out the window): Wow. That jetliner seems reeeeally low.

Me: It’s not; it just feels low because it’s 9/11 today and we’re feeling cautious.

Son: Why aren’t we cautious every day?

Me: Because we’re so spoiled with the freedoms we have in this nation. Freedom is NOT free! It always costs something. And often we forget that so much of the world around us lives in daily fear of injustices and terror. We are blessed to live in this great nation!

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

 

God bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Through the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

 

God bless America, My home sweet home

God bless America, My home sweet home.

 

According to Wikipedia, “During a live television broadcast on the evening of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, following addresses by then-House and Senate leaders Dennis Hastert and Tom Daschle, members of the United States Congress broke out into an apparently spontaneous verse of “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.”

 

I remember 9/11/2001…

Do you?