I'll Never Forget

Today is 9/11.

This day holds a lot of meaning for me.

First, it's my Daddy's birthday. Happy 70th Birthday Daddy!!! I couldn't have been given a better man to be my dad. He can come off a little rough sometimes, but he is really just a big teddy bear. He worked hard every day to keep us clothed and fed. Back then minimum wage was probably $4.75. Working at a gas station on his feet 6 days a week wasn't his dream job but he did it. Taking care of a family of 4 wasn't easy but he and my mom made it happen. For that I'll be forever grateful. I was taught the meaning of hard work, sacrifice, and love. I strive to achieve this in my life everyday. I want my kids to be able to look back and feel as much love and pride as I do.


Second, this is the day that most of us will remember as our Pearl Harbor.  We say 9/11 and everyone knows what that means. It's the day we're going to remember as having our homeland attacked. It was scary, shocking, and heartbreaking. Watching the towers fall, we knew our world was changing. Yet, as through every other adversity, in the end we've come out better for it. Now I'm not going to get all political ... I'm talking about in ourselves and in our communities. The coming together of people. Strangers leaning on strangers for support. We found out the meaning of hard work as we watching the men and women gather to do their jobs even though their hearts were breaking for their fallen comrades. We saw the sacrifice people went through as their husbands and fathers tried vigilantly to overtake the hijackers and as the emergency workers tried to save others as they lost their lives. We also learned about love, unconditional love for those we didn't know as we came together during this tragedy. For this I shall forever be grateful - that on this day I can gather with my peers and remember and pray for those who are fallen and for our country.

In 2001, I was newly married. It was my 1 month anniversary. Robby & I were still working at the same place and still living with my parents. I remember being at work and hearing about the planes hitting and not really knowing the extent of what was happening. We turned on the radio and started to listen. Robby was out working and called me at the office to see if I was okay. He had been listening to the radio before and was quite shaken to have heard the Pentagon was also hit. He was slightly freaking out. But we went on with our day. That evening we went home to celebrate my dad's birthday and watch the news reports. Watching it was extremely hard, and I can't imagine actually being there. 

As we remember what happened 11 years ago. We need to know that we're going to go through good times and bad times. It's the cycle of life. And we will survive it. God never promised us it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33