I will never forget ...

where I was on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. I was already overdue with my first baby, had been home on maternity leave for about a week already. I was huge, very uncomfortable and just waiting the long days out in the air conditioned house.

I had just woken up when my friend Steph called and told me to turn on the news. Steph knew what was going on because her brother Jason lived right across the street from the World Trade Centers and he worked for the New York Stock Exchange. He was standing on the street corner watching, as the second plane hit the second tower. After many hours, he made it out of NY city that day. He was lucky.

I will never forget that even though both DH and I were home together, we sat in 2 different rooms, watching 2 different TV's, not even speaking, both just consumed by the footage on TV. I sat there watching and sobbing for hours. I hated to watch but couldn't tear myself away from the TV.

I remember thinking "I can't believe we're about to bring a child into this crazy world we live in! How will we ever protect him/her from all this evil??" Now that I've been a Mom for 6 years I know that I can't, we can't, only God can. And there have been many times when I've had to trust that God loves my children even more than I ever could. And know that they are always in His hands and in His care.

September 11th, 2001 was also my parents 30th wedding anniversary. I actually forgot all about it until later that day, because of everything else going on. I remember feeling so sad that my parents now had to share their special day with such a sad day in history.

And now, my Dad is gone. He sits at the foot of Jesus, rejoicing in a body that is now free of all pain and sickness. So you see, September 11th is a day that I will never forget, a day that brings me many feelings of sadness. But also a day that reminds me that I now have 2 "Dads" in heaven (my heavenly Father and my earthy father) who watch over me every day.

I also can't mention this day without saying that I am eternally grateful for my parents and their marriage. (This year would have been 36!) I can't think of a better example of Godly marriage and truly appreciate all the years that I learned and grew by watching their example. So Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad, I love you both so much.