Remembering.....

I find myself in a solemn mood today. It took me a few minutes to realize why. It's September 11th. I didn't personally know anyone who died that fateful day, but my heart was broken just the same. I remember seeing the images on TV while sitting on my neighbors sofa. My children and I went home in a daze. I sat them on my lap and hugged them close as I silently cried. Then we all got down and prayed that God would have mercy on this nation and each one of us. That He would help those who were hurting and protect those that were helping.

I remember how eerily silent the skies seemed for the next week or so. Suddenly, we noticed the empty space above us. There was a thick cloud of fear, mingled with anger and pride, that seemed to hang over us. But in time we've overcome that fear and exchanged it for determination. We will not be bullied and we will not back down.

If we have learned nothing else from those horrible events, I hope we have learned to accept each day as a precious gift from God. Each new day is an opportunity to tell someone how much we love them. Each new day is the chance to help that person in need, who possibly has no one - to make a difference in someone's life. Each new day presents to us the challenge to make this world a better place. I intend to make the most of it.

I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud of our soldiers, despite why they may be in combat. I'm proud of the Hero's that unselfishly gave their lives on that day, and since, for us.

My sincerest prayers go out to those who will spend today mourning the loss of someone they loved on 9/11. You are not mourning alone, as we are hurting with you. We will always remember! We cannot afford to forget....