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Sunday, September 11, 2011

For the Fallen

Few events in my lifetime have affected me as deeply as those that occured 10 years ago today. What should have been a beautiful September day turned into a day of darkness and sorrow, and one which I can never forget.

I remember where I was and what I was doing as clearly as if it had been yesterday. I don't think I can ever forget, and I don't want to. Fogetting would be a scar on the memory of the thousands of men and women we lost that day.

When I found out about the first plane crashing into the towers, I was in my AP English class, senior year, standing at the front of the room. We were asked to memorize the opening to Cantebury Tales, and we were reciting it for the class. Such an insignificant activity when I look back at it. At first we thought that the World Trade Center that was hit was the one in downtown Baltimore. Then we heard about the second tower, and I knew immediately that this was a day I would tell my children about. This was the day I would remember until I drew my last breath. How could I forget the day that our nation, a place where I had always felt safe, a place that most of us, unwisely, had felt was impenetrable, was brutally and mercilessly attacked? The day that thousands of our brothers and sisters were murdered because of someone else's hatred? The day our nation, and the world, was changed forever.

Mourning has it's place. I've shed my tears for those we lost, as I have done and will do every year on this day. I will never forget the ones we lost, and the ones who have fought and died for our freedom. But I think the most important thing I can do to honor the memory of those we lost is to live. Love my family, love my country. Let not a day go by when I don't thank God for my freedom and for the right to live free. Honor their memory by never forgetting how important my family and friends are to me, and by making sure they know that. Because those men and women we lost didn't know on that Tuesday morning that they would never get a chance to fix relationships that were hurting, to kiss their children goodbye, to tell their spouse how grateful they were for having their love, and to tell their parents how important they were to them. We all, as they did, think there will be a tomorrow. But tomorrow is not a guarantee. Live life the best you can, and cherish every moment you have. Because you never know when the words you say to the ones you love will be the last you will say.

A wise woman once told me, "Never go to bed mad a someone, because you never know if you'll get the chance to make things right." I live my life by that, and I will honor the victims that were lost on September 11, 2001 by always remembering, and never forgetting.

God Bless America
Thank God for our Freedom

I will never forget. And I won't let anyone I know forget either.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Oh How Time Does Fly

So it's certainly been a while since I have written an entry, but life has been chaotic, to say the least.

For starters, I started back to school. Insane, right? I'm getting my bachelor's degree in Radiologic Sciences from Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. Ben is still pursuing his AA in Medical Laboratory Technology, and graduates December 19 (HOOOOORAY!!!!!). We have a contract in on a beautiful Townhome in Dundalk, that we both fell in love with on first sight. Of course, that can't be easy, and after almost three months we are still waiting to hear something from the seller's bank, since the house is a short sale.

Makenna is almost 8 months old now, and rolling, sitting up independently, talking, laughing, drinking her bottle solo, and generally ascerting her already strong personality, which she's going to need to survive our family! She is the light in her father's eyes, and I choke up just looking at the two of them together sometimes. She has already figured out how to wrap her father around her finger, and although she loves me, she absolutely glows when her father walks into the room. A true Daddy's Girl in the making. I really am starting to believe that one of the most satisfying things in the world is to watch the man you love more than life love all over the children you would give your life for.

And then there's Jacob. My beautiful little boy. My first baby. I'm finding myself a little dazed today, thinking about him. He is a ball of energy, and sometimes I swear I can see the ornery just ooozing out of him. He's rotten to the core (in the way any boy is, I'm sure). He can be the sweetest thing in the world, especially when he looks at me and says, "Hi Mama" when I walk in the door. He's talking so much, it amazes me - and would be talking more than that if we could find his secret stash of "mi-mi's". He has the most amazing smile, and the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. And, God love him, he's a mama's boy. He has this way of trying your patience until you think you're going to snap, and then turning around and doing something so unbearably cute or sweet that you forget how annoyed you were with him. And despite everything, I wouldn't trade this time for the world.

So time flies. I turn around, and my little girl is closing in on a year, my baby boy is two years old, I'm back in school, Ben's almost done school, I'm buying a house, and the beat goes on...

I think maybe I should start blogging more regularly. After all, everyone loves hearing a bit of crazy now and then, as long as it's someone elses crazy, right??