Where were you when the world stopped turning?

My blogging continues to be a little behind but I want to take a moment and reflect on September 11, 2001.

I recall the day so well in my mind and the events that happened shortly thereafter.    That day started out just like all the other week days.  I got up and headed off to Woodlawn Elementary where I was a para-educator for a visually impaired kindergarten student.  I had playground duty that morning and I recall thinking that I was lucky because it was a BEAUTIFUL morning in Indiana.  We headed outside and the wind had that crisp, clean fall bite.  The sky was beyond blue and the grass had a heavy dew on.  The kids were burning energy, completely unaware of the events that were taking place that would change their lives forever.  A young teacher came to the playground and told me that the principal wanted me inside.  "What did I do" was the thought that crossed my mind.  I headed inside and walked in the office to see Gloria standing in front of the tv.  A plane just hit the world trade center she said.  The news cut back to Katie Couric and I remember her saying to her producers "is this an instant replay we are watching"?  Then I recall the horror on her face as she realized that no it wasn't and indeed a second plane had struck the second tower.  I think it was at that point that we all realized that this was not a horrific accident but something much bigger.  It was an act of terrorism on our homeland.  How did this happen?  Not here.  Not in America, land of the free home of the brave.  But it did happen and it's mark was made that day, like an irreversible tattoo, it scared us all in some way, shape or form.

We watched as the news broke about the other two aircraft's.  One that hit the pentagon and one headed to the White House but was diverted and thanks to the heroism of it's passengers, it crashed into an empty field in Pennsylvania.  Later we would learn that one of the hero's on that plane was named Todd Beamer.  Mr. Beamer orchestrated the take over of the hijackers and gave the command "Let's Roll" when it was time to put the plan in action.  All the passengers and the hijackers perished that day but because of the passengers unselfishness they saved the lives of countless others.  We watched as the twin towers that once had stood so tall and beautiful against that crisp fall sky came tumbling to the ground.  We stood silent and still as firemen, with no regard for their own safety ran into those buildings, some time and time again until they ultimately lost their lives when the buildings fell.  It was a day that I will never forget.  I think a portrait of the word "HERO" was etched into my mind that day.  The bible says in John 15:13 that "greater love hath no man than this, that he lays down his own life for a friend".  Those firefighters laid down their lives for complete strangers.  That is a hero by my standards.  Made me look at all firefighters in a different light.  They are someone's husband, someone's son, someone's brother, and possibly someone's daddy and yet they give 110% everytime they are called out.  Truly amazing people who do God's work.  Thank you FDNY and any and all firefighters in America today.

Let us not forget to be grateful for the blessings that we have simply because we live in America.  Remembering that freedom isn't free.  It's paid for daily by our troops who stand ready at a moments notice.
God Bless America  

Yeager Who?

Lena and Jacob

I had a friend remind me today that my blog was a little behind.  A little behind?  She was being kind.  She said she hadn't read about Princess Lena's 21st birthday and she was scolding me (in a nice way) that I needed to get on that.  In usual fashion, I could make excuses but this time I have a good one!  Ashley's wedding has totally consumed me!  Putting that aside for awhile I am going to focus on my baby's birthday.  August 25, 1990 was a beautiful day and By and I had every intention of going to a wedding.  Byron's friend Chuck was getting married and though I was 9 months pregnant I felt like a million bucks.  Needless to say, we never made it to the wedding because (aided by the railroad tracks in Monon) my water broke on the way to the wedding! I "knew" I was having a boy because this pregnancy had been so different from the first.  Yes, I "knew" I was having a boy and I even "knew" his name was Yeager Byron.  I had seen "him" several times in my mind and I had loved  "him"  unconditionally for the nine months I carried "him".  I was so thrilled that we were going to have a son to go with our beautiful daughter!  I was so excited that I had actually gone into labor with "him" on my dad's birthday.  That was an extra special thing and I knew it would make an unbreakable bond between grandfather and grandson!  Ah it was perfect!  Labor was quick, again very unlike the first time, and I actually was enjoying the process.  So, you can imagine our surprise when Dr. Sunkel announced that "he" was a GIRL!  A big, healthy, 21", 8 and 1/2 pound BEAUTIFUL GIRL!  Girl? Wait, that can't be.  Did he say Girl?  Oh my goodness and suddenly there we were, Byron and I looking at each other in disbelief because we "knew" all along that SHE was a HE!  Possibly it was because we had thought she was a boy that she became such a girly girl.  She was, is and will always be a princess.  The one thing that never changed and never disappointed was the relationship between SHE and HER grandfather.  Close as two peas in a pod, they loved to spend time together.  Right up until the day he passed away.  And without fail, every year on THEIR birthday he would sing the Baby Llama song to her.  A song that she learned early in life and would sing to him whenever she had the chance.

Many moons have passed since that day in August and her life has taken many twists and turns.  She has had trials and triumphs, both of which have made her into the beautiful young lady she is today.  They say it is the big milestones in life that shape you.  The birthdays,  graduations, getting a drivers license, and yes, turning 21.  But I believe it is the small things that have impacted Lena the most.  The lessons at the kitchen sink,  snuggling with her daddy on the couch when she was 3 and didn't feel well and maybe...no, certainly singing the Baby Llama song with her Grandpa.  We are so very proud of the sweet, silly, caring, precious woman that she has become and now we look fondly back and ask..."Yeager who"?