What were you doing when you heard the news?
Were you eating breakfast?
Driving to work?
Whatever you were doing that memory is most likely one you will never forget.
Our family was in a hotel in California, just north of Sacramento, we were heading to Oregon that day and the kids were so excited that they would get to see the ocean. Brian went to the lobby to check out the continental breakfast and came back disappointed, but said that some guy was talking about a plain and the towers in NYC. We thought he was confused and didn't even bother to turn on the TV. The rule was quiet time first then tv. So because the breakfast look grim, Brian went in search of Dunkin Donuts. While he was gone I turned the tv on and was shocked and sickened at what I saw. By that time both Towers had been hit and the Pentagon as well. Here I was alone in hotel room with my three kids (ages 11, 9 and 7). I wanted to cry and panic but realized all eyes were on me. They didn't know what to do with the images they saw, images I could no longer protect them from. Thankfully Brian came back and we processed the events of the morning as a family. Brian's Dunkin Donuts sat mostly untouched, who could eat at a time like this?
What an eery day as we drove north into Oregon. We didn't know what to think, we wondered if we would even be able to get gas, and if so how much would we be paying. Driving past airports that had no air traffic was strange, to see all those airplanes lined up on the ground. How was life going to change? Who would do such a thing? There were many more questions than answers in that time.
As the days went on, amazing things came out of this tragedy. People were getting on their knees and crying out to God. People were flocking to churches for prayer. Candle light vigils happened from coast to coast. People remember the dead, injured and missing and turned to God for answers.
10 years later, as we commemorate this day we must remember to get on our knees once more. Our country still needs God...we need him more than ever. 9/11 is a part of this nation, it has impacted each and every one of us. My family was on a prayer journey at the time and it impacted our prayers even more. We took our trip very seriously and we prayed with fervor for this nation. When tragedy struck we turned to God, deep down this country knows who to lean on and He is a powerful God just waiting for us to turn to Him once more!
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Run for your life!
How about you? Where were you? What is your 9/11 story?
I was at work, on my way to the restroom when a coworker who starts a bit later came in, stopping me. He said a plane had hit the World Trade Center, and pulled me into the hallway to look into the barbershop next door, which had a tv on. My first thought was, "That wasn't a small plane".
ReplyDeleteI saw the second tower fall live, on ABC News' website. The campus closed around noon.
The silence in the air the next few days was the oddest thing - how could the lack of a noise be so significant? Everything changed that day.
September 9, 2011 8:31 AM
I was in the second month of home schooling our oldest in K5 when my husband called to tell me to turn on the T.V. Needless to say there wasn't much book learning that day or for several days after for that matter. It was all so unreal. Even in all the horror of those events it was so evident to me that God was still in control. I'm so thankful He is in control of all things good and bad, and that He has a purpose.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right...We as a nation need to turn to God. Praying for our great nation as we remember...
~LydiaCate
I was at home, having just sent my children off to school. I spent the day on the phone with family and friends and in front of our TV. We learned alot about ourselves, the world and prayer...
ReplyDeleteI was in Hampton, Virginia visiting my Aunt and if my daughter had not called and told me what was going on, we would not have known until we got out later. It is a memory that is forever etched on my heart. I pray the Lord will remind us again of what a blessed nation we are as we remember this devastating anniversary. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteI was in Australia in highschool, and woke up to my mother glued to the TV, she had watched the 2nd tower fall live on TV during the night AU time, and hadn't slept a wink since. I went to school, but all anyone wanted to do (including the teachers) was watch what was happening on TV. There were lots of students quite upset. We couldn't believe it.
ReplyDeleteI was working in Paris when a friend from the London office called me to explain that the twin towers had been attacked. I thought that she was joking. When it dawned on me, I was shocked, and glued to the TV. I couldn't believe it. Complete shock.
ReplyDeleteI was home alone with a 10 mo. old. We had no tv so I heard about it from a friend when I called to ask some details of a meeting that night. Since we didn't have a tv at the time so not seeing the images except in bits and pieces when passing tvs in stores and shops made it even more unbelievable. I remember being so proud President Bush called on the nation to pray. I also remember being sad when all the car flags started fading and getting torn and they didn't get replaced.
ReplyDeleteI missed everything. . .busy with a 2-yr old and 2 babies under 1 -- getting them in and out of the pool at the YMCA for a mommy & me class, leaving my phone in the car. . .and since I had three little ones with me I didn't even look in the workout room which I'm sure had all the televisions tuned to the news. When I got to the car I saw I missed three calls from my husband so quickly called him back, worried something was wrong. He asked me what I thought about what was going on and I had to tell him I didn't have a clue. . .sometimes I feel so protected, not witnessing the events live but after-the-fact. KellyC, I too am always saddened when the event passes and people start forgetting. Let us NEVER forget that we were attacked and the only thing we could have done (and did correctly) was respond. What a tragic day for our nation. Brenda, thank you for giving us an opportunity to share.
ReplyDeletewow...what a video!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, the plane-less sky was a little eery. No big story. My friends and I were headed to San Francisco for one last big shopping trip (very rare for me because I hate shopping) before our senior year of college was to start. She called me in the morning to tell me that they weren't letting anyone into the city. She told me to turn on the TV. Words cannot express the feelings...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was a college student living at home. I was home alone because my parents had taken a trip across the country to visit family. I first heard about it when I turned on the radio during my morning "get yourself motivated to go to class" routine... I thought I had just come in on the middle of a story... like "War of the Worlds" or something. It wasn't until I went downstairs and flipped on the TV that I realized it was no story, and I saw the second plane crash.
During the days of coverage following, I spent a lot of time in front of the TV while cutting out felt pieces of food to correspond with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for an education class at school, which I still have and use with my kids. Needless to say, that book and caterpillars both remind me of 9/11.