Days that shape our life....

Today, my kids (students, I call them my kids) heard on the announcements about 9-11 and they all had questions.... some of them had seen it on the news that morning or heard their parents talking about it, but they were all confused as to what it was. They are only 7, so they weren't alive when that horrible day happened. I thought about what I should do or if I should even mention it, then I decided I definitely should. That day changed our world, our every day life, and the lives of all those that were lost. We talked, I answered questions, we watched a short, approved video on 9-11 and that was it. They all seemed to understand and wanted to know- why did they bad guys do that? I told them that we weren't sure, but someday they would understand more. I did the best I could given that they are young and vulnerable and scared.

I remember that day- I woke up to frantic phone calls from one of my best friends and my mom. They were panicked and freakin out. I was groggy and had no idea why they were screaming at me "TURN ON THE TV" and then I did... all I could do, like most, was stare in disbelief... then start dialing my friend who lived in New York... it was a day before I heard she was ok with all the chaos going on. I went on to college that day, I was in my first year at a local community college with all my friends. We stood in the lobby at the college and watched the TV... it was as if everything was frozen in time and it didn't matter about class or the store or financial aide or anything.

That day changed our lives, it was a day that helped shape the lives of those who were old enough to experience it and understand what was going on. It showed us that it CAN happen to us. It showed us that the world is not a fair place, innocent people are killed every day, and just because we live in the greatest country in the world- we are not protected from it all.

Today, I am thankful I live here. I am happy to be a citizen of the USA. I am happy to be able to have the freedoms that so many others don't. Today, I know God blessed us all, each and every one of us. Just because some people exercise their free will to the max and go down the wrong paths, it does not change what we know in our hearts to be right and today we should pray for those who were affected, those who lost their lives, and those who are still out there protecting us from more horrific events like that from happening.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!