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September 11, 2003
On this 2nd annivesary of the September 11th attacks, rather than try to push the memories from our minds, I think we need to remember where we were that day, what we were doing - and the families who lost friends and loved ones in the attacks. I am reposting my entry from last year - the first anniversary of 9/11...
September 11, 2002
As I sit here at 8:46 am, the church across the street is ringing its bell and the memorial service at ground zero has just begun - but I feel numb and have an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
One year ago today, Earl and I were preparing breakfast for guests at the inn. The telephone rang and it was my sister-in-law Daria. She said "Something is happening at the World Trade Center. They are saying a plane flew into one of the towers." We turned on the television and watched in silence as a plane flew into the second tower. Immediately I turned to Earl and said that this was no accident. We were under attack. As the minutes passed we heard of the attack on the Pentagon and that one missing plane that no one knew the whereabouts of. We had no idea that at that very moment, brave men and women were forcing that plane away from the capitol and into the ground. And we also had no idea if Atlanta was on the hit list...
We continued to watch, unable to pull ourselves away from the screen. People began jumping out of the buildings and I couldn't watch any longer. We had to get away from the television.
The day began to seem so quiet - not a plane crossed the sky overhead. I cannot tell you how odd this seemed - we are less than 25 miles from the world's most busy airport, yet we saw not a single aircraft. We have the worst traffic in the country, yet we saw not one traffic helicopter. The streets were empty. We were to have our first childbirth preparation class that evening. We drove to the office and only the security guard was there. We didn't know where to go or what to do. I remember suggesting to Earl that we go to Wal-Mart and buy American flags to put in the yard and yellow ribbon to hang around the mailbox and trees. The people that we saw at Wal-Mart were walking around with blank looks on their faces. A woman was with us looking for the flags. She told us of her neighbor, an arab woman, who had been beaten that day with a bottle. She had asked her friend what she could do to help and the only thing this poor woman wanted was an American flag to put in her yard. I remember crying as we checked out and most of the drive home.
Our world and our lives as we knew them had been changed forever. We had lost our innocence as a country. No longer were we exempt from attacks on our own soil. Even though we did not personally know anyone who died that day, we grieved along with those who did. One woman in particular stands out in my mind. She was a frequent poster on www.thelaboroflove.com. Liat had a new baby girl - just six weeks old. Her husband died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. I remember days going by as she searched the city for him. She would be given hope that he was alive, and then it would be ripped away from her. In the end, her baby girl would never remember her daddy. Today her baby girl is almost 14 months old. I'm sure she walking all over the place and talking. I cannot imagine what Liat went through when her baby girl began to babble "dadadadada"...
Throughout this past year, we have been bombarded from all directions with images of the towers burning, the second plane hitting, and workers at Ground Zero. We've watched this documentary and that special, and many of us have become desensitized. Today we feel numb inside. While I have such compassion for the victims and their families, as well as our country as a whole - I just cannot reach any emotions. They are buried deep inside, almost as if I have been pushing them down each day this month, knowing what today would bring if those feelings were allowed to bubble to the surface.
I am so thankful that my family is safe, but I grieve the America that once was. I am saddened by the thought that Alyssa will not remember the days that America was invincible. And I am also very saddened to know that while the tragic events of September 11th brought many people TO God, others gave up their belief in God at all.
I think of Lisa Beamer, who lost her husband Todd that day. I can only imagine how it was to give birth to a baby who would never have the joy of falling asleep on his daddy's chest. I cannot begin to fathom what Lisa has gone through. But through everything she has glorified God! Her trust is not in man, it rests in the King of kings, and Lord of lords - the one who can calm the sea with just a word.
God has promised us that He will work all things for good. We do not know His ways. We do not have His wisdom. We have such a tiny bit of the puzzle, we cannot dare to think we see the whole picture. God did not cause this evil, but He did allow it. I don't know why, just as you do not know why. But let us not forget - GOD KNOWS WHY. If we will put our faith in Him, he will comfort us and give us peace.
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The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:8-9
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10
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Let us never forget this day. Let us as a nation turn our hearts back toward Jesus Christ. He is the only one who holds salvation in His hands and only He can heal our country.
May God bless you and keep you and hold you in the palm of His hand. And if you do not yet know Jesus Christ - if He is not a personal friend that you can cast all your cares upon - I pray that you will seek Him with your whole heart and accept the free gift of eternal life that He holds out to you...
Christy & Alyssa Brooke
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