9/11-Where were you?

We took this picture about a week after my son was born, well after 9/11 as you can see.  However, it is very different than I remember it.  I was born in NJ, but raised in GA from 3rd grade through college.  I moved back to Jersey in 1988, but didn't live there long.  However, while there I went into the city several times, many to just walk around and take in the culture.  I loved visiting NY and always will.

In 1996, I moved to Boston and then in '97 to Chesapeake, VA.  While I lived in Chesapeake, I met my husband and in '99 we were transferred to New Orleans.  In November of '99, I had my second child, my first with my husband.  I had this wonderful job, working as a real estate assistant for an amazing agent in New Orleans, Charlotte Joint-Rivet.  She let me bring my child to work with me and stay in a play pen next to my desk. 

The morning of September 11, 2001, I was at work at my desk with my oldest in school and my youngest now at child care.  Charlotte was out of town and I wasn't feeling well.  I headed home for the day.  I was crossing out of the area where Charlotte lived onto 10 when I received a call from my child care center telling me that the base we lived on was going to be closing and that I needed to come pick up my child.  I hadn't even heard anything about the attack to the first tower.  I was home and in my living room shortly after the second attack, as I was catching replay's on the TV.

I called my mother to check on all of my family.  I was concerned about my cousin, whom I thought worked in the towers for Paine Webber. Thankfully, I was incorrect.  She worked across the Hudson from it.  I did not know anyone personally who was lost in this devastation, but I know people who do.  My heart ached for them!

Seeing this all again on TV today, makes me ache all over again.  See, a lot of my life has changed since this day.  I lost my best friend and boss's friendship, I have lost my mother, my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, my "brother-in-law", my connection with my brothers, my connection with my Uncle and his children, my Grandmother, I broke both of my ankles, had gallbladder surgery, lost my home to foreclosure, declared bankruptcy,  my brother has had cancer, his wife (my sister-in-law) has cancer, my other sister-in-law has cancer, I have lived through Hurricane Irene and now the flood of my town.  I mention all this to say, I am still alive and remembering that God will never give us more than we can handle even when it feels like we can't handle anymore.

I know those families felt like they couldn't take anymore, but there is a reason for everything, even when we can't see the reason.  I am not here to say that I know the reason for this devastation, as I'm sure the reason is different for each of us.  For me, I am still trying to find the reason that God has put problem after problem in front of me.  But, I'm not giving up on my future.  I know God has a reason that I'm here and someday I will find it.  Right now, I know I am here to be a mom and wife to my children and husband. 

I hope this didn't ramble too much.  Where were you on 9/11?  What has life since then taught you?