9/11 We Have Not Forgotten

Hard to believe that 6 years have passed since those terrorist attacks on the US. Don't you remember that day just like it was yesterday? Remember EXACTLY where you were when you heard of the tragedy? Remember how blue the sky was that day? Remember what the rest of your day and night consisted of? Definitely hard to believe it was 6 years ago. As I was taking my boys to school this morning, everywhere I turned there were reminders of that day. Bumper stickers on cars, marquee signs on restaurants, flags at half mast in the school yard...all tributes to those who lost so much that day. Please keep the victims' families in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your day today. I can't imagine the grief that this day must bring for them.

I spoke to Mike this morning and he sounded as good as ever. Josh made it down last night and he was in the room with him this morning. I think Josh brought Cameron's PSP and a Madden game for Mike to pass some time. I know he'll put that to good use. Thanks to Josh and Brandi for that! He said he had a good night, ate a good breakfast, and he and Josh went on his walk. It is so reassuring to hear his upbeat voice and know he is in good spirits. I think I posted yesterday that this was his last day of chemo. Actually tomorrow is his last day. I know you are, but please pray that this treatment cures his body of this illness and his spirit is comforted at the same time.

Yesterday while grocery shopping with my youngest child I got to witness a very sweet scenario. For those of you who don't know Houston, or 'Tootie', as he calls himself, he is as rough as a cob...definitely all boy! He would just as soon pounce on your head than give you a hug or a kiss...just ask his big brother who by far takes the bulk of Tootie's abuse. You know those parents who say, "If we had this child first, he would be our last." Well that's us with the Toot Monster. Anyhow, we had just gotten inside the store and I was trying to bribe him to ride in the cart, offering up everything from Oreo's to balloons to no avail. What? Mr. Rambunctious ride peacefully in the cart when there are both employees AND patrons of Kroger to be terrorized??? I don't think so. "OK," I warned him, "but if I have to tell you ANYTHING, ANYTHING at all, you're back in the cart." From the smirk on his face, I knew he understood. I was carefully selecting my oranges as well as keeping a close watch on Houston, who by this point had identified another small child across the store. She appeared to be about his age and had spotted him too. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, they take off running towards one another. Both her mom and I kind of followed along, watching how this was going to unfold. Was he going to take her down, Ray Lewis style? Bite her? With him it's all a possibility. Instead, much to my surprise, rather shock, they met in the middle and just hugged one another...for quite a while too. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. From what we could gather, they didn't know each other, didn't go to the same school, didn't go to the same church, probably the first time they have ever even seen each other, but it didn't stop them from hugging one another. It was the sweetest, most honest, most natural act these two kids could have done at that time. They didn't think anything of it what-so-ever. How liberating it must be to be 2 years old!! Her mom remarked how sweet it was was that they aren't inhibited from doing something like that. I said that we should be more like that. And we should. Maybe we don't need to go up and hug a complete stranger but being a little kinder, a little more gentler sure couldn't hurt either. Because who knows what that person on the other end is going through at the moment.