Sisters Chat About September 11th

Maude: Well, let's get started. This week I thought we should talk about September 11th since we just remembered it on Sunday

Esther: I think that is a very good idea Maude!

Maude: My first question is:

Where were you On September 11th when the airplanes hit?

Lizzi: Well, I remember we were sitting around the dining room table for homeshooling

and got a call from our sister at work

She let us know that the first airplane had hit and so we turned on the tv

Maude: I am glad we had tv at that point in time.

Lizzi: I remember thinking it seemed like a joke... not real, you know?

Maude: very surreal

Lizzi: Especially when we saw the 2nd plane hit...

It took a few minutes for it to sink in

and then it was like a sick feeling in my stomach

Maude: Before the second plane everyone thought it was just a mistake

Esther: It is funny. I was just 12 years old and I cannot remember all the details of how we were told to "turn on the t.v."

I just remember all of us were glued to the the t.v.

I was thinking "what does this mean?"

Lizzi: Yeah, it was after the 2nd plane hit that everyone started realizing what it was

And by then the whole nation was watching

Esther: You're right Maude, it seemed like a freak accident then the other building was hit
Maude: For me I had taken the semester off from college because my best friend and I were going to do a work abroad program in England.

I was out driving around getting photos for my international driver's license and other things and as I was driving I passed a lady who was crying

I thought she must have just gotten bad news.

Then the next woman I passed was crying

When the third car I passed had man crying I thought I'd betterturn off the CD and listen to the radio.

Lizzi: that is insane!

Maude: I heard aboutthe second plane when I was in the travel agency

and when I got home I joined you all watching it on tv

Esther: Wow Maude that is crazy!

Lizzi: So you didn't see the 2nd plane hit?

Maude: I think I just missed seeing the towers actually fall

I didn't actually see anything!

Lizzi: oh my!

That is weird!

Maude: yeah...

Esther: It was probably horrible seeing all those people crying and not know what was going on

Maude: It was so strange!

Why would they be crying?

I never imagined it would be something like that!

Okay next question

How do you think the world was changed (both big and small) on that day?

One thought I had yesterday was that the army camouflage used to be green based and now it is tan.  I think they had tan (because of Desert Storm in the 90s) but mostly everyone still wore the green (from Vietnam).

Esther: true! interesting huh?

Lizzi: That is!

Maude: Of course, the airport security has changed dramatically!!  When I flew to England just 3 weeks after Sept 11th all of my luggag (both carry-on and checked) was gone through by hand

Esther: Almost immediately following the attacks there was this amazing camaraderie between Americans that was wonderful

Maude: True people were more patriotic

Esther: it didn't matter your political view, religious views but it was there if briefly...

Maude: How long did that last do you think?

Lizzi: I don't know

too bad that didn't last longer...

Esther: I think it depended on the specific person

I think having people look back and remember these 10 yrs. has been good

Lizzi: Yeah, the timing was different for everyone

I also think President Bush will be looked on with better favor in the years to come

people will realize that he was really good in the midst of crisis

Maude: His presidency was much harder than most

Lizzi: but I think it was mostly when politics started getting involved again

Maude: Next question

How did that day affect your life personally/how does it still affect your life?

Esther: umm... my husband is deployed cause of it...

hahaha

Maude: exactly

Lizzi: I think it helped me appreciate American freedoms more

Esther: it is crazy but if that hadn't happened SO much even in my own personal life would be different

Maude: My husband and I got married earlier than planned (about 3 months after Sept 11th) because of it. He was in the military and we weren't sure what his deployment schedule would be like as the Afghanistan War was launced

For the first 7 years of our marriage my husband was gone more than he was home

So much of my personal life is different too, Esther.

Lizzi: the freedoms that our nation was established for were the same freedoms that were hated and attacked on September 11, 2001

Maude: very true

Lizzi: It made me want to defend it even more

and made me more thankful to be in this country

where I am not forced to bow to a certain god

Esther: I think it helped me realize that something like "that" really can happen to the US too

Lizzi: or face persecution or death for being a christian

Maude: We are very blessed and very fortunate that we are able to defend ourselves from such an attack

Lizzi: Yeah, that no nation is too powerful to not fall

Esther: yes

Maude: It is amazing that since the establishment of our country we have only had 2 attacks from outside land on our soil...

Esther: crazy!

Maude: Next question

Did you all do anything on Sunday to remember September 11th?

Lizzi: I wanted to! But we didn't ;(

Just got busy with the day and forgot

Esther: hmm... well no and yes

Lizzi: I thought about the day, but we did nothing to commemorate it

Esther: I didn't really "do" anything. I just tried to be praying for the families of the people who lost loved ones on that day

Lizzi: Except I looked at the memorial pictures and listened to a special broadcast on friday

Esther: I remembered, I was sad

Lizzi: yeah

Maude: We just talked about where we were, watched the replay of the towers falling, and listened to some 9/11 music (Alan Jackson's Where were you when the world stopped turning song, etc.)

Esther: i like that song

Maude: We didn't do anything major. I wish we had and am trying to think of something bigger to do next year...

Esther: I think that is a good aim

Maude: Kind of funny that I am preparing for a trip to Europe again this year though!

Lizzi: That's true!

yeah. We'll have to, too

I want our boys to remember... even if they weren't alive yet

Maude: The final question

Well timed Lizzi

What do you want your kids to learn from that day?

Lizzi: Well, I think foremost I want them to know that our freedoms should not be taken for granted

and to be thankful that we can worship freely

Maude: That there are thing worth fighting and dying for.

Lizzi: and to be thankful for the men and women who fight to protect them

Esther: I think a good thing to show them is how one thing affects everything else. That event shaped our history

mine, theirs

Lizzi: and that there are threats to our freedoms

and that is the great example of 9/11 and why it must be remembered and why we must defend our nation

Esther: How it comes into our personal lives (ie Daddy gone) but ultimately I want them to know that even God's hand was not short handed that day

Lizzi: most importantly, yes

Esther: He knew everything that was going to happen

Lizzi: I think it WAS a good reminder that all Nations and Kings are under His autthority

Esther: exactly

Lizzi: we are not omnipotent as a country, ya know?

but we have fought hard and well

Maude: I want them to know of the personal heroism that was shown on 9/11. That heroes are not just historical figures (or fictional ones!) but real men and women who are alive today

Esther: good point Maude!

Lizzi: yes

Maude: That God has a grander plan that works itself out both in our daily lives as well as the whole world

at the same time

That is sovereignty

Esther: we can trust and be at peace knowing He knows all.

Lizzi: yes