A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Twelve years ago today, 9-11-01, I was driving my young son and daughter to their fifth and third grade classes at their elementary school. It would have been just after 8:00 Houston time. After I dropped them off I headed home with my eleven month old in the car-seat beside me.

The radio announcers were talking about a report that an airplane had accidentally hit the World Trade Center. There was a live reporter on the ground reporting from the scene. He said an airplane; probably a small prop plane had hit one of the towers. That’s when it happened. The second plane crashed into the other tower as he stood by and watched. At first he couldn't speak, when he did find the words he wanted to say were laced with disbelief, horror and tears. “This is not an accident. We are under attack.”

Panic set in. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn't call my husband; he had boarded a flight earlier that morning. My dad’s face popped into my mind. His shop was just around the corner from the kid’s school. He would know what to do.

I pulled into the shop driveway and honked my horn. Daddy came out of the office—the only one there at that time of morning. A concerned look came over his face as he glanced at my panicked expression. I told him to come listen to the radio in my car. When he heard the whole story he asked where Dan, my husband was. I told him he was in the air. He told me to go home…he would follow me.

I’d never seen that look on my father’s face. Something was terribly wrong.

We rushed to my house, turned on the television and checked on my mother who was safe at home. The news anchors told the horrific story:

American Airlines Flight 11: Left Boston's Logan Airport at 7:59 a.m. for Los Angeles. Hijackers flew the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 175: Left Logan Airport at 8:14 for Los Angeles Hijackers flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m. (This was the one I heard…as it happened…on the radio at 8:03 Houston time.)

American Airlines Flight 77: Left Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia at 8:20 a.m. headed to Los Angeles. The hijackers flew this plane into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 93: Left Newark International Airport at 8:42 a.m. for San Francisco. The passengers banned together against the hijackers and the plane crashed to the ground near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.

As the report came in about the fourth plane crash all I could think of was oh Dear God please make it stop. And it did…but then the buildings started to fall. I prayed for those trapped in the buildings, for the rescue teams, for our country. Heavenly Father help us all!

I needed to talk to my husband, but he hadn’t yet turned his cell phone back on following his flight. I panicked wondering if he’d even made it to his destination. My baby could sense my terror and whined all day long. The FAA grounded all planes within the continental U.S. at 8:40 a.m. Houston time. I called Dan’s phone number nonstop from the time he was supposed to have landed. He didn’t answer.

He finally turned his phone back on when he was in the taxi. He answered my call. My heart could start beating again. (From that day forward he calls me from the runway without fail. I hadn’t realized why he’d done that until just now.) I asked if he’d heard the news. He hadn’t so I told him. He relayed the information to his boss who didn’t believe a word of it. Dan was sick that he wasn’t there for me.

That’s pretty much all of my story. My dad stayed with me all day. He knew how upset I was. He told me to go check the kids out of school and I did. We didn’t know what else these terrorists had planned and we wanted them with us. They played video games all afternoon, having no understanding of the magnitude of what had happened.

My husband and his boss had to hitch a ride back home in another man’s rental car. Dan, along with the rest of the world will forever remember that horrible day. Not only because of the tragic circumstances but also because he would forever remember that America was ruthlessly violated the day before his 40^th birthday.

In closing I would like to say…Happy birthday Dan. Let’s not have a repeat of your 40^th! 

Photo courtesy of Paul McRae (Delta Niner)

First Baptist Church of Porter, Texas Presents TEAM IMPACT!

Have you ever broke a concrete block, a baseball bat or bent a solid steel bar with your bare hands? I didn't think so. But Team Impact can!

This group of athletes consists of former NFL players, champion power lifters, and previous WWE wrestlers. 

Come to FBC Porter to witness amazing feats of strength and hear the positive message they have to share.

You don't want to miss this special event! September 20-22, 2013 in Porter, Texas.

Come one, come all to the First Baptist Church Porter SUMMER CELEBRATION to kick off our summer ministries. Join in the fun at First Baptist Church in Porter, Texas on FM 1314, (the big church next to the McDonalds). We look forward to seeing you there!

In His Arms

In March of 2013 I had the pleasure of embarking on my very first Caribbean cruise. The weather on the day I left out of Galveston, Texas was dreary at best. I dreaded that first night. My mind flashed to visions of the Titanic. How would the ship fare against the strong winds and choppy seas? Was I in for a rough night…would I be thrown out of my bed? To my amazement I drifted off to sleep that night to the soft gentle rocking of the ship.

I have since thought a lot about that night and how safe and secure I felt inside the great ship. It reminds me of the way God cradles us in his strong arms during the rough times in our lives. Those waves pelting against the cruise liner did little harm, and the storms we face are nothing when we have God standing firmly by our side.

He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:29

Thank You Father for standing by my side no matter how strong the storm is.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - St. Patrick's Day 2013

St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland was born in approx. 390 AD in Britannia (Britain). When he was about 16 years old he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland.

An Irish Blessing

May good luck be with you

Wherever you go

And your blessing outnumber

The shamrocks that grow

While in captivity Patrick prayed daily and his faith grew. After six years he escaped and made his way back home.

A Blessing For You And Yours

May the grace of God’s protection

And His great love abide

Within you home-within the hearts

Of all who dwell inside

After returning home Patrick had a vision of a man carrying letters. The man gave him one and he opened it. Inside the letter he heard the voices of the Irish people telling him, “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.” From The Breastplate of St. Patrick Christ be with me, Christ be within me Christ behind me, Christ before me Christ beside me, Christ to win me Christ to comfort me, Christ above me Christ in quiet, Christ in danger Christ in hearts of all that love me Christ in mouth of friend and stranger Patrick trained for several years before returning to Ireland. After his return he wrote back that he baptized thousands of people and ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities. An Irish Blessing May joy and peace surround you Contentment latch your door And happiness be with you now And bless you evermore

According to guysgab.com, 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed around the world on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s enough to fill 60% of the Empire State Building.

An Irish Blessing

May your home be filled with laughter

May your pockets be filled with gold

And may you have all the happiness

Your Irish heart can hold

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17^th, the anniversary of the day he died in 460 AD in County Down.

I wonder if it’s possible he died from green beer poisoning?

It’s Called Steampunk…And I Like It!

Steam*punk [steem-puhngk] noun

A subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19^th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/steampunk

Side note: There seems to be a huge debate on what is and is not actually steampunk. With all due respect, I’m seriously not here to argue that point as I am unqualified to do so.

Still don’t understand? Here’s a list of some movies I’ve seen that claim the “steampunk” genre:

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Sleepy Hollow (Staring Johnny Depp…Scream!)

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Stardust (Highly recommend this movie)

The Brothers Grimm

The Prestige (Excellent movie)

Wow, it appears that I really like steampunk movies! That said, I would like to share my recent experience of having read my very first steampunk novel. Magnificent Devices is the first book in Shelley Adina’s Lady Of Devices steampunk series. Here is a short advertisement found on Ms. Adina’s website.

Lady Of Devices – Magnificent Devices

London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin’s son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.

At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire’s talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head. It’s not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices.

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his…if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals…

This little blurb really caught my attention, but I have to admit it was the $0.00 price tag that sold me on the book. One click and the book popped up on my Kindle App. How easy is that? But here’s a little hint, I checked the price of the book on Kindle today, 2-26-13 and it’s already gone up to .99 cents, so hurry up and get it while it’s still cheap!

 

I had a bit of a hard time getting into the first chapter of the book because I didn’t know what to expect, but by chapter two I was completely in the groove. Shelley doesn’t mention anything about it in the book’s cover copy, and I don’t think it would cause any spoilers, but the best part of the book for me started in chapter 14 when she meets her new gang.

Shelley wrote the chapters about the children perfectly, from their thick cockney accents to their disheveled attire. I fell in love with them and raced through to the end of the book.

I would highly recommend this book. What have you got to lose, but .99 cents? How much did I like it? So much that I bought book two, Her Own Devices and book three, also called Magnificent Devices, earlier today.  Can’t wait to dive into these steampunk offerings. Bravo Shelley Adina on a job well done!