Today is September 11, 17 years ago life changed for all of us. I don't talk much about how devastating that day was but it changed my families life! During that time, my husband was active duty in the Air Force and we had just moved to Maxwell AFB. We were living in Temporary Living Facility on base. My older children were going to school on base and I had just dropped them off, when I turned on the radio, to hear about the first tower being hit. I hurried out of the car, got my little ones that weren't in school yet out and got in just in time to turn on the T.V as the second tower was hit!! I fell to the floor and just started sobbing! I knew this was the start of a war that my husband would be a part of!! He had been in for the Gulf war but had just finished school and with in a month it had ended. 

      We lost so many things that day! We lost the lives of soo many loved ones! We lost freedoms that we enjoyed and now are a memory! We lost our innocence and our ability to feel safe in crowds. We have traded freedoms for security...not that we shouldn't but how sad it has come to this. My children will never know the freedom of being walked to an airplane terminal or met at one. They will never know or see Soldiers flagging you through a gate doing fancy hand moves for fun to let you on base if you have a sticker on your car. They will never know what it's like to not watch people carefully if they look suspicious because if they have a backpack, it may have a bomb. We now live like many other countries, extra security and caution for our safety! I'm not saying it's not necessary, just sad the things that changed because of 9/11. I will never forget that day or the weeks after, the tears, the prayers and being glued to watching the rescue effort. My heart was forever changed, I think for the better. I try to be more understanding of others, I have more gratitude for what I have and for those I love. I have a great respect and love for those who put others first! I will forever be in awe of, our military and their families, our first responders and so many medical personal, who sacrifice for others! 

         Today we remember and I hope we try to remember all that we have as a Nation because of ALL who have sacrificed in soo many capacities! Thank you to all who make my life better and help me to have the freedoms I do have!