"Today America has experienced one of the greatest tragedies ever witnessed on our soil. These heinous acts of violence are an assault on the security of our nation. They are an assault on the security and the freedom of every American...Now is the time for us to come together as a nation to offer our support, our prayers for the victims and for their families, for the rescue workers, for law enforcement officials, for every one of us that has been changed forever by this horrible tragedy." 

-Attorney General John Ashcroft /  September 11, 2001

"This is a vicious, unprovoked, horrible attack on innocent men, woman, and children. It is one of the most heinous acts certainly in world history."

-Mayor Giuliani, September 11

Where were you on  9/11/01? It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years since that indescribable day of violence...

The 12th anniversary of 9/11/01 - I remember seeing footage of the plane crashing into the Twin Towers. Seeing smoke billowing from the Pentagon, and hearing about the crash in Shanksville, PA---it was absolutely unbelievable. Today, I also think of the four people that were murdered last year in Benghazi...

2001 was our first year of homeschooling. It was our second week, and the twins were in 2nd grade. I wrote in my journal: Tues. 9/11 We found out that the World Trade Center was hit this morning. We stopped school right away and listened to the news...this is so awful. 

Today as we commemorate the 9/11 anniversary, I encourage you to talk about what happened.  Then, let's remind ourselves and our kids:

• To thank our military who work to keep us safe
• Not to take our freedoms for granted
• To pray for the families of the victims of 9/11 and Benghazi
• To pray for our leaders
• To pray for all the Christians who are being violently persecuted in the Middle East
• To pray for our Jewish friends in Israel, and for the peace of Jerusalem

Let's stay informed and engaged in all that's happening in our world --- and continue to talk with our children (as age appropriate, of course) about recent developments in Syria, Iran and the Middle East.

Stay faithful in teaching. God bless you!

love,

MaryAnn