September 11, 2001

A post on Facebook :If you asked me if I remembered what I did last Tuesday, I couldn't tell you. But if you asked me if I remembered what I did 10 years ago on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I could tell you exactly what I was doing. REPOST THIS for our fallen heroes and let's NEVER FORGET!




Is that true or what? I'll never ever forget....

Jon & I lived and worked in NYC during the 90's as staff at Teen Challenge & City Church. I loved NYC. My oldest son was born there at St Luke's right off Central Park. I lost my twins there also at the same hospital. Some of the best & some of the worst of my life experiences happened while we lived there. I have a special love for anything NYC...always have. Did my college internship at Metro Assembly of God, a church/outreach in the middle of Brooklyn 1986. I've rode the subways all over the city, love that place......

That morning of 9/11, I like so many others who lost their lives that day, was just doing my job. I was interviewing a detainee at the detention center & a staff mentioned to me as I was leaving to go back to my office that a small plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers. I turned the radio on in my car as I was driving back & called my husband who wasn't at work yet. He was working as a chaplain at Arcadia- Desoto Correctional- and wasn't leaving until 10 or so to go there. As we were talking on the phone, the second plane hit!

I hurried into my office, telling staff as I went that something was going on as we all hurried in to the break room & turned on the the old tv that sat on top of the fridge...The buildings were smoking...we were all in shock, except for one idiot I worked with who began saying STUPID stuff. ( you always have an idiot in the bunch) as she was saying ridiculous things, the first tower started to fall. Up until that point, I was trying to keep my composure but I just started crying & saying "Jesus be with them" as I knew thousands were dying in that moment....and it was a holy moment. After the first tower fell & the idiot girl kept talking, I turned on her & told her to shut the h___ up!!! One friend later told me she thought I was about to sock her in the mouth!

Then in sorrow we watched the 2nd tower fall....my heart just broke! All I wanted to do was to go pick up my son from school & go home to be safe. We didn't know what else was going to happen as we were beginning to see images of the Pentagon & the newscasters were saying there were more airplanes up in the air with problems....

(I find out later that my son's kindergarten teacher's husband was supposed to be on the plane that hit the 2nd tower...he missed it...)

We began getting all kinds of calls/emails etc...remember I was a probation officer...we didn't know if the state was targeted...who knew what was happening?

Finally Governor Jeb Bush told all non essential workers to go home. I was already out the door. At that moment the only essential thing I was, was Steve's mom! I rushed to his school, got him & went home. I put him in the living room of our little townhouse, turned on Scobby Doo & went in our bedroom to watch continuing coverage....


That night our church had, along with so many others, a special prayer service. It seemed all of America was turning to the God of the Bible for comfort, for help...I even remember our local Hooters had up on their sign "Pray for the USA". I remember thinking "it's bad when HOOTERS is telling folks to pray!!!"

What an horrific terrible time that we all went through as a country. Our hearts were broken, I think because so many of the stories were about average people, like you or me, going about their day, never knowing that some crazy Muslim killers were going to take their lives that day! I hate the men who did it! I get a sense of satisfaction that they are burning in hell. If I'm wrong, so be it!

For me Flight 93 that went down in the field in rural Pennsylvania spoke the strongest to my heart. Here these brave men & women were beginning to understand something MAJOR was going on & they tried with everything within them to make a difference! They didn't save their lives that day (and so many times I have wished somehow that they did!!) but they saved so many others...what heroes!!!!

I wish we could all go back to September 10, 2001 and everything was fixed...somehow the government stopped the terrorists and no one ever knew the extent of what could have happened...but we can't go back...we can only go forward.

As we see the foolishness that is going on with the various 9/11 remembrances, it's a slap in all of our faces, especially the men & women who died on that day. We all cried out to God then, now there's "no time" to do so in the remembrances. That day, the police, fire & rescue folks came Uninvited & GAVE their very lives, now there's no room for them....what a mess! But even all this foolishness can not take away the sacredness of that awful day...May we never let our hearts grow hard nor forget that awful day....



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End of Summer

I thought that was a fitting title as I wrote a blog at the begining of summer:) What a GREAT summer we've had!!!

Steve did tutoring & has gotten (or will have got by Thursday) a FULL math credit! He also finished what his school calls Word Building/Etymology books for good! He also did his Drug & Alcohol Class on on line to get his driver's license & is doing the practice tests to get ready to do the test on line. And he finished a grueling 8 week Trilation class & was schedule to do a Tri last weekend but it got postponed till October. So he has been so productive this summer! WOOHOO!

Sam was blessed to get lots of hours of therphy this summer from the school board. I didn't even have to fight for it! What's up with that? He got his fav teacher Ms Heather for speech & a new male teacher Mr David for VT/Academics. It was all done at home & went well.

Shad had a a regular 7 yr old boy's summer! Yeah!!! He loved all our beach trips. We tried to go to the beach almost every Friday (Jon's day off) We rediscovered our love for Honey Moon Island! WOW! Is that a great beach or what? We also went to Green Key off New Port Richey. Sam can't go in the pool but thankfully we can take him in the ocean although we avoid getting him spalshed (eye infection)

Next week we are headed out on an adventure! Sam has his appointment with Dr Aquvella in Rochester Ny so we are off on a road trip! We drive for several reasons, it's cheaper & I HATE to fly!!!!! No, one main reason is Sam has glaucoma 7 an artificial cornea & given that his pressure could go up, it's probably the best idea to drive....So we have a trip planned!

First night we are driving to Chattanooga Tn & the next morning going to Lookout Mt! Jon & I went there years ago & took my grandmother. We're also gonna SEE RUBY FALLS & SEE ROCK CITY! Next day we are driving to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky! I went there once in college. It will be fun to take the kids thee, they are hoping for bats! LOl! Then we drive on to Niagara Falls, spend the night (get to see it at night ) & the next day before hitting Rochester & the wonderful Ronald McDonald House!!!!!! I can't say enough about RMH in rochester, they are wonderful:)


Saturday we are going with some dear friends from college Dan & Charlene Wallenbeck to Letchworth State Park south of Rochester. We went there a few years ago & it is almost as pretty as NF! Sunday Jon is preaching at one of our snowbird's ( couples who come down here for the winter) church. Then we are going on a picnic & seeing a Lighthouse on Lake Ontario! Monday we'll actually slow down as Sam has appointments and Tuesday he has his exam under anesthesia ( EUA). I'm so nervous, it's been 9 months since his last exam & that is the longest he has ever gone. Praying that all is well. Everything looks ok to me but things can be wrong, pressure could be up...but we think all is well...I can't help it, some fear clutches my heart when I know an exam is coming!!!!!

We also get to meet a family who adopted a little girl with Peter's from China. she will be having the kpro (cornea implant) done right after Sam's exam. We have corresponded back & to with this sweet family & are praying that Abby will get the gift of sight! So glad we could be a little part of it!

If all goes well we'll leave on Wed morning & drive to Philly to spend some time with some dear friends we worked with in ministry in NYC! George & Ruth Valco! And we'll get a tour of Philly, none of us have ever gone there so we're excited! We'll be there a couple of days then back home & back to school! We may miss the first day of school...oh well I'll make sure they get some good history lessons in Philly!!!!

Although we are going in a more indirect route, it's coming out to about the same amount of miles...how weird is that? Glad that on this trip we don't have to drive I-81 at all! I HATE that road!!!!!!!

And our neice Anna is coming with us:) YEAH we are gonna show her a good time...of course she is gonna need a vacation when she gets home! We kinda don't go for relaxing trips:)

So pray that all goes well on this LOOOOONG road trip & that all goes well with Sam! I'll probably be more likely to post on his caringbridge site...Its www.caringbridge.org/visit/samclanton

Personal Responsibility & Honesty

Where has Personal Responsibility gone to??? In today's world, everything is someone else's fault. If you gain weight, it's McDonald's fault, if your kids are a mess it's their friend's fault, If you get caught doing something wrong (like Weiner) it's the media's fault for catching you.....it goes on & on....If you've been told to evacuate your town because there is a hurricane coming, and you don't, it's the government's fault....if you're depressed & can't work it's someone's fault & the government should pay you to stay home....

Personal Responsibility does anyone take responsibility for their own lives anymore????? Between the news, reading facebook & blogs...I feel like slapping somebody! But they made me do it Officer.... Remember the old show where the guy would say "the devil made me do it"?

I absolutely HATE how the world & America is becoming! Few people have personal integrity. I can think of a few people who if they say they are going to do something, they will do it come hell or high water. They take respondsibity for their actions & even to some degree for their families' actions. Isn't that how we are supposed to be?

Quit the blame game!!!! Everything is someones else fault....Nope that is not true. YOU are responsible for yourself. Between being a minister's wife for 22 years & spending 13 years working as a probation officer, I think I have heard every excuse under the sun! People blaming other's for their horrible lives....GET OVER IT!!!!!

Life is life, you get ONE time around. If you want to screw up your life by wasting it blaming others & circumstances for your crappy life, go for it! I absolutely chose not to do that!!!!!!!

I think I can say this because if you knew my background I've got plenty of reason to whine! Not too many people can top my background, growing up years & personal tragedies. But I don't blame the past or other people for my actions. I can look at things objectively & realize why I've done some of the things I have done because of my past but I don't blame my past! There have been times in the past when I blamed circumstances on why I was doing something & even gave myself permission to do things because I was angry...but I learned from that ! I'm not saying I'm healed or perfect at all but I am saying if I can get past the past, you can too!!!!!

Recently we had an issue with one of our kids. I was talking to someone about it & she suggested it happened because of a friend. (don't get me wrong I know that "bad company corrupts good morals") but in this case, I didn't buy it at all! I feel it was my child's fault for his actions. In his favor he didn't blame anyone else & did take responsibility & is facing the consequences. That is what I want to teach my kids!

People be responsibility! Get back to some values. Quit being wishy-washy! Say what you mean & mean what you say!

There is something inside me that makes me be responsible even when I don't want to be! Sometimes I wish I could shut it off to be quite honest. I'm not trying to toot my own horn and maybe I have too big of a dose but there are some folks I'd like to give a dose to! I can promise you that if I say something, I'll do it or at least try my best to do it even if I don't necessarily want to do it! That's just who I am. And I take responsibility for my actions. I'm not perfect but I won't hide behind an excuse either. If I do something wrong, I pray & ask God to forgive me & I try & make it right if it pertains to another person. Unfortunately I have a a very hard time lying. LOL not that I'm a saint, sometimes a half truth might be better than the whole truth. But for some reason I can't do that either. A friend of mine called me "honest to a fault" LOL that's usually what gets me in the most trouble is my honesty. I tend to say the things most people won't. Not to be mean to someone but just to be real about a situation, even if the honesty reflects badly on me.

Did you ever see that movie "Liar Liar"? I think that was the name. Anyhow this guy is a lawyer & a terrible liar, something happens & he can't lie anymore. Everything that comes out of his mouth is the truth even when he doesn't want it to be. I feel quite like that much of the time! LOL I just can't be a social liar! I don't get it, can't understand it but...that is just me! I try to stay silent when I possibly can but many times, I can't stay silent! So if you don't want the truth, don't talk to me about your life. I have a minor in counseling but I can tell you I am NOT a counselor!!! I think I've seen so much in my life, so many horrible examples that it is hard for me to stay quiet. I can restrain myself if you don't talk to me about something but if you do....well.... We all think we are unique creatures but I hate to tell you "there is nothing new under the sun" Your life story is often quite like someone else's & your problems are no different than any other's. Your circumstances or location may be different but the human patterns are all so the same old, same old! So when I see someone rushing headlong into a situation I've seen happen over & over again, I want to stop them. But I have learned something over the years, I can't change anyone. That doesn't mean I'm not gonna deliver my heart to them & tell them what I think if I'm engaged in conversation but people tend to have to make mistakes for themselves. Sometimes they continue making the same mistake over & over again before they learn if ever.....I feel I have a respondibity in my sphere of influence to share God's truth & real life applications with others but only that person can change their lives by submitting to God on the spiritual level & following Godly patterns in the practical level.

All my years of working with delinquents showed me how so alike we humans are....I still shared with them about how the path they were on would end up, that was my moral & ethical duty but I can't say it made any or much of a difference. Most of them had to hit the rock bottom I told them about before they ever wanted a real change in their lives. I see the same thing today with people I deal with. If you keep making worldly choices, then you are gonna reap what you sow! It's a principal that is true in my life & in yours too! I've made my choice to live as close to God's word as possible to ensure that I nor my family will wind up shipwrecked! I've seen so many many many lives shipwrecked...it scares me! i don't want to end up like that nor will I!!!! I have the confidence I won't because of the choices I've made. I can't say my kids will never get in trouble or go out in the world but I can promise you that Jon & I will make it hard for them to get there! We will stand in their way! What I mean is we stand in their way by watching who they hang out with, where they go, what they listen to, what they watch on tv....we are not permissive. I can promise you I'll never give my kids a drop of alcohol, or a cigarette, or allow a girlfriend over to spend the night or even to hang out at our house.... they won't be watching bad movies in our home. I can't make their choices for them but believe me until they are old enough to take the responsibility for their choices, we're gonna help them with those choices!!!

I feel like we need to "man up" & do the right thing even if it's tough. Take responsibility for your actions & life. Be a person who is dependable. I sitting here thinking of all my friends & family, and folks I know, and I hate to say it there are alot of folks who I don't really think of as being dependable. Some are dependable to be undependable....truth hurts....

I want to be a person of integrity that is known to be who & what she says she is. Not perfect but responsible & truthful. I don't want to blame (in my case) Pepsi & Pizza Hut, cause I'm not a size 5! I also do NOT have hormonal problems!!!! Can I just say here for the heck of it...Do NOT tell me you have an hormonal imbalance & can't lose weight while you are eating doughnuts, sitting on the couch watching a soap opera!!!!!! Quit blaming everything & everyone but yourself!!!!

And I really hate the blame game in the church world! The devil did NOT make you do it! A scripture that gets misquoted all the time is "God will not give you anymore than you're able to bear..." People tell me that verse ALL the time & ALL the time I correct them!!! They look at my situation with Sam & think they are being comforting by telling me God won't give me any more of a burden than what I'm able to bear but the Bible doesn't promise us that anywhere! It's actually from a verse in 1Corinthians 10:13 which reads "No temptation has over taken you except such as is common to man but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear but with the temptations will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it" So basically don't blame your sin on God or anything in your life because if you trust in Him, He will make a way of escape from that temptation! So whether the temptation is anger, overeating, sex, whatever...He will make a way of escape. YOU have just got to take that way of escape! The bible tells us to FLEE youthful lusts, FLEE fornication and the principle is there to FLEE any kind of sin!

I love what a pastor friend said one time as several of us were discussing, via a text, alcohol consumption..." No no never, give place to the devil"! So don't give any place to the devil in your life, man up, be responsible & do right!!!!

SUMMER!!!!

Yeah it's summer, school is out (sorta) around here!

Steve is doing an Algebra class to make sure he gets all his maths for high school-he needs 5! He goes 3 days a week. We hope he will get ahead & be able to do college courses his senior year. He is also working on getting his Driver's License. He is almost finished with that class...Yikes! He started training for a Triathlon at the YMCA. he goes 3 days a week & is doing great! His last timed 1 mile run was 8:14! Woohoo! I told him it is the summer of Steve with all his activities!

Sam has summer services through the school board. His wonderful speech teacher comes for 1 1/2 hours a week & he gets VT/academics for 4 hours a week. I've also started him at a low vision clinic where he gets 2 hours bi weekly. And he just got an evaluation for Ot & PT just got to get him a place to go to. So he has remained busy!

Shad is enjoying summer with no stress:)

We will be taking Sam to NY for an exam probably in August. We are probably not going to be taking him to Miami anymore. We feel it is better to see the doctor who is an expert in PA/Kpros...long story....But we are looking forward to our trip, seeing all our dear friends who live in the Rochester area & doing some fun things while we are there!

We hope to also have a real family vacation. We had hoped to go to the Grand Canyon but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen. We will have our NY trip & hopefully a week somewhere in Florida on a beach maybe St Augustine....We are trying to take advantage of our close beaches weekly! Why live in Florida & not go to the beach right???? Sam is not allowed in a pool, he could get an eye infection but the salt water is ok although of course we are so careful with him!

All the work is done on the church & it looks great!!! So glad it is beautiful & so glad it is finished!!!

So life has remained busy but all is well:)

RAPTURE~End of the World????

So today at 6 pm EST Jesus is supposed to come back & the tribulation begin.....
Do I believe Jesus has his watch set for 6 pm tonight? NO but I do believe He is coming back again!!!!

I wrote this on my Facebook page last night....Just imagine IF the Rapture prediction came TRUE! ONE day it will! It may not (probably won't be) tomorrow But JESUS said He WILL return! What a WONDERFUL day that will be! One day the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will be raised & we (believers) who are alive will be caught up to be with the Lord FOREVER!! Comfort one another with these words (I Thes 4)
This guy is a nut who is predicting Jesus's return now at 2am EST but even tho he is a fruit cake he will not prevent the REAL rapture from taking place some day!!! I say get ready spiritually, be about the Father's business & remember that HOPE!!!! And it is my HOPE! Can't wait for that day! I have alot to look forward to, what about you????"

In NYC on the streets of Chinatown you can find $20 "Rolex" watches. Obviously they are fake BUT you can go to some of the expensive jewelry stores in NYC & find REAL Rolex watches. So does the fact that there are street vendors selling fake ones take away from the REAL? NO!

Just because there is a nut setting a date, that does NOT take away from the fact that the REAL rapture will take place! God promised it in his word. Read 1 Thes 4...it's a comfort, a hope for all believers!

I've heard a few dates set in the past before the Internet, facebook but now with all the social medias, it has even got air time on all tv networks! It's caused alot of discussions. God can even use this misguided soul to start folks thinking about the afterlife. Because whether or not the rapture happens in our lifetime or not, we ALL will die one day & stand before God.

One thing has bothered me, the edgy, sharp sarcastic remarks made about this prediction by Christians. While I'll be the FIRST person to say the guy is off (the bible says NO man knows the day or the the time) STILL we should be looking FORWARD to that day!!! In some remarks, it almost seems the person is making fun of the whole idea of the rapture. That bothers me.

I look forward with GREAT Hope to that day! Just think we'll get to see Jesus, be with all our loved ones who are gone before us, be done with the strife of this world...what's not to look forward to???? The Rapture is a wonderful Hope of the believer!!!

I've got dear friends and my TWINS to see!!!!! And I'll get to see Sam healed & whole on that day!!!!! Wow could anything be better than that??? Really??? What is there in this world to hold me? What else could be so wonderful??? It's not an old fable to me. It's a PROMISE that resounds throughout the New Testament!

I think the "old time " Christians understood the hope of glory way better than we do! We have it so easy, no hard labor, pain killers & medicine when we are sick, tv & movies for our past time, cars instead of walking...etc....They knew there was a better place to be. We get so comfortable in our happy every day lives that we do not treasure that hope. A friend said to me one time she didn't get the song "I'll fly Away" an old spiritual...Granted it's not full of deep theological meaning but it was the writer's hope that caused him to write that song.."Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away, to a land on God's celestial shore I'll fly away...Just a few more weary days & then I'll fly away...to a land where joys shall never end I'll fly away" That's someone who has known the trials of life & are looking ahead to that day when all will be made right.

I remember in the 80's & 90's when we were all "King's Kids" & the era of big hair & TV evangelists...I was in church & we were told to sing "just a few more HAPPY days & then I'll fly away..." I don't know about you but the days are weary for me. Sure there is lots of happiness & I LOVE my family & the place in life God has me but WHAT can compare to be in Jesus' presence??? NOTHING!

The whole world seems to be crying out right now. The earth is shaking, floods are happening, political turmoil all around....the whole earth groans for redemption ( Romans 8:22 & 23) Many feel in their heart what they can't even express, maybe that is the interest in this whole My 21st rapture date... the earth KNOWS something is going to take place!!

I've never been one to jump on bandwagons but in my heart, I feel that the coming of the Lord is soon! The end of time is at hand, the final prophecies will be fulfilled...are you ready? If not you can be by asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins & begin walking with Him.

Garden & Produce

Just some pictures of my garden and what I picked today:) Also of my grapevines.

I truly have enjoyed having a veggie garden. This is only my 2nd year & I've learned so much. I never saw myself as any type of gardener. It started with having to clean up the parsonage yard. so I did some flowers for a couple of years. Then I decided we needed to become more self sufficient. So I heard about Square Foot Gardening & started 6 beds last year. The eds were easier for me to deal with. I also did the upside down tomato plants. This year I doubled the garden. I learned so much last year like not to put the big tomato plants in the boxes. They needed room to grow. so this year I did the tomatoes, corn, green peppers hot & mild peppers out in the ground. I covered the ground with a weed tarp & then with mulch to make it look nicer & have less weeds. So I have the 6 beds, 4 upside down plants, 3 fig trees, 4 white grape vines, 1 purple grape vine, an orange tree, a lemon tree & a kiwi vine plus rows of corn, okra, peppers & tomatoes. So much fun:) Plus good healthy veggies & some exercise!

POOP

Today I found a knot on the side of Sam's neck. It had been there off & on for awhile but after the whole chromonsal deletion thing ~ with Sam having a tumor inhibitor deleted (see Sam's caring bridge page for more caringbridge.org/visit/samclanton ) I was nervous!

So I called on my way to pick up the boys from school. The nurse said to come in, it was a slow day. I had gone walking this morning & between Sam wanting my attention & that I was planning on doing some gardening, I hadn't taken a shower or changed out of my work out clothes. Well I only had 45 min to get there so I figured I'd just run him in...NOT! When we got there, I got lucky & got a handicapped parking spot right in front of the door...(that'll make it even better) I run in & check him in. I NEVER set in the waiting room with him, too afraid of germs. I go back outside to get the kids out of the van & smell something. I took Sam out of his carseat & there is POOP all in it! How did that happen??? I never notice anything on a 45 min drive! Did he poop that quick??? And it's the gooey runny poop!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!

I end up having to carefully undress him, so afraid I'm gonna get poop on his face (have to watch those million dollar eyes) Of course I have NO extra clothes for him! Me, who is usually so organized...the carseat is ruined, tried to clean him up & the car seat & my hands...YUCK! They gave me bags, a gown for Sam to wear, stuff to line the carseat so we could get home....

We saw the doctor & the whole while for some reason, Sam is biting on me. He is happy as a lark , thought everything was the funniest thing in the world. when he gets really happy & sleepy ( it was nap time) he bites, kinda just chews on us....don't ask me why, he just does & there is nothing to do about it. He also thinks it's funny so he is as happy as he can be knawing on me, I look like crap then he poops crazy again in the office, basically chocolate pudding...the poor doctor...

After all that, there was no reason for alarm, thank God! He is fine. Me...totally stressed:) I'm glad I had Steve with me as I went through a BOX of wipes!!! He kept handing me wipes & telling me where I missed it! Did I mention we were right in front of the GLASS doors?????? Just lovely & I looked like something the cat drugged in!!! Good thing I'm not real prideful, I think this afternoon took me down a few notches LOL!!!

I really think the car seat is just beyond redemption! I can't have him in something that I can't get cleaned & I'm not sure about the straps. We have Shad's old car seat but I think I'll buy him a new one. this one is about 3 or 4 years old. When you don't grow, you tend to wear things out! We've gone through 3 strollers (now on his 4th which is a BOB!!! Cost more than my first car but comes with a 5 yr warranty!) He has had the same bed (which was used to begin with) for 7 yrs & I think we're gonna buy him a new crib soon. Anyhow with a little midget, he wears things out & they start looking dingy! Today he was right at 3 ft, & 33 pounds...the size of a small 2 yr old...but it's so sweet to keep my little baby. I pray he never grows physically, makes life easier :) So my little guy kept it interesting again:)