My Texas Kitchen

Happy 65th Birthday to me!

May 1990, a dear childhood friend made this card for a wedding shower in Shreveport. It was the sweetest gift of all. ❤️

My birthday is on September 28th. I think that I’ll start celebrating now! 🙂

Remembering 9/11
Part 2 of 2

And now, it’s many years later, Ben is 25 years old.
By the grace of God, he is well.

We are forever grateful for Dr. Joe, Dr. Jen, Medical City’s doctors, nurses, healthcare team, hospital staff, Billie and Boots, Jim’s brother Jeff, family and friends for all of their medical care, wisdom and love.

We are forever grateful for brave women and men in the planes that were hijacked, as well as the first responders, and all the people that gave their lives to save fellow citizens and fight for our freedom.

We will always remember 9/11.

Remembering 9/11
Part 1 of 2

Remembering the many, many men and women and children lost on this day
25 years ago. Todd Beamer’s last words “Let’s Roll” stand out. Along with his faith in God because his actions were stronger than his fear of terrorists.

Each one of us remembers exactly where we were when we watched with shock the planes crashing into the Twin Towers on 9/11.

For all the victims, their families, first responders and firefighters
Let us pray.

On 9/11 our fourth child, Ben is in the hospital. He is 12 days old.
I am on another hospital floor, being treated for a breast infection.
Things are bleak. Jim and Billie are on hospital duty. We are up all hours of the night as the nurses secure IVs in his tiny veins. Ben holds on for dear life.

Ben is born on August 30, 2001. We settle into our new baby routine. Life is good. September morning, day six, I’m holding Ben and turn to Billie, “Ben doesn’t seem right. He’s lifeless.” Billie takes his temperature. It’s 102º. We call Dr. Joe expecting to be advised on how much Tylenol we should give him. Instead, Nurse Louise says, “Bring him to our office.” Dr. Joe confirms his temperature. He needs a spinal tap. Before we know it, we are driving to Medical City Hospital. Ben doesn’t cry when the nurses are examining him and starting an IV. We are devastated.

Each morning, Dr. Joe and Dr. Jen make hospital calls to check on Ben. It’s early in the morning on September 11th, Dr. Joe is discussing his medical condition. The hospital TV plays in the background. For the first time, we see the buildings come down in front of our eyes. We are stunned. Our world is scary.

Despite the uncertainty our country is feeling, Dr. Joe, Dr. Jen, Medical City’s doctors, nurses and medical staff show up every day. They make their rounds, caring for patients with care and love.

Ten hospital days and nights drift by. Our TVs stays on 24/7 as we watch the latest news of the terrorist attack. Ben is cleared to go home. It feels like a miracle.