I will remember Tuesday, as the day my kids took a huge step towards adulthood. My sister called me long distance and said "Wake up - Wake up". Lord, I still can't believe what I was seeing on tv. My son who is 18, was home yesterday, it was his day off. My daughter 20, is at college.

I woke my son and told him what was happening. He got up and came out to the living room, I don't think he believed me. I could hardly believe it myself. I was on the phone with my mother when the station showed that something was happening at the Pentagon. Told her I had to go. Michael and I sat there in stunned silence. The phone rang again. It was my daughter. "Mom, has the world gone nuts?" She could hardly believe what she was seeing also. I kept thinking this has got to be a nightmare.

As the morning wore on, we sat there glued to the tv. My daughter was calling home at least once, some times twice an hour. She just wanted to hear my voice and to say "I love you." We must have talked over 17 times yesterday. We said to each other "I love you" at least that many times. My daughter also wished to talk with her aunts and other family members.

Family became such a big comfort yesterday. We prayed for all those families who lost members of theirs. We gave thanks for being Americans. I am so proud of my country and the people in it.

Early this am, my son came home from being with his friends. They had spent the evening talking about what had happened. They are concerned about going to war. "Mom, what happens if there is a draft? What do I do about moving to Texas and going to school there? I am not sure I want to leave home?" Let me tell ya, this was a hard conversation to have at 1 a.m. in the morning. We talked for over an hour. I reminded him, to make a major change at this time would not be good. If he let what happened change his plans then the people who had done this had won. To hear that him and his buddies are so concerned and they are also mad. They have friends who joined the armed forces right out of school and are still in training. "Mom, if we go to war, our friends will be out there..."

Family has become so much more. It's hard to even find the words to say how much they mean. We never end a phone call without saying, "I love you." My kids took a huge step towards adulthood on Sept. 11. I feel like even I took a huge step.

It's been a year of learning. Trying to understand how something like this can happen. Praying for all the families who lost someone. Praying for those who are trying to cope with every day life after the things they went thru and saw.

My son has quite a few friends who joined the armed forces. It was hard to watch these boys (men) whom I care about, getting ready to leave for boot camp. A few of them have fallen in love with the armed forces and some have not. I can think of at least five of them that are overseas already or that are getting ready to go. I pray for them and their families. I worry about them as much as my own kids. I watched these young men grow up. I want to see them continue to grow and get married. They are my "other kids"!!!

My son made the decision to go on to school in Texas. That was a hard choice for him with his buddies going on to boot camp. I thank God that he chose that. My daughter also stayed in college. She also has friends that are in the armed forces. They all keep in touch with each other whenever they can.