Never forget...

Today is important for two reasons.

One I mourn and one I celebrate. 

First, today marks a tragic and heartbreaking event in the United States as we remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Can you remember where you were on that September day? I can. I was in Social Studies class at Spring Ridge Middle School, sitting next to my best friend Elizabeth and her (though we did not know it then) future fiancé and father of her children. 

When the halls went dark and doors began to shut the room instantly fell silent. TVs began to blast with news that no 6th grader would be able to comprehend. Whispers of Patuxent River (our local naval base) and concerns of workers there began instantly, sending over 50% of our school into hysterics. My dad worked for DynCorp on the base at that time, all I knew is he was locked in and no one could leave. Lunches were delivered to our class rooms where we ate in silence, slowly digesting what we had just witnessed – bodies falling from 20 and 30 stories high, smoke and fire caused by planes piercing a part of our country we all thought was safe and under high security. 

Twin Towers

Those images will live on forever in our minds, history books and the hearts of those who have lost heroes, husbands, and wives. I certainly will never forget. 

What today also marks is my wonderful fiancés 26th birthday. While prepping his, previously blogged about, birthday dinner I realized I had just enough buttermilk remaining to whip up buttermilk pancakes in bed. 

The easiest, most fulfilling, and enjoyable breakfast yet - Simply combine until smooth: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 egg, 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. 

Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Pour batter onto the griddle, to form 5 pancakes. Flip pancakes when edges appear to harden. Cook pancakes on other side for same amount of time until golden brown. 

Now I typically wake up around 610, to leave at 630 and be to work at 700. So you would think waking up at 500 am would be difficult… on the contrary, I woke up bright and early and excited to make Brian breakfast – why, you ask? It’s simple, allow me to explain… 

Brian is the most kind hearted, loveable man you’ve ever met. He is that instant connection you feel when you meet someone who is about to change your entire life for the better. He is a safe place when the rest of the world seems too hard to handle. He is my partner in crime and inside-joke sharer. There is not one thing I wouldn’t do, or one place I wouldn’t travel, to make that man happy. He has my whole entire heart and in 32 days I get to become his wife and spend every birthday from here on out making fried chicken and buttermilk pancakes. That my friends, is why. 

Every day of forever. 

Happy birthday, handsome.

The Lewis' wedding