This week’s update is going to look a little different.
Normally, this is where I share what’s growing in the garden, what’s running through the freeze dryer, what project my husband has somehow managed to tackle, or what our family has been up to.
And there has been plenty happening around here.
But today is September 11th, and yesterday marked one year since Charlie Kirk was taken from this world.
It doesn’t feel right to simply move past either without taking a moment to remember.
I Will Never Forget September 11th
Twenty-five years.
It’s difficult to believe that much time has passed because there are parts of that day I can still remember so clearly.
On September 11, 2001, I was living in Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
When the news began coming in that morning, it felt as though the entire world stopped.
I remember being at work and noticing the silence.
The phones that normally rang throughout the day simply stopped ringing.
At lunchtime, I went out to pick up food, and no one was talking. People were quiet. Everyone seemed to be trying to understand what we had just witnessed.
And then there were the skies.
Living where we did, hearing airplanes overhead was simply part of everyday life. You barely noticed them.
Suddenly, there were none.
The silence in the sky was eerie.
It’s one of those small details from that day that has stayed with me all these years.
There are moments in history that divide time into a before and an after, and September 11th was one of those moments for so many of us.
Today, I remember the lives that were lost. I remember the first responders who ran toward danger when everyone else was trying to escape it. I remember the families whose lives changed forever.
I pray we never forget.
Remembering Charlie
This week also marks one year since the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
I can still remember hearing that he had been shot and immediately dropping to my knees to pray.
I wanted so badly for the reports to be wrong.
I prayed that he would survive. I prayed for his family. I prayed for a miracle.
And then came the heartbreaking news that he was gone.
Charlie is so deeply missed in this world.
What a gift it was to have him for the years that we did and to witness the work he accomplished during his life.
One of the things I appreciated most about Charlie was his willingness to speak openly about his faith. He wasn’t afraid to talk about Jesus, and I loved seeing the Lord’s light shine through him.
His life is also a reminder that none of us knows how much time we’re going to be given.
What are we doing with it?
Are we standing firm in our faith? Are we loving our families well? Are we serving others? Are we willing to speak about Jesus even when it’s uncomfortable?
Those are questions worth asking.
Today, I’m praying especially for his wife, children, family, friends, and everyone who continues to feel his absence.
And Life Continues Here at Home
It almost feels strange transitioning back into ordinary life after reflecting on such heavy things.
Perhaps that’s part of the lesson too.
Life continues, and we should be grateful for the ordinary days we’re given.
And around here, those ordinary days currently include 60 pounds of apples sitting in my kitchen.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Sixty. Pounds. Of. Apples.
I’ve got Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Gala apples, and I have plenty of plans for them, from freeze-drying and dehydrating to applesauce and canned apple pie filling.
I’ll be sharing a whole post about what I’m doing with all of those apples soon.
My husband and I are also getting ready to sneak away for a quick getaway with friends.
We’re headed somewhere much warmer and sunnier, which has created one very important problem:
What on earth do I pack?
It’s already starting to feel like fall here at home. I’ve been pulling out the jeans and sweaters, but those definitely won’t be making the trip.
Not exactly the worst problem to have.
Remembering What Matters
This week has reminded me how quickly life can change.
Some days are filled with apples, laundry, travel plans, gardens, kids, animals, and figuring out what to make for dinner.
Other days stop us in our tracks.
September 11th will always be one of those days for me.
And September 10th now carries another sadness as we remember Charlie.
So today, I’m choosing to hold my family tight, thank God for the ordinary moments, pray for those who are hurting, and remember those who are no longer here.
Most of all, I want to remember where our hope ultimately comes from.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5
May we never forget.
May we continue to pray for our country.
Most importantly, may we always be brave enough to let the light of Christ shine through us.
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza
