'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK... I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

Battlefields of Tennesee

Battlefields
While in Tennessee in February, I toured several famous battlegrounds from the Civil war. Shiloh, Stones River (Murfreesboro) and Chattanooga/Chickamauga. What struck me the most at all three sites were the shear number of unknown graves. Row upon row of them. Of the three, Chickamauga seemed to ‘click’ with me the most. I understand the movements on the field and while there stood in the forest where they fought. It is amazing to me that they could even fight in the tangle of the underbrush and know who they were fighting and where they were going.
Bragg's Headquarters

A few days ago I discovered that the 15th Alabama was there with Bragg’s army. I can now use the information I learned in the south as part of my Living History presentations.

Chickamauga

Shiloh seemed such a lonely place to me. Perhaps it was the snow flurries and that it was off season. There was no other cars in the park, just tons of deer everywhere.
http://www.nps.gov/shil/

Shiloh

Stones River seemed chopped up as there are several unconnected parts to it. I found it hard to imagine the battle there...of course the snow didn’t help on that one!
http://www.nps.gov/stri/

Stones River National Cemetary

Look out Mountain and Point Park are well worth the drive up the side of a steep mountain side. The view of the valley is great and you can really see Missionary ridge from the top as well as the river. It gives you a great view of the valley.

http://www.nps.gov/chch/

Tennessee River from Lookout Mountain

Carnton Plantation

Two years ago I read the book "The Widow of the South" based on the life of Carrie McGavok. She and her husband opened their house up after the battle of Franklin. 300 wounded were in the house at one point with the upstairs children's room serving as a surgery. There are still blood stains in the wood floor today.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of November 30, 1864, Carnton was witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee furiously assaulted Union troops entrenched along the southern edge of Franklin. The Battle of Franklin was the bloodiest five hours of combat during the Civil War, a massive frontal assault larger than Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. Although it was short in duration, some 9,500 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured or missing. Nearly 7,000 of that number were Confederate. Carnton served as the largest field hospital in the area for hundreds of wounded and dying Confederate soldiers who were brought to the site for surgeries and medical care.

I was lucky enough to visit this historic plantation in late February. The plantation is not far from Nashville and is now considered the most haunted place in Tennessee.

The McGavocks donated 2 acres of their land to become a Confederate Cemetary, the largest private one in the nation.

www.carnton.org