911 ~ ACTS OF KINDNESS IN THE MIDST OF TRAGEDY

I think we all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing that fateful morning of September 11, 2001. It's etched into our memories as though it were yesterday. And while our hearts continue to ache all these years later, I feel it's important to share the acts of kindness and love that was happening all over the country in the midst of the chaos. I want to share my sis-in-law's memory of that day. She told me her story a couple of years ago while we were in Texas for my son's college football game. It's very moving and speaks to the very heart of sacrificial love, rising up in the worst of times.

I was talking to my sis-in-law, Chasity, about not realizing I'd booked our flight home on 9/11 because let's face it, this is not a day I would purposely choose to fly on. While talking, she shared her memories and the horror of the terrible attack all those years ago. She gave me approval to share part of her story.

She worked for a large hotel right by the Dallas Fort Worth airport. Immediately after the attacks all flights were grounded. She witnessed tons of planes circling overhead, anxiously awaiting the go-ahead to safely land.

The aftermath of the grounded/returning/arriving flights were monumental. People were stranded. Taxi's were overwhelmed attempting to get frantic, confused and distraught people to nearby hotels. The airport called all local hotels and asked if they could send employees in their personal cars to pick people up until their hotel was filled to capacity. My sis-in-law immediately got in her car and headed to help. As she reached the airport, she jumped out and started yelling, "I CAN TAKE YOU!" People swarmed her car, throwing suitcases in the back and piling in on top of one another. As she drove she was shocked to see people walking along the freeway with their luggage in tow, trying to get to a safe place, away from the airport. It was chaos and confusion. My sis-in-law continued to make trips again and again until their hotel was full.

This day is etched in her mind, as it is in each of ours forever. A day when innocent lives were lost and families mourned the unthinkable. A day when people stepped up to do what they could. A day when there was no such thing as a stranger, only people in need and people willing to meet those needs any way they could.

Friends, on this Anniversary of 9/11, may we never forget the love and unselfish giving of so many people right in the midst of our Country's worst tragedy. From the first responders who gave all they had to give...their very live...to the people on the 3rd plane bound for another attack, who saved many by their selfless heroism. Along with ordinary people just like my sis-in law, who saw a need and acted! I'm thankful for her story and while we will never forget, I pray we are always reminded to look for ways to be a Blessing to others daily. 

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."~Romans 12:21

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

The Loss of a Friend, Husband & Father

We just received word yesterday that our good friend Mike Burk died on Tuesday. He had flu like symptoms over the weekend went to sleep and never woke up. They think he either caught something in Mexico while he was working or had an aneurism. He leaves behind a wife and three boys. The basketball league (PCH) has established a memorial fund for his family. If you would like to donate to the family here is the information:

Mike Burk Memorial Fund c/o PCH

P.O. Box 5811

Huntington Beach Ca. 92615

Above is a picture of Mike (Red Hat) along with his middle son Michael (#24) taken for last years All Star team. Please pray for his family! Mike was a very fun, caring, and loving husband, father and friend. He coached my middle son Jullien in basketball for 2 years and just adored him. He always made my son feel so special and important. We met Mike and Karen back when Jullien was 6 during baseball. We remained friends throughout the years and feel very lucky to have been a part of their lives.

Mike was very competitive when it came to the kids sports. He always tried to beat my husbands basketball team, (who usually is undefeated every year). At the beginning of every season Mike would come walking up...smile and say, "I'm going to beat you this year...it's my goal and this is the year!" He'd laugh as my husband would say, "I don't think so Mike!" After losing to us every game last season again, he said I'll get you in the All Star game!" When that didn't happen...walking out to the parking lot with him and Karen...he said, "I gotta hand it to ya...you always have a GREAT team! I'm going to beat you sometime though, just wait!"

Mike...you have finally won! You have made it to HEAVEN in the loving protection of our Heavenly Father! We will miss your, smile, spirit, sense of humor and love, till we meet again!

Happy 4th of July-In Memory of John

The 4th of July had always been a huge family reunion of sorts. All of us kids would take our vacation at the same time, my family and my sister Stacy's family, would go to Utah to be with our parents, brother's and sisters. We would have so much fun, going to the park for all the festivities (Utah is known for their HUGE celebration), then at night we would all go to The Stadium of Fire (BYU Stadium, Miley Cyrus is performing this year...BIG event). That all changed 16 years ago.

I had just flown in with my son Josh who was 3 years old at the time and I was 6 months pregnant with Jullien. My mom picked us up at the airport. We were laughing and talking about all the plans, and festivities we were going to attend. The airport was about an hour away from my parents house in Provo. Mom told me that my brother John had decided to leave the night before to go visit my dad who was camping in Wyoming (my parents are divorced and both remarried, my dad lives in Reno, NV. and we don't get to see him much).

My mom tried to talk my brother out of going because it was late and she wanted to make sure he was there when we got in. John was a very crazy, full of life, live on the edge kind of kid. He was 21 and loved to go dancing. He planned on going to the club and then continue on from there to camp with my dad. He took one of his friends with him too. Well before he left he came up and hugged my mom and said something really out of character, "Mom, if anything happens, I want you to know that I love you." John never talked like this! He never worried about tomorrow.

John and his friend went dancing, and then headed out for the drive to Wyoming. Somehow, they missed the turn and kept traveling down a long, dark, stretch of highway. John fell asleep at the wheel, headed off the side of the road, woke up and over corrected the truck. Both boys were thrown from the car. His friend died at the scene. My brother was air lifted to the University of Utah Hospital. Had my brother not made the wrong turn, he would have been at my dad's campsite hours before the accident.

As me and my mom pulled into the driveway, laughing and joking, enjoying our time together, my step dad immediately opened the door that led into the garage. I remember he had a very strange look on his face. He told her to come into the house...she knew something was terribly wrong too. I will never forget, as long as I live, my mothers heart wrenching, agonizing scream, and running in to see my mother curled up on the floor in a fetal position crying.

We had only been told that he was in a serious accident and we needed to get to the hospital that was an hour away. My brother was in a coma for a week, it was strange because he looked perfect, even the scratches on his face were healing...but his brain was swelling. We had spent every second at the hospital, my mom wanted us to take a break and go to The Stadium of Fire show that we all had tickets for. None of us wanted to leave, but my mom said, "You know John would want you all to go." So we all sat there unable to enjoy the normal, excitement, thinking, praying and hoping for a miracle.

As the grand finale was lighting up the sky with amazing red, white, blue, gold and silver colors, I felt a heaviness and somehow knew that my brother was gone. We returned to the hospital, it was confirmed, my brother no longer had brain waves.

It was so like my brother...to leave this world with a huge celebration. He was so loud, fun, crazy, caring and loving...he was larger than life, cramming a full life into 21 short years. On July 5th my family made the decision to pull the plug. We donated his corneas, heart and kidneys to other people who needed his life saving gift...John would have wanted that.

Happy 4th of July! We continue to celebrate this holiday in your honor. We love and miss you Johnny and can't wait to see you again!

The Family Side of Foreclosure (Part 1)

So many times we hear about all off the amazing Foreclosure deals...which I remember thinking, "Wow, if only I had a little extra money stashed away, I could become a Real Estate mogul and when the economy turns around I'll be rich!" I often wonder how many people think the same way?

Now my family is at the other end of the Foreclosure deal. We are struggling to come up with enough money to save our home. Our mortgage, property taxes, credit card bills, food and gas is putting us deeper and deeper in debt. I thought I would share our story...a perspective from a family on the brink of losing their dream.

Here's a little background info:

We are currently almost three months behind on our mortgage, property taxes are due, three months behind on our HOA (homeowners association dues), credit cards are maxed out (supplementing our incoming by using them), the boys are eating twice as much, (they're all growing right now), sports for football season alone is costing us $3,300.00 (3 boys play), and GAS (about $200.00 a week). Our home value has dropped considerably, was worth about $650,000.00, now worth less than we owe. Now that you understand the situation, I'll fast forward to our first attempt to make arrangements with the bank.

My husband called the bank today and told them we would make a payment on the 30th (don't know where the full amount is coming from...but I'm working on the faith thing!) Then they asked, "When can you make your next payment?" He said, "I don't know?" They snapped, "You have to give us another date!" "Okay...I guess the 15th". He called me at work and I asked, "How are we going to come up with it at the end of the month and the 15th and still buy food and gas?" He got ticked off, "I DON'T KNOW, I'm trying to by us time." Hmm, that was a great start!

Usually when finances are tight we are arguing all the time, the stress just gets to be too much, especially when we are working more hours, barely see each other, and still not able to pay our bills. Since becoming Christian (we both always believed but had been doing our own thing), we have really been trying to not rely on ourselves to get us through this...faith, hope and trusting that God has a plan for our lives. But of course we are only human...so the stress of our situation takes over and we have really been going at it lately. I try to lose myself in the computer and writing, while he asks every night, "Do you think maybe we can spend a little time together?" I don't know what my problem is, I just don't want to talk, or be around him right now. I know it's not his fault, and he is working his butt off, but I just want to be left alone! This is how I deal with stressful situations...I push all my emotions deep inside, run around like crazy, don't sleep, become emotionally unavailable for my family and stay on the computer writing for HOURS on end. I try to find a place to hide and escape from my reality.

Then off to work I go everyday...to a luxury Newport Beach, CA office where my bosses are Millionaires and don't have a care in the world about finances, while I try to put on my happy face, and act like my life is perfect too, (I'm really good at fooling everyone.) I try very hard not to feel sorry for myself, I pray, do a Bible study and watch Joyce Meyers every morning before I leave...it really does help! But my human side comes back, and I start to struggle again.

Stay tuned for Part 2....

My Journey
By: Lisa Petrarca

Darkness crowds around me
Squeezing out my air
Take in a deep, cold breath
A few more steps, just walk
Look at the light ahead
Faint but steadily shining
Calling out my name
My feet are slowly moving
It seems far away
My strength is disappearing
The light's calling me to come
The darkness is thick and stifling
It never seems to end
The light is getting closer
My feet begin to run
It overtakes the shadows
The light now surrounds me
I've made it through the dark
The light is so amazing my journey has just begun


Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. (Psalm 107: 13-14)