This ornament commemorates the release of the 2001 New York state quarter. In 1999 the US Mint began issuing commemorative quarters – 5 per year – for the 50 states. 2001 included New York. Ironically, this was also the year when the US was attacked and New York City lost the Twin Trade Towers on September 11th, now referred to as 9/11. At the time we were stationed in Mannheim, Germany, but Layden was actually back in the United States at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for military training – advanced Chaplain School. We had very different experiences of that day. Our post in Germany was on high security alert – very limited access to post -essential personnel only. Those of us living on post were instructed to stay on post. So, I spent the time in our quarters, watching the towers fall again and again on the news and waiting to hear from Layden. He watched the events unfold on the TV in his classroom. Everyone there knew that whatever happened next, it would include a significant military response. Some people became very worried. Layden was concerned about what might happen next, but he stayed calm, which is what he usually does in a crisis – a big advantage for a Chaplain. As a military spouse, I too knew that our lives would be very different going forward, and that I had no control over what might happen next. When we hang this ornament on the tree we think about how things can change in an instant. It reminds us to plan ahead but also to live in the moment. Each day is a gift that we should open with care and intention.