Terrorists

Reena...never feel bad about expressing your feelings here...after this much time together I can't imagine anyone thinking any less of one of us for speaking our mind!! We are all thinking about the terrorist attacks and I know that we are all thinking the same thing as you right now!!!

We all love you and hope and pray you stay safe!!

Maigan

I'm with you too, Reena

This thing in Mumbai is awful.  And even though we americans who have always opposed this dishonest and needless war in Iraq are finally able to hope that there is an end in sight, everyone here knows where situations like the one in Mumbai come from.  That is why all the americans in 2004 who said they felt "safer" because of the war on terror made the rest of us want to tear out our hair in frustration.  Unfortunately there are many people here who never leave the states and don't realize what a dangerous place our foreign policy has made the world, both for ourselves and for others.  I truly hope that the Obama administration can help educate americans a bit about what it means to be citizens of the world, and can usher in a new era of americans participating in global communication, not just bowling over others and demanding to always get our own way.

Glad everyone had a nice thanksgiving, terrorists notwithstanding.  BTW, on wednesday I had to explain to Ava what a terrorist is because we were listening to NPR in the car when the Mumbai attacks came on the air.  Interesting times to be a parent, eh?

xoxo

big love to you all

ps: speaking of big love, i saw the actress who plays barb on that show, Jeanne Tripplehorn, at the playground this morning.  She was rocking big old sunglasses, naturally, but it was obviously her.  Im not sure if she lives here or was up visiting from LA or something.... pretty cool anyhow!

Just inn case someone has a use for this

http://enews.potterybarn.com/servlet/website/ResponseForm?iIEVTTB-UU-VC_w8_yLmHps_9hNihg_OV_97uEOLkRmHssWFRHohhDJH

Thankful

I'm thankful for caring friends and loving family.

Reena, I know how you feel. I think this is a thoughtless selfish war and that occasionally people can be the same. I remember how the French got ridiculed and "shunned" when they would not go to war with us (remember freedom fries?). I tried to explain to people that them going to war had far greater repercussions for their country than ours.

Reena, Big hugs to you. I do not blame you for being upset.

I am thankful for my family.

thankful

We had famiy thanksgiving yesterday.
Even with all the grief and tears, I am thankful we had Andrew for the few short months that we did. He is our Angel. I miss him so much.

Gen- I took the picture down, because a friend of mine suggested that it could be copied from our blog and used in not-so-nice ways on the internet.
If anyone wants to see his picture- email me and I'll send it to you.
sarahholcombe@gmail.com

I am thankful to have all of you girls here with me as well.

all my love,
sarah

Why I'm thankful!

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here but right now I'm just thankful for the gift of life.

I guess you probably know by now that Mumbai (a city in Western India) is under siege by terrorists. More than 100 people have lost their lives, whole families have disappeared. The terrorists were looking for anyone holding American and British passports, in the process killing many Indians! Though I'm angry at our govt. for not protecting us, I see it as nothing but repercussions of the stupid and thoughtless war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does anybody think before taking decisions like this, that there is a whole world out there who are affected by decisions taken by some mindless and heartless politicians. I hate to say all this to an American audience but I'm saying it because I'm frustrated, not with you or anybody else but with my own helplessness and also at the thought that we might be next.

We are a free country but now this is a new struggle for freedom from terror.
http://ibnlive.in.com/

US vs Canadian Thanksgiving

Ours was a few weeks ago....

I was thankful for my health, my kids and their health....
and my wonderful friends who help me along my *sigh* journey !!!

Gen xxx

thank you

hi friends

today i am thankful for many blessings, but i am certainly very thankful for you all and your incredible friendship.  i love you all.  happy thanksgiving!

xoxoxo

MaryStarr

Sarah~ Your family is in my prayers. Thank you for sharing your precious angel with us.....your strength amazes me. We love you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING LADIES!!!

Keli

Oh Sarah

I'm so sorry..... my problems look far less now....

I am so sorry for your loss... Many hugs and kisses going to you, and your family, and to Andrew of course. You are all in my thoughts, and prayers. Where is his picture ? I was able to view it a few days ago..... Sorry I didn't reply then, I couldn't find the words... Not that I feel I have them now...

My sister is 22 weeks pregnant, and her last ultrasound's results showed-up at her Dr's office the day after her 20 week appointment. They left a message at home "please call the office so we can talk about your ultrasound reasults"
She spent a sleepless week-end, and she has to go for yet another ultrasound, as the kidneys didn't look properly developped for how far along she is.

Cedrik will be 10 months next week, and has 4 teeth.
weighs about 22 pounds.

Much love to everyone... xxx Gen

Sarah..

You and your family are in my prayers.

Sarah

Please know that you are constantly in my heart and prayers. Know that you have friends all over who are thinking of you and your family and loving you.

Bless you Sarah, you are a hero

Sister, friend, my heart goes to you more than words could possibly say.  You are so very, very brave.  I commend you for having the strength to deliver your son with dignity the way you chose, on your own terms.  I am so very grieved that you must tell him goodbye, but I know as you do that his soul has gone on to continue it's journey as god intends.  Thank you for sharing Andrew Jack with us.  My deepest love and condolences for you, for Chris, and for your entire family.

NAMASTE...

there is a place in each of us in which the entire universe dwells.

it is a place of light

it is a place of love

it is a place of peace.

when I am in this place in me, and you are in this place in you

we are ONE.

Namaste, Sarah.  

Om Shanti.

MaryStarr

Picture of Andrew Jack, our Angel Baby

First, let me say, thank you ladies for your kind words of encouragement. These past 4 days have been the worst in my entire life.
On Thursday, November 20th,2008, our angel, Andrew Jack, was born. We decided that a standard delivery was most appropriate, as I did not want them to chop him him during a D&C. We wanted him whole. We wanted to hold him, to have him blessed and dedicated, and to say our goodbyes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital Tuesday night, the day we found out. I was started on medications (cytotec) to induce labor. Just after midnight, early Thursday morning, I started experiencing horrific pains, cramps, and contractions. The nurse encouraged me to have an epidural. I did, and was able to rest for about 2 hours more, when I was wakened by the feeling of blood on my leg. I called the nurse, she checked me, said I was dilated to 4cm (that's as far as I had to dilate to deliver him) and called the doctor. When she called the doctor, Chris called our pastor. They arrived at about the same time. I delivered Andrew Jack, then started to hemorrhage, and was rushed to the OR for a D&C (post delivery). The placenta had decided to not detach, so the doctor removed it. I requested to please not be "drugged" during the D&C, knowing that afterward, they would bring him to us and I didn't want to be "foggy". Really- I did want to be foggy- but I knew that it would be better for me to experience and remember everything.
Chris was an amazing support during everything. He was by my side nonstop. He cried with me, held me, told me it was ok. We grieved the loss of our baby. We are still grieving the loss.
I am attaching a picture of Andrew Jack. Please know that even though he looks small, he is beautiful in our eyes. He was about 16 1/2 weeks gestation. We do not know the cause of his demise, but are awaiting autopsy and genetic testing results. From the general appearance of him, nothing looks out of the ordinary.
He looks just like Chris, with Riley's nose.
He is our baby, he is in Heaven, we love him and miss him more than words can say.

all my love,
sarah

sunshine

has returned to my fair city after three days of bitter, damp, foggy, bone chilling cold.  I am feeling much more cheerful because of it.  I weighed myself yesterday and I have gained exactly 5 pounds in my first trimester (this weekend is the beginning of my second trimester, as I will be 14 weeks on sunday).  It is always a struggle for me to be at peace with this part of the process.  I continue to endeavor toward acceptance and self love.  oy.

I think the main thing is that I was very, very slim when I got pregnant this time.  I lost 7 pounds in my yoga immersion in august and was at my lowest weight since I was 24 or so.  So it is just a point of reference shift that is making it a hard adjustment.  But anyways.  I sound so petty, don't i?  yeesh.  I guess we all have our demons.

Reena, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you about your ovary.  Hopefully it turns out to be a reaction to your thyroid levels or something.  Matthew is hypothyrodic, too.  He found out while I was pregnant with Ava.  He has had a lot of success with synthetic thyroid replacement.  Basically they just give you a replacement hormone for the one your body has stopped producing, and you'll feel much better.  Even probably in ways that you were unaware of feeling bad before.  Matt had a very noticeable change in his energy levels, as well as his ability to lose weight (it was impossible for him to lose weight before).  He hadn't thought he was particularly lethargic, but he noticed a big change when his hormone levels normalized.  I think everyone has very different symptoms, so perhaps you are exeriencing different ones.  I am glad that you went in and had it discovered.  Good for you.  And mucho congratulations on the job!  That is fantastic!  Go you :)

Keli, I am so glad to hear from you and so sorry to hear that things are tough with Scott.  That sucks!  It is so frustrating when people just shut down like that and won't engage with you.  No sense screaming at a brick wall.  Just take care of yourself and the girls.  I hope he snaps out of it soon.  Are you happy about being back at the wellness center?  

Gen, whew.  That is amazing about what Erika said.  But you know, our children are really good at cutting through the bullshit if you know what I mean.  Because they are absolutely loyal to us, they truly have our best interest at heart.  And they have no filter of social obligation, that is, they are not constrained in their opinions by what is perceived as being polite the way adults (particularly women) are.  I hope for you that Bruno's month off proves to be productive and clarifying for you both, whatever the resul. I hope it brings you to a new place of being able to live openly and in an environment that is healthy and loving and good for you, whether it is together or separately.  If you want to be together I hope he snaps out of it and you can feel like he is really there for you as the man you deserve.  Because you deserve much, much more darlin.

That was fun writing in color to everyone.  Ok, must go be a little productive and get some laundry in.  What is everyone doing for thanksgiving?

Sarah, today as ever you are in my thoughts.  All my love and prayers are with you and your family, sister.  Big love.

xoxo

MaryStarr

HEAD UP HIGH

NO WORRIES --- I am a confident person.... I just don't want my kids to be exposed, and my kids to learn this is what a marriage is...
Or this is ok -- the way bruno talks to me
Erika to learn it's ok to accept this from a man
and for Cedrik to learn it's ok to talk to a woman this way


Bruno announced to me this morning that he has taken the whole month of December OFF !!!

that scares me a little --- I think it will make or break our marriage...

maybe all papers will be signed in January !!!

Hi..

You look lovely in those photos Gen! And think no less of yourself, doesn't matter if you have been hissing incessantly, happens to all of us. :)

Erika has noticed

she says Bruno is not nice, not nice with me, not patient...
says she wants me to change husbands, that she doesn't want him as a dad anymore, that he can move-out....

and I keep wondering HOW IN THE WORLD DID I GET HERE ???

I'm the nicest person I KNOW !!!!

Marystarr -- cool ? Me ???? nope,
I have been hissing and scratching...
I remain quiet, and avoid conflict
but the moment he raises the tone, or gets short-fuzed
I pounce and attack -- I am a leo, ya know...

Hello...

Sarah..I really don't know what to say, truly sorry to hear about your loss. But have faith and draw strength through prayers.

All pictures are so lovely, the kids have grown so much....I've missed you all, just wish I didn't have to slog my butt off so much. But things are getting better, and have a couple of weeks before full fledged work starts again. Got promoted as the Project manager in the Research and Development dept, which is something I've waited for, for a very long time.

Otherwise, I've been diagnosed with an enlarged right ovary, which has elevated the testosterone levels in my body, which in turn has given me a couple of unwelcome acne on my right cheek, which was actually the main reason I visited the endocrinologist. It was like opening a can of worms, turns out that I have borderline hypothyroidism (the type that makes you fat, but strangely I haven't gained weight) but the doctor wants me to retest end of this month. Why my ovary is enlarged, is something I'll get to know after some more scans.

Lisa's news: She surprised me yesterday. She has learnt to add single digit numbers and she said her teachers in school taught her, I wonder how but she does know. She actually wrote 2+3=5, 5+5=10 etc etc, a whole page of it. Initially I was a little skeptical thinking she's too young but she's having a ball learning math, I guess humans are evolving everyday.

more pictures of the same day --- apple picking

cedrik & erika are so beautiful

And so are you, Mama!

So good to hear from you.  So sorry that life has been giving the ass end of the stick lately.  Big hugs for you and the kids.  That other woman sounds like an eyebrow raiser to me, I would be upset too, I think you are very justified in feeling like he should make time for you first.  Frankly, you are being much cooler about it than I think I could be.  But it still stinks!  I am sorry.

I love the picture of you and cedrik with the apple in your hand.  Magnifique.  You are lovely.  And we missed you.

xo

MaryStarr

WHY I HAVE BEEN MIA

Hello Ladies,

Firstly, my heart goes out to Sarah...

I have very quicly read posts.... and I think I am up-to-date, but I don't have the time or energy to reply to everyone...

But I will tell you this -- the last 6 months of my life have been hell...

From Bruno not taking any parental leave (on top of mothers getting 1 yr maternity leave fully paid, fathers are allowed 5 weeks) + he has taken NO vacation....

Erika goes to pre-school, and she saw all of her friends during the summer, go on vacation, cottage, lake, camping,....

She got fucking squat !!!

I have been really upset about this for Erika, and stressing the topic with Bruno

He won't hear me -- his job is demanding...

Fine

ooops, forgot, yeah, he did take Erika camping -- but he brought another woman !!!

He assures me I'm crazy to think there could be anything, she is married, and I've met her

But what bothers me is that my daugther gets to do family activities with another woman, and not with her parents

That was a week-end I had friends visiting from FRANCE and I was getting the house painted on the Monday

So Bruno helped move all the furniture, and then left with Erika

So My friends arrived, in this mess, and no Erika

They didn't stay very long, they seemed very insulted that my husband had left, with my daugther....

So Bruno did take the Monday off of that week, yeah -- so vacation time, 1 day

with another woman...

He did go meet her on a few occasion while biking with the kids, or stuff like that... Erika tells me : )

I went to my sisters wedding - Erika and I arrived the Saturday... Bruno was driving the Sunday

and I called home in the evening, Bruno tells me he invited her over for dinner,

and the next day, at the wedding, for which he arrived 40 minutes late,

he tells me

OOOOOH, anyways --- I'm not bothered that he is friends with a woman, it bothers me that he goes out of his way to do things with her, when he can't do the same for me

I'm going through some medical treatments -- and whenever I get home, he acts like I have taken for-ever....

Same with one of the ultrasounds when I was pregnant, he saw he missed a call while I was in the room, and he cursed.... for fuck's sakes...

He has lost 50 pounds, bikes excessively, gym and so on....

He is never home, and I feel very single...

I keep asking why he acts this way, and he tells me it's all in my head...

I tried to put myself under the microscope, but tonite, I was talking to a naighbour, and she was asking me if Bruno was ok... she said it herself, Bruno has lost so much weight, and is never home

He is sooooo impatient, and aggressive, he's become verbally abusive....

To a minimum, but I surely don't want my kids exposed... He has lost his temper with both kids in the last 5 days

Erika has been saying things like

Bruno thinks, but of course, that I'm brainwashing Erika.... which is absurd, as my mom tried to get me to lie to my dad - in their divorce settlement . I would NEVER do that to my child.

So that is where I am at.... The last 2 months have been him barking at me, and putting me down

I believe he is heading for another depression... and he is over-worked

Which is by all means no excuse, so I just don't talk to him, and let him be

Step-in when needed be when he is temper gets too much and the kids are around...

Voilà -- xxx Gen

Sarah, Hugs and prayers for you. I am so saddened to hear about your loss. Let us know if you need anything.

sarah-
oh sweetheart, i am so sorry. i can't imagine what you must be feeling right now but know that you are in our thoughts and hearts. we're here for you when you need us.
all my love
kri

I'm here...sort of. Scott's doing better physically but we aren't getting along at all. I don't know what's going on but he's been a royal ass lately. My BS tolerance is super low right now....I swear I'm having a early midlife crisis. Everytime i try to talk to him he shuts down....I would never let go without a fight but at the same time I'm not gonna be the only one fighting. The holidays are coming up so...I'm gonna let it sit till the new yr but then ...things are gonna have to chage. Otherwise, I'm well....went back to my old job...the nutrition & wellness center where I did cellulite treatments & pilates. Right now i'm just nursing though. Lily turned 8 last week!! Wow, that's crazy......& Ava's, well she's Ava!! lol ;p
Everyone's costumes & cakes are adorable!!!
I miss you all like crazy....need to post more.
Sarah~ I am so sorry for your loss. I'll be thinking of your family during this hard time....if you need anything, you have my email.
Happy Hump Day Ladies!! :)
xoxoxo Keli

my prayers are with you sarah

Oh Sarah, I am so sorry.  My heart is grieving with you, and I am sending you all my love and prayers.  Take care of yourself the best you can.

MaryStarr

sad news

At our routine 16 week OB appointment today, we found our baby has no heartbeat. Two weeks ago, we had a good strong heartbeat...
We grieve our loss.

please remember us in your prayers.

sarah

Marystarr, Do you have room for one more? That weather sounds absolutely wonderful. I did think of some girl names. How about Moira or Gwendolyn? It was a toss-up between those two if Theodore had been a girl.

Reena, Lisa is beautiful! Truly a stunning little girl.

Jenifer, Love the new pictures. The boys are adorable.

Thanks about the costume. I worked at a Halloween store this year. It was a lot of fun and one of the benefits was getting a free costume. The other was seeing the little kids get excited over their costumes.

On the job front, wish me luck. I think I might have found something that would be perfect. It is with a temporary staffing agency (I would be the person sending out workers to jobs). Not exactly a dream job, but the hours are great for raising kids. Every other week I would work 6 am to 11 am and the next week it would be 11 am to 6 pm. Either way I am home in time for supper and I have time either in the morning or afternoon to spend with the kids.

you should come out here , Kri

Because inexplicably it is 75 and sunny, with a nice breeze.  Everyone is cruising around in tank tops and shorts, which you never see here.  It is actually impressive any of us own some.  Last week it was high in the high 50's low 60's and foggy, the week before it was in the low 50's and pouring cats and dogs  (which it never does usually before January).  California is a funny place, it literally only rains during the "rainy season".  

So today I am officially 13 weeks pregnant.  I feel much more like my self again, less moody and irritable.  Perhaps the hormones have lessened, or perhaps I am just more accustomed to the whole idea.  What is funny about pregnancy is that even when you plan it and everything, it still takes a lot of getting used to.  It's like you can't remember how intense it is until you are pregnant.  whoa.

happy sunday ladies... love you

MaryStarr

burr....

i just don't understand it- yesterday it was in the mid70's and now it is in the 50's with a wicked breeze. way too chilly for this southern gal. burr....
i just finished getting caught up on the posts and i don't even know where to begin. maigan- i LOVED your girls costumes. bashful was one of the cutest things ever. amy- way to go sexy mama. meow. sarah and marystarr-good luck with those bebes. how do you like the name kellen ? harper ? monroe ? rhys ? you know me, i love androgenous names and last name as first name things. reena- lisa is getting so big and beautiful. keli-where are you and how is scott? jennifer- your boys are so handsome. barack obama- words cannot express what i am feeling right now. pride, joy, hope....these simply do not capture the emotions within my heart. maigan-i totally understand about your coworkers being sick and old navy being cheap (sometimes it's just the little things that can really piss you off). sarah-the cheerleader pics are adorable being words.
sorry for the stream of consiousness post. the girls are busy coloring markers all over their arms and i'm about to get them ready for their swim lessons. oy vey-motherhood can be so busy and crazy at times... :)

always
kri

Fall Crisp and Colorful

I decided to spend some time outside with Garrett and we raked leaves and we played in the pile jumping in, pretending it was a car/bus/spaceship. I had him do a couple "posed" pictures for me. After a while I went inside and realized Jaxon was not taking his nap so I brought him out to play also, I didn't get as many good pictures of him though.

Reena great to hear from you again!!

woohoo!

Hi Reena!  Lisa is so beautiful and so big and amazing.. so ice to see her and hear from you :)

Amy, you took the words right out of my mouth about the election.  I too am amazed and delighted by the possibilities this opens for our nation, and for all our children growing up.  America will never be the same as it was, and although we have many old ideas and hurdles of discrimination yet to overcome, we have come much closer to the dream of a nation of equals... for the people and by the people.

Maigan, I don't judge you for not voting :)  When I was growing up in New Hampshire (where politics is pretty much discussed in preschool) it felt like no matter what our voices would never matter, because NH was historically such a conservative state and only had a single electoral vote... which made my family feel a bit like they were banging their heads against the wall in every election.  I agree that its tough that they don't wait until the west comes in to call the election.  California though, had so many important state and local issues on the ballot that turnout was super important here. I am really excited that we passed a measure to build a high speed train between San Francisco and L.A.... totally carbon neutral and will take us to L.A. in 1 hour 45 minutes.  Crazy!  It takes 6 hours to drive 75mpf with no traffic.  I am super sad about proposition 8 though, and I can't believe my fellow citizens voted for such a shameful and discriminatory action against gay and lesbian families.  For a state like california to vote to strip american citizens of civil liberties is mortifying.  I am ashamed of my neighbors.

Tonight I ate a double cheeseburger for dinner.  I have never had a double cheeseburger before in my life...  it was ENORMOUS.  I must really be pregnant after all.... hehe

Amy- you looked super hot on halloween, and I loved your cake :)  Actually, I would love any cake at all really because i am not allowed to have cake until after this biscuit is hatched.  Arrrrrrrgh.

love to you all

MaryStarr

Hello!

Hey there mommies :) How are you all doing? It's good to have a blog which you know is not going anywhere even after several weeks. I quickly read some posts. Marystarr and Sarah- congratulations to you both and Sarah take care of yourself. Things out here just fine, been extremely busy at work and that's the reason I haven't been able to keep in touch. Here are some recent pictures of Lisa:

That's one of her as Little Red Riding Hood.

How is everybody else doing?

Maigan, I am sympethetic to your reasons for not voting. My grandmother was in tears after the 1996 election. She voted in the evening and she got in the car and turned on the radio and they were already anouncing that Clinton had been re-elected. She was upset because even though she knew her vote wouldn't have changed the outcome she felt that her vote didn't count for anything. On another note, the girls look so cute. I really love the dwarf costume.

Sarah, I think it is great that you voted no matter who it was for. I was dissapointed in 2000 when he wasn't the Republican candidate. Sorry to hear you were in the hospital. Not sure on baby names, but I recommend the site behindthename.com. Lots of history and information on names.

Marystarr, Good for you having found such a great midwife (I peaked at your other blog as well). Best of luck to you on the homebirth.

Vivian is thrilled with her costumes for this years dance recital. The studio is doing a Disney themed recital. She will have a mermaid costume and a sailor costume. She also gets a Snow White one for the father-daughter dance (optional, but Ron said he might never get the opportunity to do something like this with her again).

Politics are not for me...

Snow White & Bashful Dwarf

All I can voice about this election season is how happy I am that it is over with. I have never been involved in politics...maybe someday. I think part of my reluctance is the mere fact that my entire life I have lived in states where the President Elect has been announced before I even set foot in the voting booth. I believe that my vote really doesn't count, so I see no point in voting. I am sure that will outrage some of you, but it is what it is. I would probably vote if they re-vamped the system and allowed all voters to cast their ballots, the polls to close nation wide, then have a bit of a buffer and at that point announce a winner. As it stands, I opt out.



Halloween was fun...we hit the mall, which was a nightmare, but Lizzy had fun. I will never do mall trick or treating again...there were a million kids there all running around crazy begging for candy...it was ridiculous. Next year I am going to structure it around a party at our house or something a little less chaotic.

Hope everyone gets feeling better...it seems like colds are running rampant right now.

MaryStarr ~ I think you have made a wise choice...you know your body and what you need to do to be healthy during this pregnancy, no reason to have an asshole doctor bearing down on you every day!!!

Amy ~ You and the kids look great!!

:)

Amy,
I think you did a great job with your expression.
Personally, I voted for McCain, being raised as a conservative southern baptist girl, but I do not fault my friends who voted and won victory with Obama. (I am a little tiffed over the "race" issue though....LOL)

Overall, I am glad that we, as a group, can support each other so much, even when we don't agree. Who else can do that?????

:) As for pregnancy- I feel much better this week. Last week I landed in the hospital for fluids and potassium (I had puked every 10 minutes for 24 hours, even after having a "first round" of IV fluids)
This is our "Gift Baby" (well put!)and our little Miracle. Now, if we could only come up with a name......I have a girl name, but if it's a boy- he will be "Baby Boy"......LOL.
Any suggesstions???!!!???!!

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the Fall weather. In Atlanta, we don't really have "Fall", only summer and winter. Last week it was 30* and we had frost and today it's near 70*. How rediculous.

:)
hugs and love!
sarah

You don't have to be a poet

Amy,
I don't think you have to be a poet to say exactly what you said with the elegance in which you put it.

I think you said everything I was thinking.

I wish I was a poet so that I could describe my feelings with more elegance and grace.

I was moved to tears as I watched President-Elect Obama walk across the platform with his beautiful family. I was proud to be an American and proud of how far our country has come. I was proud to have taken part in the election and proud to have made my voice heard.

I am relieved that Obama has a reasonable plan to bring troops home from Iraq and that my former comrades in arms will once again be home with their families. I am relieved that my own family will be less likely to be rocked by a long separation.

I am excited that we can voice our opinions and change things for the better. I am excited that my children can see that everyone can accomplish great things regardless of their race or gender, that everyone is equal. I am excited that they can see that through hard work and perseverance they can achieve any goal.

The feeling above all others is hope. Hope for the future of America and the world. Hope for the oppressed, hope for the downtrodden. Hope for a better world for my children and my children's children.

Yes, VOTE!

but i am sure you all already are...

especially all you all swing state voters :)

xoxox

MaryStarr

VOTE

I just want to encourage everyone, regardless of political preference, to get out there and vote today.

Here are the kids, the cake we had, and myself. I love Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

Here are my boys all dressed up. We went to the local mall where Garrett made a killing and did really well! Then we came home and walked our street and Garrett made out like a bandit again! Very generous neighbors.