Well, the country is certainly talking, make that, the world! Yesterday was possibly the biggest day for our country in MY lifetime. We had two minorities in the running for the White House; an African American and a woman. Brian and I took the kids out for dinner to celebrate our right to vote and make our voices heard in this country; what a fantastic and beautiful right! At dinner we talked about how at one time only white land-owning men could vote. How minorities were given the right in the 1800’s, but it took longer to make it safe and easy. How it took even more years before women, represented by half of our household, could have a voice. I almost got teary thinking about how my girls will find it amazing to think that anyone would have denied them that right.

When we got home and snuggled up on the couch to watch the final tallies unfold, our kids asked question after question, wanting to learn about the process and why popular vote does not alway determine the final winner. We talked about some of the props, like a high speed train and hospital and school improvements. And then we watched as our country elected her first African American president.

Now, as a household we didn’t unilaterally support either of the major candidates. In fact, one of us threw our vote behind one of the quiet underdogs; so we weren’t actually rooting strongly for either camp. But the kids and I had watched biographies of both Obama and McCain and Alayna, particularly, was rooting for McCain, as her soft heart was amazed by his incredible service to our country and the hardships he went through as a POW. She got upset, seeing that Obama had won, and crossed her arms in frustration. We watched McCain’s incredible concession speech and talked to our kids about how his speech was a sign of his character and the kind of leader he is. Even the media seemed stunned by the eloquence and grace he displayed; I hoped that Alayna saw that grace and a little might have rubbed off.

Next came Obama’s acceptance speech. He wasn’t my candidate, so I wasn’t stirred simply by the win. But I still felt a stirring of my heart, seeing that our country has taken this big step in my lifetime. I would have felt similar if the other camp had won, making Palin the first woman elected to the White House. We turned to our kids and told them that no matter what the politics of the candidate you wanted to win, this night is historic, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives. I looked down at Lydia, two years old, snuggled up next to me; she will not remember this night. She will simply believe that our country has always been this way. Amazing, isn’t it? Even our kids, seeing this election, have a different view of politics and the world. Isaiah said at one point last night, “Haven’t we had a bunch of girls as Vice President?” Ha! Now isn’t that something??

So today I say, “Thank you, to all the men and women who have fought and many who have died, to protect my right to vote and to be free. And may God bless America!”