Go. VOTE.

Much has been made on both sides of the political aisles about the importance of today's historical elections. In my view, none of it is an exxaggeration. This is likely one of the most important events that our nation stops and marks in its march to the future. And this particular election carries weight for our future that few other elections in history have borne quite so heavily.

I don't much care how you vote, frankly.

I don't much care why you vote the way that you do.

However, I do care very much that you vote.

Your right to do so didn't come easily. Nor did it come freely.

It is an honor and a privilege that should be exercised with great respect.

Get out and vote. Encourage others around you to vote, too. Don't bother getting "into it" with them about the particulars of their personal leanings. You won't likely change their minds at this late date. But you CAN encourage them to SPEAK their minds by pushing that poll button. And you should.

It's one of the most precious rights we have. One that sets us apart from many other nations and many people around the world. Don't take it for granted. There's really NOTHING more important for you to do today. Period.

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OH! And don't forget, comments to the give-away for my 1,000th post close on Wednesday morning. So go back one post and read up on how you can participate. You won't be sorry!!!

Tune in tomorrow, 

when the three winners

of our 1,000th post

give-away will be announced.

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday's post was a delightful surprise to me. Thank you all for the kind words and notes, in email, on Facebook and here.  My readers rock!

Since we decided to spend my birthday here at home this year, instead of our normal trek to the lake with my folks, I asked The Boss if we could do something special with The Gang and the in-laws.  When the kids heard me ask that, they groaned. They know well enough by now that "something special" and my birthday almost always equates to soaking in the local history.  And let's face it, The Gang lives in a region RICH WITH HISTORY!  Here's a couple pics of how we spent the first day of my weekend-long birthday holiday.  (Declared officially by me.)

These "huts" have totally captivated me.

I think I might frame a couple of the clearest shots.

I couldn't get over the serenity juxtaposed with

the utter crudity of these little cabins.

This Continental Soldier let Baby BlueEyes

hold a musket and took a great deal of time

with him to explain the different uniforms and

accessories. Great memories!

The Memorial Arch was beautiful.

And sobering.

 This was the highlight of my whole day.

Walking where George Washington walked,

I had goosebumps through the whole house.

Look at that! President Washington and I have

the same taste in paint colors!

Can you imagine the conversations and strategies

conceived in this room? 

I actually got a little teary-eyed thinking of the hours

of thought and prayer that I imagine were lifted from

this room to Our Father.

I came away with a renewed feeling of gratitude

for the godly influences and foundations

laid by our forefathers.

The Gang in the shadows of greatness.

And a wonderful birthday celebration. So far!

Following A Dream

I have a friend. He's an amazing man. Devoted to his God. Deeply in love with his wife. Passionate about his five kids. Loyal and generous to his friends. Committed to his country. Soo committed to his country.

Today, this friend leaves on an adventure of a lifetime.  This adventure is the culmination of years of seeking God for a dream, and following after that dream as God revealed it step-by-step. Today, this friend leaves to serve our country as a Chaplain for the VA Army Reserves. Today, this friend embarks on a holy mission to support and encourage and serve the men and women in his unit while they serve the mission of freedom in Afghanistan.

My heart is far too full to say much else about this man. Much too overwhelmed to tell you more about his beautiful, loving, rock-steady wife.  Too choked up to tell you about his amazing kids.

But I can tell you this. To me, they are all heroes. They are all serving US.  They are all representing US in the most honorable way possible. And I am more grateful and more humbled by their selfless sacrifice of this year of their lives than I can say.

Please, will you remember this family in your prayers?

And if you are blessed to be able to call them your friends,

will you please let them know that you love them

and that you are grateful for what they are

ALL doing for our nation this year?

Here is a link to his blog,

not likely to be regularly updated

given the nature of his mission.

But you might be able to peek into

his heart and mind occasionally.

Do You Know Who You Are?

Friday nights are Family Night around here. For the last two weeks, we hung out together watching

Who Do You Think You Are? 

We have found a new family favorite!  The conversations it has generated have been priceless. My kids are asking about their ancestors, they are putting together our family history with what was going on in the world at the same time, and they are connecting with the things they learn in textbooks on a hugely personal level.  We've talked about racism, slavery, prejudice, hardship, perseverance and all kinds of other wonderful topics. The kids have asked when the next one is on and I even spent an hour hanging with Dr. D showing him a quick chart of what I know about all four of my grandparents' family lines.

Closely connected to the new NBC show, is a wonderful PBS gem I found called

Faces of America. 

It features Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and takes guests through little journeys of American history as they also discover their family stories and how they fit into the bigger story that America was building at that same time. It's a slightly more academic look at how America came to be, but certainly no less entertaining and captivating for THIS history buff! I recorded his appearance on Opr@h a couple weeks ago and finally got to watch it yesterday while I was laying around sick.  I found it IMMENSELY interesting that the officer who arrested Gates in last year's incident that led to the infamous "Beer Summit" shares a family name and geographic region with my grandfather's family. AND that both that officer AND Gates are distantly related via an ancient clan king in Ireland.  Mmmmmm, might we be related to America's foremost African American scholar?  Which, I guess would also mean that we were related to the officer, too. And you know what, I'm totally intrigued by either idea!

If you haven't seen these new shows, you really ought to check them out. Even if you don't care a lick about "where you came from" (which in my honest opinion would be a CRYING SHAME, almost a sacrilege!), I do think that you will find great inspiration in the stories of the strong, determined, self-sacrificing people who formed our nation. And maybe, just maybe, you'll come away from these shows with a greater appreciation for who you are and what your people have come through to make you who you are.

I Voted, Did YOU?

I'm linking up to God's Grace In Practice, to share the voting experience I had today. Head over there if you voted and join the fun.

We got an early start today, as I had to run two of the boys to the local lab for some blood work (don't worry, they're fine, it's just screening/precautionary type tests) by 8:30 a.m. The lab was moving very quickly so after the boys finished and had their quick snack, we headed off to the local polling place.

Our polling place is my kids' elementary school. My kids particularly LOVE election days because it means no school. This year, we actually have two days off for Staff In-Service. I walked in with the boys and Li'l Empress and registered in the gym. I was pleased to see that The Boss had made it to the polls this a.m. when they opened. I wonder if he had to wait at all? I signed my name, showed my id and got my "Voter Ready" slip. Can I just say at this point that I am actually looking forward to getting my license renewed?! I cringe whenever I'm asked for i.d. When this picture was taken, I had just gotten THE. WORST. highlighting job OF MY LIFE and the blond in the picture is glaring white. Ugh. The lovely ladies verified my name, address, and voter number. It took all of 3 minutes.

I headed into the booth, while the boys walked Li'l Empress around the cafeteria area. I could hear her babbling and charming the elections workers with her smiles. I voted my straight party ticket, voted on the water works referendum (I had completely forgotten that was up in this election!) and cast my ballot. Easy peasy. Again, took all of an additional 3 minutes.

No lines, no picketers, no volunteers shoving obnoxious stickers and notepads in my face. Just a quick, painless carrying out of my right to vote.

But while I was there, I was struck anew by something my brother-in-law said on his Facebook page: this right that we often take for granted, (or worse, treat as if it's meaningless) came at a great price. My dad, my father-in-law, my great-grandfather, scores of people I love, have all fought at various times in our nation's history to ensure the freedoms I enjoy. May I never treat this right callously. Whatever my vote, may I always remember that that vote was purchased by life given in service to my country.

God Bless America.

*Updated: Just read a great voting story
over at House Mix. This is the blog of
Steven Curtis Chapman's manager
and today's post is especially great. Enjoy!

**Updated again: The Boss just called.
He arrived at the polling place
at 6:40 a.m. (sick, I know) and waited
behind about 50 people.
Not a long wait, but pretty quiet.
Apparently, he doesn't chat up
the folks around him
when he's waiting in line.
Does that surprise you?! :)