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.

Haiti: Adoption And Other Complex Thoughts

I've been trying all week to formulate my thoughts and feelings on the issues surrounding the devastating earthquakes suffered in Haiti recently. I've been poring over news stories, blogs written by folks well-versed in the complexities of International Adoption, and even some of the press releases from the State Dept. and offices at Customs and Immigration. I've gotten lots of questions from folks about "how to help those poor kids" and what we can DO besides send money. I don't even know what to say or where to start.

So, I'm sending you HERE.

(A bit of background for those of you who haven't been reading here long: next to Stefanie from Ni Hao Y'all, Tonggu Mommy is one of my favoritest rockstars in the world of International Adoption. You should read her blog, often. This post is super-informative, and many weeks I find tons of links and resources to help me understand more and more about the layers within the adoption community. Pretty frequently, I also find myself chuckling out loud over the hilarious stories and outrageous predicaments that find their way to her blog. All in a delightful, funny, sometimes sarcastic and even snarky tone. All in fun. All in great fun.)

But before you get hooked into all the fun stuff, seriously, head over HERE. It's really good stuff and if nothing else will help you understand the complex issues that the adoption program in Haiti is and will be facing in the months and even years to come.

It's a Good Speech

If you haven't heard about all the furor regarding the President's planned remarks for the public school students of America on Tuesday, Sept. 8th, you must have been vacationing at some lovely remote island for the last week! It's been crazy: our local paper is LIT UP with folks sounding off about the radical left and intolerant right and the "propaganda" and other such nonsense. I even jumped in to the conversation, speaking up for a parent's right to preview curriculum and be informed of content in advance. Boy, did that stir up some of the commenters! I can't believe how hateful and heated some members of our community have become.

If you haven't read the text of the speech yet, really, you must go here and read it for yourself. In my opinion, it's a fine speech. Our school district is recording it and giving parents the opportunity to review it for themselves. Some folks (without even previewing the speech, I might add!) are even planning to request that their students be allow alternate activities for the duration of the speech. I'm not bothered by any element of it enough that I'd remove my students from the assembly at school, but I am planning to talk with my kids about it around the dinner table on Wednesday night.

It's a good speech. And it will be an awesome opportunity to talk with my kids about why we work hard in school. And why we strive for excellence in all we do. And what a blessing free education in this great nation of ours really is. . . It's a good speech. You should read it. I'm glad I did.