A Time of Transition

Ever since the conclusion of the general election last week, I have sat back and made many observations and inferences. Here are a few:

1. For the first time in 3 elections, we knew on election night who our next President was going to be. The people have spoken, and now we are tasked with supporting our new leader as he leads us through these uncertain times.

2. Thank God we don't have to watch anymore political advertisments, or screen phone calls for automated messages, or sift through junk political campaign mail!

3. My son actually said, "My name is E, and I approved this message" at breakfast this morning when reporting to me the summary of a paragraph he'd just read from a magazine. Too funny!

4. I dealt with several incidents of "hate" speech and opinion last week at school. I found myself advising these teens to watch what they say. As I with my Sunday School kids yesterday, this came up and I found they have been hearing racially motivated slurs at their schools too. I thought we were past this!

5. We are getting a new Pool complex! We can't wait!

6. I consider my political leanings to be toward the conservative side, however, I vote my conscience on candidates and issues. S and I sat down and discussed the outcome of the election, and we are excited to see what unfolds over the next few years. Mr. Obama is a very dynamic, passionate man with many great ideas. Lets just hope he can work with all sides of the political establishment, and they with him, so we can move past the problems our country is facing right now.

7. I am very proud that I got to see a minority become President in my lifetime. If you'd ask me 10 years ago if this would have happened, I probably would have said no. This was and is historic.

8. I pray for the Secret Service. They protect the physical welfare of the President and his family. Unfortunately, there are still racially hate motivated psychos out there. The Secret Service has a whole new dynamic to deal with that they have never dealt with before.

9. I also pray for President Bush. Despite the success' and failures' of his 8 years in office. He was tasked with leading our country through some tremendous challenges. I believe he truly acted in a way he felt was best for all of us and the world. "Thank you, President Bush and I wish you are peaceful and relaxing retirement".

10. I also pray for our oversees military and the stability of the Middle East. There is still work to be done. Hopefully, they get the chance to do it.