This Was Going to be a Different Post.

I'm not doing Almost Silent Sunday this week. I might put photos up later this week to compensate. This was going to be a different post. About accepting the things in others we don't care for and all of that. However, I'm making it short and sweet. I may come back later today, or wait until after midnight, and do the accepting post.

Right now, we have 1000's of troops deployed overseas. There just isn't anything to be done about that. I don't support the decisions of those in charge to send our troops out there. I think they were VERY misplaced. That being said, I DO support our troops. They are giving themselves to do what so many of us don't want to do, don't even want to think about. They are sacrificing their home lives, and some times even their physical lives, to go over, where they are told, and do a job that they have been told needs to be done.

All of these soldiers need our love and support. They need to know they are appreciated and cared for. Some of them don't have anyone sending them letters and emails and care packages. Why that is, I don't know.

For quite some time, I have been trying to find a way to match up with a soldier to show my support. To send those letters and emails and care packages. To let them know they are loved and cared for and very much appreciated for what they are doing. I finally found the place to do it.

Adopt a U.S. Soldier is what I found. They paired me up with a soldier by the name of Diana. I'll be sending her a letter later this week. I'm going to have the kids draw some pics of what they think soldiers do. I'll send a care package once a month.

According to the site, there usually isn't an overabundance of soldiers, however there is RIGHT NOW. Please, go to the site and sign up. Show our troops that they have the support, love, respect, and care of those they serve. After all, they are serving us. They signed up to keep our country free. No matter if you agree with where those troops are sent, they are doing it of their own free will. Our military is 100% voluntary. Show those men and women you appreciate the sacrifices they are making for us. Show them that you care.

Prayers and blessings everyone. Enjoy your freedoms. Show your support.

Thankful Thursday a little late

I know that technically it's now Friday, however I'M still on Thursday, so Thankful Thursday it is.

Today I'm thankful I'm an American. I know you don't hear that often any more. And no, it's not just because of Senator Obama's speech earlier tonight, though that is part of it. Let me explain.

Here I was, born in to a country where I can go where I please, without a guardian or chaperone. I can wear what I choose. I can cut my hair without the permission of someone else and know that if it upsets them it really doesn't matter. I can drive a car. I can have a job. I can cuss and have sex and read and write whatever the hell I want. I can marry who I want, I can screw who I want, I can have as many, or as few children as I want. I can believe what I want, I can vote how I want. As a woman, being able to vote is a blessing too.

Here I am, in a country that made history today, at least for us. We bucked tradition and went completely against the grain, as Americans have done since we began way back forever ago with George Washington and Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, and all those other "founding fathers". As America did when the first pilgrims landed. I'm not saying that we haven't made mistakes. There are plenty of things to hang our heads in shame about in our history. As there is in every country's history. However, we started out bucking the system. We said "Hey, I don't like that, I'm gonna try something different" and away we went!

This election marks for an amazing change and buck to the system of how things have been done. As of now, whether Senator Obama wins or loses this election, it truly DOES mean that ANY little boy or ANY little girl who dreams of one day becoming the President of the United States CAN attain that. And for that, I am thankful.

Why is that so important? Think about it.

By the way, yes this is a VERY American post. I am an American and I'm proud of that fact. And if you aren't, I'm sure you are proud of where you are, so at least you can understand my pride, even if you disagree with me.

I digress. Why is it so important that that one man, that very particular man, has been nominated the Democratic contender for the biggest and bestest (I KNOW it's not a word, I don't care) job, the one that EVERY kid dreams of, either of meeting that person or BEING that person?

Because he's black. OOOH, I've gone and done it now. I made it about "race". He's not only "just" black, he was "poor black" from the south side of Chicago. I lived in Chicago. I KNOW first hand what the south side is like, and trust me, that boy that has become that man faced outstanding odds AGAINST him to be where he is standing today. I'm thankful for that boy's family who wouldn't stop, who wouldn't stop pushing that boy up, who wouldn't let the "odds" hold them down. I'm thankful for them pushing that boy so he can be so much more than he was "slated" to be, teaching him the courage and stamina and strength to stand up and say "I WILL" instead of sitting down and saying "I CAN'T" as so many young ones do. That boy became that man who stood up there before 84,000 people today and said "I WILL". And for that I am thankful.

I don't know who I'm voting for in the fall. When November 4 comes around, I'll have a good idea. It might be Obama, it might be McCain. I've got to see who McCain chooses for V.P. and I've got to keep my eye on the debates and McCain's own speach next week and in general how things unfold. I won't have made up my mind firmily until about Nov. 1. I know, I suck like that.

However, that one man made history today. He opened so many doors for so many people just by standing up there today and saying "I WILL" and for that, I am thinkful. He reminded me that being an American is GOOD and my country is GOOD and worth having pride in and worth standing up for myself and saying "I WILL". Even if you disagree with what he says, even if you disagree with his policies or his voting record or the number of zeros in his bank account, he made it a reality that America IS the Land of Hopes and Dreams and that every little boy, every little girl, no matter the odds, has the right, deserves the right, to follow them all the way through. And for that, I am thankful.