New Day

I'm ready for Christmas, how about you? I'm just saying. While all the election returns were coming in last night I was teaching these two pages in a class at Keepsakes by Design.

Thank you to the ladies who were there. This class was sold out, with a waiting list. That is a thrill to this teacher!

I left the class, turned on the radio in my truck and came quickly to understand it is a new day in our country's history. A new era.

Now, I fully and proudly admit, I voted for John McCain. I simply agree with him on policy much more than I do with Obama. But, that was not the consensus of the American people. So, here we are.

And, frankly, although it was not the outcome I hoped and prayed for on policy, there is a huge part of my heart that finds something to celebrate.

You see, I remember a time when an African American in the highest office of the land was impossible to consider. At 43, I am not that old, yet I can say that in my lifetime things have changed greatly, and for the better in race relations, and the election of Obama is evidence of that.

I remember less than a decade ago it was remarkable to have a black man as Secretary of State, and a Hispanic man as Attorney General. These steps are important in the development of freedom in our country.

We still have attitudes of prejudice based on race and ethnicity in our culture, but we can be assured that we are making progress. That progress is something worth celebrating, no matter what policies I would rather have in place regarding economics, abortion and international affairs.

As John McCain gave his concession speech I was driving home from teaching a class at the scrapbooking store in a wicked snow storm. Not able to go more than 15 miles an hour, the driving was intense. But, I was still struck with how much class John McCain has, how gracious his speech was, and how his love for this country shines through even in what must have been an hour of great disappointment for him.

I also listened to Obama's acceptance speech. It was history in the making and I felt obligated because of that. He, as an individual, scares me. And what it indicates about our country that he was elected also scares me.

Yep, I admit it. Not because of his race. Not because of how he was raised.

But because of his stance on abortion. Because of his liberal policies to "redistribute" wealth. Because of his inexperience in making executive decisions under pressure. Because of what I view as a naive view of international affairs. Because of . . . . oh so much more.

But still, I am proud of our country's progress that his ethnicity did not keep him out of office.

A new day. I pray it will be a good one.