My thoughts on the elections

~I did not write the following letter but I feel that the gentleman who wrote this letter described my thoughts so well, I wanted to share it in our blog, Enjoy.~

IT'S A LETTER FROM A U.S. CITIZEN... WHO LIVES IN ILLINOIS ... AND OBVIOUSLY IS A "SELF-THINKER"... NOT JUST A "FOLLOWER"!!!

Dear Friends:

My name is Joe Porter. I live in Champaign, Illinois . I'm 46 years old, a husband, a father, a small business owner, a veteran, and a homeowner. I don't consider myself to be either conservative or liberal, and I vote for the person, not Republican or Democrat. I don't believe there are "two Americas " but that every person in this country can be whomever and whatever they want to be if they'll just work to get there and nowhere else on earth can they find such opportunities. I believe our government should help those who are legitimately downtrodden, and should always put the interests of America first.

The purpose of this message is that I'm concerned about the future of this great nation. I'm worried that the silent majority of honest, hard-working, tax-paying people in this country have been passive for too long. Most folks I know choose not to involve themselves in politics. They go about their daily lives, paying their bills, raising their kids, and doing what they can to maintain the good life. They vote and consider doing so to be a sacred trust. They shake their heads at the political pundits and so-called "news", thinking that what they hear is always spun by whomever is reporting it. They can't understand how elected officials can regularly violate the public trust with pork barrel spending. They don't want government handouts. They want the government to protect them, not raise their taxes for more government programs.

We are in the unique position in this country of electing our leaders. It's a privilege to do so. I've never found a candidate in any election with whom I agreed on everything. I'll wager that most of us don't even agree with our families or spouses 100% of the time. So when I step into that voting booth, I always try to look at the big picture and cast my vote for the man or woman who is best qualified for the job. I've hired a lot of people in my lifetime, and essentially that's what an election is - a hiring process. Who has the credentials? Whom do I want working for me? Whom can I trust to do the job right?

I'm concerned that a growing number of voters in this country simply don't get it. They are caught up in a fervor they can't explain, and calling it "change".

"Change what?", I ask.

"Well, we're going to change America ", they say.

"In what way?", I query.

"We want someone new and fresh in the White House", they exclaim.

"So, someone who's not a politician?", I say.

"Uh, well, no, we just want a lot of stuff changed, so we're voting for Obama", they state.

"So the current system, the system of freedom and democracy that has enabled a man to grow up in this great country, get a fine education, raise incredible amounts of money and dominate the news, and win his party's nomination for the White House that system's all wrong?"

"No, no, that part of the system's okay we just need a lot of change."

And so it goes. "Change we can believe in."

Quite frankly, I don't believe that vague proclamations of change hold any promise for me. In recent months, I've been asking virtually everyone I encounter how they're voting. I live in Illinois , so most folks tell me they're voting for Barack Obama. But no one can really tell me why only that he's going to change a lot of stuff "Change, change, change." I have yet to find one single person who can tell me distinctly and convincingly why this man is qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful nation on earth other than the fact that he claims he's going to implement a lot of change.

We've all seen the emails about Obama's genealogy, his upbringing, his Muslim background, and his church affiliations. Let's ignore this for a moment. Put it all aside. Then ask yourself, "What qualifies this man to be my president? That he's a brilliant orator and talks about change?"

CHANGE WHAT?

Friends, I'll be forthright with you I believe the American voters who are supporting Barack Obama don't have a clue what they're doing, as evidenced by the fact that not one of them - NOT ONE of them I've spoken to can spell out his qualifications. Not even the most liberal media can explain why he should be elected. Political experience? Negligible. Foreign relations? Non-existent. Achievements? Name one. Someone who wants to unite the country? If you haven't read his wife's thesis from Princeton , look it up on the web. This is who's lining up to be our next First Lady? The only thing I can glean from Obama's constant harping about change is that we're in for a lot of new taxes.

For me, the choice is clear. I've looked carefully at the two leading applicants for the job, and I've made my choice.

Here's a question - "Where were you five and a half years ago? Around Christmas, 2002. You've had five or six birthdays in that time. My son has grown from a sixth grade child to a high school graduate. Five and a half years is a good chunk of time. About 2,000 days. 2,000 nights of sleep. 6, 000 meals, give or take."

John McCain spent that amount of time, from 1967 to 1973, in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp.

When offered early release, he refused it. He considered this offer to be a public relations stunt by his captors, and insisted that those held longer than he should be released first. Did you get that part? He was offered his freedom, and he turned it down. A regimen of beatings and torture began.

Do you possess such strength of character? Locked in a filthy cell in a foreign country, would you turn down your own freedom in favor of your fellow man? I submit that's a quality of character that is rarely found, and for me, this singular act defines John McCain.

Unlike several presidential candidates in recent years whose military service is questionable or non-existent, you will not find anyone to denigrate the integrity and moral courage of this man. A graduate of Annapolis, during his Naval service he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. His own son is now serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq . Barack Obama is fond of saying "We honor John McCain's service...BUT...", which to me is condescending and offensive - because what I hear is, "Let's forget this man's sacrifice for his country, and his proven leadership abilities, and talk some more about change."

I don't agree with John McCain on everything - but I am utterly convinced that he is qualified to be our next President, and I trust him to do what's right. I know in my heart that he has the best interests of our country in mind. He doesn't simply want to be President - he wants to lead America , and there's a huge difference. Factually, there is simply no comparison between the two candidates. A man of questionable background and motives who prattles on about change, can't hold a candle to a man who has devoted his life in public service to this nation, retiring from the Navy in1981 and elected to the Senate in1982.

Perhaps Obama's supporters are taking a stance between old and new. Maybe they don't care about McCain's service or his strength of character, or his unblemished qualifications to be President. Maybe "likeability" is a higher priority for them than "trust". Being a prisoner of war is not what qualifies John McCain to be President of the United States of America - but his demonstrated leadership certainly DOES.

Dear friends, it is time for us to stand. It is time for thinking Americans to say, "Enough." It is time for people of all parties to stop following the party line. It is time for anyone who wants to keep America first, who wants the right man leading their nation, to start a dialogue with all their friends and neighbors and ask who they're voting for, and why.

There's a lot of evil in this world. That should be readily apparent to all of us by now. And when faced with that evil as we are now, I want a man who knows the cost of war on his troops and on his citizens. I want a man who puts my family's interests before any foreign country.

I want a President who's qualified to lead.

I want my country back, and I'm voting for John McCain.

Phone: 760.434.1395

E-mail: ronald.hess@alumni.purdue.edu

Our trip to Oceanside California (San Diego)

When we arrived in Oceanside California, the kids were so excited they could hardly breath. It was after 6pm, only about 67 degrees, 12 hours on the road and we still had not eaten dinner, but there was nothing that was going to keep them from the ocean they have waited five months to enjoy. They quickly changed into their swim suits and did not stop tell we made them come in after dark to eat dinner around 9pm.

Kolby literally spent hours every day practicing his surfing skills.

Adrienn and Hanna looking for treasures

This is the peer near our beach house and the only way to get to dinner at Ruby's diner which sat right at the end of the peer. Absolutely breathtaking.

View of the beach from the peer

Ruby's diner at the end of the peer. Aaron and I walked the peer one night (just the two of us) and got to watch a guy catch a shark. It was so amazing to see something so beautiful up close. We quickly left before they ended it's life.

Grandma enjoying some sun! sooo cute!

On our way to the peer for dinner we stopped at the park to feed the squirrels. There were hundreds of them all over and not afraid to walk right up to your hands. Apparently they like sunflower seeds.

Grandpa Olsen, Shaye and Adrienn looking for sea shells.

We played volleyball every night, yes, even I did but of course I'm the one taking all the pictures so you won't find me here. If you sense some hostility on this issue, your right. Sorry you have to hear about it.

After a long day on the beach (about 11 hours) we went to dinner at Ruby's diner on the peer. Everyone was a little exhausted to say the least.
Shaye some how managed to smile, the poor girls couldn't pull it off.

Hanna and Adrienn - Cousins and Best Friends

My sweet Adrienn. She insisted on bringing her "white" dress on our trip just so she could walk the beach in it, I managed to talk her out of bringing her white umbrella with lace. She reminds me SO much of Sharon.

Kolby feeding the squirrels.

This little one way road was the only thing that divided our beach house from the beach.
Notice the peer in the background

We sat around this little fire every evening to talk.

Shaye was always running from the camera.

Adrienn and Hanna walking the beach. I wish I knew what they were thinking!

Shaye fit in well in California

Grandpa Olsen and Ed

Shaye found that he loves vollyball especially on the beach.

Kolby and Dad running from the waves. I made the mistake of messing with the different features on my new digital camera and ended up with half our photos turning out blue.

The peer seemed to go on forever

The kids could not wait to get out on the beach every morning.

Everyone teamed up to turn Kolby and Shaye into sea creatures.

Hanna (cousin), Shaye, and Kolby.
Before the night was over, everyone had a bag full of sea shells.

Grandpa Olsen and Adrienn collecting sea shells together when we first arrived

Kolby got to enjoy cuddling with Grandma every morning while she had her morning coffee.

Shaye and Kolby ran in their very first one mile marathon the first weekend in June.
Aaron walked behind them and I waited at the finish line.
Shaye was one of the very first to cross the line in less then 4 minutes and informed me that it was so easy that he wants to run in the 5K "with mom" next year. Hmmm, sounds like a challenge I just might take on even though I've never been a runner. We'll see.

My boys enjoying a Popsicle after finishing the race.

Enjoying some shade from the heat.

My Baby Kolby graduated from Kindergarten on May 30Th, 2008

He even got to stand next to his best friend Joee

Shaye went back to class to sign year books with his friends before we could take a family picture, so here is the four of us.

My baby girl in her Dance Competitions...

Adrienn performing a jazz dance at a recent
dance competition in Salt Lake City

There she is...

Adrienn performing her ballet dance at the competition. They took 2nd place and her dance studio took home 22 out of the 27 trophy's given that day.

Update

My first attempt at snowshoeing this year. We went about every other week and each time there were about 9-15 of us. This picture was taken on a cliff, literally, after we climbed an Ogden mountain to the Ogden overlook. You can see the lights of Ogden City behind us. Beautiful and worth it but one of the hardest hikes I have been on in my life.




Kolby attempted to cross the monkey bars at school with his winter gloves on, of course when he slipped, there was ice below that prevented him from landing on his feet. Am I surprised that my brave, fearless Kolby broke a bone at only five years old? NO!

Kolby & President Bush! :)

My "sisters" out for a birthday dinner.
Happy Birthday Rebecca!











This winter was one of the best winters we've had in a long time. We went sledding more times than I could count! That's my babies Adrienn and Shaye.












The view from my bedroom deck. I love how every sunset is so unique.










To say I am a proud Mother is hardly the words to describe how grateful I am that my children are so driven to succeed. Shaye made it to the district spelling bee again this year after competing against the 5Th-7Th graders at LCA. He was one of the top winners in the district and went on to the state spelling bee. He didn't make it to Washington D.C. but I am so proud he got this far.







The stage where the spellers waited their turn at the microphone.









Our baby girl Sidney! 10 1/2 years old. We were told two weeks ago that she has cancer and was given possibly only a few weeks to live. :( We are grateful for each day we still have her but are so heartbroken to lose her. Shaye asked me if God could heal her and make the cancer go away. I want him to know that God still heals and answers prayer, I want my Children's faith to be so strong that they never doubt what God can do...I don't think my answer was very clear due to my loss for words.




Our other baby girl Serengetti, Sidney's daughter. My heart is also sad for how hard she is going to take not having her mom around. They are practically attached at the hip.











Our front yard on a day we got over two feet of snow within about twelve hours. I shoveled three times that day. That's my truck that got me through this crazy winter! Looooove IT!!! :)