Eight Years Ago...

Eight years ago today I was in a Boise hospital. I was watching my wife go through something painful that would change our lives. Our oldest son Gabe was born. It is hard to believe that eight years have passed. He has grown into such a strong, intelligent, helpful and loving son. This weekend will be pretty big for him and our family. Tonight is Gabe's first Pinewood Derby, he will get baptized tomorrow and have a birthday party.

Happy Birthday Gabe!

Response fromt the field...

Here is an article from Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan with response from the troops.
My favorite quote "I am here, I am defending my country, and I am watching history being made,". So true.

From correspondents in Camp Phoenix | January 21, 2009

Article from: Agence France-Presse

THERE were cheers, whoops of joy and loud applause at US military bases in Afghanistan today as soldiers welcomed in their new commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama.

Soldiers at Camp Phoenix, a mainly US base on the outskirts of Kabul, stood to attention as they watched a live television transmission of Mr Obama take the oath in Washington.

"It's a proud moment for us," said Brigadier General Steven Huber, commander of the base, where many of the soldiers hail from Illinois, also Mr Obama's home state.

"He is our new commander-in-chief and we will serve him with honour," he said. Live feeds of the ceremony were watched at other bases across Afghanistan - where roughly 32,000 US soldiers lead an international effort to fight a Taliban-led insurgency and rebuild the local security forces.

"To see a black man become commander-in-chief - some people thought it would never happen," said Sergeant Mike Byrd, himself an African-American.

"Now it has happened and that brings loads of joy, the beginning of hope," he said in a large dining hall at Camp Phoenix filled with uniformed men and women, some with guns in holsters or resting in racks, gathered for the event.

"I have family members in tears of joy at this moment," he said.

Moments before the inauguration ceremony, a large cake in honour of the new president was sliced and handed out in front of a small replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Master Sergeant David Nichols said it felt right for him to be watching the inauguration in Afghanistan.

"I am here, I am defending my country, and I am watching history being made," he said.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24941966-12335,00.html

Mr. President

Today we, as Americans were part of history. The 44th President of the United States was inaugurated. The peaceful transfer of power happens again in the world's oldest democracy. Whether a person voted for Mr. Obama or not now is the time to rally behind our new President just as our nation had rallied around Presidents in the past. The time is here for us to embrace our legacy and strengthen our nation with our desire and conviction in the precepts that have kept our nation throughout the years.

Congratulations Mr. President. Time to get to work. (FYI- after being sworn in, before the parade, President Obama went to the Oval Office to get some work done. (source:NPR))

My view…

We have some new neighbors that are sprucing up their new place. The city of Boise purchased a building behind us that they are going to use the location for police and fire services.

Among all the things they have to update at the property is build a wall. So for the past few months they have been working on getting this wall in place. I am assuming that they will top it with razor wire as they do at other police locations.

Between the trains that come through regularly and the construction behind us it can get pretty noisy. I hope they are completed before I need crack open my window this spring.