Today is the day

Dear K and J,

I have started so many posts trying to express to you the feeling I have regarding this year's election. All of them come up short; it is difficult to put some things into words. But today, I will finish the post I started back in November.

In a couple of hours, Mr. Obama will officially become our 44th President. He has inspired millions of people to take charge of not only their lives, but their families, neighborhoods, communities, and government. He is just a man, no better or worse than any other man. But he has chosen to embark on a journey that will change the lives of all of us. He has chosen to be "the one" to steer our country in a new direction. With his decision, he is sacrificing more than any of us can imagine.

He is a Daddy, and just like your Daddy, I believe his first and last thoughts of every day are about his two kids and how much he loves them. I believe that he will think of how his decisions will impact his girls and their future. I believe that Mrs. Obama prays for the health and happiness of her family every night just as your mommy does. And just like your mommy and daddy, they will make mistakes. They will likely make big mistakes. But I believe they will take responsibility for the mistakes they make and will do their best to learn from them.

He is inheriting a list of problems that Mommy can not begin to describe. They are problems we have all had a part in and we all need to take part in finding the solutions. That is our job as Americans. We need to help each other and take care of each other and notice the similarities in each other, rather than focusing on the differences.

Millions of people are in the streets of Washington. They are from all walks of life. They are standing out there in the cold, so excited to witness this historic day. And millions more of us are in our homes and offices, watching it all unfold on television.

I know you will read about this time in your history books. I know you will ask me and Daddy about it. I hope that we still feel as inspired and focused as we do today. I am so grateful that our country will be a better place for you. When he makes his speech in a few hours, I know he will remind us that this day is much less about him, and much more about YOU. And me. And all of us. Together.