New Baby in the House

My friend, Elizabeth and her husband, Dave, had their first child on Monday night. Elizabeth had similar problems to to her sister, Katie, and so also ended up having a C-section. But the best part is, both mom and baby girl are doing well!!! After several days of deliberation, a name was finally chosen: Elodie Ann House. In case you are wondering, the first name is pronounced like melody but without the m. Lovely, lovely. I can't wait to meet her, which should happen in early August. Yippee!

Democrats and "Faith"

I read an transcript from a Presidential Forum on Faith that included the upcoming 3 Democratic candidates (Edwards, Obama and Clinton). It was enlightenling and darkening at the same time. I had no idea what their relationships with God were like. Now I at least have an inkling. However, it wasn't really possible to compare the candidates because they were each given different questions. I would have been curious to see how they answered some of the same questions (I think poverty might have been addressed by all three candidates in some way - I favored Osama's answer because he tied the issue to education, which I think is key. Educated people tend to be more thoughtful and careful in their actions because they have a broader understanding of the world around them. Nonetheless -You know, I am going to say a little more in this parathetical moment because I can- when people talk about poverty and homeless, I don't know if they realize that there are some people -many of those I meet regularly in the homeless shelter- that are not mentally capable of getting themselves out of being homeless or keeping a job. For whatever reason -perhaps through their own fault but I don't think that should matter- they are regular residents of the homeless shelter and seem to be incapable of keeping a job. How do we help these people? I'm not even sure). Anyway, I am glad to have read the transcript since I am not a Republican or Democrat but I would like to have an understanding of both sides' perspectives. I agree with each in some ways and vehemently disgree in others. Thus, it can feel like when I vote that it is a lose-lose situation because I am never truly represented by my vote.

November 2008 is still some time away. Good to be up on the news but not necessary to have a decision made yet. (Okay, since this isn't the most elegant or thought-out posting, I suppose my opinions could change tomorrow but so it goes...)