"You were always on my mind"

I didn't have a chance to write over the last few days. The girls' leader training was great over the weekend, but it is hard to start into the week without the weekend to "organize" everything. RKZ is the biggest help and so great to sacrifice his weekend for me and for Challenge as well.

Monday, Clemmie and her mom returned from Toronto and Buck and I spent some time at the park with them. Clemmie was literally screaming with happiness to see Buck. He was a little less obvious in his enthusiasm (he has a strange "shy" thing when people are too excited). But he was very happy to see his friend again. Tues was a meeting day - to review the leaders' training and discuss the next event - a retreat for girls 11 - 14.

So - with these pre-planned events, it was difficult to write about the important things happening in our world. 1st, my sister-in-law, Hoonka, who is 36 weeks pregnant, had mysterious pains and spent the night in the hospital over the last 2 nights. At first, we were all afraid that it was apendicities and that the doctors would need to remove both it and the baby (who was measured at 2 1/2 lbs only in utero). But, after an entire night of tests, they discovered that it was a strained muscle, which was difficult to diagnose due to the pregnancy. Very scary, but fine now.

Secondly, I wanted to post some pictures to just keep in mind the sacrifices being made in Iraq. It's such a divisive war, but that doesn't change the fact that people are giving their lives to help bring democracy to that crazy country.

[Borderline Political stuff next. Please skip if you are not interested :)]

I wanted to quickly comment on the General Petraeus testimony. I think it's great that the General has recommended a pull-out of the surge troops by August. I think that the American soldiers over in Iraq are doing a tremendous job, and it's great that many of them will be able to come home. Watching the news from here in Calgary, I am amazed at how partisan the decisions around Iraq have become. I am especially amazed (I watched the General's testimony) that people (Congressmen and women) are questioning the findings of the man who lives Iraq everyday (as well as the Ambassador). I guess it's growing up in a military family that I tend to trust that this man who is responsible for all of the lives of his soldiers wants what is best for them. I think it is especially sad that the General needed to stress numerous times that he wrote his own testimony - and that it wasn't written by some puppetmaster. I also think that the general American public needs to educate itself on the situation in Iraq better (as much as it can). I was not in favor of attacking Iraq in the first place (but I do think we should bomb the heck out of wherever we think Osama bin laden is hiding), but now that we're there, we need to take a responsible approach to how we leave the country - I especially liked how the Ambassador used the example that our own country didn't just become a democracy overnight. Also, there is the scary possibility that crazy Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will just "annex" Iraq if the US leaves. Uhhh...have you seen this man on tv? He's not what I'd call a "big fan" of the US. (and not just our president. Don't kid yourself).

In conclusion (ha), I just think Iraq is much more complicated than anyone wants to believe it is. I wish we weren't there. I wish the entire thing was over. But it's not going away - even if everyone just wishes we could "end" it. And we have to be adult in our response to all of those people - American or not.

Tirade ended. Thank you for humoring a woman who hangs out with a 2 year old all day.