______ makes me feel important.

I am the oldest of four children. Recently my mom remarried and now there are six of us kids in our family. Still, I am the oldest. Being a big sister to four sisters and a brother makes me feel important.
I have ten eyes looking at me at all times, watching my every move, waiting to see what comes next.
I have ten ears listening to me, hanging onto my every word, anxious to hear my thoughts.
I am an example of what to do and what not to do.
I am a role model whether I know it or not.
I am both the secret keeper and the one who they can’t tell anything to.
I’m the one to take advice from and the one who everyone does the opposite of.
It makes me feel important when Libi tells me about the boys she likes.
It makes me feel important when people compliment Shiri on her makeup and she tells them, ‘I learned from my sister’.
It makes me feel important when Alyssa asks me to sleep with her in her bed when I visit home.
It makes me feel important when Andrea runs into my arms when I walk in the room.
It makes me feel important when Jordan picks me up because he’s 16 and bigger than me.
My five younger siblings make me feel important because I am the oldest of six children, and I’m the big sister.

John Kerry in Israel

Please click here to see a video of John Kerry in Israel, speaking of the ongoing war between Palestinians and Israelis.

"[The visit] does not indicate any shift whatsoever with respect to Hamas... what it indicates is our effort to listen and to learn."

It's nice to know they're paying attention.

leadership

"Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving."

- Jesse Jackson, from his speech The Rainbow Coalition, 1984

Billion $$ bail out

so I'm curious to see what others feel about this bill that Obama passed today. If you haven't already heard details, please check out this link: $787 billion bailout.
I have had mixed feelings about such a large bail out from the beginning. Now it seems too late to weigh the pro's and con's...but I would like to hear what you think. Is this a good step for America or is this something we'll look back on and regret?

A new day has come

Today marked a historic day for American history as we all know. This day held so many different meanings for so many people. While watching the inauguration on ABC today I saw the tears fall from so many eyes, the smiles, the look of hope and excitement upon the faces of such different walks of life. Old and young gathered to watch this history take place. Black and white. American and not.

As a critic of rhetoric, I watched in anticipation of what Obama would say in his first speech as our President. As a Republican, I had reservations as to what this day meant. As a conservative, I held uncertainty within me. As a citizen, I was giddy with the excitement of the history that I was watching. But as an American, I now have a hope that brings with it a peace and sense of serenity in the fact that our president will serve his country with a passion that has been lacking for some time now. The "energy" that was talked about so frequently by the reporters today is infectious and I hope it won't die out, but I hope that energy turns into drive and that produces action which in turn will bring results for our economy, our education, and for Israel. I hope to see those three things that are dear to my heart thrive in the presidency of Barack Obama.

I did not vote for you, Obama, and I will not so boldly use the words John McCain stated in his concession speech, for I will only serve my Lord, but I support you, and my prayers are with you.

Bahamas Christmas Cruise

So for the first Cottrill/Halperin Christmas together, Mom and Alan took us on a cruise to the Bahamas:

8 people
4 rooms
3 nights
1 long dining room table
snorkeling excursion
swimming with dolphins
3 sit-down dinners
too many meals to count :)
1 book
2 glasses of wine
rum punch while sailing across the clear blue ocean
2 cameras
lots of pictures, here's a few to share:

Merry Christmas to all!
And Happy Chanukah ;)

election fears

As today is Election Day, I am giddy in anticipation of the results that will show tonight who the president of the United States will be for the next four years. I had a difficult time coming to my decision in this election. I was excited that it was my first election I was able to vote in, but at the same time, I was frustrated and almost disappointed in the fact that this was what I was given. I didn't like either candidate. I was overwhelmed with a decision I felt unable to make.

In the early stages of their campaigns, I was very fond of Obama. Like everyone else, I got sucked in by his inspirational pleas for "hope" and for "change". Yes, I believe that America needs hope and a change. But do I think Obama will bring that? No, I really don't. I believe that the same people ultimately make the decisions for this country regardless of who's in office, and that what we have seen in the past eight years unfold in our country is no doubt a plea for a change and whether Obama or McCain are in office, we will see a change.

This election is monumental! Not just because we could have the first black president, or the oldest president, or the first female vice president - yes, all those things are great, no matter who they are, but I feel that this is a monumental election for more than those reasons alone.

This election is a call to action - not just to vote for the sake of voting and getting a cute little sticker and a free cup of coffee from Starbucks. This is so much more! I'm not doing any name calling here or accusing anyone of anything, however I feel that this is a crucial time for individuals to be able to test their ability to do some really strong character judgment.

Are we voting for someone or something?
Are we voting for a thought or a plan?
Are we voting for a man or an idea?

Upon coming to my realization that McCain stood up for the things that I felt most important, and realizing he can bring a change that Obama talks about without cease...I quickly realized that Obama was not my choice for president. To this day, election day 2008, I still get goosebumps when I hear Obama speak. I still think he is inspirational and definitely can get a crowd going. But that alone cannot lead a country.

And today it hit me...what if Obama does win the presidency? What if the majority of the American people have gotten swallowed up by that tone of change and hope? I am just now considering that even though I cast my first vote ever, I may not get what I want just because I voted. And just because there are record breaking amounts of people voting this election, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are voting for the same person I am.

So I am praying today that the American people who have so graciously voiced their opinion in one of the most memorable elections in America's history have followed their hearts and their guts and that God's sovereignty will blanket this country tonight as the polls reveal our future.