To all you real gentlemen out there, I beg your pardon as I say, my woman Hillary is busting Barack Obama's balls tonight at Cleveland State University! She is calm. She is detailed. She is firm. The woman should not be counted out by a 46 year old Barack who has not been where she has been. I don't give a damn about the twist the media will place on this debate. She is a woman and has been treated unfairly by the media; as women often are. I am watching this program and I know what I am hearing from her. I do not need the news people to tell me something I didn't hear; as they have been doing all along during this campaign between the two. I feel so much better having said this. Thank you.

Our foster daughters whom I have shared pictures of here, and talked with you about here, are preparing to say goodby to their biological parents for awhile. I won't go into detail about the girls' parents or how they related with Sam and myself through the years. It wouldn't be fair. But, I'll tell you this much. They are involved in MUCH for their religious beliefs, and presently they're on their way to Africa to rebuild churches in Sierra Leone.

I went to bed thinking about the girls last night. I woke up thinking about them this morning. I know in my heart they are concerned for their parents. I know they are worried. My heart is with them and I feel with them. I can't get it off my mind; the fact that by Friday their parents will be on a plane heading for Africa to serve there for a 3-year period of time.

The oldest of our foster girls has a baby; D. is almost 2 years of age. Steph is not married, and she's managing her life with her child. Her child's father is a good fellow, and is very involved. She lives about 15 minutes or so from her sister. Victoria is managing her life as well. She is working a couple jobs to pay rent in an apartment north of us by 26 miles. There's another of the sisters who lives with her husband in California. She was never involved in the foster care process. I met and spent time with J. when she came to my house to visit Victoria one day while she was home with her parents for a visit. I've also spoken with J. at length by phone once.

My heart aches for the girls much more than I can describe here. They know we love them and that we are here for them always. They are determined to work on their lives on their terms, and in one way I am amazed at their strength. In another, I am frustrated with their pride; a pride their mother and father taught them well. A pride that can lead to huge falls, over and over again in this life. I pray for their well being and I believe in them. They are smart and can handle themselves in many ways. I live with hope that they will make good decisions for themselves and that they don't cry alone; as on they go.

Yes, my heart aches. Victoria just recently made contact with her parents again. She needed to close a chapter on the destructive way she was feeling about them. She has done that. And now they are leaving her to attend to something they truely believe in; another world from here.

We were not perfect parents by any stretch of the imagination. But, the girls knew we loved them. They know this now. I hope the knowing alone helps them cope in some way.

All I can do is be here. All I can do is be here for them.