Congratulations! You've just won a new president!

D and I tuned into the inauguration today thanks to CNN.com. I hadn't even thought about it till I saw a link on facebook, and tuned in just about 30 mins before the oaths. I'm glad I got to watch it, and though D will have no conscious recollection of this day I'm glad he was able to see and hear it, too. Listening to Obama deliver his speech was truly inspirational. I kept finding myself thinking, "Yes. Yes! YES!" to what he was saying. How great to have a president who can deliver speeches well and sound inspirational.

I have to say, though, I was pretty surprised at all the prayer in the ceremony. This is the first inauguration ceremony that I've really watched, and when Rick Warren got up there and started praying, I was shocked. My exact thoughts were, "Wait, what? You can pray during the inauguration?? All this stuff about no prayer in schools, and we're praying during the inauguration of our president??" I am by no means anti-christian nor anti-God, but I couldn't help but laugh a bit at the irony of it all, and also think of all the non-christian Americans watching who probably felt a bit slighted in that moment.

And now, we shall see. I think many of us have been waiting on bated breath, wondering what sort of changes will come about once Obama became president. Yes, I'm hoping he himself makes much-needed changes of things over which he has power. But I also think his presence in office might act as a breath of fresh air throughout our country, that people are feeling more motivated and hopeful now, and that this will help bring about change, also. Because while there are many things that the president and government can do, many of the most significant changes need to come from The People. And that would be, us. So let's get to it, shall we? ; )