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November 30, 2008

[ i think i found one... ]

I think I found a sewing machine:

it's a Brother XL-3750 and on sale at Target this week for $99. It has great reviews and the price is right. Now I just need to find a class to take so I can learn how to use it! I have big ideas rolling around my head (visions of aprons, bags, quilts, table runners, oh my!) - but they won't materialize if I don't know how to use it!!

I've been checking out these websites:

and more...


and I want to make this key fob first - do you think it would be hard to make?

and then this coffee cup holder:

and then when I get real good, these:


I also just bought the buttons to make this:

The lady that made the red one (I found from twopeasinabucket.com) said it took over 500 buttons. Whoa. I really really like the pink and green one - but I bought red buttons, so we'll see.

This week is pretty low-key...

Monday-Junior Miss Meeting @ 5:30pm
Tuesday - Taking a 1/2 day off for a eye dr. appt!
Wednesday - Youth Group
Thursday - Kate & I are going to visit Christine & Kutter!
Friday - WEEKEND!
Saturday - Jessica's birthday surprise day in Spokane!!
Sunday - celebrate my birthday with the family (hopefully at PF Changs!)

I didn't get any presents wrapped - but I did complete a double scrapbook page of Cody and Jani Montizaan's wedding. I really like how it turned out - I'll have to take a picture and post it. I've made quite a few scrapbook pages that I haven't posted...I'll have to get on that.

Have a great December 1st! :) LOVE December!

November 29, 2008

{ sewing machine }

ok, ever since I went to the Craft Warehouse Open House, I want a Sewing Machine! I've spent HOURS online looking at reviews, message boards, etc. until I'm cross-eyed. The one I have my eye on is a Brother CS-6000I (I found it on amazon.com).

I'm afraid I'm going to make the wrong decision...I have no idea what to look for since I have never sewn before in my life.
Surely I have blog readers that sew and can recommend a machine that is reliable, easy to use, and doesn't have a lot of issues. I want to be able to sew aprons, quilt blankets and table runners, just do simple stuff for now.

Help!!

[ thanksgiving and black friday ]

Thanksgiving was a great success...

Sweet Potatoes, Grandma Marcial's Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie, Football, Rummy, Black Friday Ads, and the movie "Elf" before bed. What more could you ask for?!


(Mom, Grandma, and Melissa)


(Melissa, Marcie, Craig, and Grandma with the Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie!)


(Melissa and Craig with Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie)



(Melissa and Kevin)


(Craig and Grandma)


(Karlye and Amber)


(Karlye, Grandma Freda, and Amber)


(Grandma, Mom, Marcie, Melissa, and Craig)

And then...on Friday at 7am (a bit later than most people start their Black Friday mornings), Mom, Karlye, Amber, and I left Connell to grace the Tri-Cities with our presence.
Here's our game plan: Target, Starbucks, Craft Warehouse, The Dollar Store, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, The UPS Store, Azteca (had to stop for lunch!), Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Aeropostale, Macy's, Carmike (had to take a break and watch "Four Christmases"), Macy's (yep - twice), Barnes & Noble, Starbucks (yep-twice!), Michaels, Granny's Buffet (gift card - not dinner), McDonalds (treats!), and Papa Murphy's (dinner).
We got home around 6:30pm. I am happy to report that my Christmas shopping is DONE! Everything is purchased or ordered and ready to be wrapped - which I might start tomorrow.
Whew!!
Today, I was also quite productive. I got up at 6am (not by choice, internal clock dosen't snoze on the weekends apparently) - I stuffed my Christmas Cards with the letters and put them in the mail, deep cleaned my bathroom (reorganized, purged, cleaned, put up a new shelf), cleaned my room, shopped eBay, made soup, and worked in the craft room - all before noon. :) Now, I'm sitting on the couch with Samson at my feet watching "P.S. I Love You" with Melissa and Zeke.
I'm slowing down - maybe a nap is in my future.
I hope you're enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend. I wish today was Friday and we had one more day of break before Sunday. Oh well - on Monday, there is just 15 days until Christmas break (school days, that is).

November 26, 2008

[ 2009 Crafters Getaway ]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Registration for the
2009 Crafter's Getaway
sponsored by the Beta Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi is now open!!
Registration is open until January 16, 2009.
Email me (marciekoch@gmail.com) if you'd like me to send you a brochure.
You won't want to miss this. It's going to be a GOOD TIME! :)

[ day #7 - family ]


I can't say enough about how thankful I am for my family.
Of course, there are those days when it's a challenge, but for the most part, they're pretty great.
Each member of our family contributes to the whole in a special way. We wouldn't be complete without each other.
I'm not real sure what to say besides that - it pretty much sums it up, I think.

November 25, 2008

[ day #6 - beta ]



tonight is beta. i usually look forward to it and i most always enjoy myself!
i am a member of beta sigma phi. it's an international women's sorority (not college). we do service projects throughout the year, donate money to different charitable organizations, sponsor a scholarship for a senior girl at CHS, and most recently, sponsor a scrapbook retreat (more on that later).
it's fun because there are a range of women in it - from retired to just out of college, teachers, stay at home moms, businesswomen, etc. we always have a lot fun - lots of laughs. we have great traditions.
i am really thankful to be part of an organization like beta. i love hearing stories of how the women that have been members for a long time have supported each other through marriages, babies, grandchildren, retirement, etc. it's so encouraging.
anyway - these pictures are from the scrapbook retreat last year. i'm *thisclose* to opening registration for the retreat 2009 and i will advertise right here asap.

November 24, 2008

[ day #5 - Samson ]

Today, I'm thankful for Samson...



As I write this, he's laying on my lap, keeping me warm. Its our favorite thing to do together!!



I love this dog. I never thought I was an animal person until Coco came to live with us and then when Samson came along - oh man. I seriously don't know what I did before Samson entered my life. I'm sure it sounds quite cheesy to many of you, but I'm speaking from my heart here.


Honestly, I always thought "animal people" were kind of kooky. I thought I was better than that. But, now I know how a dog can steal your heart.


Samson sleeps with me (I know, I know...) and I love how he comes up and gives me kisses in the morning when my alarm goes off.
I love how he greets me at the door with excited tail wags when I get home.
I love that he loves to sleep under our chair (cracks me up to watch him belly crawl from underneath there!).
I love taking him places and watching him prance when he's on the leash - he actually enjoys it.
I think it's funny when a different noise comes on TV or something and he tilts his head back and forth trying to figure it out.
It cracks me up when he comes in from doing his chores outside, runs directly to where the treat jar is, and sits - waiting for his reward.
I think it's especially funny when he lifts his paw to "shake" as if doing a trick will help him get a treat faster.
I really like it when he rubs his eyes with his paw - it's adorable.


I love snuggling with him, when he burrows in deeper as if he can't get close enough.


Love this dog.




November 23, 2008

[ nkotb ]

wow - sorry about all the posts in one day - i have a lot to say, i guess!!

the most exciting thing about today: seeing New Kids on the Block on the American Movie Awards tonight!! haha...

then:

(wow - Jordan looks like an idiot in that picture...)

now:

and - they were at the Tacoma Dome last night...I'm a little sad I missed that.


I was a diehard New Kids on the Block fan back in the day. I even had a surprise birthday party with a New Kids theme. It rocked. We even have it on video. I loved Jordan. Christine loved Joey. For some reason, I only remember Christine's undying love for Joey...not sure about my other friends!

I LOVE their Christmas CD (cassette). I wish I could find it now. That would be AWESOME!

Just had to document my love for the New Kids. I got so excited when they came on the stage tonight.
Wow. 15 years later. still excited.

[ day #4 - tradition ]



Around Thanksgiving, the "kids" (cousins) in our family always anticipate our traditions: Sweet Potato Casserole (without the nasty marshmellows on top) and Grandma's Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie. The last couple years, we have not had these traditional foods at our Thanksgiving dinner. We've had Thanksgiving Dinner at my aunt and uncle's in Kahlotus - and my aunt is fairly new to our family and obviously hasn't caught on to our traditions. She has made her traditional foods, which is fine and great, but still disappointing. Each year, we're more disappointed than the last when these foods aren't served. Like - disappointed disappointed. (I know this makes us sound like spoiled brats, but seriously - Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, right?!)

So - we've all been talking and making sure that all our bases are covered so we get these this year. My cousin Craig called my sister Melissa the other day - apparently they played phone tag all day until Craig texted and said "It's important! It's about sweet potatoes!" haha...

So - now we've got it covered. We are making the sweet potatoes and Grandma is making her infamous Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie.


Whew.
So - that is why traditions is what I'm thankful for today. They are important, they create bonds between generations, and instill family ties - inside jokes - something to look forward to - and something to pass onto generations to come.
P.S. Does anyone know how to make line breaks in between paragraphs? I can only do it when I have pictures in my blog - but I don't always have pictures. Help a girl out here! :)

[ craft projects ]

apparently, crafts have taken over my blog lately...
here's a few pictures of things I've been working on - or ideas of things I'm planning to work on! :)

#1 - A Dry Erase Calendar with scrapbook paper - I made this for Jessica Perkins' birthday (the picture is the example at Craft Warehouse. Jess's is red-ish). The one I made is in a 12"x24" frame with the calendar on the left hand side and a magnetic board on the right side. I also made magnets with Emersyn's cute pictures in them.




#2 - Photo blocks for the cheerleaders - they are 2"x2" blocks with six pictures on them. I modge podged them and put rub-ons that say "08" and "CHS". I made these for basketball season last year too - I think they're pretty fun!



#3 - A cross stitch that I'm going to give someone...not sure who yet. I have one more at the framing store (different design)...I DO know who is getting that one for Christmas! ;)



#4 - These are the Christmas Countdown trees that I made for our church's Silent Auction fundraiser. I have two more of these trees ready to decorate. I just haven't done it yet!! Maybe today.




#5 - These are the message memo boards that I made for friends for Christmas...surprise!



These are projects I found at Craft Warehouse last night that I want to work on. I bought some of these clips to paint and decorate. I think I'm going to say "Ideas" on them and give them away for door prizes at the crafting retreat in January. Then, people can keep them in their craft area and clip ideas to them! :)



I'm so attracted to these retro aprons. I think they're adorable! I don't know how to sew at all, but I'd really like to learn. I would love to quilt and make simple things - like these aprons. Wouldn't they be great bridal shower gifts?

Well, Kate, Candace, and I stood looking at all the patterns and fabrics last night FOREVER. We want to make them. Like, yesterday.


p.s. the Craft Warehouse Open House was ROCKIN'! :) Kate, Candace, and I got Starbucks and stood in line for 40 minutes to get in...shopped like crazy...then spent 45 minutes in the checkout line. And it was fun!! In case you're wondering what I got with my 40% coupon, I got a Crop-a-Dile Big Bite:

I think I could pierce ears with this bad boy. :)

November 22, 2008

[ day #3 - bring crafty ]

Especially around this time of the year, I have a lot of projects going. There are the Christmas Trees for the Soup Supper Silent Auction, the *secret* gift I've made for a bunch of my friends, the other *secret* gift for (Todd & Jessica), plus the gifts I made for the cheerleaders.
I am really glad for the "gift" of craftiness. I really enjoy that part of my life. Let's be honest, I really enjoy shopping for that part of my life. :)
Anyway - I'm going to the Christmas Memories craft show today with Kate & Candance and then to the Craft Warehouse Open House (hello 40% off coupon! they NEVER have 40% off coupons!). I'm really looking forward to spending time with Kate and getting to know Candace better! Hopefully, I'll get lots of new ideas for projects today. Craft Warehouse never disappoints. :)

November 21, 2008

[ day #2 - friends and small towns ]

I love living in a small town and for my friends in that small town.

I stopped by my friend's office after school and ended up staying for over an hour! We had a great talk and I always have fun flippin' sh*t at her boss. :) It's just too easy! I've known him my whole life and he has been a great friend to our family. Anyway - it just made me appreciate my small town and the friendships that are nurtured there.

While I was talking to my friend, we were talking about how long we've known each other...and that even our parents grew up together and even our grandmas are good friends! I really love that longevity and years of history that are wrapped up in our families. I can't really explain it.

I was remembering when one of my childhood friends brought his fiance home to see his hometown and meet his friends & family. There were four of us "Connell-ites" and his fiance having drinks at Michael Jay's. We were reminiscing about elementary school and she said, "Wait, you all went to elementary school together too?" And we said, yes...and preschool too! I looked around the table and said, "Actually, what is even more weird is that our parents went to elementary school together too!" She was totally freaked out - I'm surprised that wasn't a deal breaker! :)

So - that's what I'm thankful for tonight...continuity...longevity...small towns...and friends.

November 20, 2008

[ what i'm thankful for - day #1]


I've seen a lot of people blog about what they're thankful for during the month of November. I cannot commit to something like that (blogging every day!!), but I figured I could commit to one week. :)

So - Day #1: I'm thankful for my youth group-ies.

The Youth Group in Salt Lake City, June 2008.


The high schoolers that come to our youth group ... well, I heart them. :) I love their perspective on things and the way they love to have fun.

I love hanging out with the sophomore girls at lunch. I love that they hold me accountable to actually doing my assigned lunch duty - if I'm not there, I hear about it.

I loved going on our mission trip in June - getting to know them better, spending a whole week with them, serving the Lord side by side with them. They worked so hard and I am so proud of them for that.

I'm often asked why I choose to spend more time with teenagers and I always say these are the ones I WANT to hang out with! They make my spirit so happy.


I also love the other leaders that I get to hang out with. Nick, Kate, and Amy - you guys rock.
P.S. Thanks for all your prayers for the families I wrote about yesterday. I'm trying to get ahold of Alan's address and when I do, I will definitely post it. I think it would be great to shower him with cards, thoughts, and prayers.

November 19, 2008

[ prayers ]

it seems that there are a lot of things right now to pray about...
let's run down the list:
#1
Kutter Austin Jenks
born 11.18.08 to Kameron and Christine
I just can't say enough how happy I am for Kameron and Christine. They have been blessed with a beautiful, healthy, perfect baby boy with a head full of hair. I was able to visit them in the hospital today and hold this sweet baby. He is a gift from God. He is lucky to have his big sister Cassidy as his guardian angel watching over him always.
#2
The Garza Family
on 11.17.08 Delia Garza (Oscar's Mom) lost her long fought battle with cancer
This family has been on an emotional roller coaster throughout her illness. I am thankful that she's with her Heavenly Father and pain free. Major prayers are with all of the Garza's, but especially Oscar and DJ. They are very strong, independent people, but I hope they know they can lean on their friends for support. Delia's funeral is tomorrow at 10am. I know there will be an outpouring of love for their family.
#3
Alan Scheenstra
Alan battled a brain tumor a few years ago after college, and went into remission. Unfortunately, it has returned and has spread its angry poison throughout his body. The doctors have given him just a few weeks to live. We all know that God often overrules those predictions and sometimes people live for years after being given an expiration date. I pray that for Alan, whether his time left with us is long or short, he has no pain and that he is surround by friends and family that love him.
I have been thinking a lot lately about these families...they're all going through such different things, but all requiring major prayer. They are all high school (well, in Christine's case - preschool) classmates of mine. It's hard to believe the kind of curveballs life throws at you. I look at the kids in high school today (the seniors are 10 years younger than me) and wonder what kinds of things they will persevere through in the 10 years until their class reunion.
So, if you could spare a prayer, please include these families.

November 16, 2008

[ wait for it...]

get ready....
wait for it...


I COOKED!!


I know, right?!




Jamie was talking about her Corn Chowder when we had coffee yesterday - it sounded so delicious, that I went over to Wal Mart and picked up the ingredients.
I made it this morning and had it ready for lunch after church. Corn Chowder, Cornbread, and Spice Pumpkin Cake...yum!
Jamie, I hope it's ok if I repeat your recipe here...it was so good, I have to share it! The best part is that we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Cheese and Corn Chowder
Makes 12 cups
Saute; Sweat:
5 strips thick sliced bacon, diced
(I added a chicken breast that I sauteed up) optional
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp Olive oil
2 cups onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp minced fresh thyme (I used dried, it's still good)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp turmeric
Add; Garnish with
6 cups chicken broth
1 lb russet potatoes (I used red and yukon), peeled, diced
8 ears fresh corn, shucked, trimmed (4-5 cups kernels, I used frozen corn)
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup white Chedder cheese (I used Havarti and Gouda)
2 oz. cream cheese
Minced fresh chives ( I didn't have any so no biggie)
Saute bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp, 5 minutes; drain on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Pour off drippings, wipe out pot with a paper towel. I left a little grease in there at this point and sauteed up my chicken breast and then pulled it off and cut it up and set it aside also. Wipe out the pot again and return it to burner. Melt butter with oil, add onion and celery, and sweat until soft, 7-8 minutes. Stir in flour, thyme, salt, cayenne, and turmeric and cook 2 minutes.
Add broth, potatoes, and corn kernels. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes. Stir in cream, both cheeses, bacon and chicken; simmer until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Garnish with chives.
In other news of the weekend...the football team lost, so sadly (note the sarcasm), the football cheer season is over. I don't know what I'll do with all my free time after school!
I am so so so sad though that I won't get to see Jessica and Emersyn every day. Jess - I hope you're ready for me to come stalk your house because I'll just miss you guys so much! I have loved watching Emersyn learn new tricks and grow to be such a big girl the last couple months. She's *thisclose* to crawling, so maybe it's a good thing that she won't have the chance to crawl all over the stage floor. It's kinda gross. :)
This evening, I wrapped up a few craft projects. I have a few things for the church's Soup Supper Silent Auction on Wednesday, some Christmas presents, and some gifts for the cheerleaders. It feels good to have them done. I also got in a 2 hour nap today and read a little bit! I'm reading "Middlesex" by Jeffery Eugenides. It is one of the hardest books I've read in a long time - but Oprah suggested it, and I usually like the books she promotes. I checked it out from the library (with my brand spankin' new library card!) and it's due soon, so I need to get it done!
I really wanted to give Samson a little trim around the face today, but I think we'll wait for Melissa to get home and do it. I'm too scared.
I'm looking forward to a few days off next week for Thanksgiving - so here's to this week going by fast! :)

November 15, 2008

[ flair ]


I had an enjoyable coffee date this morning with the girls...and was inspired to create some flair on Facebook (look me up!). This is way fun!!

November 9, 2008

[ fun weekend ]

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to document this weekend...but it was a fun one! :)
Here's what happened:
  • Dinner @ the Taco Bus with Todd & Jess
  • Football game vs. Naches. Connell won, 6-0. Look Out Cashmere: here comes the Eagles!
  • Met Jess and Emersyn at Custer's Christmas @ TRAC on Saturday morning- went through it twice, once with Amy, Beth, Delaney, and Bobbie, second time with Fran, Gracee, Trina, and Gramma. I found my Dad a Christmas present...and got a lot of cute ideas for projects.
  • Went to Bed, Bath, & Beyond to buy new pillows for my bed after a little accident ruined my other ones. I'm a pillow snob. I sleep with four pillows and rotate them throughout the night, choosing the coldest one each time. I like very flat, down pillows - which are basically impossible to find these days. I bought three new pillows...Night #1, so far not impressed. Maybe Night #2 will be better.
  • Stopped in at District Volleyball - just in time to watch the poor Eagles lose to Zillah. Who cares...they're going to state anyway!! I would've been there sooner, but my entire BRAND NEW container of loose powder exploded all over my lap and steering wheel. Of course, all I had to clean it up with was Windex Wipes. For future reference, they worked fairly well!
  • Worked on some craft projects on Saturday night - finished "someone's" birthday present...and made some photo blocks for the cheerleaders...I also addressed my Christmas cards!!
  • Finished a project for Beta that I've been working on...good to have that done before Tuesday night.
  • Sunday Morning: worked on the craft projects a little more, read the paper, drank some coffee
  • Went to church...see that, Jess? :)
  • Christine Jenks' baby shower for baby boy Jenks. I love spending time with Christine - I wish we could hang out more. I am so excited for their baby to arrive.
  • a trip to Craft Warehouse, where they were having a 20% off everything sale. I got a sweet deal that I'm soooooo excited about!! I bought it for a gift, but the more I think about it, I think I need to put it in my cedar chest for when I have a home. :)

My plans for tonight include: a delicious caramel apple, watching Desperate Housewives, and cross-stitching. I really wish tomorrow was a no-school day. There is no school Tuesday in honor of Veteran's Day and I'm thinking it's quite cruel to make us go back after the weekend for one day and then have a day off.

We're having our first Junior Miss Committee Meeting tomorrow at 6pm at Michael Jay's if anyone is interested! :) We'll be planning for the 2009 program and the Junior Miss Orientation on November 18th.

November 5, 2008

[ bob koch, franklin county commissioner ]


I'm happy to report that as of 8:30pm on Tuesday, November 4th, Bob Koch (or Bob K, as Jessica likes to call him) was ahead of his opponent, 53% to 46%. We are still cautious and holding our breath as there are 5,000 additional ballots to be counted, with the results being released on Friday, November 7th at 5pm.

Our excitement with the positive numbers last night was overcome with our overwhelming disappointment and sadness for Neva Corkrum, a fellow Franklin County Commissioner who was also running for reelection. As of Tuesday night, she was behind in the race against her opponent. She has been a commissioner for 20 years and was running for one more term. We adore Neva and we all appreciate her friendship to our family and her support of Dad. We are terribly disappointed that her service to Franklin County ended this way. She has given her entire life to the betterment of Franklin County, to which we all owe her much gratitude.

I couldn't be more proud of Dad for taking the high road in this campaign and never lowering himself to other's standards.

Today, I am very very proud of him.


[ raisin' mccain ]

*COUNTRY FIRST*


I am proud to say that I voted for John McCain. He is a class act, a true American, and heck - he chose my BFF Sarah Palin as his running mate!
I thought his concession speech was wonderfully written - it brought tears to my eyes. I, like 56,434,100 Americans, will support Obama as our president and hope for the best in the next four years. I just hope people can look past his color - since our country has been working on ending racial separation and discrimination for over 50 years - and see him as a human being.
I enjoyed Senator McCain's speech so much, I'm going to post it here. I especially like the part about how a person's campaign impacts their whole family. It really really does.
"Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening. My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly."
"A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him. To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love. In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving. This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight."
"I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound."
"A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States."
"Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth. Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise."
"Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited."
"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again. We fought - we fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours."
"I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends. The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you."
"I'm especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign. I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me. You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign. All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead."
"I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength... her husband Todd and their five beautiful children... for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign. We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country."
"To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship."
"I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been."
"This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years."
"I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century. Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it."
"Tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama - I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here."
"Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history. Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much."
I really like this from the Republican National Convention too:
'Fight for what's right for our country. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people. Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all. Stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America. Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history."
Amen.