Four Score

First off, I have some excellent news: I am going to be a park ranger at the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site!!!! Ranger Tiff is back. The chief ranger called this evening to tell me the good news. I'll go sign some paperwork next week, then hopefully I can start working early in March. Hoooooray! I am very excited.

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, on the eve of his 200th birthday, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is holding an overnight vigil in his honor. We're not crazy enough to go spend the night there, but we did go to the museum this evening to see the special Lincoln documents that will be on display until 8:00 tomorrow morning. It was soooooo cool! We got an up-close look at the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the Thirteenth Amendment.














Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment on February 1, 1865, but it did not become law until December 1865--eight months after Lincoln's death. There's something special about seeing the actual documents he wrote or signed. It establishes a certain connection with him. It was so cool to read the words in Lincoln's handwriting:

"That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave their last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that, government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY--Lincoln's 200th birthday. I plan to head to his house bright and early, then I'll go get some things stamped with the special Lincoln Bicentennial cancellation at the Old State Capitol. I'll have to try to be home before everything shuts down when King Obama arrives to steal Lincoln's spotlight tomorrow evening. Just kidding--I won't go there, though I have plenty to say about it :-)

Greg and I will be going to bed very early tomorrow evening because early early Friday morning we will embark on a fun Valentine's/President's Day trip to South Carolina to visit Sarah, Joel, and Eliza! We are so excited. We've got quite the fun trip out there planned--we'll stop at a number of Civil War battlefields including Stones River, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and Kennesaw Mountain. We'll then spend three fun-filled days with the Agates and will drive home through Kentucky on Tuesday. We'll be sure to visit Abraham Lincoln's birthplace on the way home. We can't wait to see Sarah, Joel, and Eliza!

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, tomorrow a ceremony will take place there to officially launch the four new penny designs. The first penny--which will enter circulation tomorrow--features his Kentucky birthplace. Then throughout the rest of the year they will release the three other designs. So keep an eye out for the new pennies. Here's wishing you happy Lincoln dreams tonight!