We have a ritual in our family that on a child's birthday we light a special ring of candles.
After the presents are opened and the cake consumed, the candles are lit just before bedtime. Around the ring of light, we tell stories about the child's birth and ask about things that the child hopes for in the future.
Tuesday was a special day not only because it was Liam's birthday, but it was election day. On election day, we waited to drop off our ballots so that Liam could get a feeling for the importance of voting.
Instead of mailing in our ballots we wanted to drive up to the ballot box outside the public library. An elderly woman stood in the rain to help ensure that the ballots were properly sealed and signed. Now, as America wakes up to the results of the midterm elections, I think the lights of hope that we burn for Liam are also lights of hope and determination for this nation.