ANOTHER HOME SWEET HOME

If there is one thing the Pressley's do well, besides make beautiful sons, it's MOVE! And this year included another move for our family. We moved only 3 miles from our old home so we're still in Sacramento but we have a two story now. Our old house was on a super busy street. And we now get to enjoy a quiet tree lined street. Much to Marlin's happiness and we are so far enjoying our new 'home-sweet-home.' We have even been blessed to have had many visitors and we are hosting Thanksgiving this year. But honestly, in this day and age we're more than abundantly blessed to have not only a new house, but a loving home! May God continue to Bless this home.

AMERICA'S 44TH PRESIDENT

I have to say that I feel so privileged to live in a time where America has come together in unity for change and created something so magnificent as electing the first African American president; Barack Obama.
I voted November 4, 2008 and helped to elect the first African American president because I felt he was bar none the best candidate, I felt he represented issues very important to me and I felt that I had a unique opportunity to participate in history. When I think about the history of this country which includes the shadow of slavery, oppression that lasted 400 long years and still has devastating effects on the culture of African Americans today it is hard to devote your heart completely to a flawed and often indignant country. Despite the opportunities offered here. However, when you see the change that has come and the progress that has been made from the abolition of slavery to Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement to now it is undeniably and overwhelmingly magnificent to finally be able to ’put down your suitcase’ and embrace the country you always wanted to but weren’t quite sure if you could and have it embrace you back. I feel so completely American today. Not African American, but American. I feel sweet down to the marrow of my bones. I feel whole, powerful, hopeful and probably most of all thankful. Thankful to God for truly blessing America to allow something of this magnitude to happen. To live to see it and to be able to see the readiness in America’s spirit to let this come to pass at this moment in history. A crevice has been made in the fabric of America’s history that will remain eternally. And I am thrilled to be in that crevice. I am thrilled to be able to raise my two African American sons in a time when they don’t even know why this moment is historical. They will grow up always knowing that an African American could have always been president because Barack Obama was. It will never be a question if they could be president because there was a president, Barack Obama. That fact gives me chills in to the depths of my soul and I say with enthusiasm, reverence and abiding gratitude I am proud to be an American-God bless this great country of the United States of America.

I DIDN'T KNOW MY OWN STRENGTH....

Who knew that a year and a half after I stepped foot back in school that I'd actually finish? Who knew the days that I missed my kids desperately, the days I was sick, the days I was depressed, the days I wanted to be at my kids karate practice, the days I missed a church event, the days Marlin wasn't feeling as supportive, the days my kids ate fast food day after day after day, the days my kids had to go to childcare, the days I didn't see Marlin for days at a time, the days Marlin and worked opposite shifts to keep the kids out of childcare, the days I missed my favorite t.v. finale, the days I had to endure profanity, immaturity, deceit, spite fullness from others at school or days that I wanted it all to be over. Who knew that I would not only graduate with an A average, but 95% attendance in the presence of my sons, husband, father and both directors there to wish me well. Who knew that I was this strong? I guess you did!

I did it I did it I did it! I am a graduate and I have a trained and marketable skill. A mother's dream. It makes being the mother to my miracles more special. I have options and I chose them. It was always my dream to be home with them, I was blessed enough to be actually living my dream, but it makes my dream bigger now that being here with them is really what I want to do. Nothing can turn my head now, or make me question my devotion to being home. Because I did it! I actually did it.