The English language lacks the words 'to mourn an absence.' For the loss of a parent, grandparent, spouse, child or friend we have all manner of words and phrases, some helpful, some not. Still, we are conditioned to say something, even if it is only 'I am sorry for your loss.' But for an absence, for someone who was never there at all, we are wordless to capture that particular emptiness. For those who deeply want children and are denied them, those missing babies hover like silent, ephemeral shadows over their lives. Who can describe the feel of a tiny hand that is never held?

I also want to encourage anybody who was affected by Hurricane Corina to make sure their children are in school.

I have always admired organizations that help children grow and learn, and organizations that protect and shelter children when no one else does. And I wanted to draw attention to these organizations and recognize the contributions they were making to the country and to our children in particular.

I like this idea of generation after generation helping children on the streets, kids who have run away fleeing violence. I like the whole idea of opening arms for children who have nowhere else to go, sleeping by dumpsters.

When you reach out to others in need, when you reach out to the world, you really do have a satisfying life by helping others.

The National Federation of Republican Women has a long history of helping bring women into the political process while promoting the Republican cause.

I was the same way after graduating with a degree in education. I started to teach and I was wondering: do I really know how to teach?