An African American woman shares her thoughts on the swearing in of our first black president

I didn't expect to cry. That's my husband's job. He's the teary one in our family. In fact, as we sat together at our kitchen table watching the inauguration festivities on television, he set a box of Kleenex on the table and left it there for good. There was that much to cry about, indeed.

I smiled to myself, loving that he feels deeply about emotional things and isn't afraid to show it. But as I sat there confidently dry-eyed, the TV announcer introduced those two little girls - the Obama children, Sasha and Malia. Watching them smile and bound down the steps to the inaugural platform where their father would take the presidential oath of office, I couldn't help it.

"Oh, God!" I cried. They looked charming. But something deeper overwhelmed me: A heady joy that our nation had triumphed over the era when, as the writer James Baldwin wrote, "All you were ever told about being black is that it is a terrible, terrible thing to be." At about age seven, in 1956, that's what I was told anyway. And the message - if not the signs - was clear: WHITES ONLY ALLOWED.

Dawn Zemke, Associate Editor

After completing five years on staff with Marriage Partnership magazine, Dawn is excited to become part of the editorial team at Today's Christian Woman. During her ten years at Christianity Today International, Dawn has worked with Leadership, Christian History, Christian Parenting Today, and Today’s Christian magazines and is currently associate editor for TodaysChristian.com, a sister site of TodaysChristianWoman.com. When she’s not writing and editing, Dawn enjoys watching movies and television shows with her husband and two teenagers (Bones is a current favorite), training her rambunctious goldendoodle puppy, and ringing in her church’s handbell choir.

A work-at-home mom wonders what Sarah Palin’s candidacy means for mothers everywhere.

The night I heard James Dobson singing the praises of mother of five Sarah Palin as a vice presidential candidate just after I heard a couple of feminist-minded commentators suggesting Palin ought to be staying home with her children, I wondered if the book of Revelation had something to say about times like these. Surely such side-swapping is a sign of the apocalypse.

I mean, no offense, but Dr. Dobson hasn't exactly been the working mom's biggest fan. And no hard feelings toward the feminist commentators, but since when did they think a woman ought be anywhere other than where she wanted to be?

Ginger Kolbaba, Editor

After a six-year hiatus from TCW—when she worked as editor for TCW's sister publication Marriage Partnership—Ginger is happy to be back "home" editing for her favorite women's magazine. An accomplished book author, she's written or contributed to almost a dozen books, including Surprised by Remarriage (Revell) and her most recent novel series, Secrets from Lulu's Café (Howard/Simon & Schuster). She's appeared on national venues such as CNN's Nancy Grace and Court TV's Catherine Crier Live as well as Family Life Radio and Moody Radio's Midday Connection. When she isn't chained to her computer, Ginger enjoys spending time with her husband motorcycling through the countryside, visiting Yellowstone National Park, walking her Doberman, and talking theory with her friends about the television series Lost. She believes her greatest accomplishment would be dusting off her piano and treadmill and using them both—at least once this year.

Andrea Bianchi, Assistant Editor
Before joining the staff of TCW, Andrea served as assistant editor of free e-mail newsletters from ChristianityToday.com, parent website of TodaysChristianWoman.com, and freelanced for some of TCW's sister publications. When she isn't rereading classics from her days as an English major at Wheaton College or borrowing books on grammar from the public library, Andrea sneaks a guilty peek at her numerous subscriptions to fashion and beauty magazines. So her weakness for high heels is unsurprising. And although she's endured an occasional stumble, she enjoys wearing those rakish shoes when she catches movies alone at the theater or searches Chicago's many suburban restaurants for the best vegetarian dishes (which contain no vegetables—and plenty of chocolate).

Jane Johnson Struck, Editor at Large
When Jane isn't busy walking her black Lab puppy, Boomer, riding "two-up" cross-country with her husband on their motorcycle, e-mailing her two grown daughters, traveling to visit friends and family, or making meals for people at her church, she serves as Editor at Large of Today's Christian Woman magazine. Jane's involvement with all things editorial spans at least 25 years. She's been part of TCW’s staff for 20 years, and served as the magazine’s Editor for the last eight years before retiring in March. Before her time at Today's Christian Woman, she was Editor of Christian Bookseller magazine (today Christian Retailing), Assistant Editor of Christian Life magazine (the current Charisma), Merchandising Manager of the now-defunct Betty Crocker magazine, Sphere, and an active freelancer. With all that editing, it's no wonder she needs to wear funky reading glasses!

Camerin Courtney, Editor
Besides writing and editing for TCW, Camerin also writes a regular column for ChristianSingles Today.com as well as occasional movie reviews for ChristianityToday Movies.com, both sister sites of TodaysChristianWoman.com. She's also authored two books, Table for One and The unGuide to Dating (Revell). When she isn't writing, Camerin loves hanging out in coffee shops, showering her niece and nephew with hugs, eating out with friends, volunteering with an English as a Second Language class, and traveling internationally (she's been to 15 countries and counting). Originally from Kansas City, she now resides in a vintage apartment in the Chicago suburbs, where her favorite amenities are the art-house theater and public library just two blocks away.