Voters in Training

I am so glad that this election is winding down, but I am grateful for the work voting requires of us. Those efforts yield such great rewards. 

I have done so much soul searching and researching issues in the last twelve months at the local and national levels. Being sure and secure is hard work in the midst of so much political spin and opinion editorials. With regard to the presidential race early on I didn't want to just consider Romney for our shared faith. And early on I wanted to give the President chances to show me what he's done for the country and what he plans to do--I have prayed for that man since he took office and you don't just abandon a leader when you've asked God to inspire him for nearly four years. I can't think of many people that I've prayed for by name everyday for that period of time.

J has been so interested in this presidential campaign. His school teacher loves President Obama and speaks so highly of him and he knows that I have long been planning on voting for the Romney-Ryan ticket. I have heard him on many occasions parroting me to the twins: "no, he's not a bad man but his policies aren't completely healthy" and "you don't vote for a president because of how they look or how they sound."
The kids came with me to vote today. Raising them has changed me and shaped my perspectives on what I want for the future of this country. I gave them a little lecture before entering about polling place etiquette. I made it all up on the spot, but they responded by being very serious and remained quiet and attentive as we waited in lines. As usual so many people commented on how great it was that the kids came along, and I realized I wouldn't have left them out for anything. This is my job now to train them in citizenship as much as any other thing. I hope these field trips to the polls leave an impression.