The Real World Impact of a Vote

I would like to dedicate a blog post to my thoughts on voting for impact.  I rarely post about specific political issues but I really feel that this issue is worth a post.

First, I think it is important for each individual to decide what his/her motivation is in voting.  Individuals can have a plethora of reasons for voting.  Those reasons will affect how we vote.  One may vote out of obligation/duty to the country or those who have sacrificed for the freedom to vote.  This is honorable and is one of my reasons for voting but there is more.  One may vote to gain bragging or complaining "rights" or to make a statement.  One may vote according to a pet issue. Eighteen year old citizens may vote solely on the idea that they have finally grown into the right to do so.  But, there is more.  While some of these are strong reasons to vote, most can lead to legalism.  And, I have to ask, can any of these reasons be the entirety of the motivation to vote?

I believe that there is so much more.  Because I cannot sever the real world impact of my vote and it's consequences from who my conscience says is the best person to receive my vote, I will vote to have the most impact for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (not a guarantee of happiness...but that is another post all together...*smile*).  It is easy to get hung up on the "statement" of the vote, but in doing so, we can miss out on the blessing of what it truly means to live in a democracy...having an impact on the world around us.  So, if you agree that a vote should be cast to have the most impact, then the question that follows is how does a vote have the most impact?


In a general election when the election is coming down to two parties, a conservative vote for a third party candidate will have no positive impact on the election.  I am not opposed in general to third party candidates.  But, in an election where there is no conceivable way that the third party candidate can win, a vote for that candidate is a statement vote.  It will not have an affect on preserving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  I have had conversations with those who willingly admit that their third party candidate would not win.  Yet, they would vote for conscience and make a statement.  Meanwhile, real life issues (and life itself) are on the line.  While the election four years ago was not close and the third party votes probably did not put our current president into office, this year the election is much tighter and a third party vote could very well be a vote against life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.


So, as you study the candidates, judges, and propositions that are on your ballot this election, let me encourage you to consider the impact that your vote will have for protecting the most life, preserving the most liberty, and supporting the pursuit of happiness.  Let's not make statements this year.  Let's  vote to have an impact.

At the polls...again

Well, after collecting signatures for our congressional candidate at the polls last winter, hosting a meet and greet, and walking the neighborhood, we went back to the polls the night of our local primaries and encouraged voters to vote for our candidate.

Here is a picture of the kids holding signs as I passed out literature.  It was hot!  On the way there the temperature in our van went from 109 to 111.  Shouldn't it be going down at the end of the day? Yes, this was in the evening even though the sun was bright and it was well over 100 degrees.

This picture just looks like summer in Arizona, doesn't it?

Now that it is all over and our candidate didn't win in the primaries, I look back and am so glad that we took the kids out and educated them on the process.  They know that it is no easy thing to run for office.  It takes tons of work and sacrifice for you and all those who support you...and there is no guarantee that you will win on election night.

My older boys went out and put up signs for another friend's campaign for a local office.  That friend won his seat which made the boys day.

We will be looking for more opportunities for the kids to learn from experience about how our government works and we should have plenty of opportunities this election season.

How do you teach your kids about the election process?

To get more ideas on how to "learn through the elections", click on the label "learning through the elections" at the bottom of the screen.  

The "Golden Rule" (Redefined) Caution: political post

The "golden rule"...



..."love your neighbor as yourself"...



...every mother's measure for her child's treatment of others, right?


I was reading an article today where President Obama was quoted as saying that the "golden rule" was his basis for supporting same-sex marriage.  That he believed he should love everyone and therefore grant everyone marriage.  Just after reading the article I came across a blog post on facebook on the same issue. I thought the topic was worth a post, so here are my thoughts.

Let's put aside the highly controversial issue of same-sex marriage for the purpose of this post and focus on the thought process to arrive at his conclusion.  I love everyone...therefore I should give them what they want.  If I don't give them what they want, I don't truly love them.  What?  This is what my kids (and the makers of children's toys) are hoping for...haha.  But seriously, I don't give myself everything I want...even when that donut is calling my name:)

One of the issues that I have with President Obama's claim is the presumption that love means agreeing with whatever choice another makes.  As I thought about it, I realized that it is a prevalent philosophy in modern culture.  We have all been raised in an instant gratification society and with the misconception that our Constitution grants us the right to have what we want.  Ask any school kid and he will tell you "I can do what I want, it's a free country".  Haha.  How many times did you say this as a child?  Hollywood also has played a huge roll in teaching us and our children that we don't truly love someone unless we applaud, encourage, and embrace whatever decision that they make...even in their cartoons aimed at young children...just look at The Little Mermaid or Nemo.


From the very core of my being, I have to disagree.


I believe that we can love someone while disagreeing with their choices. 


Jesus did. 


We have many examples in scripture of Jesus loving and yet disagreeing with lifestyle choices.  He loved Zacchaeus who was different than most in his culture and making choices that were against the law of the day.  What did Jesus do?  It is quite obvious that Jesus disagreed with the life choices that Zacchaeus was making.  But, Jesus went to Zacchaeus' home. He did not redefine the laws in order to love Zacchaeus, he loved him by developing a relationship with him.  I believe that we can do the same. 

I will give you a less intense example from my life.  I know someone who was offered a free ride at a university in exchange for postponing school one year...this person shall remain nameless in order to protect the innocent...haha.  This person turned down the offer.  Now, as someone who is currently being crushed under a mountain of higher ed. debt, I disagreed with this decision...everything in me wanted to cry out as if I was talking to a younger version of myself. 

I disagree...

...but, I love this person with my whole heart and the choice did in no way alter my love for that individual.  This person will live out the consequences of that decision (good or bad) and I will continue to love that person.  The choice did not alter my love one iota.

I can also disagree with how my boys choose to spend their money (which is almost immediate and on Legos...we will be taking them through Financial Peace University before they graduate from our homeschool...haha), but I love them just the same.  I don't have to applaud, encourage, or embrace these decisions in order to love these people.

So, to say that you support redefining marriage and changing laws because you can't love people unless you do, just seems to be a very limited understanding of love...and I would suggest...not love at all. 

How We Roll

In honor of all the republican presidential hopefuls, and inspired by a NY Times article that I saw a while back on how the different candidates travel, I thought I would share how we travel.


This article is somewhat outdated now, but still good for a laugh...haha.


So, here is a link to the article which I have tried to post below...but is really too wide to work well here on the blog.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/12/30/us/politics/how-the-candidates-roll.html

How the Candidates Roll

While the G.O.P. hopefuls are all making their final tours around early voting states, their modes of travel — and their entourages — vary widely.

Newt Gingrich, who had done little

on-the-ground campaigning until

recently, kicked off an Iowa bus tour

on Tuesday.

Advance personnel (usually two of a six man team attend events).

Personal aides, press spokesman, senior Iowa adviser

Wife, Callista

Security

team

Voter ID team

Press bus

Campaign bus

Rick Santorum has made hundreds of

stops in Iowa and was the first candidate

to visit all 99 counties in the state. He

sometimes travels alone, but often with

just one press aide.

Press aide

Dodge Ram pickup

Rick Perry is also on a bus tour

through Iowa. The slogan on his bus,

which four months ago read “Get

America Working Again,” now reads

“Faith, Jobs and Freedom.”

Press aides and other staff

Personal aide, security, advance staff

Wife, Anita

Press bus

Campaign bus

Mitt Romney spent most of the

week before Christmas touring New

Hampshire and arrived Tuesday in

Iowa, where he is making an

aggressive push.

Average of four aides, including a strategist and press staff

One to three advance staffers

Some of his five sons

Wife, Ann

Personal aide, security guard

Has used a 30-seat charter plane for staff and press

Campaign bus

Ron Paul has been splitting his time

between New Hampshire and Iowa,

where recent polls suggest he is a

front-runner. He arrived in the state

on Wednesday and is focusing his

efforts in more highly populated areas.

Grandchildren

Three Iowa chairmen

Personal aide, bodyguard, press secretary

Caravan or SUV

Jon M. Huntsman Jr., the only

candidate not campaigning in Iowa,

kicked off a tour Wednesday of all

10 of New Hampshire’s counties.

He plans to stay in the state until its

Jan. 10 primary.

Press secretary and other aides

Some of his five daughters and a son-in-law

Wife,

Mary Kaye

Rented SUV

Michele Bachmann has spent more

time in Iowa than most of the other

candidates, and in a final push ahead

of the caucuses, she is wrapping up a

“99-county” tour of the state, making

as many as 10 stops each day.

USUAL ENTOURAGE:

Videographers, social media team, advance personnel

Iowa chairmen

Assistant, campaign manager, strategist, spokeswoman and dog

Husband, Marcus, or children

Campaign bus

 

...and, here is how we roll.

Celebrating Presidents and History

History is such a vital part of our education.  Forget about all the dates and facts that your teacher made you memorize in school and imagine with me for a moment...standing in a small dimly lit room...warm...very warm...and humid...with small windows propped opened...the air stale...men crowded around little tables...as the First Continental Congress debated over what to do with the demanding king that was taking away their freedoms.  Imagine the personalities and differing backgrounds of these men.  They were leaving their families and traveling in conditions that we would never dare...and upon signing the Declaration of Independence, they were very likely signing their own death sentence.  They were risking it all right under the noses of the British soldiers.  They were principled and were willing to risk it all to birth a new nation.  "One if by land, and two if by sea"..."The British are coming, the British are coming"  ahhhh.  This my folks is true history...imagine it, feel it, breathe it in, and let it change how you view the names that you have read in history books and biographies.

To say that I love American History would be a gross understatement.  I am a true history nerd...through and through.  The "history nerd" in me is so bad that years ago, I was switching off babysitting with a friend and was at her house late one night.  When she came home and found me watching the History Channel she looked at me puzzled and asked if I couldn't get the remote to work...Haha!

So, when I was asked to let my little Abby participate in an event at my church where she would dress as an American Girl and be introduced with women portraying many of the president's wives...how could I refuse?  I did some photography for the event as well ( I haven't shared much about my love for photography yet...but it will come.)  This was a fascinating event for this patriotic woman.  I learned tons about many of the presidents wives that I didn't know and now admire them more for the sacrifices that they have made over time.  There just aren't enough hours in the day for all of the biographies that I want to read. So, I was able to sit, listen, and learn.

Here are a few pictures.

This is a picture that I snapped during rehearsal.  Old Glory...as my children fondly refer to this symbol of American freedom.

 Here is my Abby as "Kit Kittredge" her all time favorite American Girl.

Here is Abby with the other girls who were dressed to represent different American Girls.  Aren't these girls precious?

Here are a few of the "president's wives".

Abigail Adams is my all time favorite! 

She was an amazing woman.  We named our Abby after her.  I have lost myself more than once in the pages of the letters that she wrote to her husband, John Adams.  What an amazing patriot, wise counselor, and strong woman she was.  There were many times that John was away from home and Abigail was alone.  For months or years at a time, he would be meeting with the Continental Congress, seeking financial or military support in Europe for America's independence, or building allies in Europe.  During much of these times Abigail was alone would run the farm, manage the servants and affairs, and school her young children (not all the time as she traveled to Europe to be with him when the kids were older).  She even went through a miscarriage alone at one point while John was meeting with the Continental Congress.  She had written to ask him to come home because she was in labor.  She then wrote to John telling him not to come home after all because it was over and they had lost their little girl.  Such sacrifices most of us will never know.  Strength and wisdom are the words that I would use to describe her.

As you learn through the elections this year, take time to learn about the presidents and presidential families of the past.  There are some amazing stories!

Election Party

What is an election without an election party?  We love to watch the results come in and decided to invite a few families over to enjoy the evening with us.

So, after returning from volunteering at the polls we started getting ready for our Arizona Primary Election Party.  We did some last minute cleaning...not that much really as there would be 18 kids running around...haha.

We then made some cookies for the party.  I had bought some great patriotic cookie cutters a while back and the kids really enjoyed the process of rolling, cutting, baking, and icing.

Here are a few pictures of the kids making cookies.

 

After baking the cookies, the kids used (clean) paintbrushes to paint the icing on the cookies.  This is my favorite method for icing sugar cookies.  I make the icing a little thicker than then recipe so that there is very little dripping. 

As we painted the flags, we reviewed the parts of the American Flag (my kids fondly call "Old Glory") and the symbolism of each.

50 stars = 50 states
13 red stripes = 13 original colonies

White -  purity and innocence
Red - hardiness and valor
Blue - vigilance, perseverance and justice

Stars and Stripes...Forever. 

Someone made an (almost) Israeli flag...hmmm...I guess they are better educated on current events than I thought...haha. 

We had snacks, patriotic music, an in-house election, and election results on the television, and a last minute president trivia.  What a fun way to celebrate our country and learn through the election process.

I think we will do this again in November! 

Volunteering

One way that I have chosen to help my kids learn through the elections this year is to volunteer.  Now, with six kids, this is NOT easy...but I feel that it is important for my kids to experience volunteering from their earliest years.  I would like volunteering to be a part of who they are no matter where they choose to volunteer...that they would give of themselves for the good of another.

So, on Tuesday, we went to the polls to collect signatures for a candidate that we support.  You know...the people with clipboards that you run from at the library?  That was us!  Most elected positions require a particular number of signatures to get a candidate's name on the ballot.  Usually...this is all that they are asking you to sign...nominating petition to get a candidate's name or a proposition on the ballot.  But, you would have thought that we were asking them to handle a snake...haha.

For better or worse, here are a few pictures of us collecting signatures for Kirk Adams, who is running for US Congress.

 

The sun was really bright when it chose to peek out from behind the clouds.

 

For all of those political junkies out there...I did the signature collecting, Brennan just enjoyed holding the clipboard and interacting with people:)


After a while, the kids lost interest and turned to reading or playing games, but they will remember this for years to come.  They now know that running a campaign takes lots of volunteers.  In the two hours, we managed to get less than 15 signatures.   Getting your name on the ballot takes more work than one person can do.  It takes volunteers.

 So, as you learn through the elections, get out there and volunteer on the campaign of a candidate that you support and take the kids along.  It will change who they become.  Because, like I said in a previous post, you may have the next governor or even president living right in your home.  Train them well...while you can...haha!

Power Writing

This year, we added a writing curriculum into our schooling mix (apart from what is taught in our Language curriculum).  I waited on this so that I could take my three older kids through it together.  It seems to be working well, and cuts down on the number of times that I will be teaching the same thing over again.  Right now it is focusing more on creative writing rather than structured writing.


But, I was really wanting to add in a few lessons on structured writing.  As I was going through a tub of my old classroom supplies, I came across these posters that I used to have hanging in my classroom to help the kids with structured writing.  We called it Power Writing and I think I will hang them in my home for a while as we are learning about writing. 

Power 1 - Main Idea

Power 2 - Major Detail

Power 3 - Minor Detail

This is not something that I created myself and don't know whose original work this is but I did copy it onto posters...haha.

After teaching my older three kids about structured writing I had them write a report on the political rally that we went to a few weeks ago. They were to choose three things about the rally to write about.  They started with an intro sentence telling what they were going to say, list each of the three things and give a description of each, and then end with a conclusion sentence telling what they had just said.

Here is part of the report that Abby (6 years old and the one who would give permission to have her report posted) wrote about the Kirk Adams' congressional rally.

A few weeks later we were able to go to a presidential primary rally.  So, I had the kids write reports again.  This time I had them write a compare/contrast report on the similarities or differences between the two rallies.  We still used structure but just changed the tone a bit.  Here is Abby's report.

A household election

As we are learning through the elections this year, I thought it would be fun to hold a "mock election".  What better way to learn about elections than to have one right in our own home!  But, what to have them run for...as we have no president...haha.  It had to be intriguing and fun...something that they would all want to "win".  I also wanted it to be something that they would do for the family.  That way they could have campaign promises and work to win votes.  So, I decided to give the kids an opportunity to run for Fantastic Friday Field-trip Chooser.  Try fitting that on a political sign...haha. 

I told the kids and they were all on board.  First, I explained the rules of the game.  The three older kids would run for office.  Every family member would get two votes...down to Sethy.  They would be allowed to create and put up signs and run their campaign how they felt was right.  Voters needed to keep in mind the promises that would be made and if they believe the candidate could actually deliver on the promises.  Obviously, if the promise of Disneyland was made, that candidate isn't to be trusted.  I also set a budget of $20 (ish...isn't that how Washington sets our federal budget??) for the field trip.  This would include the six kids and mom.  The things that wouldn't have to come from the budget would be gas money and a homemade picnic lunch.

I provided the kids with art supplies that I bought in red. white, and blue to create signs, etc.  Here are a few pictures of them creating signs and decorations for their campaigns.

As time progressed, the kids realized just how fickle the voters could be.  I guess we have several "swing voters" in our house...haha!
At first, the kids were trying to plan trips to the Lego Store or to Mc Donalds (a place they don't get to go often).  But, $20 is a tight budget for those things and none of the candidates could seem to pull ahead in the daily polls.

Finally, in a desperate attempt to gain votes, Nathan pledged to take a "free" field trip and give a tax refund...meaning that he would split the $20 budget money between the older four kids...each would get $5.  WOW.  I didn't even give him any hints.  He may be a born politician...haha!  Now everyone wanted to vote for him.  Brennan saw that the polls showed that he was behind and desperately tried to gain back votes by promising a $4 per kid tax refund and an ice cream.  Isn't that how it goes in real life?  Oh, this was SO much fun to watch!

I let the kids run their campaigns for most of the month of February so that they would get a good taste of winning and keeping votes.  When it came time to vote, I placed each of the older three kids' color coded drinking cups on the floor in the piano room.  Then we had the family wait in the other room as each person cast their two votes in the cup(s) of the candidate(s) they supported.

To keep it "secret ballets", I had Wesley vote first, then Seth (who couldn't give anything away), then Peter and I, and then the older kids one at a time.

In the end, it was the tax cut that won the votes.  Guess we have a house full of Republicans...haha.

Although the kids just thought this was another fun game that mom came up with, they really learned a great deal about winning and keeping votes and how the polls can change...in an instant.

A Presidential Rally

Today we decided to take the kids to another rally...this time for one of the republican presidential candidates.  We heard that Rick Santorum would be in town and thought it would be a great learning experience after going, a few weeks ago, to a rally for Kirk Adams, who is running for Congress.

So, to prepare, the kids and I went to The Dollar Store and bought some poster boards, markers, and flags.  Then we went home and talked about what people write on rally posters.  One of my kids suggested that we write "Ricky is the Man".  Haha.  Well, we didn't put that on a sign but I was impressed with the signs that the kids did create.  Here are a few pictures.

I honestly had no idea that Wesley could write as we haven't started schooling him yet.  Amazing what they just pick up!

 I love this picture that Abby drew of The Capitol building. 

After loading everyone into the van and driving downtown, we arrived at the rally with time to spare...no small feat with six kids...haha!

Here are a few pictures of the kids waiting for the rally to begin.

Our funny little Sethy is always ready to clown around and have fun...laughter is one of his gifts:)

Ransom, on the other hand was not so happy...actually only at this moment because I handed him away to get a picture.  He really is a Santorum supporter...honest.

 That's my patriotic little boy!

After prayer and introductions from several fantastic speakers, Rick Santorum, his wife, and three of their children came on stage.  

The kids really enjoyed this rally as two of the speakers before Rick Santorum were people that my kids had met before.  I love for the kids to see that those people on stage are just regular people like you and I.  

Here is a picture of Peter and Wesley enjoying the rally.

Looks like that flag waving is hard work...haha.

 Well...at least you know she did it all on her own...haha!

Here are the older boys taking it all in.  I love how you can see their personalities in their expressions and posture.

Here is Wesley as Santorum was speaking.  I couldn't get him to stay still enough to get a clear shot.

After the rally, Santorum walked right out into the crowd and talked to the media and supporters, signed autographs, and shook hands.  Fantastic.  Here are a few pictures of this.

Here is Rick Santorum shaking hands with the boys.  Those heads at the bottom of the picture are Nathan and Brennan.

We managed to get a campaign sign autographed.  You can see Nathan, Brennan, and Wesley all watching.

We took home a few yard signs.  Better put them up quick the Arizona primary is next week!

 You can't start them too young...haha! 

(Disclaimer: I did not go out and purchase a republican toy for my infant son...it was a gift.  But, he has been carrying it around tons lately.  Smart kid!)

Here is Nathan with his autographed campaign sign...which is now hanging above his bed...my little Alex Keaton...haha.

We also made it into a CNN report on the rally that I can't get to upload here but here is the link.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2012/02/22/bts-santorum-satan-controversy.cnn#/video/politics/2012/02/22/bts-santorum-satan-controversy.cnn


This was a busy, exciting, and educational day for all of us.   In the end, I am really happy with how the kids are learning through the elections.


 I believe that as a parent, it is important to train our children in every area of life.  How will they know, if we don't teach them?