four

Today Maria is two months old! She celebrated by sleeping from 11pm-5:30am, waking up to eat a little, and is now generally being adorable. After her morning meal and a quick pumping session, I looked outside to see a line already forming at the church for the 2 precincts that vote there. I figured since I wasn't going to be able to sleep much even if I did get back in bed, I'd get dressed and go vote now while Timon was home and the kiddos were sleeping. It was a smart choice. I was about 30th in line and my ballot was the 25th recorded today. This is my 4th time voting in a presidential election. My uncle John was eager to take me to town hall soon after I turned 18 in 1995 (gosh, I'm old!) to register to vote. I was a snot about it and didn't appreciate what he was doing at the time. (Who, me? A rude teenager? NO! Get out of town!)

Ours is a mixed political household - my vote this morning just cancels out Timon's. Many people who I love and respect (my husband, in-laws, cousins, etc) hold different political beliefs than I do. What makes this country great is that it's okay for it to be that way. What makes my loved ones great is that we can all still have a good time, even while we disagree. I think LadyB said it best yesterday when she wrote this:

"I'm also done with receiving forwards about how horrible Candidate X or Y is. I like to think that we all live by the most important rule: love thy neighbor. That means something different for everyone, I know. But really, at the end of the day, how can we best show our love for each other? Is that donating to a food pantry, donating our time to a group we belong to, or giving away things we no longer use? Maybe it's picking up the phone and giving a friend a call to say hello. Maybe it's turning off the computer and spending time with our partner or children. Maybe it's not forwarding a hateful and prejudiced email about Candidate X or Y. Maybe it's living our lives in a way where we're giving of our talents without keeping the focus on our own needs. Maybe it's getting out tomorrow and voting for the person we feel our values most align with. Maybe it's overlooking the differences we have with our family and friends, instead focusing on the love we share and appreciating each other for who we are. Maybe it's not focusing on someone else's faults, but instead trying to improve our own downfalls. Whatever "love they neighbor" means to you, it doesn't matter. Just do it. Just love your neighbor and try to lose the focus so many of us (including me) has on ourselves."

Amen, sister.

(If you have a minute - perhaps while standing in line to vote - please pray for my mom who is having surgery today at 1pm; and for Henry, who still has fever of 102.5 this morning and is home from school again. Thanks...)