My 3 Biggest Reasons To Vote This Election...

Here are my 3 biggest reasons to get involved in this election & VOTE!

1. Gracie


2. Noah



3. Dawson


If you're anything like I have been in the past, you might find yourself saying things like, "what election?" "who's running anyway?" "what day did you say voting day was?" "am I even registered to vote?" My parents were both very hard working people as I grew up, but we just didn't talk about "politics" much at home, & it's taken me a long time to even be remotely interested in that whole scene.
But with the wonderful gifts of children in our lives, I've become very aware of the reality that the decisions our nation makes now will greatly impact their lives later. There's just so much at stake in this election that will make significant impact on the next generation - both now & in the years to come. This reality has just fueled my fire! It's created in me a passion to BE INVOLVED, BE AWARE, HAVE A VOICE & PRAY!

No matter what you may hear in the media, neither candidate has a magic wand to wave over the economic situation in our nation. Neither candidate will be able to "fix it" immediately, whoever is elected is in for one big ride...along with all of us in America. When you spend more than you bring in over time, there are consequences! Simple as that. You don't need a law degree from Harvard to figure that out, right?
Neither candidate is going be able to "fix" our health care situation immediately either, quite possibly ever. Neither candidate has all the answers when it comes to ending the war in Iraq, foreign policy, protecting our nation against terroists, etc.. Neither candidate is perfect, both have flaws & weaknesses. But, let's not end on that "happy" note...

Besides these big huge topics that we hear so much about, there are other issues that I believe are HUGE in God's heart. Depending on who wins, this election has the potential to positively or negatively impact our future generations in areas that so many of us have taken a firm stand against over years....like abortion...like the homosexual lifestyle being taught in public schools...like the threat of the traditional definition of marriage - which, last time I checked is still between one man & one woman. Our next president will be in THE key political position to choose to nominate godly or ungodly men & women to places of authority in our land. Depending on what that picture looks like, the stage will be set for further moral or immoral decisions to be made &/or laws to be passed.

Let me encourage you & myself:

1. Do the homework - do the research. There are great websites to see how our candidates have voted in the past & what they stand for today, like the following links:
McCain vs. Obama
campaign for working families

2. Don't check out - check in - check WAY in.

3. Get involved.

4. VOTE.

5. Encourage other people to vote.

6. Vote early if you want to avoid the long lines on Nov. 4th. (Google search early voting sites for your county, Troy & I already know where we're going on Oct. 21st.)

7. If you don't vote early, WAIT IN LINE, DON'T LEAVE.

8. PRAY, please PRAY. Pray for our nation, pray for God to intervene as He chooses, pray for His people to have the voice He would want us to have. If you, like me, just feel like you don't even know how to pray for such a big political battle, this great website can help:
pray-the-vote.org

9. Don't lose hope, BELIEVE.

10. And, lastly, here's my big heart reason to write this today...TALK TO YOUR KIDS about this election at age appropriate levels. Whether you have children at home, or teach children, or have neices & nephews, or grandchildren, help them get involved! Tell them who's running, tell them who you're planning to vote for & why, tell them what you can do as a family to be involved in this process, tell them why it's important to have a voice in our land & then HAVE A VOICE, let them see you're willing to spend some time & effort to make a difference for what you say is important, pray together about the election, let them hear your heart, remind them that more than anything - God is in control.

Dawson is in 1st grade, he seems to care more about Star Wars than about political wars right now. But he does know who's running, he knows what we believe in & what we stand for, and who we're voting for based on those reasons. Noah just knows he wants to be "king." Gracie attempts to "de-throne" him constantly. But, in spite of where we're at right now, I have to believe that in the long run, our efforts to talk with them about "politics," about taking a stand & having a voice, WILL pay off.

We CAN raise up a generation of young people in this land who have learned what it is to TAKE A STAND FOR SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IN. Our kids are watching us more than we could ever know. Let's raise them to know - they have a voice - let's raise them to know how to use it in a way that would bring honor to God & to His purposes!
Now THAT is something to vote for!