A Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving Day with Dan's family. Here are a few pictures from the event.

1. Dan's Dad cutting the turkey.
2. Dan's parent's pomeranian
3. Dan's parents
4. Dan's brother, Don, and his two daughters
5. Dan's sister, Cheryl, and her son, Ryan
6. Dan's sister, Kathie, and her 4 kids
7. Our family
8. The grandkids

"Such a Time as This"

I have noticed that many blogging friends have been weighing in with post election topics. I've also noticed that nearly everyone has, in some way or another, turned back to the foundational truths of our faith... our hope is in God alone, our future is bright in Him and we will trust Him come what may. I've found comfort here!
I've been having such wonderful conversations with a Catholic lady for whom I work. (We were equally disappointed that proposal two was not defeated here in MI. It was a proposition for embryonic stem cells to be used for research in a number of ways.) As I understand it, she has only recently been permitted by the Catholic priests to read the Scriptures. So many things are coming to light for her. It's just wonderful! She says she wants to surround herself with all that is holy. Yesterday, we talked about these historic times and what it means to us as Americans. No one seems to deny the extraordinary events taking place today!
I'll admit to being a bit anxious as to what the future might hold; however, I was encouraged this morning when I read a devotional so pertinent for today. I was reminded that I was placed here "for such a time as this!!" I love the story of Queen Esther! I'm sure she had some misgivings about her tremendous tasks and unrevealed future, but she didn't cower to Satan and his tactics. She faced it with God on her side and she was an over comer!!

I'll leave you with an excerpt from the last paragraph of the devotional by Carol Hobbs:

"My life is not a fairy tale, but my story begins with "once upon a time" and ends with "they lived happily ever after." Between the "once upon a time," and the "happily ever after," there is a life to live and you and I are here "for such a time as this!"
The Christian's life on earth is "once upon a time" and heaven will be our "happily ever after."

Now--- The Waiting

Well, we've just settled in for the night and are waiting for results from the election. As I mentioned in my last post, I have been a Challenger today at precinct #10 in Rochester Hills. It was a great experience and for the most part everything went by in a smooth manner. I arrived around 1:00 and the line was long with probably a half hour waiting time for voters. It was very lengthy until 3:00 and then there was a much slower influx of people coming through. It remained slow until 5:00. There were 1, 375 registered voters in this precinct- 324 had already voted by absentee ballots. As of around 5:00 p.m. 741 voters had voted today. So we were having heavy turnout.

Here are some of the interesting happenings of the day:

There were a few who came and were at the wrong place. One couple had already been to one precinct and had been directed to ours.... Ours wasn't the correct one either, so our Lead Poll Worker sent them on to another.... That would be frustrating!

One elderly lady came through the line and was going to vote, and when they looked her up they found that she had already voted absentee. She had someone with her who was wanting to help her with her ballot (had she received one). Fortunately, they had the record of her absentee... She just didn't remember voting.... That was interesting!

A man came in to vote with two large books for something to do while waiting in line. He came prepared, thinking there would be long lines.... When he came in, there was no one in line.... Kind of funny!

One man came in and there was a "red flag" with his name. He was transferred to the Lead Poll Worker and she found that he originally had not filled out the first question of his voter registration form. That question asked if he was a US citizen. He had to fill out another form, and then was able to vote, but he was not happy. I think he even told her that he was going to report her. She didn't care, because she knew she was doing the right thing.

Well, it's going to be a looooooooong night. We don't know the future, but I'm glad I know Who is in control of it all!

Worthwhile reading!

My cousin is a writer who can express her thoughts so very well through printed text. She just blogged concerning the election, and I only wish I would have thought of these things first!! Ha!! No, really, they were great! The Emporer's New Clothes analogy just put my thoughts and feelings into the perfect word picture! I'm linking to it here.

I'll be brutally honest, I e-mailed McCain's campaign way back before the primaries ever took off. I let him know that I would not be voting for him due to some issues that I won't delve into here. I have come around quite a bit since that time. Someone expressed to me their amusement about that... maybe they really knew it would happen all along, I don't know. It's a wonderful thing that we have the option of changing our minds. However, even if I hadn't "come around", after knowing all the issues at stake, there is no way I could have sat at home on election day. I will go to the polls to cast my ballot for McCain. A vote for Obama is a vote for so many things that we just can't allow to happen in our country. Hopefully, you have all taken the time to know about these issues. Click here for a website with a voter's guide.

I'm a volunteer with the Republican party, and received a call to be a challenger at the polls this year. I'm not sure what all will be involved with that. I have been a runner before, but never a challenger. From what I'm hearing, there's quite a bit more involved. So, it should be an interesting day tomorrow.

A Happy Pirate

Dave and Pattie Hartkopf had us over for pizza Halloween night, and Clayton dressed up like a pirate. He went trick or treating in their neighborhood. I knew that I didn't want to put much money into a costume. Pattie had suggested that he be a pirate. I went to the Dollar Store and found a kit that had the eye patch, ear ring, and a hook for him to hold in his hand. Then I bought the bandana and Amber figured out how to tie it to fit the occasion. He wore the white shirt and black pants, with a sword on his side. So all in all I only paid $2.00. Not bad! People seemed to like his costume. Some of the men would answer the door and say, "Aaargh!" He also received comments like, "Ahoy, Matey!", and "Here's a happy pirate." It was a fun night!