Gladdest Hours

Election Results 2008

We had a very busy day today.  We've been talking and walking lots of politics these past couple of weeks. Every morning Madeleine checked for updates about the battleground states.  Our reluctant-reader is suddenly reading news articles about the elections and politics.  

The girls and I have been distributing literature to defeat our Assisted Suicide Initiative in Washington state.  We are a very efficient team.  I walk down the middle of the street with my double stroller, directing, pointing and sending the three older girls running to distribute pamphlets to each and every house.  They are about ten times faster at this than I could be doing it on my own.  

This was the year that the words abortion and suicide were introduced in our home and  into our everyday conversation.   Of course, they were completely appalled.  Incredulous.  Disbelieving.  Confused.  And, that was even BEFORE I gave them MY opinion.  "Killing babies?"  "You mean a baby in the tummy of a mommy?"  Yep.  Wince.  It's painful to explain this to your children.  So, now they know.  

And, now they are little soldiers.  Running with pamphlets.  Discussing.  Learning.  Praying.  That's what they've been doing.  The interest and questions astonish me.  

So, this was the big day.   My friend, Lori and I headed to the polls this morning with our nine children in tow.  We all got our "I voted" stickers and the kids saw the polls in operation.  I got my free coffee from Starbucks.  Madeleine made me promise that the next Presidential election, we would stand on the corner and wave signs for a pro-life candidate.   They all calculated how old they would be in four years.  I told them I'd officially become a Precinct-Committee-Officer again if they would promise to do all the work. *wink*  

This evening we had fried chicken for dinner and settled in to watch the returns: 

Erika and Dorothy moved the states once they were called and I tried to referee the sharing of the blue and red crayons, because of course we couldn't find ONE for EVERYONE! Sheesh.  A million crayons in this house and on the night of the elections we can't find 4 reds and 4 blues.  Aaarrrrggghhhh!   Caroline read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? a million times over and over. 

The results were quite disappointing and we were a bit teary-eyed in this house with lots of girls.  Erika was crying for the babies and wondered why God didn't hear her prayers last night. *sigh*  Lots of hugs and explaining about Divine Providence and God making good from bad.  (Pete picks some really good nights to be out-of-town.)

Madeleine got busy right away with her political advising: 

Dear Sarah Palin~

I am sorry that you did not get elected for vice president.  You are my friend.  In 4 years you culd become President of the United States of America.  Tusday night November 4th 2008 we were waching Obama get elected for President.  You are pretty.   Love, Madeleine

Shameless Plug

Enjoy a few chuckles as Michelle at Life of the Party encourages the Republican Party "not to shy away from PRO-LIFE issues..."

Please be generous and leave a comment at the Life of the Party blog, to show the party leadership that LIFE issues must come first!

My Pro-Life Activism

My mother would do something like this.  She is notorious for lining things up and taking a picture.  In that way, she was way ahead of her time, as this is what scrapbook professionals advise as an excellent way of capturing the moment, the state in life, the plethora, the.....well, you get the idea.  I remember the day she was finally ready to get rid of the massive box of baby shoes in the attic.  To make herself feel better, she lined them all up and took a picture.  Classic....Perfect....Reminiscent.  Five children wore those shoes, and what a story that picture tells.  My father, of course, thought she was crazy.....but I think that even he would admit that if he looked at that picture today, he'd get a bit teary-eyed. 

These are all of the strollers that we own. Big and little.  For real babies and for baby-dolls.  In no particular order (sorry, Mom).  I was complaining to a friend a year ago, about how many dolls we had in the house. I just couldn't believe how MANY dolls my girls could play with ALL AT ONCE! The more the merrier. Everywhere I turned there were dolls.  She reminded me that there WERE three girls in my house, and 24 various dollies divided by 3 was ONLY 8.  Eight dolls per "mommy." That's a nice-sized family.  "That's actually VERY pro-life; you should be thrilled that they love their babies and want lots and more!" Hmmm, I hadn't thought of it like that.  So, I've decided that SEVEN strollers in our family is not that outlandish.  It's actually very pro-life.   

The most important election of the year is taking place in South Dakota.  The battle intensifies as we get closer to election day.  As Nov. 7 approaches, please continue to pray and sacrifice for the election in  South Dakota. Maybe this would be a good week to memorize the St. Michael Prayer with my little prayer partners.   

I may not be waving signs, stuffing envelopes or doorbelling these days, but I am still working for the pro-life cause, by praying and sacrificing and "changing the world one diaper at a time."  Someday, by the grace of God, my little girls will be working hard to protect human life, from conception to natural death, in their own way.....however God calls them.

Life of the Party

My favorite pro-life, Republican, activist has a new blog called Life of the Party.  Check it out!