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Ten Things of Thankful: The Vote is Over Edition

A wild election year has finally culminated in a vote, but unrest continues.  Vile accusations about supporters of the major candidates fly around Facebook.  I have friends who voted for Hillary, friends who voted for Trump, and friends who voted for various other lesser-known candidates.  I do not think that my Trump-supporting friends are hate-filled.  I do not think that my Hillary-supporting friends are in favor of lawlessness.  I do not think that my other friends are stupid for casting a vote for a person who realistically had no chance of winning. 

 Negativity and doubt breed fear, and fear keeps us from peace. Political peace differs from inner peace, though, and we can have inner peace no matter what goes on around us.  Inner peace creates strength, confidence, courage, and calmness.  We can have peace within ourselves and within our homes, and the peace that we and our families feel at home will overshadow any discord and chaos of the world.  

 I was disappointed with the choices on the ballot, so I was bound to be disappointed with the outcome, no matter what happened. However, this week as I cast my vote, I felt peace knowing that regardless of who won, my home would be a refuge from the outside world.

 1.  I'm thankful for the country in which I live.  
2.  I'm thankful for the ability to vote.
3.  I'm thankful for freedom of speech.
4.  I'm thankful for a system of government that provides checks and balances.  
5.  I'm thankful for freedom of religion.

While protests were going on across the country, I had my grandchildren staying with me.  I was reminded of their blissfully ignorant world, where what truly matters was at the forefront of their mind.  They were happy to see Grandma and Grandpa, their aunt, and Drexel.  They wanted to know when they would see Mommy and Daddy again.  They were excited to play outside, to eat meals together, to read, to listen to music, to bathe, and to sleep. (Well, that last one might be a slight exaggeration.)  

 6.  I'm thankful for the excitement of my granddaughters when I said we were going to go vote.  "Go on a boat!  Go on Jungle Cruise!  See the elephants, and the hippos, and the lions, and the. . . ."  I gave a quick enunciation lesson.  V...v....v...VOTE. 

 7.  I'm thankful they easily adapted to (in their minds) a change of plans.  We arrived at the school, I handed in my ballot, and we all received stickers!  "I like going to the vote," declared my oldest granddaughter.  

 On Thursday night, the grandchildren went home.  On Friday, John, youngest daughter and I actually did go on that boat ride at the Happiest Place on Earth.  (Sorry, girls!)  John and I were signed up to run a 10 K at Disneyland on Saturday, and needed to go to packet pick-up on Friday anyway.  Since John had the day off, we took time to play at Disneyland on Friday before picking up our running packets.

 8.  I'm thankful for Veteran's Day, not just because it was a day off for John, but because of the chance to recognize those who serve our country.  I'm thankful for brave men and women who so unselfishly give of themselves.  
Photo:  My grandpa in his Navy uniform holds his infant son, my uncle

 9.  I'm thankful also for 11-11, because it is Drexel's birthday.  Can you believe he is 4 years old?  Amazing, isn't it?
Photo:  Drexel, as a young puppy, sleeping in the sunshine

 10.  I'm thankful for John.  We had fun running together, and we even PRed!  Even if we hadn't, though, we still would have had a good time.  Whether we are turning in our ballots together, or crossing a finish line together, we can have peace and joy regardless of outcome. 
Photo:  John and I cross the finish line of the 10 K race

 How has your week gone?  What peaceful moments have you had in your home? 



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Comments

  1. Clark FarleyNovember 13, 2016 at 7:50 PM

    great photo of Drexel doing what dogs do best.... whatever they are doing at and in the moment. No pretensions, no self-consciousness, no fear of what others may think. Surely they are perfect lifeforms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiNovember 13, 2016 at 11:08 PM

      Just seeing that photo reminded me of why we called him "Drexel the Adorable" when he was a puppy!

      Delete
  2. Pat BNovember 13, 2016 at 9:16 PM

    Great post, Kristi. I especially like your differentiating between political peace and inner peace. Your granddaughter's comment about going to vote (boat) still cracks me up. Having a baby and a puppy on the same page definitely has earned some kudos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiNovember 13, 2016 at 11:10 PM

      I think that the world is only headed toward more turbulence politically, but we can certainly find peace in our homes.

      My grandchildren seem to have gotten the Disneyland gene!

      Delete
  3. KerryNovember 13, 2016 at 9:49 PM

    Something about a boat...and something about a vote...I do not like them, Sam I am.
    :-)
    Well, we are lucky to vote, but sometimes so much of politics feels like one gigantic joke. Well, that's probably me taking it for granted, which I shouldn't do, but joke is what came to mind with so much of this. I do like that being around children can take you out of that cynical mindset however. It does for me anyway.
    I think we could all do with a little more peace now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiNovember 13, 2016 at 11:12 PM

      I won't fix Green Eggs and Ham anytime soon. :-)

      Delete
  4. AnonymousNovember 14, 2016 at 5:01 AM

    I love the confidence and surety you have in all that is good and positive. I feel somewhat of a release from the stress of the election. You are right, let's focus on peace, family and love. You rock those Minnie ears.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiNovember 14, 2016 at 9:14 AM

      When I was a child, my parents got rid of our TV. Every so often, we did go to the movies. Because we were not used to watching situations unfold on a screen, sometimes that could be an intense experience. My dad would always remind us during the scary parts that movies always end well. (No horror flicks for us!) The good guys win in the end. I think that is how it is in life. We might be in the scary part now, but honestly, we can hold fast to the idea that everything will work out in the end.

      Delete
  5. UnknownNovember 30, 2016 at 7:59 AM

    To heck with the election results - I'll focus on how cute Drexel is! The kids also have a new long haired kitten named Dashell. Much needed distractions through all of this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiDecember 1, 2016 at 7:32 AM

      Pets are wonderful distractions, and cute to boot!

      Delete

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