Why Vote?

I love my right to vote.

I grew up in countries where citizens have not always had the freedom to vote. Liberia, West Africa.....Philippine Islands under President Marcos.

Years later I was blessed to live in my Grams' hometown. Mike was a minister. I remember many fond afternoons with Grams (went to heaven at the young age of 93). Grams loved to tell the girls and I all about the days when she, as an American woman was NOT allowed to vote. Her passion carried in her voice all those years later. She remembered the first election in which women were allowed to participate. She vowed then and there to vote each and every time the polls were opened. She did. As she aged, driving became hard. I would pick her up and drive her to the polls in the small town where she lived - pop 2700. The poll workers loved to see us coming. I would bring my daughters (6, 4 when this began) to the polls as well. My Uncle and her friends would tease us. It was well-known that our votes would most likely cancel each other's out. That did not matter. We were exercising a hard won right. We voted. We were also passing on the value of voting to another generation.

We have the freedom and the honor to go to our polling places and vote without free of intimidation or recrimination.

I know it is sometimes difficult as miliatary families to get all the "paperwork" in order to vote....but it is so very important. Please take time this year to pray about and then get out and vote.

I thought of Grams this year as I voted...via absentee ballot.

I thought of her legacy when both our older daughters called to share that they were registered to vote (one in AK and one in WA). I think of her legacy when our sons thrill to political discussion.

Happy Voting - whether that be via local polls or absentee ballot.