Voting in small town America

FOREWARNING: This post has nothing to do with how I voted. 

I’m pretty sure that there should be a reality TV series about voting in our township. It would be called “If They Want me to Vote, Then Maybe the Polls Shouldn’t be in the Middle of Nowhere”. Well, maybe that’s a little extreme.

However, saying it is out of the way is an understatement. However, the scenery (if you choose to look at it through a glass half full perspective) is beautiful right now!

We had only two issues on the ballot today. A school bond issue and electing school board candidates. As a teacher and a parent, both of these affect me and my family significantly.

So, after school, I headed out to my polling place. It is such a remote location, that they have to place signs like this everywhere so people won’t miss the gravel road.
 
This is the gravel road to Bethel.

Bethel is a cute little Community Building that stills holds pews and a wood stove. There are only two booths/stands from which to vote. The overflow voters can stand and wait for an open booth or vote in the pews. I have been a pew voter before. ;)  We vote with pens on paper.  There are no computers. The building barely has electricity. There is a small, beautiful cemetery right next to the building. We are greeted by people we know and that know our story and our families. Sometimes there are cookies and gifts. In my mind, there are no glitches. This may seem primitive to many people, but it’s simple and amazing in my eyes. I love it!

Cole thinks I’m crazy for taking pictures, but I had to have something to prove I was there. :) Actually, I have taken pictures of him here several times in his life and even though he thinks I’m weird for taking them, I hope to instill in him that this is a valuable right that he will one day be thankful to have. 

On the way to and from voting, we travel over ‘Washboard Hills’ as the road is so affectionately referred to or in true Ozarks fashion, ‘Warshboard Hills’. It’s a series of several hills that pop up and down one right after the other like an old metal washboard. Sometimes, when John drives, I feel like I’m losing my tummy. It’s great!

If you go too fast, your vehicle bottoms out, as evidenced by the marks at the bottom of this hill.

Since it was so windy and we were still a long way from home, I decided to do a little hand surfing. (If you know me really well, you’d know how embarrassed I am that people do this in front of other people) and you would be really proud that I actually took a picture of myself doing it.

Secretly, I love doing it when I know no one is looking! There’s just something great about the wind hitting your hand and it popping it back up that reminds me of being a carefree little kid. But I digress…

Since the polls are in the middle of nowhere and our main road to get home was closed for repaving, we had to take the long way home. We saw some beautiful forsythia bushes. I love the vibrant yellow!

Near our house is a row of beautiful trees in full bloom right now. In the sunlight, they look magnificent. (Ann, this is your niece’s place.)

Regardless of how far we drive or the scenery in the path we choose or even the way we choose to vote, we are so very fortunate to live in a society that our opinion is valued. The fact that we have a voice is something that can be extremely taken for granted. We have rights that people are willing to die for and others, to kill for. Whether or not everyone chooses to vote is a personal decision, but for me, it’s a privilege and I’m proud to say, “I VOTED!”

Baking Day—Late…

Mmmmm, my house smelled soooo good while all of this was baking!

Last Saturday, I had lots of motivation to bake. I’m not really sure why, but I am attributing it trying to get warm. I also like the thought of Once a Month Cooking and the fact that Crystal at Money Saving Mom had multiple posts about what she does on her baking day. Also, I’m trying to be extremely frugal and enjoy more time at home rather than running around. Of course, that time seems few and far between. :)

My baking day would have actually only been considered baking hours though. It took me two hours and 15 minutes to bake 2 loaves of poppy seed bread, 2 loaves of banana bread, lemon cheesecake bars, 24 pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and a pan of 9 pumpkin chocolate chip squares. I have frozen almost all of it and we’re eating little bits of it at a time. It’s so nice to have it done and to be able to pull some out of the freezer and enjoy a little treat.

What is your favorite thing to bake?

Flexibility with grace

This is one of my favorite pictures from this summer. I don't know what it is that I like about it so much, but the youth of this giraffe and the amount of flexibility and grace it takes to do one of the most simple things, like eating, is inspiring to me. Yesterday was a lousy day. I won't go into details because none of it truly matters. However, it got me thinking about my own attitude and how much flexibility you have to have before you feel like others need to do some bending instead. Although I haven't come to a conclusion yet, I do know that I need to consider how far I'm willing to bend to make others happy without losing my balance and losing part of myself.

23 bows later--I'm finished!!!

I finally finished the bows from the ribbon I had requested and so graciously received from Sue in SE Texas! I ended up making 15 for the free store.

I made three for Audrey in the colors that I had requested and made eight more with ribbon I already had. Thanks again to Sue for making this possible. I can't wait to donate the bows!

P.S. Kim--the doily pictures are for you! Each Christmas, my great-grandma made doilies for all the ladies in our family for years. I was so glad to see you using one at your house. We may be the only two in the world!

The Kindness of a Stranger

A few weeks ago, I posted a message on a few of the bow making boards I subscribe to making a request to purchase a yard each of a few colors of polka dot ribbon I was needing for bows for Audrey. I was hoping to save money by not purchasing an entire roll (being the frugal mommy I am).

Sue from SE TX promptly e-mailed me and offered to send the ribbon I was requesting. To my surprise, not only did she send me what I wanted, she went above and beyond and sent several yards of each of the colors of polka dot ribbon AND coordinating solid ribbon in the same colors. What a sweet surprise!

I know I'm a sap, but I was completely touched by her generosity. She never once asked for anything in return and she even paid the shipping to send it to me. The kindness of a stranger is such a true blessing. Especially in this day and age when so many people seem to be focused solely on doing things for themselves. I find it refreshing that she was so sweet and so giving and that she expected nothing for her good deed.

The following verses seem to fit Sue's actions and I believe that she will somehow be blessed for her kindness.

Acts 20:35b - It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Hebrews 13:1-2 - Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Galatians 6:9a - Let us not lose heart in doing good.

So, somewhere in SE Texas, I hope that Sue will know that here I sit with a smile on my face and a warm heart knowing that not only is my daughter going to be even cuter with her new vibrant colored bows, but Sue has shown me I need to also pay it forward. I'm going to use the extra ribbon she sent to make bows for our local community free store run by an area church.

I included the before picture of the ribbon above and hopefully I'll be able to post an after picture of my creations soon. Thank you, Sue, for being so thoughtful!