{Take It With A Grateful Hand}

I am not very political. In fact I try to avoid politics at all costs. Dean on the other hand loves it. But for a while now, the news has been unofficially banned in our home. Partly because the news reporters/writers in this town are ridiculous, but also because watching the news usually ends up with one of us yelling at the TV (or each other!!). So, needless to say, I am glad the elections are over. Maybe I can watch the news now!

I have totally mixed feelings about the results of the election. I was not a big fan of Obama, I have issues with a lot of his moral beliefs and his lack of respect for the country he will now be president of. But, he is going to be our president, and I will show him respect as I have every other president. However, I am elated that Prop 102 passed (I think I was more worried about that than who would be president). I was not looking forward to having to deal with homosexuality being taught to my children in elementary school, like the families back East. I know that war isn't over, but we have won the first battle. (So far Prop 8 is a go in California too, but official results are not in.)

From what I understand people stood in line for hours to vote this time (we did absentee ballots). Cheryl (Dean's Mom) works the polls each election and she said that part of the problem was that people went in to vote, not knowing what they were voting for, which contributed to the long lines. So, here's the question, is it worth voting if you are just going to wing it...if you are totally clueless on the people and propositions? I'm not sure, but I was disappointed in some of the results of the other propositions. They are so unclear in the way they are written, that I think few people really understand what they are voting for, therefore, they wing it.

In the end, we just have to move forward. This past General Conference, I expected to hear more about the events going on in the world, but was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed President Monson's talk "Finding Joy in the Journey." His basic message: Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. President Monson shared what the ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, "Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily." I have a lot to be grateful for, so I will do my best to find joy in my journey and live for today, not worrying about tomorrow.