Election

Well, I am extremely sad to see that there will be no Mormon in the White House this January.  We not only lost the presidential election, but the liberals were able to advance their social agendas this year.  Eric and Zachary have taken a keen interest in the election and have been following along.  Eric has always liked politics, economics, etc so that isn't surprising.  I enjoy watching election coverage with him.  He pretty much knows as much or maybe more than I do.    So he doesn't ask many questions.  Zach, on the other hand, is brand new to politics and so trying to explain the electoral college to an 8 year-old has been a challenge.  I had to run kids back and forth to activities last night and I was getting aggravated that I couldn't just sit down and watch the election coverage.  When I finally did sit down, I got irritated with Zach for asking a question about the election every two seconds.  Mario took notice and instead of telling me how wrong I was, (which is what I deserved) he took the boys aside and played a game with them.  Zach didn't want to go to bed last night without knowing who won.  But of course, we thought it would be a really long night and we wouldn't know until possibly the next day.  So I made him go to bed.  Mario, Eric, and I went to bed at 10 pm when it was looking pretty dismal for Romney.  Within 20 minutes of climbing into bed, I got texts from both my brothers telling me it was over.   First question from Zach this morning was, "Who won?"  He was so disappointed with my response. But a few minutes later he told me that he would be the first Mormon President.  Who knows...I have never met a kid that is a harder worker and gives more service to his family.  He'd make a great president one day....and he's Hispanic.  I'm thinking it's going to take a minority to win back the White House in the future.

As I reflect this morning on what this election means, it makes me really sad.  Not sad for me, but for my 4 children.  I already know where I stand with social and economic issues.  But for them, if they hold the same values as Mario and I, they will probably live most of their lives in the minority.  Our country has gone so far to the left, that I just don't see it ever turning around.  Maybe that's pessimistic of me, but I just don't see these social issues moving towards the right ever again.  I guess I really shouldn't be surprised with the election results.  I think our church leaders have been preparing us for these days for a long time.  When I reflect on statements they've made in the past (like Family Proclamation),  it just strengthens my testimony.  They really are inspired.  For me right now, I am grateful to live in a conservative state.  All 3 of the kids' schools voted for Romney and not by a slight margin, by a landslide.  So I know that there are kids out there that have the same values as my kids right now.  I also know that as long as my kids stay faithful in the church, they will always have friends with the same values.  So that brings me great comfort on this gloomy day.