Where are my boots already?

My first Caucus

Tonight we experienced our first Caucus. I did not know what to expect. We pulled up to our district site, which happened to also be our usual polling site, Stonebrook Church. The parking lot was full, we pulled into a circle drive in the neighborhood across the street to park. We arrived at 6:35 and the line was along side the church well into the parking lot. We stood in line for about 10 minutes. Periodically someone would step outside and inform us which direction to move if we needed to register or where we needed to be based on our last name. When we got to the front of the line we checked in by initialing by our name and address on the registry. We found a seat inside the auditorium next to some neighbors of ours.

To start the caucus we were asked to stand and begin with saying the Pledge of Allegiance. What a flashback, I have not recited that in a group setting in probably 20 years. The next matter of business was to sign up to speak for your candidate if you wished to do so, the speakers were limited to two minutes. Next we nominated and approved a secretary and leader for our district. People spoke for their candidates. Everyone stuck to the time limit, so at this time only 15 minutes had elapsed since they officially started, which was a little late, 7:15.
The front row passed out our ballots, which were little slips of paper about 1/4 the size of a post it note. We wrote the last name of our candidate, folded and passed to the left. It took a few people about 20 minutes to count the vote. Many people left before the results were announced. While we waited they asked for 14 volunteers, 7 back-ups, and 7 Jr. delegates to attend the Story County delegation from our district. There was also time allowed for people to talk about amendments, one person had a petition to remove judge Hansen who this fall legislated from the bench on same sex marriage.

Huckabee had 126 votes in our district with Romney coming in second with 92. Apparently our district has the largest number of registered Republicans in Story County at 800, I counted 370 seats in the auditorium, with many standing in the back. Pretty good turnout and all in all a great first for me!

Go Packers!

The Packers are experiencing a banner year. Go Farve! Emily received a new Green and Gold outfit from Grandpa for Christmas. It is a little big, but more room for football munchies that way...

Setting Goals

I didn't believe in making a lot of resolutions to celebrate the New Year. Mostly because I don't remember them past January 5th. My husband has helped me understand the importance of setting goals the last couple of years. Actually meeting the goals we set has made me a proponent of the process. Last year we set out to become debt free, so I could be home more, and look at me now!
I have discovered that we are in the minority. Experts find that only 5-10% of the population actually bother to think about their goals and only 1-3% have clear written goals. I think fear or fear of failure has a lot to do with people not putting their goals on paper or even considering them. I am going to put mine out there for everyone to help hold me accountable. I know they could be more specific, but perhaps it is "fear" keeping them general!

Laura's 2008 goals:

Financial- We have set family financial goals. They involve saving up the rest of our emergency fund and paying off the second mortgage.

Physical- Exercise at least 3 hours a week, focus on cardio to keep my heart healthy. I would like to start running some 5k races again this year. Aim for my goal of 10,000 steps a day, even on the days I am not at work. Another goal is too remove my nail polish from my toes before it grows off. When did I last paint my toes?

Personal Development- Read! I would like to read a book a month for pleasure; I haven’t done this in a long while. Another goal for me in 2008 is to read more non-fiction in topical areas that affect my life, i.e. parenting.

Family- Appreciate the fact that I get to hang with my little one 2 1/2 days a week more than I did most of last year. Not everyone gets this time, I need to remember that.
- Spend more quality time with Robert. In Proverbs 31 the bible speaks of the value of a wife to her husband. I would like to bring more to the plate to honor this passage. I need to really listen and offer my advice and be more involved in our relationship.

Spiritual- Participate in my small group. Develop better bible study skills.

Social- Hang out with some girlfriends once a month, even if it is just during small group or a quick trip to the store!

Emily and her horse

Celebrating the birth of Jesus

We have had a great Christmas. We have seen a lot of family and friends and opened up too many presents. We enjoyed Christmas eve and Christmas day in Ames. It was the first time in our lives that neither one of us woke up in our parents homes, but rather in our own house. What a rite of passage. We went to the 6:00 pm Christmas eve service at our church it was a lovely way to celebrate the reason for the season. Emily has been running from toy to toy around the house making sure to play with everything in sight!

Movie Review

Amazing Grace, I can't say enough great things about this movie. I think everyone should be required to see it. The movie is based on the life of William Wilberforce an antislavery pioneer, he speaks truth to power, and stands up for what is right. Go rent it tonight!
http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/index.php