Every year, our staff is blessed to spend an entire week away from the office - relaxing and learning how to 'sabbath.' It is not as easy as it sounds. This year, we went to east Texas and spent a few days in and among the pine trees. The mornings were cool. The sun sparkled off the lake at our retreat site. Worship was intense and deeply moving.

Some of us spent time playing flag football. Some read. Some played their guitars among the trees. Some watched movies. Some of us went horseback riding.

I got 'Marge.' And no, she doesn't have a big blue beehive of a hairdo nor is she married to Homer. She did, however, have spunk. She wanted to pressure me into who was boss, but I showed her. Well, I tried to anyway. I sure would love to spend more time riding horses. It's been years since I had gotten in the saddle. I hope it's not years before I do it again. Thanks to my friend Denise, here are a few photos of my favorite part - the helmet!

P.S. I really am a dork in real life!

From the Web-site of 'ActiVote - a nonpartisan effort getting Americans to vote':

The history of voting in America is a story of ever-increasing voting rights. The rules for eligibility have changed substantially since America's founding, and continue to change today. When America was young, only white males over the age of 21 were allowed to vote. Some of the landmark changes since then: Black suffrage which gave the legal right to vote for African-Americans was established at the end of the Civil War. However, due to numerous restrictions, many blacks weren't actually able to vote until the 1960s Voting Rights Act. Women's Suffrage brought about the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in 1920. This amendment resulted in an international movement. However, women were unable to vote in Switzerland until the 1970s and as of 1990, women could not vote in Kuwait. In 1971, the legal voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 as a result of the 26th Amendment.

Voting was not secret in the United States until the mid-1800s. Prior to that, voters would be sworn in and announce their choices by voice. The secret ballot box was seen as a means to increase voter participation, but also has problems with fraud.

In the United States, we utilize an indirect election system whereby the Electoral College formally selects the President and Vice President. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives which is equiavlanet to the number of Senators and Representatives of the specific states. While Electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be President, in practice they pledge to vote for specific candidates and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candiates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors. Each elector casts one vote for President and one vote for Vice President. In order to be elected, a candidate must have a majority (at least 270) of the electoral votes cast for that office. If no Presidential candidate receives the majority of electoral votes, the choice is referred to the House of Representtives. If no Vice-Presidential candidate receives the majority of electoral votes, the choice is given to the Senate.

There is much debate about the features of the Electoral College and whether or not it protects the rights of specific groups. Numerous constitutional amendments have been introduced in Congress seeking a replacement of the Electoral College with a direct popular vote; however, no proposal has ever successfully passed both houses.

Anyhooo - get out and vote. It is your privilege to vote. Early elections are taking place now. to find your voting location in Texas, go to www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/earlyvote.shtml.

P.S. I will be glad when it's all over. Things can get back to normal......