Campaigning for the American Family Dinner Table!

Here are a couple of new favorites from my recipe box. My disclaimer: these are neither low-fat nor authentic in any way, but both are certainly yummy and successful with the kids!

Chicken curry

1 chopped onion
3T butter
2T flour
1T curry powder
Can cream of chicken soup
2 ½ C milk
6C cooked & shredded CB
2C sour cream

to pre-prep:
-cook onion in butter till tender
-blend in curry powder and flour
-add soup
-stir in milk gradually
-cook and stir till thickened & bubbly
-add chicken and sour cream

to reheat:
-cook and stir till heated through (do not boil)
-serve over rice and top w/shredded coconut, raisins, and/or slivered almonds)

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Chicken Verde Enchiladas

4 chicken breasts
1 small onion
1 can La Victoria Mild Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
1 can Las Palmas Medium Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
1 Package of Mexican Shredded Cheese
White Corn Tortillas ( yellow is fine too if you can’t find the white )

Boil chicken breasts in water w/ a few pieces of onion and garlic. Shred chicken and mix w/ a small chopped onion, ½ of each can of sauce and some cheese. Pour a little sauce in pan. Steam tortillas and put the meat mixture in each tortilla and layer in pan. Put the remainder of sauce on top of the enchiladas and layer w/ cheese.

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I'm putting together a email list for anyone who'd like to recieve monthly dinner calendars, recipes, prep day schedules, and shopping lists. If this is something you'd find useful, please just send me your email address and I'll include you in the group.

Happy family dinners!

My Vote -

With ballot in hand, it has occurred to me that I'm in a unique voting position this year. Having been behind the scenes on the campaign trail, I've seen most of these candidates in their true blue form. With the chance that I may have to influence others through my opinion, I will share some thoughts here. Feel free to distribute as you see fit.





US Senate-

-My vote goes to Dino Rossi. I never had the opportunity to meet him in person, but I did meet his wife. She was delightful, and a true supporter of her husband's campaign.



26th Legislative District

State Senator-

-Marty McClendon has my vote. On the several occasions I've had the opportunity to listen to him speak, I've become confident in him as a devoted family man and an enthusiastic patriot. Any learning curves that he'd face in the transition to State Senate will be quickly overcome by his strong work ethic and sanguine relational skills.



State Rep. Position 1-

-Jan Angel. She's been a positive advocate for us in Olympia, and will only continue working in the best interest of the people of Washington. She's been interested and involved in our community, as well as a consistent educator regarding the legislative issues in Olympia. I was impressed with her commitment to our community before ever meeting her and in the few times I have had the pleasure of her company, she's been gracious, kind and welcoming, never intimidating. Listening to Jan Angel speak on the issues and activities at the capitol surely inspires confidence. I have absolutely no hesitation to mark my ballot, sending her back to represent my family and the people of our district.



State Rep. Position 2-

-Doug Richards. Wow. This is an inspiring candidate and someone who will be an educated and proactive representative in Olympia. Jess and I actually met his oldest daughter at the Pierce County Republican Convention, where she stood up and gave a 'stump speech' for her dad. This 18 year old daughter stood up and professionally addressed a group of seasoned politicians and activists. She was a positive reflection of her father and his campaign. A dad who can raise up a daughter with such confidence and grace already has my admiration if not my vote. After meeting Doug in person, hearing him speak a few times, and getting to know the rest of his family and campaign team, I can say that this is someone who will represent our district with integrity and transparency.



Pierce County Auditor-

-Kent Keel. I've only met him a couple of times, but he's educated and experienced in the fields necessary to successfully manage this office. Friendly and devoted to his wife and family, he's got my vote.



Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney-

-Bertha Fitzer. Qualified, hard-working, and spunky, she's earned my vote and admiration.



State Supreme Court Justice Position 6-

-Richard Sanders. Great reputation, ethical team.



Pierce County District Court Position 2-

-Claire Sussman. Experienced and intelligent. Confident and very nice.



Soapbox moment: You really can tell a lot about a candidate by the way their campaign team conducts themselves. If the team behaves in a way that seems shady or corrupt, most likely the candidate will conduct himself/herself in much the same manner if elected. I also believe this to be true about negative advertising. I feel that a candidate should be communicating to the constituents all of the reasons why he/she is the best candidate for the office, not smearing the opponent with a list of reasons that they would be worse. In the end, we as voters end up trying to elect a candidate based on who's 'less bad' and everybody loses. For this reason, I'm not going to litter my blog with anecdotes of candidates behaving badly. Regarding the races and candidates I haven't commented about, either I haven't met them personally or don't have anything constructive to add. My lack of comment is not necessarily a negative. Dino Rossi, Marty McClendon, Doug Richards, and Jan Angel specifically are outstanding candidates of high moral character and integrity. I enthusiastically support their campaigns and encourage others to do so as well. Anyone with specific questions regarding a candidate can ask me personally about them.



Regarding the initiatives, referendums, and resolutions, a great resource I've discovered that helps me understand the true gist beyond the 'muck' of political speak is the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. They've put together a guide that helped me decide how I'd vote. http://www.informedvoterguide.com/ is where you can find that info online.

THANK YOU!

This past week has marked the end of one adventure and the beginning of another. It has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but what I'm left with now is a profound feeling of gratefulness. We've been challenged, inspired, and encouraged. We've experienced the thrill of success, the agony of defeat, and the peace that passes all understanding. I'll be forever thankful for every donor who believed in Jesse enough to give financially to the campaign, for every volunteer who saw fit to give their precious time, and for every American who trusted him with their vote.

I'm not sure what our next adventure will entail, but I'm encouraged by one of Jesse's favorite phrases: Adversity breeds innovation. Whatever the Lord has in store for our family will be sure to grow us up even more and lead us into new places of influence and opportunity. In that, I am confident. Meanwhile, we'll just trust in Him and cherish the memories we've made this far into the journey. Here is a sampling of a few favorites:

Joseph loved to help at the Kitsap Whaling Day Parade! Any excuse to ride on Daddy's shoulders. (Of course both of the boys took turns!)

We homeschooled the kids all throughout the summer. At Jesse's campaign office, the kids even had their own room where they could do schoolwork, play games, watch videos, and do craft projects! It was perfect, because I got to help out with campaign stuff and Jess could have the kids close by all the time. Part of the nature of campaigning is an intense, chaotic activity level that seems to have a snowballing momentum. Having the kids at the office definately brought joy to my husband's heart and brightened the general tone and atmosphere of the place. (When they behaved, anyway...)

There were a few times when we brought the kids along to events that were retrospectively not the most appropriate for kids. Any parent who's tried to keep an active gaggle of kids under the age of 7 quiet for more than an hour or two knows how difficult this is! Thanks to a well packed bag of activities and a brilliantly thoughtful gift of eBay-ed Leapsters and games from my mom, we managed pretty well (most of the time). Another trick we had was to let them play 'fort' under our table at certain events. Poor Brandie Didier had to share legroom with the fort play at the Pierce County Republican Picnic... what a good sport!

We took the kids on a few sign-waving adventures. This picture was taken the time we went to the Bremerton Shipyards to sign wave and chat with the men and women who worked and commuted through there. The kids were far more interested in the Navy Museum and all the fun monuments around it. We also made a stop at Starbucks to watch the ferries come in while we noshed on gluten-free treats.

The 'Youngest ones' loved promoting their Daddy! At festivals, parades and fairs, we gave them each little stacks of palmcards to pass out. They could be seen and heard passing them out saying, "Vote for Daddy, U.S. Congress!" Cutest thing ever.

I just love how children find entertainment in the funniest things! In this case, Luci decided to use a dividing rope as a limbo stick. She led all the kids in a rousing game of limbo, complete with singing and dancing. 'Jack be nimble, Jack be quick... Jack go under limbo stick..." All this while Mommy and Daddy were networking with Mason County Republicans closeby. Such a great memory!

Jed and Jojo riding in the back of the campaign truck during a parade, waving their little American flags, shouting, "vote for Daddy!" How many kids in the world get a chance to do that?

I took the kids on a walking tour of historic Port Townsend while Jesse gave a speech at a nearby civic meeting. As a rare splurge, we decided to have lunch at a retro 50's diner with outdoor deck seating and ocean views. Just 4 of the sweetest kids in the world and me sharing a table and a milkshake. We talked about table manners while watching a sailing class just off shore. After lunch, we walked the pier, read about local sea life, and wondered at the big big boats in the water. It was a beautiful Northwest day, and one that I will never forget!

In all, it has been a joy and a dream come true! We have loved getting to know so many of the wonderful families and leaders of the 6th District. I truly think that Jesse's campaign had the world's most talented volunteers, dedicated staff, and loyal supporters. The creativity they all have brought to this project has been inspiring and the love shown to us has been heartwarming. I am excited to see what God has planned for all of us as we move into this next season of life... More than a few times this past week, the closing words of the Declaration of Independance has echoed in my mind: with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. I'm proud to be the wife of one who's dedicated himself likewise to the future of our great nation. He has run this race with integrity, honesty, and faithfulness. The adventure is only beginning!

New Polling Results are VERY encouraging to the Young for Congress Campaign!!

www.washingtonstatepolls.com/CD-6-SURVEY-02.htm

Political Debates: an 'outing' of ethics and integrity

I've come to learn some things about politics throughout this semi-turbulent journey. One thing I now know for certain, is just how easy it is for a trusting, slightly naive person to become embittered and suspicious. In the beginning, I used to wonder why people didn't instantly jump on board with the campaign. The process of 'vetting' candidates seemed a bit repetitious and time-consuming. Lots of different people asking the same questions, usually with more of a suspicious spirit than general interest or curiosity. I know and trust my husband, though, confident in his intelligence and solid thinking. I knew that getting face to face with him and hearing the heart behind his words would inspire the same trust from others, regardless of their former skepticism. I was right about that, but the blatant doubt and disbelief that preceded the 'vetting' was a shock to me then. Now, though, I'm beginning to get it.


There is a term, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." Hmm. Along with my new found experience with the ease of the political dupe, I've also learned that I can absolutely 'take the heat.' A fact that even most of my closest friends were unsure of. Especially during a time when I'd be more emotional than usual (pregnancy hormones just do that to me), and busier than normal (food allergies and four home schoolers), it was a fair concern. Also knowing how fiercely in love I am with the candidate led to the uncertainty of how potential smear campaigns would affect my tender heart. Well, the alarm of fear can be set to 'snooze,' because we've had our first tastes of nasty, slimy mud-slinging and have come through disgusted but strong.


From the beginning, the Jesse Young for Congress team has always maintained that this will be a positive campaign. We will not degrade ourselves by resorting to dirty tactics, name-calling, or in any way behaving in a manner that would compromise the integrity of the office to which Jesse is seeking. The incumbent will be honored for his years of service, and the same-party challenger will be edified for his ethical campaigning efforts. That was our pledge. I am so proud to be married to a man who boldly champions such noble values among many others. Non-negotiable integrity is an understated description of his character. This is the one we need representing the 6th District in Congress.


Last night the Be Informed-Washington to Washington group hosted a debate between the candidates for the 6th and 9th District House of Representatives. The incumbents and all challengers were invited to participate. Jesse was obviously in attendance, along with the Republican candidates and even a Green Party candidate. (Both incumbents failed to show.) The debate was moderated by a jovial and efficient Mike Seigel, and was generally very respectful and informative. Questions posed by the politically diverse audience members were thoughtful and inquisitive. Candidates' responses were confident and mostly polite. It wasn't until the closing statements that some unfortunate true colors were shown. It was so disappointing to witness a candidate spew blatant and ugly negativity, then promote himself as one with integrity and moral values. UGH! I am becoming accustomed to some of the irritating 'game-playing' that occasionally accompanies politics, but this was my first personal experience with all-out ugliness directed at the public regarding an opposing candidate. The candidate being bashed, by the way, was my Jesse. All this following recent news of district wide bad-mouthing by the same opposing candidate. I hadn't wanted to believe it was true, but the filthy diatribe of his closing statements only confirmed the report. Not my favorite moment in life so far. This guy ought to be ashamed for the embarrassing show he made out of himself.

I am so glad that we chose not to include our children on this particular campaign outing. One of my goals as a parent is to surround the kids with opportunities for influence by positive role models. This would have been disastrous to that goal, except as perhaps an example of how not to behave! Every day, I purposefully provide lessons to my 'sweet ones' about things like honesty, edification, honor, hard work, leadership, and loyalty. (To the kids, though, it rings more like: don't tell lies, talk nice about each other, do your best, don't be lazy, etc...) Of course, being the ages of 3, 4, 5, and 7 all trying to live together and work as a team, object lesson material is easy to come by! Kids bicker and whine. They'd rather play than work and find it natural to lie when confronted. These are childish behaviors. Correcting these tendencies and training them in good manners is challenging enough without giving them the extra 'ammo' of a negative example.


Thankfully, our strength flows from a much more predictable and steady Source. Admittedly, it was a challenge for me to hold my tongue last night, and was only accomplished very deliberately. Also, I'm not married to a game-playing weakling. Jess was the picture of grace under fire. Any feelings of betrayal or disappointment were deprioritized under determination and intense resolve. Had I been an unbiased observer of last night's debate, the closing statements alone would have secured my vote for Jesse Young. I am not interested in electing bitter, negative politicians to represent my family and throughout the evening, Jesse's integrity was evident, obviously making him the -best- choice. I am no longer naive, but choose to place my trust where it's worthy and reliable. Rejecting doubt and skepticism, but firm in the decision to fairly 'vett' for myself, I now consider myself a more confident voter. Funny, how the things that were said in slander, actually resulted in a more abundant blessing. Our marriage is strong, Jesse's campaign team is invigorated, and momentum continues to quickly grow. The voters of the 6th District are truly rallying in support. Our volunteers agree with the pledge to run a positive campaign and the response to it is phenomenal. Jesse Young is leading in the polls, and more endorsements are coming his way. Hmm. Don't think that was the opponent's intention.

As American as Gluten-Free, Maple-Sweetened Apple Pie

GF Pie Crust-
-2cups GlutenFree Flour Blend
-1/4tsp xanthan gum
-1/4tsp salt
-1T cold water
-1 large egg, lightly beaten
-1T maple syrup
-12T cold, cubed butter

1. Measure flour blend, xanthan gum, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Blend thoroughly.

2. Cut in the cold butter cubes until the mixture looks like coarse, dry crumbs.

3. In a small bowl, combine the lightly beaten egg with the maple syrup.


4. Add the egg/syrup mixture and cut in, just until it's incorporated into the flour/butter mixture.


5. Add 1 Tablespoon of iced water. Squeeze a small amount of dough in your hand. If it holds together, don't add more water. If the dough is too crumbly, add 1/4 teaspoon water and recheck until the consistency holds, but is not sticky.


6.Scrape the dough onto a work surface covered in wax paper. Roll it into a ball, then flatten into a large disk shape. At this point, the dough can be frozen. Wrap the disk with wax paper, and put it into a labeled ziploc bag, then freeze for future use. If not,refrigerate for an hour to use right away.


7. To roll dough- Remove it from the fridge and place the dough between two sheets of wax paper. Let dough sit until it's just soft enough to roll. When workable, roll lightly from the center outward, working to make a circle about 10inches in diameter and 1/8inches thick. If the dough should get too sticky, place it in the freezer for a few minutes, then keep rolling.

Pie Filling

Ingredients-

5ish apples: peeled, cored, and sliced 1/8inch thick

1cup maple syrup

2tablespoons gf flour blend

1teaspoon cinnamon

1/8teaspoon ground clove
1/4teaspoon salt


Preparation-
(preheat oven to 425degrees)


1.prepare 1 recipe of gf pie crust. My recipe yields enough dough for a double crust pie. Roll out half the dough and place into a 9inch pie plate.

2.Combine the flour blend, cinnamon, ground clove, and salt in a small bowl, whisking to thoroughly blend.


3. Gently coat the apples w/maple syrup.


4. Toss the maple coated apples with the flour/cinnamon blend.

5. Pour the apples & sauce into the crusted pie plate distributing evenly.


6. Roll out the other half of the pie crust dough, and place it over the top of the apples. Press to seal the edges. Slice several small vents into the pie top, then embellish with fun shapes cut from leftover dough.


7. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until crust is lightly browned and apples are tender. Check pie often. If crust browns too quickly, cover edges with foil for remainder of baking time to prevent burning.


8. Allow pie to set and cool for several minutes on a wire rack before slicing and serving.


Enjoy!

GFSF, Homeschooling, and Household Organization

Our daily grind is anything but predictable. Optimistically, I like to say that although we're busy, "At least we're not bored!" Being so 'not bored' though, does present some interesting challenges. Add the usual chaos of kids' stuff/activities to the family schedule of a federal congressional candidate, and you'll likely have a steady routine of fast food dinners, laundry pile-ups, and frustration. Planning and cooking healthy, well-balanced meals for the family had become a challenge. (Especially when one child has complex food allergies) Our main issues have been: meal planning/cooking, housekeeping/laundry, and lesson planning for our homeschool. So, while the daily grind might not be predictable, our routines would have to be. For the sake of peace in our home, I something had to change drastically. Creativity and dedicated teamwork would be vital in our organizational strategy. We'd have to think 'outside the box.' Not even our 3year old would get a free ride - we all work together. Finally, the plan must be predictable and repetitive, yet varied enough to stay interesting. Hmmm.

Here's what we came up with:

• I meal plan, grocery shop, and cook dinners once per month.


• We have a rotating schedule for laundry and a MUST DO chore list for everyone in the home.


• Homeschooling lessons are predictable; the kids know what to expect every day. (Art projects and creative learning games keep it fun.)

Of great interest to many has been my 'cooking dinner once per month' thing. I did not originate this idea, but have made it my own by tweaking the system and preparing most of my meals gluten-free. I started out by assigning each day of the week with a particular dinner type. Monday-gf pasta, Tuesday-mex, Wednesday-finger foods, Thursday-casseroles or barbecue, Friday-stir fry. Then I pulled out a calendar and plopped in our favorites for each day-of-the-week-dinner-type. All that was left to do then, was to list out all of the ingredients, hit the grocery store, and throw everything together into either casserole dishes or bundled ziplocs to store in the freezer. Not bad, huh? My first attempt at 'prep night' ended up lasting until about 2am. Whoops! The benefits of having every night's dinner already made, though, has definitely made the work of it worthwhile!

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Here are a couple of my favorite gluten-free recipes that work really well with the cook-ahead method:

Taco Chicken Chili-

Ingredients: 1can vegetarian baked beans, 1can dark red kidney beans(drained and rinsed), 1can black beans(drained and rinsed), 1can sweet corn(drained), 1can Mexican stewed tomatoes, 1/4cup gf taco seasoning, 2boneless skinless chicken breasts

-When I make this ahead, I just combine all of the canned ingredients with the taco seasoning in a big ziploc and store it with a package of chicken breasts in the freezer. I'll take the bundle out to thaw the day before I need it. The next morning, the chicken goes into the crockpot first, then the bean mix. Set on low, it takes about 9-ish hours to cook, 5ish on high. About 1/2 an hour before dinnertime, I remove the chicken breasts, shred them finely, and return it all to the chili. So yummy! Served with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of cheese on top is my absolute favorite!

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Zucchini GF Spaghetti-

Ingredients: 1 sweet onion, 1 or 2 zucchinis, 1lb ground beef or turkey, 1can stewed tomatoes, 1bottle gf marinara, 1 package of gf spaghetti noodles

Chop the sweet onion and zucchini. Saute the onions in olive oil until they're translucent, then add the zucchini. Brown the meat in a medium-sized saucepan. Drain the fat, then add the marinara sauce, and let it simmer. When the zucchini is just barely tender, add the stewed tomatoes. Stir to combine, then add the mixtures together. Let it cool completely, then pour into a ziploc. Bundle with your gf pasta and stow in the freezer. I take this out the morning I need it, and by dinnertime, the noodles are ready to boil and the sauce just needs a quick reheat! The kids LOVE this spaghetti (and get an extra couple servings of veggies snuck in there)! Everybody wins!

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For the housework and homeschooling, we have a 'big board' that details every body's schedules and responsibilities. My kids are pretty competitive, so we also have a side by side comparison of who's done what. It works for us and helps keep the hectic days running smoothly. I love the big board, because it takes the heat off of me! Mommy's not the bad guy anymore, it's the big board!

Organizational side note: with many kids comes lots of stuff! I've learned to keep track of most things by keeping a color code. Works great for the big board, as well as clothes, toy bins, coats, cups, toothbrushes, blankets, etc... At our house, Luci's color is pink, Ani's is purple, Jojo's is yellow, Jed's is orange. They each have a colored shoe bin under their coat hooks, so we tend to not lose shoes. I know exactly who's cup got left in the van and who neatly folded their bath towel. I love this weird little system.

I'm always looking for new ways to streamline the day-to-day process. Any readers with fun or interesting time saving tips and suggestions, please feel free to share in the comments! In any event, it's been fun putting this post together!

Parades, Carnivals, and Car Shows... oh my!

When scheduling the day for our family, I usually try to keep things somewhat... um... tentative. 'Working with young children is like contending with the sea. Things can change when you least expect it.' I don't know where I first heard the phrase, but it's most certainly true regarding my family. Sometimes, even the most noble and well thought-out plan goes awry when any of the children gets 'napless attitude,' scrapes a knee, struggles with their schoolwork, etc... I've had to reschedule morning meetings when one of my kids has had a bad dream and 'needs Mommy.' Our family has been late to church when a newly potty-trained youngster has a blowout accident minutes before van-loading. But theses are common parenting phenomena, and are by no means unique to us.

Entering my whole family to march in our town's annual parade, however, may be considered a unique activity. We live in beautiful little Gig Harbor, Washington where every year, on the first weekend in June, a Maritime Festival is held. Along with marauding pirates, food vendors of every kind, school band performances, and family events, the main attraction at each year's festival is the grand parade. Boy Scout troupes, gymnastic students, and more pirates join the cheerleaders and high school marching bands that proudly 'float' by the local on-lookers while passing out massive amounts of candy and other fun treats. This year, the Jesse Young for U.S. Congress campaign team (including our 7, 5, 4, and 3 year-old kids) marched along en force! A logistical nightmare to be sure, but amazingly fun time. Jesse's truck has been wrapped with exciting campaign signage. Plan A: The truck would be sandwiched between a huge banner and a fun group of wonderful volunteers doing a choreographed routine with yard signs. A smaller group of friends would distribute fliers to the grown-ups and candy to the children watching the parade. My own kids had loved practicing with the signs at home (and have never been at a lack of energy) so we allowed them to walk/dance with us until they got tired/bored/restless/etc... Then we'd move on to Plan B: The kids would ride in the back of the truck and blow bubbles. Great plan, right? A place for everyone, everyone in their place and a backup plan to boot!

There are times, though, when Plan B falls through, and poor unfortunate Plan C becomes a necessity. For example, riding in the back of the truck was great fun for the kids until they became curious about the sound system. Industrious little Joseph quickly became bored with flag waving and bubble blowing, so he decided to take matters into his own hands by figuring out how to work the sound system. His experimentation was crafty... we thought the system was randomly skipping spots of the music mix, but it was my sneaky button pusher! It wasn't until he discovered the volume control that we figured out what was going on. After that, the boys got to ride inside the truck. Welcome to Plan C! Guess who found the chocolate and candy stash! The subtle beauty of Plan C was happily smeared across Jed's face in a hyper chocolatey smudge! Meanwhile, the girls were dribbling bubble soap all over the back of the truck. We should have prepared a Plan D.


Campaigning with kids is a tricky business, but I don't think our efforts were wasted. The sign-dancing drill team volunteers had a great time, the kids will never forget it, and Jesse was able to connect with lots of friendly Gig Harbor area voters. Success!

After the parade and subsequent traffic-jammed drive home, we grabbed a quick lunch then hustled out to Mason County. A carnival in Shelton provided an opportunity to meet up with my parents, have a fun outing, and make some new friends. It was like Christmas came early for the kids, who rarely get to go on expensive carnival rides! (It adds up when there's 4!) We partied at the carnival until our feet ached and tummies growled. Surprise #3 for the day was spaghetti and a sleep-over at the Grandparents' House on Spencer Lake. Ahh, what a day! With the children nestled in their little beds and Jesse working his way through emails on the laptop, I finally dozed on the couch watching funny sitcom reruns. Exhausted, but happy!


Sunday afternoon, following a visit to my parents church, we all went to the Forest Festival Car Show. Outside. In the rain. Oh, as optimistic web-footed Pacific Northwesterners, we made the most of it! We plopped the boys into the tandem stroller, wrapped them both in a big blanket, gave campaign fliers to the girls, and had a blast! Luci and Ani are both champion puddle stompers and take their 'art' very seriously. They took turns passing out fliers saying, "My Daddy is running for Congress. Will you vote for him, please?" and practicing their flying puddle stomp technique. The wonderful folks from the Mason County Republican Party were there with a barbecue vending booth, so we trekked across the show to say hello and have some hot dogs. They are so nice there, always helpful and friendly!


Jesse was outgoing and engaging with people, as always. I'm impressed that wherever we go, people are honestly concerned about what's going on in American politics. Everybody seems to have their own specific issue of concern that gets them fired up. Most often, they just want to be heard, their opinions valued and understood. As Jesse's wife, what I think draws people to him is that he really does care about what's important to them. He will take the time to listen. My husband has never been a 'politically correct' or pandering type of guy. If he has a difference of opinion with someone, he will hear and respect the opposing position then carefully (diligently with detailed gusto) explain his own view. Intelligence, compassion, genuine interest and gumption... that's my guy!

June 6th was also our 12th wedding anniversary! No elaborate gifts or expensive vacations... that's not really our style. We took a ferris wheel ride together on Saturday night and smooched at the top. Sunday morning we high-fived our 12 years over breakfast. Spending the weekend together as a family was just the celebration we wanted and needed. Parades, carnivals, and car shows probably wouldn't define many couples' ideas of romance, but as long as we're together... what more could we ask for? 12 years, and every day an adventure! Yeah! Bring on the next 50 or so!

the Armed Forces Medley on Memorial Day Weekend

This past Memorial Day weekend was certainly a memorable one for my family! It began on a busy street corner Friday night with a group of wonderful folks waving our American flag in support of US troops. Directly across the intersection from us was a group of people protesting the war. Tacky, I thought, during a time when we should all be expressing our gratefulness to the brave men and women who've given their lives for our freedom. My phlegmatic side reasoned that the Anti-War folks could have been observing Memorial Day by exercising their Constitutional right to peaceful protest. Still, personally, it felt like a jab to all of my friends and family who have served in the armed forces.

The evening was not simply an exciting time of patriotic support, however. While we were happily smiling, waving, and 'woot-wooting' to the happy drive-by honkers, a huge camper stalled out in the middle of the intersection (right in front of the Anti-war protesters)! While the other drivers were cautiously trying to navigate their ways around this massive RV, Jess just hustled out to offer help! The man driving the camper was more than happy for the help, so Jess ran to his own truck, pushed the RV out of the intersection, gave him a jump start with borrowed cables (from another of our flag wavers), and had the frustrated weekend warrior on his way just as the police were arriving to direct traffic. What a guy!

Saturday was spent as an unusually mellow day with the kids. I took the opportunity to involve them in some little home projects and teach them the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines anthems. It's so sweet to see these tiny people trying to sing out phrases like, 'From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli!' Especially little Joseph, who's Ethiopian accent only comes out when he's really excited, tired, or singing. The Army song was a tough one for them, but they all knew exactly when to sing '...And the Army goes rolling along!' Very loud. I've come to learn that my kids tend to get louder when they're really having fun. Saturday was a very loud day! The Navy song was the favorite by far. So much, that Sunday morning Jed asked if we could all sing the 'Angers Always Boys' song together. It took me a couple minutes to figure out that he meant 'Anchors Aweigh, my boys...' So adorable, I had to laugh out loud before I could kiss his little blond head and remind him what the correct words are!

As cute as it was to hear my babies singing the Armed Forces Anthems, it was also quite emotional. The girls are just old enough to start understanding the greatness of sacrifice it is to serve. Teaching them that this is the day we have set aside, as a nation, to honor men and women who've been killed in battle was not easy. Reflecting on the lives of my personal friends and family who have been courageous in service while listening to my innocent boys singing 'we will fight for our rights and to build our nation's might...' Emotional. Of course, I partially blame pregnancy hormones for the sudden well-up of tears. I'm not usually the weepy type. Yet, how can one not be overcome with gratitude at the thought of all that's been given as the price of our freedom? Wow.

By Sunday afternoon, we were back on the campaign trail! The Mason County Republican Party had a picnic at Robin Hood Beach in Union. We rolled in with all four kids in tow, and set out to have a beautiful time making new friends. It seems to be Pacific NW 'uniqueness' that to properly pack for a Memorial Day picnic, one must bring gloves and scarves along with sunscreen and shades! As it turned out, we had no use whatsoever for the sunscreen and shades... it rained almost the entire time! And between the wandering boys and dare-devil girls, we were certainly kept on our toes! I consistently have to remind myself that childish curiosity is a blessing, not a curse. The intensely competitive search for shells on the beach or exuberant attempts to communicate with the passing deer should serve as sweet endearment, not irritating misbehavior. There was a brief moment, when I lost track of one of the boys, that I nearly had a panic attack! It was short-lived, however, as we quickly found him following his Daddy away from the crowd to help display campaign signs. Trying to contain my overwhelming relief, I brought our little wanderer back to the kids' area and promptly re-lectured him on the importance of staying close! We will all get more practiced in the arts of keeping the young curious ones collectively focused. This time, I just felt blessed that our hosts were gracious, the other guests good-humored, and Grandparents were with us. (Thanks again, Mom & Dad!) We've taken our notes and have made preparations for the next outdoor campaign adventure!

All in all, it was a meaningful and memorable time spent with family and new friends. To me, Memorial Day should never just be about bargain hunting and barbecued food. While those things are nice (and the 3day weekend a fun perk) the true meaning is remembrance. For all of our freedoms and for everything our military has endeavored to protect, I am personally very thankful.

Welcome!

"I don't know how you do it!" A phrase I've been hearing repeatedly over the past few months. As a homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids (one yet 'prelaunched') whose husband is actively running for the federal office of US House Representative, it's not an unfair statement. Unknown to most, however, is the great comedy that accompanies my day-to-day, and the brilliant love that fills our home. While the calendar is a massive, out of control, chaotic, frenzy of activity most of the time, we are balanced by grace and understanding. I also have help. Wonderful help. Jess and I have chosen to surround ourselves with people who share our faith, support our vision, and hold themselves to high standards of moral character. These beautiful friends hold us up in prayer, contribute richly to our lives, and serve as loving examples to our children.

The "Jesse Young for US Congress campaign" is very much a family affair! Knowing how much time is required to reach a district as extensive as Washington's 6th has compelled us to involve the kids in as much of the process as possible. Our 'sweet ones' will be with us at speaking events, club meetings, doorbellings, and sign/flag waving. While their involvement provides for some very comical moments, we wouldn't have it any other way! Not all hearts and flowers, however, there are definitely other moments that try our patience and add occasional stress. All together, I'll try to present a unique and true portrait of our experiences.

My hope is that the random entries here will serve to entertain and inspire in this often tense environment of politically charged, opinionated, sometimes disrespectful atmosphere. I have lost patience with grown adults behaving like spoiled toddlers when confronted with a view that contradicts their own. As I expect my children to treat each other lovingly and with respect, I hold myself to this value. This will not be a venue to rant and rave at opposing perspectives. Possibly naive, I truly believe that most Americans want the very best for America, but it's the method of how to ensure our country's greatness that we disagree upon. So... let's remember what our moms told us all when we were kids: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Off my soapbox now, I'm happy to welcome you to join our 'Campaigning Youngfam' online blog. As I'd welcome you into my home, I'll invite you to kick off your shoes and make yourself comfortable. A rule at my house is that you're a guest only for your first visit... after that, you're like part of our family! Personally, I've got my high-heeled shoes kicked off, my pearls on, and a big pregnant belly propping up my laptop computer... how about a cup of tea and good conversation?