I wonder what it's like to be undecided. Scott and I were talking at dinner, that to us, it's obvious who should be the next president, but I also know friends and family who feel the same about the opposing candidate. So my question is, truly, what is it like to be undecided?

There is only one liberal talk radio show in Northern Colorado, and our alarm clock is too weak to receive the signal, so instead we get the news from the conservative point of view. If I were undecided, would listening to these shows be enough to make up my mind? If I were to only hear one side would I start to agree? Or is there something born within us that helps us form our beliefs and make our choices? Would I feel differently had I grown up in a conservative household or would I still feel passionately for the liberal point of view?

I held an election in my class and without knowing anything about the candidates except for where they were from, who was in their families, and what their favorite sport was, each one of my kids was able to vote. Do we carry those beliefs born through family forever or as we have our own life experiences do we shape our own opinions.

And again, what's it like to be undecided?

We listen to the radio, we watch debates and educate ourselves on issues. We read the reports in the newspaper and on the news sites on the internet, and to us the choices seem so obvious and easy. And I'm sure people on the opposing side feel the same way as well. So what must it be like, with a little over a week left, to still not know who you're going to vote for?

I haven't felt the gut wrenching feeling that comes with worry since the race began, but now, with only 10 days left, I feel it. I'm nervous. I'm anxious for change. I'm anxious for the future of our country. And I know that it's the same for everyone, republicans and democrats the same.

What I have to have faith in is that people are making their decisions truly on what they believe is best, and not because they are following a party majority leader, or following the trend in their neighborhood. That goes for Obama and McCain supporters alike. I hope that when we all go to vote that we vote for someone that means change for us. That means a better life for our children and our neighbors. And most of all I hope we vote.

I feel myself get angry when I hear people voice their opposing opinion, my blood pressure rises and I want to hold their cheeks in my hands and say "think about your choices!" but then I have to remind myself that were they to do the same to me, it would make no difference. So instead, I listen to their thoughts and hold them with me, to think about and wonder over.

We have a long life to live, and with our children, our lives continue indefinitely. I believe this election will carry a life-long legacy. And when my children are old enough to understand, and they ask me questions, I want to be sure they know I took part and engaged, and voted my one vote proudly.

A few cute stories from school

With Scott now working at the university, we thought it would be a cute idea to have some of the student athletes come and read to the kids. Our first choice was basketball, mainly for their size :)

4 willing mens basketball players loaded into a car and drove to Tozer to read to the kids. Each class got their own basketball player to read and play basketball with.

As the players came in the room everyone was crowding around, and someone said "Hey! Don't touch them! They're famous!"

And as the students left for the day the players lined up by the doorway to give everyone a high five. There were 3 white players and 1 black and one of my students said "I'm going to high-five the brown one!"

After the players left the students wrote thank you notes, and some of the things they shared were hilarious:

"Dear Devon and Michael. Don't worry about knocking me down. My knee only hurt a little bit."

"Dear Devon and Michael. You're going to need to practice if you're going to go professional"

After basketball day was a long week of parent conferences. During the conferences our library was closed for the school book fair. One of the things I do as a teacher is choose a few books that I would like to add to my classroom library, and sometimes the parents purchase that book and donate it.

The last day of the book fair, as they were closing shop, one of my kids rummaged around in his backpack and pulled out a check. He told me it was for the book fair. I sent him to the library, and he came back and handed me a book with my name and his name written in it. He had no book for himself, just one for the class. He then said "I have 5 dollars for my lunch money". Later in the day the librarian came to my classroom with a check, made out for 10 dollars to the school cafeteria service. Turns out my friend had decided instead of 10 dollars for lunch money, he would use 5 for a book for me, then turn the rest in for lunches. The librarian hadn't noticed, since they were packing everything up. She told me he said he had a crush on me, and had taken a long time to choose JUST the right book (it's a football book about Tiki Barber...)

We haven't told him that we caught him in his trickery. Sometimes we should just let kids be kids.

A little bit of me

Go Chiefs!

I have been harassing my students since day one for being Broncos' fans. Every Monday, when I write my weekend letter to them I throw in some jab about the Broncos. Last week, the Broncos and the Chiefs met at Arrowhead (and I think we all know the result) and as a result of our victory, two funny things happened:)

One of my kids brought in a Chiefs ornament for my Christmas tree with my name and the date engraved on it (something I'm sure it pained his parents to buy..) and when I said just that:

"T, I'm sure this was a really hard ornament for your parents to buy"

He said: "Mrs. Ward, it was only 3 dollars"

Too funny.

In one of the letters that my kids write back to me, my student wrote :

"Mrs. Ward, my dad says now we have to move and I have to go to a new school since the Chiefs won"

I was cracking up! I love having students that are old enough to take a joke! And let's face it. It's always fun to say "Chiefs rule and Broncos drool"