It's been a while and I can't believe I'm sitting down to write my thoughts out about this topic.  I've stayed away from commenting on it on the internet, I've prayed through it, I've read most everything I could get on the subject.  I've talked with teachers, parents, my husband, and have done a lot of talking to myself.  I used to be very vocal about issues, both political and personal.  Growing older and life's experiences will sometimes give you pause and you'll re-evaluate the ways in which you deal with your opinions.  I've chosen for the past little bit to only share those with my closest of friends and family.  Not because I'm afraid to share them but because very often I change my mind.  God brings me to a place where He says to me "You're not quite right on this one so keep your mouth shut."  Don't get me wrong, I'm totally supportive of those who are in the place in their lives where they are very vocal, very active and very involved.  I love it and I follow it and I sometimes wish I was there again.  I still have my very strong opinions.......I really do.  But for whatever reason I take a little more time, try to watch and wait and see what happens.  The truth is I was getting tired and sucked in and consumed with the internet and all of it's problems.

I've never been one to react a certain way because someone else told me or encouraged me to react in that way.  In fact, when someone says "this is going to be so upsetting.  You will cry so hard."  Guess what happens to me?  I put up a wall and intentionally will NOT cry.  Don't tell me how much I'm going to cry at a movie or song or event.  If I cry it will be because that emotion happens not because you guaranteed me it would.  (Like, OMG!!!  You're going to cry soooooo hard.)   OK....Not even a chance.  Same with telling me how to vote, how to feel, how to react, what to think.  I love a good discussion.  I find it so interesting to talk to those with a different point of view than I have.  It means a lot when we have the understanding that "let's talk about this and let me ask you honest questions and you ask me honest questions and not get mad.  Just listen to the different points of view."  I have learned so much from these discussions which have ranged from politics to religion to sexual preference, to pro life, to private vs public schools, and on and on.  Oh and by the way, now that my boys are young adults nothing thrills me more than to have one of these discussions with them.  It puts a new "light" on how I pray.

If you keep up with things on the news or on the internet it is a constant bombardment of information.  I'm particularly interested in our schools in Williamson County because I have three children who have attended all the way through.  We are invested, as a family, in many ways.  I am friends with lots of teachers, we are financially invested and we are emotionally invested.  In a wierd way the larger community of Franklin High School is like "family" and I tend to react in a similar way. It's the whole, "I can talk about my family but you better not."    Recently there was a very tense election for new school board members.  Frankly, I couldn't keep up with all of the emails and posts that I was getting from both sides.  And for once in my life I was having trouble coming up with an opinion either way.  The three public schools we have been zoned for have served my children and my family extremely well.  I mean extremely well.  Have I bonded and seen 'eye to eye" with every coach, teacher and administrator?  That is a definite NO.  But it's very much like a family.  You're "in it" together.  Some you like, some you don't.  And likewise, some like me back, and some don't.  But 9 times out of 10, these teachers have LOVED my kids and that goes a very long way with me.  (I won't go into the 1 out of 10 that didn't because that didn't turn out very well)  We're all human and we all make mistakes and I have learned to pick my battles.

Here is what I'd like to say on this subject.  I am a Christian.  I am a Conservative Christian who will say "Christmas Break" mainly because it's habit, but a little because you tell me I need to say "Winter Break."  My kids are never going to school on Good Friday because for our family that is a religious holiday that is celebrated as a religious holiday.  But WHY spend hours and hours debating what to call it on the calendar?  We have bigger issues to deal with so can we move on????  Common Core.  It's far too complicated to know all of the "ins and outs" of.  What I've seen of it, I DON"T LIKE.  AT ALL.   I don't support Common Core.   For those that do, that's fine and we can have a friendly discussion all day long, but I don't support it.  Here's what I do support.   I support all of the teachers who put in countless hours teaching my children lessons from textbooks and otherwise.  I support the teachers who tutor the kids during lunchbreaks and after and before school.  I support the ones who "tweet" out reminders about tests and tutoring and other opportunities.  I support our coaches whose cars are in the parking lot long after everyone has gone home.  Do I always agree with them???? NOOOOOO!!!!  But I support them and appreciate what they are doing.  Do I think we should "hang up" our Christian beliefs because the Muslim, Buddhists, Islamic, Atheist, etc..... cultures want "equal time" in the textbooks, curriculums and school calendars?  NOOOOO!!!!  And I never will. (Insert Taylor.......like.... never ever ever).    I won't quit praying because someone tells me to, I won't quit expressing my opinions to those around me, and I won't quit trying to live out the way that Jesus lived. But I'm also not going to try to make the public schools, private.  They are open to all children of all faiths and backgrounds.  Frankly, that's part of the "education process."  Learning to deal with those who are different from us.  I refuse to go to the extreme either way.  Mostly because I agree with both sides on different issues.  I voted.......I'm glad I did.......All of my votes didn't win but I exercised my right to vote.

 I want to say to all of those on both sides of the different issues........Keep on Keepin On!!!!  If you're a Williamson Strong person........keep it up.  If you're a "Friend of Williamson County," keep it up!!!  It's what makes our country what it is.  Free speech.  Competition.  Right to vote.  Right to believe what you believe.  I'm enjoying my break from it but I am SO happy that you're out there on the front lines.  I will be back.