Mercy, there is no way to win with this. I am going through this at my church, too. I am so sorry. I do understand small churching and what a disappointment it is when a large family leaves a small church. It is good they're taking their extreme views out of the equation. I hope you guys can get back to the heart of worship.

I had someone tell me once that Ragu Traditional tasted exactly like her Italian grandma's homemade sauce. Can't say if that says something about Ragu or grandma, though. 🙂

I have an account with a large national bank and one with a local credit union. That 3% checking account at our credit union comes with some hoops to jump through. I do not use a debit card regularly (which is one of the hoops), so that would stress me out. The fact is that online banking is just easier with the large national bank. There is also a branch of this bank just a few miles from my house, also a drive-through station, and I have a personal banker I can call with any questions. She knows us! I have never paid any fee with my bank, and even get my checks for free. I have taken to paying my credit union mortgage three weeks early since covid started because it takes a long time to post that payment if you mail it in. There is no credit union drive through. One time when I called to question the posting delay, it seemed clear that there was one lady that did that job and she was out!!!! Same for my property taxes. "Oh, "Betty" has to go one county at a time, she's not to your county yet." So it was pretty obvious that it was all happening manually! ETA: We have a local bank here that is starting to offer this 3% account. I guess it's not just a credit union thing. They are called "Kasasa" accounts.

I recently met a lady named Coffey (Coffee). Made me smile.

This is a good reminder to me of all the angst lending causes. My husband can still tell you each tool of his, pretty expensive tools, that were returned broken or burned out. I think it's awesome you got a replacement! He was always made to feel like he lent out a soon-to-die tool, like, why did you lend me that old thing? I was asked for some yeast in the pandemic and sent it over to the neighbor in a glass dish, thinking of course they would put it in their own dish and send back the dish. Dish gone. Here's the thing -- we give away a ton of stuff all the time, but somehow my mind focused on that one little thing in my life. I want my dish back!!! My $5 easily replaceable dish back!!! Not comparing this to your not easily replaceable CD's though. That is a pain for sure.

I lived with severe dizziness for 7 years. I was mostly fine at home, but needed an arm if I went out. I was prayed for many times during those years. I went on a mission trip with my family, and I was nervous that I would be of no use. The first day of work, I also heard that clear voice, "In this find healing." And I was well. That was over 7 years ago now. I give God all the glory for that! Now I don't mean to make it sound like i don't have health problems and many things not healed! I lost many children and have suffered many things. But that day, that day I received mercy and grace for healing, and it released me into a new work of ministry. I believe in miracles.

I have noticed this too, trying to replace some clothes I always buy at Kohls. Just XS sizes! I had a fb friend post that she had gone into the store and there was maybe a third of the inventory she was used to inside.

Yes, I knew a couple in our church, the wife did this to the husband. It was definitely a toxic relationship. That was one of the milder things that happened with those two.

The second link I added has some actual tests rather than just questions for the parent.

https://placement.mathusee.com/?_ga=2.110120261.1945887971.1597333277-1684498407.1596639127 This classroom site looks more useful to me: https://mathusee.com/secure/teacher-resources/unit_tests/gamma-unit_test-placement.pdf

I agree that MUS would be so nice for Dad, just watch the video (15 min or so) together each week.

Our youth leaders have been through the Multiply study with a number of different groups of kids. It is free online with videos. multiplymovement.com

If you can swing it, the resale will be high, so your net price will be about the same. If you need to spend $30 right now and no more, you could make Cuisenaire blocks work. The colors would be different and there wouldn't be centimeter-sized notches, but they'll work for sure.

You can make a board for your son and then invite him to join it. Then you both have equal access to that one board. I think he can do just about everything but close it. I have not ever used paid access to Trello. When you invite your son, you will likely get a one month free trial when he joins.

I put all my stuff on Trello this year. My daily calendar is on there. I just type each day as a list at the beginning of each month, so not very sophisticated, but it gives me a place to quickly place everything. I planned our church reopening on a shared board, set up a board for another longer-term church project, and our youth group is using Trello as a message board. They chat in the comments section of the cards. It's very versatile! I love how easy it is to move stuff around.

I have done Latin with both an older student and younger students. My experience with the older student came first. You can learn a lot of Latin with a motivated older student in a year or two. My oldest did Latina Christiana 1 with Memoria Press and then went straight into Wheelock's Latin. This was around 8-10th grade. She proceeded through the first 20 chapters of Wheelocks and then turned around and did them a second time. This set her up well for Greek and Hebrew in college. We did not do English grammar during this time. I did Prima Latina with my two youngest in elementary. You practice every day, and you learn a tiny bit of Latin. I think we did two years of it? I don't remember because we learned so little, and then they were not interested in continuing with it, we went to Elementary Greek instead and did two years of that. We were likely in early middle school for Greek, and still they don't remember much but Lesson one - how to read the words. This was all alongside of an English grammar program. Wouldn't it be a better use of time to immerse elementary children in the sounds of a spoken language? One that they could then study in middle/high school? That is what I would choose to do my third time around! My oldest is now living in Europe, so her two will get lots of language exposure. She struggles mightily with the language, and now I am wondering if it is because she just studied dead languages. Anyway, this is what happened here at my house.

Our community college here has a number of graphic design options. You can start by working towards a certificate in your area of interest.

I have used a combination of wood and plastic over the years. I bought a Gorilla Grip cutting board set last year on lightning deal. I use those daily. There seems to always be one out on the cupboard as my daughter has been sourdough baking recently. Also, the plain old Pyrex round bowls, all four sizes, are in constant use here for storage and leftovers. I just had my lunch in one. I don't even keep the in the cupboard they are used so much. They just stay on top of the microwave. I have to buy lids every once in a while, but have only replaced a few of the containers over 20 years. I have used the rectangular Pyrex, but the lids are just harder to get on and off for me with my eczema, that was my issue.

MercyA, If my husband gave me permission, and I really wanted it, I would do it. He would have been free to tell me no and would have said no if it was really no. If that makes sense, lol.

Yes! I have one for a side sleepers back problems. This one is well used and flattened out in the middle.

Our county has a senior meal delivery program. The food items would be as you describe. I think the cost is $5/meal delivered? Something like this might at least help with one of the meals each weekday. (for our county it is under Senior Nutrition)

This made me smile because my experience was so different. My homeschooling group was very suspicious of experience and the older homeschoolers. The clique for the young, new homeschoolers was impenetrable. It got worse when a building change required the younger kids to be very separate from middle school on up. I have to smile now, but it stung at the time. No, I did not use ABeka......

RR was mine, but we kept the Timberdoodle catalog in the bathroom. 🙂

Thanks for sharing! Today was supposed to be our first day back, but last night my 22-year-old daughter messaged me as we were finishing setting up out at church, and said she had a fever of 102! Well, our family members were 3 of the 5 people running the service..... We cancelled and will try again next week. It was quite a stunning blow after weeks of preparation and meetings, but we did know we needed to stay home! Times have changed for sure.

I am familiar with it just because dh has been in the car business for many years. It was GMAC at one time, and his dealership finances many of their vehicle sales through it. GMAC changed its name to Ally and expanded its services from car loans a while back (10 years it looks like). I kinda thought it was a dumb name choice at the time.... 🙂