A drive is completely different. I have no issue giving or donating my money. Having it be something the college is required to provide means that I, as the one paying for the education have no choice in the matter of whether to pay for or not. It is forced into the cost of school.

Yes, it is a character flaw!! You are correct!

Yes, this!! I remember my surprise at college orientation with my oldest when I found out exactly WHY college is so expensive. Please let's cut back to just an education. I don't want to pay for some college kid's legal fees or on-campus healthcare. It is expensive enough as it is. Now we can add sanitary products? Yeah, just NO!!!

I'm reading more as I have time. I do agree that Rose was a hypocrite and I'm really not crazy about her as a person. She lacked the character of her family. I still believe some people despise the idea of the independent pioneer spirit that those books encourage. I see too much of an undercurrent, politically, to believe otherwise.

After reading some of the articles and understanding the impact Rose had on libertarian thinkers, the impact the LHoTP books had on people in the past, the independent spirit they fired in people, I'm starting to get a feel that there was a lot of disdain for them because of that. Those who were and are against a nanny state would tend to revere those writings (I'm one of those who are against so much govt.). Ronald Reagan was fond of the shows and maybe the books? I don't think people with any type of socialist or more-government leanings would appreciate those writings at all because of the independent, we-don't-need-government feel they had. And apparently they did have that impact in people. I know they gave me a desire to head out and have farm animals and a garden (I do.) This is an opinion after a cursory overview. I plan to read more on it. I still have much respect for Ma and Pa and Laura, not so much for Rose. I guess if I had to choose, I'd rather die in a Long Winter than live in an Orwellian 1984. I think that is how a lot of people feel.

Wow. After googling Rose's name I discovered she hung with Ayn Rand but was maybe not extreme enough for Rand. I'm really out of it!! I had no idea about her libertarian views...I only understand libertarian politics to a basic degree. I want to rewind and romanticize those books again. I prefer my idyllic childhood views of it all!! Haha

I was drooling at the idea of the kid/teen BSF classes along with the adult classes, but it is an evening class 45 minutes away and we would have to give up some evening activities that we love too much. I will look into the precept online classes. I really did not know that was even an option!!!! I could do those for a few years until my season comes to do BSF. I really have grown so much from the precept studies I've done already. As my younger guys get older I might want to learn to teach them and do those with my boys. I don't know. I have one of my younger group who needs/wants meat!!!!

I'm not crazy about Oprah and wouldn't want to throw my money her way. I did the old WW and lost about 30 lbs, maybe 9 years ago. I still have all my stuff and have considered getting the online calculator and doing it all again. Right now, no. I may change my mind later.

Congrats!!! I am limiting to 11-8 every day. I was planning to make it noon to 8 but find I need food earlier than that. I like it so far. It is getting me out of that issue thinking of breakfast foods!! I'm doing whole30 right now and am finding whole30 easier by limiting my time frame.

I have several friends who are involved in BSF and absolutely love it. While I would like to be involved, I homeschool and the day and evening classes won't fit at this time in my life. Is there anything like BSF but online? FTR, I have done several Precept studies and like them a lot. I may just go that route again. Just weighing my options.

I went to two last summer and usually don't even go to one. One was teach them diligently. I helped a vendor so that is why I was there. The other was the Woodlands. Those are examples of the two different types. While I did appreciate things about TTD, it was definitely more of a Christian lifestyle homeschool fair. The Woodlands was held by THSC, and while Christian overall, it was very large and full of tons of curricula that you could look over. I think TTD serves a purpose but it is good to know going in. I had a few things I just wanted to touch and look over, and I found the Woodlands to be more helpful in that regard. I also think the THSC one had a lot more helpful education speakers. I only went to a few.

Yes. I think it was in Long Winter maybe where they received several newspapers or magazines with a continuing story and they would read one per day and save them to kind of break the monotony of their days. Ma encouraged it.

Yes this!! I was thinking that if we only did that which was utilitarian our lives would be dull!! I need music and beauty in my life to accompany the practicalities. They are essentials. I would imagine storytelling and music were very essential during that time. How thankful Ma must have been that he had that gift.

I think it is more with the fact that the interactions like that happen repetitively more than that that type of interaction is a big deal. That is just wearying. I have a person in my life that I can't just have a quick conversation with. I want to ask a question, tell about an upcoming event, offer help, and I go in knowing the conversation could last 30 minutes. Then the conversation can't be had without ongoing, continued interruptions where I cannot even finish a sentence. I hang up exhausted and frazzled. None of it is huge...just wearying!!

I agree with all of this!!

I have never looked into the adoption stories and haven't read the full article. Regardless of negative situations, I am still a big proponent of international and local adoption! Actually, the issue I viewed my friend having had more to do with legalism than anything. I have read articles about them in the past and things do not set well with me in regards to their teachings.

Yes. There is a low-sugar version of thousand island: basically mayo, mustard, low-sugar ketchup, and dill relish. The recipe just calls for ground beef seasoned with worstershire, salt and pepper,; lettuce. onions, pickles, tomatoes, cheese. It is surprisingly good!! You can google the recipe. My 6yo picky eater asked for it for his birthday meal. Haha

I am feeling jealous of these good library systems!! Ours is better than it used to be but still sorry. I moved to this small city from the big city 10 years ago. I remember just being dumbfounded at the sad library system, so much so that I drove 40 miles to a better one. Now I just buy used books and wonder what a good library would be like!!

Agreeing here about not loving the affiliation with Above Rubies. I have a friend who completely went off the rails after going to their conferences. I have never seen cult mentality more at work, and that says a lot!! It was not pretty. 😡 I tried thm. I do understand the eating. It is really not as complicated as it seems. That said, I never really was able to make it work for me. I'm finding that I feel better at the moment doing whole30 with the modification of stevia in my coffee. Haha I have the THM cookbook and I do really like it!! I use it even not being on their plan. There are several whole food type recipes in there. Big Mac salad has become my children's most requested meal! That and the Reuben in a bowl and egg roll in a bowl.

I still love the Little House books. I will be honest and say I was always very fond of Pa. I think when I read them as a child, I blindly trusted my own father because I just felt he was out for my good. I viewed Pa that way too. As an adult I have read the books and wondered at some things but really accepted that their time in history was much different than mine and that customs and life views wouldn't match the ones I have now either. What is the term for that? Presentism? I tend to offer grace to people in the past, to an extent, for the faults that we would see now. This thread has been awesome!!!!! I had never heard of the Bender family and googled them. Did anyone ever make a horror movie out of that? They should!

A few years ago I would have said no way. Now I think absolutely yes. Like the poster above, for me this hinges on the fact that I now know how to teach and I didn't early on.

I was thinking the same thing!! 😊

I agree!

I am praying in advance for God's grace over this in future family funerals. My mother prayed quite a bit over her own mother's passing and we all shared a closeness and peace that could only be attributed to God's grace after my mom's prayers. I know from experience that it just doesn't always work out that way. :( I so want to honor my loved ones when they die and want to see them honored by those around me!!!!

Much better than my explanation!! This is my view as well.