This comes from one of my favorite "home cooking" sites. stephskitchen.com. Oddly, I've been going there since the late 90s and I don't think it's been updated in about 7 years or so. lol I'm just glad she still keeps it there. SLOPPY JOES . This homemade version beats the out-of-a-can type any day! And, it is so simple. Really requires little effort with rewarding results. I have modified this recipe from a much larger batch...was doubled...which makes this a perfect main dish to serve for a crowd. This size still makes more than enough for our family, but it makes great leftovers! A must try. . 2 pounds extra lean ground beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) 99% fat free low sodium condensed tomato soup 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce 3 tbsp. packed brown sugar 3 tbsp. Splenda* 2 tbsp. ketchup 1-1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp. mustard 1/4 tsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. garlic salt 10-15 whole wheat hamburger buns 1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown beef and onion; add green pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes; drain. Add the next 9 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve on buns. Yield: 10-15 servings. *Useful Tip: If you choose to not use the Splenda, use another 3 tbsp. brown sugar. Steph's Country Kitchen Goodness http://www.stephskitchen.com

so I have nothing to add there, have never been through one. This a.m., though, for Bible, the dc and I read Matthew 24:1-28 and had a discussion over Jesus talking about the end, the birth pangs, etc.. Earthquakes were big part of that discussion...then oddly, here I am reading about many of you experiencing an earthquake today. My dc think that is too weird!! lol Teresa

I too think it is a great book. I will have to say, though, that if your child is sensitive it might be too much. I read it myself and could "feel" the loneliness and sadness that she went through. 12yo dd read it and I think it affected her the same way, BUT she is ultra-sensitive and it didn't bother her. We did it with the Progeny Press study guide. Teresa

So I'm reading and gagging down a bite of taco soup. I should have skimmed it before taking that bite. lol That was a rough morning for you. Hope tomorrow is better!! :) Teresa

LOL!! I was thinking the same thing.

I had heard about it but never seen it. What a picture of God & us. :) Teresa

Yes, that is my story. I was an avid reader...most of what I read during those years, in retrospect, was just nonsense. I read all the time, but stupid little teen romance novels or horror stories, Danielle Steel (Blech!!!) I could have read the comics and been better rounded than that. lol Teresa

When I do get good and mad, and especially when I act on that anger, or at the very least, think a bunch of un-Christlike thoughts, it usually leads to such a series of emotions that I prefer not to go there. There is anger, rage, running my mouth or having some mild (usually) temper-tantrum), then embarrassment, guilt & sometimes I'll overcompensate for the angry path I just took. That leads me to look even more foolish, which leads to more humiliation, etc.. Things just work so much better when I keep my head, or at the very least smile very wide while throwing out some hugely sarcastic jabs. ;) Teresa (really, it all works better if I just give my anger to God and deal with it in a nice way....that is about 1 out of every 50 times.)

I didn't fully identify with all the choices, so here is my own: Yes, I did read it for all the age levels that pertained to me at the time. It has influenced many of my homeschool decisions, but it has been one of many sources that influenced my homeschool decision, so I don't use it to a "T". Teresa

I will leave my 12yodd under these conditions: during the day when I am in town, which is 15-20 minutes away, and going on an errand that will take no longer than 2 hours. She has been doing this since she was in the late-11yo range. If I'm going to be gone on a fairly short errand, I'll leave her younger brothers with her. I'd feel complete trust in leaving her alone with school work or chores. I know she'd get it done. Teresa

It fixed quickly. It turned into a normal sofa.

There won't be an age, in my home, that any of my dc will be permitted to drive or ride on the back of a motorcycle. Through numerous deaths and injuries of friends in the past years, my decision has proven to have much evidence to back it. It's hard to see a dear friend with two small children whose husband just died on a motorcycle, through no fault of his own, and think it anything I'd ever allow or encourage my dc to do. I figure they could be perfect drivers, have the perfect driving record, but they are still so very much at the mercy of any nut who might happen to be out that day. It's too much of a gamble. Teresa

My oldest, at 10, was told she had to have a root canal. I was upset and worried. This was an insurance dentist. I took her to a highly recommended dentist here in town. He said he thought he could go in and look and possibly just give her a very deep filling if it didn't look as bad as they were saying. Turns out, the cavity didn't go down into the root but down the side of her tooth. He gave her a filling and told me that in a few years she'll need a crown. It was a much more pleasant experience than we thought it would be and less expensive even though this wasn't our insurance dentist. T

My brother's wife's sister (got that?) and her husband bought a piece of land in east Texas. On that land is a cemetary. The cemetary, unbeknownst to them, contains our ancestors. When purchasing the land, someone from the city nearest, gave them a book that had the family history of the family buried on their land. On the very last page of the family tree part was my parents names, then my brother, my sister & I. I have a copy and I've read through it. It has family members that came over during Jamestown. I read stories of family members from way back, people in the Civil War. One aunt from the late 1800s had dreams like I do, dreams she knows that God gave her. God showed her a vision of the man she would marry. He would ride up on a white horse while she was working in the garden. She saw his face and everything. Sure enough, it happened and she married him. It's full of cool stories of people I've never met. How weird is it that an inlaw of my brother would buy that very piece of land...we don't even have family that lives there anymore. Our family moved towards west TX back in the early 1900s. T

That doesn't surprise me. It's okay to show drivel like Fahrenheit 911 but heaven forbid they put something like this in. It makes me laugh. Oh, yeah...I think this is my 49th post!! I only have one more until I can sell stuff. It's a monumental moment for me...almost! :) Teresa

We spend about $700-$800 for a family of 6. It has become ridiculous. Even when I'm trying to be careful, I can't seem to do less than $150 per week. Every item seems to have gone up! Teresa

I look forward to it. It may not be at the movies, but I'll watch it on video at least. T

...of the chunk we spend there weekly on groceries. I've never jumped on the anti-walmart bandwagon, and this makes me even more happy I haven't.

:iagree: Go, Cheryl!! :) Teresa

I read that they gave them the choice and if any one of them had said no they wouldn't have done it. I don't believe they were forced to sing it. I can see both sides of the argument, and know that I'd be offended it they praised a false god in song. Right now, though, I'm just happy they sang it, regardless of where the hearts are of those who were singing it or the motives behind it. I am sure God used it. Teresa

Dh and I both have this dream. Kind of a foster home type thing. I have read about George Mueller and I'd like to do something like that. Horses, farm work, great outdoors and Christ as the center. That would be my dream...if I needed any further education for it, I'd do it. I can't think of any other job I'd love more than that. Teresa

My dd and I sat there in shock. She looked like she might cry, and that made me happy to see God work like that. Jesus WILL be glorified, one way or another. It just stands so against the whole Hollywood thing for them to have done that, and that is the amazing part. To me, that was just God!! :) I also want to download that.