It was amazing what the Nats did to St. Louis. We are big time Astros fans! The games against the Yankees were so much fun to watch. This should be a fun series, too. May the best team win!

I cringe when I see journalists, celebrities, politicians, people in academia, and others grandstanding about "MY whiteness" and "MY white privilege." I think it is just another form of white supremacy -- anything to keep the focus on white people. "Look at ME and how GREAT I am in my [laughable] 'self-loathing' and wokeness." It does nothing to put the spotlight on those who are suffering and fearful and does nothing to solve any problems like disparity in education and other areas. Anytime it seems like there may be attention or traction on any of these issues, these types of people try to shift the attention. An article in the Washington Post referenced above stated: Quote: The same Bible that urges forgiveness also urges justice. "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17). None of this is achieved when people are constantly shifting the focus away from the oppressed to themselves.

Your material was submitted as ideas for helping reluctant writers, but I used it yesterday with my daughter who loves writing. She loved it. We used your writing prompt cards along with a Big Picture Apples to Apples game which includes hundreds of picture cards. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I am sure there are many exciting opportunities for him! I have a friend who has a metal-working business. He works on big projects like steeples and domes for roofs on houses of worship or historical buildings. He has worked on some cool stuff, and he's been on popular TV shows.

I still think this is probably the best answer: He needs a job. I know that you are in a difficult situation because of your location, so make it a huge priority for him to get a license asap or whatever it takes to make the job happen, if you can. Is his high school in a rural location with no nearby job opportunities after school? My son at 17 basically had a full time job in addition to his classes. It was really great for him and our relationship. At that point he needed a boss teaching him responsibility and not mom.

You should not be making him eat his vegetables. This will make him feel like: if I am being treated like a toddler, I may as well act like one. Pick your battles. This is not the one to pick at 17 years old.

More info to consider: "Hyperventilation is a medical term that refers to overbreathing. In this case, ventilation through the lungs exceeds the metabolic demand on the body. Hyperventilation is normal after strenuous exercise. Many cases of acute, or sudden, hyperventilation come on when experiencing panic, anxiety, or emotional condition. Hyperventilation, can also be caused by a range of medical conditions, including heart attack, anemia, congestive heart failure, fever, sepsis, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), among others. Symptoms and signs of hyperventilation include dizziness and lightheadedness. Other associated symptoms can include a sense of unsteadiness, chest pain or discomfort, rapid heart rate, and a tingling sensation around the mouth and in the fingertips or toes. It is also common to experience shortness of breath, or the feeling that you cannot take in enough air." from: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/hyperventilation/symptom.htm The bolded sounds similar to some of what you have said.

Is she just standing at church or is she singing also? Anemia can cause hyperventilation which can feel like what you are describing -- light headedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and rapid heart rate. This can be much worsened by over-breathing which occurs when singing. Panic/anxiety attacks are often caused not by panic or anxiety but by physical issues.

Is the root cause of her anemia tied to the fact that she is a vegetarian? It can be very tricky to get iron that adolescent females need, especially when she is a vegetarian, even through supplements. In the past, red meat has been the go-to solution for many doctors. I know when I am anemic, i feel much better when eating red meat -- much, much better even than consuming a large dose of iron supplements. I am sure there is a plant-based solution, but the vegetarian angle could make it much trickier. I am sorry that she is going through this.

My sons would have really hated ice skating, too! Maybe you should try a weekly family activity (maybe bowling?) that everyone in the family likes. I would also probably just continue with the ninja classes since he really likes that. I wouldn't make him do extracurricular type stuff that he hates.

Yes, I have tested the theories of Calvin with God's word. Calvin's theory: Limited Atonement: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is... not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 1 Tim 2:3-4 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." I also believe that good and perfect things come from God and that it is not His will that we sin: James 1:13-17 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. John Calvin was a cruel dictator who executed publicly those who opposed his religious theories. In five years, 58 people were executed under his rule. The most common infraction was the opposition to infant baptism. He had these people who opposed infant baptism or limited atonement or his authority to be drowned, beheaded, or burned slowly at the stake with green wood. I am not a fan.

Is this the same James White? I hope not -- Calvinist theologian James White, in a debate with Hank Hannegraaf and George Bryson, was asked, “When a child is raped, is God responsible and did He decree that rape?” To which Mr. White replied… “Yes, because if not then it’s meaningless and purposeless and though God knew it was going to happen he created it without a purpose… and God is responsible for the creation of despair… If He didn‟t [decree child rape] then that rape is an element of meaningless evil that has no purpose.” I think unfortunately this is what the above author is saying. So sad.

This article explores an angle that I have not seen in any of the other articles I have read on this subject. https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=30549 This explores the role that Calvinism may have played in his fall. I have seen this as an issue in several other organizations tied to many homeschoolers. In some circles, such as Vision Forum, it seemed like Calvin was the foundation of their organization, and he was revered and elevated above Christ. A foundation built on anyone other than Christ and His doctrine will crumble. "So then you... are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone." Ephesians 2:19-20 The foolish man built his house on a foundation other than the pure, simple gospel of Christ. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27

The kid friendliest casserole I make: Pizza casserole. So the bottom of the casserole is like a spaghetti type casserole (I usually use macaroni pasta) with pasta, marinara, and ground meat. Then liberally spread mozzarella cheese on top. Now you pretend you have a pizza and top with pizza toppings: lots of pepperoni, peppers, onions... whatever you like on a pizza.

One thing that bugs me the most concerning this topic is the Shakedown strategy. Companies are threatened with boycott by bullying entities who approach them demanding money and support for their causes, like organized criminals demanding protection money. It is one thing for a company to voluntarily support a cause, but it is rotten when companies feel forced into it by these bullying tactics.

If you are more comfortable with untucked, then my vote is untucked.

I think it is just meant to be a harmless joke. I think people are too sensitive now, get offended too easily, and take themselves too seriously. How can there be any comedians if even this type of stuff is out of bounds? As someone else said, it can be fun for the generations to tease each other - younger folks don't know how to use a rotary phone or a manual transmission and older folks don't get modern technology. Those memes are nowhere close to implying a moral failing. It's just a joke, like watching a video of teenagers trying to use a rotary phone. Yes, it is obsolete, but it is fun for old folks to watch them try to figure it out. Getting offended by this stuff is really what persecution looks like in the first world.

I don't think that any of those memes are saying that it is morally wrong not to know how to drive a car with a manual transmission. I think the point they are making that those who can't are inept or dumb or inexperienced, but not morally wrong. I also think the point of memes is that you aren't really supposed to take them too seriously.

I remember those. My grandmother had one, and my husband's grandmother had one. My grandmother put tiny artificial plants in there in an attempt to make the naked lady inside a little more modest. 😄

The public is so ignorant and gullible that it is very easy for them to be deceived about environmental issues. For instance, many young people think electric cars are totally clean because they think they don't run on fossil fuels and have zero emissions. Some electric car manufacturers even advertise that their vehicles have zero emissions.That may be true in some countries and areas, but where I live, electricity predominantly comes from coal power plants. People don't see the emissions coming out of the car, and they don't have the critical thinking skills to realize that many of these electric cars are actually running on fossil fuels, and the emissions are spewing out of the power plant. And in much of the U.S., coal-powered energy is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases. (Don't misinterpret this post, I am in favor of cleaner and renewable forms of energy. My previous job was engineering systems for cleaner emissions at coal-powered plants.) This is a pretty good article on the subject: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/electric-cars-are-not-necessarily-clean/

Yes, he was the "father" of the Mustang and the Minivan. He was a legend.

This discussion about the death of Willie Nelson reminds me of one of his songs: Still Not Dead: I woke up still not dead again today The internet said I had passed away But if I died I wasn't dead to stay And I woke up still not dead again today Well, I woke up still not dead again today The gardener did not find me that a way You can't believe a word that people say And I woke up still not dead again today...

With Ice Cream, Everything is Popsicle

This brings back memories of the Trapper Keeper. I miss mine. It had kitties on it. They were so cute.

I like some 70's music not because it is particularly good but because of the memories it brings back.