I've seen it at Meijer.

I sure hope you got video of that!

Yesterday I was at the grocery store and saw a woman wearing camo capris and a white tank top- not odd around here- but then she had her hair in this beautiful upswept style that looked rather formal. It made me smile. Have you seen and appreciated anyone with their own sense of style or personality lately?

I vote no island because it really limits space to move around. Any appliance door opposite the island will cause a traffic jam. This is why I am planning to move our refrigerator across the kitchen, away from the main work area. I would think about work stations instead of just counter space. My kitchen is large with a very big island which would be nice if I was the only cook, but my kids are right in there with me and we are constantly bumping into each other while getting dinner on the table, etc. I had a smaller kitchen with less counter space and liked it because there was an area for cooking/ baking with a peninsula and across the kitchen was the fridge and sink with a long counter on each side. If you can plan a space for walking through the kitchen that won't impede kitchen activity, that would be a big bonus. Oh, and if you have a long counter away from the main sink you might want to consider a small sink for food prep. We may do that and it would be perfect for my littles washing their hands while cooking without getting in the way. I really like cooking with my kids so fixing this current set-up is something we've given a lot of thought.

Our local Tractor Supply Plus has vets come in evry few weeks to do shots for pets. You can avoid office visit fees that wy. Also, Tractor Supply has some vaccinations you can do yourself.

Divine chocolate!

Still praying and wondering how they are doing. Thanks for bumping the thread.

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question, but the title made me smile. It brought up an image of someone traveling from church to church to get a little Christianity here a little there, ala progressive dinners.

I love Michigan. It is a beautiful state full of farms, forests,gorgeous beaches, and wonderful people. (In fact, I've always thought you would be a great WTM mom to meet!) I am sorry things are so bleak in your area, but they aren't like that in the whole state. I do wish we could all get on board with a bi-partisan effort to address the most pressing issues: the economy and education. I don't know what can be done about the culture of violence in some cities. Saginaw was fairly close-by growing up and it was scary then,too. Living here in Central and West Michigan my whole life has biased me for sure.

These stories are interesting between the denim pants and the forced worship times! However, for those of you who went to less legalistic schools and/ or had good experiences, please name those schools!

That is awesome news! I signed the petition and am so glad the judge stepped in to save her life. Praying for her!

First, OP please read the end of my post! For anyone who reads this please read it with an understanding that it is not a response to any one poster, but to ideas that are prevalent about FAS. I don't want to come off as a know it all or rude, but it is very hard for me to read some of these posts. Yes, everyone's experience is different and I am happy for those who drank a little and their kids are fine. I truly am. Especially since their doctors told them it was okay or they didn't know they were pregnant. Very few doctors know about the true causes and effects of FASD. The research is ongoing. Knowledge and treatment are in the beginning stages. An OB is not likely to be studying all the latest research; that isn't possible for one doc to do for all the different problems a baby could have. And it isn't his/her field of specialty. But please, please don't spread the message that drinking during pregnancy is okay. Yes, doctors say a little bit is no big deal. But as some up thread said, drinking at the wrong time during pregnancy or with the "wrong" genetic makeup or, as I've read, a lack of folic acid can lead to FAS effects. It is a gamble for anyone. There was an article out this year trumpeting the idea that, hey, new research shows alcohol consumption does not affect IQ! But it was a terrible piece of journalism that could cause many children to suffer. Children with FASD do not necessarily have a lower IQ, but they have physical problems, sensory issues, learning disabilities, mood disorders and more. Our birth mom reported no drinking. Our neuropsychologist said that she probably stopped drinking when she realized she was pregnant. Or it could have been around 4 months along when the birth mom was placed in care. Our daughter was affected and we have no idea when or how much alcohol was consumed. What I do know is that I have a firmly attached and loved child who suffers from learning disabilities and a mood disorder. As Ottakee said, she learns and re-learns an re-learns the same information. She has had years of rages that have brought me to tears and despair for her future. She has physically assaulted those she loves. Before she was placed on her current medicine the poor child was in a state of almost constant agitation( think PMS and worse). Can you imagine how hard it was for a little person to try to control herself felling like that? This medicine has turned our lives around and revealed her true sassy,hilarious personality. I am sharing our story to emphasize that it does matter and that the act of refraining from alcohol is the only way to guarantee no effects from alcohol. Could our children still have problems? Absolutely. But if it is under our control to prevent possible problems, that is what we should do. To the OP- We specifically marked on our disability worksheet that we could handle almost any disability but FAS. I am so glad our daughter was given to us anyway! She is a sweet, nurturing, funny 9 year old. She has been through more in her short life than most children, but she is loved and adored by her family and friends and she knows it. We have grown in ways we would not have chosen and endured some very dark days, but through the hardest times we knew that she was placed in our family not only by her birth mom, but God himself. The birth mom was praying and we were praying about the match. The birth mom refused all family profiles given to her because none seemed right to her. Our profile was given only because a call went out from our former social worker that a family was needed. We had no home study, little money, and other obstacles. We watched in amazement as every wall between us and our child were broken down! We are not some special, especially patient couple so it isn't like it was logical for us to be chosen. She is a joy and we do not know what the future holds, but we will be right there with her on the journey because she is our girl. As far as questions to ask, I don't know what to tell you. Many moms will not self-report drinking because they feel shame or they know it will limit their pool of families. There are ways to ask in order to get an idea, but professionals are usually better at discerning that. Also, I want to note that I am not angry with our birth mom for drinking or saying she didn't. She was from a difficult situation doing the best she could to handle life. May God bless you in your journey. ETA: We now have evidence of a drinking problem, so that confirmed our Dr.'s assessment.

Soror, this is totally off topic, but this is your bil and sil living next to your mom? So the little girl is your niece, but not related to your mom? Forgive me for being dense, but it's bugging me that I can't figure it ou! Maybe you call your MIL, "Mom"?

Haha. In Michigan they don't have a name, but we always referred to them as the no-no grass. ( too close to the road for toddlers)

Yes

Praying here. So sorry for the distance between you.

He was adopted from another country about two years ago. He has a lot of catching up to do and at this point his reading and speech skills are much more important. He was older when adopted and it takes a long time for kids like that to retain info our kids get repeatedly through the years.

Prayed!

Did you take pictures? I'm glad you are flexible and your daughter will be thrilled with the sugar no matter what!

Oooooo..... I have an idea. Cut them in half and glue them together with more frosting. Or make them into some very cool shape?

That is a major bummer. Someday you will use that story to embarrass your now 3 yr old, but today I'm sure he just looks like a very cute thief!

I will pray for you all. What a hard, long day. I'm glad your DH is home with you.

Prayed for your husband. Hope all is well.

Karyn Purvis' work might be a help to you in this situation. Whether your foster daughter has RAD or not, Dr. Purvis addresses the concerns of trauma and grief and how those affect attachment and behavior. Her focus is to help the child heal toward being connected with her family. In " The Connected Child" she gives explanations of psychology and brain chemistry theories that help a parent understand the child's behaviors. She also gives practical tips on how to build a loving relationship while remaining in charge as a gentle, encouraging authority. From your post it sounds like this method might fit your parenting better than the one you mentioned. She very well may not have RAD, but it sounds like her grief is preventing her from forming new, healthy relationships and that is an an attachment issue. Also, I know foster parents often do not receive a full history on their children and she might have experienced a trauma of which you are unaware. I hope you have a breakthrough soon and your relationship grows steadily toward a warm and healthy one. You sound like a loving mom searching for answers in a complicated situation. May God bless you as you continue. P.S. I apologize of this is a repeat of knowledge you already have.

How about one of the Freddy the Pig books? (By Walter Brooks)