The Azores

I recommend Michael Heiser and the naked Bible podcast.

I think something like this is cute and will go with most outfits: https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Escape-Casual-Fedora-Tan/dp/B0951B442R/ref=asc_df_B0951B442R/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=521135315753&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6902550545485007853&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027782&hvtargid=pla-1292037290610&psc=1

I'm so very sorry.

Could you elaborate a little more? Maybe PM me if you think it will get too political. Because this was definitely one of my concerns. As someone who hasn't lived in the US for very long, I find we don't really fit in to American Christianity. I hate how enmeshed the church here is with politics!

Thank you so much! I think y'all are right in that I shouldn't ignore the social benefits. I think this is what we are going to do. Good point! With a different child I can see this being a concern. (I was that child!) But DD hates competition and even timed tests stress her out, so we are definitely not even going to try to compete.

I’d love to hear the hive’s thoughts on the Bible Bee. Does anyone have any knowledge about this organization? Background: Most of our homeschool friends are doing the Bible Bee summer study this year and they are planning a lot of social activities around meeting for Bible Bee study sessions. I feel like if we don’t do it, my daughter, who is very shy and has just started making friends, will be completely forgotten and end up without a social group. DD9 does enjoy studying the Bible and has an excellent memory, so this could be a great opportunity for her to shine a little socially. On the other hand, I really dislike the whole idea of commercializing Bible study and memorization. It seems to straddle that fine line between straight up unbiblical and just plain gauche. Five years ago, I would have stuck to my principles no matter the social cost. But making sweet DD9 pay the price for my convictions has me rather conflicted.

I love that your son thinks you're 'decorative'! 🤣

That sounds like a great idea! Reframing it like that can make all the difference! Of course. It’s maddening because they don’t seem to care about actual employee wellness, while ostensibly trying to promote it.

Is it fair or right that you are requested to do this? Absolutely not. Might it be in your best interests to just comply by doing something low effort? I think so. Please try not to stress over this. It’s not worth it. Maybe set a timer for 10 minutes and look around your home for a cute card or bookmark you think a co-worker might enjoy. (I hoard pretty stationery, so this may not work for you if you are more of a minimalist.)

We’ve never pretended Santa or the Tooth fairy were real, but we’ve also talked quite a bit about not ruining someone else’s fun. I thought I was doing great until I found out that DD told her friend I was the tooth fairy but it was a secret that she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. So now there’s a 5 year old down the street who thinks I sneak into peoples houses when they lose teeth! My coolness factor has gone up exponentially, so overall I’m still counting this as a win!

I am so sorry. Heartbroken and praying. We can do so much better.

That plate is gorgeous!! Could you share the name of the artisan?

I’m awed and humbled by the depth of thought you’ve put into this. I try to be conscious about things like my clicks and searches too and I don’t use any social media either, but I have to confess that I’ve always done this out of purely selfish motives. And conveniences like cell phones and GPS and relatively new cars would honestly be very hard to give up unless I absolutely had to. Thank you for sharing what you do and why you do it, I admire your convictions.

I appreciate the thinking out loud @Quill. I’m still processing this myself, so my comments are not really directed at you, and I’m not trying to argue or be antagonistic. I’m just thinking out loud too. My husband works in one of those professions you mentioned, and yes, he sometimes sees some terrible things as a part of his job. I see that as very different from this though. Those in the legal field, military, first responders, social workers, health care workers, etc., all are on the ground helping real people with their very real world problems. What they are doing is essential, and in my mind, very, very different from ensuring Alexa can make appropriate suggestions for gifts for 15 year olds. AI is a luxury and at this point still a convenience, not an essential, and I think it’s in humanity’s best interest to keep it that way. Is it fair for us to allow real Kenyan men and women to subject themselves to viewing pure evil, so we can have conveniences like Alexa or ChatGPT?