:grouphug: You are in my prayers.

Cold Mountain was pretty awful.

All right, that's it! I finally caved. I must have passed this book ten times at Walmart yesterday. I picked it up and put it back three times. I. just. couldn't. resist. I'm so glad I bought it! Too much fun.

When I lived in CA, I shopped at Mervyns all the time. I haven't seen them in any of the other states I've lived though... Not sure if they're nation wide.

I got on Facebook to keep in touch with my brother, past and present friends, and classmates.

I don't have any advice, but I just checked out the nanowrimo site. It looks like so much fun! I just wanted to wish you luck! :001_smile: I'm tempted to try it myself...

Recently I watched Dicken's Our Mutual Friend. It was very good. You mentioned North and South. Did you also watch Wives and Daughters? Jane Eyre is wonderful too.

I second John Piper. He's pretty amazing.

Tanya, I'm sorry that you're going through this. I also know what it's like to go through something that totally rocks your faith. In February, my dad who had been a strong Christian for 30 years, committed suicide. Not only that, but he did it in anger. In front of my mom. The pain that he caused was earth shattering for everyone. And it was very, very hard to understand why God would possibly let this happen. For months I would try to read my bible. For my mother, it was the only thing that sustained her. For my brother and I, it was like chewing on stale crackers. I admit, I was very angry with God. But. I did pour my heart out to Him. Sometimes I cried and yelled. Sometimes I pleaded for help. Over and over I asked why?! I couldn't see how in the world this situation would be good for us. Did I even know who God really was? Didn't He know that I needed my dad? How could He love me and let me feel so much pain? Yet, God was and is working. I will never understand why He thought my children shouldn't have their grandpa for as long as possible. Or why my mom has to start over with her life. But, God has healed relationships in our family. Our hearts are focused more heavenward than ever before. Wonderful people have come into our lives that we would never have met otherwise. And, strangely enough, things are starting to make sense. God's ways are higher than ours. Nothing can seperate us from His love. His promises are true. Days aren't always easy. We also still get mail for my dad. In fact, we are selling everything from his estate. I have to see his stuff every day! But, it's getting easier. I can read my bible and get great comfort and insight again. My mom is taking medication for depression. It helps her a ton. I try to surround myself with good music, movies, books. Some days we do nothing but talk! So many people here have given wonderful suggestions. Please take care. God knows what you're going through. He knows how much you miss your mom. He knows how much you hurt. I pray that you would experience His abundant healing love. :grouphug:

We love Song School Latin. I even hear my dd2 singing the songs around the house. :001_smile:

It's not the prettiest handwriting, but it has been wonderful for my ds7. We just started with dd5 and it's going very well.

I am experiencing this also with my dd5. I recently bought a book called Teach Me How to Say It Right: Helping Your Child With Articulation Problems. I'm only a little ways into it, but it's been very helpful so far. :)

ds 2nd: TOG, Songschool Latin, WWE, FLL, HWT cursive dd K: before the Code books, Horizons math

I had the purple lips phone! :D