At what age is a child able to express their own beliefs, regardless of those of the parents? It seems to me that an 8th grader should be allowed to make their own decision in this regard, whether or not their parents agree. I might ask my 6 year old to say the pledge, but if/when he could articulate why he chose not to, then it would be his own decision. Would it be better for them to say it and not mean it? I refused to be confirmed at age 12, even though my parents were really pushing it. The pastor said "just say it, even if you don't believe it." His words kept me from the church for a long time... and it was only through my commitment to authentic faith rather than surface conformity that I found God and became a pastor myself. I realize this is a secular rather than a religious ritual, but my experience leads me to trust these kids to make thier own choices. I also feel that the pledge that civil servants, from the President to members of the military, take to "support and defend the constitution" is much more meaningful and powerful as far as patriotic words go. Any time I've said those words when starting a new job (I worked several government jobs in high school and college) I felt them. I say the pledge to the flag too, but I sure wouldn't if I didn't agree with it!

OK, I'm working through a process right now that requires each pastor (me, in this case) to write up a listing of their own "core principles". These are not doctrinal statements, statements of faith, or descriptions of the church, but descriptions of how I vision individual committed Christians living in the world. One ways to say it is "painting the target on the wall", so that people in the church can see what they are aiming for. I've worked on these for a while now, but I need feedback. Our instructions are to write so that it is clear to the average lay person what exactly we are saying, with minimal explanation. What better group of erudite folks than the WTM boards, right? I don't need help deciding what my core principles are (feel free to discuss with me on pm or another thread if you like), but ensuring that they are expressed clearly and elegantly. With me? Thanks for your help! OK, submitted for your comment: Committed disciples of Jesus Christ…. 1. Know that God’s grace and love is for them personally. Disciples know they are valued and valuable, lovable and loved by a God who knows their name and their very essence. 2. Know that God’s grace and love is for everyone. All people are welcomed and desired in the family of God. Disciples seek to express in their own lives God’s unconditional love for all human beings 3. Seek to be authentically themselves. Disciples engage others with integrity by sharing themselves and developing open, honest and trusting relationships. 4. Are personally transformed by intentional spiritual growth through prayer, study and reflection. As with any relationship, we must spend quality time with our God to experience a deeper and more meaningful spiritual life. 5. Seek intentionally to discern God’s call in their lives in a lifelong journey of examination and obedience. Disciples recognize that the call of God must be taken seriously and consistently reexamined, and that the experience of call changes over a lifetime. 6. Embrace the journey with joy and thankfulness. Disciples seek to engage everyday life not with expectations, but openness. Disciples are constantly being made new. Disciples see life’s ups and downs, challenges and roadblocks as opportunities. 7. Engage with injustice. Disciples do not remain silent when the values of God are violated by individuals or groups. They seek always to speak with God’s prophetic voice of justice. 8. Express their faith through service. Loving others through acts of committed service is the outward sign of our inward transformation by God’s grace.

Well, it's May, so I've bought all my books for next year (the first step, right?) and I'm reading all next year's curriculum to get ready to plan. Our year begins in August... so I choose curriculum in Feb/Mar, purchase in April, think in May (check out different schedules, read all the materials, brainstorm), plan in June (make a spreadsheet for the whole year, as well as our weekly schedule), rest in July, start in August. Then I avoid thinking about curriculum for the next few months, until February rolls around again.

I was thinking Spanish... but my ds6 came in and said "No, mom... Latin, because it's so fun!" So there you go. One vote for Latin. He also wants to tell you that he uses Minimus, and really likes it.

I would guess the best way to increase vocabulary is just to use a lot of big words with your kids. And be ready to define them--or just do it out of habit. Ask if they understand a word in a read aloud. However, I do think that vocabulary programs can have some impact. I can think of words that I learned as a youth just because they sounded cool: syzygy, benthic and abecedarian come to mind. I'm a bit of a word geek, so we'll continue on after finishing SWO with some sort of vocabulary program I'm sure.

I'm with you... we read it last year as a read aloud and had great fun with it. Actually, I ended up reading ahead and finishing it on my own after the first couple of days because I got really into it. Anything that allows me or dh to use lots of great voices and accents is a popular read aloud around here. Plus pirates--you can't beat that!

My grandmothers, both still living, are Marge and Mildred, the three great grandmothers I know offhand were Bertha (who was called Maimi), Margaret and Dorothy. My dh's grandmothers were named Inez and Dorothy. Play with this to see how common your name is/was and when: http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=&ms=false&sw=m&exact=false

Keeping all those affected by the earthquake in our prayers... Hope he checks in soon!

My first name is actually "Kirsten"... but I've gone by Kay since high school. Growing up I didn't really like it, mostly because everyone called me "Kristin" or "Christine" or "Kersten". I can't tell you the number of times I had to say "Kir, it rhymes with ear." So I wasn't a fan, and sort of accidentally slipped into being called Kay due to a mix-up with a nametag. Kay is my middle name, and also my mom's middle name, and she goes by Kay as well. These days I think I actually prefer Kirsten, but no one calls me that except my dad and a few older relatives I never see. Everyone else has called me Kay for 20 plus years, so there just is no going back. And my poor dh--it would blow his mind if I wasn't Kay anymore! It was hard enough when I changed my last name to his after 9 years of marriage--right before our oldest son was born. So I'm OK with my everyday name of Kay, but I do kind of long to return to my childhood name of Kirsten...

This is close to what I do. I have a spreadsheet showing general ideas for all 12 years for both my children (and my oldest is in 1st). I know it will keep on changing and developing over time, but it gives me some idea where we are headed and when I want to implement certain things. I think one key is fitting the schedule to the child, and not the other way around.

I enjoy playing chess... my dad taught me to play as a child, and I've played sporadically since then. Both our ds's have used the "Fritz and Chesster" chess program and learned a lot. Older ds did one session of chess club last fall at our local homeschool park days. Otherwise, older ds and I have been (slowly) working our way through a couple of highly recommended resources. I've learned really a lot playing through the examples with him: Winning Chess Strategy for Kids by Jeff Coakley http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Strategy-Kids-Coakley/dp/1895525055 Winning Chess Exercises for Kids by Jeff Coakley http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Exercises-Kids-Coakley/dp/1895525101 both of which are easy to do and fun. I highly recommend these to develop those chess skills. Ds also really enjoys reading to himself (and doing the puzzles) "Kasparov Teaches Chess". My mom bought it for him after a chess playing friend of hers recommended it even for kids. I thought it would be way over his head, but no--he likes it! It's old and out of print, but there are lots of cheap paperback copies around.

Thanks! I need to update my slang, obviously!

"I'm still having issues with perfectionism causing tears and all kinds of trauma, which leads to lots of dinking, which leads to nothing getting done. :glare: " I must ask... what is dinking? I first read that as "drinking", but it seemed unlikely that kids that age would reach for a beer. Sorry I don't have a good reply, I'm just curious.

I agree that each family and mom is different, and that the main "parenting" component is making sure that your children learn to meet the needs of thier future spouse appropriately. Explaining what make you happy, as well as letting them know as they get older that others might feel differently, meets that bill. I never want my sons to say to their future wives, "Well, my mom did xyz, why don't you?" I'm pretty low key about Mother's Day (I think?), but I do receive gifts, pick my favorite meals (out or at home), etc. Pretty much it is my day to do with as I like, and I enjoy that. I do the same for my dh on Father's day, and he loves having a special day as well. Sensitivity is key. I only think it would be "bad parenting" if your kids and dh don't know how to make you feel happy and special--if no gifts or fuss is your thing, then that make you happy, right? So that's a great way to celebrate!

Yeah! Congratulations! Mother's Day presents don't get better than that! :party:

I also would never buy anything they produce, promote or profit from. They've done so much to give Christianity a bad name... thier eventual reluctant removal of thier racist policies was way too little, way too late, and included no sign of true repentance. Believing that races should be "separate" is indeed a form of racism, absolutely immoral, unethical, and completely in violation of all that Christ taught, IMHO.

I do love Mother's Day... I'm up early polishing up my sermon (like every Sunday), but I'm going to head back to bed.... I think I'll get breakfast in bed. Since I always have to work on Mother's Day, my dh tries to take the kids out the day before as a special "quiet time" treat. I read 450 pages of a book yesterday! I know there was some shopping too, because my 4 year old announced, "Mommy, we bought you three presents, one each, but I'm not going to talk about them at all!" And dinner tonight will be takeout from one of my favorite places--though I just discovered my first pick is closed today. http://www.chilimysoul.com/ Hmmmm... maybe Indian? We never get that. Followed by my pick of family movie on DVD. We've got Astronaut Farmer from Netflix, I think I'll go with that. Or maybe make them watch P&P again, for the gazillionth time. Yeah! I'm looking forward to today!

I recently purchased the new illustrated version by Michael Morpurgo (beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman) to read next year with my up-and-coming 2nd grader. We haven't used it yet, next year is SOTW2/Medieval History for us, so I can't give a full review, but I did compare quite a few versions and here is why we chose this one: We did our usual semi-annual drive down to an amazing local children's bookstore, and I spent some time going through a range of children's versions of Beowulf--yes, they had a whole shelf full! I chose this one because it covers the whole story (some versions have just the first half--this is 92 pages), readable yet substantial text (not just picture book captions), and though it is written in prose seems to have a good "feel" of the Anglo-Saxon poetry--the short, repetitive and somewhat choppy lines of Beowulf string together to tell the story, and the illustrations are lovely--every 2 page spread has at least 1 small picture, and there are some amazing 1 and 2 page paintings, even the pages with only text are decorated beautifully. I think it is a read-aloud for most 7 year olds. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/1406305979

So far I've gargled with Hydrogen Peroxide (salt water makes me gag), and taken both Aleve and Ibuprofin for pain. This is the worst sore throat I've had in years. The pain is absolutely excruciating, though the painkillers are working to dull it somewhat. My doctor isn't open until Monday and I can't lose my voice--I've got to preach tomorrow morning, plus three funerals this week. I had one suggestion from a friend to drink ginger tea, so I'm going to try that. At this point I'm desperate... and I plan to try all and any remedies that seem vaguely like they might work! Help me, boardies!

I was a military brat... born in Maine, lived in North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Norway, Germany, Colorado, Maryland.... then graduated from college and moved to So Cal right after college with my dh. Been here ever since--16 years now! Of course, we've lived in 6 houses in that time. I've now lived in our townhouse for 6 years, longer than any one home in my life!

So sorry that this time is so difficult... know that we are thinking of you and praying for you and yours here. (((Joanne)))

I don't know of one... but Amazon does sell most of the HWT stuff. It may be cheaper there (especially if you get free shipping).

I typed in four paragraphs at random from Fellowship. Basically, I set the book on edge, and let gravity pull it open. Turned out to be the first four paragraphs on page 238 of my edition. Word came up with a lexile level of 7.5 I guess that's my point... do they take the "average" of the whole book? Or they only key in certain parts (previews off of Amazon)? Even the selection I copied is much more challenging (IMHO) than the HP books. I'm not dissing either, I'm a huge fan of both, but I just can't agree with thier relative ranking. I guess I really don't believe that an arbitrary word count program can really measure how challenging a book is. Or, for that matter, how good writing is--how I hate those grammar/style suggestions in Word! The passage I entered was: In the North after the war and the slaughter of the Gladden Fields the Men of Weterness were diminished, and their city of Annuminas beside Lake Evendim fell into ruin; and the heirs of Valandil removed and dwelt at Fornost on the high North Downs, and that now too is desolate. Men call it Deadmen’s Dike, and they fear to tread there. For the folk of Arnor dwindled, and their foes devoured them, and their lordship passed, leaving only green mounds in the grassy hills. In the South the realm of Gondor long endured; and for a while its splendour grew, recalling somewhat of the might of Numenor, ere it fell. High towers that people built, and strong places, and havens of many ships; and the winged crown of the kings of Men was held in awe by folk of many tongures. Their chief city was Osgiliath, Citadel of the Stars, through the midst of which the River flowed. And Minas Ithil they build, Tower of the Rising Moon, eastward upon a shoulder of the Mountains of the Shadow; and westward at the feet of the White Mountains Minas Anor they made, Tower of the Setting Sun. There in the courts of the King grew a white tree, from the seed of that tree which Isildur brought over the deep waters, and the seed of that tree before came from Eressea, and before that out of the Uttermost West in the Day before days when the world was young. But in the wearing of the swift years of Middle-earth the line of Meneldil son of Anarion failed, and the Tree withered, and the blood of the Numenorians became mingled with that of lesser men. Then the watch upon the wals of Mordor slept, and dark things crept back to Gorgoroth. And on a time evil things came forth, and they took Minas Ithil and abode in it, and they made it into a place of dread; and it is called Minas Morgul, the Tower of Sorcery. Then Minas Anor was named anew Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard; and these two cities were ever at war, but Osgiliath which lay between was deserted and in its ruins shadows walked. So it has been for many lives of men. But the Lords of Minas Tirith still fight on, defying our enemies, keeping the passage of the River from Argonath to the Sea. And now that part of the tale that I shall tell is drawn to its close. For in the days of Isildur the Ruling Ring passed out of all knowledge, and the Three were released from its dominion. But now in this latter day they are in peril once more, for to our sorrow the One has been found. Others shall speak of its finding, for in that I played small part.

Thanks for remembering! No... I found out that basically there isn't really any way to tell after the fact if the lead is out of their system. So it might have passed through them, might not, no way to know. So I decided that the amount of exposure we had going to the park, even frequently, probably wasn't going to cause ongoing problems. Of course, the park is still closed.

I'm a fainter! :tongue_smilie: I'm also a big chicken... but now I give blood regularly. When my dh was in the hospital three years ago he needed lots of blood (12 units? probably more), and I decided I would try to "pay it forward". I also have A negative blood, which is often in short supply--I'm on the Red Cross email list so they will send periodic reminders. I was nervous the first time, but did lots of deep breathing and relaxation... I use the same routine I did for hypnobirthing, actually. I hate needles! I've found that if I get up too fast afterwards (like, move and sit at the little table with cookies and juice), I pass out after about 20 minutes. Now I tell them that I'm a fainter, and ask if I can stay laying down for an additional 15 minutes or so after I am done donating, THEN I move to the juice and cookie table. I haven't had a problem since then. In general, I think it's pretty unusual that people faint afterwards...