There is a homeopathic remedy called Coffee Cruda (those little white pellets in the blue vials if you know homeopathic remedies). It's supposed to help you calm down and sleep if you are feeling jittery, mind is racing, or just can't calm down. It works for me. If you don't have access to a homeopathic store...I'd go with the wine :)

So, the time has come and the decision has pretty much been made. At least 3 of my dc (dd12, ds10 and ds9) will be going to ps next year after 4 years at home. Dh and I have been praying and discussing this for some time, talking with the kids and have pretty much decided that it will be best for all of us...for now. But, I'm still terrified. How would you prepare them for this transition? We plan to visit the schools each would be going to, hopefully set up a day that they can spend a day at the school and possilbly "shadow" a current student for a day (they each have friends there already). What about our focus academically for the remainder of the year? What would you focus on? I'm really feeling down about this, but I know in my heart it is the best decision for now. I'm trying not to feel like a complete failure, but it's hard. Anyone btdt and have any tips for me? Thanks.

:grouphug: :iagree:

This year, we took a break from the 4yr. cycle to do MFW ECC. Well, we just aren't getting much done. I'm just not motivated. I'm looking ahead to next year and am considering a few options. I could do MFW RtR as planned. We did MOH1 last year and it would be the logical next step. Cost might prohibit us from doing that, though. I could go with MOH2. Forget TOG...I just don't have the kind of time to put into that. I need something that is relatively open and go...not a ton of planning. MFW has enough but not too much. Is there anything else out there from a Christian perspective that is pretty much open and go? I will have 8th, 6th, 4th, 3rd and a 1st grader (who will likely just listen in but not do much). Thanks

We had the same problem when we first started the DR cash envelope system. Since I shopped frequently at Target and would buy food as well as other non-food items in one purchase, we had to budget those things together. So, for instance, our "food" envelope is actually the Food, diapers, household items, cleaning supplies, paper products, cosmetics, personal care, etc. envelope. I know many of you frown at that being too "general", but it works for us. I just makes sure we budget enough every 2 weeks if I know I'll need diapers or more household items. I also do a ton of shopping at CVS using the Extra Care Buck system so many of my cosmetic, cleaning supply, paper products, etc. items are free with the Extra Buck coupons or very, very cheap. If you want to know more about CVS shopping, check out http://www.hotcouponworld.com or http://www.iheartcvs.com. Both are very good sites for using the CVS "system". We do have a separate envelope for clothing, gifts, entertainments, etc. and if I buy clothes along with food at Target, I just "square up" at the end. Put money from clothes back into food, etc. for whatever I purchased. Does that make sense?

This could get long, so I won't even get started w/ what I think about our gov't. Bottom line, as a pp said...it has much to do w/ the almighty dollar. AND, it has a lot to do w/ the gov't body thinking that they know better what's good for us individually than we know. A conspiracy? Could be.

Have you thought about seeing a therapist/counselor? If you even think that you are depressed, you probably are. I've suffered from minor to major depression since my teens (I'm just realizing this since seeing a therapist). As a pp said, it is unmistakable...the sadness, emptiness, lethargy, lack of motivation to do anything, etc....all for no apparent reason. A dr. might be able to "diagnose" depression and prescribe anti-depressants but a general dr. is not trained to dig deeper to find the root cause/causes. A trained counselor can do that. More and more studies have been finding that the chemical imbalances that are related to depression (I won't say CAUSE depression, b/c the jury is still out on whether the imbalance CAUSES depression or the depression CAUSES the imbalance) can be corrected by "retraining" the brain. I was on anti-depressants 3 years ago but wasn't seeing a counselor. It was only a band-aid over a more complex, serious problem. I should have sought counseling back then while on the anti-depressants. I would suggest seeing a therapist as well as your dr. I think that anti-depressants (if you are thinking about going that route) are helpful but since they only "mask" the real issues...won't CURE the problem. A therapist can be very helpful in addressing the root causes while the anti-depressant can make your life more "liveable" while the issues are being addressed. Does that make sense? Good luck!

:grouphug: to you Joanne. From someone who has been in the "desert" for a few, if not several, years now...there is hope. It's tough when you can't "feel" God. He is there, but it's hard when you just can't "feel" it. And, coming from an abusive situation...it presents a bunch of trust issues. I don't have the answers b/c I'm in the midst of a bunch of those very same issues and wading through them is really...daunting. But, this I do know...God is bigger than our problems, our discouragements, our ABUSE. You can be angry w/ God, yell at Him, scream at Him, tell him exactly how you feel about Him, about your situation, about how you feel betrayed, abandoned. He already knows it anyway. He is a BIG God...He can take it all. You have every right to feel the way you do. Let it all out and just tell God all about it...I'm sure you have done so many times. I'll be praying for you...that God will reveal Himself to you in a very tangible way. He will never leave you nor forsake you...even when you leave Him. He's waiting for You w/ open arms. You are a very courageous woman, Joanne. You have inspired and encouraged so many (myself included) on this board and I'm sure IRL as well. HAng in there and keep on keeping on. We are all here for you.

That's hard to say, especially since we don't know her or are not experts. Is she agreeable to seeing a therapist?

I think that you can tell a lot from your first visit and first impression. If you didn't feel that this counselor was helpful or that you "clicked"...your gut might be telling you that you need to "shop" around. My first visit w/ my counselor was horrible...only b/c I was dragged there pretty much against my will. BUT, that being said, I could automatically tell that she was someone w/ whom I could feel comfortable, be able to open up to and that she knew her stuff (more than just a "good friend" to chat with once a week, KWIM?). Is this guy a Christian counselor? That could be important. It isn't wrong to shop around until you feel comfortable w/ someone. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

Duct tape. :lol: Okay, now that I've had my laugh for this morning....I'll get serious...and honest. My baby is 8 mos. and crawling all over the place. Playpen doesn't work, he won't sit in a high chair and play quietly so here is my advice...make your house as baby-safe as possible (hah!), use gates and set up a large area where he can just play w/out getting hurt...preferrably near you and the action. Okay, I know this is easier said than done...trust me. Trouble is...one year olds don't have much of an attention span to focus on one task or toy for very long. I'm hoping you get some more answers!

I haven't read all the comments, but I believe it was wine. But, realize that the wine of Jesus' time was not the wine we have today. Back in Jesus' time, wine was more of a fermented beverage that didn't contain near the amounts of alcohol that today's wine does. I'm sure somebody else has already pointed this out, but thought I'd mention it anyway. Jesus wasn't condoning drinking a debauchery by turning water into wine...:)

The valedictorian of my high school grad. class married our class advisor. He was close to 50 and she was 18. He had daughters older than she was. It was quite the story. The psychology major in me often wonders why relationships like that happen (a girl so young and a man so much older). They are still together today and have 2 young children. So...you never know!

Good for you! We completed FPU back in December and are slowly but surely plugging away. It seems that everytime we have money to put toward the BEF...an emergency happens! But, with tax refunds coming in...we will be able to put our $1000 in the BEF, pay off our van, pay off dh's credit card, the real estate taxes and county taxes AND have some left over to put toward vacation. I'm so excited that we finally have the ball rolling. Keep at it...it is so worth it. Oh, and a plug for the cash envelope system. It takes a few months to get used to but it is so FREEING! No more worrying about the account having enough money in it to cover this charge or that. We use cash for food, gas, clothing, entertainment, gifts and pretty much anything that isn't direct debited. Works out well. Congrats for starting the process and keep up that gazelle intensity! :D

Wise words, Pam. We are working to get the house in order. My house (physically speaking) remains in chaos and I'm trying to figure out how to get that in order. It will need to be in order before classes start. I've been praying for somebody to come and help me make sense of all this clutter (homeschool stuff, toys, personal books, papers, etc....you know all the stuff a house of 9 can accumulate!). That's goal #1...to finish that before the summer or at least make a big dent. Children's behaviors are getting better. Much better. There is still fighting and bickering...but we are nipping it in the bud and using natural consequences for behaviors (less punishment and more of a "if you choose to behave like this, then you wil have such and such a consequence...your choice". It's working...slowly but surely. My own mental health is improving (although don't ask me about this morning when dh LOST an envelope with $300 in it...talk about a bad way to start your day :glare:). Anyway, 10 years from now is a long time. I have a lot of preliminary work to do. I'm not going back tomorrow. I'm thinking that perhaps I'll try to save up enough money to take a class in the Fall of 2011. Thanks everybody for the words of wisdom and experiences. I do have a lot to think about and work on.

Okay, so you all who know me well (and have read my post of late) are thinking, "has this chick completely lost ALL her marbles?!?" :001_huh: The short answer...yes. The long answer (for those who care to read on): I have a BA in Psychology and a few graduate classes under my belt (but those are from 13 years ago). Before I had a slew of kids, I had planned to be a counselor. It's always been a thought in the back of my mind. So, recently I've been doing a bit more thinking about it and it's really resonating with me. If you have ever homeschooled while taking classes yourself...how did it work out? Were you completely wiped or did it work out okay? This isn't something I can do (financially) right now, but in the near future I'd like to start taking a class or two a semester (preferably online). Dh and I do not want to stop homeschooling. I also don't want to burn myself out and given my emotional health recently...well, you understand. My goal is this: To have my Masters in Counseling (probably LCSW) by the time my youngest (8 mos.) is 10yo and begin working part-time as a Christian counselor. So, you see, this goal is way out there...10 years from now, but not too soon to start planning, KWIM? So, any thoughts, advice, warnings, sarcastic remarks, etc? :) Thanks!

:party: The result was....NEGATIVE! I've never been so happy viewing a negative result in my life. Phew. Now, I have some serious praying to do about some more, um, permanent birth control options...I'm just not feeling peace about that. Anyway...just wanted to share.

:willy_nilly: AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! You have confirmed my fear. Yikes. Well...my dh just arrived home. Off to take the test. What in the world am I going to do if this test is positive? :willy_nilly:

Here is the deal. The baby is 8 1/2 mos. old. I've had 2 or 3 periods in a row since his birth (can't remember which) and was expecting to get another somewhere around the 20th. Each cycle was pretty consistent (26 days, then 28 days...so around the same each time). I figured this one would be around 28 - 30 days or so. I am still nursing, but not as much as when he was first born, obviously. So, here is the deal...around the 16th I had some spotting for about a day...very light. Then nothing. I had this happen last month, too, but then got a real period about 6 days later. Well...this is about 8 days later and nada, zippo. Dh is picking up a pregnancy test while he is out. :001_huh: But, honestly...I just don't see how I COULD be pregnant. We've been careful...really careful. What do you all think? Do you think I am just late b/c of nursing or stress or do you think this is what I fear the most...I am pregnant? FWIW...it's going on 36 days now since my last period. :001_huh: Somebody tell me that this is perfectly normal and that my worst fear will not be realized! Please?

Yeah! More WTM babies! Congrats and enjoy your new little miracle. Such a sweet name.

Thank you everyone. Such great responses...very encouraging. I'm feeling much better and ready to sit down with dh and discuss priorities and what is an absolute necessity for our homeschool (can you believe we have never done this? :001_huh:). Thanks again!

Getting my 10yo to read period is a struggle to put it mildly. He does not like to read. Period. So, when he actually asked to read the abridged version of Tom Sawyer that I have from Great Illustrated Classics, I relented. I typically do not like them to read the abridged versions, but w/ this kid...anything is better than nothing. So...he is LOVING it! He still won't read for longer that like half an hour even if he is enjoying it, but he is READING! So, any recs for books LIKE Tom Sawyer that might interest him? He has a friend reading the Lord of the Rings and he is interested in that. It will be a challenge for him, but that's good. His reading skills are a bit "behind" grade but slowly improving. Thanks in advance!

I was just this very moment thinking about you and wondering if the baby had arrived! Congrats! She is absolutely gorgeous. Yeah!

how do you not feel guilty? What I mean is this: If you were at a place in your life where you could not spend inordinate amounts of time planning, conducting science experiments, doing art projects, lots of hands on stuff, etc. (either due to sickness or family issues or whatever) but still felt the need/call to homeschool and you had to use a style of curriculum that was a "do the next thing", workbook type thing...how do you rest easy/be at peace and not feel guilty that you aren't doing more? I'm at that point. I have come to a point where I must recognize my limitations at this particular juncture in my life. 7 kids, physical/emotional health issues, discipline issues, marriage issues, etc. (you've all read my past threads and so most of you know what I'm talking about :)) have necessitated me being more focused on "me" than I would like and am really comfortable with. But...both dh and I feel compelled to keep homeschooling (yes, dh was finally honest with himself and me about his desire to keep the kids home despite my "issues"). So, that being said... I explained to dh my limitations and what I could accomplish and could not. He has agreed to make Saturdays "Science experiment day" or some other sort of hands on project day. He has agreed to be more involved with the teaching process. I have moved to using more workbooks type books that the kids can do independently more or less. But, I still feel guilt that we are not "doing enough". How do you just let that go? Or is that guilt there b/c we AREN'T doing enough? Ugh. Does anybody know what I mean? Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated. I know that this won't last forever...next year is another year and I hope to be in a much better place physically and emotionally but for now...I am where I am. :) Thanks for listening.

I second La Alhambra in Granada. I spent 4 glorious months in Sevilla while in college. Sevilla is wonderful. Toledo, Cordoba, Avila...all great places to visit as well. I did not like Madrid, but I am not fond of cities. Salamanca was interesting. Did not particularly like Santiago but then again I was very jet-lagged at that point! Didn't make it to Barcelona, but that would be on my itinerary for next time. Valencia was also nice. Oh, oh, oh...Malaga! Don't miss Malaga! I'm so jealous!