jar, tall straight glass, tall can of spray oil, wooden dowel, curtain rod, extension piece from vacuum wrapped in foil, broomstick? eta: can of soda?

Get a luggage cart or two, strap a car seat to each cart with bungee cords. Your kids can ride thru the airport, and you can store the carts under the seat during the flight. While the kids are in the seats on the plane. Makes life a lot easier. Good luck!

We just got an Expedit shelving thing from Ikea - don't know if there's one near you but it's got 16 squares and you can put baskets in all or some or none. We have books, toys, papers, junk - everything - in it and it works well. It's big, but doesn't take up the whole wall, just most of it. ;) It was maybe $200?

We just moved here a few weeks ago so I don't have as comprehensive an answer as PPs, but I agree with them. We live in Dallas itself and there's an LDS church down the street, a Catholic church across the street, and every other denomination within a 10 minute drive or less. DD is only 3 so I can't speak to schools, but there are TONS of private schools with very good reputations. I hear mixed reports about DISD (Dallas Independent School District). Don't know about other areas. I hear very good things about homeschooling here. If you never send your kids to public school there's not even a notification requirement. No testing, no notification. You're a "private school" and don't have the same requirements as public schools do. It's easy to google info through HSLDA or THSC.org. It IS HOT. Blazing. I came from SE VA and have lived in Turkey so I thought this wouldn't be a big deal. It's hotter here than in Turkey, primarily because it never cools down at night. Our A/C (electric) bill gave me a heart attack this week, but I've been told I'm lucky - most people's are double or more. It's still pretty green here - not as green as Virginia, but there are areas and they're nice. We really like White Rock Lake but I'm still exploring and finding new areas all the time. There is a TON of things to do here, even in summer. Museums, malls, playgrounds, libraries, etc. Yes, the outdoor play equipment is hot, but if you find one in shade (they exist) it's bearable. We keep finding new things here and it keeps surprising me. Even my husband can't believe all the things here. You'll really like it here. We do and after moving 40,000 times in my life I feel like this might be home.

:iagree: Thank you for the update and I'll be praying for all of you!

Except for the summer of 2007 when it got hotter than heck in the Seattle area and I had a newborn, a south facing solar oven (I mean apartment), and NO A/C. I drove around a lot and spent a lot of time (with a lot of other moms) at indoor malls, just walking around!

Come on and scream. We're here for you and offer up our cyber-shoulders.

Also try baking soda (a cup) in the wash. It helps get smells out. I wouldn't combine vinegar and baking soda though - that's a recipe for a volcano!

Same here, but I'm still hoping...

I'm so sorry! I was without a car for three years and it's hard in the US! Overseas it was easier as public transportation was right outside our door and went everywhere in the city. I wish you luck and completely understand wanting to buy a car right now, but also wanting to remain debt free (our policy as well). Good luck!!

I can only hope this is true and that she was more of a casual church attender. If she was devout - I feel for her.

I agree completely about the Living Museum and the SPCA. Haven't seen the Air & Space Center, but DH loved it.

In one way, I reckon He has done that. The quest is for us to find own individual Truth, Way, and Life.

There is a Trader Joe's on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News. That will be closer to Yorktown and the other sites you mentioned. I used to live in Yorktown and shop at this TJs. Enjoy!

We keep it between 77 and 80 in summer. Winter is more like 75. I know, I know, but my husband is from Turkey and is used to it being really warm, even in winter. Most apartment buildings in Turkey have radiators that are not controllable - the whole building is the same temperature based on how much coal the building manager puts in the furnace (yes, really). And since Turks are used to the heat, it's REALLY hot. I joke that the only think hotter than a Turkish summer is a Turkish winter. Our friends all know to wear something cool when they come to our house in cold weather!

Glad to know I'm not the only one! I wonder where I'll end up....

I was 39. We are still hoping and praying and trying for #2 and I'm 42. My response to people who ask if DD is going to have brothers or sisters is that God has not blessed us yet. They understand, or at least smile and change the subject. We got a late start. :001_rolleyes:

Please forgive me, I'm feeling really punchy today... My first thought was "those poor Afghans - I don't think they want to be knitted!" (thinking of the nationality, not the blanket!). :tongue_smilie: My second thought was - "is that a different style of knitting, like Continental?" :confused: I think I need more coffee. I hope you find your book!

I voted other. My parents have met my MIL once, for a weekend, and they like each other in the polite way strangers that need to get along do so. My parents will probably never meet my FIL as he lives overseas and I know my parents will never go there and it's not likely that FIL will come here anytime soon. So see, there is a way to be "other"!

Again, thank you everyone for the thoughtful conversation on the subject (I'm the OP). There's a LOT here and it will keep me busy for months at the rate at which I'm able to read (3 yo DD keeps me hopping!). There are just too many people I'd like to thank for their thoughts - please accept a global thank you to everyone for keeping the conversation respectful and helping me on my journey. I probably used the wrong terminology in my first post. I was raised Baptist and became a reformed Presbyterian about 10 years ago. Since moving DH and I have been searching for a church but haven't found one. We vacillate between the Catholic church and the Baptist church (what a swing!). I am reading the Bible, recommended books, the Westminster Confession of Faith. DH is not Catholic, but sympathizes with my dilemma and is being wonderfully supportive. We'll see where this take me. Thanks again, everyone!

Whew! I go shopping for Father's Day and come back to 6 pages! Yowza! Thank you all who suggested books that argue on behalf of the Protestant position. That's what I'm looking for. I find it interesting how Scott Hahn was viewed by various people, and would be interested in what books are troubling. One thing that's troubling me about Protestantism is exactly what was pointed out here, though I can't remember if it was in a positive or negative context. There are 10,000 denominations. I am starting to feel like it's a buffet where you pick and choose what you want to believe. I need to read more about the Reformation. Auntie M - your advice was spot on. Thank you!

I'm reading "Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic". I have a Catholic friend who's going to send me a bunch of books to help with my search from the Catholic perspective. My current sources for Protestantism are my Bible and my own knowledge growing up in a super conservative evangelical church. Sunday School every week, church 2-3 times a week (Sun AM, Sun PM, and mid-week service). I don't want to alarm my family by asking them or my pastor back home for recommendations for reading (they're several states away and will go into conniptions at the very thought of this quest) and I don't know anyone here in my new home that I'm comfortable asking for help. I am looking for either personal conversion stories similar to "Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic" but from the other side or discussions of why the Protestant faith is correct based on scripture and reasoned arguments. ETA: I may look at Orthodoxy, but right now I have too much on my plate to expand beyond Catholicism vs. Protestantism. Thanks!

:grouphug:

I'm NOT asking for Catholic bashing! I have been searching and reading for several months based on the wonderful recommendations from this board and am considering reconciliation with the Catholic church. However, before I go too much further, I'd like to hear intelligent arguments from the other side. So I'm asking the hive for book recommendations that debunk Catholicism or intelligently argue for the Protestant faith. I grew up Protestant, conservative, evangelical, but am finding that a lot of the questions I had are being answered by Catholic theology, not Protestant. Perhaps I'm missing something in Protestant theology. Any recommendations? I want to make an informed decision. I am praying a lot. Thank you!

White for cleaning, colored for face washing. For all the reasons stated above. Not that I like her much, but Martha Stewart always sets out a dark, colored washcloth for face washing as it hides the stains from makeup that can occur. I think she even monograms it "makeup" so that guests know it's for washing makeup off at the end of the day.