The Mouse That Roared is an oldie but funny.

First I will say that I love: The lights, the red and green, the winter decorations, music, the food, the cookies, and chocolates... when it is not overdone. We have one neighbor who puts every lighted and blow up decoration known to man in his yard. This annoys me. I am also slightly annoyed at myself and my own expectations. I am annoyed that I have to make an issue of money and can't just spend on others as the spirit moves me. I am annoyed at all the extra cleaning and cooking that I feel obligated to do, with no help and often no thanks. I am annoyed that I get annoyed at all these silly things. :-P

Another option is to partially thaw it at 30% power in the microwave. Then put it in a bowl and cover it with cold salted water for an hour or so.

I believe it is because it is an introductory clause. It is not a necessary part of the sentence. But I'm going to go check. According to my grammar handbook, your son is technically right. It doesn't have to have a comma because it is short. However, a comma there is not wrong, just unnecessary. Since they are probably trying to assess how well he knows how to punctuate, I guess he should pick the conservative side of any similar questions.

I've been working in the kitchen since I got up this morning. I took a break for lunch and realized I still need to make dinner tonight. :tongue_smilie:

What about Rolos? They are round chocolate covered caramels.

Is it possible to be a homeschooler and not be educating yourself in something? (In other words, yes.) :-)

North By Northwest is good too, even more action than the above, and they are all in color. A more modern movie that was very suspensful that my boys and I both enjoyed was The Prestige.

I have had panic attacks and episodes like you are describing. My panic attacks are usually caused from negative mental feedback. I think these others are partly physical. Usually if I am in a vehicle and feel that way, I have to many layers of clothes on, the heat may be on, and all the windows are rolled up. I suddenly feel claustrophobic and short of breath which brings on a panic feeling. However, I feel better very quickly if I roll down the windows, shed some layers, have a drink of water, and get the fans blowing on me.

Bill Bryson's The Mother Tongue.

This really doesn't have anything to do with real shortages but possible runs on stores in emergencies, real or percieved. Food prices are expected to sky rocket within the next 6 months. Prices of commodities on the stock market have shot up in the last couple of months (in some cases doubling in value) this is because food is seen as a safe bet, everyone's gotta eat. :tongue_smilie: This is already causing issues with some large food companies, especially name brand cereals. The commodities that have increased in value dramatically include: corn, wheat, oats, rice, and cotton. No real shortages, but a real decrease in purchasing power and affordability. Can we say "Back to basics?"

I voted excellent knowledge, but that is 95% in the English language. I have studied much history, some theological debates, and am beginning to study the apochrypha. However, sometimes I feel as though I know nothing. I've noticed that Christians, myself included, have been critical of faiths that will not listen to those to have objections of the validity of their beliefs, when we do exactly the same thing! So I have embarked on an even more comprehensive study of the history of my own religion, including any objections that have been historically addressed. Very often I find myself feeling bewildered and have to pause to sort out what I have learned and how I will personally assimilate that knowledge. At the moment, my faith in a supreme God has not changed, but my faith in the inerrancy of scripture has. I am now in a position of theological loneliness. This kind of study is not encouraged (or discouraged) in my church. Aside from the preacher and a few of the older members, I am probably the most self educated in Biblical history and the scriptures, but not necessarily the wisest. :-) I find myself more and more (internally) disagreeing with speakers, or being bored to tears. I think I am coming to the conclusion that perhaps growing in wisdom and compassion are more important than all the knowledge I could possibly accumulate.

I vote for changing your shampoo too. I'm 46 and I have had thinning hair, itching scalp, and very dry skin on my forehead. I decided to change my shampoo to a moisturizing one and the itch went away. My friend who is a hair dresser brought me a large bottle of "Big Sexy Hair" ( I'm almost embarrassed to tell anyone I use this). My head no longer itches at all and my forehead is no longer dry and flaky! She said cheap shampoos have alcohols in them and that is what dries out your skin.

Praying for peace for you and yours.

A lot of what you come away with has to do with how you approach scripture. Do you believe that every single word is transferred from the mind of God to the hand of the writer? Or do you believe that the writer is a flawed human being who, in spite of a personal relationship with God, reflects the perceptions and prejudices of his own time?

I recently read a book entitled How to Read the Scriptures: Then and Now. It is written by a Jewish professor of Hebrew at Harvard. He goes through the history of the Old Testament writings and compares the modern teachings about them with archaeological finds and other traditional writings. It was very enlightening, and shook up some of my preconceived ideas about scripture.

I brown a lb of ground beef, drain, and add: chopped onion, chopped green pepper, minced garlic, 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup salsa. This is the filling. I dip corn tortillas in hot oil to soften, then dip them in a mixture of 1 can mild enchilada sauce and 1 can of tomato soup. Then fill the tortillas and roll them up. Place in a pan and when the pan is filled pour the rest of the enchilada sauce mixture over the top. Sprinkle liberally with shredded cheddar. Bake at 350 til heated through and cheese is melted.

Answers in bold.

That was actually quite beautiful. Thank you.

Very many Christians, I am included, believe that the death referred to in Genesis is spiritual death, or separation from God, not physical death.

For everyone who liked The Language of God, I highly recommend a book called God and Evolution by David Wilcox. He is a Christian, evolutionist, college science teacher. His book takes the information that gene science has uncovered about the origins life and humanity and discusses them in the context of a Biblical faith. It is one of the best books I've ever read on the subject.

Well, all the world did not believe in flood science until 1800. Science itself has evolved over the milleniums, and especially over the last few hundred years. What we know as science today hasn't really existed that long, and there have been plenty of ideas about creation through the ages. I would suggest that you read as many resources as you can find, from all perspectives. A funny aside: An intelligent 65 year old woman recently told me, "there were no such things as dinosaurs when I was a child." She hadn't heard of dinosaur fossils til she was 20!

You may have something, the one that is frustrating me the most in this area is 11 1/2yo.

Or is it a personality thing? So many times my children have asked "Why?" when I suggest going a little further for the sake of excellence, or experience, or just plain self satisfaction. They rarely choose to do more than they absolutely have to for anything. Is there any way to get them to understand the mindset of going above and beyond?

How will you be spending money this Christmas? Are you feeling the pinch, trying to stay out of debt, or going ahead as usual? I can't seem to spell curious right today.