Ditto this! (We should have a smiley that says "I agree with Mrs Mungo!" I think I'd use it a LOT!)

You must live near me. Can we be Not Christian Enough together??? :D ETA: Just took a quick look at your blog and realized right away that you are Mormon. I am not Mormon, but many of my family members are (in fact, my nephew just got back from his mission). I am Catholic, so I still don't fit the definition of "Christian" that many hold. What a sad state of affairs when some who profess Christ will point fingers at others and question their christianity.

David and Christine are pretty cool, aren't they? I am an affiliate with HLA. If you have homeschooling troubles in Southern Illinois, I will represent you for free through HLA. (If you are in Northern Illinois, you might get Christine Field.) If you have other problems, no matter where you live, if it falls within my areas of specialty (adoption and special education law) I might be called in for a consult on your case. This is all done free of charge, and my time and the time of others in the HLA network is donated-- HLA is, first and foremost, a ministry. They represent homeschooling families nationwide. HLA is a 501©3 corporation, which means that donations to them are tax deductible. 501©3's are not allowed to engage in lobbying or advocacy-- HLA has a different mission than HSLDA-- its purpose is only to represent homeschooling families whose rights are being impinged. HSLDA is a 501©4. That's an important difference. 501©4's are primarily advocacy groups. HSLDA takes cases of members based on THAT purpose. THey have a number you can call if you have a truant officer on your doorstep, but representation may or may not happen. My first homeschool conference was APACHE, the Peoria conference. I signed up for HSLDA and told the girl manning the booth that my husband and I were both attorneys and wanted to help out. She gave me Chris Klicka's card. I later e-mailed him and told him that I used to be an Appellate Prosecutor and would be glad to volunteer to help HSLDA. I received an e-mail back from an intern in their office asking about my husband and HIS willingness to help HSLDA out. :glare: I later learned that they were not interested in me because I am female. This always bothered me, but for a few years I kept my membership in HSLDA. I eventually dropped it, though, because I learned more and more about their "vision" and I disliked it tremendously. HSLDA leaders promote a patriocentric "worldview" that degrades and demeans women. This was discussed by That Mom in two of her podcasts-- the August 15 and 21 podcasts address the "Leadership Summit" held by HSLDA. If you want copies of the cd's with the talks themselves, she has the link somewhere on her website. I would strongly urge EVERYONE to listen to BOTH of her series of podcasts on the Patriocentric Movement in homeschooling. They will open your eyes and make you sick to your stomach.

Thank you to all of you who participated in the jeans thread-- today, for the first time in my LIFE, I bought jeans that were long enough (36" inseam) after trying them on IN THE STORE. I have previously been able to find jeans that are long enough online (Victoria's Secret, Anne Taylor) but there was always the risk of them being too short or not fitting right because I had to buy them BEFORE trying them on. Whoda thought a 40 year old mother of six would find PERFECT jeans at The Buckle?!?!? Thanks for the recommendations, ladies!!

:iagree:

It would be nice if we had a similar organization down here in SOUTHERN Illinois. Unfortunately, we seem to be on a different planet, even though we are in the same state.

It depends on what the group is unified for. If it's fighting oppressive homeschooling laws-- yes, I think we can be unified. I blogged about this yesterday. Here in Illinois, we formed a PAC to fight legislators who intend to restrict our homeschool freedom. PACs are non-partisan and non-religious. I think that as long as they are single issue, focused on homeschooling, then we can and should unite to fight a common enemy. However, with regard to other things-- worldview, best methods of homeschooling, etc.? I don't know. I'd like to see homeschool conferences become more inclusive, but I don't see state "Christian" organizations relaxing on this. Have any of you looked at the schedule for the upcoming PA conference? A friend of mine pointed it out to me today-- take a look. The conference sponsored workshops are, overwhelmingly, about worldview, parenting, etc. NOT about homeschooling. If our mission is to educate kids, then yes, I think we can be unified. If our mission is worldview change, then I think we'll have a huge split.

We had problems on the US side of things when we adopted Masha from Russia. My problems were not nearly as bad as yours, but still, I get it. Glad to hear things are progressing for you. :grouphug:

I have a very very neglected blog pertaining to adoption in support of my business (I'm an adoption law attorney). My other blog, recently resurrected, is about homeschooling and homeschool activism-- I am on the Advisory Board of the Illinois Homeschool Political Action Committee. So, both of my blogs pertain to my "public" life. And as such, both use my real name. I never really wanted to lead a "public" life, but that is the way things have come about in recent weeks. It's a little freaky-- but it keeps me honest.

HI!!! I have been very involved in the Homeschool Wars but I really can discuss Other Topics. I PROMISE!! I am a Libra. At least I think I still am. I didn't know it had changed. I liked that I was a Libra because its sign is the scales of justice. I'm a lawyer, so that fits me well. I believe that God created the Earth and everything in it, that He created us in His image and likeness, and as such we all have individual dignity and worth. That's what I try to focus on, though sometimes I need reminding. I love to cook. I was so ticked when Melissa D'Arabian stole MY SHOW on Food Network. :D I was raised by very uptight parents who had little money, but LOTS of education. My husband converted me to the "dark side" when he introduced me to Jimmy Buffett, four wheeling, and hockey. I love our laid-back life together. I homeschool because it fits our lifestyle and because I'm a rebel at heart.

Mormons welcome; hard drinks optional. :)

Me four. It's the principle of the matter you know?? My older girls already use Memoria's Christian Studies program (not Catholic) in conjunction with Faith and Life (Catholic). I might have to see how well this would mesh with what I teach my younger kids.

As a lawyer, I offer my condolanc-- ummmm-- my congratulations. Yeah, that's it CONGRATULATIONS!! ;)

The latex jumpers (and your whole exchange on this) makes me LOL every time I think of it. My husband keeps asking me what is so funny, but I don't want to give him any ideas. ;)

I think Parrothead is in New England. In addition to LL Bean side trips, I feel confident she'd make sure we had Cheeseburgers in Paradise.

Maybe we could go to Branson in September? I was raised in Joplin and got my undergrad in Springfield. Love that area in the fall.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE IN THE HOMESCHOOLING WORLD WHO "GETS" ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <deep breath> <deep breath> Okay. So, I live in the middle of no where. You KNOW I am sitting here like Horshack going "Oooh! Ooh ooh!! PICK ME!!!" And though I live along a pretty cool wine trail, near an excellent martini bar ;), walking distance from Food Network's favorite barbeque, and have a decently large house, I am a realist, and know that I don't live in the ideal geographic location. However. I would be more than happy to put something together in St. Louis, which is just under two hours from my home. I am up there frequently because of my daughter's medical issues. Given that it is a major metropolitan area and right smack-dab in the middle of the US, I think the location might work out. Or would you all rather have a giant slumber party at my house???

Have you all seen this?? What say you, polite and respectful members of the Hive??

Those would be conferences sponsored by the Church of Buffett, Orthodox. I attend regularly. :D

Oh. My. Gosh. I know that those in patriocentric homeschool circles THINK this, but the fact that someone said it publicly is truly unbelievable.

Here in Illinois, we formed a Homeschool Political Action Committee to fight negative homeschool laws. HSLDA should be working themselves out of a job, but instead they proposed restrictive laws in New Hampshire that NH homeschoolers are now fighting. Homeschooling is about freedom, not about Christianity, and HSLDA is an advocate for a very patriarchal form of "Christianity." If you don't believe me, listen to the August 15 and 21 podcasts you can find here, or buy the CD's from the homeschool "leadership summit" that HSLDA put on (cant' find the link to that right now, but I can get it). This concerns me greatly. I think we need homeschooling advocacy by non-partisan and non-sectarian groups like the Illinois Homeschool PAC. Hopefully other states will follow what we are trying to do here in Illinois.

HLA is a Christian ministry. I don't know if there are secular alternatives. What I do know is that, as a Catholic, I am often shunned by other "Christian" groups, but not by HLA.

Thanks. I live in Illinois, which has been homeschooling friendly, but Regional Superintendents like to play fast and loose with the law. I just couldn't sit around and do nothing, so I contacted HLA to see if they needed anyone in my area (Southern Illinois, near Carbondale). They did and here I am. I have met David Gibbs and Christine Field and they are both wonderful people who seek only to serve others, not to promote their own agendas.

:iagree: I was a member once upon a time. No more. I live in an area where homeschoolers are regularly harassed contrary to law. That's one of the reasons why HLA was appealing to me.

I recommend Homeschool Legal Advantage. http://www.homeschoollegaladvantage.com They are a ministry, not an advocacy group like HSLDA. If you need legal help, they'll give it, at no charge. They take donations, but you can join for free-- just use the coupon code GIFT. In addition to being a homeschooling mom, I am also an attorney, and earlier this year I became an affiliate of HLA. I donate my time to help other homeschooling families. David Gibbs, the attorney who tried to save Terri Schiavo's life, runs HLA, and I know that one of their full-time employees is attorney Christine Field, a well known homeschooling mom and author of books for homeschooling families. I'd recommend you check them out, especially if you live in an area where homeschooling families are harassed.