Crayola makes nice window markers--we like the Crystal Effects version. Model it for him and do it with him. Show him how much fun you're having.

I think Math Mammoth could work well, especially if you are going to use it with your younger children anyway. The download version is on sale right now through HSBC. If I was using it with an older child I think I would by the blue series (by topic) and just print out sheets for the areas he is struggling with.

Jane, I want to know what school this is! PM me if you don't want to broadcast it. I would have loved this kind of college experience.

Dh will be on the 1 day a week furlough plan. We'll be OK--not happy about it, but we live frugally. Mostly means we'll have to stop paying down our mortgage. I have friends who don't know how they will pay their mortgage. Someone's bluff got called. I'm still optimistic. Curious to see how things work out (since they're pretty much beyond my control, curious is about all I can be).

I like the idea of meals. Something practical...flowers are of course nice too, but I feel more like I am doing something if I can see a need being met.

Count me in as well. I was wondering when I first heard the news if something like this might be possible.

This happens ALL THE TIME at my house. Pages get eaten, torn out, scribbled on...talk about plain and precious parts going missing :tongue_smilie:

Now I'm hoping there will be a new hymnbook forthcoming sometime soon, because I'm sure there are plenty of interesting, beautiful hymns out there just waiting to be included.

Updated 2013 edition of the English language LDS scriptures being released. Looking forward to getting myself a copy.

I went through the IB program in high school, I took the corresponding AP's for all of my IB classes and achieved 4's and 5's on the exams. I did use AP study guides for some of them, but most of my knowledge for the AP's came from the IB classes. The situation may be different now, but back then the AP was much better known at American universities and the credit granted was better--though I personally found the IB exams to be more difficult and comprehensive.

Y'all are an amazing well of information.

Just want to say that I have seen no reason to doubt the Vatican's account of why the Pope is resigning and personally my reaction when I first heard the news was that it was a very honorable and responsible course for him to take. The weight of leading the worldwide Catholic Church would be a heavy burden indeed.

I second the idea of going through the education unboxed videos and/or looking into Math Mammoth. The cheapest way to buy MM is when it goes on sale through HSBC, but I personally prefer to buy the worktexts already printed. It comes to $26 per year, all the instruction is included. I haven't needed any extras like answer keys or tests.

Yes indeed.

My kids would love your class! And what a nice little piece of homeschool coverage. Way to go!

Hmm, maybe we should start planting random BYU threads on the boards just for fun :tongue_smilie: :tongue_smilie:

Congratulations! There are some nice demonstration videos here for basic posture, bowhold, etc. (on the right side of the page you will see links to different videos). Kurt Sassmannshaus (owner of this site) is the son of the creator of the Sassmannshaus method that has been extensively used in Germany and recently translated into English. I use this method alongside Suzuki with my students, I think it could work well for an adult learner as well. Here's a link to volume 1 in the method books. I know how you feel. I play violin and viola, but have always loved the harp. I recently started taking lessons (with a little folk harp) and am thoroughly myself.

Welcome to the thread:) We lived in San Antonio some years ago--back when the nearest temple was in Houston. We moved away while the San Antonio temple was under construction. I remember visiting the construction site and being sad that I wouldn't be around to see it finished. San Antonio is a great place to live--I hope the move is a good one for you!

So excited for your family. You will be in my prayers today.

I'm in an area with a lot of members right now, our ward shares a pair of Elders with several other wards. I don't actually know where they live. I do know that when I served a mission (1999-2000) we were all in apartments, and my brothers have all been in apartments as well--including the one currently serving in Ukraine. The Elders in our area when we were in California were also in apartments. It is possible the missionaries out here are housed in members' homes and I just don't know about it.

The only answer I have found is to pray and pray and pray for discernment, and act on whatever promptings I receive. I have been blessed with many family members with strong testimonies of the restored gospel and of the blessings that come from living by its precepts. I love the positive influence these family members have on my children. I also have some family members who are luke warm at best, and a couple who have chosen to reject the gospel and live life however they feel like living. In the case of one particular family member, I have felt strongly impressed that I need to protect my children from negative influence by not allowing them to spend a lot of time with or develop strong personal relationships with this person. My impression is that this is not so much because of the particular choices this person is making but is more because this particular person is very, very charismatic. I as an adult feel the pull of this person's personality, and the urge to agree with whatever they are saying (do you know anyone like that?) even when it goes completely counter to what I KNOW to be true; that is an influence I cannot afford to expose my children to. This talk by Elder Packer comes to mind, along with the story of Korihor flattering people away from the church. My primary responsibility is to teach and protect my children, which in this case has meant that some relationships with extended family members have had to be limited. It is a hard balance to find. I know this person sometimes feels shunned, and while that is not my own or anyone else's intention, I have had to weigh my impressions about what would be best for my children against the real desire to have strong relationships with other family members, and to not judge and cause hurt to other people. The problem is, we do have to judge the impact of relationships and their influence on our families, we are responsible for the experience of our own families; at the same time, we want to be charitable and non-judgmental towards other people in our lives. Sometimes it's not possible to do both at once, at least not from the perspective of a person we choose to limit our interactions with. A life free from the constraints of living in accordance with God's commandments can seem so appealing--and the very real cost in broken relationships, broken health, and broken lives is often not apparent until long after the "fun" is past. sigh. Dealing with this again in an extended family context right now.

double post

That's interesting. I believe missionaries in most areas have their own apartments, but I know there are some areas where members are asked to house them. I wonder what the difference is? Do you live in a more rural area without apartments? I think housing missionaries would be nice--when I no longer have a bunch of small children underfoot! Definitely not something I would be up to right now. It sounds like there is a rule that they cannot be in a house with opposite-gender children?

Congratulations! I can understand missing the habitual coffee-with-scripture reading. Is there anything that could take the place of coffee for you? I like some herbal teas; there's quite a variety of non-caffeinated teas (I think they're technically called "tisanes" because they're not made with the tea plant) that can be fun to try. There's something very comforting about a warm drink in a cup sometimes. Obviously they don't help jumps-start the day the way a caffeinated drink would, but they can be nice to sit and sip.

We lived in a ward like the one you describe for several years. I remember going home from church crying because it seemed the only thing my daughter and I could do at church was walk the halls. The nursery leader was very rigid and would not allow parents in the room at all, and one of the Relief Society teachers absolutely could not handle children being in the room (even non-disruptive children) and talked about it incessantly. My oldest was a child who would scream for hours on end any time she wasn't with me. Fortunately, none of the other wards we have been in have been like that. It was upsetting at the time, but I also learned to have compassion for the people who obviously had mental/emotional/control struggles of their own (not so very different from my daughter) such that they could never relax and enjoy church without constantly being bothered by other people's children etc.. ETA: one way we have dealt with having high anxiety/high needs children at church has been to volunteer for callings in the nursery and primary where we could be with them. Doesn't give us the chance to attend RS/Priesthood as much, but it has been worth it to help our kids have a good experience at church.