My heart is breaking for you and I am certainly praying right now. Poor boy and poor mom! That said - No, no, no! Your church family should be supporting you right now, not expecting you to help out others! No meals? No contact? No way!! My heart breaks for your situation, and even more so for your isolation! I am praying and would do so much more if I could! :grouphug:

I am praying for you! Please try to relax until you hear something - I know that the added stress of worry won't help your heart! :grouphug:

That is one thing we discussed here at our home. I see America as a melting pot, where cultures blend and meld together over time. However, with Canada, maybe because of weather and isolation, cultures tend to stay diverse. I love that! I loved seeing how Quebec(ians?) are vastly different from those in Vancouver and other areas. I may be completely off base about this, but that was my perspective, and honestly it made me want to visit Canada! And I loved the how the Native Culture was represented so well. Fabulous!

Thanks Ladies! I love coming here, however infrequent, to hear your great feedback. As a minister's wife, there is often no one you can talk to openly about these types of things. I do like the idea of staying until the kids are grown, but am I limiting God if I do? Maybe He has something awesome for them in another place. I like the idea of trying short term trips - that may be the answer for now to see if the kids' interest could be peaked for other places. FYI - my dh told me yesterday that is is going to speak with the senior pastor about dropping the Media position. That is the bulk of his 'busy work', and isn't what he went to seminary for, ya' know? Thanks again! I really love you guys! :001_wub:

I am a youth minister's wife. My dh graduated from seminary 2 years ago, and was hired at our home church to be the Middle School Minister, Christian Life Minister (basically, sports ministry), and Media specialist. He is a bit overworked, and would love to move on. And by move on, I mean waaaaay on...like New Zeland, Australia, Malaysia. I have been feeling a little 'disconnected' lately with most of our friends. The do love us, I just feel like we don't quite fit in, KWIM? I also feel as if the Lord may be calling us to move on, and would love the adventure of another country. However, we JUST bought our house 2 months ago, I have two very social teens who have great friends, and my tummy cringes at the thought of 'change'. I am torn! I am not really asking a question here, but would love any feedback you may have or prayers you may wish to offer. I absolutely love the Lord, and know that in following Him I will ultimately be happy. And still, something holds me back. Thanks for 'listening' :)

Another Scott fan here - we have tried others, and I always to back to Scott's. It just seems to be a better value to me, and the stiffness doesn't bother anyone in our family. The differences of opinion are funny to me!

I was seriously considering showing my dh the original thread, and if we hadn't just bought our house two months ago, I would have. I can't imagine packing back up already. I would love, love, love to do this!

Thanks everyone! After reading your posts, I went to several crate training websites. I get the idea that he really is too young to stay in a crate, away from contact at this point. We are going to try having the open crate in the room. That way, the crate is a 'get-away' option for him when he needs to rest. He slept with my daughter last night and she got a fairly good night's sleep, just waking once to let him down to go potty on his pad. As he gets older, we will slowly introduce him to the crate as a place to stay while we are gone. Thanks again!

We got a new (very cute) puppy last Friday night. I have always crate trained our dogs, with success. This rascal, though, WILL NOT go to sleep for more than 20 minutes in the crate. He cries all night long. We do take him out to potty, so this is not the issue. He also naps in the crate during the day, but only for about 20 minutes. he is a very young puppy, so maybe this is the problem? I would appreciate any input. My poor dd, who has the crate in her room, is about to lose it - and I don't blame her, poor thing! TIA!

We have had fun discovering what types of surfaces they stick to best. And we have fought every battle conceivable. And I have shot lots of tooshies today. They are fun, I am just getting tired of hearing them and can't send them outside, KWIM?

What in the world was I thinking?! I allowed all the kids to get Nerf-type guns yesterday, and even got an extra so dad would have one. It is cold and rainy today, so no one can go out and play. What exactly was going through my mind? I knew the rain was coming...needless to say, I have heard a lot of gun 'popping' noises today, along with the sound of suction darts hitting various surfaces. ARG!!! :glare:

I answered no, as I don't really have any 'marketable' skills. We do have adequate life insurance, and I know that I can work like a dog, if need be.

I would go to the Apple website, and let them repair it. You just never know with other companies online.

Ditto for me. I would love to adopt, but finances won't allow for it at this point.

Our first son was born before we 'planned' to have him. I was trying to finish college before having kids. My brother-in-law said something to the effect of 'too bad about having the unplanned baby', to which my dh replied, 'we have always planned to have kids - he just came earlier than we expected. This wasn't an unplanned pregnancy, but it was a surprise' I loved him for that! Of course, my bil can be a real jerk sometimes.

Ok....I have the hair thing going on, the mood swings - check. How about hearing? Either everyone I know has decided to start mumbling, or I am really losing it! And my memory!! Don't even get me started!! I forgot the funeral of a dear friend's mother two weeks ago THAT i WAS SUPPOSED TO SING AT!!!!! Lord, help me!

My rant for this week... This year I am homeschooling another child with my own, picking up a child from a preschool in the area every afternoon to stay with us until her mom picks her up, and working part-time. Our choir is going to sing at the local women's prison this weekend, and I am tired. I just want to have one day to stay home all day, take a nap if I want to, and just be responsible for my family. It is cold outside, which I hate. We just moved into our home, so when I have free time i feel like I should be doing 'something'. Unpacking a box, painting a wall, whatever! I am tired, and I have no time to really rest.

I almost always use my NASB. My dh loves his ESV. And although I sometimes read the Message, I really don't like when folks teach from it. There are a couple of Sunday School teachers in our church who do this, saying that it is more 'understandable' to the class. I really disagree, I'm sorry to say.

How much does paint run, per gallon? I am really not looking forward to this whole painting process. Any tips you ladies can give me would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks all!!

This is the reason why I don't give a letter grade. I simply place the average for the class on the 'report card' that my children give their dad and my outside student takes home. We as adults know what these averages represent 'grade-wise', but I feel the average gives a better indication of what is actually going on. An 89 B is different from an 80 B, KWIM? Also, the letters vary from place to place. I have had classes where A was 95-100, 92-100, and 90-100. Letters aren't standard, but numbers are!

Thanks everyone! The contract has been submitted to the bank, so now the waiting game starts. :blink:

We are signing a contract on a house today. We are pre-approved for the loan, but I am as nervous as can be!! I hate the thought of rejection. Any encouragement out there? Thanks ladies!! I haven't been here in a while, and have missed you guys!

We are staying on property, got the free dining plan (YAY!!!), and my kids are 14, 13, and 10. This is their first trip, so I am super excited to see their reactions to everything. These are great ideas you all have given me - now I have to get out of here and make sure everything is packed!! PS - another idea I heard this week, if any of you are planning a trip anytime soon. Take a surge protector strip. Mist of us have so many things to plug in to charge - cell phones, ipods, etc. - that the plugs in the room get taken quickly. Thanks again!!

Help me! We leave Monday - what do I need to 'not forget'. I have a packing list, but am afraid I will forget some very important thing. Also, any tips you folks may have would be greatly appreciated. What has worked well for you? Thanks again!!

I agree - this is what I use, and I love it!