Bologna & cheese sandwiches with Doritos inside. A favorite my aunt made me - deviled ham & cheese sandwich with mustard on whole wheat (Roman Meal!) bread, baby gherkins on the side, and ginger snaps for dessert. Occasionally at the store, I'll remember this meal, and have to buy every single thing to make it.

Homemade apple and store bought cherry crumb...

My teen daughter has a great deal of social anxiety. Sometimes panic attacks, where it just loops and loops. Very hard for her and the rest of the family. She's aware that therapy (and possibly meds) would be good for her, but she's anxious about starting! I do worry about her - she'll be starting college next fall. While I know she has coping mechanisms that work to some extent, being away from home may be a whole other ball game.

Thank you, Debbi. I appreciate your good wishes!

We're not forcing our kids to go. We've told them everyone has a personal spiritual path, and we'll support them whatever they choose. We were just so indoctrinated that the LDS church was the one right way, that it's incredibly guilt inducing to see us all making different choices. DH is seeing a therapist. Maybe I need one too.

Thank you to everyone who has responded! We're coming out of the Mormon faith. My husband is drawn to Community of Christ, which has the same roots, but has evolved quite a bit. It's a tiny congregation, very accepting, and for him, it's just what he needs. For me, it's too close to where we came from. I'm finding the Episcopal church to be my safe haven. I love the liturgy, the music, the rich Anglican tradition. (That could be my Anglophile showing;)) Our daughter (16) has a lot of social anxiety. Even though she does have concerns about her faith, and doesn't fit in socially with most of the kids in her youth group, our Mormon congregation is where she feels comfortable. It's what she knows. It's almost a matter of pride that she's the "unorthodox one." She's been invited to come with her dad and I to church, and she just doesn't want to. She did come to an Evensong I performed in over Advent, but that style of service wasn't meaningful to her. I feel that when she goes to college next year, she won't seek out a local congregation. (again, anxiety) Our son (12) is more willing to try new things. He's gone to other churches a few times with his dad and I. Maybe, when his sister is off to college, we can make a clean break and do something all together. As for now, I think he's hesitant to go to our Mormon ward for a few reasons: there's really only one other boy in youth group that he gets along with. We've always said he's an old soul, and he's much more mature than the majority of kids at church. Also, now that he's 12, he's expected to help pass the sacrament (communion). He hasn't done this yet, or had much instruction, so I think he's a bit afraid to go and try. I've asked his close friend and his dad to please meet with him and help him figure it out. We're out of town this Sunday, so it will have to wait til next. We just feel really stuck. Mormonism is not a faith from which one can leave gracefully. We're disappointing family, and potentially losing friends.

I do not think you're crazy at all. In fact, I have considered walking the Camino in Spain alone. For six weeks. But I do have older kids and a husband who would support me in going.

My husband and I have gone from full believing members of our church to having a lot of questions about the faith of our childhood. This has happened over the past year or so. Though we haven't sat down with our children (ages 12 and 16) and said "this is why we no longer believe XYZ," they both know we have concerns. We do discuss things as they come up. I have started attending another church and singing in their choir. DH will occasionally visit a different faith's congregation on Sunday evenings. He also, until recently, has gone to our previous church with our children. They still wanted to attend, and we told them we'd support them in that. The past several weeks, my daughter has gone sporadically, and my son hasn't attended at all. (partially I think due to graduating from the children's program into the youth program) I have mixed feelings. I know we're all in this weird, new place in our spiritual journey. I want to be respectful of where everyone is, but I don't want the kids opting out of any and all church altogether just because their parents don't know what we thought we once did. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What worked for your family?

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied so far. Lots to think about!

My husband and I surprised our kids (12 & 16yo) with passport applications for Christmas, along with a note saying we're taking them to Europe this summer. As you can imagine, they were most excited!' Since then, we've pinned down the trip a bit more. We have a maximum of three weeks. Paris and London are musts. We're thinking about a week in those two cities, with a day trip (or two?) from them. Would you stick to just France and England, or try to tack on another place? Florence is a top contender, as DD is an avid art lover. I'm just concerned we'll feel too rushed and it will be too much moving around. (Those three weeks include travel days on either end.) If you were going, or have gone doing something similar, I welcome any and all suggestions. Time frame is mid-June to early July. Thanks!

DD (16) - ukelele, Prisma markers, piano/vocal books of a few of her favorite musicals DS (12) - tennis racket, Lego set, Planet Doku game DH - a few new outfits (b/c he rarely buys clothes for himself) Me - KnitPix circular knitting needles set, two books I've been wanting to read And the grand surprise...After everything was opened (or so they thought), we pulled out envelopes for the kids with passport applications and announced we're taking a trip to England and France this summer! The look on their faces was priceless.:)

It's on the LDS Beehive social group (here on WTM).

I just posted some LDS books I have for sale over on the social group page. Take a look, if you're so inclined. Thanks!

My favorite ever was RITEOVR on a Red Land Rover:)

A Kindle Paperwhite & a fiddle :-)

You know, I'm really glad this topic came up, because I'm worried about my teenage daughter. She's 15, and is having a doozy of a time with anxiety. I understand that part of this is because we recently moved cross country and started a new school, but it was manifesting before that. If she knows people and has things in common with them, she's good. Fortunately, she's found a group at school like that. But new situations or somewhere she knows no one, sometimes she'll just refuse to go. If we have a surprise visitor at the house, she'll run to her room to hide. And doctor visits? Oh boy, she's a wreck over those. I've tried to talk to her about coping techniques. I've tried to say, "C'mon...it won't be so bad. Just go try it. (Rah rah)" Which I know probably does no good. I'm an introvert myself, and totally get that sometimes you just don't want to do something socially. My husband always knows when I'm "socialed out." Will it just get better with time? Do you guys think she needs medical help? Anti-anxiety pills, maybe?

Sorry to be somewhat OT, but are any of you familiar with Hetalia? My 15 DD is all about this series, and while I like that she's learning some world history, I don't know much else about content and "appropriateness."

Ok, question for those who are referencing BYU...I remember hearing a while back that there was some question about skinny jeans. Does anyone know what happened? Are they against the Honor Code or ok? So, does BYU Provo enforce the whole unnatural hair color thing? Just wondering, because my daughter wants to study graphic design there, and yet I just let her dip dye the bottom third of her hair with red Koolaid. (It didn't feel like a hill to die on, though I much prefer her natural blonde.)

B.A. in history, minors in music and international development.

We currently live about an hour south of DC, so aren't too shocked by rental prices. OK, a bit:) But not as much as if we were coming from a really inexpensive part of the country. Ellie, my husband agrees with you about the 280 vs. 101 corridor. When he was out there interviewing, he was really put off by the 101, but then got back on the 280 and said it was like a whole other world.

Thanks, guys! Does anyone have an opinion on Half Moon Bay? It seems far (but is only 1/2 an hr. from work), but looks beautiful! Oh, and one other...Burlingame?

OK, all...I'm resurrecting this thread. My apologies to those who responded later on...I just barely saw them. Thank you! So, the DC job did not pan out, but we have a solid offer from a company in San Francisco. Actually, they're on the peninsula, near San Mateo. Anyone who could speak specifics to that particular area, I would be beyond appreciative. We'll be taking a house hunting trip over spring break and making the move in June. We're looking for a safe area (of course), good public schools (elementary on up), someplace that has a sense of community, good farmers markets and libraries. We'd be renting for the foreseeable future. And a commute of less than 45 minutes. Help!

I just finished reading Shadow of the Banyan - it's about a young girl and her family during the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodia. Very good writing, heartbreaking, yet hopeful. I didn't realize until I got to the author's note at the end it was autobiographical.

http://Pinterest.com/ladyeliza/ for me:). Great thread! I'm enjoying all the new boards.

Bump! Thanks to all that have responded so far. Anyone who wants to make a case for the Bay Area?:)