Hmmm.... I'm jealous of those that have a strong support network whether it is extended family, friends, homeschool group, church. My parents are gone, I've wished my only sister would move to other side of the world, and when I found myself in a faith crisis, my friends disappeared. Our church community is huge and I just haven't connected with anyone there. Right now if I needed help with something, I don't have anyone to call. I would love to sit at my kitchen table with a pitcher of iced tea and a good girlfriend. I'm very, very grateful for my husband. He works hard, manages our money wisely so I can stay home, puts up with me, my hormones plus those of our 5 daughters. He's my hero. My children are healthy. My older daughters still speak to us (parents) even though we made major mistakes with them; relationships are improving. Janet

Depending on which flavor of Christianity you ascribe to. Not all Christians believe 'man is born bad', but some believe that man is born with the potential to do good or to do bad due to original sin. It is so very hard to discuss Christianity as one religion because there are so many variations. Janet

Where do you find 'Truth'? Everything you read has come through the filter of another human. If you're Christian, then it would have come through the filter of a fallen human. Even Lewis whom I have great respect for. I suppose some would say the Bible is that only 'Truth', but there has to be great faith in God to accept the Bible as His absolute word; that faith comes first to be able to accept a book as absolute Truth. How do you define knowledge vs. truth. I'm very interested in this discussion. Janet

My twins were born when I was 40, but my oldest was only 11 at that time. I will be 58 and dh will be 60 when they graduate high school. I wouldn't change a thing. Janet

No. That was easy. For the same reasons that most of the other opposed to drilling stated. And I was just discussing this with my brother-in-law who has lived in Alaska most of his adult life, and is opposed to drilling there. Janet

I don't have much to add to Closeacademy. I do can everything I can get my hands on. I've canned spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and salsa using the recipes from the Ball Blue Book. I use the packets from the store sometimes. Often times I have so many tomatoes to can I don't take the time to put up sauce. I make the sauce after I open my canned tomatoes. Throw it in the pot with other ingredients and let it simmer all day. It's easier for me that way than canning the sauce during harvest season. Also, google canning recipes. There are tons of great ones. I can green beans, tomatoes, jams, jellies, relish, peaches, pears, applesauce, plums, pie fillings, grape juice, chili beans, bread and butter pickles. I'll also freeze jams, applesauce plus peas, corn, rhubarb (bumper crop this year), zucchini for bread. I find it very satisfying to see my shelves lined with home canned goods that took the cooperation of the whole family. Janet

I could have written the above. I was raised Catholic and went through a period where I was a devout, orthodox Catholic. Things happened. And finally I allowed that first question to form in mind. Once you ask that first question, the rest follow. This has been a huge struggle for me because the faith was so central to my life. I do have to say that nothing took so much faith in a Supreme Being as asking that first question and deconstructing my faith. If there is a God, I trust in His love. There are times I'm not sure about God, but I'm not willing to let go of it. It's not so much the idea of the Divine that I struggle with but with Christianity. I still attend the Catholic church with my husband (cradle Catholic) and our children. If asked, I say I'm Christian although I've been told I'm far from God's grace. I've learned to smile at these comments most of the time. An agnostic Christian? Anyway, I'm not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water yet. It's nice to know I'm not alone because it can certainly feel that way in homeschooling circles when you're the only one questioning Christianity. Janet

Where are all the small appliances? You know: bread maker, mixer, coffee maker, espressor maker, blender, food processor, etc. Please don't say you don't use them. That would make my husband's day as he's convinced the time saving appliances do not save time and provide more clutter. Janet PS: I see the mixer on top of the fridge. That gave me an idea. By the way, I would love to a cup relaxing cup of tea in your beautiful kitchen.

My oldest dd didn't show an interest until maybe 17, 18. But her younger sister, oh my goodness. Way too young. She's always been homeschooled, all her friends were homeschooled, I watched what she read and viewed, and still. Boy crazy. She's almost 17 and is in love. I'm so in over my head with this kid. I have to think it was just in her because her sister never exhibited this kind of attraction to the opposite sex. Janet

My dh just turned 50, and you know what? It looks great - on him. He's getting better and better. My turn in a couple years, but I don't seem to be faring as well. :confused: I loved Footloose. Time does fly. Janet

1. Her own cell phone If she was goiing to be out, I made sure she had a phone, but not her own 2. A t.v. in her bedroom No 3. A computer in her bedroom For awhile she did - NO internet connection - for typing and school work 4. Hair that has been dyed blonde or any other color All my girls have colored their hair during the summer with fun colors - nothing permanent. Not a big deal. No permanent colors until older though. 5. Ears pierced with 2 or more holes each (DD has one hole per ear). I think my dd was older than 13 when she got her 2nd piercing. Two lobe piercings wouldn't bother me. 6. Clothes of her selection from the mall. I allow them to choose their own clothes, but I retain final veto power. Oh, and absolutely not from the mall. 7. Makeup -- all kinds (not just lip gloss) They've never asked for anything more than lip gloss and nail polish so haven't crossed that one yet. I think probably not though. Janet

I guess there are stories here I don't know about. I probably don't want to know. No place is perfect, right? Janet

All my life I've attended a Christian church. The last 7 years have been very hard, and I've found myself totally falling away from faith. Honestly, right now I would have to I'm agnostic. I still feel welcome, though. I've asked some pointed questions on a couple threads and received thoughtful answers. Once or twice I thought someone was making an unkind generalization towards non-Christians, responded to them, and received apologies. I came here from other boards because those other boards were too religious for me and sometimes I did feel attacked and not welcome. I have never felt that way here. Maybe I haven't been around long enough, but right now I feel welcome and am staying. Janet

I so sorry to hear of the loss of your precious little baby. You're in my thoughts. Janet

Well, that's just me. I need to see evidence for what I believe. There have been some statements made here along these lines: the Bible says so, God said it, Christianity teaches, etc. If God is all truth, then that truth should be evident in the world He created. If a Christian is trying to convince a non-Christian or atheist of a Christian belief, saying 'God instituted it or commanded it' probably isn't going to hold water. There should be evidence they can offer in their defense. In the past I've been known to say such things:blushing:. However, since entering my agnostic stage, where everything has been up for examination, I look for evidence that is satisfactory - to me, anyway. My 'believer' half is trying to convince my 'agnostic' half. However, my evidence would never satisfy you, I'm fairly sure. ;) Janet

Trying to clarify in my own mind. Your position is that the fetus is human at 26 weeks because of brain activity, but not a human being. At birth, then it is a human being because it is then participating in its own existence? Thanks, Janet

I asked the question about the soul because of my aunt's beliefs. I thought perhaps not all Christians believed the same. I looked in Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 366, and found: "The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not "produced" by the parents - and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection." I remember reading one time that the Church did not definitely teach when the soul entered the body, but it was some time ago and it was not authoritative - just the musings of some theologian. I need to do some more research. I have hijacked this thread and apologize. I've been in the process of deconstructing and trying to reconstructing my faith for some time and have not had anyone IRL to discuss it with. I'm trying to work through all these thoughts and took advantage of this discussion since it was on a subject with which I've been wrestling. I don't want to say "I believe because the Bible says so, or the Church says so..." If it's true, I should see evidence for it in the natural world. Anyway, so you know why I got off on such a tangent. Back to the original conversation. I will read with interest what you, Peek, Phred and others have to say. Janet

So all that thinking aloud was that abortion ends a viable human life albeit totally dependent on the mother. But the embryos sitting on the shelf ... that's where I was thinking out loud. I want to say again: I am opposed to abortion. I wouldn't want anyone to think I support abortion, I don't. Janet

You've reminded me how fortunate we are to have a little ground around us. However, patio gardens work great for tomatoes, peppers and such. If you google, you can find all sorts of ideas about gardening in small city lots. About the wood burning stove: mine is always going in the winter so I keep the tea pot on it. I make a lot of soup, and after I've cooked the meat on the stove, I put the soup pot on the woodstove to simmer all day. Snacks are something my kids seem to need. They get hungry between meals. I buy peanuts, seeds, raisins in bulk and make my own mix. It really seems to tide them over. When I look at our future earning capacity (decreasing) and the rising cost of living, I just feel depressed. We've worked so hard to stay out of debt so I could be home with the kids, and there seems to be no end in sight. Janet

I have the feeling I shouldn't get involved in this conversation, but since this question - human life, beginning to end - is one that I'm pondering, I keep coming back to read. Maybe it will help me clarify some questions that I'm struggling with. I'm pro-life: opposed to abortion, opposed to the death penalty, opposed to euthanasia, opposed to the Iraq war, not opposed to living wills, in favor of education, and means for people to have access to health care, immigration reform.... I could go on. Pro-life, for me, does not equal just being anti-abortion. So human life, the different stages of human life. Do we treat all stages equally? From blastocyst to old age? I had this question posed to me: if you had an opportunity to save lives from a fire, what would you grab? The blastocyst (when does it become an embryo? after being implanted?) or the baby/toddler. Well, that wasn't a hard one for me. I would grab the baby. The other human life isn't viable at that point. So I'm not treating all human life equally. As much as most older people would want you to save the child rather than them. Well, I like to think most people would... I believe human life starts at conception because all the potential is there. But I realize I put different value on human life based on the stage. I really didn't like writing that. I value the unborn child, I value the elderly person. But nonetheless choices are made. Yet in the question above that I was asked, it's not the same as a pregnant mother seeking an abortion because I see the life as the unborn child as viable although totally dependent on the mother. And then I question what my stand is on embryonic stem cell research. And I will likely talk myself into a circle, so I will stop. I am gaining much from reading your thoughts, Peek and Phred. Oh, another thought just popped up. For the Christian, does it make a difference when you believe the soul is present? This could go on forever. Janet

Any hobbies? Sewing, quilting, gardening, baking bread? I've been wanting to learn to spin and weave. Of course, that would take money I don't have. Something new you want to learn? Some girlfriends to go with for coffee? Sometimes I re-arrange furniture although the husband doesn't always appreciate it.... Janet

Well, we don't do much either as far as entertainment. My dh and I sit out in the orchard with a Mike's :) (could be iced tea) and talk when he comes home. We talk walks together and hold hands. We've been watching the entire series of All Creatures Great and Small lately. We run in the irrigation water with the kids. I guess we're in a kind of rut too, but I don't really mind it much. I guess it's my children and husband that give me purpose. I've been in a faith quandry lately, but I still believe God has a purpose for me and that it is my family. Janet

I think tattoos are rather personal. Those people that I know didn't get them done for the general public, but for themselves. Something meaningful, a memorial of sorts. I have two in mind that I would like to get. One is like a mothers ring only an anklet bracelet joined with a cross. The others would be a small remembrance of my mom and dad. They would be for me. Both my older dd's have tattoos. My oldest has art in Kanji on her shoulder. She is majoring in illustrative art and is interested in the idea of being a tattoo artist. My other dd has some little stars on feet and is getting is sparrow on her torso. All are private, not seen by the public. As I said, they were for the person wearing them. Janet

:iagree: I would enjoy a discussion about living frugally and learning from all the ideas out there. We have always more or less lived as though we were in a depression - our own little depression. My dh makes 'okay' money, but by no means 'really good' money, and there are 7 of us. Fortunately, my dh grew up in a family of 14 with a mom who is a whiz on saving, managing a household, being frugal - so he comes by it naturally. Even though we've always tried to live within our means, it's getting harder and harder. We have a big garden (increased the size this year) and fruit orchard. I preserve whatever is harvested. We use a wood stove during the winter to supplement. We don't turn on the AC until it's absolutely needed - whatever that might be. Close windows, pull blinds in the morning to keep heat out. Keep lights off and appliances unplugged. Shop sales and stock up. I don't buy pop, chips, prepared food, etc. Oh, I stick to my list! For family fun we go on picnics, hike, go the park. We shop good will stores. My older girls both work so they buy their own clothes. Combine trips whenever possible. My dh has been driving my little Saturn, and I'm staying home - which I don't mind. He's taught me how to coast when there's a red light coming up. Increased gas mileage from about 29 mpg to 34 to 35 mpg. No cable, no Direct TV. We check movies out from the library. (Which is great if I get them back on time.) We're huge milk drinkers so I've started limiting milk to meal time. We've always had hens but the neighborhood fox had chicken dinner last summer. So we bought some straight run chicks, and they all turned out to be roosters. :confused: So meat in the freezer. We repair, mend, fix whatever we can. When we do make a purchase, we try for quality. And then my dh insists we maintain and take care of what we have. Now I need to go back and see what everyone else wrote. Janet

I'm new here and have enjoyed the openess towards both the religious and non-religious. I guess it fits me very well right now since I'm not sure where I stand. Agnostic? Christian? While I'm working out my faith life, this has been a great place to talk because I don't have to be all on one side. I can read the Christian content threads and maybe glean something for myself, yet I can ask about secular materials. And if it's too religious, or too secular, I just move on. I can't think of any other homeschooling board that offers that. Janet