Thanks for your honesty. I'm still debating whether or not to go to the Visitation service today. It's open to the public. One of my hubby's closest friends was Steven's guitar player in the early 1990s, and they're going. Ever since my dad died suddenly when I was twenty-one, I've had an extremely hard time with funeral services... I've heard through our friends that the weight this family is bearing right now is almost too much...

I just heard the Cinderella song by Steven Curtis Chapman...it takes on an entire new meaning when he says, "...then, she's gone..." :crying:

As most of you know by now, Christian music artist, Steven Curtis Chapman's five-year-old daughter Maria was killed tragically Wed. afternoon in their driveway when their teenage son accidentally ran into her as he was driving the family vehicle. Maria was adopted from China. I think she was the baby they found sleeping in a shoebox in the orphanage when they went to visit. The Chapmans have three older children of their own, and Maria was one of three younger adopted Chinese girls. The family had just been celebrating the oldest daughter's engagement. One of the sons was just hours away from graduating high school. (I don't know which son was driving at the time, but I don't think it matters). This family desperately needs prayers, just as any of us would if we had gone through this. Visitation is today, and I think the memorial service is tomorrow. Can you imagine? Anyway, one of our local Christian radio stations here in Nashville is taking up e-mail messages for the Chapman family, if anybody would like to send a message. They are taking these e-mails up for the next couple of days and will give them to the Chapmans on Sunday or Monday. The link is www.dkradio.com You can meet Maria at www.StevenCurtisChapman.com. It was so hard to wash the sweet little youtube video there of Maria and her daddy washing dishes just a couple months ago...laughing and playing. I don't think any parent can watch it without crying. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to their ministry of helping families wanting to adopt children overseas. My heart just aches for them. Please pray for this dear family. -Michele R. in TN (just east of Nashville)

Great suggestions! Thanks, I hadn't thought about any of this before! -Michele R. in TN

Slavery in the South was already declining. Cotton prices started falling in the late 1840s. Some historians I've read (who've presented BOTH sides) have said that slavery hit its apex around 1850 and probably would've died completely by 1870 due to lower demand for cotton and more cost-efficient methods of farming and manufacturing. Speaking of manufacturing...has anybody ever really looked at the factory abuses of the North from about 1840 until 1895? That's a study in and of itself. Slavery in the North Poor women and children (numbering into the hundreds of thousands) in the north were forced into a type of "silent slavery" that many folks in North just didn't want to deal with. It was far easier to focus on the "wicked Southerners" (of whom less than 10 percent EVER owned even one slave) than the rampant abuse of factory workers and the deplorable manufacturing conditions of the North. And don't forget that every president since Andrew Jackson promised the mainly impoverished South (except the fewer than 10 percent wealthy slave owners) to give economic aid to the South...to give agricultural incentives, ease trade problems, help bring in more modern farming equipment to the area, etc. And not ONE president helped. They were too busy pumping dollars into the factories of the north which allowed more and more workers to be employed, yet no substantial labor acts were passed and enforced until almost 1900 to protect these workers. Yes, slavery is a terrible human rights violation. But it's just one form. We all know stories of children factory workers in other countries in degrading conditions laboring for 14 hours a day, working in rat infested, broken down buildings. We see street people in Southeast Asia and our hearts break for them. We see very young women forced into prostitution, or six-year-old children having to work instead of being granted a childhood and the chance to be educated. We ignore the fact that our American North was like this for most of the nineteenth century. How many of you in school ever really studied what was going on in the North? It took the North over thirty years AFTER the Civil War to get rid of their "slavery." I am from the South and am greatly distressed over how slaves were treated--both Southern black slaves (and the treatment Native Americans received) AND Northern poor white "slaves"--the dear women and children who lived, worked and died to support manufacturing and who have almost no role whatsoever in American history because, to give meaning to their plights, would've hurt Lincoln's aim of focusing on Southern human rights' violations only. The North wanted to take the heat off of themselves. There were major human rights' violations on both sides. Too bad we only hear about the side that lost. Stepping off my soap box now... -Michele R. in TN (a history minor before hs'ing)

Did you take everybody to southern France? Where did you get airline tickets? I'm so jealous! Somebody said there are websites out there where you can house sit for people around the globe? Anybody know of these? Our only two real vacations were to the Rocky Mt. Natl Park (there were 17 of us and we camped in tents in a campground in neighboring Estes Park after driving there from MS! What a hoot!) and Disney World last year. My DH was reluctant to go to DW as well, but ended up loving it the most! We're driving out to Yellowstone this summer and will stop at Mt. Rushmore on the way. We're excited about it. I think we've gotten to where we'd rather spend money on vacations (as long as it's not too much) than toys that never get played with or even books that (gasp!) never get read! What are some thoughts on that as well? Thanks! (and seriously, I'd like to hear how you managed southern France! That's awesome!) And anybody else who has great vacation places/ideas... -Michele R. in TN

I forgot to ask on that last post about vacations...has anybody ever taken their children on a mission trip? My husband and I lived and worked in Costa Rica for a year before we had children and did two short-term summer trips in Mexico. While we don't know aybody in either of those places any more, we do have a few missionary friends in South American (homeschoolers!). Do you think it would be rude to ask them if we could come visit some time next year for a few days? We have some friends who take their six hs'ed children to Canada every summer for mission work. However, they are musicians (we're not) and kind of have a built-in ministry opportunity already. Any other pointers? Good airline tickets? What ages would you take children on a work-related mission trip? Do you ask a church to sponsor you or go the financial funding route alone? Any experience with this? What are your thoughts? Thanks for the insight! -Michele R. in TN

Where do you take your families for vacations? Any great books or links that you've used to help prepare? What have been your top three vacations? We've only been on two "real" vacations with our children, even though they are upper elem. and jr. high. Have any budget suggestions? Any ideas are welcome! Thanks! -Michele R. (I'm new here, just started this week, and lovin' it!)

Thanks for the great recommendations! Some of these I've never heard of like Writer's Jungle and Winter Promise. I'll do a little research on them this summer and try out some of the other suggestions, too. Keep the ideas comin'! I need 'em! Also, if anybody knows of any unbiased homeschool review links besides the ones listed above in this thread, that'd be great, too. I'm already feeling less burned out today than yesterday! LOL! -Michele R. in TN (newbie)

My husband is close friend's with Steven Curtis Chapman's former guitar player (he played with him during the early 90's). We live about an hour away. I have friends who go to their church. Pray for them! Pray that our community here in Nashville and Franklin can really reach out to them the way other folks do when there's a death among non-famous children and that it won't turn into some terrible media frenzy. Keep them lifted up in your hearts and prayers. I know several families who have lost children, and the grief is almost unbearable. Can you imagine?! May God strengthen them and comfort them and love them in these painful months ahead. -Michele R., just east of Nashville, TN

Thanks! I had heard that the mountain dulcimer was easy to start playing, but didn't realize it got a lot more complicated. I'll try the Mel Bay books. Folk music store? Didn't realize there was such a thing! I'll google to find some forums, unless you happen to know of any links right off hand. We're looking forward to getting started! -Michele R.

Thanks! You're an encouragement! Maybe I'll be able to post back in a year that we have a dulcimer player in our family! -Michele R.

I know this isn't really a website, but we used Story of the Orchestra for music appreciation this year. It comes with a cd and has some cartoony pictures. Really fun for us. Gives a good overall view of classical music and composers, and you get to listen to samples of famous classical pieces. We would even dance around the room to Mozart and Wagner selections (including my ds 12, who allegedly doesn't like any music)! How's that for some motivating homeschoolin'?! -Michele R. in TN

Thanks for your insight! We have a couple of music stores in the area that I can check out next week, and it wouldn't hurt to call the comm. college while I'm at it. Those are two suggestions I hadn't thought of! I might attend one of the dulcimer groups some time...even though it's a long way, I could still, perhaps, make some contacts that'll point me in the right direction! Thanks, again! -Michele R.

If you could name your very favorite curricula, what would they be? Say, your top three to five choices? After eight years of homeschooling, we need to change some things that definitely are not working for us (though, thankfully, some things are working well). One of my three has Asperger's, so if you have any special needs children, if you could, note that as well (I'll post another version of this on the special needs board tomorrow). I'm new to this site, but I've already gotten some great info! I can't keep track of it all, however, so I thought by getting some of you to post your favs, it'll help me start being able to look for new material out there. Maybe this will help some others who are startin' to feel a little frazzled around the fringes like I am! Thanks! -Michele R. in TN

I just posted a question about dulcimers, which reminded me of another question...has anybody ever heard of 8 Chords, 100 songs curriculum? They were at our annual Homeschool Curr. Fair last weekend and seemed very nice. Just wanted to know if anybody had ever used them or had any thoughts about teaching guitar. Our entire family wants to learn, but we're having trouble scheduling lessons (and budgeting money) for all of us! Suggestions? Ideas? -Thanks! -Michele R.

My dd 9 wants to follow in her grandmother's footsteps and learn to play the dulcimer. My mother-in-law, however lives over an hour away and wouldn't be able to give her lessons on a regular basis. I know someone in another state whose daughter takes dulcimer with her hs group. The lessons in our area are either for adults, are over an hour away, or are at an inconvenient time (night). Does anybody know of a good dulcimer guide book or curriculum? Do you think lessons are essential or could she do it on her own with grandma's occasional help? Also, any suggestions on where to buy a decent dulcimer for a reasonable price, in case this is another passing fancy? Thanks! -Michele R. in TN (I'm new here!)

Thanks, Jane! I thought that since it's an election year, this might be a great time to jump into logic and see how many fallacies we can detect being displayed! LOL! I'll look into Mind Benders as well as the Bluedorn materials. Thanks for the recommendation. -Michele R.

I need the link too...Has she written any books? Does anyone think loop scheduling might be done with older elem and jr. high children? -Michele R. in TN (I'm new to the site!)

If you buy new books at Amazon, it's usually about thirty percent off retail for hardbacks, maybe less for paperbacks...just depends on the books. If you order several new books at a time and your total is over $25.00, they'll give you free shipping. I wasted a lot of time and energy trying to shop for paperback books "here and there." However, I've learned to carry a list around with me in case I hit yard sales, library sales, etc. If you're in a homeschool group, a field trip group, or you know of any groups nearby, I'd ask around and see if there are any used book sales that anybody knows about. I found a neighboring town has a library branch that has a used book sale the second Sat. of every month. I'd missed it until I started asking other people! Hope that helps! Michele R. in TN (new to the site!)

When do you start a logic program? Has anyone used Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox? Other suggestions? I've never studied this myself so I'm not sure where to begin. I have a ds 12, ds 10 and dd 9. Thanks for your input! -Michele R. in TN (I'm new here...three days! Love the boards, great stuff!)

My children are ages 12, 10 and 9 and are more committed to daily Bible reading than I am! We started making it a habit years ago, immediately after breakfast. I have them fit it in between reading the daily comics and brushing their teeth (though we've only been doing the comics for about a year). Having a routine helps! Until it's routine, I agree with the comment somebody made about having a checklist so they can see what they're supposed to be doing and don't leave anything out. When they're young, they can draw pictures for their reminder lists! And all of this from somebody who's generally pretty laid back and fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants (except for the Bible reading and teeth brushing and gettin' started with the day!) Hope this helps! Michele R. in TN (I'm new here!)

HOW do you put pictures within a post? I'm techo-challenged! Thanks! Michele R. in TN

Thanks for asking about the rep points, and for the person who provided the Sticky about it! So much to learn, but it's all good stuff...This site is awesome! Can't wait to tell the homeschool ladies in my group. Wish I'd know about it earlier! -Michele R. in TN (homeschooling for eight years)

I don't understand the public group thing either. I've only been on the site for three days and love it! Also, how do I find out about the point system and the reputation thing? Are we being graded on our activity here? LOL! One more thing, I don't have any status yet...it says, "Just visiting." How do I become a larva, etc.? Thanks for the help! Feel like I'm in Kindergarten and trying to learn the alphabet! -Michele R. in TN ("Just visiting")