I would not trust anything from WND - they would not be my idea of a reliable source. From what I have read various places, the problem lies solely in science curriculum that teaches creationism and/or doesn't teach evolution as fact.

Trust me - I am ROFLOL right now. It's like when people pick up something we've fixed and they call back saying they can't get it to start or it started, ran for awhile, and then quit. I have to ask, "Have you checked to make sure it has gas in it?" 9 times out of 10 that is the problem! It happened once that way, but the guy came here ranting and raving about how we hadn't fixed his mower. We put some gas in it for him, started it, and gave him some time to remove his feet from his mouth!:lol:

Someone called and asked about a problem with their lawn mower. It was necessary for them to replace their blade, and once they did, it would spin but not cut the grass. All I asked was, "Did you try to put the blade on the other way?" It was a simple, non-confrontational question. She asked her dh and he said it wouldn't go on any other way. No problem, bring it in, we'll try to determine the problem. When she came in she complained that I had offended her dh and was livid.:001_huh: How did I offend someone that I didn't even talk to?!?!?!?! Sheesh. I hate the public.

Same here!:D

I was 15, but my oldest ds started driving at about 11 or so. He is 15 now and can back up a dually pickup and hook to a gooseneck trailer!:D

And if you don't live in it, sell it so that you will have money for your dc's college education - then you won't need financial aid.

Here's a link to a wiki article about various religions and their stances: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_homosexuality

Does the Bible ever call homosexuality a sin? Or is it just the homosexual act? Is the choice really whether to act on those feelings or not (instead of whether one is attracted to the same gender or not?) Meaning, if one is only attracted to those of the same gender, then the choice is whether to act on those feelings rather than remain celibate? And this is not just a Christian idea (that homosexuality is sin) - it is a sin in the Jewish and Muslim beliefs as well, correct?

I watch the one on BBC because they let the people have it!:lol: It makes me feel better, too.:tongue_smilie:

My 2yo's care in a center is $761 per month. (FYI: I work FT.;))

Funny story - my brother wore "saggin'" pants about 10-12 years ago. One day he was working with my father, who instructed him to run up to the house to get a tool. My brother started running up the hill, his pants started slipping - you can imagine what happened. I have never laughed so hard as I did when I saw my brother flat on his face with his pants around his ankles!:lol: My father always threatened to make him wear red suspenders....

Oh Lord I hope not! Especially since my dh is "commando"!:lol::tongue_smilie: ETA: My father always sat around in his underwear when I was a kid and I was always SOOOOO grossed out by that!

That's what has worked in our family so far. I am not "out of the picture" but dh does become the dominant parent for the boys at about that age. He's the one who does Boy Scouts, drives to all the sporting events, etc. The boys tend to go places with him more and he puts them to work with him. It isn't about me being lesser than or anything else, but I have found that dh can handle them better the older they get. Should I be ashamed? Am I raising my boys to be neandrathal men because I want them around men more than women in the teen years?:lol:

My dh said he'd rather be poor in Alaska than poor here!:lol:

Actually, we live near plenty of universities right where we are. There are plenty of blue collar workers vying for jobs in these areas. Americans have branched out from construction due to the large immigrant population (that has severely depressed wages), so there are more people in line for other jobs. My dh doesn't have any skills in the trades anyway and isn't likely to anytime in the future. He is not really mechanically inclined. Also, we have lived a "town or two over" for 5 years now and the 40 mile commute is too expensive. When you only make $12-13 an hour, spending 25%+ on gas to commute isn't viable. If he's going to make $12-13 an hour, I wish it would be somewhere we can afford to live on that. The problem we are finding, though, is that many places (like Surry County) that are inexpensive to live do not have jobs, so people have to commute long distances and whatever savings we might find will be eaten up in commuting costs.

We already live in the Raleigh area - that's why we hope to move.:D

Another thought - the job situation is pretty important. We live far enough outside of Raleigh that things are cheaper, but there are NO jobs out here. In fact, the area has lost 1000+ jobs this year alone! That's why Eastern NC is out - there are no jobs.

Military salaries are higher (we used to be military.) Much of that is also non-taxable.:D My dh has warehouse experience, forklift experience, and his CDL-A. Unless we are desperate, we do not want him to drive over-the-road.

Or, places that offer more blue collar jobs at higher wages would be okay, too!:D

My dh is a blue collar worker and it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to live in the Raleigh, NC area (we are a large family.) We are committed to staying here for another 3 years until my oldest graduates high school and then our horizons are wide open. (My dh is not likely to ever be anything other than blue collar, so no suggestions that he go to college or anything please.) Does anyone know of an area where a family of 9 could live on approx. $30K a year? We don't need much - a modest house, a used car or two, etc. We are no strangers to frugality!

Depending on the state, yes, they do. My special needs 7yo is tested just like a regular 7yo, even though he's just learned to count to 10 consistently.

This is not true for us. I had a baby in 2006 that resulted in about $6K in medical bills. I tried to set up a payment plan with them and they would only accept $500 a month - if I couldn't agree to that, then they went to collections. They were only willing to let me pay over 12 months.

I haven't, but I have a 2006 Ford E-350 12-passenger with 62K miles for sale!:D (And I am in NC.)