I'm so sorry for your loss. Many :grouphug: to you!

I have not heard of the Moore book, but I really enjoyed One Hundred Years of Solitude. :) As for my reading this week... we were very busy, so I didn't finish a book. I'm steadily working my way through Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (I'm about halfway through). It's haunting how easily I could see our current society fall into a dystopian way of living. What I'm garnering from this novel is no exception. I hesitate to say we would fall under a legalistic religious realm such as being described in this book (from what I've read so far), but the Big Brother mentality and the ability for laws that defy common sense to be created and enforced does not seem unheard of within the slippery slope on which I feel society is currently teetering. Of course, I am just pondering things as I go... once I reach the end, I may have an entirely different point of view of this novel and these ideas... Anyway, that's where I'm at! :) I'm hoping to have it completed within a couple of days since life will be slowing down some.

Happy Easter!!!

Yes, the Shelburne Museum in VT is wonderful! I knew I was missing something when I was thinking of VT! I also second Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park in Maine. It is a destination in and of itself, plus it's a bit out of the way taking about a 5 hour drive from Boston to get there. However, if you can visit it, it's breathtaking!

I grew up and lived in NH until I was 32. The Lakes Region is gorgeous - towns like Meredith & Wolfeboro are nice and quaint. Canobie Lake Park in Salem is pretty fun if you like amusement parks. It has one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the country there. My boys loved it when we went last summer. Your kids are the perfect ages. In VT, Burlington is a lot of fun, and it's right on Lake Champlain, so it's also pretty. I believe Pearl Street in Boulder, CO was designed around the model of Burlington. Ben & Jerry's is up there as well as a variety of other places to see. There are a number of covered bridges along Route 100 as well as other historical sites along that route. Boston is still my favorite place to be in New England. It's such a great city with so much history. The Freedom Trail offers so much information. It involves A LOT of walking, so be prepared for that. Taking one of the Duck Boats through the city would also be great fun while stilll offering all the history of the city. Boston Commons and the swan boats make for a nice afternoon.

BS in Psychology with a minor in English Lit M.Ed in Elementary Education with a K-8 certification, continuing ed credits in high school English. Prior to homeschooling I... -taught preschool (3 year-olds) for 8 months before my 2nd son was born -taught Wilson Reading to grades 6-8 (LD and dyslexic students) part time (2 years) - began this after my oldest was born -taught 8th grade Language Arts (4 years) -was a paraprofessional (teacher's aide) in 5th grade with LD kids (2 years). -was a paraprofessional working with a K'er who has Down Syndrome (AM) and taught computer classes to grades 1-6 (afternoon) -was a managing editor for a small, healthcare newspaper in New England -was the Admin Assistant to the CEO & Sales Literature copywriter for a construction supply company in NH. My favorite jobs were teaching 8th grade LA and homeschooling.

We need a new printer, and we want it to be wireless. Any recommendations?

We both wear our wedding rings. Dh always has; however, I had to take mine off for my 2nd pregnancy because I had issues with swelling. It went back on my finger a few weeks after ds#2's birth and hasn't come off since (well, except to be cleaned) :).

Dh is a treasury accountant for one of the big banks. He has a BA in Finance and a MBA in Business Admin.

Linda, I'm glad your daughter is safe! Praying for everyone in that area!

I just saw this news story. Praying everyone is safe! Dh is from this area originally, and we have several friends whose families are out there.

These are my main things that have been "hanging over my head". I've wanted to do them for a while now. I can see the time drawing nearer to when I may have time since my youngest is getting a little easier... we'll see! How to sew and quilt To speak Spanish To be a more organic gardener How to play the guitar (dh is slowly teaching himself this right now) Carpentry - building tables, bookcases, and ultimately an amazing deck Refinish furniture How to do household repairs (replace faucets, minor electrical work, installing a dishwasher)

Last week I forgot to post, but I read Ape House by Sara Gruen. It was pretty good. After liking Water for Elephants, I figured I would try another of her novels. This one was easier to get into than WfE, and I think the story moved along more quickly. The characters were not as complex, however. I'd recommend it if you want something quick. I also read My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. It's about reincarnation and a soul who remembers every person he's ever been which is considered rare among souls. He is seeking a woman he loves, yet she cannot remember that she once loved him. The story takes place in present and past. It moves along swiftly, and I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the end though, so I find myself pondering it periodically. If you like time travel type of books, you may like this. I'm now working on The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I'm only about 50 pages in, but I'm enjoying how it is slowly unfolding, and the little clues Atwood is placing along the way that are keeping me guessing/wondering. Here's what I've read thus far.... Radical by David Platt Made to Crave by Lysa Terkhurst The Eve Tree by Rachel Devenish Ford Breaking TWIG by Deborah Epperson Chasing Rainbows by Kathleen Long Clockwise by Elle Strauss Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach by Vincent Monastra Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America by Michael Yankoski Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew Ape House by Sara Gruen My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: You've received some great advice, Nakia. I would only be repeating what they've said. I understand where you are; I really do. A friend suggested Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts when I was feeling lost and joyless earlier this year. I am still working through it, but it is helping me to see God's forgiveness (toward me) and the small blessings and joy He provides us on a daily basis. We get in our own way all the time (I am SO guilty of this), but he loves us unconditionally, and He wants us to feel joy. It takes conscious effort to find it in today's crazy world. I will pray for you. I'm so sorry you are in this place. Please give yourself grace, and take it one day at a time. :grouphug:

Praying for the Baldwin family. So tragic. :grouphug:

Praying for you!

Congratulations!!!!

Praying, Jane! :grouphug:

:iagree: We have never had an issue with our Prime shipping unless it said the product would not be available until a certain date on the product page. Even then, they would ship parts of the order as they came in, and often they still arrive earlier than expected.

With what you are able to spend, you can definitely get land around Charlotte. Another gorgeous area would be the Lake Norman area (north of Charlotte) - Mooresville, Davidson or even Cabarrus County (Concord). Dh said that Denver (NW of Charlotte) may be suitable for what you need. I am partial to Union County though :).

So glad he is home! Praying for him to continue to recover! :grouphug:

Charlotte, NC - it has everything you have described, and you could buy a monsterous house with what you'd like to spend. You could get an absolutely incredible house for $400K and still have money to spare. LOTS of people from NY/NJ have moved down here. Union County just south of the city has very low taxes, much less than Mecklenburg where Charlotte is located. It is a very practical commute. With what you'd like, the Weddington/Marvin/Wesley Chapel area would be perfect. If you want to be a bit closer to the city, and pay higher taxes (nowhere near what you are paying now) then the South Charlotte/Ballantyne area would be great. The only issue here is sometimes in the summer we have air quality action days, but they do not last long, and with every place having AC, it really becomes a non-issue. Tons of homeschoolers in this area as well! Many places have special days/rates for homeschoolers. This state requires little in terms of mandates as well. We moved from NH to here, and it's been worth every moment! eta - I just re-read your list... There are lots of Christians here, BUT it is not required that you are one, and there are MANY non-Christians as well. It's diverse here.

Saying prayers for your friend. I'm sorry. :grouphug:

I promised a friend I would wait for her to return from a week's vacation (she leaves on Saturday)... not sure why I did that now! :tongue_smilie: All the Facebook posts about it are making me antsy!