I know, it's crazy. I've been watching the latest Bill, hoping it will pass.

Therein lies my trouble..lol. We aren't pushing our girls to attend college. We just don't feel it's mandatory. (we have one that will probably attend, because she wants a veterinary degree) I would like for them to at least be able to get a job with their diploma only...without the stigma attached GED.

What did you do for diplomas? Have you had any trouble in that department with college? I know that many government/childcare jobs will not accept a HS diploma (although there is legislation in the works for that) That is a huge reason for me to get into a local CRS, and the biggest I wanted to drop HomeLife.

Paypal will NEVER send you an email like that, so you are safe to not respond to them. I've used it for several years now, with no trouble.

I'm just north of Knoxville. I would LOVE it if this one would add 8th later. They've been around awhile though...not sure it's in their plans. I'm looking primarily at First Baptist Powell, and Knoxville Christian. My secret hope is that our current church will turn their pretty new building into a Christian Academy AND umbrella too. :D

I had issues with Activia too. It caused horrible cramping and gas. It seemed to take forever for my system to recover from it.

Well, it's come time for me to actually make up my mind about our umbrella school. We've been using HomeLife (which is an online based CRS). Basically they just keep a transcript running for you, and keep the LEA off your back. However, I want an umbrella that is a tiny bit more involved and does testing, field trips, etc. I belong to a HS group that does some trips, but most seem geared towards the younger children in the group. My dilemma is this: There is a CRS that has good support, testing, and trips. But it only goes until the 8th grade. There is another that isn't quite so involved, but it DOES do testing, good record keeping, and has the option to earn a diploma in high school through 'home study' while allowing us to still choose our own curriculum. So, I wonder if I should go with the more appealing CRS and switch in two years when my oldest is in 9th...or go with the less appealing one for consistancy? Anyone have any thoughts?

My dh is salaried. He is expected to put in a MINIMUM of 40 hrs. When he's home, he's 'clocked in' for around 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. When he's traveling, he can put in much, much more time.

Hehe...hang around another month or so....you might start wishing for a nice rainy day.

We just have girls...my oldest is really the only one aware of ALL the facts just yet. She wants to pretend we don't do that...lol. She was telling me just yesterday how gross I was because I was telling my dh how sexy he was. (of course I was really making fun of his white legs and choice of attire) They all three start yelling "ew gross" when they see us kissing. It's quite funny.

I don't have a loud kid, but do have an adult friend that is LOUD. But she also has an absolutly beautiful singing voice :) We just accept that she's loud and go on. My dd also has a very good friend that is extremely loud, as is her mother. They just can't help it. I have the opposite problem...I have a very soft voice and people are constantly saying they can't hear me :glare:

All three are piled up in the floor, under home-made tents, in the basement....sound asleep.

Well, around here, people LOVE to be all in your business. I had neighbors yelling at my kids to go put a coat on to play outside. (Sorry, but if my 12 year old isn't cold, I'm not making her put one on!) You cannot leave your older children in a locked car (during cooler temps) while you run inside a gas station or store without risking the cops called on you. My BIL who is a volunteer officer locally actually went out on a call to a park because there were unsupervised kids going UP the slide. And an aquaintance just got through a COURT case because a neighbor called CPS on her for making a misbehaving child stand out on a porch alone. So, yes, it does happen. At least around here.

I'm admittedly over protective about some things, and no so much on others. But one thing I think contributes to the hyper-protection of our kids, is that CPS can be, and often is, called on parents that allow their kids the freedom to roam/play, etc that we had as kids. So by and large, we are pretty much FORCED to be over protective, even when we don't need to be.

I've had this thrown at me by my dd's PS teachers when I pulled her out. It floors me that people think that I would be willing to sacrifice my child's needs just so she can be the good influence for those kids in a failing system. All the while my child (the good influence) is being torn down by all those around her who are NOT good influences.

All three of my girls had trouble learning on bikes that were slightly too small. Once they moved up to bigger bikes, it helped. (They were older too....one of them was almost TEN...but she has co-oridination issues) I really think that it has a lot to do with how physically ready they are.

Yep. It's bad. There's a reason that we rarely turn on the TV anymore. I feel like an old fart because all we watch is Jeopardy and Antiques Roadshow! lol. It's hard to watch anything decent on TV any longer. We've banned the TV for the kids pretty much, except for DVD's we have.

Prayers sent! Hoping for you that it's just an over-reaction on the doctor's part! :grouphug:

For me, I spent 30 years NOT believing a word of the Bible. I had read it, been to church, etc. I did not understand it, or how people could have such faith in it. Then God reached into my life, and jerked me right around. I was totally and utterly humbled by some experiences in my own life. I felt an irresistable urge to learn more about God, the Bible and Jesus. I argued with my dh for MONTHS about various 'flaws' I saw. I researched, learned, etc. I read Lewis, Geisler, and McArthur. In the end, this agnostic became a wholehearted Christian. Things I read started to make SO much sense. I'm still learning SO much. I'm a reader, a researcher at heart. I'm DIGGING into the Word. The more I dig, pray, and learn...my faith is strengthened, not weakened. So I agree with a previous poster....unless your heart is open to understanding that the Bible could be the word of God, you will not see the Truth in it. I couldn't see it at ALL until I asked Him to show me. Ironically (or not) there is scripture to back this 'phenomenon' up. 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[a] 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

That's really all I'm striving for. Legibility. About 10% of the time I can read what she writes easily. The other 90%....well it's hit or miss..lol. She keeps saying "Can't I have my own style?" I tell her sure, as long as it's a style I can READ!

I hope it isn't. I'm trying to do-over my 12 year olds writing too..lol.

:grouphug: I'm so sorry. It's a hard thing to go through :(

Absolutly I do. The only Way is through Jesus. If I did not teach my own children that, I would be commiting a sin that I would be held accountable for with God. Debate all you want, that doesn't change the Truth :001_smile:

I hardly used the Teacher book with ours. The student books were plenty. You won't have an answer key, but I've found that you really don't need one.

I've heard that bay leaves are a natural deterrent.