Lower your expectations. That is my strategy and also lots of caffeine.

Doesn't every religion have the tenet that it is the "right" one? And doesn't that sort of, by default, make all the rest "wrong"? I can see that it would be hard in an area where you are part of a minority denomination. I guess maybe I don't define "persecution" as broadly and that is where the differences/not understanding is coming from. I can't remember the last time someone asked me what church I go to or what religion I am and I live in a very liberal community. I am not doubting you, just surprised that it would come up. I guess if someone told me they didn't vote I would disapprove, sort of from a civic responsibility standpoint though. It would not have anything to do with religion.

I wasn't "excusing" it. I would never do that and kind of resent the implication. I was explaining it based on my experience living there at the time. It was a Lutheran church in a community with several Lutheran churches. It was the church most active in sponsoring refugees and it never happened any other time to any other church in that community. I still have family there so I keep up. This would be from 1973 to the present, nothing else.

OK, but what is it that makes you feel unwelcome? I mean other than knocking on people's doors proselytizing, because I admit that I do not welcome that. I am polite about it but I am definitely not welcoming.

Yes, I am wondering the same thing. I guess I remember a church being vandalized when I was a kid. But that was because they were sponsoring Vietnamese refugees. So I think it was more about anti immigrant attitudes than ant Christian ones.

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I think this nailed it really. It IS changing. And when you are in the majority and that majority is slipping away it is going to feel like persecution even though it isn't. And I have also had jobs where I had to work on Christmas, but I got paid double time :).

DH made a counter top and stained it sort of a charcoal color. It was beautiful. He also sealed it and if you do that plan on being out of the house for a while. The fumes were something else, just from a counter top. He is out of town but I will ask him when he gets back. Sorry not to be more help, but just had to say that it turned out really cool.

To quote Jim Morrison, "People are strange."

I was mostly classical. I am married to a romantic and have one classical (even more than me) and one romantic kid. I guess that makes us a mixed family lol.

Thanks for posting the link. I read some of his other articles too.

We did the GFDF diet for a year with a picky eater. It was hard at first but she did get used to it. You can pretty much replace everything except cheese. There is no DF cheese that isn't gross lol. You could do it gradually too. First replace snacks and then breakfast, then lunch and then dinner... or something similar. We got rid of the gluten first and when that was gone we did the dairy. Anxiety can cause a lot of stomach problems. I see that with my older dd.

It is typical Iowa weather lol, hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter. As to housing, it looks very affordable compared to Iowa City. But you can get a general idea here: http://www.zillow.com/waterloo-ia/ Iowa does have state income tax. That is why our state budget is in good shape :) compared to so many. You also might want to look at Cedar Falls.

I think you understood correctly.

I am not too far either if I can be of help. I have never lived there, just visited.

It doesn't seem to be flipping the criticism onto men either, which is nice, more about not letting external messages become your internal voice.

I just found this site and am finding it really meaningful for myself personally and as a mother of girls. http://www.stopthebeautymadness.com

Seer up here and we are in the Midwest.

Dh got an email from a friend saying he was stuck in another country, had been robbed and need money wired to him. Because this friend frequently does international travel and it came on his email it was very believable. Luckily we found out that he was still in town. His email got hacked and it was sent to everyone in his address book.

We use the library and I also purchase books on iTunes. It is a bit pricey to buy them so I only do that if it is one I think we will listen to many times.

I am sorry. My feelings would have been hurt in that situation too. The community we live in has a high turnover because of the University. I have been in the situation of having to start over with friends many times and it is always difficult. But my closest friends now are not hsing moms. I have one hsing mom friend and the rest are not at all related to hsing. I agree with some of the previous posters though, time to branch out and look for social opportunities elsewhere. Maybe also look at the fears about losing your dd to high school too. There is nothing stopping you from being involved and volunteering at the school right? Schools are always looking for volunteers and while hs moms can be great friends, so can ps moms. The knitting group thing is also a great idea, if it is something you are interested in doing/learning. I have found that taking a knitting class once a week in the evening is a lovely way to socialize. And though I am prejudiced lol, knitting women are awesome.

A friend of ours with a seeing eye dog recommended getting one that flunked out. I mean the dogs are really screened, healthy and well-trained but a lot of them aren't able to go on at the end because they can't master traffic safety. There is a long waiting list for them so if you got on it now it might be an option when you are ready to go ahead and get one. I am sorry I do not have the link but I am sure you can find it. There is an application process. They would be labs and German shepards for the most part.

I would say to just wait until your kids are older. So don't say "No" just say "not yet." We just got a dog and it is good but my kids are almost nine and sixteen and I really wanted one. I would also recommend doing some breed research or rescuing a dog that has been in a foster home so you know how it is with a family and what it's activity needs are. We just visited friends with a border collie mix and that dog was high, high energy and they have several acres for it to run. I would not go that route. I know they are smart, but if you are the one taking care of it and are not that into it, I would go with a more low energy dog.

http://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Your-Child-Negative-Thinking/dp/0738211850 This is the book I am reading now and recommends a lot of cognitive strategies. But if there is a kernel of truth and you are not seeing this with your ds across the board, I would talk to the uncle about it. And I might anyway. My SN child has a very hard time with teasing, understanding and processing it. I would have a very hard time with any of my family who made a habit of doing it to her. I generally think that an adult teasing a child is inappropriate, especially if it is habitual.

I am by no means an expert, but if memory serves, didn't Jesus prefer to hang with the groups everyone at the time hated/stigmatized? I recall some references to prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, Samaritans. What was the deal with the Samaritans? Geez, off too google when I should be cleaning.