Sorry I only posted one. I will tell you about the other one some other time. :blush:

We also like to make sure we are beibg good steward by choosing to give to those that are good stewards of what God gives them. I look for ministries that I can see were the money goes. Two of the places we regularly give to are: The Evangelical Siterhood of Mary ( not Catholic, Evangelical) I didn't know there was such a thing until I visited thier prayer garden a few years ago. They truely live by faith, never asking for money. If you want to read the book of their amazing journey, relying soley on The Father and how He has provided- Their book "Realities of Faith" is free to read here online: http://www.canaaninthedesert.com/online_books.php I love that they don't ever ask for money!:thumbup: I get so tired of all the things I get in the mail from other orangization bugging me to give. I can't help but think "How much did it cost for them to send me this elaborate brochure?" The Sisters actually send me something every time I give. Sometimes I get a whole book in the mail just as a thank you for the gift I sent them! All the money I send them goes to their ministry.For necessities like food they rely on other gifts ( ex. there is a man that goes to one of the grocery stores in town and asks to have anything they are throwing out and brings it to the Sisters )You can read more about their minitry here: http://www.canaaninthedesert.com/index.php in the U.S. http://www.kanaan.org/ around the world If you order any of their book they will not charge you it is an "only if you feel led to give" setup. However I always feel like giving to these wonderful ladies.:001_smile:

My oldest's face looks exactly, I mean exactly like me. I have shown her and others pictures of me as a child and they assume it is her every time. However she has beautifully thick straight hair that curls up on the ends just right. It's cool to see what I would look like without my curls. It also helps me realize how cute I really must be :001_smile:. My middle one has my curls, but not my face at all. She has these beyond cute dimples. Her smile can get her just about anything she wants from others, thankfully I have learned better. My baby the boy has looooong eye lashes that cause him to have to look up to see things very well. Absolutely adorable!

I do agree with others here that the computer should not be used at all hours, just because of the many danger. However I was homeschooled and a good kid. I finished schooling at 17 and had a job. I actually stayed out until 1 or 2 in the morning with friends from my church college group (some great memories:001_smile:) and was still able to work in the morning. Our bodies do work differntly at this age. If your daughter has proved to be responsible; you need to start letting her make some of these decisions on her own, so that she can learn for herself what is reasonable and not while she is still at home. She'll be on her own before you know it. I wouldn't cut her off from her cell phone, especailly if you know and trust her friends.

My parents have offered to do little things around the house that we don't have time to do. My Mom is going to hem some curtains that I have been meaning to get to, and some other small things. My Dad already fixed a whole in our bathroom wall where we had to check the plumbing. He is also gong to install some new fausets that we bought awhile ago. These things are a big blessing to my husband. He has the ability to do them but he is very busy with his self owned business and he is very invloved in the political system of or small town. And you all know how busy I am hsing with 3 young childern.:willy_nilly: this is a great gift!

I am so sad for you. I know what you are feeling. In the begining of our marriage we had some pretty bad times. 9 years later we have an amazing marriage. However the transformation began in my own heart first. I picked up "The Power of a Praying Wife". I went through it once a month. I figured if I could'nt change him maybe God could do a miracle. I also began to read "For Women Only" it gave me a lot of insight into how most men think and feel. What I found is that God began to start the changes in my attitude first, which aided in my husbands attitude changing. He started wanting to be around me more. But remember it is not just my attitude that changed things . Prayer really works if your serious about it :).

For anything that is distasteful that comes out of thier mouth (whining, complaining, lying) I have them drink 1/2 tsp. of vinegar or lemon juice (my oldest likes lemon juice so we switched to vinegar :)). I tell them that the way they are speaking is yucky to my ears and I don't think I should have to edure it alone. It is fast, and it works.

Dito the honey. I also put vicks on the bottom of my kids feet. I know it sounds crazy, but it really works.:)

Creative Correction by Lisa Welchel has a million and one ideas you may disagree with some of them but there are so many to choose from, one is bound to work. Each chapter ends with A "tool box" full of ideas categorized by the action of your child (EX. attitude, complaining, lying, hurting others), there is more than one idea for each. However It is not just punishment, there is a chapter on Scripture to share for each offence. There is Chapter on Stories to share that teach a lesson, again listed by offence. There is even a chapter on Rewards that help keeps them fom the offences. One of my favorites is- they are complaining about going to bed, they want to stay up late. Well let them do just that "stay up", have them stand in one place in the middle of the room for as long they want to ;).

Buy some Gerber Vinyl Training Pants : http://www.target.com/Gerber-Vinyl-Training-Pants-2-pk/dp/B00182BXVO/sr=1-24/qid=1228774584/ref=sr_1_24/181-3464028-2701164?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Apotty%20training&page=1 I used these with padded undies underneath for my girls, they feel the wet without the mess for you. Then move the potty to the area of the house that you are at most of the day. If the two of you see it more, you'll ask more and she'll sit on it more (allow her as often as she wants:001_smile:). Have sweet tarts, nerds, or M&M's and a party blower on hand and in sight (out of her reach though), to tempt her. Make a big deal of the whole thing. Hope this helps

Creative Correction By Lisa Welchel Finding Your Purpose as a Mom By Donna Otto (not just a parenting book) Hope these help :001_smile:.

Have you checked for any at http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/ ?