This is what we do and it works great!

This one. :laugh: *ETA: I didn't actually read it. :leaving:

Good discussion usually works like that in real life. I find it odd people think all posts in the virtual world should always stay on topic, because somehow that is different from how real life conversations happen. Didn't you just go "off topic" to make a statement unrelated to the OP? ;)

Thanks for explaining! Gothard's standards are bothersome to me, but I still know sisters who take photos likes these and they almost look like twins, triplets, and so on. It's very normal. Even if we don't agree with the groups the patriarchial families typically adhere to, how they look alike isn't much different from other groups we would support. People tend to dress and act the same as the people around them. They make friends with people they share the same interests with. It's normal. Just because some groups don't make a public statement about how their group should dress and act, doesn't mean the unwritten rule isn't there. I disagree with you about it being mostly about the females not having any individuality. The men feel the pressure just as much, believe me. They are told being employed by an employer is not as honorable as the man with his own business. (Yet, they have to employ other men to work their business? Don't get me started.) They do have dress standards that, like I said above, are unwritten rules. Go to one of their conferences and the men won't look much different from each other either. These men must have a wife, many children (who are biological, not adopted), and homeschooling. They also have to have a wife that is submissive and children who obey at first command. This is just a short list, but if any of these things fall short, the men are looked down upon, if not "disciplined". We need to keep all that in perspective, though, because men get the same unspoken rules written on them in the rest of the world, too, and the pressure is on to conform. It happens everywhere you go. When they step out of line, they are also "disciplined", but in a different way. The same is true for women. The Duggars aren't different from any of the rest of us. They have a set of beliefs and they live by them. Don't we all live by what we believe to be true? At some point, we've all been hypocritical about our beliefs and how we actually live. One is free to disagree with them, but that doesn't mean you're necessarily right. In many cases, it's not right or wrong, but just a preference. Keep that in mind. ;)

The raccoons in my neighborhood know I have chickens and shockingly, they leave them alone. Guess it depends on how hungry or bored they are.

Everyday? No. (With the exception of those who have a business/employer that requires regular errand running, doctor's appointments for chronic conditions or many children, and things like that.)

Goodness, no, I can't stand running errands. I do them as necessary and I try to make that as minimal as possible. I love my USPS and UPS mail carriers for that very reason. They do the running around for me sometimes. :D I have my husband stop by places after work, but I also avoid that as much as possible because I'd rather he just come home. I miss him by then. :o When I do run errands, I try to pick days and times when the least amount of people are out, so I can get what I need and move along. If I want to slow down, then I grab a drink and go read a book somewhere in peace. I actually do love people, but as an introvert, they drain my batteries fast when I am exposed to them too much. My home is where I recharge and apparently, I take several days to full recharge. :001_cool:

I can think of a lot of family portraits that look like that. :confused1: I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say here.

I second this book. I also wanted to say I am terribly sorry for your loss. :crying: :grouphug:

All Apologia science curriculum's are mediocre, if you ask me, but are great supplements. I did not have any intention of Apologia being our main source for a curriculum, but only a supplement. Therefore, my view of the book is positive in that it serves the purpose I wanted it for. If one is looking for just a single curriculum covering these two subjects, Apologia is good for the family who is looking for a simple science schedule for their 1st - 5th grade student(s). It's a great introduction to chemistry and physics. Depending on how far one wants to delve into the subjects will greatly depend on how much their child actually learns from the text, so this aspect is entirely based on parental/guardian participation. When it comes to participation, this text has a ton of various "Try This" activities to solidify what they are learning from the text. You can do as many or few as you like, but the more you do, the more your children likely learn. For instance, my kids absolutely love the periodic table after we baked cupcakes and decorated them as the elements of the periodic table. The text gives you a recipe for sugar cookies, but we did cupcakes. Yum-O! :drool5: There are plenty of real chemistry/physics experiments that are equally enjoyable for them. My older elementary students grasp the concepts from the book when doing experiments, but the younger ones just enjoy the thrill of all the hands-on activities, while still learning a lot from participating. So again, for the elementary age range, this is great for that family that only wants to do science a few times a week and doesn't have older ones that need to delve much deeper. If this sounds appealing to your circumstances, I highly recommend this textbook for your chemistry and physics learning with younger students. With that being said, I do not use this as a main source for my chemistry and physics teaching. It is only a supplement. I happen to love chemistry and physics, so I wanted to delve into the two subjects quite deeply. I have purchased numerous books/materials to add to my stash of chemistry and physics learning. However, I must say my favorite elementary chemistry curriculum that is cost effective for the average homeschooling family would be R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey (Chemistry - Level One). I'm disappointed they don't have a physics curriculum, but their chemistry book is fantastic! One major reason I love RSO so much more than Apologia would be its emphasis on scientific thinking. In Apologia, you can do the, "Try This", experiments and still learn a lot, but it does not prepare students to think more deeply about what they are learning. They are merely observing the results by asking questions after doing the experiment, if questions are asked at all. RSO, however, follows the usual scientific outline of forming a hypothesis, doing the experiment, writing the results/observations, and writing a conclusion. In my opinion, students learn a lot more by asking questions before doing the experiment in order to form a hypothesis, so it forces them to think more critically about the subject. One can easily do the same thing for Apologia experiments (as we do), but I'm still disappointed Apologia doesn't already include this. RSO also has worksheets that are actually worthwhile, because they really solidify what the student is learning. Apologia has their "Notebooking" supplement, but it is merely busy work. For the family that is only looking to introduce the two subjects to their child(ren), this is perfectly fine. They'll have plenty of time in high school to learn the niddy griddy. In this regard, it just depends on your preference. RSO is also a thousand times more thorough in explaining chemistry to elementary students in a very understandable way, whereas Apologia's textbook is actually quite weak on chemistry and more heavy on physics. Definitely keep this in mind, because while you can't have physics without chemistry, Apologia definitely spent more effort in the physics department than chemistry. I have searched for other elementary physics curriculum's in the same price range and I must say, this is where Apologia shines over the rest. For a cost effective way to introduce physics to your kids, I think Apologia shines over what I have seen on the market so far. Of course, there are expensive curriculum's out there that are very thorough and worth the cost, but it does come with a price tag. Again, you have to decide what you value here. As for the printing quality, I own other Apologia textbooks that appear to be of the same quality and format as this book. My kids really enjoy looking at the vibrant pictures while I read the text. The text itself appears to be easy to read out loud and not any different from the others. We are doing science every day this school year (kids beg for it), so Apologia is pulled off the shelf once or twice a week. There is still plenty of information in the Apologia textbook that we are not learning in all the other materials we have purchased, which are many. So for me, I am still quite satisfied with buying the textbook and would recommend it, provided one evaluates what Apologia offers with what their goals are for their family. :001_smile: Hope this helps!

A hand is not an object?

ChocolateReign, we are talking about spanking, not beating. There is a difference, because otherwise a small spanking on the bottom over clothing would be considered a beating. This does injustice to those who are truly abused. Only in our recent generation has there been a blurring of the two definitions. I respect your opinions, though, because it is clear you deeply care about the welfare of children. Everyone here does or they wouldn't be posting. :001_smile:

My husband bakes bread in our breadmaker (the Zo), but I refuse to use the thing. Absolutely despise it. Bread is just not the same with a breadmaker. I grind my own grain and take pride in making all kinds of bread, including sourdough (my favorite). A breadmaker simply cannot do what my brain and hands can do with mastering the art of bread making. If I could get him to give it up, I'd glady send you mine for free! Anything to get that cumbersome thing out of my kitchen. :laugh: So if you ask me, I'd say to learn the art of bread making without a breadmaker, but not everyone feels that way, as evident here. ;)

I grew up in the foster jail system and aged out of the system. I don't know if you grew up in it, FoxBridgeAcademy, but if you did not, I would not be so quick to jump to this conclusion.

I don't have any advice, but wanted to send some virtual hugs. :grouphug:

Why bother? Because it is more nutritious than the expensive organic yogurt. You get more bang for your buck in nutritional value. ;) Did I mention it tastes better, too?

This is a good idea! I may do this in the near future. Thanks for the idea, Tap!

In my home, my children are taught that when someone tells you, "No!", you respect their answer. I would be absolutely peeved if my neighbor already knew my answer about the sleepover and still tried to change my mind through the pleading of an innocent little girl. I'm certain the mother meant well, but this shows me a lack of maturity in respecting boundaries, which then brings the safety of my child into question while in her care. I used to be that mother, so I'm not criticizing her in a hypocritical way. I've since grown up more and matured to realize how disrespectful I was towards people who had boundaries and I'd try to upsurp them to my own advantage. I always meant well, but that doesn't change the fact I was very immature and wrong for doing it. Looking back, I feel absolutely awful and embarrasssed I ever did that to people. I give grace to people like this, because I remember who I once was, but it doesn't change the fact one needs to learn to respect the boundaries of others. I'm thankful to those people who held firm with me, because it taught me lessons I needed to learn. Is six years old too young? In my home, age is irrelevant when it comes to sleepovers, because if anyone is allowed to have my children over for a sleepover, they are people we already trust with the key to our home. My children have far more value to me than the key to my home (thus, all my possessions), so if I can trust someone with the key to my house, only then are they trusted with what I value the most in life (my children).

That's innocently funny and gross! Made me chuckle. :laugh: I'd hate to time travel through a porta potty, though!

Prior to Christmas time (2013), all my Prime orders were almost always within 1-2 days. Something happened at Christmas time and ever since, I hardly ever receive anything within those two days I was used to. If I order something Friday morning, I expect to see it Wednesday. If I order on Monday morning, I'll probably see it Thursday. Ordering anything on Saturday and Sunday is the same as if I ordered Monday morning, it seems. While that is still decent timing, it is not the Prime I'm used to and believe I paid for. I'm also not a fan of packages being delivered to USPS now. I have since taken a great majority of my orders Amazon used to get from me to other vendors. In a few instances, this has been a big blessing, because I've found products elsewhere for better prices and shipping. For instance, I used to buy some supplements from Amazon, but I have since started buying almost exclusively from Iherb. I'm glad I did, because their discounts and shipping speed is always better than Amazon. Now I have VIP status with Iherb, so the discounts are even more. I wasn't even aware there was a VIP status, but hey, I'll take it. The discount is even better. To say the least, Amazon lost my business in that area. I still like Amazon. :001_smile: Glad to see I'm not the only one who is seeing a delay, though.

To the OP, :grouphug: . I can't think of anything I'm tired of after reading your post. Counting my blessings and saying a prayer for you! :grouphug:

I refuse to use Crisco, except for candles during power outages, but your comment about it clogging arteries made me laugh out loud! :laugh: Maybe I'm too easy to amuse. My subsitution suggestion would be bananas, along with using Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix. I grind my own grains for flour, but when it comes to cookies, Pamela's is where it's at. :drool5: *Edited to add: Just saw on my Pamela's package that it has powdered buttermilk in it. How sad!

:grouphug: Suicide hits too close to home for me, but it sounds like everyone has given you pretty good advice, so I don't feel I need to add anything. Please know I am thinking about you and praying for you at this moment. :grouphug:

Had friends who did the SFG and I wasn't impressed with their results. Like Queen Goddess of the Deep, I have had much better results planting directly into the ground. My soil is slightly more sandy, but close to being balanced, so all my plants really need is a bit of compost and/or compost tea of some sort (I use worm casings from my worm bin). They thrive with that alone. If you want a useful planner and happen to use non-GMO/heirloom seeds, you would benefit from http://www.smartgardener.com . I paid for all the extras, except the SFG program they have. I spent a few hours setting up my online garden and now all my planning seems effortless. They have a free version, but the upgrades were worth it to me. I don't remember if the free version does this, but you can ask the program to lay out your plants in the garden for you. It opened my eyes to all kinds of possibilities I didn't see in my garden before. It does more than that, so you'll have to check out the program for yourself to see if it is something you're interested in. :001_smile:

For me, finding something I enjoy is all the motivation I need to do it. Once I found what I enjoyed, exercise was no longer a chore, but something I looked forward to. If you find something you enjoy doing, you'll make time for it without excuse. :001_smile: What works for me is a program called T-Tapp. I have all kinds of exercise videos (including all those Beachbody ones), but when I discovered T-Tapp, I realized why I hated exercise so much. T-Tapp puts my body in alignment, so when I'm done with the workout, I feel great! I am whooped, sweating like a pig, and ready for a shower, but my body does not ache. Other exercise videos usually don't focus on body alignment much, if at all, and I always felt incredibly sore in a very bad way afterwards. People told me that it was just a sign I worked my muscles real good, but I wasn't convinced of that. After trying T-Tapp, I know now you can get an incredible workout without feeling so sore afterwards. In fact, I always feel fantastic! You do lose inches and gain muscle. The workout will work you to the core, but not make you painfully sore. Big difference. I just love it! Now I use T-Tapp when I do any other exercises. I even use it when I sit down, stand in line at the store, or even housework. Getting my body aligned during a workout has made all the difference between hating and loving to exercise. I'm not saying this is what will work for you, but I know once I found what was very enjoyable for me, I have stuck with it and that is what counts. As for when I find time, I do it first thing in the morning or during quiet time in the afternoon. I always have my workout clothing set out and ready for me to put on in a speedy second. I also have ready in the fridge my workout drinks I make, so I can just grab and go. I pretty much don't give myself an excuse not to exercise. ;) In the mornings, I wake up, make breakfast for my hubby and I before sending him off to work, and then get to my exercise routine. If a child happens to wake up early (not unusual), I'll either get them started on something they enjoy or I'll just start my day with them, and do my exercise later during quiet time. There are pros and cons to both times, so I'm not picky on when it gets done. I decide these things based on what my plan of the day is. For instance, I enjoy working out in the afternoon when I have something planned for the evening, because I can shower in the afternoon before going out. Also, get your kids educated and involved in the value of exercising our body. My kids love to encourage me while I workout and are my biggest cheerleaders! They help me make my workout drinks and make sure my clothes are ready. In turn, they enjoy doing exercises appropriate for them. They know I don't exercise for looks, but for health. We discuss the importance of healthy food and why it is important, which in turn, gets them involved in daily meals that are healthy for all of us. So I guess where I'm going with this is to say make exercise a lifestyle that involves the whole family and it'll become second nature to you. So there you have it. Find something you really enjoy and you'll rarely need to encourage yourself to do a workout! :001_cool: Lastly, if you need inspiration, please watch Charlotte Siems' testimony. If she made time for it with all her children, few people have any excuse not to do what she did, too. Here is the video: Watch until the end. Very inspirational. :thumbup: