I would take them in to have strep, pneumonia and ear infection ruled out. Hope it's NONE of those!

I personally would not let her sleep in. That will only make this a habit. I think that all members of the family, including teens, need to keep a schedule that is in harmony with everybody else. On any given day, who wouldn't rather sleep in? Some ideas: No media after 6pm - this is really stimulating. Have her read instead Keep a steady bed/wake time all week - even on week-ends Try Sleepy Time tea - there is even a more potent version with Valerian root Make sure she is exercising to exhaustion every day Eliminate caffeine - diet Coke, chocolate, coffee, etc If sleep is a continuing problem, you can also try a sleep aid, such as Benedryl, valerian root, or 5-htp for occasional use, with your doctor's OK. Sleep deprivation leads to crankiness, inattention, bad attitude, etc. No fun!!!! Hope you find something that works.

I think that dissection is extremely important to a study of life science. If it is not a religious issue, but merely one of being squeamish, I would forge ahead and do at least 3 dissections. An eye, a heart, and a brain. These are biproducts of meat processing, so these animal parts are really no different from the meat on your plate. If you are vegans, or have religious issues, than I would at least get detailed plastic models.

I didin't like Across Five Aprils, so we read WHo Comes WIth Cannons? and Charlie Skedaddle instead. My dd liked both of those.

I think you would do well with a simple, effective approach to reading. Teaching reading does not need to be complicated. Some pick up and go primers: Hooked On Phonics (Sam's has these cheap!) Abeka Handbook for Reading Alpha Phonics You can still add your phonogram flashcards to any program. At our house we simply use a primer, flashcards, copywork, a nd Games for Reading by Peggy Kaye. : ) Tami

I am in the same boat - it's just the time of year. I am having dd do as much independent learning as possible because she is resisting me. Products like United Streaming, Time4Learning, CLE, and the book basket method are keeping me sane and even content. At this time of the year we do a lot of unschooling, modified to suit our tastes. Joy to you!

go in and get a strep test to rule out strep. Strep has been rampant this year!

about the pastor abusing his authority. We do not know the history of the situation, or details as to what correctives the church elders had already attempted. The church is a private entity. If a person is asked to leave or not come back to the church for any reason and refuses to respect that decision, a church has every right to ask civil authorities to remove that person. If you ask a person, no matter what age, to leave your home and they refuse it is perfectly logical to call the police and have that person removed. A church is no different. Pastors and elders have every right to request that people not come back to their church for whatever reason. If people don't like how their pastors are using their authority, they are always welcome to find another place of worship. If the elders don't care for how the pastor is using his authority, they always have the option of firing the pastor. Making this a media matter only casts suspicion in my mind that this lady IS a gossip. If she doesn't care of the pastor, she is free to worship elsewhere. In my mind, she does not have the right to attend a place of worship where she has been ASKED to not come back, no matter what her age, what amount of money she has given, or what classes she has taught. This is a very unfortunate situation.

and she just sits up like a human in her own seat. She likes her window down so she can sniff the outside air and enjoy what's going on. As far as restaurants, we usually have one person go in and get the food and the other hang with the dog, or we drive through. We take our food to a park or rest area and hang out there, eat, and let the dog run. We bring those foldable camping chairs and a big blanket so that we can picnic anywhere. However, more than eating out, we always pack a very full cooler with lots of food! That saves the restaurant hassle and money. If the weather is nice, and we can find a parking spot near the restaurant window, we have occasionaly left the locked car running with music/climate control on with our dog inside. However, that is the rare exception, perhaps on a rainy day, and never the norm! I bet there are some beautiful parks in CA that you could picnic at with your dog. Also, check with motels ahead of time to make sure the are pet-friendly. Many are not. For this reason, we always go with a pet friendly cabin rental. Tami

we do best on a structured, daily routine. Our current one is HERE.

Well, I just have to say that this woman needs to get out and about more! Is it possible that she does not know how to talk to a more secular mom, or was worries about saying the wrong thing so she just opted out? Many times I am asked what church I go to so that other Christians can have a good idea of topics to talk about (have in common) and topics to avoid (those we may disagree on.) For example, a Baptist and a Methodist will not tend to discuss infant baptism or predestination, since their theology differs in that area. Where possible, I try to have grace for the person if this is a first-time event. Maybe the woman was shy, not used to being around less religious people, etc. Is that a possibility? Is she shy and unsure of herself in general? I have gotten snubbed by secular folks too, and I just assume that they are not used to rubbing shoulders with people who think differently than they do. Some of us NEED TO GET OUT MORE! Keep trying. Keep getting out there. We learn from each other's differences.

Grilled baby back ribs! Mmmm! Actually, almost any good cut of meat would do. Meat and veggies make me feel great, but too many carbs make me tired and sluggish.

One thing I can think of is to make doubles of your dinner and bring some over to your neighbor once a week. That wouldn't require too much brain power, and I bet it would really bless your neighbor!

When I saw the poll, I thought "WHICH one?" LOL I am addicted to thrift store purse shopping! You can get some cute purses for next to nothing! I would start with basic black and then get a couple that accent colors you wear often. For example, I wear a lot of brown, so I got a turquoise to punch up those outfits. Red is another good choice to pop those navy or black outfits. Of course, you must get some shoes that go with your new purses! Up to a couple of years ago I never even carried a purse, so this is a new thing for me.

I use the Oil Cleansing method twice a day, steaming my face and then massaging with 1 part castor oil and 1 part extra virgin olive oil. The dirty oil is then steamed back off with a hot towel. The theory is that oil dissolves oil, and it has made my pores much finer and my skin feels fabulous after. Optional, but I like to infuse my cleansing oil with a bit of dried rosemary or calendula and a few drops of essential oil, such as sweet orange or peppermint. It just smells so darn good that way, but plain is fine. I follow with cool water and a citrus-based home-made toner. The recipe is on my blog. I avoid alchohol based toners since my skin is maturing a bit. Next I use L'Oreal Revitalift Advanced Complete. This cream is the BEST! It's not too expensive from drugstore.com, and it absorbs right into my skin. I have sensitive, break-out prone skin, and I have no problems with this cream. Makes the fine lines disappear, and softens others (temporarily, of course!) As we get older, it is important to exfoliate a couple of times per week. I just use baking soda and make a paste with extra virgin olive oil. This step is wonderful for making skin glow, getting rid of dry flakes, and enabling your moisturizer to really absorb. Using natural products saves money and it's really fun to blend your own potions! The only store bought skin care product I am still using is the Revitalift. For more natural recipes, I recommend Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox! :cool:

We have used TruthQuest for years and love it! We are CMers and it fits that method very well. Adding memory work and writing assignments will make it more classical. TQ is very versatile! The best part is that it is literature-based. We have had a feast at the table of living books via TQ history.

and I do apologize if they are repeats! Social Studies/Unit Studies Christian Cottage Units History Units from Homeschool in the Woods Lapbooks Teacher Created Resources Units Science ScienceWorks BJU Science & kit - my personal all-around favorite for hands-on Christian learners! Christian Cottage Units are like KONOS, but all laid out day by day. You can view more at their website! Hope you find something that you REALLY like!

Yup. Daily copywork - one perfect line per day. Go for quality over quantity.

I am not educated enough on this subject to give much of an opinion. I am not a scientist, but being careful stewards of the Earth that God created just makes good sense.

Many times our husbands don't get the proper care and feeding they deserve! I agree - most men would prefer the free stuff, and a little extra spice doesn't hurt!

Buy her some Hanes and let her wear what she is comfortable in. Sweats are not immodest, so this is not a ethical/moral issue. Don't let this stress you out - it is just not worth it in the scheme of things. Allow her her quirks in this area. It sounds like it is more your problem than hers. What is the big deal about getting her to wear jeans? Seriously, just let it go and drop the expectation. I wouldn't spend anymore brain power trying to figure out all the why's -- just let it go. Just my opinion.

If you want to go the Life Science route, may I suggest checking your library for the Biology for Every Kit by VanCleave book? Her approach is fun and hands-on - plus the price is right if you use the library. I would consider attending zoo and nature center clases an integral part of a life science curriculum. Put the kids in front of as many real, live specimens as you can. Home Science Tools is a great resource for kits and more ideas. I highly recommend that company - they are wonderful to deal with and reasonably prices. If you want readable science and want Christian content, Abeka's science is geared more to life science in the younger years. We love BJU science the best! However, it is not strictly life science. : ) Tami

Depends. Are you white or AA? I think they rock on AA's, but dreads can look a bit contrived on Caucasians. I don't understand why they'd scare anybody, but I suppose I live in an urban area and am not bothered by unique expressions in outward appearances. When I have visited Jamaica, dreads seem to be worn by the pot-smokin' Rasta types, so that may be an association you will have to live with. :D I think they would look so cool on my dd. Her naturally curly hair is a pain to deal with. However, I'm not sure how AA's generally feel when they see Caucasians wear dreads, and that is something I would consider. I live in a mixed area. I will have to ask!

Well, how about a sexy evening with champagne, and new outfit, and some home-made, edible Body Honey. You can apply this anywhere you want some slightly sticky, sweet kissing. :D Attach a cute label to your Body Butter, with a coupon for one evening of enjoyment, and voila! Body Butter 1 tsp coconut oil 1/2 tsp raw honey drop or two of vanilla or almond extract (or other favorite) Just whip together all the ingredients. Yum!

I don't know what you mean by "strings." Around the world, Christians are fighting for social justice issues for people of all faiths. Spiritual care is part of the total person. Nobody if forcing Christian conversion, nor denying help for those who don't convert. Secular charities come with strings too, specifially, do not address the spiritual needs of those they are helping, and keep God out of the equation. There are always 2 sides to a flap jack. :) That charity should be divorced from spiritual care if simply your opinion, and is no more valid than anybody else's. You are welcome to it, and I hope we can encourage each other to 'give 'til it hurts' to our favorite worthy causes.