We worked in different departments and had chatted now and then in the lunch room, etc. He was on the mend from a painful divorce, and I was a single mom of three boys that had just graduated from college. He asked me out and I turned him down because I was afraid to date someone so recently wounded. I'd been a single mom for seven years and was very lonely, but I was trying to do the right thing for my kids. A mutual friend told me I was crazy because he was a really nice guy...she suggested I go out with him as a friend. I remember her saying, "You don't have to MARRY him!" LOL! So I told him I'd go if he still wanted to, and then he did something really sweet. He told me to bring my kids along. He said he'd bring his youngest son and we'd all go to pizza and a movie. So we took our kids with us on our first date! We had a really good time, and started dating from then on -- off and on again with kids joining us. Dh and I started to become really good friends and then we fell in love. We dated 1 1/2 years before we got married. Somehow we both brought out the best in each other, so refreshing after both of us having had painful pasts. BTW, dh was a seeker that wanted to go to church. I had been in church many years, but had fallen away. Dh knew I needed to go back, so he was a real encourager. I actually went back to church just to encourage him. In the long run, we both had major spiritual awakenings and made a major commitment to follow Christ together in our relationship. We are both in ministry leadership now. God used us both to help each other get back to where we belong! That is the best part of our love story.:Angel_anim: Blessings, Lucinda

I have taken trips alone three times during my fourteen year marriage and it has been so good for me. It was also good for my family. When I came home each time, I was so touched to know that I had been missed so much. It also opened their eyes to all that I do when I'm home. Wives and mothers give and give, sacrificing for and nurturing everyone in the family. That is why we feel guilty when something comes up for ourselves. I think it was wonderful of your dh to do this for you! The debts will be there when you return. This isn't such a splurge that it will reverse your entire financial situation. The investment in your mental health is priceless! Blessings, Lucinda

I leave them alone when they are outside, especially in the garden. When they come in my house, however, I am not hospitable. I either squish 'em or call dh to take care of the big ones. Oh, did I mention that I'm really scared of spiders? They give me the heebie jeebies. Blessings, Lucinda

"She who sings prays twice." anonymous (I've paraphrased it lately to say 'paints' rather than 'sings'.) "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams, U.S. cartoonist "Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD!" quoting myself, as a mother "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 "Worry is not trusting in the promises of God." An anonymous friend

I know a lot of people that are going through big transitions like this right now. Our family has just done something similar too. It's as though there's a big re-positioning going on, some being good and yet so much of it is hard on individuals and families. If you like to pm me to talk more, I'd love to help encourage you. Please don't give up. Blessings, Lucinda

There's just too many of us not to do it. I'll be sure to give a holler next time I head south again. :party: Lucinda

Carol, your post was a real inspiration to me. Thanks so much for sharing! I, too, hs one dd, but she is still 8 yo. Reading about your lifestyle and committment gives me a lot of hope that I can continue on with it. :bigear: Blessings, Lucinda

and the daffodils are in bloom. Sheesh! Blessings, Lucinda

My parents were originally from the midwest, and we noticed that there were a lot of rednecks and lumberjacks around us. Sometimes it was downright scarey! I knew some women that chewed tobacco, and way too many people that had rifles in the back window of their pick up trucks! I knew a lot of decent, wonderful folks too, but when I was 18 I moved to the city and never looked back. (Eventually my parents moved to the city too.) :auto: BTW...I was in high school when the Animal Safari was built. We used to tease because the kids that smoked used to go to a certain place behind the school that eventually was back to back with the Safari. The thought was that they'd better be careful out there...now in the present I would like to take dd through the park, but it is so darn expensive! I still have an uncle in Roseburg and go down 2-3 times per year to see him. Blessings, Lucinda

I feel so out of touch with that place. Feel free to pm me anytime. Thanks! Blessings, Lucinda

I went to Dillard Elementary during most of my early school years! I also remember the hippies out there in the boonies. Its a beatiful place anyway...but I too love Portland the most. :D Blessings, Lucinda

You've been to Winston? Maybe it feels like Texas because a LOT of southerners moved to Oregon post WWII looking for jobs in the lumber industry. I grew up with a lot of them. :001_smile: Lucinda

Bob's is in my neighborhood of the country and we love to shop there, but they also have a wonderful website with lots and lots of information for healthy whole grain baking. They, of course, sell products, but you will also find a great database of recipes. They have tons of great ideas for healthy eating. www.bobsredmill.com Blessings, Lucinda

Thanks for posting everyone. This is interesting! I love to travel to other places, but it's always so great to come back home to the PNW. Blessings, Lucinda

I was born in Roseburg and grew up in Winston. Whenever I see a logging truck it feels like I'm back home! Actually, I have lived in the Portland area the longest and that is where my heart is now. Yamhill is just about 30 miles SW, so we can go into the city whenever we want. Blessings, Lucinda

Welcome, Makita! This is a great place to connect with other hs'ers. I'm a native Oregonian too. Blessings, Lucinda

I'll have to consider this. Thanks for letting me know! It would be cool to meet some of the forum members, not to mention SWB. Blessings, Lucinda

I owned a graphic design firm before dd came along. When I came home to take care of dd, I did freelance work (graphics), taught art classes in the community and did some substitute teaching in ps for a while. Right now I teach art part-time, homeschool dd and I'm serving as an arts pastor (part-time) at our church. This is the best season of all and I love what I'm doing. :thumbup: Blessings, Lucinda

As a part-time work away from home mom I appreciated the tips too. It's so great to get ideas from each other! Tap and Rachel's suggestions are especially good in mho. Peela is so right too, you need to take care of yourself or you won't be able to help anyone else. :iagree: As I read the op, my thoughts were that you can't expect to do everything yourself whenever you add to an already loaded work day. Homeschooling four children is already a full-time job, so the obvious is that you need some help. Since finances are the main issue for taking this job, it seems logical that the family should pull together more. Can dh help as others have suggested? Are the older children helping with the younger ones? Can the home chores be redistributed? Just from the info that was shared, it sounds like all of the sacrificing is on your shoulders alone. Perhaps there is more going on that you did not share, so forgive me if I'm assuming anything. In our situation it would not be possible to work even part-time without the family pulling together. I work two days a week outside the home. Each of us contributes to dd's schooling in some way, and we share chores. I spend about an hour a week planning the upcoming schoolwork and activities, and we keep to our schedule. :grouphug: I hope you have enough ideas from everyone to make the needed adjustments. Our thoughts and prayers are with you! Blessings, Lucinda

From what I have reviewed online, this program is most like the art lessons that I compose and teach students K-8 at our Classical Christian school. Along with art history and appreciation, the program seems to thoroughly teach the seven design elements (line, shape, color, value, space, texture and form), which are a critical ingredient in understanding art. The technical lessons themselves seem to be very good, but could be supplemented if needed with something else. The program also covers characteristics of various art media, which is very important. It's important to know which supplies will work the best for projects, etc. Artistic Pursuits states that they teach technique while at the same time encouraging individual creativity and expression. This is something that I think is key in choosing the right curriculum. If I were to choose a program for my children, this would definately be the one. Blessings, Lucinda

:iagree: I had the same impression as you. It was as if they had no personality, which I found to be creepy too. Blessings, Lucinda

The teen years are challenging enough, but add to that the remarriage and blended family and it can sometimes be quite painful. My heart goes out to you with understanding. Our family when dh and I married 14 years ago consisted of three teenage sons, two full time and one part time. My middle son ran away and we had to make some of the same decisions you are. In our case, this was what worked: We gave him a few days to have some space because we knew where he was and that he was safe. We thought that it would be good to give him a chance to make the right decision on his own. After the time period was up and he was not volunteering to come home, we simply went and got him and told him we were taking him home now and that there would be no bargaining about it. This, I believe, was what he really wanted to happen, as it was reassurance that we loved and wanted him with us. He did come home and although he spent a lot of time in his room for several days, I continued to work with him closely so he knew I was very interested in his life. We tranferred him to a school that was a better fit for him (this was before I started homeschooling children), and he ended up having a wonderful two final years of high school before leaving home at the expected time. This may not work for you, but I wanted to throw it out there as an option. Sometimes kids run away because they want to be rescued and given reassurance from one or both parents. In any case I hope that you get through this ordeal with family relationships intact, having learned from it and gaining new insight. My prayers and thoughts are with you all. Blessings, Lucinda

Even so, I think any part-time job is doable with hs'ing. You can adjust your hours and school hours to fit the needs of family. Depending on ages of dc, you have the option to give assignments to be done by them while you are doing work of your own. Of course this is harder with little ones, but the whole beauty of hs'ing is flexibility. Some families have schooling during evenings while others include Saturdays. We have three full, full days of school and two light days of school, plus we plan to go all year this year with 2-3 week breaks quarterly. This allows us to spread our studies out during the year and not have to be so intense with deadlines. I admire your spirit in wanting to help dh. By your example you can teach your children about how families are suposed to pull together in times of need, and they can help by cooperating with changes in school schedules, assisting with chores more, as well as studying and working hard. Blessings, Lucinda

I see a number of people located in Oregon or our region, but am curious as to how many there are exactly. I'd love to know where you live too. I live in Yamhill, 30 miles SW of Portland, Oregon. How about the rest of you? Blessings, Lucinda

I would give you an 'E' for excellent in any of the art classes I teach. Your gift has been lying dormant a long time, but its still there. I hope you keep drawing. Its a wonderful passtime and a great way to connect with our children too. Blessings, Lucinda