☛ Here are some things that I'd like to share: 1. -- Explorer's Bible Study Answer Key that goes with the Discovery version of "God's Perfect Plan". I also have the Discovery version of the "Early History of Israel" Answer Key from the same series. Both are in great shape and would save a few bucks for anyone that uses this really great Bible study curriculum. 2. -- For the calligraphy artist or beginner, I have a beautiful book/calligraphy kit published by Reader's Digest that I'd love to give away. It's a bit large, but please note that along with a beautiful, full-color instruction book, there is a kit that includes pen, nibs, ink, watercolor, etc. to help you get started. Here is what the back of the book says: From the Back Cover An ideal introduction to calligraphy, this handsomely illustrated book and starter kit are just what you need to begin enjoying this fascinating hobby. The book included in The Calligrapher's Studio kit is an authoritative one. It explores a variety of techniques, including traditional pen-and-ink, gilding, and resist work, and shows you how to master the principal writing styles. It offers special projects that will enable you make a range of beautiful decorative items, such as party invitations, a child's ABC cube, and a commemorative plaque. the illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow, and are designed to help you feel at home with this popular art-even while you're still a beginner. In the kit that accompanies the book, you'll find the kind of papers and all the other materials and equipment you need to start right in and launch your calligraphy career. * Packed with helpful hints and tips from an experienced calligrapher. * Step-by-step projects show you the whole process-how to complete a piece of work from the simplest beginnings. * More than 250 inspiring examples of the calligrapher's art. * Spiral binding allows the book to lie flat, making it convenient and easy to use while you work. * Kit contains everything you need to get started. --TAKEN-- 3. -- Does someone need plain white pre-paid postcards? I have a stack of about 100, all with postage of .28 pre-printed on them. --TAKEN-- 4. -- I'd like to give away one of my favorite little books about a subject I'm very passionate about. The book is called Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer. Brand new condition. --PENDING-- 5. -- Here is a bit of joyful inspiration to pass on to someone who needs it. The book is brand new and suitable for gift giving. The tile is Laughter and Latté and it is published by Women of Faith. 6. -- I would like to share a PDF file (with only one person) that is useful for creating an Apologia General Science notebook and mini notebook section for module summaries.

I don't have it, but would LOVE to use it in our kitchen and bathrooms. I've researched it out and it would be so perfect for our 40's era bungalow. In fact, the house had it originally and there are some remnants left in a couple of closets that are still in wonderful shape. Blessings, Lucinda

☛ Here are some things that I'd like to share: 1. -- Explorer's Bible Study Answer Key that goes with the Discovery version of "God's Perfect Plan". I also have the Discovery version of the "Early History of Israel" Answer Key from the same series. Both are in great shape and would save a few bucks for anyone that uses this really great Bible study curriculum. 2. -- For the calligraphy artist or beginner, I have a beautiful book/calligraphy kit published by Reader's Digest that I'd love to give away. It's a bit large, but please note that along with a beautiful, full-color instruction book, there is a kit that includes pen, nibs, ink, watercolor, etc. to help you get started. Here is what the back of the book says: From the Back Cover An ideal introduction to calligraphy, this handsomely illustrated book and starter kit are just what you need to begin enjoying this fascinating hobby. The book included in The Calligrapher's Studio kit is an authoritative one. It explores a variety of techniques, including traditional pen-and-ink, gilding, and resist work, and shows you how to master the principal writing styles. It offers special projects that will enable you make a range of beautiful decorative items, such as party invitations, a child's ABC cube, and a commemorative plaque. the illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow, and are designed to help you feel at home with this popular art-even while you're still a beginner. In the kit that accompanies the book, you'll find the kind of papers and all the other materials and equipment you need to start right in and launch your calligraphy career. * Packed with helpful hints and tips from an experienced calligrapher. * Step-by-step projects show you the whole process-how to complete a piece of work from the simplest beginnings. * More than 250 inspiring examples of the calligrapher's art. * Spiral binding allows the book to lie flat, making it convenient and easy to use while you work. * Kit contains everything you need to get started. 3. -- Does someone need plain white pre-paid postcards? I have a stack of about 100, all with postage of .28 pre-printed on them. 4. -- I'd like to give away one of my favorite little books about a subject I'm very passionate about. The book is called Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer. Brand new condition. 5. -- Here is a bit of joyful inspiration to pass on to someone who needs it. The book is brand new and suitable for gift giving. The tile is Laughter and Latté and it is published by Women of Faith. 6. -- I would like to share a PDF file (with only one person) that is useful for creating an Apologia General Science notebook and mini notebook section for module summaries. ☛ Here are some things I could use for next school year: 1. -- A nice wall map of the United States that would be useful for an 8th grader's U.S. History study. 2. -- A decent desk lamp. (My desk has an angled wall above it, making most lamps with regular shade awkward at best.) 3. -- A year's supply of French Roast coffee!! (Ha ha ha ha) 4. -- Kindle Fire (Ha ha ha ha) Please send me a PM if you are interested in anything listed here. If possible, helping with postage on bigger items would be helpful since dh is currently unemployed, but if that is an issue I'll be glad to send anyway. BTW - This thread is a really great idea. Thanks so much for the op who thought of it. Blessings, Lucinda

Thank you for this thread! Oh, I love you too Paula!! What a blessing to read and be encouraged by these words. I'm playing the songs from the previous link, reading through the thread with tears of hope. Through faith in Christ I am stronger than: the stroke my dh had last year.... the uncertainty of the financial future for our family.... the possibility of foreclosure and the loss of this home... depression and the feelings of being battle weary... Because I am strong I will: keep my eyes on Jesus! pray for others who are in need... support and encourage my dh as he works through this year of college.... take each day at a time and continue to walk in faith.... will do what I feel called to do for my precious dd by hs'ing her... will cheerfully adjust my schedule as needed in order to add on more work hours take care of myself by getting plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of water and taking the time to go for walks Yes, and amen! Blessings, Lucinda

Praying with you for Jean. Please keep us posted. :grouphug: Blessings, Lucinda

I feel exactly the same as you, Kirch! My husband is unemployed, we're struggling to pay the electric bill, the transmission just went out on our main car, and on and on....You know,honestly, there are people in this world that have never had to struggle and go without. They don't even know what that means. All I can say is that I have learned so much through trials and adversity, and have become a stronger woman with more faith because of it. I'm actually thinking that people in the situations listed in the article are really the ones to feel sorry for. Really! Blessings, Lucinda

I would highly recommend Salishan Lodge. It would be very hard to beat as it is within a gated community right along the beach. Second option would be the Inn at Spanish Head as another poster suggested. I'm a native Oregonian and love our coast. If you are able to head south on Hwy 101, stop by and visit Bandon. Newport and Bandon are the very best areas along the whole Oregon coastline. Of course it's all breathtakingly beautiful, but those are the coolest places to visit IMHO. Blessings, Lucinda

Unless you buy used, you will need to go through them directly. R&S is not expensive at all, so you are already getting the best price without having to go through a reseller. Blessings, Lucinda

I have always had a thing for the opposite sex. I was in love with my next door neighbor when we were 4 years old! We used to meet in the woodpile between our houses to hang out and flirt. Every year I was in school I had a crush on one boy or another, and like the op, it was one at a time. Some of the 4th - 5th grade girls and I used to chase boys around the playground during recess, but we never fought over anyone. At 12 I had my first kiss from a boy one year older than me, but never once did we consider anything beyond that -- and it stayed that way for me all through school. Blessings, Lucinda

Thank the Lord, a friend helped dh tow it home to our house this evening. At least it's off the road now. Our friend is also very handy and is going to see if he can fix it, but we know that the transmission could be more than our friend can handle. It's been cold and stormy with rain today, feeling very gloomy for us all day. Our faith is intact, but our spirits are definitely down. Blessings, Lucinda

Thank you all for your responses and your prayers. I know that the Lord is with us in the trials we go through, and yes, His reasons are far more involved than what we can see with human eyes. I do trust Him, just don't know what the solution is going to be yet. Blessings, Lucinda

I've shared a bit about dh being out of work again and in the process of going back to school for re-training. We're struggling to make ends meet as it is, but now the transmission has gone out on my car and it's been parked by the side of the highway since yesterday. We obviously need to get it towed ASAP, but the situation is not good. I'd just appreciate prayers for wisdom, guidance, and provision - especially for dh who has way too much on his plate right now and is very stressed. We have a church family to encourage and support us, but extra prayers are so appreciated. Thanks so much, Lucinda

For 8th grade, here's what it looks like so far... Math: We do math mostly year round now...dd will be in the middle of Saxon 8/7 with DIVE next fall, then she'll head right into Alg 1. (Dh is now working with her and she is suddenly soaring! We've decided that this is going to be a permanent arrangement. :)) Grammar: I'm settled on either AG or Hake. One way or another, it's going to be straight grammar. Writing: WWS 2 whenever it's ready, plus WTM style dictation, narrative essays, reports and outlining. Vocabulary: Vocabulary from Classical Roots, book B History: Notgrass America the Beautiful, plus supplemental American Heritage videos and some original source documents. Bible: Words of Wisdom (Explorer's Bible Study series). Dd is also actively involved with a Bible Quiz team that memorizes tons of scripture. Geography: Mapping the World by Heart. Dd and I are going to do this together. Literature: ATB literature to accompany the history, but since it's pretty light we'll be adding numerous selections from TWTM list for 8th grade literature. We'll also be reading a bit of poetry by American poets. Science: Apologia Physical Science Art: As always, from me, her mother the art teacher. This year she may also take part in a class that I teach to private students. Music: Dd will continue with guitar lessons and singing with the youth worship team at church. French: We'll continue with The Learnables, moving up to Level 2, but I'm hoping to add Rosetta Stone sometime this year if we can find it to borrow. If not, then we'll pick up more French with Live Mocha and other free Internet options. Logic: I'm looking seriously at Discovery of Deduction. We've been in the Bluedorn books for two years now, so we should be ready to move into more formal logic. Blessings, Lucinda

:iagree:Same here. I tried other forums, but there was little diversity found at any of them. The broad range of families, beliefs, experience and knowledge here has been the best support network of any forum that I know to exist. I learn so much from people here that come from all walks of life. Truly, I would be an epic failure at hs'ing if it weren't for The Hive. Blessings, Lucinda

I like this one a lot. It's really good served over rice, or with lots of bread for dipping. You could probably cook this in the crock pot after the bacon is cooked and the veggies are sautéed. Just dump it in with the other ingredients and let it go 6 hrs. or so. Favorite Lentil Soup Total Preparation Time: 15 to 30 minutes Actual Cooking Time: Apx. 60 minutes Number of Servings: 12 Origin: Mediterranean & Mid-Eastern Meal Type: Soups & Stews Ingredients 9 strips (9 ounces ) bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 Large onions, finely chopped 9 Medium carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/4-inch half-moons Minced garlic to taste (or canned minced garlic, garlic powder, etc.) 1/2 can Tomato paste 4 1/2 cups Lentils, picked over and rinsed 1 1/2 teaspoon Dried thyme 6 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth (10 1/2 cups) 3 tablespoons Red-wine vinegar Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Preparation 1. In a Dutch oven (or other 5-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid), cook bacon over medium-low heat until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat. 2. Add onion and carrots; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, and cook 1 minute. 3. Add lentils, thyme, broth, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover; cook until lentils are tender, apx. 60 minutes. 4. Stir in vinegar, 1 1/2 Tbs. salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Serve immediately. Note: If you prefer to leave out the bacon, skip step 1, and cook the onions and carrots in 3 tablespoons olive oil. You can also season with cinnamon sticks for a Moroccan flavor when you leave out the bacon. For more of a thicker stew, substitute one cup of barley for one of the cups of lentils. Blessings, Lucinda P.S. Congratulations on your baby brother! Your mom is so lucky to have you. I am always so blessed whenever I read your posts. :)

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Thank you all so much. What a great group of people here! I appreciate all the prayers, support and encouragement more than can be expressed. I'm so blessed to know that, in addition to my own church family, I can always count on caring people to rally around us. Blessings, Lucinda

Many of you have prayed for my dh because of the job issues, especially related to the minor stroke he had last year and the loss of his commercial driving license. I thought I'd add an update today to let you know what's been happening. After the stroke dh was so unsure of what to do job-wise after he was transferred to a maintenance position within the company -- and a hostile environment that was really miserable for him. That situation was rectified a month ago when he got permanently laid off, and I think we were both relieved because it forced him to think deeply about what he wants to do for the next ten years before he retires. So he delved into some research, knowing that even though he's nearly 60 yo he needs to be retrained for another line of work. It took awhile to decide, but he finally did. This week dh applied with a medical school and has been accepted in their Pharmacy Tech Certification program and will be a full time student for the next year. I'm really proud of him for making this bold step, and am thankful he finally has some direction and goals to work toward. Thanks for your prayers and support. We'll be on a tight shoestring for awhile, but I think we may see a glimmer of hope finally up ahead. Hopefully our bank will allow some grace since he's in school and we'll be able to stay out of foreclosure. If you think to pray about that piece of the puzzle too, it would be greatly appreciated. Blessings, Lucinda

Have you checked into a mortgage modification? If you speak to a reps with your mortgage bank you may find that you qualify for a modification if you went through a hardship period, but are able to keep monthly payments going currently. A modification basically folds in the arrears and allows you to get back to a current status on the loan. This is what we are working on right now. Don't give up hope! Like someone else stated, there are programs available to help you stay in your home. Blessings, Lucinda

I've been taking care of my mama for the past 8 years. She's 82 years old this year and has a number of health problems. This was planned long ago when I was a single mom going to college. My sons and I lived with her for 5 years and I appreciated her to much that I voluntarily made a promise to be there when she needed me. Yes, it's what families do. America is one of the only countries in the world that leaves it up to others to care for the elderly, although I do hear more and more about the growing number of multi generational households. Blessings, Lucinda

Praying with you, trusting God for healing, strength, grace and mercy for this mom and her family. :grouphug: Blessings, Lucinda

We have used both, and I have to say that R&S is a far better program in my humble opinion. EG is just grammar with no writing, which might be good for what you say you need, but there is no diagramming at all. Some families find that students don't retain much from EG, and that was the case with us. My dd lost a whole year of grammar the year we used EG and I regret choosing it. We had to start over again with R&S the next and get ourselves back on track. Blessings, Lucinda

That's a great story! I think that kind of discrimination exists in the U.S. too although it's not written in to law. As bad as that sounds, I think it's even worse that people are being discriminated against during the application process and never even get a chance to get hired. Blessings, Lucinda

I had this question awhile back too, and got an answer from a Peace Hill rep. Here is what she said: "The author recommends doing WWS four days, and TCW the fifth. The assignments are intended to be completed in one day--although some students may need more. As with all recommendations, this one needs to be adjusted for each student." Hope this helps. Blessings, Lucinda

Wow! So many of us here....and my heart goes out to everyone that's posted. Maybe we should start WTM group for support and encouragement! I'm sure that you all, like me, would not turn down extra prayers. Blessings, Lucinda