It is a Volkswagen Passat, and gets amazing mileage. I just did a 1,000 mile drive a couple of weeks ago and only went through 2 tanks and a little bit more. The concern my dh has with the Hybrids (he's done automotive engineer at one point in his career) is the batteries are very expensive - $2k range. So, when it goes, it will be a huge expense. I love my Passat, and since it is larger than the Jetta, will hold a family of 5 comfortably. Heather

Denise, You are a brave woman, who is carrying an enormous load right now. Please don't be hard on yourself, there is so much stress in your life right now. I would agree with Jennifer, that since your children are at school, their perspective might be a little distorted.....sit them down and talk or even cry your way through the sadness, the heaviness, and ask for grace from them. I had to do that at one point with my children, and they were very supportive once they understood the picture. God knows your struggles, Denise and He is so loving towards you. Blessings, Heather

My ds and I both test positive for TB...not sure where the exposure was. I worked in an environment where I was exposed to active cases, but that was before my son was born. My dh's family have all been vaccinated and MIL was treated during WWII for TB...who knows if her TB re-activated at some point when ds was a baby. The dr. was puzzled. Anyways, we were both given INH as a preventative measure. My Dr. who had worked with native populations in isolated areas at one point had seen a lot of TB. She said that there are frequent cases of elderly people developing full blown TB. They were exsposed to it as children, it was latent until as they aged their immunie system became compromised and it blew up. That is the reason they give the INH....in case your immune system crashes in the future. So....please get the test done, so that should you test positive they can give you prophylactic medication to prevent flare ups in the future.

Yesterday morning I checked when I got up...at 7am here it was 78 with 94% humidity. Felt like you could cut the air. I watch the condensation run down the outside of my windows in the morning. Bleh!

If you can obtain passports in time, I would encourage you to go to the Canadian side. I recall going to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station (you mentioned interest in engineering type things if I recall)as a field trip when in school. They do a great tour which might be of interest to your guys. Here's the link http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/siradambeck.php The Horshoe Falls (the Cdn side) is beautiful and the thunder of the water when standing on the Cdn side is astounding. The gardens and flowers on the Cdn side are gorgeous as well....Butterfly museum, etc. Just have a look around the above Niagara Parks webstie.

I had always planned on putting my children in highschool, however, when I moved and discovered that the schools in the area were not only dreadful academically, but unsafe, I was forced to homeschooling my highschoolers. Now due to the economic downturn and another relocation, my dd & ds will be attending an outstanding fine arts public highschool in September. I will be going back to work to support the family. So, take each day as it comes. God knows what is best for each of us and for our dear children.

Oh Liz, I'm there with you. For me though it is genetic. I am 5'6" weigh about 130lbs and have arm flab which keeps on moving long after I have finished waving....think after shocks from the earthquake style. My Mother had the same arm appendages, sigh.... As for the knees, well, I too have what in a baby would be considered "pudgy" cute knees. I just look at them and with a resolute grin, appreciate the fact that those knees still work and that is what is important. Gotta keep on smiling! Heather

I have used this with my 10th grade dd this past year. She has much preferred it over reading the novels. It is a heavy course though, with lots of thinking and writing. The movies cover quite a variety of issues, so they are thought provoking. I would agree with another poster....do not supplement, as it would be way to much work. Heather

we have a very tiny house with 3 floors and 3 small bedrooms....too many stairs and no bathroom large enough which could be modified to have assisted devices To buy a bungalow would be 1/2 million $$'s, and we wouldn't qualify for that kind of mortgage. So sadly, caring for our parents doesn't look possible. My Father is in a Retirement Home, which is a wonderful place....sweet workers, who care for him and his needs, and treat him with respect and gentleness. So my heart is at ease.

Sandy, I too lost my Mom this year, and know the sadness you are feeling. It has given me a new desire to be in heaven...someone I loved here on earth is there.....in my prayers I keep telling the Lord that I hope He is enjoying her, because I loved being with my Mom. May God speak peace and comfort into your heart.

I'm doing that icky, yucky, screaming dance too! I am terrified of snakes, and we live right by a pond, so lots of the poisonous kinds...Water Mocassin's, and Copperheads. My husband spotted a couple, but couldn't get up the courage to kill them....I've always emptied the mouse traps because he is so squeemish, but I draw the line at poisonous snakes...for that I need a big, strong man with a shovel! Heather

My ds had to have speech therapy for delays in language. The "r" sound is the last sound to develope, as it takes a huge number of muscles to make an r. I believe the "l" may be the second last sound. What I learned from the Speech Path is to model sounds. For example when your child says "What a lovely cricket", don't correct the incorrect sounds, just reply back to her very slowly and clearly, "Yes, that is a lovely cricket". To work with the "l" sound, I remember the Speech Pathologist having me put peanut butter behind my ds upper front teeth. He had to lick it off and use his "voice on" sound at the same time....that is how you make the "l" sound. She'll probably catch on very quickly.

Sarah, I'd love to see what you have written. I'm sure you have many wonderful points to share. I am wondering if you could begin by asking a rhetorical question...."What does a belief in evolution, support of abortion/euthenasia, global warming, the kids movie "Ice Age" (you could add more) have in common? A shared belief system. A lense through which people view their world.....it is not the issue which influences the belief, rather a belief which supports the issue. That is why teaching our children a Biblical worldview is so important. They spend 6 hours 5 days a week under the influence of people, who have a core belief which is different than yours. It is only when we help our children to see what that core belief is, that we can pull back the curtain on Satan's subtle deceptions. The media, throws things at them all the time....movies, shows, etc. all support the belief that they as children/people are basically good, and that they can be the masters of their own destiny. and on and on... Sarah, feel free to pm me if I can be of any help. I'm sure you will do a wonderful job, and pray that God uses your words to plant some deep thoughts in the minds of the parents, the church leaders and staff. Heather

Sarah, I have taught a worldview class at our co-op to Middle & Highschool students (2 classes). I have explained that it is like colored glasses. If your sunglasses have a brown tint then everything takes on a brown tint....if you believe there is no God, then everything you touch you will need to justify that position. i.e. evolution (removes God) supporting abortion (God is not the giver of life), global warming (Man is evil and the destroyer), etc. I know those are all very black and white statements, I am merely using them as obvious examples. One of the things you could do is have your children read newspaper articles (find something with a moral element) and see if they can pick out the journalists worldview....watch tv and discuss the broadcaster/director's perspective and presumptions. Use those teachable moments to open your children's eyes to the reality that everything in life is viewed through our presuppositions. In terms of curriculum, I have been frustrated with nearly everything I have seen. We used an Answers in Genesis Curriculum called "Demolishing Strongholds", but it ended up being an inductive Bible study rather than a look at the world around us, in light of scripture. The best material IMHO is put out by Focus on the Family, called Truth Project - last I heard they were working on a teen version. This is really like a Christian Logic class, and is amazing. Hope that helps a little. Heather

The more information I can pass on to my dh the better. How much money did you spend(legals & gov't fees) to get to the point of knowing if your application was accepted or rejected? How long is that process? Thanks, Heather