I don't really know the answer so I am not sure why exactly I am responding....only to say that we bought a german shepherd for a pet/companion but also to protect the children while playing outside. We live in the Rockies and are more worried about 4 footed intruders (cougars, bears, wolves). We got her as a puppy and she isn't trained for protection but I feel so much safer when she is outside with them. Our youngest is 6 and they are the best of friends. I don't know what she would do if confronting a person with bad intentions. She is very protective but also very friendly. I have never seen her exhibit any aggression toward anyone. (well, play biting as a puppy, but she grew out of that) I guess I would hope that just her presence would be enough to deter any criminal. She can be very fierce looking. We got her from a very reputable breeder and some of her brothers/sisters are being trained in guard work. I hope you can find something that works for you. :grouphug:

The first time I took Ambien, I didn't really know how it worked. I took one, waited half an hour, and still couldn't sleep. So I took another one. Still nothing. By this time, it was 1 or 2 in the morning and I was really miserable. I decided there was no point in trying to sleep when I so obviously couldn't, so I got up and got on to the computer...started watching a movie. The next thing I knew, it was morning and I was waking up in bed...I felt so refreshed and relaxed, just amazing. I just couldn't remember watching the movie, or turning it off or going to bed or anything. Then, come to find out....it's Friday morning, not Thursday morning like I thought it should be. It was so weird....not only couldn't I remember going to bed, I couldn't remember the whole previous day. At that time, I had 3 little ones. I was so totally freaked out and scared of what I had done. I told my husband. He hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary about my behaviour. Neither had anyone else. It was crazy...:001_huh: I have taken Ambien since. Half a capsule though, not two. I have also since learned patience......;)

I am sorry, Quill, I would not have used that as an example, if I had known. I hope that you can find peace. :grouphug:

:iagree:

I watched NCIS last night....will probably watch NCIS LA tonight if I get a chance. Criminal Minds is too scary/creepy for me.... :leaving: (That's me running scared from the room)

:iagree: I think I might adopt this as my slogan....:D

I kinda feel guilty about this as well 'cause I really don't care what their rooms look like. Well, okay, I care......but it is not a priority. We do have a couple of rules though. 1. No eating in bedrooms. 2. Laundry needs to come down every day or so. 3. Once a week we do a good cleaning (Friday or Saturday) But, through the week it gets pretty messy with books and toys. And unmade beds......:tongue_smilie: The drawers are usually neat which counts for a lot in my opinion.

Sad state of affairs in Germany :tongue_smilie:

homeschoolclassifieds.com is another great site that has a decent membership. Lots of buying and selling going on....or at least there was at one point. I haven't been there in awhile.

No ordering out since we live so far out of town, but dh would either warm up leftovers or make something. In the summer: grilling hamburgers. In the winter it would probably be a quick eggs, bacon and toast. Or maybe pancakes. He is good at breakfast stuff.

It's 5:30 and I still don't know.....I hate days like this. :glare:

:iagree: He is an amazing teacher/preacher. And I also love his accent ;)

:iagree: I so totally agree with this. I have friends who are constantly sending me emails and pictures about fantastic sounding stuff. NO MATTER how MANY TIMES I send them a link to snopes or urbanlegends, they keep sending me the same unbelievable stuff over and over again. :confused:

I know what you mean about food and food preparation and food clean up being such a huge part of our lives. Especially if you throw in gardening and canning. :glare: Right now my husband is only eating 2 meals a day (dieting :tongue_smilie:). The children and I are living on soup and sandwiches and I am thoroughly enjoying the reprieve from making big suppers. Your were probably just kidding about the not eating but we often do this as a family. We will pick a day....or sometimes just a meal or 2...and fast as a family. We feel that it helps everyone to learn discipline in the area of eating and the children actually enjoy it. Well in theory, more than in reality. ;) But they go along with it and if they get too hungry, they can grab a small snack.

$3.70 to $3.80 Northeast Montana. We have pretty much stopped driving for anything nonessential.

My husband's work can be stressful so by the time he comes home, he is pretty exhausted in body and and in mind. And by the time the day is over, I am also longing for some quiet. Our rule is pretty much no noisy play (in the house) once daddy is home. But the rule is more for my sake than his. :001_smile: Unless, of course, daddy initiates the noisy play.....then it is fine. ;)

:iagree::iagree: Right now I am waiting on a ton of school stuff for next year to come. Every time I hear a car drive past, my ears perk up. :001_smile:

a "high'five" from my son when long division all of a sudden makes sense

The following are quotes taken from the website truthortradition.com. I was trying to summarize what I believe, but they do a much better job of it. In my mind, it is a rather difficult subject. “God wants us to be His partners not because He needs our wisdom, but because He wants our fellowship…Our requests are important because God is interested in us. God loves us and takes our concerns to heart just because they are our concerns. This is the nature of a personal, loving relationship. The relationship is not one of domination or manipulation but of participation and cooperation wherein we become co-laborers with God (1 Cor. 3:9)…It is so only because God wanted a reciprocal relationship of love and elected to make dialogical prayer an important element in such a relationship.†If the future were already fixed, prayer would be superfluous. But God chose to enter into genuine personal relationship with mankind, and thus our prayers make a difference to Him. The prayers of Moses (Exod. 8 and 32) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20) are two Old Testament examples of God responding to people and changing what He saw was going to come to pass. Prayer changes things (actually, prayer allows God to change things)—history would not be the same had people not prayed. God has invited His people to participate with Him in shaping the future. I love this quote: "Prayer is not forcing God’s reluctance; it is taking hold of God’s willingness." Hope this helps. ~Jen

My problem is that we are having one of the first nice spring days this year and all of my "to-do" list items are inside. I just feel like ditching everything and going for a walk with the kids and the dog. :001_smile:

That's so funny. Seconds before reading this post, I told my dh that I just cannot get motivated to start anything that I am supposed to be doing today. I asked him to motivate me. His solution? A gentle swat on the behind and a "Move, woman." :lol: Not sure if that did the trick 'cause hear I am on the computer when I should be doing a million other things. :D

:grouphug: Will be praying. And thanks for the reminder.

My "puppy" is already a year old. She is a German Shepherd and we all love her so much. Even my hubby. He says that he is embarrassed by how much he likes her. Technically, she is my dog, but she goes crazy over him. See avatar for picture. ;)

I love this book. My parents had it growing up and I read it for entertainment...it's that interesting. As for her advice on how to save on money....that's great too. ;)