Common Ground Coffee House #102

Jim1999 · Oct 17, 2006

Good morning! Lovely rain again to-day, and perhaps the rest of the week. Joy!

Ann...I am confused. Do you homeschool or send children off to school?

My silencer did not break....just one pipe near the front at a joint. It was just inconvenient and noisy. but repaired once the shop opened Monday, and $65.00 later I was off.............and quietly too! Look out pedestrians!

I have two extra pups to-day. Daughter and her husband are off hunting moose and decided their dogs should stay at home. So, now we are up to 7 dogs again. Love it.

Cheers,

Jim

annsni · Oct 17, 2006

Jim1999 said:

Ann...I am confused. Do you homeschool or send children off to school?
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Yep.

LOL - I have 2 teenagers who are now in high school and we prayerfully decided to send them there after being homeschooled through elementary school and junior high. They both homeschooled through 8th grade and started the high school in 9th. I've also got my 2 little ones - Robby is in 1st grade (he'll be 6 on Halloween) and I'm homeschooling him, and then Joanna is going to be 4 on New Year's Eve and she's in our church preschool 3 days a week. When she's home, she also has to do 'school'.

I feel really strongly that my kids are not going to public school in elementary or middle school but will prayerfully consider each one for high school. I found that by that age, they're mature in the Lord and are ready for the extra challenges that going to school brings. For our oldest, she has ADD and needed to go back for the outside accountability (it didn't bother her anymore when I was angry because she was just not focusing on her work but at school, she's working through her attention problem - and will be ready for college when the time comes). The next one is great at everything she does and is queen bee at church. I honestly felt it was time to send her to a 'bigger hive' for her to realize she's NOT the queen bee everywhere. LOL.

So, yep we homeschool AND send kids out to school.

menageriekeeper · Oct 17, 2006

Good Morning Everyone!

Annsni, when you get done cleaning your house come clean mine! I'm going to be at the sewing machine most of the day.

Hey! Annsni making a list of who's house needs cleaning. I'm next, who want to be after me? :laugh:

It has absolutely poured here today. The swimming pool I've been ignoring here lately is overflowing this morning. Yesterday morning it was down by at least four inches. That's a lot of rain!

Pray for Chris. His migraine finally broke yesterday. Pray that it stays gone! We were almost up for a trip to the hospital because we have exhausted all the easier stuff to get rid of it. He needs to stay migraine and medicine free for at least 10 days or we'll be headed there yet.

Cass has a migraine too, but hers hasn't been as severe as Chris or for as long. Since the system that brought the rain yesterday is quickly moving out she should get better too.

Poor Jenna. All these migraines and she gets an abscessed tooth. Two abscessed teeth, in fact. One was out on Thursday and one yesterday and what does the tooth fairy do? She forgets to leave the money under the pillow! Boy, did she have to do some fancy fluttering! :smilewinkgrin: Jenna is now very happy because the toothfairy has contributed $11 dollars so far to her pocketbook and she has to have two more teeth removed on the 30th! The toothfairy's gonna be broke!

Since Annsni is cleaning my house I gotta get to the sewing machine.

See ya!

annsni · Oct 17, 2006

EEEKKKKK!! I don't clean!! I don't clean!!! LOL!!

Honestly, my house is a wreck and I'm only doing this because I'm home today. Normally I try to blow it off as best I can. But what excuse do I have today? I did the food shopping yesterday, I have no place to go and I just have to homeschool. I don't think DH would be too happy to come home to a mess today. It's even raining so I can't do yardwork or go horseback riding!! I have SO much more I need to do .... that's why I'm on the computer. ROTFL!

Jim1999 · Oct 17, 2006

I think we hoover once a week,,if we remember. I don't know what the hang up is with some who seem to spemd their lives cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. We live in the country and dust is normal. We have 5 dogs in house, and dog hair is normal..we just cover the sofas and change the cover every few days....Mind you, we do laundry every few days, so I guess that makes up for the lack of cleaning house.

I don't know how I feel about homeschooling. Most times I think the kiddies lose out on the socialization and playtime with other kids. Also, are they getting the education they need in life in the real world? To each his own, and glad I don't have that decision to make. I grew up in all boys private church schools, and I remember my first year in university when a girl had the nerve to sit beside me in a lecture. I got up and moved......

Cheers,

Jim

Friend of God · Oct 17, 2006

Ann, Cindi, and Sue, you three amaze me how you can do so many things well, and still keep the house clean, and cook meals. Work fascinates me - I can sit and watch it for hours.):tongue3: Even you three have to eat lunch though, if you can tear yourselves away from cleaning, and homeschooling for a minute.

I wasn't sure what everybody liked, so I brought in Hot Italian Chicken Sandwiches, Harvest Salad to Go, "Loaded Baked Potato" Soup, Hot Parmesan Garlic Bread, and Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese. I also brought in something that you can "snack 'n go",on during the day: Barbeque-Bacon Party Spread with Trisquit Thin Crisps Enjoy.

annsni · Oct 17, 2006

Jim1999 said:

I don't know how I feel about homeschooling. Most times I think the kiddies lose out on the socialization and playtime with other kids. Also, are they getting the education they need in life in the real world? To each his own, and glad I don't have that decision to make. I grew up in all boys private church schools, and I remember my first year in university when a girl had the nerve to sit beside me in a lecture. I got up and moved......
Click to expand...

LOL - That is funny. See, what I've found with homeschooling is that the kids are BETTER socialized than those in public and private school. My kids are not segregated with children only their own age all day every day and are very comfortable around people of any age. I remember being in school and not being around those kids who were a year older or a year younger and my girls (and the other homeschooled kids I know) don't even LOOK at age or grade to figure who to associate with. They can sit with a group of adults and have a normal conversation with them - or can comfortably be with a group of toddlers and be able to deal with them well. With their own age group, they're absolutely wonderful - and don't have a lot of the 'issues' their peers have. Look at it this way, do I spend all of my day only with other 41 year olds? Nope. I'm with the little ones, then teens, then my husband, then with friends from church, then with the younger moms in my mom's group.... you get what I mean. Also, the majority of homeschoolers get lots of time with peers because of the activities we put them in. We've been involved in Sunday School, youth group, 4H, homeschool support group, ballet, camp, art classes at the local museum, organized sports, etc. They get LOTS of time with friends and peers.

As for the education, I think there are definately the few families who do their children a disservice in educating them but did you know that homeschoolers consistently test out at 70 or above on standardized tests? Did you know that the average is 50 - where public school students tested AND many homeschoolers test out at a grade or two higher than their public school peers? Did you know that Ivy League schools ACTIVELY recruit homeschoolers because they're better learners than those who come out of school? Here's a good site that I found with lots of good statistics (if you're into that) http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v7n8/ Also, the education of the parent has no bearing on the success of the child in homeschooling whereas it has a large bearing on the success of public school children.

I have to say, I know homeschoolers who are now adults and they are wonderful people, well rounded and very successful. Meeting some of these people are what turned my DH onto homeschooling because he saw the benefits of it. We see the fruits of homeschooling in my teen girls who are wonderful, Godly girls, love us and want to spend time with us, and are girls that are constantly being praised by everyone around them (I can't count how many times people come to me and say how great they are). I just thank God that I had the opportunity and freedom to raise them up in the way they should go - every day.

As for the case of the girl sitting next to you, my daughter had a boy sit next to her the first day of school who was one that all the other kids made fun of. Think Pointdexter to the 10th degree and you have this kid - white oxford shirt, black polyester pants pulled way over his belly, pocket protector, big black glasses, greasy hair, white socks, black sneakers (the first time I saw him, I thought it was a costume - honestly) - and my daughter made friends with him quickly. She brought him to youth group where he was embraced and he came to the Lord. He celebrated his 16th birthday and was able to have a birthday party because, he said, "This is the first time I have friends to invite to a party." (That made me cry!!) She doesn't see 'popular' or 'geek', she sees other kids, period. I think that's just so cool.

I Am Blessed 24 · Oct 17, 2006

Ann, Cindi, and Sue, you three amaze me how you can do so many things well
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Thanks, Rob, however; I said I got things done - did I say I did anything well? :laugh:

BTW, thanks for lunch! I'm having unexpected, out of state, company for supper tonight. That is not so good on a revival night, but we'll manage.

Thank you, Lord, for casseroles! :thumbs:

Ann: Brent doesn't suffer from no social contact either. I feel like a taxi service running him to Spanish classes, Boy Scouts, teen activities at church, soccer, etc.

He also is able to get along very well with all age groups and sexes and is not judgmental about one's appearance, race, etc. He takes people as, well, people. :saint:

Time for lunch!
§ue

annsni · Oct 17, 2006

I Am Blessed 16 said:

Ann: Brent doesn't suffer from no social contact either. I feel like a taxi service running him to Spanish classes, Boy Scouts, teen activities at church, soccer, etc.
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I've often complained to my husband "If I'm a SAHM, why am I in the car so much????" :laugh:

menageriekeeper · Oct 17, 2006

LOL Rob! I said I clean the house. I never said the house actually acheived the state of being clean! (well maybe once, I said that, but I probably had help!)

Jim, dust and dog hair are the least of my worries! Honestly I have never seen 5 people who can create so much trash and dirty dishes! Does everything nowdays have to come in a box or a bag? I could cut down on the number of dishes by using paper, but that would increase the amount of trash. Can't win for losing!

Nope, most days I clean for a couple of hours and then forget it! Most of my days here lately have been spent in doctor's offices (I'd just as soon clean house), dealing with missed school work or sewing(sometimes I get paid for this ). Today, I have done nothing but sit on this computer, get kids to school (ALL OF THEM!), and go to my karate class.

Now, I need to do some actual work, sewing fairies will not come do it for me!

Ann, I go through a tank of gas every week, delivering kids here and there and going to church. And basketball starts soon.

preacher · Oct 17, 2006

FOG....Speakers work GREAT!!! Actually too good!!! I have a Marantz Stereo in the LR & hooked them up...had to turn them up JUST to see what they'd do....well they DO!!!! If'n I don't watch it I'll have the neighbors callin the Law!!!
BH don't like them cranked,....good word for an old man huh??? They make the windows shake so I WILL have to watch it!! But the good thing is they sound good low too!!!!!

I Am Blessed 24 · Oct 18, 2006

Good morning all,

It is 58º this morning with an expected high of 64º. This would be a good day to wind up some outside chores before it gets cold and stays cold (if I had the time)!

There is no church tonight since we've just come out of revival, but Brent has his Spanish lesson this afternoon and also an 'extra' Boy Scout meeting tonight.

He has been tying knots for a couple of weeks to get the rank of "Knothead". He wants to keep going and achieve the rank of "Knot Master". I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to be called a 'Knothead' either. :laugh:

I will be catching up on things around here that I've let go since last Friday. I love revivals and youth conferences, but I'm always worn out when they're over. Today would be a nice day to do nothing <sigh>...

Time for coffee,
§ue

Friend of God · Oct 18, 2006

Morning everybody,

Today is warm[for Michigan] and windy.

I'm kinda rushed this morning, so I brought in Filled Apple Breakfast Cake, and Breakfast Calzones. Enjoy.

I'm like Sue, I've got to get my outside work done while the weather is still agreeable.

I'm cleaning the carpets inside today besides my usual "chores."

Tonight is the Fall Festival at school, and they have an auction to raise funds. The kids bring in something that their parents made and it is auctioned off. Since I'm the designated "parent" that means I make something.

I'm making "Best Ever" Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake, and Black Forest Mousse Dessert. If nobody bids on 'em then I'll buy them back.

Disclaimer: The "Best Ever" comes from my family, and a few friends. IMHO nothing I make is the "Best Ever."

annsni · Oct 18, 2006

Arrg!! Can I just vent with you guys for a sec? Last night, it seemed all hades broke loose in my computer world. I know I spend too much time online - maybe it was God telling me that, I don't know. On what I consider my "home" board, which is a board that was an expecting board when I was pregnant with my almost 6 year old, has been a close-knit group of people. It is a secular board - but I know that there ARE Christians on there. So, someone posted about what they're learning in their class at church - and it's all heresy. The Bible is stories - not factual truth, there are contradictions, that the Bible is not the Word of God, but the Word of God is in the Bible (LOL - where??), etc. I posted back to her that she should be careful because what she's learning is NOT fact and if she had any questions, she can contact me and I'd be happy to help her sort it out. I guess that was the wrong thing to say. Now I feel totally attacked by so many there and I'm saddened by that. At this point, I'm 'narrow minded' because I'm saying that people who don't believe as I do are going to hell (I didn't say that they're going to hell or anything like that - just saying that the Bible is the literal Word of God and is truth). LOL - I'm not going to say that they're right just yet.

Then I'm talking on another Christian board that I love and find out that they're not believing basic Bible doctrines there either......and some other things that I'd rather not get into here.

Can I just say I feel like this: :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

So, that's what I'm getting up to today.

SO - other than that, we're still home today. Joanna (3) is still sick with this icky cold and she's missing her harvest parade at school. They don't do the 'halloween' thing but today (2 weeks before halloween so it's not as associated with it), they dress up and parade around the school - and have a little party. I had to send in my stuff with DH to drop off (the preschool is at the church where he's a pastor), and I'm not letting her know what's going on today there. What she doesn't know won't hurt her. I'm just sad because she was all excited to dress up as Cinderella - her favorite character. Oh well. She atleast has a dress-up outfit.

Today we need to homeschool, I have more laundry to do and I really want to clean out my fridge. DH has been begging me since the weekend to 'triage' the stuff in there and I think he's right. I know there's something in there that's 2 weeks old. LOL!! I also had to run to the store this morning early to get orange juice and found some meats on sale and I need to process them for the freezer. I'll cut the stew meat into smaller pieces, just put the boneless pork chops in a baggie and I'll fry up the 2 lbs. of ground round and package it in 1 lb. portions. That will give me 4 full meals of meat in the freezer so that should get me through much of next week with me adding in the chicken I have and a pasta dish. Gotta love sales!

Ann

menageriekeeper · Oct 18, 2006

Ann, are you copying me? I've been out to the store this am too. And, when I was asking everyone what they needed, my not so DH told me to put cleaning house on my list! I gotta get him talking to Jim.

At least homeschooling is NOT on my list and all three of mine are at school and happy. They get tomorrow off because it is statewide parent visitation day. I still don't have any details of just how that is supposed to work at any of the schools. The kids are just glad they don't have to go and they already have plans.

It's supposed to be just plain hot here today with highs in the upper 80's. I was just beginning to enjoy the cooler temps. Doggone it! That reminds me....I forgot to get pool chemicals while I was at Walmart. Dumb, dumb, dumb! I can't believe I forgot them AGAIN!

I guess I'll run back in when I go to pick up kids this pm.

Well, I'm off to put house cleaning on my list. Not saying I'll actually do any, but I'll put it on the list! :laugh:

Have a good one!

Oh, hey Rob, why don't you make a "movie basket" for your auction. Nice, simple and best yet CHEAP! Just pick up a nice popcorn bowl, some microwave popcorn, a two liter drink, plastic cups, and either a dvd or a gift certificate to the local blockbuster. Stick everything into to the bowl, decorate with colored tissue paper and hershey's kisses and wrap in celephane. Put on a bow and you are done!

Our last few auction fundraisers have been basket auctions. We can put together some more baskets! My fav this year was the build a bear workshop basket. It had bears, clothes, a doll house and some other stuff and went for well over $200.

Friend of God · Oct 18, 2006

You gotta vent before you explode Ann. Just remember you aren't the one who lit the fuse. Hold your head high sister, You must have the gift of discernment.

I'm with you, I love sales too. Unfortunately my creations have a healthy appetite for groceries.

menageriekeeper · Oct 18, 2006

Unfortunately my creations have a healthy appetite for groceries.
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Is that why I keep having to go to the store? I thought mice were getting in the house. :laugh: :laugh:

annsni · Oct 18, 2006

Friend of God said:

You gotta vent before you explode Ann. Just remember you aren't the one who lit the fuse. Hold your head high sister, You must have the gift of discernment.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'm trying to be very careful to not totally alianate them but if they ask me point blank "Am I going to hell if I don't believe the Bible is true", what do you say? They don't believe the Bible is true, that Jesus is the only way ('there are so many paths to God - what makes YOURS the only way?") LOL!! - They just don't get it, which I fully understand, but it's tough. I know we sound narrow-minded but there's not 'many paths'. Ugh.

Jim1999 · Oct 18, 2006

Many times it is impossible to change those viewpoints, and a simple testimony of what Jesus has done in your life will carry more weight. They can dispute what you believe about the Bible, but no one can dispute what you have experienced in Christ.

The source of your experience is based in what you believe to be "Bible" truth.

On a lighter vein. I wonder how much money we waste in petrol and car wear and tear just running to the shops every day. Why don't we just fast when we are negligent in shopping? Well, it was a thought!

Cheers,

Jim

Friend of God · Oct 18, 2006

menageriekeeper said:

Oh, hey Rob, why don't you make a "movie basket" for your auction. Nice, simple and best yet CHEAP! Just pick up a nice popcorn bowl, some microwave popcorn, a two liter drink, plastic cups, and either a dvd or a gift certificate to the local blockbuster. Stick everything into to the bowl, decorate with colored tissue paper and hershey's kisses and wrap in celephane. Put on a bow and you are done!

Our last few auction fundraisers have been basket auctions. We can put together some more baskets! My fav this year was the build a bear workshop basket. It had bears, clothes, a doll house and some other stuff and went for well over $200.
Click to expand...

Cindi that is a fantastic idea! Just think of all the different theme baskets that could be made.

I'll bring it up at the next PTA meeting, I'll just say that my sister in Alabama came up with the idea.

Now tell me why is it you got the brains and the looks in the family, and all I got was... hey wait a minute!, I got nothing.:laugh:

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