Texas Wahine

Hurricane Ike, the Slide Show in Blogging JoeUser Forums

My brother and sister in law came to stay with us for a few days during Ike. They were under mandatory evac and although the circumstances weren't the best, I was super happy to have them visiting. We just don't see each other enough. They arrived Thursday evening, and the kids were very excited to see them. Isabella took to both Jeremy and Amanda very quickly and renamed them "mommy" and "daddy". I should probably be bothered by that, LOL, but I think it's really sweet. <br

Reply to What's Enough? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

LOL, *I* don't know how to explain it to you, but it's something you will totally understand when you have kids, Marcie. I am totally not meaning that in an insulting way. I think it's something that might be difficult to understand "from the outside"... Just wait, you'll see! [e digicons]:)[/e]

Reply to The Implications of Having a Large Family in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Marcie: 2 kids to 4? Well, I don't have four yet, haha, so I guess I can't vouch for that, but "workload" seems to be really dependent on their ages and how cooperative they are, LOL. Infants require a lot of attention and care but they are not obstinate, haha. Toddlers are into everything and require a lot of physical work to keep up with them. School age children are less dependent on you for physical stuff but it's more emotionally exhausting. </p

Reply to What's Enough? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Heh, I agree with Charles. Kids are not like dogs. Sorry! Dogs may be intelligent and behave in child-like ways but children are really not like dogs and wisdom that applies to raising obedient, enjoyable pets does not typically apply to raising happy, well-adjusted children. Learning please and thank you doesn't change who you are in some fundamental way. I guess I can see how the prospect of having a child would be terrifying if you view a child as an anima

Reply to Sarah and Hillary, together, forever . . . in Politics JoeUser Forums

I thought it was cute.

Reply to Postal depression in Work JoeUser Forums

I have been wondering about you. I obviously don't have any sort of advice, but I did want to know that you're in my thoughts.

Reply to What's Enough? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

[quote]But they are what you make them.[/quote] Oh, disagree completely! Kids are born with a personality. With preferences, tendencies, etc. Maybe I am misunderstanding you. Parents/environment does play a big role in outcome, but you can't take a baby and mold them into what you want them to be. They are who they are, and as a parent, IMO, the job is to help them make the most of who they are, NOT attempt to mold them into somebody different (who migh

Reply to The Implications of Having a Large Family in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Marcie: LOL, I was being somewhat facetious, but I do love the idea of a great big family. We are probably maxed out at 4, which isn't super big, but isn't the average size family either. I do think kids learn a lot of lessons about cooperation from being a part of a large family, but the downside is the increased odds of less one on one time and less focus on individual family members. I grew up in a yucky house. I was responsible for a lot of chores but did

Reply to What's Enough? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Most people UNDER-think the responsibility of having children. Some, like you, OVER-think it. It's the most natural biological drive we have. To procreate. To raise little mini mes to carry on our likeness. What a kid needs, IMO, is a pretty short list. If you can love and support a child (and I don't mean support like buy him crap, I mean like you are capable of caring about his well-being and willing to work to help him grow and be happy), then

The Implications of Having a Large Family in Blogging JoeUser Forums

In past generations having many children was an asset, rather than the liability that it seems to be today. Reliable, inexpensive, readily accessible birth control, high levels of education, the many opportunities available for women in the workforce, a shift in societal values, the increased cost of living, and many other factors have contributed to today's trend toward smaller families. What many couples may not realize is that the same benefits that were created by a large fami

Reply to I Hate My Laundry Room! in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Wow, that sucks! Horrible customer service. I definitely understand what happens if you don't keep laundry going daily. It is a very rare ocassion when I have ALL the laundry completely done. The water didn't damage anything did it?

Reply to God doesn't need your money in Religion JoeUser Forums

Hey accountant, 10% of 9 bucks is 90 cents. Do you have to tithe in whole dollar amounts? [e digicons]:erk:[/e]

Reply to Politics and When Does Life Begin? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Erathoniel: That doesn't make any sense. What does marriage/non-marriage have to do with it. And do you understand what hormonal BC does? Lula: I mean specifically hormonal BC methods that prevent a fertilized egg from implanting (BC pills, the patch, hormonal IUDs, etc.) as opposed to barrier methods that prevent conception (FWIW, many hormonal forms of BC are dual purpose and make conception less likely as well as making implantation impossible).&nbsp

Reply to My Exhaustion, Let Me Show You It in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Shades: I hadn't thought if it that way. I just like the natural stuff they sometimes use. I am beginning to think I'm not really saving money by making my own cleaning supplies, but I still like doing it. LOL@ the dust mites. GROSS, huh! Do you vacuum your bed? I didn't used to vacuum the beds until I saw it on HCIYH. Now it seems like a really important task! I saw one episode where the guy's keyboard had more germs and ickies than h

Reply to God doesn't need your money in Religion JoeUser Forums

Jythier, how much do you think it takes to feed and clothe and shelter a family of, say, 4? Minimum requirement, most basic? Yes, most of us (even those who are considered "poor") have a decent standard of living and could make sacrifices. That's not true for EVERYONE, and I think it's callous to judge families who can't afford to give. It's not up to you to decide what standard of living is appropriate for them, but there are some people out there who are genuinely

Reply to My Exhaustion, Let Me Show You It in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Heh, not really, I am probably being hormonal and overly dramatic, but today sucks! How Clean is Your House is GREAT! It's disgusting, LOL, but I have really learned a lot of neat tricks on there. I don't like the BBC America version as well though because they push products more. The other version has more cool uses for household stuff. If they came to my house, they would probably insist I remove the fry that's still under the stove. Heh. Thanks

Reply to God doesn't need your money in Religion JoeUser Forums

Seriously, you don't understand that some people actually NEED 100% of their income? 10% of 60k still leaves 54k. 10% of 14k only leaves $12,600. Can YOU feed, clothe, house, and otherwise provide for your family on $12,600? You don't agree that $1400 makes a difference? You don't think a family living on barely over 1k a month couldn't put to GOOD use an extra $100 a month?!?! That could mean the difference between self-sufficency

Reply to Politics and When Does Life Begin? in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Are you just as passionately opposed to hormonal birth control? Do you think hormonal BC should be illegal?

Reply to God doesn't need your money in Religion JoeUser Forums

My issue with all this is the general sentiment that everyone can, and SHOULD, give a minimum of 10% of their income to the church. I don't understand how anyone can't see that there are literally families out there for whom 10% is the difference between food and rent money and eviction and hunger. Some people really do just barely get by. I'm not against giving. I don't know anyone who doesn't think it's important. I just don't agree that a) ever

My Exhaustion, Let Me Show You It in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Uuuuuuggggghhhh. I am pretty sure I mentioned it on here, but in case I didn't, I hurt my back a couple weeks ago. Well, actually what I have is sacroiliac joint pain, caused by uber relaxation of the joints, caused by pregnancy hormones. I just had it in my right hip, but it was pretty painful and it was limiting my ability to do certain things. After my u/s I was able to be seen about it. I was really hoping for a referral to a chiropractor, but the O

Reply to God doesn't need your money in Religion JoeUser Forums

So, when a family believes that and gives beyond their means, and suffer ill consequences because of it, or have to accept government assistance to survive, is it because they didn't *really* believe? It's THEIR fault, right?

Reply to If you don't Tithe, do you go to hell? in Religion JoeUser Forums

[quote]Is there a better use of any of your faculties than obeying God?[/quote] Since when are elders or church leadership God?

Reply to Chocolate Cakes and Toilet Seals in Blogging JoeUser Forums

LH: LOL, I'd believe it! The back porch is covered in dots too! BTW, the toilet works GREAT!! Tova: Haha. Better to find dots than cat pee!

Reply to Poll: Would You Eat This? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Thanks for posting that Momijiki! It looks tasty! What a difference!

Reply to My Beautiful Three in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

What a fun party idea! I'll bet it was really memorable!! Ashley looks like such a big girl! And wow, middle school for Alex! The time is just flying by!