Warning: PG-13 content: so parents, be warned

I missed this article a few weeks ago, but this is how it starts:

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the "gay" agenda taught to Christians who attend a public school in Massachusetts, finding that they need the teachings to be "engaged and productive citizens."

U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf yesterday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit brought by David Parker, ordering that it is reasonable, indeed there is an obligation, for public schools to teach young children to accept and endorse homosexuality.

The article is reporting on a lawsuit that two Christian families brought trying to keep their ELEMENTARY age children from being taught that homosexuality is right at their public schools. The judge ruled that:

In the ruling, Wolf makes the absurd claim that normalizing homosexuality to young children is 'reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.' According to Wolf, this means teaching 'diversity' which includes 'differences in sexual orientation.'

In addition, Wolf makes the odious statement that the Parkers' only options are (1) send their kids to a private school, (2) home-school their kids, or (3) elect a majority of people to the School Committee who agree with them. Can you imagine a federal judge in the Civil Rights era telling blacks the same thing – that if they can't be served at a lunch counter they should just start their own restaurant, or elect a city council to pass laws that reflect the U.S. Constitution?

This type of ruling was seen in effect even more recently when a high school in Deerfield, Illinois held a gay seminar for all freshman, making them sign a confidentiality agreement to not tell anyone - even their own parents - that they attended such a meeting.

We are often admonished that we can still send our kids to government school and also obey the instruction to bring our children up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord. For many years, Kelly and I have not believed this is the case. And not just because of the homosexuality issues. In spite of many Christian teachers and administrators who try their best, the government schools are firmly in the hands of government officials, judges, administrators, and unions who use the schools to promote, not a neutral atmosphere as they claim, but a very atheistic, anti-Christian atmosphere. Of which this particular issue is merely a symptom.

I often hear, "It's not happening in my child's school." Maybe not. Yet. But if they make a promise not to tell you, how will you know?

HT: Kim

Four Year-Old Woes

As I look back at yesterday's post, I realize it sounds very whiny. Which I really shouldn't do, as it really hasn't been too bad, it just seems to hang on for a long time. Now I have children (and a mommy) who thought they were over it having symptoms again.

So to get my mind off the virus(es?) going around our house, I thought I'd post something funny. I don't know if it is true universally, but 4 years old seems to be a temperamental age for girls, at least for our present 4 year old. Come to think of it, I don't remember the older three being this... dramatic, but for Hailey everything is either agony or ecstasy. She cries easily (this being the agony part). And what, you may ask, would bring a girl with a loving family, a close church community, plenty of friends, and more toys than you need to open a store with have to cry about?

Well, let's take a look at what has caused her tears lately:

1. "My ponytail holder keeps coming out of my hair!"
2. "I can't find my pajamas!"
3. (When told to pick up her room) "But it's too messy!"
4. "My dresser drawer won't open!"
5. "My dresser drawer won't close!"
6. "I can't stop coughing!"
   
7. "I don't want to watch that movie!"
   
8. "Lauryn is looking at this toy, and I'm playing with it first!"
9. "I want to play with this toy and Lauryn won't let me!" Obviously, the who-was-playing-with-it-first rule can be applied when it is advantageous and ignored when it is not by a 4 yo.

And my personal favorite....
10."Lauryn (her 2 yo sister) won't let me wipe her nose!"

Ah, the travails of youth. I am really praying that her husband-in-training somewhere is a very patient man.

Week 2

Will it never end?

Now Kelly has this cold, or whatever it is we have, and I am trying not to get it. If I chant "I am not getting sick. I am not getting sick." enough times, will it make it true? That my sore throat, aching back, and splitting headache are all imagined? Of course, Brynna, Hailey and Lauryn still sound awful too. Needless to say, our day did NOT start at 5 am. this morning.

Kora wanted to know why they had to do school work if we are sick? Does this logic mean I can quit cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and taking care of children when they are sick? Hee, hee. Good try though, kiddo!

Sunday Sums

Coughs and drippy noses are still the order of the day around the house. Brynna succumbed yesterday, Hailey still has a bad cough (9 days running now) and Lauryn still has a runny nose. I always get a little nervous when the girls get coughs like this, as we have a family history of these kinds of cough turning into croup, and the croup landing us in the hospital. Aubrey and Hailey have both been rushed to the ER and then admitted in past years, and we've had several close calls over the years when we almost took one of the girls in. So we've been monitoring them closely this week but so far so good. But this is two weeks in a row I have missed church - I feel downright pagan! :)

Kelly's been having some health issues in the past several months that have been very troublesome. But a couple of weeks ago we got ahold of some info on how diet and supplements can help, so he's been implementing those changes. And he has gotten markedly better over the last couple of weeks, and we are praying that he can continue to improve.

I received a phone call this week from the company that makes the software I use for my lesson planning. I had represented them at the San Antonio FEAST bookfair three years ago, manning the booth for two days. They need someone to work this year's bookfair in May, and were wanting me to do it again this year. It's a wonderful opportunity to earn some extra money - in those two days I'll earn most of what our curriculum will cost for all of next year for four girls. Then in June, I'm already signed up to work at the CHEACT bookfair representing Tapestry of Grace, the history, literature, and writing curriculum I use. That will earn me a free year plan from them. I am very excited and thankful for how God has provided for us for the next year's school needs!

I went shopping Friday night, and actually found two church dresses that I liked and that fit. This may not sound like much, but I always seem to have problems finding clothes - they seem as if they are made either for my grandmother's age group, or for, well, um, teenagers of questionable moral values. So I'm, always happy when I can find something that falls between those two.

It's a pretty low-key week, with the kids being sick and scouts being out for spring break. I have just a little bit more work left to get the kids spring clothing all situated - be glad when that is done. My MIL had her next-to-last chemo treatment this last week. Only one more, and then we are looking at surgery. She had to change oncologists, but the treatment itself is going very well. Thanks so much for keeping her and our family in your prayers.

Some things only happen in the housefullofgirls..

Actual occurance in our house this morning:

(Youngest three daughters are finishing breakfast while older two are supposed to be doing chores.)
(Kora comes stomping into the school room where I am checking email.)

Kora (in that tattle telling voice we all know and love): Mama, Hailey has her fork stuck in her hair!

I rush into the dining room, and sure enough, there's Hailey with her fork sticking out of the back of her head.

AND... we had waffles and syrup for breakfast.

'Nuff said.

Sale on Milk

CVS has a sale on their milk through Saturday: $2.49 a gallon for 1%, 2%, skim and whole. It does not say "with card" so evidently you don't need the savings card to get in on this. It does say limit 2, but I'll still have lots of time to stock up!

Colds and Pirates

Now we have a houseful of sick girls. Or so it seems, anyway. Actually Brynna still seems ok, but the rest of them are laying around the living room underneath quilts. Seems to be just mild colds, but it is enough to make your head swim when you get up. So yesterday and today are movie days around here, the favorites seem to be the two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Much as I don't like to see them feel bad, when they are only mildly sick, it makes for a rather easy day for me. They don't make messes, there are no lessons to oversee, and they are occupied with the movies.

The biggest downside is that we were supposed to host Bible study tonight. And now of course, that isn't happening. But I'm sure we will be back to our overly-busy selves soon.