Turmoil

I feel like my life is in turmoil.... So I decided to look up the word to make sure that was an accurate description.

turmoil
Disturbance, tumult; harassing labor; trouble; To harass with commotion. To disquiet; to weary.
I think, now, it is accurate. Most of the time I walk around in peace. This week has been difficult at times because my children have been on a "vacation" for the past two weeks with the funeral and the Thanksgiving holiday. I have had to reschedule my lesson plans and that was fine. But mainly it is the attitude of the kids that I am having a hard time with.

At our homeschool meeting last night some of the ladies were talking about how difficult "Re-entry" is for them and the kids. I think I agree. One gal had gone to New York for a week with her husband. She has 11 kids. They were told how stressful being in New York would be. She was completely relaxed until she came back home and walked into the house. She said, "When I walked in the door.....THAT was stressful." They were also discussing it in regards to the kids too.

It is much easier to keep them in a routine than it is to move in and out of one. I suppose the expectations are known. So my kids have been whining around, especially the oldest, because he just wants to be on "break" because all the other kids are having a break now. I had to explain they have all gone back to public school this week too, so "get with it!"

Maybe I am too mean. I just want to get the requirements out of the way so I can get on with the more interesting things and relax. Is that anyway to school?

I want peace in my home and not chaos. I don't want the bickering and unkind words and, for me, I realize my children have it so much better than I did when I was little. My brother and sister were constantly fighting with me or each other. My sister used to bite us and we used to call her names because she was fat. We didn't exhibit any loving behavior and we didn't learn any from my parents either. My dad even bought us boxing gloves so we could duke it out without killing each other.

I often hear my children say, "I love you" and hug each other. That would have been unheard of in my home growing up. They apologize to each other too. Even without me standing over them telling them to say sorry. I smile because I actually am happy they like each other.


This week they are being naughty to each other, bad attitudes, disrespectful to me and each other, disobedient..... I know some of you just can't see it.... but it is true! I am going to make a recording of it some day.


Oh, by the way, my drapes were put up on Tuesday. :) Here is a picture. It is difficult to see the gold threads in the picture. They are not extravagantly nice by any means but they fit in our living room.

Ok to tell you how my week is going, I just typed a huge amount of stuff on this and it totally disappeared and didn't save. I am not typing again! Unbelieveable. It was good stuff too. :(

-"A Christian, above all people, should live artistically, and creatively. We are supposed to be representing the Creator...Consciously do something about it." from The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

Thanksgiving was spent with my grandpa, mom, brother and his 2 girls. We went to Ryan's Steakhouse buffet for lunch. It was pretty good. Better than cooking all day and cleaning up afterwards. Unfortunately I missed having leftovers later, but that's ok. Edgey and the kids all left me and went to visit his Dad in Nebraska. It sounds like they had fun. Aunt Angie let them borrow the X-box.
After eating at the Thanksgiving buffet, I took mom and went shopping at Kmart for a while. I didn't find anything I had to have.
I then took a nap and couldn't sleep that night. I spent most of the night cleaning and watching movies. Since I was already awake, I just decided to go shopping at 5 a.m. Sears was having their sale and there were coats for $12.99 so I went to see what they had. I got coats for both of the little kids. Ethan was too big for those now. He already has a nice one anyway.
I saw Trevor there. :)
Then I went back to Kmart because all the sweats were buy one get one free. They had some cute sweats for Eliz and I got Jesse one too. They will get those for Christmas. Elizabeth has many cute clothes, but it irritates me because she will not wear anything but sweats in the winter. The sweats she does have are so nasty that I don't want her going out in them. So I still need to go look for some more. But $5.99 for a pair of kids sweats is pretty good to me.

The next store I wanted to go to opened at 7 a.m. so I went to look there. I didn't find any Christmas presents except what I wanted, so I bought my own Christmas present to me.
I have lived here for 8 almost 9 years and have never found window treatments for the front room that I actually liked. Well, I found some finally. I told Edgey. He just said that guarantees that we will probably move now. LOL. good!

After that I was pretty tired since I had been up all night. I had to go check out Cato's since I hadn't been there forever. I didn't find anything there I had to have. I went and had lunch then went home and went to bed. I set my alarm for 2 hours later. Well I don't know what exactly happened but the alarm either got shut off by me or I slept through the alarm because I finally woke up around 9 pm. Then I was mad at myself because I didn't get anything done and I had to work on Saturday & Sunday. Oh well. I ate popcorn for supper and then watched the news and went back to bed.

The weekend at work was actually nice. I watched HGTV and TLC off and on. I'm glad I don't have cable at home. I would probably be addicted to that channel.
The family got home Sun night about 9 p.m. I was passed out in the lazy boy. Edgey was tired from driving the whole way. The kids were squirrely and finally went to bed. I missed them but I didn't miss that part. The house was clean. Now it is not. They threw everything all over and it was still laying around this a.m. Back to school. Jesse was glad about that and no fuss from Elizabeth, but guess who slept until noon and argued all afternoon about not doing his schoolwork? He is growing a mustache. Scary. I just noticed it today very clearly.

I'm going to try to get Edgey to put up my drapes tonight. Wish me luck!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

Tov L’hodot l’Adonai – it is good to give thanks unto God.



I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; [how] abundant is Your faithfulness!

Bless, (O) my soul, the LORD. LORD my God, You are very great; glory and majesty have You worn – Who dons light as a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

How precious is your kindness, [O] God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are sated from the abundance of Your house, and from the stream of Your delights You give them to drink. For with You is the source of life; by Your light shall we see light. Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.

And I will betroth you to Myself for ever; I will betroth you to Myself in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in compassion. And I will betroth you to Myself in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD.

Blessed are you, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

Blessed are you, LORD, our God, King of the universe, through whose word everything comes into being.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who bestows good things on the unworthy, and has bestowed on me every goodness.



Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu - Blessed are You, Lord, our God!



You know the jewish people really have it together when they practice these daily blessings. These are just a few of the daily recitations. Wow.

If we could only get it in our hearts to bless God like this...... without it being a ritual.............. but a truly thankful habit.



May you have a wonderful thanksgiving. Be thankful!

God VS Science

My friend sent this to me today. It is an interesting discussion in a classroom.....


A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students,
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says.
He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.
"Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.
The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, light heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."
"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."
"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.
"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."
"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.

So now my friend has a problem with this scenario..... She believes that God created everything and is all supreme, omnipotent, omniscient, etc..etc.. As do I. So did God truly create evil since He created all things? Or is evil just the absence of God? Do we have free will? Or are we predestined?

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Jeremiah 32:42 For thus saith the LORD; like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?


What do you think?

I ran across this tonight and thought I would share....

DO THE NEXT THING

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

Reprinted in the book - Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

A Trip

Edgey's grandmother passed away last Thursday. We left on Sunday night after I got off work to go to the funeral. His mother had asked him to do part of the ceremony. He was all wigged out about that. Then they asked me to sing one song.... Wind Beneath My Wings.... which turned into 2 songs and almost 3 if I had known the hymn they wanted. Luckily I had never heard of it before (or heard it).
Sunday night we drove through the night. We left a little after 10 p.m. I slept most of the trip because I had been up since 6 a.m. and no nap. Edgey had a 3 hour nap and was ready to go until about 4 in the morning. That is when I took over. The hotel was in Larned, KS. Never been there. I guess that is where she lived and raised her kids. It was a good 8 hours drive.
We got there just in time to unload and have breakfast at the hotel. His mother and an aunt were eating breakfast.
I vegged out for a while and his mom brought our Christmas presents from last year so that we could open them. There was a lot of cute stuff. Jesse got a box full of dress up stuff, knights armor, pirate hook & patch, sheriff stuff, superman (new one) and new batman outfit. He was excited. Elizabeth got a box also.... with anything and everything prissy you can think of. She also got some kelly dolls (Barbie's little sister). Jesse got an imaginex castle with knights. The kids are playing with that right not as a matter of fact. Ethan got a portable DVD player (came in handy on the trip home) and a CD player with a WOW cd. He was thrilled with that. Edgey & I got some cd's and I got a really nice necklace Annie had made. It is going to go perfect with a sweater I had just bought. Yay! Edgey also got a couple of new shirts. We were blessed. Of course I didn't get anything packed for them. I suppose I will have to mail it this year. We are not planning on going anywhere for Christmas this year.
The kids sat around in the room and watched Hannah Montana .... it must have been a marathon... while I dozed in and out on the bed. I don't even remember what we did for lunch.
For supper we all went to a chinese buffet.... hicksville chinese buffet. It all tasted like 5 spice. not my favorite spice. The only thing good was the crab rangoons that had absolutely no crab in them. After that we went to the viewing. Elizabeth had a horrible time and cried and cried. I think it was partly because she was tired from everything. She would go give great grandpa a hug and he would start crying too. Wow. Talk about emotional.
I had her touch great grandma's hand and remind her that there is nothing there except the "shell" and the important part - her spirit is with Jesus. I believe it is anyway. Whenever she prayed over the next couple days she always said "and let grandma have fun in heaven. Amen"

Tuesday was the big day. They had a lunch at the church prior to the funeral. That was wierd for me. I remember food after the funeral any other time I have been to one. So I ate a little bit because I hate eating before I sing. It screws up my voice and I feel like a have a constant frog in there. Then we had the service. Edgey did a good job talking about Emmanuel - god with us... maybe they will remember that at Christmas time too. I did fine on the first song The Lord's Prayer, but on the second song I don't know what happened. I got through the first couple of lines and just started bawling. I kept thinking how the words fit her so much. How she was always so supportive and never took credit and how she would lift you up and encourage you just like a grandma is supposed to. Anyway, I finally was able to sing the main chorus towards the end. I was frustrated with myself, but what do I do? Oh well.
Then we drove forever to some other little town to the cemetary. I had to go to the bathroom sooooo bad. There was nowhere except a little tree. I left asap with the kids and drove into town to find something. NOTHING was open.... so then I had to drive 20 miles... in the wrong direction.... to find a gas station. I had no clue where I was. I didn't care. At least I found a bathroom. So we got snacks and headed back to the hotel. Everybody was there by that time.

Then it is time for supper again. 7:00 and we are finally deciding to head for another town 20 miles away to get real food. We went to Perkins and had breakfast. It was comforting. Then we went to walmart to look around and drove back home.... had to stop to get gas too. That was a chore. Small town gas stations close early..... we finally found one that took credit cards and was open.
The next morning (Wed), I went down for breakfast and the sisters had already had an argument and weren't speaking to each other. His mother packed up quick and was ready to leave and we were talking with one of the aunties. We finished packing and chatted with Grandpa before we left. The the long drive home. I drove the first 1/2 and then he drove for a while until after supper and I finished driving home. I am tired of fast food. That is for sure.

I made Italian Tomato Tortillini soup this afternoon. Yumm.. The kids ate almost 3 bowls each. It is not very "organic" but it sure tastes good!

1 lg can cream of tomato
1 quart can of tomato juice
1 can condensed milk
1/2 jar Ragu garlic parmesan sauce
italian seasoning
1 pkg frozen cheese tortellini

Boil tortellini according to package and toss into simmering soup.
EAT.
very easy.

Investigations

Our Senator Grassley is investigating Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long (never watched him), Benny Hinn, and Kenneth Copeland for possible financial misconduct.
The ministries were ordered to turn over financial statements and records to the committee by Dec. 6.
According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

A spokesperson for Joyce Meyer Ministries provided CBS News with an IRS letter to the ministry dated October 10, 2007, that stated: "We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax." The letter could not be independently verified in time for this story. The ministry also pointed to audited financial statements for the last three years that are posted on the organization's website.

Way to go Joyce!! It will be interesting to see what they drag up on these guys. I pray that they are accountable and prove themselves to be great examples of Christ... otherwise there will be a huge upheaval in this nation.... unlike anything we had with Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker or Ted Haggard.

I went to my first HEED meeting in years; 6 to be exact.... HEED stands for Home Educators for Excellence in Des Moines. I haven't been to one since Ethan was in Kindergarten and 1st grade. The topic last night was on ART and how to incorporate art into your subjects. Miller Paper was there and there was sooooo much stuff to look at. That is where I buy my handwriting paper and artist study things.
The owner gave this great encouraging talk. When we see or hear something we only remember up to 30% of it. When we "do" something we can remember more than 70% of it. So if we draw history or draw science, we remember it much more.

Jesse is my artist. He is very detailed. Elizabeth loves to draw too, but her things are not as detailed. Ethan can barely make stick figures. So, I bought a couple of things to help with our art study. I got and Egypt coloring book for our Egypt studying. I also think I will try to have the two younger kids work along with Ethan for History, especially right now because he getting ready to do Squanto and pilgrim stuff. I alternate between American and World History.

After the meeting was over, I talked in the car with my friend Deb (Debbie, Deb, and now Deborah; it has changed over the years) for about 2 hours. We don't have a lot of time to chat... so it was good to catch up on life.
She was introducing me to another lady last night and said, "We have known each other for almost 30 years." AAAhhhhhh. I am OLD! I really had to think, wow, has it really been that long? I guess so. In 7th grade I would have been 12. So it has been almost 30 years. Even 25 years seems a long time to know someone besides your parents. LOL

I got home and the kids had picked up and Edgey had cleaned up the kitchen and it was nice and peaceful before going to bed.

This morning I am drinking my organic coffee with organic cream and stevia and wondering how I am going to get walking in this cold? I am such a wimp! My lower back has been hurting and I KNOW it is because I haven't been walking.
I haven't had any goat milk because they are dried up right now until they have babies.... I feel like I have really digressed into my old habits. I actually ate a cheeseburger from B-Bops the other day.... and it tasted good. :(

Just Another Reason to Homeschool

I am kind of having a hard time with this one..... (sorry it's so long too)

Parents in Lexington, MA have been forced to sue their local school because their child’s second grade teacher read a book to the class called “King and King,” about a prince who falls in love and marries another prince. The parents have been told they have no right to get advance notice and no right to “opt out” their child when gay “marriage” is introduced to their seven-year-old child in this way.

PLOT: "On the tallest mountain above (a) town," a young prince still has not married, as is the custom in his kingdom. His mother, a grouchy Queen insists he must find a princess to marry. The prince tells his mom "Very well, Mother.... I must say, though, I've never cared much for princesses." His mother marches princess after princess through the castle, but they fail to interest the prince. After a while along comes princess Madaleine escorted by her brother Prince Lee, who causes the prince to exclaim, "What a wonderful prince!" The prince immediately falls in love with the prince, and they begin marriage preparations at once. The story ends with a kiss between the two kings.

Ok - so this is ok for a seven year old to be read this fairy tale? sexual orientation at this young age.... I mean, I would want to be at least notified that this was part of their curriculum.


So here is the court ruling... Basically everything was dropped.... and it is ok. The parents should have sent the kids to a private school or homeschooled them. Wow.

the First Circuit held that the constitutional right of parents to raise their children does not
include the right to restrict what a public school may teach their children and that teachings which contradict a parent's religious beliefs do not violate their First Amendment right to exercise their religion.
In essence, under the Constitution public schools are entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy. Diversity is a hallmark of our nation. It is increasingly evident that our diversity includes differences in sexual orientation. Our nation's history includes a fundamental commitment to promoting mutual respect among citizens in our diverse nation that is manifest in the First Amendment's prohibitions on establishing an official religion and restricting the free exercise of religious beliefs on which plaintiffs base some of their federal claims. Our history also includes instances of individual and official discrimination against gays and lesbians, among others. It is reasonable for public educators to teach elementary school students about individuals with different sexual orientations and about various forms of families, including those with same-sex parents, in an effort to eradicate the effects
of past discrimination, to reduce the risk of future discrimination and, in the process, to reaffirm our nation's constitutional commitment to promoting mutual respect among members of our diverse society. In addition, it is reasonable for those educators to find
that teaching young children to understand and respect differences in sexual orientation will contribute to an academic environment in which students who are gay, lesbian, or the children of same-sex parents will be comfortable and, therefore, better able to learn.
When, as here, federal claims are dismissed at the outset of a case, the related state law claims should usually be dismissed as well, without prejudice to their being pursued in state court. It is particularly appropriate that the state law claims in this case now be dismissed.

Parents do have a fundamental right to raise their children.
They are not required to abandon that responsibility to the state.
The Parkers and Wirthlins may send their children to a private
school that does not seek to foster understandings of homosexuality
or same-sex marriage that conflict with their religious beliefs.
They may also educate their children at home. In addition, the
plaintiffs may attempt to persuade others to join them in electing
a Lexington School Committee that will implement a curriculum that
is more compatible with their beliefs. However, the Parkers and
Wirthlins have chosen to send their children to the Lexington
public schools with its current curriculum. The Constitution does
not permit them to prescribe what those children will be taught.
It should also be recognized that while the Constitution does
not compel the defendants to revise the Lexington elementary school
curriculum, or to permit the Parkers and Wirthlins to exempt their
children from teaching about homosexuality or same-sex marriage, it
also does not prohibit the defendants from voluntarily accommodating
the parents' concerns if there is a reasonable way to do so. Finding a reasonable accommodation may be a challenging task. Allowing parents to exempt their children
from classes primarily involving human sexual education may not injure the value
of those classes for the students who remain. However,
The Supreme Court wrote in Brown, 347 U.S. at 494:
Segregation of white and colored children in public
schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored
children. The impact is greater when it has the
sanction of law, for the policy of separating the races
is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of
the Negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the
motivation of a child to learn.

Waldo Emerson wrote in his journal, "'I pay the school master, but
'tis the school boys that educate my son.'" James O. Freedman,
Idealism and Liberal Education 63 (1999). An exodus from class
when issues of homosexuality or same-sex marriage are to be
discussed could send the message that gays, lesbians, and the
children of same-sex parents are inferior and, therefore, have a
damaging effect on those students. Cf. Brown v. Board of Education,
347 U.S. 483, 494 (1954).
It might also undermine the defendants' efforts to educate the remaining
other students to understand and respect differences in sexual orientation.


So I am thinking that maybe I should read this to my kids and see what they really think? If it is moral and if it follows biblical teaching. If this is ok for kids to read... the age group was 4-8.
We have had the gay discussion before. I suppose the ages for kids to understand this are getting younger and younger, but to be forced to think it is a "fairy tale" ending and that these Kings are going to lead a great life. There is a 2nd book called King and King and family where they go on their "honeymoon" and find an orphaned girl and make her a princess. Can't wait to see what's next..... wow.

.... I just don't like to see sin made so "pretty."