Windseeker

I've been following this thread but didn't feel I had much to add, other than I've been thru this. I know what's it like and I know the soul wracking introspection and guilt you experience as you dissect every moment of your life that led you to this point. It's been about 7 years for me and looking back I'm grateful that I was smart enough to take full advantage of the selfish haste and cloudy vision that my first wife's covenant breaking and sin brought about. My terms were so shocking to the judge he almost didn't sign them. He had never seen anything like it. But it allowed me to re-marry, keep the kids with me and move to a place where they had a better chance of grasping the gospel and avoid conflict that often makes things worse. You need to take every advantage because you're not doing this for yourself but as the only rational principled caretaker of your children. It has not been easy and you need to be prepared to deal with the shock waves that will affect all of you the rest of your lives. My advice going forward is to be Christlike. Never speak of your ex-wife unkindly. Forgive her and give her room to change. You can be the rock in their lives as they face and deal with their own disappointments and challenges of disillusion. This is your life so these challenges are here to help you grow and become more compassionate, understanding and loving.

I found these http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/4297/why-is-jesus-genealogy-traced-through-joseph https://bible.org/question/mary%E2%80%99s-lineage-one-gospels

Exercise and Yoga works best...but sleep is what I do most when I'm stressed.

Well...you got me there.

.. much agreed. I can trace almost 10 generations of ancestors to Nottingham so I feel inclined to post -

If so-called conservatives don't understand that big government and big business are the result of a small minority taking control and exercising dominion then why did they generate the term in the first place? You seem to insist on mixing the country club neo-cons in with the larger, much ignored and ill represented libertarian constitutionalist base. If it helps, understand true conservatives much less in line with their Republican leadership than liberals are with their Democrat leadership.

Traveler, on 17 Nov 2015 - 11:38 AM, said: My biggest concern with the so-called conservatives and liberals is what I consider a gross double standard. It seem that all conservatives can all agree about the evils of centralizing power and influence in a large and all encompassing federal government - as well liberals all agree about the evils of centralizing power and influence in large and all encompassing companies and corporations. So it seems that liberals want governments to be unchecked and controlling everything whereas conservatives want businesses and corporations to be unchecked and controlling everything. Neither seem to be able to get it through their thick skulls that big government and big business are just different sides of the same corrupt coin. - this is why there is no actual differences in the two parties - they both sell the same freedom restricting crap just in different fancy packaging. But this just isn’t true. I don’t know one conservative, not a single one, who wants business and corporations to be unchecked and control everything. This is the narrative that the elites in education, business, media and politics have put out. Because they are lying about conservatives I think it’s probably safe to say that all liberals don’t want an all controlling government. Most hardcore liberals I know are all high up the chain of major corporations. I remember in the 90’s seeing signs at left wing protests “no corporate welfare!” and that is something we just don’t see anymore. Tell me, is “too big to fail” a conservative or liberal principle? I’m a conservative and I say “let them fail” and all I know who claim to be conservative seem to echo my sentiment and were shocked when our leaders took our money and rewarded and propped up failure caused by greed and corruption. What we have now is rich fertile ground for fascism to flourish where business and government are one, our middle class is getting snuffed out and replaced by dependents and our education system is pumping out useful idiots to help widen the gap and support the occupants of the “cool kids club”, the elites while they squash each other in their attempt to enter the great and spacious building. Those who recognize what is happening (most are conservative) have been conveniently marginalized as racists, xenophobes, homophobes, religious fanatics etc. The problem is that we as a people have been divided and conquered and our only hope is to live the gospel, teach our children and watch the tragedy, which has been foretold, play out before us.

I highly recommend this version - http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Dune-Audiobook/B002V1OF70 It's beyond a narration, as part of it is narrated and part is theatrical. It switches throughout and might be confusing but I think anyone of average intelligence can easily follow along. The narrated and theatrical elements combine together nicely to make this one of my top audio books so far. I will definitely listen to this again. It's the Lord of the Rings of SciFi. I'm working my way through this one now and enjoy it so far. http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Golem-and-the-Jinni-Audiobook/B00BU8KV2S

I listened to Dune by Frank Herbert on Audible and I really enjoyed it.

While I understand the sentiment, I think this will become less common though. I'm currently charging my son and nephew rent since they are not going to college, but wouldn't be if they were in school. My concern is that now days without guidance and support from families the future generation is either setup to be a slave or a dependent on the government. I see the solution will be strong families following the asian cultural model of families staying together and helping each other get education employment etc. I saw this allot on my mission in Japan and also in the Vietnamese culture in the Northwest.

I actually gain allot of insight on these forums. I find it odd that someone frequents any forum and claims they don't care what people think, regardless the topic. I can see taking advice with a grain of salt but flat out dismissing everyone's opinions makes me question the purpose of frequenting any forum.

I've mentioned on the board I'm having some struggles with my daughter. Removing the door was necessary because it was how she was hiding cigarette and drug use. I was really afraid, being a bit of a rebel myself when I was young, and well aware of how authority abused, even when well intention-ed, can entice a rebellious counter offense. By removing the door I wanted my daughter to know that I care more about her future agency, her health and my responsibility as a parent, than her privacy or being her buddy. Since removing her door and confiscating her cell phone my daughters healthy interaction with the family has increased significantly and she even seems happier. We still have a long ways to go. My opinion mirrors many that have been stated. I believe privacy is a privilege. You can't help your child if you're not aware. The principle of watching out for our children should be accompanied by a healthy dose of "pick your battles" and as trust is earned it's followed by an increase in allowing a child to make their own choices.

Very Nice. This is one of my favorite classical pieces by Bedřich Smetana a Czech composer.

What if I feel like doomsdays my ticket home?

My friend went and saw Twenty One Pilots here if Florida and said it was a good mix of ages at the show and it didn't make him feel old. I never heard of them but think my kids have. I like the two last bands but not being a fan of mixing rap with other genres don't really like the first two.

Here are some things that helped Family - · My father and brother listened to me and I was able to share my pain with them. I could open up to them in ways I couldn't with my mother and sister. · My sister's family took my 4 kids for the summer while I worked on managing the divorce. Knowing they were in a place of love was a relief and allowed me to focus on getting myself in a better place mentally, emotionally in order to properly manage the unsavory details of the divorce and to help them move forward. My kids today have great memories of that time and often discuss the fun experiences they shared that year with their cousins. · My sister-in-law took my youngest son before and after school (he changed districts). Knowing he was not home alone after school for hours was a relief. I got a stipend from work for child-care and gave this to her to help supplement the costs for his meals. · My brother helped me find a less stressful job. · My mother and sister came by a couple times to help clean and organize the house. Friends - · To keep it short - My wife during the divorce had offended a elite spoiled Mexican exchange student and this girl convinced every migrant Mexican in High School into threatening and harassing my son. A close friend and member of our ward who rose from a poor child in the slums of Tijuana to become an executive at Nintendo went house to house with me and my son, to every Mexican immigrant home that had high school aged kids and translated and explained my situation turning things around so quickly they all defended and looked after my son from then on. · The Elders in my ward took care of my lawn. Things that some of my family did that was not helpful: Talk negatively about my spouse I was divorcing. That kind of talk didn't do anything for me and just made me feel bad for humanity in general. (My mother never said a negative word, which I appreciate). Things I wished would have happened : · I wish I would have took the kids to some kind of therapy. · It was pure bedlam and chaos every day I arrived home with my youngest son and I think I should have just moved in with my parents, but they were then, and still are forever nursing my druggie brother. But having to work full time, it would have been nice. · I would have liked someone to exercise with, something I think is really important to mitigate stress allows one to have more patience with the kids. I owe so much to my extended family and it was their love and strength that got me through that period.

Welcome! Adventurer and Philomath here.

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed that.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the support and advice. Much of my daughters anger stems from an incident when she was around 7 where she was trapped and sexually assaulted by another girl who I believe was around 10 or 11. I was called at work and instructed my (then) wife to call the police, I didn't care what the age of the girl was and take her to a doctor. I found out recently that according to my daughters memory none of this was done. I was told it was, So she is angry at her Mother and myself and Heavenly Father for letting her down. I believe rightfully so. I hated my parents when I was a teen and all they did was care about me...I really hated them caring so much..lol. So I feel my daughters anger is understandable and it makes me hesitate every time whenever I have to punish her. But one thing I do know is that she is aware that I love her and care for her. I don't doubt that. She has been in therapy on and off again. She is also seeing a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety. I'm looking again for a therapist and have no idea what I'm looking for but doing what I can. Florida has a growing number of members but member services are non-existent in the SE.

Hey Folks, Been a stressful couple of months. Found marajuana and cigarettes in my 16 year old daughters room as well as found out she has been sexually active with her boyfriend. This boyfriend she broke up with year ago because he was pressuring her and now she has basically given in and they are together. Since this all came to light we have taken away her phone, computer privliges and grounded her from dating. A couple of weeks later I found more cigarettes so I removed the door from her room. She has her own bathroom and the entry to her room is L-shaped so she still has her privacy. She goes to Church and Seminary because we make it mandetory but she says she does not believe in a Heavenly Father and thinks religion is lame. It was scary coming down on her because she attempted suicide last year but so far so good. She is angry and self-destructive. I still feel a little sketchy about denying her contact (as much as we can) with her 18 year old boy friend. I have noticed her spending more time with the familiy and being more social which is good. Anyway..I'm scoring all kinds of life experience here despite the stress. I know there is allot of shared experience on this board and just want to know how you might handle things differently under similar circumstances or if you have any advice?

I've read the book and got to see the Martian this weekend and thought it was a great movie. An inspiring movie for sure. There was some language but I think they handled it well.

I found it. It's for a week. Brother Devin G. Durrant: 'My Heart Pondereth Them Continually'

Anyone recall how long we ponder the verse? Is it a day or a week?