Homeschool Nightmare

As a homeschooling parent, the letter below describes a real-life nightmare. This letter is from the Home School Legal Defence Association of Canada, which has an American counterpart. Please consider contacting the people below if you are a homeschooler...or even if you are not but recognize that parental authority out ranks the authority of a pagan government. Although this nightmare is taking place in Germany, international decisions have begun to effect our own laws in various areas. The German government is overstepping their bounds and trespassing on religious and parental freedom.


Home School Legal Defence Association of Canada E-Report

February 23, 2007


Dear HSLDA members and friends,

This month we explained to you what happened to the 15 year old German girl, Melissa, who was being homeschooled, how she was removed from her parent's home by 15 police officers and social workers, and placed into a psychiatric unit at the Nuremburg clinic for school-phobia.

We have now received even more shocking news from HSLDA United States. Last week the German authorities, without consulting or informing the parents, moved Melissa to an undisclosed location. Her contact with her family has been limited to a short conversation once per week. Last Friday the court met to determine further placement of Melissa. The court refused to change its decision but removed the first psychiatrist from the case (Melissa indicated that most of what the first psychiatrist reported was false and that she never said those things). The court is having two new psychiatrists examine Melissa.

Melissa has been moved--for a third time--to a foster home in the country. The first foster family didn't want Melissa anymore because she did not "fit." According to Melissa, the family was apparently bothered by her reading French and translating it into German.

Melissa's father, Hubert Busekros, said he and his lawyer were offered a compromise this week that they could not accept. The authorities wanted the Busekros's to give up custody of their other five children in order to resolve this situation. Hubert said the authorities are considering doing psychiatric exams on the other five children in order to implicate Hubert and his wife as unfit parents and thereby break up the family.

These actions against this homeschool family are an outrage. There are approximately 40 other cases pending in Germany. Many homeschool families have fled to Austria or another nearby country where homeschooling is legal. The German government is persecuting these innocent families without mercy. The German Embassy has indicated they cannot allow "parallel cultures." Christian homeschooling is a "parallel culture" that Germany does not want.

REQUESTED ACTION

1. Please continue to call or email the German Embassy and give them this message:

"Over 40 innocent homeschool families have been prosecuted, fined, and in some instances, had their children removed to state custody. This is an outrage. Many homeschool families are fleeing Germany to nearby European countries where homeschooling is legal. The most incredible violation of human rights is the Busekros family, whose child was put into a psychiatric ward and then removed to an undisclosed location, all for the crime of homeschooling. Germany will not long be known as a free nation if it suppresses the right to choose homeschooling."

The German Embassy in Canada can be contacted at:

German Embassy

1 Waverley Street

Ottawa, ON, K2P 0T8

Tel.: 613-232-1101 Fax: 613-594-9330

Email: germanembassyottawa@on.aibn.com

The embassy can be emailed from its website: http://www.ottawa.diplo.de/Vertretung/ottawa/en/Kontakt.html

2. The Minister of Justice in Bavaria can be given the same message:

Beate Merk

Prielmayerstr. 7

80335 Munchen

Tel. +49 89 5597 1799

Fax +49 89 5597 3580

Email: beate.merk@stmj.bayern.de

3. If you wish, you can also send letters to Melissa and the rest of the Busekros family. Melissa's parents have said they will try to get the letters and cards to Melissa. Their home address is:

Schallershofer Strasse 72

91056 Erlangen

Deutschland

4. Pray for the German situation. Only God can change the situation for homeschoolers in Germany. Attempts by German homeschoolers to organize or to change the laws through court continue to be lost, but with God all things are possible. We ask that you cry out for the German homeschool families.

Thank you for standing with these families and taking a moment to assist them. Please continue to keep Germany in your prayers.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Faris LL.B.

Executive Director and Legal Counsel

Before & After Motivation

As you may know, I am on a weightloss journey. I have already lost over 25 pounds since January 1st and I am feeling pretty good about myself. My second goal is another 20 pounds...I am working on it!!

If you are anything like me, you probably enjoy seeing photos of *real* people who have *real* stories about *real* weightloss. Not a photo of a stick thin girl who has never struggled with her weight...but a photo of a woman who knows the struggle and has been victorious.
If that sounds interesting to you, then visit this site:
Before and After Pics & Stories

All About Bananas

Bananas

This is interesting. After Reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. Bananas are ideal

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6,B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

That Old Flu Bug

The flu bug has our youngest. He woke this morning with a terrible headache, he could not stand the light and was nauseated. He has vomited four times today but things seem to be settling down a little. Needless to say, I did not get to church today because I had to stay home to tend to him. He was appreciative and it was very cute....not the throwing up part though! lol

I am wondering if this is going to work it's way through the family. I am hoping it doesn't. I am not in the mood to throw up and feel wretched....I am much too busy for that. Our daughter has been gone for one week, visiting my in-laws. She is having a one week cooking co-op with her grandmother. She will return home on Tuesday with a number of recipes and the actual meals that were prepared and frozen. So...if I do fall ill, the rest of the family will still have meals!! God is good!

Use tissues and wash your hands often.
Words to live by during flu season!!

The Best Advice On.....

Keeping with my *25* Theme....here is a list of 25 pieces of weightloss/fitness advice from people who should know. I found it on a message board but I have no idea what the original source is. Some of them are great ideas, some I am already doing and some...well...pick and choose for yourself!!

The Best Advice On ... SETTING GOALS

1 Make mini milestones. Break your weight-loss goal into 10-pound blocks.
-- Sherrill S. Lewis, July 1988 (pounds lost: 102)

2 Keep your eye on the prize. Tape a list on your fridge of what you want to accomplish, like fitting into your size-8 jeans or running a mile without stopping.
-- Felicia Kutchel, July 2004 (pounds lost: 75)

The Best Advice On ... SHOPPING TO DROP

3 Create incentives. Give yourself a dollar for each pound lost. Use the money to treat yourself to a new sweater or spa treatment.
-- Margaret McHalsky, Jan. 1983 (pounds lost: 45)

4 Go plate shopping! Downsize your dinner by eating off a smaller dish.
-- Jessica Haber, June 2000 (pounds lost: 40)

5 Buy fitted clothes. Avoid expandable elastic waists that don't let you feel or see those extra inches creeping up on you.
-- Neseebe Ann Denney, Sept. 1987 (pounds lost: 53)

The Best Advice On ... HITTING THE GYM

6 Know you're not alone. Don't be afraid to join a health club because of your size. You'll find a range of body types at the gym.
-- Louise Goldman, March 1982 (pounds lost: 27)

7 Get an affordable personal trainer. Hire one with a group of friends and split the cost-- you'll save money and learn how to burn more calories from a pro.
-- Anna Young, Aug. 2005 (pounds lost: 45)
2006 update The number of gyms that offer 2-for-1 training have risen by 29 percent over the last few years, according to the IDEA Health & Fitness Association in San Diego.

8 Join a gym near your office. Exercising during your lunch break or after work will be much more convenient.
-- Karin Blitte, July 1995 (pounds lost: 59)

9 Pay for a 10-pack of workout classes upfront. That way, you'll have to go or your money will be wasted.
-- Felicia Kutchel, July 2004 (pounds lost: 75)

The Best Advice On ...GETTING SUPPORT

10 Find an R.D. A nutritionist can guide you and offer encouraging feedback as you revamp your eating habits.
-- Susan Rodzik, Aug. 1982 (pounds lost: 43)

11 Seek motivation on the Internet. Get 24/7 support with an online weight-loss group. 2006 update Exchange messages, recipes, even exercise tips with other readers at Shape.com/community.
-- Kathy Rohr-Ninmer, April 2003 (pounds lost: 60)

12 Power up with a partner. Enlist the help of a friend to cheer you on when dieting gets tough.
-- Karen Schreier Paris, Feb. 1997 (pounds lost: 33)

13 Join a weight-loss support group. If you're struggling with emotional eating, seek a program that offers stress-management techniques like meditating or journaling.
2006 update Many employers now sponsor health events. If yours doesn't, gather 3-4 people and learn about healthy weight loss by visiting a Weight Watchers center (weightwatchers.com) -- Lorna Bennett, March 1989 (pounds lost: 93)

The Best Advice On ... EATING TO LOSE

14 Don't be deprived. Treat yourself to a small portion of something sweet each day so you won't crave it and binge later.
-- Kristen Taylor, Aug. 2002 (pounds lost: 70)

15 Crunch the numbers. Know the calorie counts of your favorite meals, snacks and drinks. Resolve to make your daily calorie intake a healthy 1,500.
-- Janet Jacobson, July 1987 (pounds lost: 277)
2006 update Log on to here to create a meal log that calculates your daily calories.

16 Go international. Find a lowfat meal in every type of cuisine -- Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Italian-- so you can still enjoy eating out.
-- Alisa Khaitan, April 1995 (pounds lost: 38 )

17 Make smart eating easy. Start your own file of healthy recipes you've created or picked up from books and magazines.
-- Mary Hukaby, April 1983 (pounds lost: 45)

18 Save the best for last. If you taste food while making dinner, you can take in a huge amount of calories without realizing it; wait until you sit down to eat.
-- Marlene Conner, Jan. 1987 (pounds lost: 77)

19 Nuke your next meal. Microwave convenient, healthful "fast food," such as rice bowls or vegetable chili.
-- Marie Kinlein, April 1988 (pounds lost: 66)

The Best Advice On ... TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS

20 Write before you bite. Keep a journal of everything you put in your mouth. You'll think twice before you eat if you know you have to write it down.
-- Anna Marie Molina, Oct. 1988 (pounds lost: 76)

21 Wear a "track" suit. Put on your favorite bikini once a week to check your progress.
-- Amy Duquette, Nov. 2005 (pounds lost: 30)

22 Chart your success. Weigh yourself each morning and create a graph using the results. It'll help you see the big picture over time.
2006 update Monitor your progress by downloading a weight-loss tracker to your PDA. One to check out: UTS Weight Tracking Program ($10; utracksys.com)
-- Pamela Stolzer, June 1982 (pounds lost: 75)

The Best Advice On ... BURNING CALORIES OUTDOORS

23 Sign up for a run/walk event or bike race. The competition will help you work harder and you'll make fitness-minded friends.
-- Stacey Stimac, Dec. 1993 (pounds lost: 27)

24 Change with the seasons. Snowshoe in the winter, swim in the summer and bike in the spring. Different workouts will keep you challenged.
-- Gretchen Meier, Nov. 2004 (pounds lost: 115)

25 Cultivate your green thumb. Burn 254 calories per hour by doing your own yard work. You can also stock up on veggies by growing them in your garden.
-- Lauretta M. Cox, March 1983 (pounds lost: 122)

I Made my First Goal!!!!

Twenty-Five pounds are GONE!!!!!!!!!!

Now, onto my next goal.....20 more pounds!

Praising God for His Blessings!!

Our minivan has been dying a long, slow, painful and expensive death. It has been resuscitated numerous times over the past couple of years. It is a 2001 Ford Windstar with 270,000 kms on it. We had a new engine put into it when it was less than 200,000 kms....mechanic said we had a lemon. Well....sour turned into sweet for us on Monday evening!!! To make a long story short....my dear old dad GAVE us $10,500 for a down payment for a new 2007 Pontiac Montana. Our monthly payments for financing are only $300, which is very reasonable. Without that down payment, we would have been looking at financing of about $600 a month....which we could definitely not afford.

I praise God for His provision.
I praise God that He saved my dad only a couple of years ago.
I praise God because I know this generousity is evidence of his true faith in Christ.

Matthew 7:9 says, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?"

I praise God that my father gave me such a glorious loaf of bread.
All praise to Him who gives us so much more than we could ever think or imagine.

Weight a Minute!!!

How do you like the catchy title of my post? I was rather pleased with myself for coming up with that!! :)

I have been away over the weekend to a conference on prayer...which was very good. It is so nice to have your soul fed...especially when one is cutting back on the body's feeding!! ;)

In anycase...just thought I would check in and report that I am now officially down 18.8 lbs. Hopefully break the 19 pound mark in the morning, but for today it stands at 18.8 and I am pleased with that.

Something curious happened to me yesterday. I was home during the day, as usual, then I had to head out in the late afternoon to meet someone, then have a business meeting. I had only eaten very little by the time I left the house around 4 pm, so when we met up, I had an appetizer sized salad with some chicken breast. It was very small but I have noticed how I am so much more satisfied with smaller portions these days. I was more than satisfied and went on to our business meeting feeling very content.

After our meeting, everyone was going out and I was invited because someone wanted to *treat* me. We arrived at the restaurant and the menus were brought out. I was simply not hungry since I had the salad about 4 hours earlier. I looked at the menu and I could not bring myself to order anything but a Diet Coke...which is a treat in itself because I do not drink pop of any kind anymore, only water/tea/coffee.

I watched all the other ladies eating huge platters of nachos covered with cheese, beef or chicken, salsa and all of them ordered extra sour cream. They polished off a family sized serving each....and they are all overweight. I drank my Diet Coke and chatted away gladly. This morning I woke up with my scale showing a 0.8 lb loss.....what sweet victory. I didn't give into temptation (infact, I wasn't even tempted) but kept on plan....and I was rewarded with a loss. Makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?

It was just a reminder to me that this is *my* journey. If *they* want to eat unhealthy food, huge portions and keep gaining weight...that is their business. I understand it because that is what I am coming from. But now *I* choose to be healthier, restrict my calories and keep losing weight!!

It was such a victory for me!!! I am still going strong since Jan 1st by never once binging or eating something that I shouldn't. I am SO pleased with that. Self-Control....that is what it is all about on this weightloss journey.