TxSkirt’s Blog

My brother sent me this.  I debated redacting his e-mail address at the bottom, but Cory Miller put it there, so I didn't.  It's long but very good.  God bless you Cory Miller.

Mr. Obama,



Given the uproar about the simple question asked you by Joe the plumber, and the persecution that has been heaped on him because he dared to question you, I find myself motivated to say a few things to you myself. While Joe aspires to start a business someday, I already have started not one, but 4 businesses. But first, let me introduce myself. You can call me "Cory the well driller". I am a 54 year old high school graduate. I didn't go to college like you, I was too ready to go "conquer the world" when I finished high school. 25 years ago at age 29, I started my own water well drilling business at a time when the economy here in East Texas was in a tailspin from the crash of the early 80's oil boom. I didn't get any help from the government, nor did I look for any. I borrowed what I could from my sister, my uncle, and even the pawn shop and managed to scrape together a homemade drill rig and a few tools to do my first job. My businesses did not start not a result of privilege. It is the result of my personal drive, personal ambition, self discipline, self reliance, and a determination to treat my customers fairly. From the very start my business provided one other (than myself) East Texan a full time job. I couldn't afford a backhoe the first few years (something every well drilling business had), so I and my helper had to dig the mud pits that are necessary for each and every job with hand shovels. I had to use my 10 year old, 1/2 ton pickup truck for my water tank truck (normally a job for at least a 2 ton truck).


A year and a half after I started the business, I scraped together a 20% down payment to get a modest bank loan and bought a (28 year) old, worn out, slightly bigger drilling rig to allow me to drill the deeper water wells in my area. I spent the next few years drilling wells with the rig while simultaneously rebuilding it between jobs. Through these years I never knew from one month to the next if I would have any work or be able to pay the bills. I got behind on my income taxes one year, and spent the next two years paying that back (with penalty and interest) while keeping up with ongoing taxes. I got behind on my water well supply bill 2 different years (way behind the second time... $80,000.00), and spent over a year paying it back (each time) while continuing to pay for ongoing supplies C.O.D.. Of course, the personal stress endured through these experiences and years is hard to measure. I do have a stent in my heart now to memorialize it all.


I spent the next 10 years developing the reputation for being the most competent and most honest water well driller in East Texas 2 years along the way, I hired another full time employee for the drilling business so that we could provide full time water well pump service as well as the well drilling. Also, 3 years along the path, I bought a water well screen service machine from a friend, starting business # 2. 5 years later I made a business loan for $100,000.00 to build a new, higher production, computer controlled screen service machine. I had designed the machine myself, and it didn't work out for 3 years so I had to make the loan payments without the benefit of any added income from the new machine. No government program was there to help me with the payments, or to help me sleep at night as I lay awake wondering how I would solve my machine problems or pay my bills. Finally, after 3 years, I got the screen machine working properly, and that provided another full time job for an East Texan in the screen service business.


2 years after that, I made another business loan, this time for $250,000.00, to buy another used drilling rig and all the support equipment needed to run another, larger, drill rig. This provided another 2 full time jobs for East Texans. Again, I spent a couple of years not knowing if I had made a smart move, or a move that would bankrupt me. For the third time in 13 years, I had placed everything I owned on the line, risking everything, in order to build a business.


A couple of years into this, I came up with a bright idea for a new kind of mud pump, a fundamentally necessary pump used on water well drill rigs. I spent my entire life savings to date (just $30,000.00), building a prototype of the pump and took it to the national water well convention to show it off. Customers immediately started coming out of the woodworks to buy the pumps, but there was a problem. I had depleted my assets making the prototype, and nobody would make me a business loan to start production of the new pumps. With several deposits for pump orders in hand, and nowhere to go, I finally started applying for as many credit card as I could find and took cash withdrawals on these cards to the tune of over $150,000.00 (including modest loans from my dear sister and brother), to get this 3rd business going.


Yes, once again, I had everything hanging over the line in an effort to start another business. I had never manufactured anything, and I had to design and bring into production a complex hydraulic machine from an untested prototype to a reliable production model (in six months). How many nights I lay awake wondering if I had just made the paramount mistake of my life I cannot tell you, but there were plenty. I managed to get the pumps into production, which immediately created another 2 full time jobs in East Texas Some of the models in the first year suffered from quality issues due to the poor workmanship of one of my key suppliers, so I and an employee (another East Texan employed) had to drive across the country to repair customers' pumps, practically from coast to coast. I stood behind the product, and made payments to all the credit cards that had financed me (and my brother and sister). I spent the next 5 years improving and refining the product, building a reputation for the pump and the company, working to get the pump into drill rig manufacturers' product lines, and paying back credit cards. During all this time I continued to manage a growing water well business that was now operating 3 drill rig crews, and 2 well service crews. Also, the screen service business continued to grow. No government programs were there to help me, Mr. Obama, but that's ok, I didn't expect any, nor did I want any. I was too busy fighting to make success happen to sit around waiting for the government to help me.


Now, we have been manufacturing the mud pumps for 7 years, my combined businesses employ 32 full time employees, and distribute $5,000,000.00 annually through the local economy. Now, just 4 months ago I borrowed $1,254,000.00, purchasing computer controlled machining equipment to start my 4th business, a production machine shop. The machine shop will serve the mud pump company so that we can better manufacture our pumps that are being shipped worldwide. Of course, the machine shop will also do work for outside companies as well. This has already produced 2 more full time jobs, and 2 more should develop out of it in the next few months. This should work out, but if it doesn't it will be because you, and the other professional politicians like yourself, will have destroyed our countrys’ (and the world) economy with your meddling with mortgage loan programs through your liberal manipulation and intimidation of loaning institutions to make sure that unqualified borrowers could get mortgages. You see, at the very time when I couldn't get a business loan to get my mud pumps into production, you were working with Acorn and the Community Reinvestment Act programs to make sure that unqualified borrowers could buy homes with no down payment, and even no credit or worse yet, bad credit. Even the infamous, liberal, Ninja loans (No Income, No Job or Assets). While these unqualified borrowers were enjoying unrealistically low interest rates, I was paying 22% to 24% interest on the credit cards that I had used to provide me the funds for the mud pump business that has created jobs for more East Texans. It's funny, because after 25 years of turning almost every dime of extra money back into my businesses to grow them, it has been only in the last two years that I have finally made enough money to be able to put a little away for retirement, and now the value of that has dropped 40% because of the policies you and your ilk have perpetrated on our country.


You see, Mr. Obama, I'm the guy you intend to raise taxes on. I'm the guy who has spent 25 years toiling and sweating, fretting and fighting, stressing and risking, to build a business and get ahead. I'm the guy who has been on the very edge of bankruptcy more than a dozen times over the last 25 years, and all the while creating more and more jobs for East Texans who didn’t want to take a risk, and wouldn't demand from themselves what I have demanded from myself. I'm the guy you characterize as "the Americans who can afford it the most" that you believe should be taxed more to provide income redistribution "to spread the wealth" to those who have never toiled, sweated, fretted, fought, stressed, or risked anything. You want to characterize me as someone who has enjoyed a life of privilege and who needs to pay a higher percentage of my income than those who have bought into your entitlement culture. I resent you, Mr. Obama, as I resent all who want to use class warfare as a tool to advance their political career. What's worse, each year more Americans buy into your liberal entitlement culture, and turn to the government for their hope of a better life instead of themselves. Liberals are succeeding through more than 40 years of collaborative effort between the predominant liberal media, and liberal indoctrination programs in the public school systems across our land.



What is so terribly sad about this is this. America was made great by people who embraced the one-time American culture of self reliance, self motivation, self determination, self discipline, personal betterment, hard work, risk taking. A culture built around the concept that success was in reach on every able bodied American who would strive for it. Each year that less Americans embrace that culture, we all descend together. We descend down the socialist path that has brought country after country ultimately to bitter and unremarkable states. If you and your liberal comrades in the media and school systems would spend half as much effort cultivating a culture of can-do across America as you do cultivating your entitlement culture, we could see Americans at large embracing the conviction that they can elevate themselves through personal betterment, personal achievement, and self reliance. You see, when people embrace such ideals, they act on them. When people act on such ideals, they succeed. All of America could find herself elevating instead of deteriorating. But that would eliminate the need for liberal politicians, wouldn't it, Mr. Obama? The country would not need you if the country was convinced that problem solving was best left with individuals instead of the government. You and all your liberal comrades have got a vested interested in creating a dependent class in our country. It is the very business of liberals to create an ever expanding dependence on government. What's remarkable is that you, who have never produced a job in your life, are going to tax me to take more of my money and give it to people who wouldn't need my money if they would get off their entitlement mentality asses and apply themselves at work, demand more from themselves, and quit looking to liberal politicians to raise their station in life.


You see, I know because I've had them work for me before. Hundreds of them over these 25 years. People who simply will not show up to work on time. People who just will not work 5 days in a week, much less, 6 days. People always looking for a way to put less effort out. People who actually tell me that they would do more if I just would first pay them more. People who take off work to sit in government offices to apply to get free government handouts (gee, I wonder how things would have turned out for them if they had spent that time earning money and pleasing their employer?). You see, all of this comes from your entitlement mentality culture.


Oh, I know you will say I am uncompassionate. Sorry, Mr. Obama, wrong again. You see, I've seen what the average percentage of your income has been given to charities over the years of 2000 to 2004 (ignoring the years you started running for office - can you pronounce “politically motivated”), you averaged of less than 1% annually. And your running mate, Joe Biden, averaged less than 〓% of his annual income in charitable contributions over the last 10 years. Like so many liberals, the two of you want to give to the needy, just as long as it is someone else’s money you are giving to them. I won’t say what I have given to charities over the last 25 years, but the percentage is several times more than you or Joe Biden (don’t you just hate Google?). Tell me again how you feel my pain.


In short, Mr. Obama, your political philosophies represent everything that is wrong with our country. You represent the culture of government dependence instead of self reliance; Entitlement mentality instead of personal achievement; Penalization of the successful to reward the unmotivated; Political correctness instead of open mindedness and open debate. If you are successful, you may preside over the final transformation of America from being the greatest and most self-reliant culture on earth, to just another country of whiners and wimps, who sit around looking to the government to solve their problems. Like all of western Europe. All countries on the decline. All countries that, because of liberal socialistic mentalities, have a little less to offer mankind every year.


God help us...

Cory Miller

just a ordinary, extraordinary American, the way a lot of Americans used to be.

P.S. Yes, Mr. Obama, I am a real American... www.cmillerdrilling.com

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I just twittered that I found gas 20 miles from my home for $1.94. My friend Stacy tweeted me that she hated me because in her neck of the woods $2.84 was a bargain.  I tweeted back "remember when we were jealous of other girls because they were beautiful or well dressed?  We must be old to get jealous over gas prices!"  And it got me to thinking.  

I am rarely jealous of the beautiful women that abound here in south Texas. We have gorgeous, bronze skinned latino girls with to-die-for thick, luxurious, raven colored hair flowing down their backs.  These girls ripen into equally beautiful, well manicured matrons with enviable posture and graceful deportment. We also have long limbed, flaxen haired beach lovers covered with freckles and brilliant smiles. But they don't arouse the green eyed monster in me.  Like my friend Stacy, I become jealous of the really "important" things.

1. Good parking spots.  When I'm tired after a day of work and kids, spying a parking spot right in front of the store is like the clouds parting and God himself smiling on me.  Beat me to the spot by a car length, and I'm apt to curse you under my breath and fantasize about keying your car.

2.  Unchipped manicures.  I bit my nails for years, but I can't say my nails look anymore presentable for having stopped.  I can never get a paint job to last more than a day or two.  No matter the amount of money spent, or labor involved, paint will not adhere to my nails for more than 2 days. When I hear some chick talk about how she makes her manicures last for weeks by just "putting another coat of clear on top every other day" I want to hit something.

3.  Nutrition.  I can't bear to belly up to the buffet table at the local chinese food joint and see some skinny broad place 3 green beans on her plate next to a slice of steamed salmon. She seems completely satisfied with that as a meal.  Maybe it's because we don't go out to eat that often, but if your sign says "all you can eat", I'm taking you at your word.  If you're going to eat three green beans, why go pay $9.99 at a buffet? I approach the first table with my resolve strong. "Just a spoonful" I think.  I reach out a trembling hand and, brother, it is on.  I'm going to get my $9.99 worth, maybe hers too.  After it's all over with and I am stuffed to the gills, I check out bean girl and she inevitably has left one crescent of green on her plate.  I hate her.

4.  Singing.  I can't sing.  Not that I don't try, so you should never sit in front of me at church.  I make a joyful noise--a LOUD joyful noise.  When I was younger, I grabbed the hairbrush whenever the Go-Go's came on the radio and practiced my moves in front of the mirror.  I've studied Bono and Mick Jagger.  I have vast knowledge about how a lead singer should stand, swagger and strut on stage.  I just don't have the pipes.  Yet, whenever I hear someone like Jennifer Hudson or Josh Groban raise the rafters, my soul weeps jealous tears. 

This list begs for some balance.  So here are some things I'm not jealous of.

1.  Youth.  I've already been 24. Sometimes I was smart, often--not so much. But I wouldn't go back in time one year in my life.  I'd maybe like to slow down the remaining years, but I live with no regrets.

2.  Money. I've had lots and none. Certainly some is better than none, but lots did not make me smarter, prettier or more loved. Some one once said that money just makes you more of what you already are.  If you're nice, it makes you nicer. If you're a toad, you just get toadier. I have been on this planet long enough to know that if you want something, go to work and you will get more money. Whining will not work, nor it is attractive or fun to be around.

3.  Designer Anything.  I have a Coach bag I purchased when I was single and loaded.  I still have it 17 years later.  It is black, worn around the edges and the Coach tag is long gone.  I still use the bag when I travel because it is the perfect size and the strap goes around my neck without choking me. Other than that, I do not own one designer or trendy item.  I've already been through Member's Only jackets, neon pink, shoulder pads and bike shorts.  I know that trends come and go and that there is nothing sadder than a middle aged woman trying to wear the latest fashions. I'll take uncool and money in the bank every day of the week.

Truly God has been good to me.  He continues to work to build my character and remind me that people are more important than things. However, if you grab the last clearance priced can of peaches off the shelf, and I may forget my religion. 

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A couple of weeks ago when I was ranting about something political, a friend tweeted me and said I was sounding bitter.  "Bitter" I thought,"No, I'm just right!"  But because I respect this friend's opinion, and know that frequently the crazy person is last to know she is crazy, I decided to take 24 hours away from the news cycle. What I discovered is that even a brief respite from all the chaos and vitriol was enough to grant me a little perspective and that perhaps, just perhaps, I was growing a wee bit jaded in my views of not only the opposition party, but the people who follow him.

This weekend I had the pleasure of hosting my son's 10th birthday party. And Old and Dear Friend from Houston came with her boys and stayed the night with us.  ODF  and I are polar opposites--she is a highly successful attorney, I am a stay-at-home, home schooling mom; she is an atheist, I am a devout Christ follower; she is liberal, I am conservative--but we manage to still love and respect each other anyway. We do, however, agree on two things: 1.)  The bailout was a complete waste of money and punishes those that did things the right way, and 2.)  This country has been ripped apart by this election and will be a LONG time healing, if ever. It is this second point I wish to elaborate upon.

After the party we sat around my kitchen table and traced the possible scenarios of what this country will be like after November 4th, and saw no silver lining.  If McCain wins, there will be an uprising in the African American community like we have never seen before. Think L.A. after Rodney King on a much grander scale. If Obama wins, listen for the cries of "fraud" and "cheater" that will rise the Republican quarters.  Think Florida in 2000 in reverse. 

So my questions are:  

Does either of these men possess the ability to re-unite this country? We're talking Civil War size divisions here. 

AND

Do the people of this country have the ability to win and lose with grace? 

What do you think?

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I saw this on Michelle Malkin. Get a hanky.

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/17/why-he-served/#comment-505375

Thanks you, Lord, for these fine men and women.  May You keep them safe tonight. Amen.

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There has been a lot said about the Republican Vice-presidential pick.  She's smart.  She's dumb. She has vast experience. Her experience is unimpressive. She's a pitbull with lipstick.  She's a c**t. 

Here's my take.

She is the best, most energizing thing to happen to politics in my life time. I love her, admire her, pray for her and am proud to point her out to my daughter as a role model.

Now here's why.

1. She is an unapologetic proud American. She has never been embarrassed by her country.  Even when the leaders of this great country have disappointed her, she understands that being an American is a blessing and that the freedoms she enjoys are the envy of the rest of the world.

2.  She is a real feminist. She has not ridden anyones coattails to her current position. She has made her way in a male dominate world WITHOUT exhibiting distain for the males of our species or pouting about unfair treatment.  She fought the good 'ol boys in Alaska to gain her seat, cut a better deal for her state with the oil companies, and she did with a kid on her hip, a husband doing shift work and her hair in a ponytail. She knows the real power of womanhood comes not from being like a man, but being the woman God designed you to be.

3.  She's normal.  It's been a long dang time since anyone who remotely looked like me and my family graced the White House. She has kids who don't always behave.  She shops at Wal-mart. She wears glasses and has bad hair days. She is passionate when she speaks and is totally approachable. You just know that if you could invite her over for coffee and let the kids play, you and she would be great girl friends.

4.  She's smart. Really. I love that the media has cast her as stupid. I bet she does too.  Women like her always do well when people underestimate them. Just ask Joe Biden.

5.  She's has tremendous grace. The slings and arrows have fallen heavy on her and her family. Not once has she whined, complained or cried. She faces each day with a smile and gritty determination to speak to as many American as possible and try and persuade them to see this country the way she does. Her optimism, faith in this country and plain 'ol good cheer make Obama and Biden (and sometimes even McCain) look wimpy and effete. 

Face it, Sara Palin is on the national stage, and she will not leave anytime soon.  No wilting flower is my Sara. Even if she doesn't win this round, she'll be back.  

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I made a pledge to not read or comment on anything political today. Doesn't sound too hard, right? Oh so WRONG! This election cycle has captured me in a way I've never experienced before.  I'm usually a well informed person, but this is a whole new level for me.  I started out with the occasional visit to Foxnews.com or Drudge.  Then I discovered twitter and MichelleMalkin.com and it escalated quickly. Never before had I had so many opinions to read and comment on (the commenting part is my favorite!!! Seeing your thoughts being sent out and others commenting on it is soooooo cool). It's heady stuff. Now I'm waking up in the middle of the night to check the Jawa Report or see what RightGirl is musing about. I know all the internet rumors and breaking scandals. It makes me feel smart, witty and, frankly, ALIVE!  I'm just a middle aged, stay at home, home schooling mom. I lead a quiet, peaceful life here in South Texas. So, when some blogger you really admire comments on your brilliant snarkiness, you feel like you just got invited to sit at the lunch table with the cool kids.

Is it possible to be addicted to information? Right now it's almost 11 am here in Texas.  Rush will be on soon.  My children have eaten lunch with Uncle Rush almost everyday of their lives. Should I deny them that educational opportunity? I haven't checked Michelle Malkin today. Or Newsbusters. I have been on twitter, but not clicked on ONE link to read what about the blunders the candidates have made or learned the latest poll numbers. And, IT IS KILLING ME!  My palms are sweaty, and I'm having a hard time staying focused on other tasks.  I keep wandering over to the computer to "check my e-mail" or the bank statement.

Celery.  Yoga.  Organizing my junk drawer(s). Why can't any of these things get me as excited as learning who hacked Sara Palin's e-mail account. 

Is there rehab for internet use?

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1.  "What about socialization?"  

What I want to say "Frankly, I've seen your children and I don't want your kids teaching my kids their social skills."

What I actually say "My children have many opportunities through clubs, church and co-op to interact with other children."

I actually had another mother sitting in the bleachers with me who, upon learning that we home school, observe my son silently for a few minutes and state "Well, he seems normal." Yes, he is.  Completely normal.

2.  "How long are you going to home school?"

What I want to say "Until the public school system can assure me that all children they graduate will be able to read, not be taught revisionist history, be bullied, or exposed to teachers who aren't overworked, biased, have an agenda or hate their job."

What I actually say "Well, I'm committed to this year."

Each year I am blessed enough to get to school my kids at the kitchen table, I pray for one more year.  There are lots of financial and social opportunities that I miss out on, but I can make money and have lunch with the girls when they graduate. WIth co-ops and group teaching, we moms have managed to cobble together a network that means we don't have to go it alone anymore.  As long as the Texas Legistlature doesn't start mucking with the laws, my husband is willing to carry the entire financial burden of our household, and God wants me to, I will continue to school at home.

3.  "I could NEVER home school my children."

What I want to say "No, you probably can't."

What I actually say "Teaching them to read is actually easier than potty training them."  

For some reason whenever some new person I meet finds out we home school, they feel the need to explain to me (in great detail) why they cannot possibly home school. News flash--I don't care.  I'm not a home school zealot.  I don't believe that everyone should home school. But my family has chosen this path not to make you feel inadequate, but because it is what we feel like it's what is best for our children. I'll make you a deal, you don't give me all the reasons you CAN'T home school, and I won't make you jealous with our vacation pictures at a near empty theme park.  Deal?

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I am a fat person, so I have a lot of knowledge in this area. However, I am a fat person who is doing everything she can to undo the years of doing nothing.

See, now that's not really true.  I'm not doing "everything" I can.  In fact, fat people rarely do "everything" they can.  We are always in search of the minimum level of effort that will pacify our guilt about being overweight and make it LOOK like we are doing everything we can to lose weight.  Then we get to whine "I don't know why I can't lose this weight!" and bury our head in a box of Little Debbies.

Recently I had an epiphany.

I had read Dr. H book "Where did all the Fat Go?" and it made sense so I gave it a go.  Being a pro at weight loss (and subsequent weight gain) I started with my normal enthusiastic gusto. Ten weeks in I'd lost 28 pounds. That's right, 28 pounds. Then a birthday party came up, and feeling "thin", I indulged. A lot. And because fat people have an "all or nothing" mentality, I stopped working out, stopped eating right(er) and ran screaming and crying back into the arms of my beloved comfort food and considered myself a failure.  I watched, seemingly helpless (like I had no responsibility here), as the pounds came back on. At the 15 pound regain mark, I actually yelled at myself in the mirror.  "What, do you want to die? Why can't you control something as simple as what you put in your mouth!" I was so angry with myself I had to go and eat 2 pop-tarts (400 calories) to calm down. 'Cause that solves the problem, right? 

So I start at the beginning in Dr H's book, and I search around the net and find my friend Matthew McNutt is starting a "Tending the Temple" challenge and I figure (half-heartedly) "why not?" and I sign up. I even get the hubs to sign up with me.  Accountability, right? And the first 2 weeks I lose a pound or two.  Now all fat people know that the first two weeks of a new diet are the "BIG" weightloss weeks and I pull a measly 1 or 2 pounds? Why? Because I was seeking the minimum effort/minimum response balance. 

So last week, I really threw out the excuses.  I ran, yes RAN every morning this week.  Even Sunday. I was careful, but not perfect in my eating. Guess what? I lost 6 pounds. So here is the epiphany part--if I run, I lose weight.  If I don't run, I don't lose weight. Strolling through the neighborhood for 20 minutes won't do it.  I must RUN, push hard, sweat profusely, get breathless, strain myself and the body that God designed (and I abused) will respond and get smaller.

There it is. I don't have to be perfect on my eating. I HAVE to get up at 5 am and run/walk for an hour. 

Yesterday in church I learned that God doesn't help us do stuff that we can do ourselves. He does God size stuff. But we have to do "everything" that we can do before God steps in. That is my goal today.  Do everything I can do to help my body and let God do the rest.

Have a great day.

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Check this out at HotAir.  Very interesting!

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/26/just-a-reminder-house-gop-cant-block-a-bailout-bill/

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I love home schooling my kidlets.  Don't get me wrong. There are definately days when it was the worst decision I ever made. Days when my kids can't stay focused or I'd just like to not look at their precious faces or hear their melodious voices for 8 hours. However, on the whole--I LOVE IT.  I loved being there the day when both my kidlets learned to read.  I saw the light switch go on. I love being able to explain difficult topics like divorce, abortion, salvation, heaven, hell, politics and why the sky is blue in detail and with all the time in the world.  

I've given up a lot to do this job.  There are no lunches with girlfriends (unless it's PBJ around my kitchen table while doing art), expensive haircuts, trendy clothes, promotions, business trips, expense accounts, high heeled shoes and office gossip.  Some weeks I don't speak to another adult for days. In its place is an existence that looks down right dull from the outside, but is actually something much more exciting--peaceful. I don't rush my kids through meals or race to drive car pool.  I go to museums and libraries when no one else there. Vacations aren't just times to relax, but to learn something together. My whole life is filled with purpose.

You do have to put up with a lot of well meaning people that fret you are ruining your children. In the past 5 years I've heard it all: "What about socialization?" "How will they learn conflict resolution?" "What makes you think you're qualified to educate your child?" and my personal favorite "If we take all the good kids out of the school, who will teach the others how to behave?"  I used to explain my position, then I came up with snarky answers, but now I just smile and say "I don't know."  My kidlets are old enough now that people see the difference between them and their public school counterparts.  

Will I home school forever? I don't know.  If I have the choice and don't pick up any expensive habits, I'd sure like to.  God brought me to this journey and I will stay on this trail until he leads me off it.  

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