This is a very thought provoking and entertaining video. It also goes along with the strengths movement idea. Please see my previous post about that.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/03/robinson.schools.stifle.creativity

Come see our pics on www.our2bears.blogspot.com

Blessings!

I finally figured it out!!! Sudoku that is....When I first picked up the book at the dollar store my brain would just cramp up and I could not figure out the way to play Sudoku. I still have a hard time saying that word! Well, 2 years later, I picked up the book and just got it!! Maybe God knew that at this time in my life I needed a good mental distraction.

I had a very nice birthday today with "my gang" (dh, dc and mil) We had a wonderful b-fast and shopping spree in our beautiful countryside. The perfect Fall day! The kids made out great as Grammy bought them new cups and I bought them new backpacks! Gee, it's my b-day right? I did not mind blessing them on my b-day. Dh and kids went to a part of the store without me and got me some nice things and a card. It was very sweet. The best gift today may be a buyer for our house. Still praying and waiting on that.

This past weekend my son discovered Paddington the bear at a yard sale. I was quite surprised that he was attracted to this bear. The bear is well used and my guess is it is one of the originals with the yellow hat. So now we are immersed in the world of Paddington because we HAD to go the the library and find books and videos about this bear.

He also has asked his Grammy to make sweaters for Paddington! LOL!

There are two books I picked up for FREE at my local bookstore.  I was really in the hunting mood and would not have found them if I had not taken a certain cart and turned it around to discover the freebies. These are brand new books that are considered advanced reader's copies, which I believe meant that certain copies are made before it is sold to the public? Someone fill me in here, I am not sure what that really means exactly.

Anyhow, here are the books.....Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye by Ellie Phillips, DDS. Here is the author's blog for further investigating, http://askdrellie.blogspot.com . I really enjoyed learning from this book concerning dental health as my DH and I have been agonizing over wether to visit the dentist or not and when and how to get good insurance coverage. She actually is not saying to never visit the dentist but to be able to go and surprise your dentist with how well you have cared for your teeth.

The other book I am enjoying is, How to Discover and Develop Your Child's Strengths, by Jenifer Fox, M.Ed. You can visit www.strenthsmovement.com to learn more. She gives a refreshing perspective on what is not working  for the school system and how it is catering to the weaknesses and not finding and building on the strengths of each child. Then she shares how a school she has founded is based on the strengths of each child.

So happy reading, discovering, learning and bargain hunting!!

My 5 yr. old daughter has watched Anne of Green Gables for the first time and loves it! Even my son who is 7 liked some of it. Sigh, the next generation.............I remember reading the books for the first time in my pre-teen years. I am so glad my kids can appreciate slower moving movies. Some children are so fast paced they cannot slow down for thoughtful, sweet stories. Of course Anne gets herself in so much trouble that it does keep you glued to the story!

There are new pics on our family photo link, come for a visit! Have a blessed day!

That's how I feel about our first weeks of school here. A little of this and a little of that and a LOT of distraction.

The kids began Awana club tonight and have decided they like the new club. We were sad to leave the last church but had to b/c of moving. So they will be "socialized" (whatever)  (put a teenage attitude into that whatever)  (sorry if I offended any teens out there)

My son, the Animal Scientist, has started his first blog. www.homeschoolblogger.com/seaotter

We will mostly post animal pics and share some animal facts once in awhile.

Happy Fall to all if I do not post before the 22nd!!

Since I was just sharing with some moms about my blog I thought I would explain my blog name and siggy name.

Allpurposewoman is a nickname from my husband. He really thinks I can do all things! LOL!

And my siggy name doughgirl, stems from that, Just think all purpose flour and the Pillsbury doughboy!

I would like to change my avatar to the doughboy but I really like Anne right now. Maybe later I will put the doughboy on. He is cute!

We started today with our new path of homeschooling w/o the cyber school. I decided to take them to the park and set up there with some review and fun projects. You can see a few pics on www.our2bears.blogspot.com. I cannot load pics on here and I am not sure why.

It really is amazing what they learn on their own w/o a lot of prompting. My son had been gathering sticks, rocks and leaves in a clear container for weeks now and put his toy lizard in it. I told him that he created a terrarium!! I wish I had gotten a picture. He dismantled it but I asked if he would put it back again. He said he will and then I will get a picture.

I am going to do as much "outside" schooling as possible, with snacks! It works well. Would Charlotte M. be proud of me?

Still on my mind over a year later as I help my dad clear out 40+ years of stuff!

• Jun. 25, 2008 - Thought provoking, STUFF

I have been reading my entries from the past. Here is one from over a year ago:

• Apr. 2, 2008 - I need a good laugh

I have been encouraged with this blog www.homeschoolblogger.com/mommabirdtmr

Our family is facing some tough situations right now. I find it very encouraging to read about others who are facing these same circumstances.

And how does it affect your homeschooling?

How can we help each other? I love to hear and read about free resources.

mommabird wants to help too. Go visit and leave an encouraging comment!!

This is one of my daily struggles as my children and I enjoy the local parks and nature. They love to pick leaves and flowers off as I yell at them to please "let them live!!"

Now the bugs do not get crushed as much. My children are prone to run away or glance at them from a safe distance, or poke at them with sticks.

These thoughts were prompted by this quote I just saw from another blog:

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar."

Now that makes sense to me!!

If your family is struggling through this economy then go visit www.homeschoolblogger.com/mommabirdtmr

She just made me cry. Good, real stuff of life!

Ok, so I need opinions here. I am curious to see what reactions I will get in this homeschool community.

Should I send my kids to school in a district that's not so bad so I can work and help our family in this time of need? Or continue our homeschool path and let dh carry the load?

These are the basic needs in life and we have it as a family. But I want more!! I want to go beyond our own needs and have more to GIVE more.

Come visit 2 of my links on the right to learn about my heart's desire.

Visit Children of the Most High. Our family will be supporting their family until the end of time! Kevin and Dociah were bible college buddies. So real and so sacrificial in their love for the kids.

And then visit my doughgirl shop link. It's an excellent tool for Kingdom work!

Here is my futile attempt at explaining how I felt after reading this powerful book. Right now I feel the pool of my heart has been stirred and the dirt is getting dredged up to the surface. So I feel like mud!

It really is a good book. I do not want to give anything away. You must read it for yourself. I also read the author's story in the recent Guidepost magazine. He went through a certain hell on earth and has the credibility to write what he wrote. In the back of the book it explains that it may be made into a movie. I hope so. It would be as powerful as The Passion movie was. And with special affects these days it will be really neat to see how they do it. I actually pictured it in my mind as I read it.

Remember, God really loves you. Here is one thought in the book: ............."For now I just want you to be with me and discover that our relationship is not about performance or you having to please me. I'm not a bully, not some self-centered demanding little deity insisting on my own way. I am good, and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or comdemnation or coercion, only through a relationship of love. And I do love you"

I must be bored today b/c as I ate my pb&j I began to wonder what my lunch cost.

Here is the approximate breakdown.

2 slices of bread: 22 cents,

2 tbsp. jelly 6 cents,

2 tbsp of pb 18 cents. I do not think I used the full 2 tbsp. of pb but I just calculated per serving on the containers.

I look forward to when the kids get older and can understand this fun math process. But then again my kids do not eat pb&j. I NEVER imagined that when I had kids that would be possible! What kid does not like pb&j? Mine. Go figure. (lol, that's what I just did with my lunch)

No, we are not studying them, I have them in my stomach!!

Each day I get closer to the reality of our new homeschool path. I just returned the cyber school materials that needed to go back. Some things we were allowed to keep which will help me with some of DD's K learning and DS's 1st grade review.

They did a great job with the local library summer reading program. They claimed their prizes a few days ago. We will redeem them little by little. Next I have bought them both a dollar store workbook to accomplish and then they will be rewarded a book from the thrift shop bookstore.

I have my eyes on the back to school sales and hope to gather a little fun "package" of supplies to give them when we begin more scheduled learning in late August. DD is easy, just give her a new pen and an empty notebook and she's good for a few weeks :} She loves to play office and scribble. She is a leftie, any advice?