Most of my updates are at http://texasblu3.blogspot.com/ . Since I'm dictating to my sister over the phone and she's having to type this up for me, I feel bad asking her to update more than one blog. So for the next two weeks (I should be back by then) just look for my updates on the other blog. There will be homeschool comments as well as just family information written there.

Btw I am reading a book called 'The call to brilliance' by Ressa Steindel Brown. It's very interesting and I can't wait to write a review about it. I thought someone out there might like to look it up. It's based on a true story for the author's own life. The point of the book is to teach parents and educators how to turn children's challenges into strengths and their gifts into passions. Personally I think it would be good for parents and educators to remember "you not them". Meaning, if we could learn to do this for ourselves our children would naturally emulate. Creating a better environment and a happier society today instead of waiting for tomorrow.

but then I am an idealist. But the ideal starts with one. Just something to think about.

Texasblue's hard drive has crashed. She is getting a new one.but it will be a few days.

Bye

Athena's friend is way behind in his studies to achieve the reward of the sword in Sword of Freedom.  So Athena and I talked about it - he's from a big family like ours - 7 kids.  She and I know all about how hard it can be to focus on ANYTHING, let alone studies from outside the home, with 7 kids in the house.  Well, there are other issues, but that's none of our business.  ;)  The point is, we asked him over for two days to come study.

So he'll be here around 10am today, and he'll go down to Commonwealth play practice on Thursday with Athena.  He lives in Pocatello, so our friend who lives there is bringing him upand I'm meeting him in IF halfway.  Very nice. 

So my littles will be locked away in other parts of the house (hopefully it won't snow and they can play outside), OR this boy will be in our library typing up his report.  I still don't have my USB cord though.  Maybe we'll find it before he needs it.  Positive thinking.  ;)

I guess to some that would be surprising we would do this.  I told Athena the thing that makes me really want to help this boy is how much he REALLY wants to achieve this.  He REALLY does.  He's not lazy - he just didn't get his books until after half the school year was over!  So Athena and I put our heads together, and hopefully we'll be able to help him out enough that he'll achieve his goal.  I really want to see him up there with the rest of the kids - he's such a good boy.  He deserves it.

"It's the job never started that takes the longest to finish."  ~J.R.R. Tolkien

This one needs to sit on my forehead.  I suffer from indecision - as a BLUE personality, I tend to NOT make decisions because then I have to choose.  I feel like if I do one thing I can't have the other - and what if the other was better?  BAH!  I think it needs to be on my children's foreheads as well - for washing dishes!  :)  I think I'll have one of those signs with the quotes written on them made up (you see them everywhere here) to hang in a prominent spot in our home. 

I read quite a few other J.R.R. Tolkien quotes - he was a funny guy!  I like these very much too:

"A pen to me is as a beak to a hen."

I really related to that!  LOL! 

last one:

""I am told I talk shorthand and then smudge it."

Hope you enjoyed these!  :)

Has anyone seen this documentary?

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

It's done by Ben Stein - there's a lot of hype about it - in both the left wing and right wing websites.  I don't think it's showing here, but if it is I want to go see it this weekend.  Just wondering if anyone else had ventured to view it.  It's about "exposing" Dawinism and how people who want to explore Intelligent Design (not even putting God's name to it) aren't allowed to.  Sounds facinating.

I've been very neglectful of this blog - my only excuse is I've been extremely busy with the kids - that's a good thing, right?  :)