Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey by Dion Leonard

Bring home the incredible true story of a friendship so strong that it crosses the globe! You will love the inspiring tale of Gobi, a lost dog who kept pace with an ultramarathon runner, Dion Leonard, across a vast desert. Follow their unlikely friendship through the challenges of an 80-mile race and Dion’s struggle to bring Gobi home for good.
Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey is the incredible true story of Dion Leonard, an athlete who was befriended by a stray dog while running an ultramarathon through the Gobi Desert. Named for the desert in which he found her, Gobi became Dion’s closest companion for 77 miles of the 155-mile race across China. The scrappy little pup ran mile after mile alongside Dion, through treacherous conditions and across raging rivers. He let her sleep in his tent and share his food, and eventually, his focus shifted from winning to the newfound friendship he and Gobi shared.
They crossed the finish line together—not first, but together—and Dion decided to bring Gobi home to Scotland. Just before they were about to leave, however, Gobi disappeared, setting off a worldwide search for the stray. In a town of more than 3 million people, the search seemed hopeless, but this tale of friendship will surprise and delight you as you find out what happens!
Join the almost too-good-to-be-true story of hope, friendship, and beating incredible odds in Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey by Dion Leonard.

Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog’s Big Journey by Dion Leonard tells the true story of a dog named Gobi who was found by Dion Leonard in his race through the Gobi Desert. They finished together and Dion wanted to bring him home to Scotland. Unfortunately, Gobi went missing while Dion was making arrangements for her move. The book shares the story of how Dion found her in his search across China, and the many friends who supported him. Gobi lives with Dion today.

I am always excited to find quality books for young readers. I loved that his was a true story of courage and determination. The story is heartwarming and I felt good about giving it to my nine-year-old daughter to read.

She liked the book, and highly recommends it. She loved the races and when they found Gobi. She liked how the book was about the relationship between Gobi and Dion. She also enjoyed learning about the different places they traveled to including the Great Wall of China. There were wonderful photos in the book that made it more real.

This book is for fourth to sixth grade readers, and as a read aloud for younger student.  

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Guest Post: Painted Rocks. .by Lisa McAfee

 My friend Lisa is helping me out again.  You know that any article that starts with the word camping is not one written by me. ~Becky

Camping is a great family activity to do in the fall since the temperatures are cooler and colorful trees can be enjoyed. I saw a facebook group called Homeschool Rocks and thought decorating and hiding rocks with encouraging words or pictures would be a fabulous idea for a fun activity while you are camping.  I have included academic areas for you in parentheses so you can see how it applies to school. :)

You Will Need:

rocks

a bucket of warm, soapy water

paper towels

a pencil

outdoor acrylic paints

paint brushes

newspaper

waterproof markers

Elmer's glue

Modge Podge or some type of outdoor sealant

paper

a plastic jar or another container

plastic grocery bags- one per person

Instructions: 

1. Collect First of all, you and the children collect rocks that you want to paint. The best kinds are smooth, especially for younger children since they will paint more easily.  (PE is covered since you are getting exercise hunting for rocks.)
2. Clean After you have determined which rocks you would like to paint, clean them in a bucket filled with warm, soapy water. Rinse them and place on some paper towels to dry. The paint will adhere much better to a clean surface, and your children will be getting their dirty hands clean at the same time. (Health- Getting all that dirt and grime off is part of a healthy routine.)
3. Paint Now it's time to bring some life to those rocks! Cover a table with newspapers, and if you have small children who might get paint in more places than the rock, cover them too (an old shirt and pants will do the trick). Depending on what design you want to create, you may want to sketch lightly on the rock before applying the paint.  If details are being added, then a waterproof marker would be helpful to use. Outdoor patio paints are preferred so the rock weathers well. Allow to dry for several hours. (art)

1. Seal  In order for your awesome rocks to be enjoyed for a long time, a sealant such as Modge Podge should be used. This will make the designs weather resistant and shiny. NOTE: If you have used permanent markers on the rocks, apply a thin layer of glue before applying the sealant to prevent smudging. Allow to dry according to the directions on the jar. 
2. Hide No, not you, the rocks! Have the children go and hide their rocks so that fellow campers can find them. Be sure to hide them where others can find them and be mindful of not placing them where it would be a hinderance. Each person that has hidden a rock can write a clue for others to find their treasure, thus creating a scavenger hunt.  (clues- writing;  directions- math, social studies)
3. Find Put all of the clues in a plastic jar or other container and have each participant draw out a clue until they are all gone. Give each person a plastic grocery bag. Tell everyone to see if they can locate that rock based upon the clue.  Have everyone go and search for those treasures! Help little ones who can't read.
4. Display Enjoy all of the treasures collected by having a rock show.

Repeat this as many times as you like and consider leaving the rocks behind for others to find. 

~Lisa 

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Lisa McAfee -
I am an alumni home educator of two sons and Ohio licensed teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings. I have been assessing homeschool students’ work for the past 17 years and enjoy helping empower and encourage homeschool moms with their homeschooling. 

blog: www.schoolmarmohio.com 

Update on Our Family

Hello Families,

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to connect with wonderful families. I love seeing your pictures, hearing about your student's milestones, and sharing with you in your hard times too. Over the years I have been privileged to connect with so many great people and hear your stories.

I wanted to update you on my family's life. On August 5 our 13 year old son told us he had a lump on his leg which led to us discovering he had Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma. We were blown away.

He has had his second round of fourteen two-week chemo treatments (3-6 days of chemo and then we are home). There will also be radiation and surgery. We are looking at 10-15 months of treatment. Our church, friends, and family are trying to help us as we navigate this new normal.

As far as portfolios, I am still accepting them and will continue to accept them for the 2016-2017 school year. It might take me a few days longer so I appreciate your patience. My plan is to still accept portfolios for the 2017-2018 season, but I may need to make modifications to my system. I will post more details in January 2018.

If you would like to keep up with our family's news you are welcome to do so through our Caring Bridge Site.

Thank you,

Becky Boerner