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Years ago, when we needed to name our homeschool for an official document, my husband and I instantly fell upon a title that seemed to sum up exactly why we were doing what we were doing: Great Commission Academy.

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Catching a Break

It’s Fall Break for my college kids. Bryan College has a generous break that, when counted from the the end of their Friday classes to the Sunday evening return before classes resume, totals nine sleeps. I know this not only because I, personally, am basking in this luxurious stretch of togetherness, but because Birdie announced this as she counted down the days until her beloved older siblings returned home.

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What I’m Doing Differently Now That I’ve Got Homeschool Grads in College

It’s no surprise that after nearly two decades of consecutive operation (surely I didn’t just say two decades?), our family’s homeschool has changed. A rotating roster of students, ages, interests, strengths, and weaknesses has ensured an evolving curriculum. Add to that the art of accommodating the laws of multiple states over the years, as well as the continuing development and accessibility of resources and tech designed specifically for use in homeschools and well… how I homeschool in 2019 doesn’t bear a huge resemblance to how I homeschooled in 2001.

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On Manhood

You probably haven’t noticed (because hey, we have a lot of kids) but Jack has been missing most of this summer. He’s been in our hearts, he’s been on our minds… but he has rarely been in our actual midst. The reason is simple: Jack has spent the bulk of his summer throwing himself headlong into the things he loves best. In other words, Civil Air Patrol, and all that it entails.

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Everything

You were always a little different. Always going in your own direction. One of my favorite memories of you as a toddler is of watching you paint alongside your 7 year-old sister and 4 year-old brother. They had each started in the center of their blank pages, using just the tips of their brushes to craft bulbous, two-dimensional animals— perfectly age appropriate representations, perfectly expected results when kids put on their artist hats. But not you. At two, you had sat and chewed your lip for a moment, considering. And then, when the idea had come into your head (apparently fully formed) you began. Fat lines, thin ones, colors mixing, all corners of the paper splattered and streaked and alive. For forty minutes, you focused and worked on that one, single sheet.

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