Two Simple, Lasting Ways to Befriend Our Families

befriend
  “If I treated my friends like they were my family, would I still have friends?” The question jolted Lisa. She was blessed to have godly friendships, including two close friends where encouragement and delight ran both ways. Yet, when it came to her own family, an uncomfortable inconsistency was present. While none of the
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How to Incorporate Grandparents into Your Homeschool

incorporate grandparents into your homeschool
  Rather than work through one particular curriculum, I prefer to encourage self-research, reading plenty of books, and when possible, actually interviewing and spending time with people that are knowledgeable about our current focus of study. This approach to education has been extremely helpful in subjects like electives, life skills, and especially history. Though we
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Rachel: A Mother’s Love

mother's love
  The Bible doesn’t always tell us all we’d like to know about some of its major players. We’re often left to draw conclusions from their behavior, and the outcomes of their life stories. This is the case with Rachel. We know she was dearly loved by Jacob, but that love didn’t guarantee her a
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First Things

word
  One Sunday we actually made it to church early, and an elderly saint asked how homeschooling was going. I admitted that some days we didn’t seem to accomplish a thing. “Did you read them the Bible?” she asked. “Yes.” “Then you did accomplish something.” The truth of her words resonated, strengthening with time. At
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Encouraging Sibling Relationships

sibling relationships
  February is a wonderful month to encourage our kids toward positive sibling relationships. As cold winter weather keeps many homeschooling families indoors, nerves become strained and tempers can flare. By recognizing the value of each family member and engaging in activities of communication, disagreements can be minimized. A great benefit of homeschooling is the
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How the 5 Love Languages Can Improve Your Homeschooling Efforts

love language
  When my oldest son and I walked into the American Science & Surplus store, he immediately found the kits section. He held up the trebuchet kit and frowned. “You said two years ago that you would buy this for me and you never did.” I stood there, flabbergasted. He had only mentioned it one
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Ideas for Keeping in Touch with Long Distance Relatives

in touch
  We moved to South Korea when Clarissa was eighteen months old. I felt bad taking the only grandbaby on both sides to the other side of the world. But I also knew that there were things that I could do to help Clarissa keep in touch with her extended family. Care PackagesI hang up
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What I Wish I Would Have Learned Before I Began Homeschooling – Part Three: Boundaries with Ourselves

homeschool
  I previously shared with you some of the lessons I have been learning about how setting boundaries with our children and with others can help us homeschool more effectively. However, sometimes the biggest boundary conflict does not come from without; it comes from within. Have you ever felt like your homeschool day just “gets
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