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Gimme, Gimme!
Teaching children to be grateful and generous.

~ Dr. Bill Maier

On Christmas morning, after devouring Mom's legendary homemade sticky buns, the Stevens family gathers around the Christmas tree. The three kids — Danny, 10, Molly, 8 and Christopher, 6 — excitedly begin opening their presents.

Their parents' joy soon turns to dismay as they observe the children's behavior. Like hungry sharks in a feeding frenzy, Danny, Molly and Christopher greedily rip open each gift only to toss it aside, searching for another package bearing their names.

Particularly troubling to Sharon and Rick Stevens is that none of the kids acknowledges the relatives who sent the gifts in the first place. They show zero interest in opening the cards attached to the gifts. After each child opens the final gift, all three continue to search for still more presents, making comments such as "Is that all I get?" or "How come Molly got more presents than I did?"

Read the rest of the article.

Dual Credit Classes Today, College Success Tomorrow!

Compared to their peers, dual enrollment students are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in a four-year college and persist in postsecondary education. LeTourneau University offers accredited dual enrollment classes taught with Christian values. Over 20% of our students have been homeschooled. Classes begin soon. Find out more today!

Click here for information.

Sponsored

Home Schooler Signs Letter of Intent

Congratulations, Ryan, from your friends at THSC!

SATCH Basketball senior Ryan Kemrite recently signed a basketball letter of intent with NCAA Division 1 Liberty University of Lynchburg, Virginia, for a four-year basketball scholarship.

Ryan is a Conroe resident and one of the top players in the Greater Houston area. Last year, he led the SATCH Basketball men's varsity team, which made it to the state championship game in 2012.

Read the success stories of other home schoolers around Texas.

Around the Web

Rise of the Guardians
Movie Review

Cover Two Subjects with One Project

Make Your Own Flashlight

Home Schooler Earns Internship

~ Melissa Cade, Daily Light

The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce has a new intern by the name of Alex Hedtke.

Hedtke is an 18-year-old home school graduate who saw the opportunity to intern for the chamber as a way to open doors to his college and possible political career.

"This internship came about when I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Republican Headquarters," Hedtke said. "I told Debra Wakeland who I was and that I wanted to volunteer at the chamber."

Chamber Membership Director Randall Chase said he vividly remembers the day Hedtke approached Wakeland about the internship position. He said it stood out to him because it took a lot of guts for Hedtke to do what he did.

Learn more.

What Gift Does Apologia Have For You?

Save 20% off limited-time book bundles and Apologia gift cards in the Apologia online store. What gift do we have for you and loved ones on your gift-giving list? Come shop and save before December 12!

Click here for information.

Sponsored

Tim Lambert to Speak in Houston

What:    Gulf Coast Christian Home Scholars support group meeting

Title:      For Such a Time as This

When:   Thursday, December 6
               7:00 p.m.

Where: Nassau Bay Baptist Church
              18131 Nassau Bay Drive
              Houston, TX 77058

Advent Storybooks

A Book Review

Each year we desire to celebrate Advent, endeavoring to focus our family on Jesus, attempting to draw them away from the commercialism of the Christmas season. We've done Advent wreaths, studies of Christmas symbols, and Advent calendars, but one activity that our children L-O-V-E is to read one of the Advent storybooks written by Arnold Ytreeide.

One such example is Jotham's Journey. There is a daily reading for each day of Advent; and at the end of each chapter, the author leaves your children begging for more. They are adventurous stories that lead you to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

There are three Advent storybooks written by Mr. Ytreeide: Jotham's Journey, Tabitha's Travels, and Bartholomew's Passage. The only difficulty with these storybooks is the commitment involved in following through on each daily reading regardless of your busy Christmas schedule, but our family has found that the commitment turns into a blessing instead of a burden. Happy reading!

Read an excerpt from Jotham's Journey.

Events Around Texas

Now through December 31 - San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Now through December 30 - Dallas Arboretum
December 12 - Texas State Aquarium

THSC Resources and Member Benefits

REVIEW Magazine
Check out the electronic version of the THSC REVIEW Magazine.
Sign up for our free print edition of the THSC REVIEW.

This magazine has encouraging articles written by those who have been there/done that to help you in this great adventure of home schooling!

Patrick Henry Scholarship
THSC is pleased to continue offering scholarships for Texas home schoolers who plan to attend Patrick Henry College as freshmen in the fall.

Please call THSC's office (806) 744-4441 or fill out an online application. Applications are to be postmarked by February 5, 2013.

Feel free to call George Clay at (540) 338-8777 if you have specific questions.

Common Thread of Bias

THSC encountered yet again another college that was attempting to require home schoolers to present notarized high school transcripts. This time Tim wrote a letter to Weatherford College clarifying that notaries in the state of Texas are not even allowed to notarize school transcripts and informing the college that their policies and practices were unlawful and biased toward home schoolers and needed to be corrected immediately.

Read Tim's letter to Weatherford College.

A Merry Heart Doeth Good

Do you have a funny, home school-related anecdote you'd like to share? We'd love to publish it
(limit 750 characters)! Please include your name and where you live, then mail it to THSC.

We Have a Winner!

The winner of the THSC Review Potter's Wheel Contest in the November 2012 magazine is Kayley Neill of Katy. She won an "I Home School in Texas" T-shirt. The Potter's Wheel was hidden on page 10 (on the dad's sleeve).

Watch for the Potter's Wheel in the next THSC Review magazine, be the first to locate it, and you could win a prize. We appreciate all the readers of the magazine!

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16

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The articles in this newsletter reflect the freedom of home educators in Texas to choose from a wide variety of home school philosophies and teaching methods. Opinions and attitudes expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Texas Home School Coalition. THSC does not endorse or advocate any one method or philosophy. The board encourages each home educator to seek God's will in determining what is best for him, his school, and his students.

Publication of advertisements does not signify endorsement of items or services offered.