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Promises Kept

~ Pat Harrell

Keep the promises you make to your children.

I think it's going to be a Tylenol day. My legs are jelly. My back needs replacing. My hands can hardly type this. My left shoulder is calling me names I won't repeat.

Yesterday I built a tree house for the kids. I built it in one day. Please don't be too impressed. My twelve-year-old son, True, helped. My eight-year-old son, Ever, sure thought he was helping.

The tree house was built in only one day, but it took six years to plan. For six years I promised my kids we were going to build a tree house "someday." I bought and read four tree house-building books over those six years. The books had impressive titles like Backyards for Kids; and Treehouses and Playhouses You Can Build.; Yet none of those books built the tree house for me.

Read the rest of the article.

Legacy of Freedom

Watch THSC's Newest Video

Watch this video to take a historical look at the freedom that we do enjoy in Texas and the way that battle has been fought. And then join this effort to protect those very freedoms by becoming a member of THSC Association. Families who join, renew, or donate $100 or more through the end of December will receive the "Last Ounce of Courage" DVD absolutely free of charge, including free shipping. Your tax deductible donations will load the next counterpunch needed to combat those who seek to take away your parental rights.

Around the Web

Christmas Card Ideas

Addition in the Snow

Alphabet Museum

Home Schoolers Worldwide Join Forces

~ Alex Newman, New American

In October of 2005, the Neubronner family decided to homeschool. In America, that would have been the end of the story. The Neubronners, however, lived in Germany, where government has taken an extreme hardline stance with the aim of eradicating home education altogether. The loving German parents applied for permission to educate their two young sons, Morris and Thomas, at home. Unsurprisingly, their application was rejected.

Over the next few months, the battle seemed interminable. They sued for permission to homeschool and lost. Then they appealed. Again, they lost. Finally, in the summer of 2006, the Neubronners struck a deal with school authorities: The boys could be homeschooled provided they were tested regularly. Like the vast majority of homeschoolers, the kids did great on the government's tests.

Despite the high marks, or perhaps because of them, eventually, authorities decided to put an end to the successful home education scheme.

Read the article.

Battle Against UN Treaty Successful!

The battle against efforts to erode the fundamental constitutional right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children continues. Today, the US Senate rejected the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by a vote of 61-38, which was just five votes short of the necessary two-thirds vote.

While a number of conservative and pro-family groups like the Heritage Foundation opposed the treaty, home schoolers seemed to get the "blame" or "credit," depending on which side of the issue people were on. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, said of opponents to the treaty, "I am frankly upset that they have succeeded in scaring the parents who home school their children all over this country."

Last week after THSC issued a second alert for calls to Texas' US Senators, we received reports that their voicemails were full and lines were busy and those answering their phones acknowledged that they were overwhelmed with calls that were virtually all opposed to the measure because it undermined parental rights.

Read Tim's blog post.

Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

1 cup warm milk (110-125 degrees F)
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 package Active Dry Yeast (0.25 ounce packet)
1 egg, plus 2 egg whites, beaten
4 1/2 to 5 cups flour (may need little more if too wet)
1 teaspoon salt

Read the whole recipe.

Meet Ben Snodgrass

This coming spring our Director of Public Policy, Paul Hastings, will be leading a group of five young men to the Texas Capitol for 140 days. These young men are all home school graduates, and Texas legislators will view them as the manifestation of what home schooling has to offer.

This team will be working directly with state representatives, state senators, and their staff. They will testify in committees about home schooling, track and write bills, analyze legislation, draft amendments, debate with staffers, and meet and work with other conservative organizations, all the while fighting for the right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children.

We want to welcome Ben Snodgrass. Ben is a 20-year-old junior at Patrick Henry College where he is working to obtain a degree in government with an emphasis in economics. While he was still in high school, Ben served as a part-time intern at the Liberty Institute and at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In his free time, he competes in British Parliamentary debate, plays his violin, reads the classics, and memorizes Scripture.

Check out the THSC PAC website for current Texas, National, International, and Legislative news.

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!

It Helps to Be a Member
If you are looking for an alternative to the high costs of medical insurance, check out Samaritan Ministries International.

As a benefit to becoming a member of THSC Association or renewing your yearly membership with us, Samaritan Ministries will waive the $165 first-year membership fee.

Join or renew your membership today!

A Merry Heart Doeth Good

As multi-tasking home school moms, sometimes we can't hold it all together.

After a pretty chaotic, hard day of home schooling and household duties and children who seemingly forgot how to listen—the same children who had again taken my mop and broom handles for a pretend sword fight—my husband arrived home from work. He unsuspectingly stepped into our kitchen where I was frantically working to finish supper. I must admit I was NOT in my best mood ever. I was fixing to clean up what seemed like the umpteenth mess of the day and snapped at him. When he looked at me, I said, "Don't look at me like I'm a witch," and in the same breath, turned to my kiddos and yelled, "Boys, where's my broomstick?"

My bad mood quickly disintegrated, and our family enjoyed a tremendous laugh.

~ A Home School Mom

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.

Advent Focus

Jesus is the Light of the World
Light a candle with your family and read John 1:1-14.

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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.