Hi Reader,

Last week, I watched my oldest daughter graduate with a Master’s in Theology and the Arts from the most prestigious university in Scotland.

When I began homeschooling her way back in kindergarten, I had no idea we’d keep going through high school.

I couldn't imagine that this five-year-old girl—a late reader, quite attached to her mama, rather nervous about new experiences—would grow up to travel the world. She'd live in Austria, Uganda, and Scotland… all before the age of 24. She’d earn a graduate degree from one of the UK’s top universities.

If you had told me these things back when she was small, I don’t think I would have believed you.

For years—years—I was overwhelmed with babies, and anything remotely academic took a backseat. I never used a rigorous curriculum. I’m pretty sure we never finished any curriculum for any subject in any year, actually.

We skipped stuff. I failed to teach entire subjects.

(Oops.)

Every single year, I wondered if I was doing enough.

After watching her graduate with her Master’s, I bundled up and walked the cobblestone streets of St. Andrews to the East Sands.

Cheese toasty in hand, I peered into the North Sea, wiping crumbs from my lips and taking in the glory of God’s Scottish creation.

And what I thought was this: What matters most is the time.

The time to connect— to talk, laugh, cry, fold laundry, run errands, wash dishes, correct spelling, rewrite a sentence, do a math problem, read aloud.

(Oh, the time to read aloud! 🥰)

Yes. I’m most grateful for the time.

Because looking back, very little of our homeschool was extraordinary. It was just us, at home, doing normal things. Connecting. Which, it turns out, is quite extraordinary.

Our kids need time and connection. Not all the time, and not constant connection, but… in the course of ordinary life—lots of mistakes included.

It all adds up to something far more beautiful than we can imagine when we’re in the thick of it all.

All we have to do is keep the faith, and keep connecting. ⁣That is extraordinary. And it is enough. 🥰