I remember how before Gregory started going to college I fretted about how we could possibly pay for it. I was hearing from other homeschool parents further down the road with the college phase saying that the average cost of a private college ran about $18,000 per year before scholarships or grant mony was figured in. A Pell would, at most, only cover less than $5,000 per year if a family qualified for the maximum amount. Every passing month as the college search loomed nearer, I was more and more nervous.

I am happy to say that Gregory is now a sophomore in college and all the worry was for naught. He got two schoalrships and a Pell which in combination not only covered his full tuition and books but also gives him stippend money to cover other school related costs such as gas, computer-related expenses (software for his computer applications classes, a MacBook so he could learn the Mac's operating system), graphing calculator, etc.

This is all on my mind because yesterday he got his updated awards letter for this upcoming sememster. Because of his continuing high GPA (all As and only one B so far), he has been bumped up on his Honors Scholarship by 59%. That means his stippend money will increase. In essence, he is getting paid to go to college.

Melody enters college next year. She is still deciding what she wants to do and therefore where she will need to be going. Two in college, that used to be a very scary thought. Now, I don't worry so much anymore.