Welcome to the party. Come on in. Just kick the shoes and coats out of the way and make yourself at home. I've put out my best paper plates for you and dusted off the mugs. So pour yourself a cup of tea, or cocoa and come and chat awhile. The food is ready and if you don't see what you like, you can probably find a few left overs under the table.

     Welcome to our world. A world of wonder and color as we examine this beautiful and miraculous world that God  has created. A world of laughter and fun as we play games, and lovingly pick on each other. A world of trial and triumph as we learn to trust God in the midst of difficult times and praise and thank Him when the victory comes.

     I'm Connie and this is my husband Patrick. Patrick works real hard each and every day so that I can stay home and train our children in Godliness. He works at landscaping, snow removal, painting, custodial cleaning and repair, caretaking and various other strenuous jobs. He is suffering from arthritis, degenerative bone disease in his back and yet he still goes, working, struggling for the love of his family and because he knows that this is what's best for our kiddos.

     You're fortunate, my son Scott came home from College just for the party. He's leaving Saturday for a trip to the Caribbean so you better catch him while you can. He completed his first semester in the Honors program with a 3.74 grade point average. He's now decided that this particular school is not challenging him enough so he's decided to apply to Cornell University with the possibility of majoring in Environmental Engineering. I'm excited to see where God may be leading him.

     DS16 is also here, though he's about to leave for his hospitality class. They've opened a cafe and have started serving breakfast and lunch. So if you're hungry, he's the one to ask to make it for you. He makes fabulous bacon stuffed mushrooms, marinated steak, and my personal favorite peanut butter pie. He loves to cook and is hoping to get a job in that area this summer. He's already had a couple of possible offers.

     DS11 is busy at his art class right now, but will be returning soon. This is his second year and he's been painting up a storm. You can see his two ofhis pictures just a few posts down. He's also started his very own blog here at homeschoolblogger, Mainekid1, so why not pop over and introduce yourself. He loves hiking, fishing, camping, anything to do with outdoors as do his two older brothers. You can often find him wandering in the woods with his dog, Lilly.

     DD7 is trying hard to grow up and keep up with her brothers. Though I keep telling her to slow down and enjoy the age she's at. She's still learning to read but getting better everyday. She loves her Awana program and is excellent at memorizing the verses. She knows the books of the Bible almost better than the rest of us, and certainly better than most of the adults at Awanas. She loves to draw and is especially enjoying the Draw Write Now program that she started this week.

     DS4 is my baby and I always tell him that even when he's fifty he'll still be my baby. He is a dinosaur expert. Want to know anything about dinosaurs, ask him, he'll tell you. We've been reading about them since he was two. He's even been known to sit through those boring documentaries. He has, finally started letting me read other books to him, as long as we include one about dinosaurs as well. Right now he's discovered the books by Stephen Cosgrove. These are some of my favorites and we'll read one or two of those at night.

     Well, that's us and I'm so glad you stopped by the party. I hope you'll come back often and stay longer. So long for now.