“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His love endures forever!”

This particular scripture rings out as a happy little chant around our home.  (The punctuation is mine, not the Bible’s.)  November’s memory verse for the Sunday School has become a kind of mantra over the last few weeks.  I love to unexpectedly call to our older son, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”  And our Sunday School student replies with the remainder of the verse.  It’s especially cute because he says “His love and doors forever!”  So true, little one.

In fact, God has been abundantly good to us this year by providing much love and more than a few open “doors.”  As the readers who are close to us know, the budget of two graduate students with two children is a tight one.  The summer of 2009 required the greatest financial caution that we’ve ever had to exercise.  We skimped, we cut coupons (something I’m terrible at), and we made tidy little grocery lists that made use of every leftover.  We skipped a vacation this year, and we prayed that our car would hold for awhile longer while we ignored the noises and the shimmies.  When we thought that we had reached the end of our monetary options, God came through in an amazing, humbling way.  We made it through the summer without borrowing, and more importantly, we found that our creativity and love were enough to make for a fun, memorable summer.

The fall, as you’ve seen through this blog, was wonderfully rewarding and beautiful.  I actually credit “Warm as Pie” for bringing out the best in my family and myself this season.  I find myself thinking about what I can share with you, my readers.  I have a vision for what I want this blog to be, and while the blog does report what my life is, it has also inspired me to make my life what I want it to be.  I don’t know how many people are actually reading this collage of our family’s life, but today I give thanks for you.  I’m glad that you are sharing in this experience with me, and I hope—if you haven’t already—that you will leave a comment at your leisure.       

Our family is gearing up for Advent, our favorite time of year!  Now that the Thanksgiving feast is behind us, I’m taking down my fall decor, and we’ll be pulling out boxes of ornaments and lights in the next few days.  I am excited to share some of the crafts and activities that will lead us to the celebration of Christmas.  We’re hoping for some magic…