Hi Everyone,

        I wanted to write and say how much we have been enjoying our fall, out and about in New Hampshire this year.  Now that the leaves have lost most of their warm hue or just plain fallen away for the most part, the landscape seems to give way to the fact that winter will soon be upon us.  Although I adore a veiw of autumn splendor, I am equally enamored by the seasonal veiw we get of MT. Monadnock once the trees let go of the last bit of nature's fireworks.  We have gotten around some but not as much as we would like.  My youngest one who is 6, has asthma and seems to get colds first and worst in our family.  That usually keeps us bunkered down for awhile.  In the few times we have gotten to do some things, we have really loved the ability to do so. 

        We got out to the Pumpkin Festival, where I saw a friend I haven't seen in more than 15 years and the remarkable thing about that is, aside from the sheer magnitude of the crowd (if you have ever been, you know of what I speak), we knew eachother from childhood in Chelsea, Massachusetts where we grew up together.  We had completely lost touch and recently connected through a few phone calls to find out that we wound up in the same small corner of the universe up here.  By chance we caught sight of each other and said our hello's.  After that, we got to meet up with the Keene Homeschool group and have an awesome time out with other Homeschoolers at the Thorne Art Gallery at Keene State College.  We saw paintings which range from unusual to awesome.  My favorite (as well as my 6 year olds), was that of a painting by Mary Cassatt of a woman breastfeeding her baby.  I was in awe at the way Cassatt caught the moments of bonding between a mother and child and portrayed them so eloquently onto canvas.  The history of the painter was quite interesting also.  I finally got to put some faces to names of the people in the group I have been conversing with off and on.  The outing afforded the boys time with others their own age (even my 12 and 15 year old).  The gallery separated the group by ages, taking the younger ones through the gallery with the parents first while the older children got to go to a room down the hall and have a short art lesson, then they switched off.  All my boys had a great time.  We all did.

Now for the part of living here that has made the most impact on us.....

The wildlife!!  Just since the beginning of October, we have seen 3 big deer, a beaver and a moose (that was the best, right in our back yard!!).  I am sure folks around here are used to this aspect of living in the foot hills of the mountains but it is all new to us.  What a rush to see the moose!  Also, New Hampshire affords us the ability to be involved with the 2008 presidential campaign in ways most other states don't get.  Politicians love us up here in NH, don't they?  I am ordinarily not a fan of politics and keep my distance.  This year though, my 15 year old son wanted to be involved in a campaign, being here has made that easier for him.  He actually is on way to being granted an internship with the person we are endorsing.  Very exciting for him.  Exciting for me too, especially after I found out that the internship thing was not like the internships I have heard of.  He gets to be involved, gain irreplaceable life experience, meet people from all walks of life and mostly feel like he is doing something for the greater good.   

This is a great season of Thanks giving to Lord for us.  We have been on a rough course for a while but we have been blessed beyond measure.  One thing that is still a very pressing issue is that my husband is still out of a job.  We could use your prayers if you have some to spare!!

JUST A REMINDER:  This Saturday, November 10th from 9am to noon, the Support Our Troops Committee will be at the American Legion in Jaffrey, putting together boxes for our soldiers and writing Christmas cards and letters to them from there also.  It is a great opportunity to show our Soldiers how much they are thought of and about.  Maybe we will see some of you there?!  I do not know anyone over there at present personally (my cousin has just come home from his time over there as a Marine, Praise God!), but we meet people all the time who have served or know someone who is/ has. 

    ~ in HIM, Peggie