Chapter 1

In which God calls the Crandalls to a new adventure 

Where do we begin our story? Let's see, do we begin one month ago, when Josiah and Amanda officially decided to set aside other employment options and pursue full time ministry work? Do we begin maybe 4 years ago when the dream of lending quality literature began to take shape in their hearts? Or maybe closer to 6 years ago when it became increasingly important and enjoyable to share living stories with their children, first inviting Laura Ingalls Wilder into their imaginations. But wait, I do believe it was about 12 years ago that Josiah first mentioned to Amanda that he was interested in one day running a library of good books. But then if you count that as the beginning, it would only make sense to go back to when Josiah and Amanda married nearly 13 years ago, uniting their lives in the pursuit of God's calling. But then again, that never would have happened without the countless moments orchestrated by God to bring them together, or teach them His truths, or inspire them in love for Himself and the world He created. But then it would only make sense to go back just a touch further, nearly 30 years ago, when God first called young children named Josiah and Amanda to a saving knowledge of a Holy God, drafting them into His own Story.

Those are only some of the parts I know, but I suppose this part of the story begins when you, Reader, came along. Because truly, for each of us, God has been at work long before we realized it. That's the way Josiah and Amanda see it, at least, because they know they are just a small part of a much larger Story that was started in the beginning.