Our Boatload of Dreams.....

Welcome to Our Place Called Simplicity.

We invite you into our lives with one goal in mind: that you would be encouraged to live simply and truly love one another.

Married for 33 years, we are the parents of many. Eleven {so far} children. Eight of whom are adopted. We also have four sons and a daughter that we are parents of in Uganda as well. They were raised on the streets and had no parents until we "adopted" them 3+ years ago. So we really have sixteen children total {with more on the way}.

After 7+ weeks in Uganda, Emma {18} and I recently returned to the United States with our newest addition - a baby girl named Ruby Grace. Dw and Emma were leading a missions team in June 2011 where they had the privilege of meeting Ruby - a tiny 11 month old gem weighing only 6 lbs.

Our oldest daughter Abigail and her husband finally{!} allowed us the privilege of being Mimi and Jaja by bringing us our very first grand baby {from Uganda}...making us now, officially, a multi-generational adoptive family. Proof that adoption is a very, very good thing!

We've had the privilege of adopting our treasures from all over the world, some dubbed "special needs" we are convinced that the only TRUE special need a child has is to have a family.

Our peers are empty nesters, but we are certain that given this option to any orphan - "old mom and dad" or "no mom and dad", all would still vote for the old ones. So here we are - the old ones....doing it again....

If you are need of encouragement or wonder if God is able to move your mountain, please head over to the sidebar where Special Posts are listed. Start at Our Wild Adventure Part 1. You will be reminded of Almighty God's deep love for the orphan and how He will move mountains on their behalf....we call Him the Miracle-Working, Mountain-Moving, Awe-Inspiring, Gasp-Giving God!! Yippee Jesus!!

I am humbled beyond words and ever so grateful that the Lord is fulfilling a promise He gave me way back in 1982..."making the barren woman to be at home - the joyful mother of children" (Psalms 113:9). How I praise His name!!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Grateful/Thankful Thursday - oh so much to be thankful for!!

Today I'm grateful for the promises of God - - - - God ALWAYS keeps His promises!! Always! I'm grateful that we could take our big married/almost married kids to dinner Tuesday night. We asked them where they wanted to go and Tyler kept saying, "Subw*y!" He then said that he was going to pout the whole night if we didn't go to Subw*y. Here's his pouty face.....After we promised him a pony ride and a face-painting....he cheered up!!

I'm grateful that this little guy is keeping me running....which ultimately means more calories burned...not a bad thing post-menopausal!!

I'm grateful/thankful for Autumn and Polly (as in Pocket) - my grandpet......her breed aren't necessarily known for loving kids, but little Miss Polly is a hoot....she lets Elizabeth carry her all around....and Polly likes getting dressed up in fashionable outfits..... I'm grateful/thankful for nailpolish......
I'm grateful/thankful for this color!! Emma's toes look so sweet!

I'm grateful/thankful for the horse ride that we found for only $.01 (yes, you read that right - it was only ONE PENNY!) the other day on our way home from Greeley.....we had no clue such a thing even existed anymore!! I just hope the government doesn't get ahold of that one too!
I'm grateful that strawberries are growing in a little patch here at the rental......they are producing good results!!



I'm forever grateful for this precious treasure, spared at the last minute by Almighty God........


What are YOU grateful/thankful for this Grateful/Thankful Thursday?????????????

22 Simply Sweet Words:

Chrisann said...

Wow - you have sure had a busy week! I know it is so fun to have all your family together getting ready for the wedding. Could not be happier for Tyler and Sarah. Enjoy all these wonderful moments. I will be praying about the drive to Iowa and the surgery. Blessings friend.

scrappy quilter said...

What a great thankful/grateful list once again. One thing I'm grateful/thankful for is this wonderful blog and you sharing your life with all of us. It's so neat to come here, see these awesome pictures and the smiles. I'm thankful for the gift of adoption....

hugs and love

Chris and Sarah said...

I was sure when you said you found a penny pony that is was going to be Tyler on it.

We have a penny pony here at Me*jer and we are very thankful for it too.

Hezra said...

grateful for friends who remind us of God's blessings and for a loving God who leads our path to people we wouldn't ordinarily meet. Love you!

valerie in TX said...

I am grateful/thankful for your blog! Which encourages me and makes me smile daily! :)

erin said...

look! i'm posting a comment! haha. i'm so bad at this, but i do read!

first off, i'm jealous that you have your own strawberry patch!! yum!

i love that restaurant you went to!! i recognize it :) you and abi look soo much alike. wow!!

congratulations to the wedding couple... how exciting! may God bless them in their marriage!!

i'm thankful for the perfect weather we've been having...not too hot--which is good when you don't have a/c!!

i'm thankful for being a SAHM..and having a husband who realizes how much work it really is!! even with little ones in school. it's still a full time job!!

i'm thankful for photography jobs that give me a little extra cash to fund my sewing projects :)

i'm thankful that i live in a safe, fun neighborhood that my kids can play freely in!

i'm thankful for the internet and all the inspiration and information it provides...as well as giving me a way to keep up with far away family and friends

i'm thankful for my little family. it is perfect for me!

i think i could go on and on, but i think this comment is long enough!!

Susan said...

I'm so grateful we still live in a nation that is "under God". My prayer is this won't be taken away from us. Ohilda at a bouquet of Blessings just posted this link. I hope every person reading this will take just a few moments and listen to it. It is the most powerful I've ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQOCvthw-o

Thank you Tyler for helping to preserve this. May GOD bless your life ahead. ~Susan.

stephanie said...

I'm grateful to be able to visit your blog to remind me of all I do have.... thanks

Tony and Rett said...

I'm thankful for seasons of joy!

And I'm thankful that God knows the rest of the story...

Lauren said...

I'm thankful for that last photo and the way it made me smile. What a CUTIE PIE!

Chris said...

My hubby is wondering if he could keep up with another 3 y.o. boy and I told him he is not as old as DW yet and he is doing fine. I will show him your pictures,not the one with the oil on the floor though.

Amie@WildOlive said...

I'm thankful for your thankful Thrusdays. They always make me smile, and pause to be thankful for things I would never think of, like nail polish and road signs. Thank you for being so darn stinkin' adorable... and thank you for your beautiful BIG Ol' Honkin family that just makes my heart smile BIG!!

love you sister!
:)
Amie

Janet and Kevin said...

Linny,

We are thankful for the skilled surgeon who just operated on our little boy's beautiful face to help him grow and give him a hope and a future.

We are also thankful for attending the Philip Hayden reunion this past weekend and meeting Tim and Pam B*ker, getting to give them a hug personally for taking such good care of our precious Philip.

Love in Christ,
Janet and Kevin

Are These Kids All Yours? said...

I am grateful for a loving caring husband who is a spiritual leader. I am grateful for our 7 beautiful children that have all been spared from harm! I am grateful for the camp ministry here that we get to be a part of, and the many many many hearts that are opened to see HIM!!! I am grateful for a great summer staff that care about others so much they serve with God's heart! I am grateful to live in a country that we still have freedoms!!!!!!

Kylee said...

I love this grateful/thankful thursday list!

looks like having all your kids home is lots of fun! i'm 16, and have 3 older sisters, 2 little adopted brothers, and two little (2 and 4 yrs old) foster sisters-it makes for quite a busy/crazy/chaotic house when everyone is home. but its SO much fun!! lots of memories are always made!

enjoy your weekend and the wedding!!

Megan said...

I am thankful to have found your blog and the opportunity to see inside your life. I am VERY thankful for adoption as I would not be a Mama without it. And I can't imagine not being Mama to THEM. Blessings for the next coming days.

Karin said...

I'm thankful for YOU! :) I didn't post a Thankful Thursday today so I'm being thankful on yours. :)

Holly said...

I am thankful that we got our referral after 3 years of waiting!!!!

Lisa said...

I'm grateful for bloggy friends that remind me that God is the ultimate promise keeper!

Cecelia said...

Im thankful for wonderful friends like you and special blessing from God

Shawnstribe said...

I'm thankful that i can read about thankfulness from folk that have been through so much!!!!
Thank You Jesus for your beautiful witness
xxx
s

Karen said...

Praying for beautiful weather and a wonderful celebration for Tyler and Sarah's wedding tonight.