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!!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

$.03 and Perhaps A Change of Clothes?


Today Graham and I took Elijah and Elizabeth to run some errands. We had to stop at the grocery store for diapers too. When I was pushing the cart I noticed that some kind soul had left the sale flyer. And right on top of the flyer it said that with the coupon that came with the ad a bag of Nestle Flipz were only $.97!! Can anyone out there yell a hearty Yippee Jesus??


Come on, little bit of chocolate, little bit of crunch, not as many calories or fat grams as chocolate covered nuts (my personal favorite)...but oh yeah baby - score!!


So Graham ran to get 4 bags of the Flipz as the ad said the coupon was only good with FOUR bags...(better yet - yummm). A bag for the kids to share and 3 bags to hide in my undies drawer (I'm just sayin)....


Going thru the self-check-out I rang up the four bags and then ripped the store coupon out of the flyer and scanned it. It took off $.03. I laughed. What the heck? Three cents??!? You mean to tell me those bags are normally only $1.00?? Had no clue, they were a luxury to me I thought.


Graham said, "Three cents off? That's dumb." I laughed louder. Really, here I was all excited about the big savings and it turns out it's a whopping three cents.


As we were pushing the cart, kids and groceries outside I saw a bunch of RV's in the parking lot. Our city is a tourist attraction and they are everywhere.


I said to Graham, "I'm bummed Graham. Right now we would be on our RV trip if Daddy hadn't been sick. Today, I mean, Graham, we would on our RV TRIP!!" (And yes, we would be stopping in Indiana to see bloggy friends, etc.) argh


Graham quickly said, "Mom, I'm okay with it all. We're having fun and look at the bright side, we just saved three cents." Thanks Gray, thanks.


*********************************************************


Upon arriving home we had to run somewhere else. The other kids and Quiz kids were piling in cars. I ran in the house to use the ladies room. Everyone was in the car and I ran to do "it". I came down the hallway, hurrying at top speed...and as I entered the kitchen Graham jumped out of hiding and yelled, "Mom, ready to go?" I almost touched the vaulted ceiling with my sky jump! Does my 14 year old not get how much stress there has been? He was laughing like a crazy person and continued laughing for about 5 whole minutes. When he gained control he said, "Don't you need to go change your pants?" No son, not this time.


But it is payback time. So he better be watching. I don't get mad but I will get him back. Big time.

27 Simply Sweet Words:

Rachel said...

Oooh! That revenge in the making sounds like a True Story Tuesday for sure!

Thanks for the laughs!

Mary McG in TN said...

LOL That is too funny! Glad your life is returning to some normalacy!

Kim said...

Linny,

Flips are my favorite "treat". Yum!

Kim :)

Are These Kids All Yours? said...

Oh yeah, watch out for those paybacks!

Tracy said...

Ok. Seriously. The whole comment that Graham made about hes ok with the RVing thing because you all just saved 3 cents has got me rolling right now. Seriously cant quit laughing.
I love the wit that some our teens have nowadays. How funny is that!

TanyaLea said...

I love it! You sound so much like me sometimes, I just have to laugh!! And what is it about scaring people?? In our house, that is an on-going past time for our older kids. Oh, who am I kidding, my husband and I have fun with it, too!! ;) But I hear ya when you say you don't get mad...you just get even!! :) LOL!

God bless!
Tanya

Jayme said...

Hilarious Linny! Hilarious! I LOVE your blog and your funny posts. You inspire me to be the awesome Mom you are! I read it twice and laughed both times! Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming!

Lori said...

Bahahaha!! Well, Obama promised change. A whole 3 cents' worth for ya! Now spread it around...it's not nice for you to keep all that wealth to yourself.

Teenage boys are the greatest, aren't they?! Mine keep me laughing constantly. Graham is such a hoot!

scrappy quilter said...

One of my favorite sayings is "it's payback time". it's so much fun. What a great post!! It's so good to have laughter in our lives. And woo hoo on the 3 cents saved!! Too funny!! Hugs and love

Holly said...

My favorite part of this post is Graham's comment, "That's gay." Ha! I haven't heard that phrase since I was teenager with my little brothers. Love it!

MrsMann said...

What a fun post! It's always a treasure to read your fun post lately, as your trying times have seen to take over and not leave much room for these giggly ones. :)

Adeye said...

3 cents???? Oh my goodness--I am laughing so hard!!!!

Too darn funny. I wonder why in the world they took the time (and spent the money) to advertise that?

LOL!!!!

Nellie's Cozy place said...

Hi Linny,
That is so funny about the flipz!!
A whopping 3 cents huh!! ha
Have you heard anything at all from Cindy?? I am so hoping we get good news about her condition soon.
She looks like such a sweet lady.
All your children look so happy and are so adorable. Mom and Dad
are a good looking couple as well.
Bless you,
Nellie

stephanie said...

I'm laughing too!!!!! I love it!

Susan said...

Get him, Linny, get him!!!

Sally- That Girl! said...

The last time Kevin thought it was fun to scare mama, I got him back so good he hasn't scared me since. What is it with boys scaring people especially mamas?

Hezra said...

3 cents per bag though right?? lol

purejoy said...

oh, hilarious. on every count. but especially on the coupon. but save me a bag. i love those things!

Woman with Hope said...

Hello, I am new at all of this blogging. My family has sold all we had to follow a call of our Lord's. I will not lie it has been difficult at times. One area that I have struggeled in is friendships with sisters and bothers in Christ. When we left our hometown we left lifetime friendships with Christian brothers and sisters and we now live in the middle of the desert in cetral Mexico in a fifth wheel with no other english speaking people for an hour. We are surrounded by many villagers who have no idea what a life with Christ is. What an honor to be chosen but the lonliness for fellow brothers and sisters surrounding us, to fellowship with has been the hardest thing for me. When I read the quilt story I began to cry. You see I have held in so many words that I have wanted to say but could not find the avenue. I long for encouragement and accountability by fellow sisters. This is encouraging to see that no matter how far I am from my church family. God brings us together. Thank you. Rebecca

Chasity said...

Graham sounds like my son. Always so much fun! Great job on the big savings....a savings is a savings, right? I would love to get a savings on something I love that much.

Happy Eating, did you hide them in your undie drawer afterall?

Karin said...

Giggle...$.03??? Like Lori said, make sure you spread that wealth around!

Make sure you get Graham back when his friends are watching. hehe

Shonni said...

That is so funny...he has his dad's sense of humor I see...LOL

Sarah the Kool Kid said...

haha, aw, that made me laugh. Good start to my morning! Nothing like good deals and almost-wet pants...

Miss. Jinny said...

Seriously Gray cracks me up! I am sorry Linny that he did that to you but I would be rolling on the floor laughing with him lol! We did that to my mom right after my dad passed away! We went on a weekend get away to Alb. my mom, brothers and I and when we got home my mom had to go to the restroom really bad but the door was lock so my older brother had to go to the front door and unlock the door for us! While he was doing that my mom was doing the potty dance so when Matt opened the door he just started tickling my mom until she peed her pants it was so funny! :) I will never forget that story! :) Good memories Linny good memories! :)

~love said...

oh, i just laughed so loudly in my quiet house of 4 sleeping little girls!! he is hilarious. and the whole save 3 cents things....so, so funny.

your life is beautiful. =)

Tony and Rett said...

Yeah, well, Graham might be ok with skipping the RV trip...but I'm NOT! I was one of the friends you were going to stop and see!!!

Grrrr...I hope you get him back good! HAHAHAH.

Mr. Daddy said...

guess the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree?? Eay!!! I think I remember a TST about you doing the same thing...(BUT TO A TOTAL STRANGER) LOL