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!!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

I Totally Forgot To Introduce You To...

Our Staff!!!!
Front center couple: Kelly & Ben (newlyweds!!)
Children's Pastor: Jen (green sweater) & her husband Billy in front of her...
Dw's immediate left: (Brenda with her husband) Kevin - he is our youth director
Very top of picture: Mark & Jill (to his right)
Above Dw & I: Steve & Lori (our son-in-love's parents)
Our Staff with Some of Their Kids.....
Just the Kids....
One of the reasons I had to show you their picture is because they are an awesome staff. I remember right after I returned from Africa with the babies Dw told me that two of our staff pastors had told them the Lord had shown them it was time to move on....(one went to fulfill his long-time dream of going to Med school, another to go back into missions and then another was already leaving to plant a church in San Francisco).....just a couple of weeks later we had the fire and I remember saying to the Lord, "Okay Lord, this is too much - you are going to have to have a smooth transition and bring the people to us......which He completely did!! Kevin heard about our job opening and contacted Dw. Steve saw my post on the blog about looking for some positions....and Jen was attending our church already and applied. Only God would and could make it all that easy!! And they are ALL wonderful and we have lots of fun together!!! We are abundantly blessed.
Wayne Cordeiro (a personal friend of Dw's) wrote a wonderful book called "Doing Church As a Team" (which we would highly recommend)....and the staff is currently reading it....and yes, we are Doing Church as A Team....
If you ever want to listen to any of our sermons...they are here....
Recently (11/29/09) Dw & I team taught about orphans....

8 Simply Sweet Words:

JR said...

Love ♥ the pics & you guys! ☺

Leah said...

Awwwww. I wanna come to your church! I guess it would be a bit of a drive from MO though. You all look so cute.

Holly said...

We are going to have to buy several copies of the book! That is exactly what is happening at our church in OKC! We have new Pastors and their heart is for the church to be a team ministry! I tried to click on the link to buy the book and it isn't working, but I will try back soon!

Awesome!

carie said...

What a great group of God-loving , people-loving pastors and spouses.
I am blessed to be a part of a church that loves each other and their fabulous staff. TEAM is the right word! xx

stephanie said...

AWW, you all look like one gigantic happy family.
Isn't that awesome?

scrappy quilter said...

I'd love to come visit your church too. I'm so glad you have an awesome team working along side of you. What a blessing!! Hugs

Waitingfaithfully said...

Great pictures, love the way everyone is snuggled up--like family! Thank you Lord for bringing everyone to Dw and Linny at just the right time!

Love you friend!

Tina

Blessed Mom of Four, Now Five said...

Praise the LORD for your awesome staff.

Our pastor and his wife have been away. His FIL passed away, and his wife has been with him for the past 12 weeks.

Today was our first service since early November when they were both with us. Oh, how much we have missed them. How wonderful to have them home.

How blessed to belong to the body of Christ.