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!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Spud Lake

About five years ago our Girlfriend's Ministry at church took a hike to Spud Lake. It was one of the most beautiful places I had ever been to. I have wanted Dw to see it, so finally, about six weeks back {and although I got the post all ready, I completely forgot to put it on}, Dw, Emma and Graham and I went for a hike. Two miles in and two miles out. Gorgeous terrain.

I  love scenery, so I just had to share it with all of you...

Spud Lake reminds me kind of Alaska.

Breathtaking.

Peaceful.














Check out that dead tree! God even made dead trees intricately beautiful!

Look at it!






That's Durango Mountain Ski Resort over there...see the ski runs?


I kept losing my balance....and laughing...
But if you look at the above picture closely,
Graham is leaning his knee into me....
and that's what was making me lose my balance...
it took me about 2 minutes to figure it out...
goofy son!! He thought he was soooo funny!





Two of my favorite treasures....
















 And here is what the area looks like now...

My dear friend had our boatload for dinner this past week .....{we had a blast I must add}...  She lives up near Spud Lake...

Look at the aspens and scrub oak now!!






and yes, the mountains have been getting a fair amount of snow...

and this was taken near  our home....

Dw and I call it eye candy...




We are soooooo blessed.....

Praise His glorious name forever! 
Let the whole earth be filled with His glory. 
Amen and amen!
Psalm  72:19

17 Simply Sweet Words:

natali said...

another thing added to my have to do list! go see Colorado!!

Jen said...

Beautiful beyond description. You are truly blessed to look upon such beauty.

Pamela Early Settoon said...

Wow, this is sooo beautiful. My husband & I went to Colorado and stayed in a cabin for our honeymoon and it was beautiful. I can't wait to go back and we will definitely have to go see Spud Lake and I would love to hang out with your family for a day. What a blessing your blog is to me.

Heather said...

lovely pictures! What a beautiful day it must have been.

Mr. Daddy said...

I saw the fishing poles,,,,but no pictures of trophy fishies!!!!!!!LOL

Looks like a great day for all....

truly beautiful,

*Overflowing* said...

Soooo beautiful...makes me long for Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite!

Renee said...

Such beauty! I cannot imagine looking at it every day....God's masterpieces....Thanks for sharing the photos with us....

Chrisann said...

One of my favorite hikes! So incredibly beautiful. Made me miss the mountains!

NanaNor's said...

Hi Linny, Such beauty, we really need to make the trip down so I can see firsthand your area. WE were in Estes yesterday and it was equally beautiful. Have an awesome day dear sis.
Noreen

Teresa said...

Beautiful pictures, beautiful family!
Love and blessings,
Teresa

Catalina said...

So beautiful and serene, I feel rested just by looking at the pictures. Thanks for sharing!

becky.coates said...

hmmm I thought the Lake District in England was beautiful!!!! I'm just abit jealous and want to see it for myself but will have to make do with your beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing them. xxx

Janet said...

What Beautiful eye candy! How blessed we are to live in Colorado! Love the pictures of some of your treasures! Praying for Abi, Ryan, and Finn! Cannot wait to see pictures of Finn. Blessings! Janet

purejoy said...

your mountains are so majestic! our mountains are so… uh… well… SMOKEY!! you'll have to come out sometime and check them out!
what an awesome landscape and how neat to take time out to enjoy it! so beautiful!

Corrie said...

beautiful pics, beautiful children

Jean said...

Amen sweet friend, amen!

BTW I find that old dead tree incredibly beautiful and interesting, too!

~Truly Tina~ said...

Eye candy indeed! Absolutely beautiful scenery! I particularly like the ones where the snow-capped mountains rise above the orange and gold foliage. Simply beautiful. :)