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!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A Million Miles an Hour

That's the rate that it feels like my thoughts 
are going through my head today.

A million miles an hour.

Do you ever have days like that?

When I do, the best thing I can do is pray and fast.

So I'm doing that.

And I'm asking if you would join me tomorrow too?

As we lift up some very specific needs on the adoption front...

and as we share our requests and pray for each other?

Tomorrow.
Wednesday

June 29th, 2011

Prayer
and
Fasting
{I will do a post, just after midnight tonight, 
where you can share your requests.}

If you have never fasted, tomorrow would be a great time to start.  It is a spiritual discipline that is not really optional.  God's word says,  "When you fast...." Clearly indicating that we are supposed to fast.  I have heard from dozens of bloggy friends who had never fasted before, until they joined in on our days of prayer and fasting and they cannot believe what it has done to their spiritual life!

Fasting is giving up something we all love {food} to get on our knees before Him and ask Him:

 to speak, 

to move that mountain, 

to provide, 

to comfort, 

to bring Mr. Right along, 

 to open a spouses heart to adoption, 

to bring a wayward child home, 

 to draw a loved one's heart to Christ,

to provide the resources for
 bringing home another treasure, 

to provide a job,

to sell a home,

to heal someone you love,

 to give wisdom in a situation,

to reconcile a broken relationship,

to reveal His will,

and in the process

to make us more like Him!

There are many out there in bloggy land 
who desperately need to hear from the Lord!  

So tomorrow we will join together, 
sharing our needs, 
and praying for each other.

And God will move.

Because He loves us oh-so-much!

18 Simply Sweet Words:

Kelly G. said...

I am in! Much needed on this end right now too.

Amie said...

SO IN!

we need to catch up soon. It has been forever.

love you~
:)
Amie

Joanne Reddell said...

I've been wanting to thank you for your message on fasting last week. During your message, God convicted me to be fasting/praying weekly for the brokenness in our family. I've chosen Tuesday for my fasting day so today I'm spending time with God and trusting Him for HUGE miracles in our family. We are in such desperate need. Thanks again for your message - it really ministered to me and encouraged me!

I love you, sweet friend!

Renee said...

I will be praying and fasting, Linny...

Very Verdant said...

Count me in!

CARE Families said...

Impeccable timing on this one - especially for where we're at!!!

It's gotta be God for us to be excited about depriving ourselves of food, time and energy to lift up needs around the world to Him in prayer.

Isn't the Lord amazingly cool? Really amazing. Ya just got to LOVE Him!

Love you Linny!

hugs,
lisa

Stephanie said...

I'm in. :)

Heckert's Highway said...

Can't even begin to tell you how timely this is Linny!! God just threw us a curveball, in the middle of trying to sell our house. He's funny that way...we're adopting again!! So excited and terrified all at the same time. Thanks for doing this!!!
Love ya,
jenn H

Sandi said...

I'm in Linny!!! I love our days together!

Shannon said...

Absolutely!!!!!!! You have no idea how perfect this timing is for us. Georgia's heart stuff has gotten more intense and we have a monitor coming today or tomorrow in the mail. She is saying her heart is doing "funny boom booms" and laying on the floor to rest afterwards...SO need fasting & prayer for answers quickly as we are supposed to head to Mexico on a mission trip in 10 days!

Lynne said...

Oh Linny, your timing is so perfect.......just as God's timing is so perfect. My daughter and her family are in dire need of prayer, desperately - and in turn......I am as well. I will note them when you open it up tonight. I'm in with the Knee Team, and will be praying and fasting for this beautiful group......and it will be so comforting to know that others are remembering my family in prayer as well. God's richest blessings to you.

Kelly L said...

Oh Linny!!! This is such perfect timing, I was going to try to email you and ask for the knee team to be in prayer for a very specific adoption situation in our lives. I asked for prayer for this little one a couple months ago. I can't wait to share more as God continues to move! :) God is so good, this has been an ongoing prayer of our family for 3 years.

The Annessa Family said...

Oh I am so in need of this! We have been faced with so much negativity lately with out adoption.

Brooke Annessa
www.theannessafamily.blogspot.com

Leanne said...

I'm in too!

The Denis Family said...

I'm in...I will be sitting with my daughter at the hospital waiting for an OR time to open up. I will be fasting and praying!
Kim in Canada

Susan A said...

Count me in! :)

Lynne said...

Hi Linny - I posted a bit earlier today. I'm not going to be able to stay up until midnight when you post. I tried to, but it's 11:35 CST, and I'm fading fast. I will post my prayer requests in the morning. As I go throughout the day tomorrow praying and fasting, my plan is to stop at each each person who has posted, and pray over them. It is going to be a glorious and emotional day. I love our Knee Team. "Where two or more are gathered." We know our God is able. Thank you for this beautiful opportunity. God bless.

Debbie Lister said...

I am in too. Will be fasting with you all and praying over each request tomorrow evening after work. God Bless Debbie