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 28, 2012

Monday January 30, 2012

Things with Big Dave have been a roller coaster. 

 It reminds so much of Karl. I keep crying. 

About 2 hours ago Nicolle released a message that things were
 improving with baby steps {teeny-tiny baby steps, 
but none the less improvements}.  

Big Dave is in a drug-induced coma....
he has been truly fighting for his life.

Just a few minutes ago there was an emergency prayer request -
 urging people to pray that the pressure in Dave's body go down. 
 I'm not quite sure all that that means, but it is, 
undoubtedly, very, very serious. 

What would we do without the body of Christ praying for one another?  Thankfully the internet, twitter, blogs, CaringBridge, Facebook, etc., allow information and prayer requests to be passed along in record speed!

Personally, I couldn't sleep last night.  Dave and Nicolle were heavy on my heart.  I kept praying and checking for an update.  Miss Ruby didn't want to sleep either.  She talked a good portion of the night.  

So I'm wondering....

Many of you are struggling with things.  We need a group fast again.  Dave needs a mighty touch from the Lord.  How about a group day of fasting and prayer on Monday?

Monday

January 30, 2012

Many of you can attest to the power of prayer and fasting.  Many of you have written to me how fasting regularly has changed your life.  We need a miracle for Dave.  Many of you have mountains that need to be moved.  I will leave the comments so you can request prayer for specific things.

Would you be willing to join with us?



21 Simply Sweet Words:

Freedom Hollow Farmgirl said...

Count me in Linny, I'll be fasting on Monday with you and everyone else.

Blessings,
Suzanne
freedomhollowfarmgirl

Fleeting Promises said...

I'm in. Joining with you for the first time.

We're praying also for two little boys whom the system is trying to make orphans. Court is Tuesday, and it is vital that decisions be made to return them to their family (not to their offender, but a safe relative) who has been fighting since day -1 to get them.

HaleeBurch said...

I am currently in the middle of a 7 month fast, inspired by Jen Hatmaker's book 7. (this month is clothes) I will be praying for your friend specifically all day Monday. Love ya Linny. ((Hugs from Arkansas))

Melanie said...

I have been praying for Big Dave and I will fast and pray on Monday. We need prayer to for our son Noah diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that causes leisions and bleeding in the brain and we have our first post placement visit on Monday for our newest family member. I am stressing about the house being up to par and the visit with our SW. I know it sounds like small things compared to what Dave is struggling for his life so please forgive me. I will fast and pray.

Melanie

Elizabeth said...

Count me in.
Elizabeth in KY

Susan A said...

I have been to David's Caring Bridge. So sorry to hear about what happened to him. I will fast for him on Monday (my Tuesday Australian time).

Keyblade said...

I'm in.
Megan

Cody Lee said...

I will be joining in.

Prayer for healing for Big Dave and support and comfort for his family.

Prayer for the continued healing of Miss Ruby and Miss Emma (an orphan in India who has severe hydrocephalus--and who is headed home to the orphanage and actually looked chunky in the latest photos!)

Prayer for healing for Julie's Isaac who has caught RSV and for her Elijah, who is post-transplant and does not in this instance need to share with his brother.

Prayer for healing for my battered brain that it might be ready to leave for Uganda on the 22nd.

Sandy said...

I also follow on CaringBridge,,and will continue to pray...I cannot fast as I am starting a whole body detox to get rid of anything that is harming my muscles, neck issues and hand issues...Please keep me in prayer as well because I need to find a dr. I can trust with all of this...We have no insurance, are having money issues, and I am very fearful.
Love from NC

Anne said...

I will join in praying for Big Dave.
Also, may I ask for prayer for our oldest son. He is 15 and struggles with anger and disrespect. He has come sooo far in the right direction since December but the enemy is still fighting for him. But Our God is bigger!! Luke professes a faith but there is very little fruit right now. We talk frequently about having a saving faith. I feel Satan making me doubt and question through all of this. I need prayer for a real and true JOY that can come from only our Mighty Lord and Savior. And for Luke's salvation.

Ashley Davis said...

I have been following your blog for a little while and I am so honored and humbled by the love you have shown for everyone around you and your children. I see Jesus in you, Linny, so so much.

My husband told me this morning he is going to start attending a local Kingdom Hall twice a week (he was raised a JW but has not been active in almost 10 years) and has been secretly talking to an elder in their congregation. I have been praying for his faith for years but I know my prayers (and others) are needed in such a bigger way now.

I was sitting here thinking who else I could ask for more prayers. And I thought of your blog and how when I first found it, I read an older link about a prayer/fasting period, and I thought to myself maybe I'll just post a comment on one of her posts and at least get one or two people to lend their wonderful prayers.

So I clicked on your blog and what do you know? Your words were for me, Linny, I know it. I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face at the pure awesomeness and tenderness of Jesus that He has provided me with this comfort and this outlet only an hour after receiving such disheartening news.

I know so many people have and will continue to offer requests about loved ones in life-threatening situations, and I know that I am not amongst those hardships and I am grateful for that (although my heart breaks as I read each one..) But I know that God led me to your blog at this very moment and I know that our prayers can work miracles. I just ask that you throw my husband on your list as well.

Thank you so much, Linny. And thank you GOD for this hope and light!

Lynda said...

My husband and I have been doing a "Daniel fast" this month, so will continue and join you all in prayer for Dave.

lori said...

I am in. Please also pray for direction and divine protection over my family that I am raising by myself. The Lord has been so good to guide me in all that I do and I continue to seek that and want to do what His will is, even when God loving people do not understand. Hope this makes sense. L

Peggy Lorenz said...

I will be fasting and praying also. I ask for protection during a dangerous situation here in my home, and for the Lord to send me a job so that I and my daughter might find a way out.

Missy said...

Great idea...count me in.

I will be praying for Big Dave and have a personal request as well....

My husband got a job working at an embassy in Burkina Faso, Africa, but my medical clearance was denied, so I am not currently permitted to go with him. We submitted our first medical appeal, in hopes that the Lord would grant us favor with the medical board...so that we can go to Africa as a family. If you wouldn't mind lifting that up in prayer we'd be grateful.

Thanks so much.

Melissa

sammmomtoliv said...

I will be fasting with you and praying for Dave

Please alsoinclude in your prayers Elijah, a 5 year old in China with whom we are praying to be matched and bringing home as soon as possible

God bless,
Samantha

Carol said...

I'm fasting, praying for my sons, that they would have life changing encounters and follow the Lord with their whole hearts, and that He would heal their very painful past and allow them to be whole.

My older son is supposed to make a decision about college on Wednesday. I'm praying that the Lord will close/open doors and make it abundantly clear where Isaiah is supposed to be next year.

Andrea said...

I will be faster and praying for ALL involved. As well as for our son A in Ethiopia. Tomorrow we have what could be the last chance at getting the 2 pieces of paper that we need to move forward in order to make him our son. If we don't get them, he's not to be ours. This has been a year long ordeal. I know HE can move mountains in ALL lives. Praying for movement to be felt physically tomorrow.
Blessings
Andrea

missing africa said...

i'm in! our Father loves us with a "Never Stopping, Never Giving up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love" and it is an utter blessing to come together as believers, waiting, expectantly at the way our miracle loving God will move the mountains in each and every situation, even when no the exact way that we are hoping, HE STILL SITS ON THE THRONE!

Joanne Reddell said...

Count me in for tomorrow. I'm in the middle of a 40-day Daniel fast so I will add Dave & Nicolle to my prayer list.

Please pray for God to transform me from the inside out. Also for my precious 9 yo grandson who is struggling with his parent's recent divorce. He's confused, angry, sad and overwhelmed. It grieves my heart to see him in so much pain.

Thank you for this opportunity to storm the gates of heaven on Dave's behalf & for all the other prayer requests.

Jo's Corner said...

I'm following Big Dave's CaringBridge page and pray for him many times a day. I had the surgeries that his wife was worried about. On all of my limbs. It saved me life!
My prayer request is that my depression and hopelessness will be lifted. You can read my latest blog post to find out what's happening in my heart. Also, pray that I will WANT to eat Gluten Free. I need to,but just have not been able to. I have some huge changes coming in my life, so another prayer request.