A Place Called Simplicity

The Story Behind the Cliffhanger....

2012-02-02T18:02:00.002-07:00

Dear Sweet Bloggy Friends,

First off: I know many, many, many of you will want to skim to the bottom to see the final details, but I implore each of you to read this thoroughly - it would mean so much to us if you hear our hearts. Then you will 'get it'. And you will understand exactly why this is so important to Dw, our treasures and yes, to me.

Come to think of it -

We have actually waited

just about 18 months to share this today with you.

You can definitely wait till the end of this post to see 'it'.

So, where exactly to begin?

I guess this story begins really when I was a little girl. I was probably about 6 or 7. God gave me a dream. It was the dream of a little boy from Asia. Back in the mid-60's a baby adopted from Asia was not a common thing. In fact I didn't know anyone who had adopted internationally. I only knew of domestic adoptions and I would hear people say, "They want to match the nationalities so that the child will 'look like them'....that way no one will have to ever know that they were adopted."

I heard that so often and it deeply troubled me. Yes, as a little girl it actually almost probably ticked me off. I kept all my thoughts to myself, but I remember thinking, "That is the weirdest thing I've ever heard of. Why would we want to keep an adoption secret? Seriously? I want a boy from Asia and I want his ethnicity to scream at the world that he is adopted! Cause I cannot wait to adopt!!"

In fact I smile to myself now. No doubt Almighty God was definitely preparing me for something that no one else {in those days} would probably have ever dreamed.

I also had one doll.

This doll was given to me by my maternal Canadian grandmother. I loved my grandma so much. I have no clue what prompted her to pick this particular doll. We had no interracial marriages in our family, she had lived most of her life in Canada and we did not have any adoptions in our family either. But, when I was just two years old she gave me this dolly:

{It was my only doll. My dolly was saved from the fire, my only childhood sentiment that made it. She sits on our bed each day still. My dolly heard all my whispered prayers in the night watches when times in my home were so terrifying growing up. She was my only real friend "with skin on" back in my growing years.}

Almighty God was looking into my future and preparing me. He had given me a deep, deep desire for an Asian son and He had me play and talk to every.single.day. a little African baby doll!

Who knew?

And when Dw and I were dating I said that some day I wanted a boatload of children. He wanted four or five. He asked me what a boatload meant? I would giggle and say, "A boatload means when someone who doesn't know the family looks at their family picture there are so many children that one has to look and look to find the mom and dad..." and then I would add matter-of-factly..."it's not that the mom and dad have to look young like everyone else, there just has to be a sea of faces and the mom and dad's faces have to be hard to pick out".

Fast forward to being married and beginning a family. We struggled with infertility and so we said, "Perfect! We will adopt that little boy from Asia..."

And then I got pregnant and the agency facilitating Korean adoptions required us to halt the adoption process

{we had not been matched yet}...

So as soon as Abigail was a year old we picked up the

process where we had left off....

And eventually we brought home Tyler...

And then we met Autumn's birth mom and

she asked us if we would adopt her baby...

And then we did foster care of a little boy named Scotty......

And then we gave birth to Emma...

and immediately I got pregnant with Graham...

And then we met Liberty's birth mom and before long

Liberty was in our arms....

And then we did foster care again, this time a 14 year old girl...

and all the while God was stirring our hearts....

for something much bigger than we could have ever dreamed...

And yes, there is a significant piece of the story that fits in from 1988 - 1991

but I'm not ready to share it,

maybe one day,

but probably not...

but let's just say it amped up our hearts 1,000,000 times over to the plight of the most vulnerable children of the world....

It was the catalyst that God used for Dw to close his very successful law practice causing us to pack up our then three little ones and head to seminary in Virginia...

And in 1992 when Dw graduated from seminary there was a 'commissioning' of sorts. It was when the seminary professors and seminary leadership would pray over each student graduating.

It was a solemn, reverend and most holy time.

And that day, a professor, Doctor Joseph Umidi, prayed over Dw and spoke a prophetic word over both of us....the very word that today, just about 20 years later is coming to pass with the telling of this story....

Well we pondered that word.

We had no clue what it meant, at the time, but we would occasionally talk about it and always wonder how God was going to fulfill that very holy, very bold, very prophetic word....

We quietly waited and watched.

And we poured ourselves into ministry in the local churches we were called to pastor. We saw people set free. We saw people come to Christ. We saw people released in ministry. We saw families united. We saw people healed.

But every now and then we would say,

"Wonder about that prophetic word from Doctor Umidi?"

We faithfully served, to the best of our ability, each person who God brought across our paths.

Dw was recognized for his leadership abilities and was called on by our denomination to serve at a National level in addition to pastoring the local church. It was a time of great blessing.

But every now and then we would talk about that prophetic word.

Our Abigail had a friend who was serving at an orphanage in Mexico. We met her friend. We asked if we could come serve alongside him some time. We packed up our kids for a family vacation with "a few days" in Mexico at the orphanage....and once there, the kids said, "We don't want to go to Sea World in San Diego....we want to stay and serve here." So we ditched the 'family vacation' and served together for a week.

As a family, we fell in love with the orphans of Mexico.

Every one of our hearts were broken.

We returned.

Again

and

again.

We brought a team back to serve with us!

In fact, Dw took our male staff to a Pastor's Conference in Texas and I drove our three kids {Emma, Graham and Liberty} alone -

17 hours one way - into Mexico to serve for a week.

We could not get enough

{as a family}

of those precious treasures!

{The orphanage has since closed, but we still pray for the kids who captivated our hearts.}

And then we heard that China's doors were open to people our age and we went full steam ahead for our Isaiah...

Dw, Emma, Graham, Liberty and I went to China to bring Isaiah home. It was a move directed by God. We saw what a Chinese orphanage for special needs kids was like. Our hearts were, again, completely broken. I can hardly, to this day,

talk about what we saw. And hearing Isaiah's stories....

I sob.

In the mean time God had been stirring Emma's heart for

about 7 years for the orphans of Uganda.

And she started posting notes begging Daddy to take her

to Uganda to serve the orphans there.

In July 2008 Emma and Daddy left for Uganda -

so Dw could teach a group of rural Ugandan pastors about being men of integrity, character and honor...

Men who would leave a legacy for the next generation...

and the

Legacy Leadership Conference was born.

And while serving at the orphanages, Emma and Daddy found Elijah and Elizabeth and so many needs that we

couldn't even begin to imagine!

After returning home, Dw fell down our stairs and sustained significant shoulder injuries requiring extensive surgery....

it would be me who would head to Uganda to bring our babies home....{no doubt, God's hand in showing me Uganda}...

And in the meantime we were in process of bringing Jubilee home {and right after bringing the babies home we lost our home to the fire which definitely knocked the stuffin' out of us,

it honestly took us over two full years to regroup..}

But as we look back at all these events I've just listed we see -

God was definitely stirring our hearts

for the orphan....

In ways we wouldn't have imagined....

And He was preparing us for something....

it might sound crazy, but I cry as I type.

Humbled.

Grateful.

Honored.

Amazed.

Faithful God.

Moving on our hearts.

Orchestrating events:

some painful, some joyful...

All with one common purpose...

To honor Him and be about His business...

So...

with the passion for the orphan blazing...

and the needs around the world so great...

we began to dream..

and remember...

That prophetic word from Dr. Umidi...

and we talked...

What if?

Could we?

Should we?

What would it even look like?

And the Lord spoke,

"Remember that prophetic word?"

cause....

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we
don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts
and keeps our souls, knows what we know,
and holds us responsible to act."
Prov. 24:12

We didn't really know where to begin.

But we knew that the

orphans needed a voice

and we are convinced that

every.single.person.

can do something daily for the

163,000,000

orphans worldwide!

Most people want to do something, they just don't know where to begin....

So our dream has been to have a ministry that serves the orphan and those who care for them {care givers, pastors, leaders worldwide} that is easy to get involved in.

A web site that any one with a heart can go on and say,

"Hey I can help! Look! I can do such-n-such!"

This past summer we received our 501c3 status {making all donations tax deductible}.

Yes, about a year ago I began to tell you guys about it,

but the timing wasn't right.

But He was assembling a team of amazing friends

from around the world:

About that time, the Lord brought a precious bloggy friend, from the opposite side of the country to us, who said,

"How can I help? I am a web designer."

KimFoo has become one of my dearest friends...

and she and Bryan are part of our team...

She designed Elijah's Hope and will be helping administrate it:

"adopting an orphan in prayer"

Meet:

KimFoo and Bryan

And about that time, the Lord brought a young couple from the Pacific Northwest to join hands with us...

Meet:

Jonathan and Serena

who have helped with the IVO web site and

cheered us on every step of the way...

and dreamed with us...

and about that time the Lord brought a young bloggy friend from California to us. She wrote: "We just bought a home with a 1600 sq.ft. warehouse on it...would you allow us to process the orders for orphann wares you are going to sell to feed the orphan?"

And Kala and her family joined the team...

Meet:

Kala

{and yes, that is the warehouse behind us}

And together these precious folks have joined

with us to make today happen...

and we have room for so many more

of you on the team!!

Many of you have asked:

What is Dw going to do for income now that you

have left Colorado for Ruby's sake?

Is he going to pastor in Arizona?

The answer:

We are dedicating ourselves,

for the rest of our lives

100%

as missionaries to the orphan

and Third World pastors...

No, we will not be moving to Uganda...

we will be based in Phoenix, Arizona

near Children's Hospital because

Ruby's health a our top priority...

BUT

We will:

~ Be the Orphan's voice by bringing teams to serve orphans

~ Be the Orphan's voice by leading Legacy Pastor's Conferences: training Third World pastors around the globe.

~ Be the Orphan's voice by speaking at churches and anywhere else the Lord would allow us calling all who will listen to the needs of the 163,000,000 orphans worldwide

~Be the Orphan's Voice by telling all who will listen about the wares for sale that artisans and crafters make to donate and people buy where all proceeds go to feed the orphan

~Be the Orphan's Voice pleading with people to consider adopting one orphan in prayer.....

Now don't jump to the bottom quite yet...

This next part is extremely important to us!

Because we feel so greatly that the

orphan's needs

and

Third World pastor's needs

are so gigantic,

Dw and I have committed to live by faith alone.

100% of the donations designated for the orphan or Legacy pastors will go directly to the orphans or Legacy pastors.

We will not take a percentage to live on. Not.at.all.

So if you have a yard sale and raise money to feed the orphans...100% of what you raise will go to feed the orphans.

If you get an inheritance and donate a portion to train Third World pastors through the Legacy Conference, 100% of your donation will go to the training of those Third World pastors.

Our 'mentor' is George Mueller. He lived by faith alone. We are convinced that God is going to supply all our needs....

If someone is prompted by the Lord to 'designate' a gift to care for our family, that will be a tremendous blessing.

I am over-the-moon excited to live by faith.

We have done it in the past -

~ when we packed up his law office and kissed a nice lawyer's income good-bye for seminary.

~when we planted a church in Virginia without promise of income

~when Dw resigned from pastoring to move for our precious

Ruby Grace....

He was always faithful.

Always.

Oh!

And the prophetic word given to us

nearly 20 years ago by Dr. Joseph Umidi?

"Dwight, one day you and Linny will have an international ministry to children"

"One day" is here:

with great joy we present a ministry to the 163 million orphans worldwide {and training Third World pastors}

which is dedicated to

Jesus Christ and Him alone.

May all we do glorify, honor and praise Him

for He, alone, is worthy.

Introducing:

{Click on the link directly below}

International Voice of the Orphan

Be the voice!

PS We just prayed as a family

{and some of the team via speaker phone}

and dedicated this post

and our new ministry to Almighty God.

I'm weeping.

This is an amazing day for our family.

Ruby was the catalyst to making it finally happen.

Thank you Jesus for Ruby Grace - a precious gem from the heart of God.

Oh how He loves the orphan!

The Majority Says.....

2012-02-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

So....

the

votes

are

in....

looks

EVERY

single

one

you

said

you

wanted

the

story

behind

the

cliffhanger....

Well.

guess

that

constitutes

majority.

Actually,

I'm

thinkin'

that's

called

LANDSLIDE!

{truly} LOL

ummmmm....

guess

I'd

better

get

writing!

To Each of You Out There

2012-02-01T16:08:00.001-07:00

I have giggled my way through your 67 comments...

Thank you for the giggles!

And for the few who emailed me:

Shameless Rett, absolutely shameless!

Hezra, girlfriend, I laughed and laughed at your email.

And you know the moral of the story?

Stop reading your phone in bed!!

Catherine & Hewett Happenings & Jill F. -

We sooo wish that was it.

Morgan, I miss you and your sisters too!

Kelli - my Iowa friend -

so thankful for the day we met!

Stacy - You even goggled it?

*giggling uncontrollably*

Miss K Characters: I wish we were too!

I love you all, you make my life so much fun!

bethr1081 and Kelly -

We ARE expecting a new grandbaby.

But no, that's not it!

Elizabethd - they are beautiful aren't they?

Dana - way to go on your upcoming news!

Luana - so you were even wondering as you ran errands?

Fantastic guess!

BUT

nope, that's not it either!

April, Alicia, Jean, Feona, Sara, Kathy, Small Town Joy

I sincerely hope you all were able to sleep!

If not....I owe you a coffee...wait!

That will keep you awake too!

and lastly...

Amy & Sarah Dalton - can't believe it was the
cliff hangar that

brought you both out of lurkdom......
the giveaway couldn't even do it??
Secretly,
I just want you both to know that
I knew you guys were out there lurking away
{cause of the web cam I have at your homes,
so that's why I had to do the cliff hangar -
to see if that would lure you out! haha}

Okay, so here's the question?

Which should I do FIRST?

the giveaway drawing

~ or ~

tell the story behind the cliffhanger?

*Post your vote...

and the most votes....

I'll do next.*

And yes, I am grinning as I post this.

I can't help myself.

Blame it all on post-menopausal madness....

or being a mom of many....

or sleep deprivation....

or just moving....

or.....

Suddenly, It's Almost Time....

2012-01-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

Ever had to wait for something?

The fun stuff is a different wait then

the wait for the not-so-fun stuff.

But none-the-less,

both are a period of waiting...

Ever had to wait

so long that you began to wonder if it was ever gonna' come?

Ya' know how it is...

I can remember when I was about thirteen waiting and waiting

for our annual Grace Baptist Church youth group

Christmas formal dinner....

and the night before we wouldn't sleep a wink...my friend and I whispering into the wee hours, wondering aloud if those two special boys we liked would be there and giggling at that thought of either of them being brave enough to talk to us

{yeah, I know, times have changed, but that's how

it was back in the old days - it was a big deal at fourteen

for the boy you liked to smile at you,

and if he talked to you? Me-oh-my!}

and then it would finally be 'the night' filled with butterflies and nervous glances and suddenly what took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to come without warning would be gone in what seemed like seconds, leaving us all to gaze at our bedroom calendars in an effort to wish the days away till the following Grace Baptist Youth Group Christmas formal dinner the next year....

we can remember waiting for Tyler's referral

from Korea a bazillion years ago....

and then all of a sudden he was in our arms and we glanced away in what seemed like only a few minutes and turned back around and he was standing at the bottom of the aisle waiting for his beautiful bride and our treasured daughter-in-love.....

that not-so-fun wait when Abi had cholic so bad that

I wondered if she would ever outgrow it....

and in no time, without any warning Miss Abigail

was cruisin' around the

furniture bossin' ~~me,~~ I mean, the dog around..

then, I turned around and she was married and bringing home our first grandson, a treasure from Uganda......

All the times of waiting and waiting and waiting

and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting some more...

{and an entire year - or even years pass by}

different kinds of waiting....

but the same feelings and often the

same sorta-kinda' emotions:

When Will It Ever Happen?

Well that man of mine and I have been waiting....

waiting on something the Lord whispered to us....

something that for a year plus has had us on our knees in prayer, intercession and fasting so that we would hear Him accurately...

A dream only planted by Almighty God -

after waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting

and

suddenly,

without really much warning

it's time....

time to begin to share the news...

and I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight...

Giveaway....

2012-01-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

I had thought I would do the drawing tonight.

But Big Dave is not doing well.

Our hearts are weepy and heavy over here.

We continue to contend because we serve a miracle-working God.

Thank you so much for praying with us.

We will do the drawing in a few days.

Standing in the Gap Together

2012-01-30T00:02:00.009-07:00

On Thursday of last week a defender of

orphan and widow, Big Dave,

was leaving a bank in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

He had just withdrawn money to feed the orphans in his care.

As he left, the car he was in was riddled with bullets,

his money stolen and he was shot in the stomach.

With strength that had to come from only the Lord,

Big Dave ran to a nearby hospital.

Two surgeries were performed.

But things got really bad and Dave needed to get to the States. Trouble is that med-evac flights are pricey. And Big Dave and his wife don't even have health insurance, let alone the money to pay for med-evac from Haiti to the States.

So folks hearing of this horrific situation pitched in and in a matter of hours the money was raised for a med-evac flight. They thought they would take Dave all the way to Columbus, Ohio, where he is from. But his situation was deteriorating quickly. Med-evac landed in Miami and he has been fighting for his life ever since.

His wife, Nicolle is passionate about the orphan and Christ. Here's what she wrote this on Dave's CaringBridge site:

Well, I have really good news! For now, (and I emphasis for now because we are not out of the woods on his swelling) they are holding on the procedure. Which is absolutely a small miracle. Which we are going to celebrate every small miracle that we get! Woo Hoo! Hallelujah!

I want to clarify that if you don't want to know graphic details do not read the next paragraph.

They had already told me that they were going to have to cut David's legs (on both sides) and his left arm to release the fluid. This procedure is done to save the limbs. When they get so swollen that blood flow is restricted they will cut from the wrist all the way past the elbow and from the ankle past the knee on both sides. Then they leave it open so that the fluids can escape the body and release the pressure, which is good. However, It also provides another opportunity for infection.

I hit a breaking point. I just didn't want him to go through one more thing. Enough is enough! God please! We sent out the urgent prayer request and then it got worse. They said they were going to have to do all four limbs.

There was another group in the TICU waiting room. Their pastor was shot while she was in her house sleeping in her bed. So, we all gathered and prayed and in the middle of that the doctors called me back and said that they are going to only do his left arm. I was actually celebrating that. Then they said they are going to hold for now. Woo Hoo! Hallelujah!

For so many reasons it is absolutely essential that the swelling in David's body start to decline! Please continue to pray. Prayer changes things!

And so here we are, bloggy friends gathered around

the world in prayer {and fasting} asking Almighty God

to move on Dave's behalf.

Many of you have serious concerns too.

We have concerns.

Please list your prayer concerns in the comments on this post

and many of us will be praying through all the requests.

No doubt, corporate prayer changes things!

Standing together from Phoenix, Arizona...

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow....

2012-01-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I went to Market on the Move again.

We have gone every week since we joined.

Remember me mentioning it a few weeks ago?

It only cost a hundred dollars per year to join

and then we can go every single week

and pick up 60 lbs of produce for free!!

Some of you asked that I post each week what we get.

I probably won't be able to do that each week,

but thought I would show you what we have gotten

the last two weeks. Three weeks ago Ruby

was in the hospital

{having just had her 5th brain surgery}.

Dw went that week on his way to be with us in the hospital,

but we did not think to get a picture.

Anyway, here's last weeks:

The delightful news is that we all LOVE spaghetti squash!

Here was what Liberty and I went and got yesterday:

{that's even bags of romaine and spring mix lettuce and 22 lbs of teeny-tiny tomatoes

and an entire case of vine-ripened tomatoes}

Even three bottles of fruit soda - which tickled Liberty, who enjoyed hers as she and I drove back from picking up all this stuff!

Wonderful, yummy, bountiful blessings from the Lord!!

We have been able to share with friends some of the time as well. My bloggy-friend-turned-real-life-friend, Eve, who "happens" to live around the corner from me calls me the Veggie Fairy {actually kind of like it}. As long as she doesn't call me Bob or Larry,

I'm okay.

Single moms we know are thrilled with our sharing!

Anyway, today was a wonderful blessing.

Isaiah's best friend at church came over for

dinner with his Nana. Such a sweet visit and we all

love, love, love our church.

The kids are all getting involved

and we are connecting with folks -

such a tremendous answer to prayer!

Lastly, I will, Lord willing, have an update on Big Dave soon. This morning the update was that he had made a speck of progress in the right direction. Thank you Jesus.

I will write a post right after midnight for you all to leave your prayer requests on. Many of us, around the world, will be praying through each request.

If you left a prayer request on yesterday's post,

please leave your prayer request again

on tomorrow's prayer and fasting post.

Monday January 30, 2012

2012-01-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

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?

OUR Little Guy is FIVE...

2012-01-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

Where in the world has the time gone?

He is our quiet guy.

The one who doesn't say much,

but is always thinking and when he speaks - no doubt, we all listen.

He is very wise!

He is extremely funny and loves to tease us all.

He was named after the great prophet who was known as the prophet who "prayed earnestly". If a med-flight is overhead he will quickly say, "Mom, mom! Look! It's a med-flight, we better pray!" He is becoming a prayer warrior.

His middle name is after the great advocate of the orphan -

whose orphanages cared for

10,024 orphans of Bristol, England

in the 1800's.

He already loves the orphan.

He remembers what it was like to be one.

He told me that he remembers being at the orphanage and being so hungry that he would eat dirt. He remembers big kids taking his portion of food too. I told him how sad my heart is that I didn't have him from the day he was born.

Our littlest boy-treasure.

Five years old now.

He was asked what he wanted for breakfast and had two requests:

Pizza

and

Ice Cream

Normally we do breakfast food, but he doesn't ever ask for much. We couldn't resist {and yes, we have started a new phenomenon in our house - ooopsie.}

I intended to post his birthday yesterday....

so although his birthday is over,

if you de-lurkers and friends would be so kind to wish our little man a very happy birthday, he will smile his shy little smile and grin with each birthday wish read.

Happy Birthday

Elijah Mueller

We are so thankful that God

brought you home to our arms....

Cause we needed you so badly!

We love you forever and ever and ever...

{If you haven't read Elijah's story,

it's on the sidebar under Special Posts -

Our Wild Adventure parts 1-7}

Update on Big Dave....

2012-01-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for so many of you adding to the prayers of so many others for Big Dave.

His wife, Nicolle, has set up a CaringBridge site for him,

where we can all find updates regularly. Click on Dave's name to enter his page on the CaringBridge site - Dave Bompart.

If you are not a member of CaringBridge, it's free and super easy.

Today Nicolle was interviewed {along with his surgeons}

by a TV station in Miami.

This is the link to the TV interview.

His situation is 'critical'. Please continue to pray with us for complete healing. You guys were amazing with Karl's accident and what a joy to see all that God has done!

In Florida Right Now...

2012-01-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

Dave and Nicolle Bompart regularly serve in Haiti. In fact Dave has been in Haiti working on an orphanage. Thursday {in Haiti} Dave was leaving a bank where he had picked up cash to work on the orphanage and buy food for the orphans, when someone apparently saw him, riddled the car he was riding in with bullets and robbed Dave. He was shot in the stomach/chest.

Dave had two surgeries in Haiti, if I understand correctly, but suddenly was not doing well due to bleeding internally. Money was raised to med-evac him back to his home in Columbus, Ohio for surgery. But he was unable to tolerate the trip and was landed in Miami where he was rushed to yet another surgery. His condition is not good and much prayer is needed.

He is on a ventilator and fighting for his life.

Dave and Nicolle, true defenders of the orphan - needing our prayers. Please join us in prayer for Dave, Nicolle, their two children, the surgeons and the medical professionals who care for Dave.

News From the Boss-man

2012-01-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

After seeing and reading many of your comments

the boss-man made an announcement:

"Linny, you cannot possibly give away just one Memorial Box....

You have to give away a few...."

So there you have it.

He's forcing me to scour Phoenix for Memorial Boxes

and

well,

I couldn't be happier.

So the hunt is on, praying already, as I go this week-end

I will choose the winners on Monday.

And can I just say, the smile has lingered as I have read through your comments....

Love that

Jane - you de-lurked cause I asked so nicely.

~~{I had a hunch that gun-point thing wasn't gonna' work, so I'm glad I tried the nice approach.}~~

Alicia - Hold your hubby to that trackin' down thing....cause it sounds like fun!

Jolene - *HA* your comment truly made me laugh out loud.

GA Foster Mom - hoping to make it over to your neck of the woods this summer and so I'll be holding you to what you said!

PatientlyWaiting - so glad you two went with them...and look forward to the day you can see what the Lord has done in Ruby's life! You will stand a.m.a.z.e.d! Faithful God!

DeAnna - thankful the persistence paid off! xo

Sarah {Megan's sister}- love your sissy so much, look forward to meeting you one day...Grandma's here, right?

Michelle: Sounds to me like you and Diane will both just have to

mosey over for a visit with your sissy....

Rachel! - Finally coming out of lurkdom and you are my 'neighbor'. It is about time! what in the world have you been waiting for? =)

PAfarmgirlinCT - One day I will lead a team again - please come!

Abigail - I love your name and I love that you love white!

Deana - Thank you for serving our country. Thank your husband as well. So grateful for our military! No one really gets the sacrifices they daily make unless they are 'up close' to one in service.

Jimena - your English is beautiful - you can't stay quiet girlfriend - so thankful you are out there - please talk to us!!

Mark & Melanie -A testimony to the power of prayer -

2 treasures h.o.m.e.!

Yippee Jesus!

Amanda going to foster care classes:

rock the world friend - rock the world!

Yes, steph, THAT WAS FOR YOU. haha.

Tammy T. - one day I am so gonna' make you

make good on your promise! My mouth waters at the thought.

Cinnamon - I LOVE your name!

DeAnna - HIS promises never, ever fail. He does make.....the joyful mother of children. And I love your blog name! So cute!

Ruby - love your name so very much!

Emily - your pink comment stuck with me and I looked at my closet today as I was getting ready. For as much as I love purple, I could not find one purple piece of clothing. Now that's messed up! I'm not a big shopper, but I will have to buy something purple someday to wear when I shop again. With as much as I love it, you'd think I'd have a closet full! Seriously, just never noticed before until you left your comment.

and from beautiful and exotic lands:

Welcome:

Adriana from Germany

Sabine from Wiesbaden, Germany

Nat's from Johannesburg, South Africa

Donna from Brisbane, Australia

yellowgirl - missionary to the Philippines

Susan from the West Coast of Ireland

{Susan - did you see the movie 'Leap Year'? Sooooo cute! One of my all-time favorites!}

Off to make a birthday cake and make pizza for dinner. It's a special birthday here....and so I'll be back later to ask for some birthday wishes for a really special birthday treasure!

I am sure that all you de-lurkers, realizing the extra special fun it is to 'talk' to us will want to leave a birthday comment!

I just know you will.

haha

Luring and Lurkdom

2012-01-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Okay.

So yesterday I wrote about the Memorial Box giveaway and

kind of harassed a whole bunch of you quiet folks....

I honestly didn't mean to harass you out of the shadows.

Truly, I didn't.

Well maybe I thought a couple of you would come moseying out!

But I definitely did not expect just about a hundred

of you to come out.

What was it actually that brought you out?

Was it the thought of winning?

Or the full disclosure statement that not one person who posted a comment had had some creeper show up on their doorstep.

~~Cause boy-oh-boy am I ever gonna' be in big trouble when you all read the news about that creeper who did come out after so-n-so posted a comment at PCS.~~

Just Kidding.

Honestly though, I have smiled and giggled all day long.

You guys are just too fun!

And what a pleasant surprise you all have been!

I actually went to look at the blog just to see if Dw had posted something that would instigate the barrage of comments {he likes to make surprise guest appearances from time to time} but lo and behold he hadn't posted anything.

Which made me laugh even more.

Anyway, I was over-the-moon excited by all of your comments!

I cannot help but mention some very honored guests over here at our Place Called Simplicity:

Maria from Tartu, Estonia

Brittany from the Phillipines {missionaries}

Timothy in Malaysia {woohoo for brave men de-lurking!}

Kate Alice Ming's mama in Wales

Sylvia from Hobart, Tasmania {Australia}

Noberto & Julie from Paraguay {missionaries}

Now I just have to interject here:

I have seen on the Live Traffic Feed someone from Peru and have truly wondered who stops by for a visit from Peru? Thank you Jimena for coming out of lurkdom and saying hello from Lima, Peru - so stinkin' tickled!!

and

JJ - always wondered who visited from 'that' city...thought it might be SP. hahaha. xo

Chris A. - I do look forward to hugging your neck one day {soon}.

Diane - when you come to visit your sister, I hope we can meet!

Peggy - keep changin' 'em and please remind others!!

Stacey in Frostburg - can I just say? Please don't ever think that you comment too often. It's the comments that keep me going. When there are no more comments, this chica is checkin' out. Truly.

Derek & Joseph - love having you gentlemen comment {Heard that saying "real men wear pink"? - Well we say, "real men admit they stop by for a visit at our Place Called Simplicity

every now and then!"

Right Mr. Daddy and Kevin?}

stephanie - totally laughed at your CAPS message. One day girlfriend. One day. Promise. Maybe, just maybe, this summer...

Jan J. - if you get that fire engine red dream - come take me for a ride in it! I think that's about the year my old friend Dan used to drive {but his wasn't fire engine red}.

pinkserenity88 - I love the images you mentioned that are that color. Totally could see it all and enjoy them so much too!

Charlene - totally agree - robin egg blue next to brown.

Gorgeous.

Desiree girlfriend of MI, AL, VA & now OH - that is a lot of places you've moved since stopping by here....whoooa.

And let's see.

Someone came out of the shadows and they mentioned that they live in a small city that an old beau of mine lives in. Can you imagine?? He could be your neighbor!! haha. Which one of you was it now? Let me think.

I can't remember. whew.

Okay wait, I just went through all the comments from today and found yours. I was going to post your blogger profile name cause that would add to the suspense. BUT I found that your profile name is very, very distinct. So, a clue? Ummm, your profile name is distinct and

your favorite color is purple.

*giggle*

Anyway, when should I have the drawing?

Hmmmm.

Any suggestions?

As for now, the giveaway is still open....just click here...And if a giveaway and these last two posts have not lured you

out of the shadows...

probably nothing will.

*sigh*

Cause it's really, truly not too late.

Your Comments...

2012-01-24T16:33:00.001-07:00

If you happen to miss the giveaway that I announced yesterday, please scroll down, read and enter!

It has been really fun to have many of

you de-lurk and introduce yourselves!

You guys are so brave!

Now the thing that most don't know is that my 'motivational' gifting from the Lord is "gifts"...meaning I love, love, love to give gifts to those I love. So although it is impossible, there is a large part of my heart that wants to go on a Memorial Box hunt to beat all hunts and find 140 Memorial Boxes. Don't worry Whitey, not gonna' do that, but you know I would if I could!

I've had so much fun seeing all your

favorite colors my sweet friends!

Was kind of surprised how many love blue most!

Was equally surprised how many said they loved yellow!

I've mentioned it before, I think, but purple is my favorite, with a close second of white {I know, not one of you said they love white, but I love it!} or maybe pink.

Yup, I definitely love purple.

And to some of you....

Megan from Williamsburg, Virginia -

wish you could check out Ruby's outfit today

{Isaiah picked it out - totally lime green and purple!}

I was going to do a shout-out to some of you who have such fun and adorable profile pictures, but I figured I might just get myself into trouble - so let's just say I loved seeing all your profile pictures!!

MrsMann -

You are so right -

that is definitely my very favorite!

Bonnie S. -

Crazy fun that we've reconnected after all those years!

Dana -

Would love that teleport-thingy for a hug as well
~~{I could always use just one more hug. Can't help myself.}~~

Love that so many of you checked in from Thailand, Sweden, France, England, Germany, Panama, Haiti, Korea, Ireland,

Australia and even Newfoundland!

My soul was so encouraged by all your tender, sweet comments. I really didn't expect that. But you guys always bless me when I need it most. No doubt, the Lord. Thank you.

Lastly, if you have not left a comment on the giveaway post - it's not too late - do it! Click here to do so. Go ahead. Don't be shy. So far there are 140 comments and let's just say to the rest of you chickens - I highly doubt anyone has had some creeper show up on their doorstep because they left a comment over here at our Place Called Simplicity. So just to be certain - If anyone has left a comment and subsequently had a creeper show up this morning,

please speak up now.

Yeah, I thought so.

Memorial Box Monday: Your Steady Friend

2012-01-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

"For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.

And I will hope in your name,

for your name is good."

Psalm 52:9

**I actually first told today's
Memorial Box Monday story on February 3, 2009.
We were living in the hotel after just losing our home to the fire.
I will share it again, each year, right around the anniversary!!**

Earlier today, when writing about the Memorial Box giveaway, I mentioned how God told the people to tell the story over and over and over and over and over....and this is one of the stories I will tell over and over here because so many people doubt that miracles are for today. So many wonder if healing is possible?

Well read on, sweet friends....read on...

It is a miraculous story of God's powerful healing touch!

If, per chance, you read it in the past -

please rejoice with us again!

February 3, 2009 (from the hotel):

I have to start off by telling everyone that I was actually going to type this January 14, 2009 {the morning of the fire}. Weird to think I was going to tell this story of God's miraculous power but instead I stood and watched our little log home burn.

This story goes back to January 10, 2006.

If you are new to our Place Called Simplicity
and are wondering what in the world

a Memorial Box is, please read about it here.

As many of you may or may not know, I have Multiple Sclerosis.
It showed up when I was in my late 20's and
then I was officially diagnosed in 1991.
I grew up in Buffalo, NY and Buffalo is known as a
'hot spot' for MS.
My cousin has it, friends of mine from
high school have it, a girl Dw dated for ages
while in college has it and one of Dw's
cousins even died of it. In fact, my sister-in-law,
Mary, had three sister-in-laws {one has since passed away from it} and she even a sister with it!

Really, MS seems everywhere in Buffalo, NY.

My MS started out slowly, but after about 10 years it got much more aggressive and soon I was having exacerbation after exacerbation on a regular basis.
Before long I needed a cane to walk with for support.

With my cane for balance and support on my right side, often family or close friends would allow me to use their arm for support on my left side. Walking was often a struggle.

I also had exacerbations that affected my hearing, my speech {slurring for weeks like I was drunk}, my vision, my balance {I would fall into walls regularly} and so on.

Multiple Sclerosis is a very yukky disease.

{My cane looked like this one [except the flowers were purple - my personal favorite!]....beautiful and flowery......I figured if I had to use one it was gonna' be feminine, flowery and spiffy!!}

Then in about 2001, I had a major exacerbation that left my right arm and right hand trembling and shaking 24/7 - permanently! It was embarassing. It shook boldly all the time. From the moment that exacerbation started there was a never, ever, ever, ever even a moments break from the trembling, twitching and shaking. I could not lay on my right side because my body would vibrate so much that I couldn't sleep.

I love to write long hand letters to special people in my life but I did not like to write anymore because of how

awful my handwriting looked.

It was humbling to be in a prayer circle and hold hands with someone who didn't know me because of how my hand and arm continually bounced and trembled. I would accidentally knock things over without much effort. So from 2001 there was not a moments reprieve from the trembling, twitching and shaking of my right arm/hand.

And the MS continued to daily make my body a mess. We finally had to build a handicapped accessible home for my wheelchair. I affectionately named him Charlie, as I would have to, from time to time, spend a day or two in him.

In June of 2004 we moved to Colorado to pastor. We had been told by doctors that it would slow the progression of an autoimmune disorder like MS to live in a drier climate.

THEN one day, January 10, 2006 to be exact, Dw and I were on a four way call with treasured friends of ours {Dan and LaVonne} who live in San Antonio, TX. We had wanted to pray with them about a prophetic word that the husband, Dan, had had about me. It's a long story, maybe for another day (but probably not), just suffice it to say that what we were praying about had nothing {directly} to do with the MS.

It was a monumental time of prayer,

but we didn't really understand the extent of just how monumental it was about to be.

Dw and I were tucked away in our master bedroom as we talked with Dan and LaVonne and then prayed together. I prayed, Dw prayed and then our friend Dan prayed. We were asking the Lord to move in the supernatural in a huge way about something

from 40+ years before.

When we finished praying we hung up

and I walked out to the kitchen.

As I was walking over toward the island

where Graham was sitting I felt

like the Lord said, "Look down at your arm/hand."

I looked and there stood my right hand and arm,

that had only seconds before shook

uncontrollably for the last 5 years,

now completely and perfectly still. I started to

squeal and turned to Graham, "LOOK GRAY! LOOK!"

He looked down to find both hands of mine positioned

next to each other and both were absolutely and perfectly still.

Graham started gasping and screaming along with me and everyone came running....yes, my hand and arm that had trembled and shook for FIVE years was now motionless!!!!

We called our grown kids and friends around the country - it was a true miracle!! Everyone who knew me was in shock!! I felt like the man with the withered hand that is mentioned in scripture. For months, many, many, many times a day I would stop and just stare at my hand/arm. I can't imagine that man with the withered hand did any different - stopping and staring and remembering and rejoicing!

The following Sunday when we told our church during both services people stood and cheered. God had moved in a mighty way - and we hadn't even been praying for the MS to be healed!!

What I firmly believe is that when Dan, Lavonne, Dw and I asked God to move in the supernatural He indeed moved. I felt like He said, "I am doing what you asked in the supernatural and I am going to evidence it in the physical by healing your arm/hand."

From then on I would stand many times a day and just stare at my two hands. That right hand was just as still as my left now - after all those years. It was a true healing miracle.

When I showed my neurologist my right hand and arm - he literally jumped up and hugged me and with utter delight said, "Linn, it must be God - Multiple Sclerosis does NOT go away! I bet God is going to completely heal you." These words from a man who has said he does NOT believe in God!!

And then a few months later........even though I had used my cane for many years, after the instant healing of my hand/arm I began to notice that my legs began to feel stronger. They were actually feeling really strong!! I was wondering what was going on. Could the words of my neurologist been prophetic?

Within four months even people at church began commenting that it looked like I hardly needed my cane. By mid-July of 2006, I felt like I should take the courageous plunge and try a day without my cane. The rest is history and I have never, ever used my cane again.

I call my arm/hand healing
"my microwave healing"

done in an instant!!

I call my legs healing "my crock pot healing" - slow and steady. There are occasional days yet when I know that my legs are still not 100% healed....and if times get really stressful they still can go a teeny-bit "funky-chicken" like.
BUT to this day, I have never used my cane again.

So on this Memorial Box Monday, I invite you to praise with me Almighty God and thank the Lord for His miraculous healing of my arm and hand and legs. He is truly the Miracle-Working, Mountain-Moving, Awe-Inspiring, Gasp-Giving God - Jehovah Rapha the healer of trembling and shaking arms and hands, Jehovah Rapha the healer of broken hearts, Jehovah Rapha the healer of broken dreams, Jehovah Rapha the healer of painful pasts, Jehovah Rapha the healer of blind eyes, Jehovah Rapha the healer of deformed limbs, Jehovah Rapha the healer of traumatic memories, Jehovah Rapha the healer of wounded relationships, Jehovah Rapha the God of the universe!!

Yippee Jesus!!

Rejoice with us!!

The symbol for this Memorial Box story is a rock...as rocks are steady and solid....and I usually sign emails to our sweet treasure- friends, Dan and Lavonne in TX who prayed with us:

Your Steady Friend

Please link your Memorial Box Monday story below:

A Giveaway...

2012-01-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

If you've been hanging around our Place Called Simplicity for any length of time you have probably realized that I am passionate about a few things....

My hubby

{he is awfully handsome and such a Godly guy!}

My boatload of treasures

{I am blessed far beyond what I ever deserved -

and of course their spouses or significant others}

Mimi's grand babies

{They make this MiMi heart sooo stinkin' happy!}

The plight of the orphan

{163,000,000 faces needing me/you/us to do something!}

Those shamed by sexual abuse or any type of abuse

for that matter.

{I want everyone to walk in freedom as I have for the last 27+ years}

and

Our Memorial Box

{It is my way of chronicling this adventure more commonly known as "life"....It is all about the faithfulness of God and only the faithfulness of God...}

Yes, I truly could speak for hours on any of the above topics.

Why?

Because they have written my life story in one way or another.

And because of the passion I feel about each one it is

easy to speak about them.

Maybe it could seem crazy to have Our Memorial Box on that list, but frankly sweet friends, without the things in our Memorial Box, I wouldn't be who I am today nor would I be where I am today.

Remembering the Faithfulness of Almighty God is essential in our spiritual growth.

Personally speaking, if I didn't remember, I'd be sunk! When tough times come {and they do for everyone of us} where we turn will determine what happens. If we turn to the Lord, remembering what He's done in the past, we will come to the place where we can rest and trust in our future.

He is faithful.

He has always been faithful.

Not for one moment in history has He removed His faithfulness from your life, nor from mine.

In the Old Testament God told the Isrealites to remember what He had done. He told them to gather a pile of stones {each representing one of the 12 tribes of Isreal} and to pile them up. Then whenever they would pass by with their children they were to tell the story of the Faithfulness of God. They were to tell the stories over and over and over and over. And then to tell their children's children....and on and on.

We, like the Isrealites can be so doggone forgetful. Life suddenly sends a curve ball our way and instantly we are frantic, wringing our hands and crying out, "Oh.my.gracious! What is going to happen now? Please God don't you see this happening to me? Where are you now? Are you gonna' leave me high and dry?"

BUT if we have a Memorial Box {or something like it}and are diligently working to remember His constant faithfulness, when that curve ball comes, we can say, "Oh! Wait! Lord you were faithful when such-n-such happened, and then 'that' happened and you were faithful again, and oh yes, there was that time as well...I see your faithfulness, I will rest and trust you - again."

So, yes, we surely are passionate about our Memorial Box over here at our home. We choose to remember.

And I was just thinkin' how I need to give away another Memorial Box. I believe so strongly in them! The one I'm going to giveaway is a simple box with different compartments. It doesn't have a door, but will serve the purpose for those beginning a Memorial Box.

While I'm at it, if you are single, by all means - don't wait to get married to start a Memorial Box! Our Emma has already started one that she will take with her when she moves to serve the orphans of Uganda.

The rules of the giveaway

{please read thoroughly}

and yes,

I will ship to any country{!} on this beautiful planet:

{1} You must leave a comment on this post.

{2}In the comment you must tell us where you live!

I would love to know what city/state/province/country you reside in. If you are dreadfully shy, then just a 'nearby' city or geographic region {SW Australia, etc} would be great too...

I know many of you stop by our Place Called Simplicity from all over the world, so please tell us where you are! {A couple of weeks ago they wiped the cluster map clean to start over - but it has been really exciting for us to see all the countries that you guys live in!} The other day I heard from Maria in Poland - and Maria - that truly made my day!!

{3}Tell me what your favorite color is...

{Can I just say that I love balloons? Isn't that a really fun picture?

I have long told Dw, please no flowers at my funeral - just lots and lots and lots of colorful balloons!}

{4}Lastly, as much as I would like to open up the giveaway to those who don't have a blogger profile {but could email} - It is absolutely impossible to keep them all straight in my very sleep-deprived noggin -

sooooo.....

for now, this giveaway

will only be open only to the comments left on this

Giveaway post.

{No "giveaway" emails, please, or my brain just might blow up!}

Actually, it might spur some of you lurkers to de-lurk and get a blogger profile. {You don't have to have a blog, just a profile.

It's super easy to sign up for too!}

So to recap: This giveaway is limited to the comments on this post and must include where you live {approximately} and your favorite color. Emails gratefully declined for this giveaway.

PS. I am unable to put a linky on the Memorial Box Monday from my computer. I must wait for Dw to get home to use his. Soooo, Lord willing, there will be a Memorial Box Monday

post to link up to later today.

His Voice

2012-01-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

These last couple of days I have been troubled by a few things. I know many of you know how that is. Stuff just doesn't turn out like you thought it would or something that you have no control over is just heavy on your heart.

As I mentioned a few days ago, Dw has gone to Colorado to work on the house to prepare for selling it. Graham and Liberty went with him.

So this morning I was getting the kids into the car for church taking trips back and forth. I said out loud to the Lord as I walked back to the house to lock the door,

"I need to hear from you. Please Lord!

You know ____ is on my heart."

My eyes welled with tears.

I locked the door, ran back to the car and climbed in.

We found a church home here in Phoenix. We love it! It is quite a drive from our home - but it is so awesome -

it is totally worth the drive!!

We.all.love.it!

The pastor is a man of deep conviction.

He has a heart for the lost and he has a heart for people who are hurting. They even have a special needs ministry and a special needs worship team!! {How cool is that?} In fact the motto of the church is: The church with a heart.

The senior pastor reminds me of Dw. He's tender-hearted, sincere and gentle-spirited. We have talked to him a few times and just love him!

Anyway, this morning, Emma put the littles all in their classes. I went to the sanctuary with Ruby to get seats for Emmy, Ruby and I.

And guess what happened?

As the lights went out and the worship started the very first song they started with was exactly {and I mean e.x.a.c.t.l.y.} what I was praying out loud to the Lord about this morning as I locked the door.

I couldn't believe it

{I know, I know, Why-oh-why should I have been surprised?}!!

I worshipped with hands lifted, heart engaged and tears in my eyes - faithful God speaking through the very first worship song with exactly the words I needed to hear.

If you didn't attend a local church this morning, oh dear friend, don't stay away from church! I would have missed out on something Almighty God needed to tell me {and I needed to hear!} if I had stayed away.

God speaks in many ways and through many things, but He uses the local body of Christ often: through the worship, through the service, through the body, through the pastor's message {which this morning at our church was fantastic - as always!}.

If you are wondering about how exactly to hear God speak,

there is a series I did on the side bar under "Special Posts".

Lastly, tomorrow, please let's do a Memorial Box Monday! Get your stories ready! And I think it's time for a little Memorial Box giveaway as well....so stay tuned!

Where IS My DaDaDaDa?

2012-01-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Daddy's taken a couple of the kids and gone to work on the house in Colorado and boy-oh-boy does Ruby miss him! He just called a few minutes ago and I put my cell to her ear...she grinned and started saying, "DaDaDaDa"!!

PS I think we need some lights! I had every one in the living room/kitchen and it is still dark.
ugh.
Oh well, you get the idea!

Wanna' Join In?

2012-01-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Some time ago the Lord gave me a dream of a group of people gathering, around the world, on their knees for one common purpose: Prayer.
The Knee Team was birthed from that dream.
The Knee Team regularly receives prayer requests. The requests are processed and sent out to the Knee Team members who commit to pray over each request received. We pray for marriages, adoptions, relationships, bonding issues, kids, health needs....anything and everything that needs prayer!
The needs are kept private to only The Knee Team members, as some things are quite personal in nature. No matter what though, the requests are not to be passed along.
When I was leaving for Africa last fall, I asked my dear bloggy friend, Renee, if she would be willing to partner with me and process the requests for The Knee Team. She eagerly said she would! Renee and her husband are senior pastors in the midwest. Many of you, who have read links on Memorial Box Monday are most likely familiar with Renee and her God-inspired stories. Renee is also an adoptive mom, grandmother and an amazing woman of great spiritual depth. I am so grateful for her friendship and her partnership with The Knee Team!
So here we are, opening up the membership of the Knee Team again.   {We had to limit things in the beginning until we could manage it and get used to it all.}
If you would like to belong to The Knee Team please send an email to:
TheKneeTeam@gmail.com
In the email, tell us a bit about yourself and if you blog - your blog address. If you just comment on blogs, please tell us your profile name. Many of you I know by your profile name - but have no clue what your real name is! {Kind of like the barista at Starbucks in Durango, who always knew me as: "Tall Americano, speck of room for cream", right?}  And lastly, if you are lurker - fess up and introduce yourself! You do not have to have a blog to participate. We just would like to get to know the members of the team!
After your email is received, it will be processed and you will begin to receive regular email updates from the Knee Team.
You are encouraged to put The Knee Team badge {found at the top of the sidebar} on your blog.
At the same time, should you have a prayer request that you would like a group of people around the world to pray for, please feel free to send an email at any time to:TheKneeTeam@gmail.com
We are so grateful for the privilege of praying for so many needs around the world.
We invite you to join the team!
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."  Matthew 18:20

A Day That Almost Turned Out Completely Different...

2012-01-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

Vicki asked if she could do a guest post today. It is, indeed, a very, very, very special day. A day, that without God's intervention would only be a day of great pain. But instead, it is a day of celebration for those who know Karl Hujus!

And so here is the letter penned by his mom to all of you...

Dear bloggy friends,

Well it's been a long time since I have written to update on Karl's progress. I know Linny has updated here and there with info but today is a very special day.

Twenty-four years ago Bob and I drove to Durango to give birth to our first child...a son. It was a terrible blizzard and we had 60 miles to go to get to the hospital at 4:00 in the morning. Of course Karl made us wait til 8:15 that night to enter the world!! I remember the doctors words...You have a son.

Six months ago yesterday, a blog post went out with a desperate plea for prayer to save his life. God is amazing. Karl has far exceeded the doctors expectations.

We prayed for a FULL recovery, a promise that was given to us within the first couple of days by 3 different friends, who felt that God had given them that reassurance.

At this time Karl is driving...yes driving. But he's now in a big F-150 that seems to say... get out of my way!! It's big. It's solid. He had started back up to work a few weeks back and has worked himself back into fulltime this week. Amazing. He is months ahead of what the doctors had told us. We weren't expecting any of this til the spring of 2012!

As Linny has shared in the past, Karl does have a separated shoulder {from impact after being thrown 55 feet} and might have to have surgery on it. He sees a specialist in a few weeks. He is in pain everyday which is a hard reminder to him of all he has been through.

Please continue to pray for his pain and the right direction to go with the specialist. To be in constant pain is hard mentally and physically. He still has some limitations that the doctors have put in place to keep the healing in his brain going but to see him get up everyday and do the things he is doing is truly a MIRACLE.

Tears of joy are shed when we watch him shoot his bow, play with his dog, hug his sweet Autumn and for all who see his smile!

Once again Bob and I can't thank you all enough for the prayers that have gone out for Karl, for us and for his brothers. Please don't stop as we continue to grow through his time of our lives.

Blessings a hundred fold.

With love and gratefulness to each of you,

Bob, Vicki, Karl, Ryan and Derek

PS....Precious friends, if you would like to wish Karl a happy 24th birthday - please do! He will smile his shy little smile as he and Autumn read through each and every one! ~Linny

Being Ruby's Mommy....

2012-01-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Written: Friday, January 13th, 2012

Sitting cross-legged on Ruby's bed up here in the ICU in the early morning hours of the day that she is scheduled for her 5th brain surgery and there are all kinds of thoughts
whirling around my head.....

In fact, this is my third blog post I've begun in the last 20 minutes.

Each of the others are things I want to talk about,

but yet, I feel too antsy.

My mind is all hippity-hoppity.

I'm just going to try my best to convey, in a way that makes some semblance of sense, what's on my heart.
Personal thoughts.

But thoughts that I think just must be shared.

I've been thinkin' how I wish I could stand on a platform with the entire world as the audience. I would gently hold up our Ruby Grace and show her to the world. Then I would tell them how this once 6 pound and 11 month old bundle turned our world upside down and how we couldn't be more grateful!

I know I would be choking back tears.

I would be hoping that they would ooooh and
aaaah like there was no tomorrow.

I feel desperate to have people see what we see.

Once abandoned.

Dying.

Only alive by God's infinite grace.

The unbelievable joy that Ruby brings our family
and each person who crosses her path.

No doubt, Ruby is loved by many.

Those up close.

And those who've never even met her
{like most of you!}

A beautiful treasure whose entire body now wiggles with excitement. A tiny gem who is learning to say, "dadadada"....The little one whose smile could melt even the coldest glacier heart around.

Picture taken 1/1/2012

Isn't it crazy what God's love does?

Yesterday Dw was mentioning how, as we were walking beside Ruby's bed as she was rolled down the hall for yet another CT scan he was overcome with so much emotion for her he started to cry.

Isn't it crazy how His love overtakes you?

As Christmas was approaching this past year I was thinking a lot about the Virgin Mary. I was wondering how she must have felt when she really understood that she was carrying the Christ-child.

I don't remember having ever really meditated on Mary's feelings. But somehow this Christmas I was likening my feelings of being chosen to be Ruby's mom and thinking that Mary had to have felt so very humbled. So honored.

Did Mary wonder: "Why was I chosen?"
{Just like so many of you have thought about parenting, I know!}

Cause that's what I've thought a thousand times over.

I am absolutely certain that I didn't do anything to
'deserve' to be Ruby's mama
or any of my treasure's mommy for that matter.
Why do I know for certain?
Cause
I'm not that good.
Truly.
I know me.
I am definitely not that good.

I was telling Dw the other day.....after Ruby and I
walked alone to the drug store to pick up a few things.

Just Ruby and I.

Pushing her stroller, talking and singing to her as we walked. When I got to the drug store I lifted her out and carried her all through the store for about an hour - cause I just know how much she loves mommy's touch and down deep, being perfectly honest...I wanted everyone to see her. Up close. To gaze on her beauty. I talked to her as I carried her, pushing the stroller with my tummy and browsing through my new
neighborhood drug store.

As I pushed her down the street through
the neighborhood I was almost floating.

Truly.

Beaming.

Giddy.

Smiling from ear to ear and thinking once again:

"I'm the most blessed woman in the entire universe....I'm a 53 year old silver-haired mommy to a teeny-tiny-only-alive-by-the-grace-of-God-miracle-gift-from-His-most-gracious-hand."

Wanting to call to the people who passed us by:

"Hey you - over there - I know you don't me but don't you want to come take a peek and just gaze at her beauty? Don't you want to see her? She's a miracle. She's the most gorgeous miracle alive!?"

I have whispered more times then I could count,

"Lord,
How did you happen to choose us for this honor?
Why would we have been entrusted with such a privilege?
I am humbled beyond words.
I am blessed beyond measure,
my heart is overjoyed."

The rhetorical questions have no answers.
But I do know this:
All day long He hears me whisper,
"Thank you, Thank you, thank you."

From the bottom of my heart and with every fiber of my being, thank you. I love you Lord. You gave me a prophetic word on November 13, 2006...
'The best days of your life are ahead of you.'
You weren't kidding, Lord.
Thank you for forever and ever.

H.O.M.E.

2012-01-16T18:31:00.001-07:00

Yesterday the pediatrician told us that we could not leave until

Ruby's sodium level had risen and stabilized.

At 6:30 am this morning the pediatrician came in again and re-emphasized that Ruby could not be discharged until her sodium level had risen and stabilized. In fact she said, "We'll check it again tomorrow." ugh. I settled in. Guess we're gonna' be here for awhile.

Later in the day a guy came in to chat. Phoenix Children's is a teaching hospital and it turned out he was a third year med student {very nice young guy}. Anyway, he said, "So I guess Ruby is getting to go home now, they're drawing the discharge papers up."

I'm sure the look on my face was one of complete surprise.

"Really? Okay, good."

~~He left and we grabbed Ruby and ran for the door.~~

I said to Dw, "We better wait to hear

that from someone a bit higher on the chain."

Within a half hour or so in walked a different

pediatrician who announced that Ruby was being discharged.

We didn't asked any questions.

{haha}

Emma told me that this morning

Elizabeth had buried her head in her pillow sobbing,

"I just want Mommy to come home."

Sooooooo....

At this moment, I am making dinner and being

serenaded by Isaiah and Elizabeth waltzing around me.

Elijah is hanging close to mom.

And Jubilee is practicing her writing at the island.

Graham is recording a song at a friend's home.
Liberty's gone hiking with friends.
Emma and Savannah have gone for coffee together.
And little Miss Ruby's getting ready to eat.

Ahhhh.

Home with my boatload of treasures.

Nothing better.

Nothing ever better.

Sunday Night from Phoenix Children's

2012-01-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

Today Dw and I traded places. The kids had been really missing me and I was really, really missing them. Because of RSV no one under 12 is permitted in the hospital. I had not seen them since Wednesday.

Dw brought them to the parking lot and I came and took them to church while he spent the day with our little gem.

So there are some things that are pretty concerning to the doctors.

{1} Ruby's sodium level will just not come up. Since they discovered her problem sodium level back in early November [when she was first admitted to the hospital] we have been sprinkling as much salt as tolerable on each layer of food she eats, but her level is still too low. She can't tolerate it in her formula - she throws it right back up.

They told us this morning that they will not even consider sending her home until it rises and stabilizes.

{2} Ruby is still very groggy and difficult to wake. When she is awake she is not really smiling or 'talking'.

It could be that the seizure medicine is not the right strength or she is just getting used to it.

All that being said, we could really use prayer that her sodium level would be healed by the Lord and that the doctors would have wisdom about the amount of seizure medicine she is taking. We need her to wake up and return to her normal precious little self.

Lastly,

this morning when Ruby's neurosurgeon came in.

he actually asked me if I had told you bloggy friends about the contaminated probe and how they had to send for another one from St. Josephs.

I told him I had.

Laughing he said, "I knew you would!"

I asked if I could take a picture of him.

He turned kind of red and then agreed.

I explained to him that I have been telling you all how wonderful he is and I was betting that many of you would love to 'meet' him. Personally speaking, I love seeing a picture of someone I hear people raving so much about!

We've had many doctors and surgeons over the years, but Dr. Shafron stands above the crowd. His tender heart toward Ruby was so evident from the moment we met him. He explains in great detail everything. He is down-to-earth, has a great sense of humor and is easy to talk to. And to top it off - he amazingly skilled! The entire package in one guy - not seen very often, right?

We cannot thank the Lord enough for leading us to Dr. Shafron and we cannot thank each of you, your kids and your family for continuing to pray for our little treasure.

PS There will not be a Memorial Box Monday tomorrow.

January 14th, 2012

2012-01-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

For those new to our Place Called Simplicity,

it was three years ago today that the kids and

I fled for our very lives as our little log home was burning.

The kids and I had been sleeping and

I was wakened by the smoke alarm going off.

Dw was out of town at the time and was staying

at a place called "Fireside Inn". {How creepy is that? }

{The story is on the sidebar under Special Posts.}

So as the 14th of January approaches each year since, we, as a family are very somber.

It is a day we set aside as a family to remember.

To talk together.

To worship our faithful God who spared our lives.

Minutes did matter.

He spared.

He protected.

He provided.

It reminds me of the Israelites when they were fleeing from Pharoah's Egypt. I have to imagine that in the years to follow, the anniversary date was a very sobering one for those who lived it. They rejoiced at the miraculous hand of God, but they would never forget all the pain and loss.

{This was my most treasured item we lost.

A hope chest hand carved

by Dw's grandfather in the early 1900's.

Looking at it even now, tears well.}

The aftermath of the fire was very real. Painful loss of everything familiar. Emergency surgery for Graham the very next day. Our beloved dog, Lucy, dying the day after Graham's surgery. Trying to find a hotel that could accommodate our large family. The ensuing months of trying to inventory. Bulldozing the remains. Eventually rebuilding.

What we experienced with the fire is a private place. Hard to maybe understand from the outside looking in,

unless you've been there

{and I know some of you have}.

Elijah had been asleep in his crib {above}

when the fire broke out....if the Angel of the Lord had

not been present....he would have perished,

undoubtedly, within minutes.

And although it's just a day on the calendar, it's a day that forever altered all of the Saunders family. Crazy as it sounds, even though three years have passed.....if someone asks for something, my mind automatically remembers where it was in our little log home. I will start to say, "It's in the..." and then I remember.

This year was no exception. Semi-dreading the 14th of January approaching. Although we had planned something special for our family for this evening, the emotions are still there, even three years later.

So last night, as I was spending time with Ruby, I looked at the clock looming on the wall. It was after midnight. I stopped and thanked the Lord for His protection that day when the Angel of the Lord hovered at our home, sparing all of our lives.

And then I flipped back here....Ruby had not eaten since surgery, but had been cleared for a bottle of her formula. She loves her bottles and I was anxious to give it to her.

I glanced at the clock again.

12:20am

As I turned to climb into the bed with Ruby to give her her bottle....Ruby's alarms started. I turned my head in the opposite direction to see which alarm was screaming. It was her heart rate. It was very high.

Since we are in PICU, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her nurse raise up in her chair through the window that she constantly watches Ruby. The expression on her face made me look back toward Ruby.

Over the screaming of her alarm I had been unable to hear her.

And as I turned toward her, I saw.

Our sweet baby girl was having a grand mal seizure.

The nurse rushed in.

I started to pray aloud while stroking Ruby's leg.

Her nurse tried to call from the communicator hanging around her neck. The first person didn't answer. She tried someone else, who also didn't answer. She ran to the hall.

All the while Ruby was seizing and seizing.

So scary.

Our sweet little nurse admitted to me later that she had never seen anyone have a seizure. She said it was so scary for her too.

I grew up in a home where one of my immediate family members has grand mal seizures. They are very scary. They are deeply concerning. And they are never something

that one watching 'gets used to'.

Before long the room was filled with doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses....all watching or doing what they

needed to do to get it to stop

{finding and administering a powerful drug}.

It lasted about 10 minutes.

And that, my friends, is a really long time

for a mommy watching.

At one point I thought,

"Really? On the anniversary of the fire? Really?"

And then while texting this morning with my dear

friend Irma I mentioned

that next year I am buying a calendar like this:

and then I'm gonna' rip out the January 14th page.

Yes, I am.

However, Irma suggested that next year

we all go to Hawaii for the 14th.

And yes Irma-girlfriend,

it is free to dream and that

dream sounds really, really good.

Anyway, a neurologist 'happened' {totally the Lord} to be in

the PICU as it was happening and came in.

He was so kind.

I was so scared.

Today our little dolly is extremely sleepy and hard to wake.

Already this morning she's had another MRI.

I couldn't help but think, while reading comments from you guys, that there is a strong likelihood that those who have been woke in the night with Ruby on their mind, likely were woke as she was having the seizure. As I prayed, I prayed that God would be calling some of you to pray at those moments as well.

No doubt, life is full of unexpected bumps, turns and sudden curves. We are always grateful that not one bump, turn or unexpected curve ever takes our faithful God by surprise.

"She Did Beautifully"

2012-01-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

He came to the waiting room about 1/2 hour ago and walking towards us gave us the thumbs up.

Both of us wanted to collapse in relief.

He did what needed to be done.

Interestingly, after Ruby's 3 surgeries in November her neurosurgeon was at a conference in Austin, TX. He met a man who was promoting a new machine to use on kids with extreme hydrocephalus. He said, "I wish I had had that equipment for this baby girl I just did."

Yesterday Ruby's doctor called the gentleman and asked, "Would you be willing to bring your device to Phoenix for me to try it on this little patient of mine?"

The gentleman flew in today from Indiana just for Ruby's surgery.

Dr. S said the machine was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

Lastly, the risk is great over the next few days.

She must lie flat on her back, perfectly still.

Like the surgery on November 19th,

there is a risk of the brain imploding on itself.

Thank you for your prayers on Ruby's behalf.

Please don't stop!

Contaminated

2012-01-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ruby's neurosurgeon just came out and said that he had begun the surgery and found that the probe to be used in the surgery was contaminated.

He stopped the surgery and ordered a new one.

There was none in the entire hospital.

So someone has driven to St. Joseph's Hospital

to bring back a brand new sterile probe.

We continue to pray.

The Neurosurgeon Just Came Out

2012-01-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

and said that they had done the sedated MRI and are going to lay those on top of the last MRI as he makes his decisions.

He thinks he is going to go one way, but he said he may change his mind as he does a 3D trajectory image with the imaging.

He is such a dear man.

As he was standing to go back to the Operating Room

to begin working on Ruby I said,

"Remember that I have a blog?"

He said he did.

{He'd peeked at it when she was in last time.}

I continued, "Well there are few thousand people

around the world praying for you right now."

His face broke out in a humongous smile, "Really?"

Yup really.

Thank you dear friends.

Such comfort in knowing you are kneeling with us.

Waiting....

2012-01-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Surgeon's Plan

2012-01-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for praying. It might sound perfunctory to say that, but really, we mean it from the bottom of our hearts.

I can't imagine life without a

personal relationship with Christ and

an understanding of the power of prayer!

Ruby had many tests since arriving at the ER yesterday.

This morning the neurosurgeon took took fluid off her shunt and sent that to the lab. He also tested her shunt and it is functioning.

Then he injected her brain with dye through the shunt and we took her down for another CT scan with contrast.

She was not allowed to eat anything till the surgeon decided what was the best route to take.

This afternoon he came to meet with us and showed us all the results of various CT scans and MRI's she has had since landing in the United States. The list of MRI and CT scan results takes up a computer screen - and that's just for those!

Sweet baby girl.

He told us that he had moved the surgery to tomorrow so he would have time to think about what is the best course of action with Ruby. Her situation is certainly extreme and not seen often by neurosurgeons in the United States.

Ruby's surgeon today consulted other physicians and he has decided that tomorrow Ruby will have her 5th brain surgery {remember she had one in Uganda} to solve the current situation. He is just not sure which direction he will take to accomplish it.

This is the part where we need you.

Please.

Would you please pray for God's Holy wisdom to descend on him so that he would know that he knows that he knows which is the most effective and safe avenue to take for our sweet Ruby girl?

Not exactly sure when surgery will be,

but probably somewhere around 3pm Phoenix time tomorrow.

Thank you in advance.

Graham nicknamed her Rubilicious right after she got home from the hospital. So endearing. As I gaze at her sleeping snuggled up next to me in this hospital bed, I am overcome with emotion. Our little Ruby Grace needs a touch from God's healing hand.

Thank you in advance for praying for this little treasure of ours.

We are forever grateful.

Morning Update

2012-01-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

The neurosurgeon has been in. The tests confirm that there is a problem.

More extensive tests now.

She just had fluid drawn off her shunt and that will be checked.

They also shot dye in and will be going for a CT scan soon so they can see if all the cysts fenestrated {in previous surgeries}

are still communicating with each other.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

She keeps crying now.

{Very, very, very unlike her.}

Admitted to ICU

2012-01-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

Lots of tests.

Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Ruby's in the room right next door to where

she was for almost three weeks.

Nurses and doctors who saw us, threw up their hands

and shrugged as if to say, "Oh no! You're back!"

Everyone who knew her from her last visit loves her.

So running into us outside the hospital? Super fun.

Inside? Not so much.

More tests in the morning.

Thank you for all the prayers.

I could tell you guys started praying because

I felt peace almost immediately after pushing

"publish" on the post asking for prayer for Ruby.

As you could probably tell from the post,

I was panicked and not feeling much peace

prior to asking you guys to pray.

{I can be so frail and human at times.}

You guys are awesome.

So thankful He is strong, even when I am weak.

Ruby sends her love and kisses and thanks.

Curling up on the bed with her and

going to try to get a little bit of sleep.

Thankful that Almighty God never slumbers

or sleeps and He definitely has her back

{So grateful for you guys reminding me.}

ER - Please pray!

2012-01-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Ruby is not herself. I emailed her neurosurgeon to ask about her symptoms. He emailed me right back. So we are at Phoenix Children's waiting for Ruby to be examined.

This could be a false alarm,

but it could be a problem with her shunt.

I admit I'm scared.

Please, would you pray?

This is unchartered water for us and it's freaking me out.

Thank you so much!

Memorial Box Monday: The Tickets

2012-01-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I told the story of "the penny".

God's provision begins with a penny.

Whether unemployed or in the midst of bringing treasures home, He will provide.

He will.

He really will.

He is always faithful.

And our experience has been that He loves to provide in ways that we least expect - which makes life a wonderful adventure!

Kind of like all the bountiful produce we got the other day.

We were blessed so beautifully

{and such perfect timing with Karl, Autumn

and Savannah arriving}.

This Memorial Box Monday story is also a story of His provision.

And it came as a surprise

{which is our favorite kind!}.

After returning home from San Francisco this summer

where Jubilee had just had surgery we had to make

reservations for going to Uganda to get Ruby Grace.

I contacted the travel agency that Abi and Ryan

had used to bring Finn home.

I told the gentleman that I needed to fly out of Phoenix

and what my first choice in airlines was.

We emailed back and forth.

The travel agency is only open on the week days and

I really wanted the reservations made.

It was Friday and it was already mid-afternoon on the East coast {where the agent was located}.

So I was standing at my computer

about to email the gentleman back

and suddenly I heard the Lord say,

"Wait."

I prayed.

"Seriously? I should wait?"

I asked the Lord again, "Did you say I should wait?"

Very clearly, "Yes, wait."

I wondered what that was all about.

I said, "Remember it's Friday and it's likely that the prices will go up by Monday....or worse yet, the flights will be full."

{Sometimes I am amazed at all we

have seen Him do and yet - at times -

we still question.

He must shake His head some times,

don't ya' think?}

But I had clearly heard His voice.

I would wait and I would trust.

Saturday night I noticed that I had voice mails.

I confess right here and now that I am slow
to listen to voice mails.

There are not many quiet moments in my day and

so when I do listen to them,

it is often late, late at night

or the wee hours of the morning.

But Saturday night I saw that there were voice mails and so in the middle of the night I was up and listened to them.

It was a friend of ours calling to see

if we still needed airline tickets to Uganda?

The message was garbled and so I wasn't quite sure what Deb was asking, but just that it was about our flights to Uganda.

HUH?

The next morning at church I saw her husband, Gordon. He asked me if I had gotten Deb's message. I said, "I listened to her message, but it was garbled. What do you guys mean?" He said, "We have air miles and we would love to help you get to Africa and back." I almost fell over. Truly, I was dumbfounded. I said, "Emma is going with me."
He said, "That's okay, we have enough for both of you."

{And might I add, their free tickets were with our favorite airline! Amazing God.}

Really?

No wonder the Lord had said, "Wait."

He knew all along that Deb and Gordon were going to call!

The Lord had free air mile flights just waiting!

Thanks to our God-fearing, orphan-loving,

generous and precious friends - Gordon and Deb,

Emma and I had free flights to Uganda and back.

We laughed and cheered at yet one more provision of the Lord to bring our sweet Ruby home. He is faithful. He will always be faithful. He loves the orphan. He will provide to get them home.

In our Memorial Box we have our tickets, reminding us of the faithfulness of God, His provision and how He uses friends when we least expect it to minister to our hearts.

How about you?

What stories do you have to share?

Please post your permalink below:

Karl, Autumn & Savannah Visit....

2012-01-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Autumn, Karl & Savannah arrived to celebrate Christmas together. We could not wait for them to get here!

Last night was "Christmas Eve" and today we

celebrated our Christmas together with Autumn.

{Autumn was bummed that we had to take down our Christmas tree. It was crispy. Definitely not keeping that thing up.}

We can never hear the Christmas story enough times....

We will never be able to thank the Lord enough that Karl is with us.

Thank you for all your prayers on his behalf.

His healing continues, but he is doing well.

Cinnamon rolls is our breakfast tradition on Christmas,

so Ruby was lovin' that!

Tomorrow we will resume

Memorial Box Monday!

Can't wait!

Crazy Provision from Only Him!

2012-01-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

God's provision is amazing.

Truly crazy unbelievable.

Here we are in a new city.

No known source of income.

And we spot a sign.

On a nearby church.

Hmmmm.

What's that about?

Graham googled it for me.

And it turns out that it is an amazing provision from the Lord.

Almost every week-end

{Saturday and some Sundays}

throughout metro Phoenix,

there is a ministry called

Market on the Move.

It "rescues" {their words} fruits and vegetables

from being thrown out

and redistributes them to individuals

and families who want them in locations all over Phoenix

{and I guess to Tuscon as well}. Every year they 'rescue' 30 million pounds of fruits and vegetables that would have been thrown out. We met the founder. She was so sweet!

There are no financial requirements to participate.

All one has to do is show up, wait in line,

pay $10.00 and pick up boxes of fruits and

vegetables weighing a total of about 60 lbs.

If you become a member, you can pay a

one time amount of $100.00 and

go every Saturday to one of the locations

and pick up your 60 lbs. for free!!

We opted to become members for $100/year.

We arrived about 8am and were able to get in line. Met some really nice people as we waited.

When it was our turn they loaded us up with whatever we wanted.

We kept rejoicing at the Lord's provision.

Take a look:

The kids totaled it all up. There are {approximately}:

28 - green peppers

9 - yellow squash

8 - eggplants

15 - organic{!} seedless cucumbers

8 pints - organic{!} cherry tomatoes

2 lbs - cherub tomatoes

39 - tangelos

80 - tomatoes {Roma}

15 lbs - green beans

12 lbs - onions

1 - crazy huge salad mix

{complete with dressings & ham pieces}

Can you believe it?

If you live in the Phoenix/Tuscon area check it out.

{We may see you one of the Saturdays!}

If not, maybe there is a similar ministry in your city!

Yippee Jesus!

Oh, and one last thing. As I was just about to start picking the produce from the tables, a woman came up to me and said, "I just have to say, I've been reading your blog for over 2 years. I recognized Jubilee and thought, 'that must be her'....and so I had to come and introduce myself."

I was able to introduce her to little Miss Ruby and Dw too.

I asked her if she lived nearby.

She did.

I said, "So do I!"

She was so surprised!

How fun is that?

Miss L. - it was really fun meeting you!

Ruby's Monumental Moment.....

2012-01-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Ruby's hydrocephalus has been a big learning curve for all of us. It causes her to be very sleepy a lot of the time. We have to work and work to get her to wake up and stay awake. Some days seem worse than others. We don't want her to sleep much during the day, as she needs to be awake in order to be stimulated. She's gotta' learn and grow.

We try ice cubes, the cool kitchen counter top, doing zorberts on her belly, but most times it is a long, long process to get her to wake up. The kids will take turns trying to wake her. But really, it nothing short of a very difficult task.

I realized a few days ago that I really think she is trying to wake when we are working so hard to get her to wake her up, but she seriously is unable. When one of us is trying to wake her, if we walk away for a minute and come back and try again, she will often smile, almost as if to say, "I'm trying, keep doing it, cause I really, really, really want to wake and play with you, but I just can't quite get there."

Well today was no exception. I had tried. The kids took turns. Nothing. She would rouse a bit but nod off again in about a minute. We want her to grow and thrive and she just can't do that sleeping the day away!

So I semi-propped her in a sitting position on my lap at the kitchen table as we were eating lunch. The boys had made tuna sandwiches. Although she was asleep on my lap, I took the teeny-tiniest nibble of tuna and worked to put it in her front bottom gum. Eyes closed, seemingly asleep, she wiggled it around in her mouth and scrunched up her face as it to say, "Ugh. That is nasty tasting!"

It made us laugh.

But it did cause her to rouse a bit more. I gave her a speck more. She woke up quite a bit more, until she was in much more of a wakeful state. It had worked. I continued to give her teeny bits {chewing is not her thing quite yet}.

All of a sudden her head tipped back with her mouth open a speck revealing that she actually was pooling all those teeny specks of tuna on the roof of her mouth. Clearly, she did not like it and was not gonna' swallow.

No way.

No how.

I had to swab them out with my finger.

Anyway, after lunch Emma was holding her in an upright position. {She is unable to hold her head up herself yet, not even close. And she doesn't like to be in an upright position for long.

No doubt it hurts her. }

She started to get sleepy again. But we needed her awake. So this time I remembered that I had some cinnamon rolls left from making them the other morning {one of the family favorites}. I grabbed a piece of roll and took a pinch of a speck and put it in her mouth. Without hardly even tasting it, she turned back toward me, reached with her arm toward me and opened her mouth.

Emma and I started to giggle. Oh.my. Our baby girl clearly was lovin' her mama's cinnamon rolls! So I nipped another little speck and gave it to her. For the next several minutes she would turn her head to the side and open her mouth, reach with her entire arm and squawk as if to say,

"Hurry up mama, more of that yummy roll - please!"

Her entire being was engaged!

Now that might not sound like a really big deal to many, but to this mama, daddy and family we were over the moon!

This was really, really, really huge!

Ruby was communicating with us a clear like and she was knowing where to turn, which direction to reach and

that her mouth needed to open to get some more.

We ran to show the boys who were in our bathroom where Graham was giving Daddy a haircut. They were just as excited as we were. It is a monumental moment in our lives.

Our 18 month old baby girl is beginning to communicate with us and I just couldn't wait to tell, you, our sweet bloggy friends!

Yippee Jesus!