"He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children." Psalm 113:9

Welcome to our family journey to our newest son Isaiah Samuel.  God in His sovereign plan has miraculously and joyfully paved our path.   

The journey really starts last year in November 2005.....On November 13th, 2005 one of our young staff pastors (Benjie) came to me.  He said he had a really weird word he thought the Lord wanted me to know.  He went on to say, "God wants you to know that the best days of your life are ahead of you."  I gasped.  Benjie would have no idea that I had been feeling so sad.  In a few days I would turn 47 and was grieving over the fact that our kids were growing and leaving home.  I had actually said to the Lord alone just how hard it was to be in this stage of my life and how desperately I longed for little children once again.  I even said, "I feel like the best days of my life are behind me."   After this young pastor said this I went home and told the Lord, "Well Lord the future must include more kids, because that's all I long for."  So I pondered and prayed until....

On June 1, 2006 we were at our annual Pastor's Convention in Washington, DC.  This particular day we decided to walk the exhibit hall.  We went to encourage another one of our staff pastor's (Seth) in the booth he had.  Lo and behold right next to him was a booth (A Helping Hand) with little Chinese children's faces all over it.  I got all misty eyed and said to the gentleman working the booth how if I was younger I would adopt a dozen more.  He asked me just how old I was.  I told him I was 47.  He said, "Did you know that China has changed their regulations?  They now allow adoptions to 55."  I ran and grabbed Dwight's arm and nearly shook it off...."Dwight, Dwight China has changed their regs, we can still adopt."  

We have six children, I am 47, he is 51, we pastor a good size church (iriverchurch.com), I have Multiple Sclerosis.  So what did my precious husband of 28 years say?  He lovingly looked in my eyes and his first response was, "Linny, it's what God created you to do!"  I love this best friend husband of mine, but let me tell you, that response made me love him even more.  

We spent an additional week of vacationing and visiting our family on the East coast but when we returned to Colorado we filled out our application and Priority Mailed it...after all, if China allows us to adopt to 55, Dwight is 51 and time is of the essence to bring at least two home before we are over the age limit!!  =)