I’m back

Ok, she’s in the hot tub and i thought i’d take this opportunity to let you all know it’s Linny Lee’s birthday today. She’s a wonderful woman – so share some birthday wishes with her. She takes her time on the blog very serious – praying for what to post, how to mentor, what to share – so let her know it is making a difference! Last time I snuck on her blog we had a fire in our log home… yikes! So she’s not real keen on my getting on. So I am probably in trouble. Please give her a big birthday hug throughout the night! If she’s mad for me telling you – your comments may help me —- shhhhhh i think she’s coming. DW

132 thoughts on “I’m back

  1. Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have/had a fabulous one!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as I read about your life…truly you are an inspiration in living for Jesus!! Thank you for encouraging me too.

    thoughtfully…
    mindy
    aurora, or

  2. Hi Linn,
    Happy Birthday!! I don't know if you remember me, but we visited you in March for a job interview for my hubby, Matthew. I just thought I'd let you know that our baby was born today, on your birthday! She was born in the car and was 10 lbs, 6 oz. What an adventure.

  3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINNY! May God continue to bless you as you do me! Through getting to know you and yours a dear friend went to Africa with DW and the same sweet family just brought home the sweetest treasure! I will forever be thankful that friend shared your blog with me.

  4. Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Just wanted to tell you how much your blog means to me by the many, many Happy Birthday's! Happy Birthday Happy Birthday! Hppy Bday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! …..and many, many more! Loads and Loads of Love to you Linny! May the Lord bless you this mext year…a year of hopeful restoration to you and your family! Tricia Otto

  5. Oh, happy birthday to my favorite bloggy friend!!!! I hope your day was as special as you and that the coming year is full of long-awaited blessings (particularly one named Jubilee).

    Your past year may have been one of the toughest ever. For the year ahead I pray for protection, provision, renewed health, a restored home, and God's goodness and mercy like you've never had before.

    Thanks for the blessing you are to your bloggy friends and loyal lurkers.

    Much Love,
    Kathie from Ga.

    P.S. Please don't be mad at your sweet husband for the reminder. We all would have been kicking ourselves later this week that we had forgotten.

  6. We love you Linny! Happiest Birthday to you!

    And please don't break his fingers this time – or make him sleep in the crawlspace 🙂

    Praying for a most excellent celebration!

  7. Happy Birthday, Lynn! You inspire me to be a better woman!! Thank you for letting the Lord use you to minister to me!

    The women in our ministry have started doing Memorial Box posts on blogs and facebook because you inspired me to do it!! It is so cool to see God work.

    I pray that the Lord blesses you beyond all you can ask or think. I also pray for restoration. And we all know the cool thing about God…when he restores he multiplies!!

    You are so amazing!! I hope one of these days I get to hug your neck!

    Love and Prayers,
    Holly

  8. Linny,
    I hope you had an awesome birthday! You and your blog are such an encouragement to me. Thank you Linny for being such a blessing to me. Praying for you and your family.

    Leslie in MT

  9. Linny,

    I can't tell you how much your blog has touched me over the last several months. This time last year, I refused to speak to God. And not only are we now on speaking terms again, just last week I went to church simply to go to church for the first time in five years.

    Your blog has shown me that God did not abandon me. I had just tuned him out. And once I started listening, by was He talking.

    I had been skeptical about what I had seen of your relationship with God. This talking directly to you thing. But he really has been talking to me and I have been listening.

    There are no words to show my gratitude for the way your blog and your family has ministered to me since I started reading after your fire. "Thank you for sharing your lives!" just doesn't seem enough.

    Happy Birthday!
    Ashley

  10. Happy Birthday, Linny! You are a dear daily blessing in my life! Thank you for sharing your joyful life with all of us! You capture the true essence of motherhood and all that it means to being a mother, wife and dear friend to so many! You make a huge difference in all our lives by sharing your laughter, tears, trials and triumphs that we can all relate to and grow with you from! May you feel the love of the Lord and all who love you more acutely than ever before! May the Lord bless you with the deepest desires of your heart, knowing He is well pleased with you and your beautiful service to Him. Keep blogging…it's a deep well for all of us to draw refreshment from (& may you be refreshed writing it!)! To God be the glory for the great things He does through you and your precious family! Happy, Happy Birthday (shhh….don't be upset…Dw told us…we wanted him too!!!)
    "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another (possibly a blog), and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance (memorial box) was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. "They shall be Mine,"says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels (adoption). And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." Malachi 3:16-17
    You and your family, Linny, are one of His precious jewels…know that you are prayed over unceasingly….In Him…blessings & love, cindy

  11. Happy birthday, dear sweet Linny! You and I are almost twins. Our birthdays are just 6 days apart (plus a few years I think) 😉

    I hope it is a blessed day for you!

  12. I've never comented here before but I wanted to tell you Happy Birthday. You are an amazing story teller and you have such a great way with sharing your family's life stories. God brought you to this earth at just the right time. You are using all of the resources that God has made available to shine His light to some pretty far reaching corners on this world wide web. May you continue to rest in His glory and keep on spreading His good news. Many blessings on this happy day. ~aloha

  13. Happy birthday, Linny! I'm a November baby too. 🙂 Your blog is an example of iron sharpening iron as myself and many other believers are challenged often by what you have to say. And I am sure many who don't know the Lord are also inspired by your witness. Hugs to you!

    Carrie T. – mom to 4 from Korea

  14. Hi Linny! I already sent you a text and a message on Facebook, but how could I resist your sweet husband's request! 😉 I hope you had a great birthday my friend!!

  15. Happy Birthday Linny! Thank you for sharing your life with us! I want to stop and visit if we are ever in CO. Thanks for your thoughtful words, your true heart for the Lord (and for the orphans), and your support of the mil*tary.
    May your birthday be full of all that is dear to you!!!
    Love,
    Melissa

  16. Happy Birthday Linn!!! I can't tell you enough how much your words mean to people you don't even know. Your life is a beautiful example to all of the women you touch of the kind of woman Jesus wants us to grow up to be!!
    Sending love, hugs and prayers for a blessed year!

    Donna from Pennsylvania

  17. Happy Birthday to you, Linny!!
    Thank you for encouraging me and challenging me. May God richly bless you and your family in this next year…and bring you Miss Jubilee home!! (Praying, praying, praying for her to delivered to your arms speedily.)

  18. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Linny!!
    May this year be FILLED with blessings for you and your beautiful family 🙂 And may your precious Jubilee come home SOON!!
    Big ol' birthday hugs all the way from New England!!

  19. Happy Happy Birthday to you Linny!!!!!! How could you not tell us that!!!!
    Well I'm certainly glad DW got the word out! You deserve a million b-day blessings. You have no idea how you inspire me daily, how many times a day you go through my head, how often I think of your children or we talk about you and your family at my home. I look forward to every one of your posts. I read them all and more than once. You keep my dreams of adopting alive even when (like right now) it looks ridiculously impossible, you give me hope.You are the kind of person I can only hope to be, you are a role model and mentor like no other. I am blessed beyond words to have found you, actually I believe I was lead to you. I wish I could wrap my arms around you and give you a big old hug! Some day I wish, I wish, I wish, to sit with you and just talk and laugh,watch the kids run around and eat some apple pie!
    All my love to you Linny on this very special day!

  20. Hi Linny,

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! So glad to have you as a bloggy friend and mentor. Your posts are always inspiring and thought provoking. You have helped me to be a better mother!

    Hugs,

    Ann Marie
    joyfullybusy.blogspot.com

  21. Happy Birthday Linny! I just love following your family and your journey! You have encouraged me in my fasting, praying, relying on God and my mothering!
    Thank you for keeping up with your blog. It truly is a ministry! 🙂

    I'm sure for your birthday that you would have loved to have your entire family together – praying for that to happen soon, very soon!

    Jodi Sue 🙂
    http://www.headsup07up.blogspot.com

  22. Happy birthday Linny! I LOVE reading your stories. You are truly an inspiration & I thank you being so willing to share so openly. Have a great birthday!!!

  23. Linn,
    I can not tell you how much you have touched my heart. You words jump out and hit me sometimes to wake me up. So blessed to have learned of your blog! Hope your day was blessed and wonderful filled with family and love!! Happy Birthday Linn!

  24. Happy Birthday Linny! I can't wait to read your blog first each morning and you do minister to me through your blog. Thanks for all you share. I feel like you are friend even though we've never met.

  25. Linny,
    Im so glad to get this chance to wish you a happy birthday. Thank your husband for me!!
    Thank you for opening your life up to strangers. I have never felt so close to someone I have never met. You have been such an example and inspiration to me. Thank you for letting God use you through all of your heartache. And sharing all of your fabulous stories. We love you!!!
    CM

  26. HAppy birthday! thank you so much for your words of wisdom to all of us. I love following your blog because it encourages me that the dreams to adopt that have been in my heart for so many years really will come true. Love and blessings, Candice

  27. Linny,

    I wanted to join the others and wish you the a terrific birthday! I hope you have a day full of love, laughter, and great memories! Thank you for being a beacon of the love of Christ! AND, for making us all laugh, giggle, and cry with you! Love and hugs to you from Kansas!

    Missy Wenzl

  28. Happy Birthday !!! I just want you to know what a blessing you are. Its funny how I can be struggling with something and then you blog about it. God is truly working through you.
    Melissa in Ky

  29. Happy Birthday Linny! I have never commented here before either. I just ditto what those other people said! I have so been encouraged by your blog. I check it daily and it so lifts my spirt. I want to be like you when I grow up!! You always point the way to Jesus. You are such a great storyteller and inspiring!

    Thank you for taking the time to blog and mentor. I can't imagine all that you do…and yet you take time to write about how God is working in your life. Thanks again for sharing.

    Many blessings for you and your family!
    Kate in TN

  30. HaPpY BiRtHdAy!! This is the first time I've commented on your blog, but I LOVE it. I'm a medical student in my mid-20s and while I'm so blessed to be fulfilling my dream of becoming a physician, I can't wait to adopt and become a mom. Your blog is so inspiring!! Hope you have a great day. God Bless!

  31. Hope your day was GREAT! I look forward to reading your posts each day. I love to hear how much you give praise to God for all the things you have been through and all HE has done! Great reminders to us all!

    Jackie

  32. Happy Birthday, Linn! I know it will be fantastic with your whole boatload of kids who will be celebrating with you and your fantastic husband who obviously loves you and treats you like the special woman you are!

    ~Amy

  33. Hope you had a great birthday!

    "A happy birthday to you……
    A happy birthday to you…
    May you feel Jesus near
    Every day of the year…
    A happy birthday to you
    A happy birthday to you
    The best you ever did have!"

  34. Precious friend, I hope your birthday was extra, extra special! Between you and Katie Davis, my life has been/is being radically changed! I always thought I had a heart for the orphans (since I have one…who is an orphan NO LONGER!!!) But what I DIDN'T have was a PASSION for them. God has used you mightily in my life, to wake me up, to shake me up, and to bless me immeasurably! I love you, sweet bloggy friend! I am so very thankful for you!

    Love and hugs…Nancy in CT

  35. Happy Birthday sweet friend! Thank you for sharing your faith and love of the Lord with us! I/we truly appreciate it and need it! This is a "real ministry" and one that is so needed. Hubby and I call ourselves the unicorn family- there are not many out there like ours so we need others similar to us that understand us and that bring Jesus to us! Thank you for doing that!! I love you and I love your family!

    Have a happy happy day!!

  36. Happy birthday, Linny! You are such an inspiration to me! My husband doesn't know it yet, but I am going to save a little kiddo from Uganda in a few years. We are moving into a forclosure fixer upper on Friday, and I JUST had a baby… otherwise I would be there now! I hope you still are doing your blog then because when I'm ready, guess who I'm going to contact?!
    I hope you have a blessed day! 🙂
    Melanie from SD

  37. Happy Birthday Linny! What a blessing to come here and be able to chat and listen to my "sister"and be uplifted and grow together in our Jesus… some day we will all have such a huge "meeting with Him" what a party! Thanks KING OF GLORY for bringing us all together in your family!

    Dawn
    in OR

  38. Happy Happy Happy Birthday to one of most AWESOME ladies I "know"! You are the greatest gift to the internet world! We as a family love reading all your blogs and find comfort in knowing that you are just a normal family and we love that about all of you! Our Hugs and Prayers go out to you and your family and we are praying for a very soon visit to China for you! That would be one AWESOME birthday gift! May God Bless you today and always!

    Love,

    Faye Verquer and crew!
    (Fairfield Ohio)

  39. Dear Linny,

    I was able to tell you on Facebook Happy Birthday but I definitely did not take the time to tell you what a blessing you are in my life. I am encouraged by your posts and by the love that you send out to each one of us. You are an amazing woman of God.

    I have felt so far from the Lord in the last few years. Our adoptions, leaving a church that we had known for 10 years and having many of our military friends retire and move left me feeling so empty. You were one of my encouragers as I have been "holding on by my fingertips." The obstacles that the Lord has brought you through make my circumstances seem meaningless but the beauty is I know that they are not in the eyes of the Lord.

    You witness is strong and clear. Thank you for being a faithful servant. What a blessing you are in my life and so many others.

    Happy Birthday! Lisa C.

  40. Linny,

    I hope you had a relaxing, pamper filled birthday! Girl you deserve it! I am so thankful that I found your blog through A Helping Hand yahoo group over a year ago. You and Dw inspire me and challenge me in my faith. The way I talk about y'all with my family you would think we had been best friends for years! Isn't it weird how we can feel close to someone we haven't even met because we share a bond in Christ and a love for orphans?! Happy birthday again!

    Hugs,
    Robin

  41. Happy belated birthday Linny!

    You are such a blessing in my life.
    i'm so grateful that my friend Tina introduced me to your precious blog.
    You are an encouragement to me.
    Thank you!

    May God richly bless you in the years to come!

    Love,
    Alycia

  42. Happy Happy Birthday!
    Thank you for being a woman of prayer, for sharing your journey – the joys and struggles and how to rely on God in every circumstance. Days of Elijah was sung in church Sunday and I was praying for Jubilee to come home. May God bless you and encourage your heart today. Love from Nebraska.

  43. Happy Birthday to YOU!!!! I'm so sad that I didn't see this yesterday on your special day but I prayed for blessings for you and for your family this morning. Thank you so much Linny for pouring your life out to all of us. You are such an encouragement to me. I could never really tell you how much without a big huge pot of coffee and some girl time on the couch, but believe me, God has used you tremendously in my life. Thank you for choosing God and being a shining example of what life is like when you do:O)
    God Bless You!!!
    Jennie

  44. Hi Linny!
    I pray that you have an amazing birthday with your sweet family. You are such a blessing to so many and I hope you feel the love and blessings back your way today. Thank you for living out an amazing witness for God daily. You are a source of strength in my growing faith. I have a great Memorial Box story to send you. Will be sending via e-mail shortly!
    Kendra

  45. You are so amazing, dear Linny! Praying you had a superb birthday. Please don't be too upset at dear Dw – I was hoping he would pirate the blog yesterday for your birthday. Love you tons!

  46. Happy birthday (yesterday) friend! Fwiw, I sent birthday wishes EARLY on facebook and then didn't text you ALL DAY long on your actual day b/c I knew you'd be busy and enjoying yourself. See…I'm the model of consideration. So DO NOT be mad that this is a day late. Hhehehe.

    Oh, and there was the "I'm sick as a…as a…as a dog?" Is that right? I was super sick and trapped in my house for FIVE days…so blame the sickness. No wait, don't blame that…I was being considerate, remember? No? Reread the comment then!

    Ok, seriously…Happy Birthday sweet friend. Praying your day was NOTHING BUT JOYFUL. And if it wasn't, well then, have another birthday tomorrow!

    Love you!

  47. Happy Birthday Linny. You are an amazing woman and have a way with words. Your family is very lucky to have youand your amazing strengths. DW is pretty awesome too, thanks for letting us know DW. Take care and have a blessed day.

  48. Birthday blessings to you, Linny!

    November 16 is my "spiritual birhtday." 26 years ago a woman came to visit me in a hospital room in Buffalo, NY. I wasn't expected to live, and she shared Christ's love with me – something I had never heard.

    Today, I'm alive to worship Jesus.

    Every year, on November 16th, I call her and say, "thanks for sharing." On your birthday I want to tell you "thanks for sharing" your stories, your journey, your life with us.

    My birthday prayer for you is that you'll soon "share" you're life with a little girl who's waiting in China.

    Romans 15:13
    hope and joy be yours!

    Lisa

  49. I get out of the loop for a day . . . don't get on FB . . . go to bed early . . . and miss the BIGGEST day of the year. Linny Lee's Birthday— WHAT?

    HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday dear friend, so sorry I missed it. We'll just let those well wishes keep trickling in . . .

    Oh Linny, what joy you bring to my heart! I remember the day well that Robin told me I just HAD to check out your blog– it was about this time last year. Who knew what Robin was starting?
    What a gift you have been to me. You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me think, you make me shake my head (up and down, side to side, you name it), you make me "memorialize" my thankfulnees (okay, you don't MAKE me, but hey, you gave me the box–so I kinda have no excuse). You make me giggle, and you make me grow, and some day I'm gonna hug your neck! Oh yes I am!

    Happy Birthday to you, my sweet Colorado friend!

    Love you, love you!

    Tina

  50. Happy Birthday. I pray that you will continue to blessed and favored by our Lord. You deserve a fabulous day and to be pampered like the queen you are.

  51. Happy Birthday! A little late here! Hope you had a fabulous day! And thank you thank you thank you for being such an inspiration and messenger! You are such a wonderful light shining Jesus' love all across the country! oh wait, make that the world! I hope someday we can ALL get together! It is so wonderful to know we have sisters all over who will drop everything and be Jesus' hand and feet for people they don't even "know"! Sheri

  52. I feel like its my Birthday… getting to read all these sweet messages from your friends has blessed my socks off! And love seeng DW risk life to get you some love. good man.
    You know I love you girl! I love that you are not afraid to speak your mind and heart. I love that you love your man with all your being. I love that you "get" how precious your little ones are, and how important it is to make every moment matter. I love how you are thankful for things I would never even give a second thought, like rubber bands. I love that you are passionate about orphans, and that you not only talk the talk, you walk the walk. I love that you inspire others on a daily basis. That you have such an unbelievable sense of humor and choose to laugh your way through life. I love that you take the time to snap pics of those funny moments, so we don't miss out. I love that you love the Lord with all your heart, and that you live out Loud for God. I love that every single one of these comments will make you tear up, and be grateful for each person who took the time to send you some love. I love that I can call you a sister in Christ, and a dear dear friend.
    Love you Linny. Happy birthday, dear one.
    hugs~
    Amie
    p.s. I do not love that you live so far away. 😉

  53. Happy Belated Birthday Linn! I saw your status update on fb this morning and I'm so glad that you got spoiled and felt special yesterday!!! November birthdays are the best!! Yay! Lots of love to you and the family; we miss you guys!

  54. Happy birthday Linny! I would have sent this yesterday when my husband told me it was your birthday, but he was busy reading your Memorial Box Monday post. He loves to read your blog almost as much as I do.
    You have been one of the sources God has used to grow our passion for orphans.THANK YOU Linny! Hope your day was blessed.
    I'm praying for Jubilee to be with you soon.
    Christy

  55. Happy birthday, one day late! 🙂 You have an amazing family and an awesome hubby! 🙂 don't hurt him for reminding us it was your birthday. Thank you again for writing this blog….you have spoken to me through God many times. HUGE birthday hugs to you!

  56. Happy Birthday Linn! So thankful for you and your encouraging words through your blog. YOU are the reason we took the leap and started the adoption of our second son from China…Noah. God said "do it now" and even though we had no earthly idea of how we would fund it….HE did! We just received our letter seeking confirmation. Hoping to receive travel approval in the next couple of months. Thank you for being so bold and transparent!

    Love and blessings to you,

    Julie Hoagland

  57. HaPpY BiRtHdAy To LiNnY!!!!

    I know what your birthday wish is already and it involves a beautiful little girl in China! I wish you a year filled with love, peace and amny many blessings.

    With Love, Sandie – Australia

  58. Linny, praying that you have a blessed birthday. It is not possible to tell you in this small space how much I admire you and DW and the many ways you have blessed me with your words. Happy birthday!

    p.s., praying for those 2 sick little ones too. Blessings on you all.

  59. OK, I'm back out of curiosity. i wanted to see how many birthday wishes you received. i was hoping it was over 100! And it is!!!
    How awesome!!!!
    Can't wait to hear how you spent your day!
    Hugs!!!

  60. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINNY!!! You have such a sweet hubby and I'm so glad he shared with us that it was your birthday! I hope it was super special. Thank you for being who you are and for sharing your faith and your life with all of us! You really are making a difference in many lives! Love you! – Charissa

  61. Hope you had a happy Birthday. May this be your best year yet! I just found your blog and I love it! Thank you for being such an inspiring daughter of the King. I'm already thinking about what we will use for our Memorial Box!

  62. Oh, how exciting! I love birthdays! 😀 Happy Birthday! I hope it is/has been an amazing day.

    I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that I absolutely adore reading your blog. I look forward to reading your posts. You are a source of encouragement. (I grin like the cheshire cat when you leave comments on my blog, too.) I think I may be on the younger end of your readers, but in the past few months I have so enjoyed having a window into your world and wisdom. So, thank you and I hope that you have a wonderful birthday.

    Praying for you & your sweet family,
    Stephanie

  63. Happy, Happy Belated Birthday Linny!

    I hope you had a spectacular time celebrating your birthday. May the love, goodness, and abundance of God overwhelm you in the best possible ways this upcoming year!

    You are such an encouraging and inspiring person; thank you for allowing God to minister through you to touch so many hearts. There are times when I come to your blog to read your testimonies and the words of faith from readers to help me along in my faith walk. And sometimes I just stop by to listen to the uplifting music on your site. Peaceful. Comforting. Motivating. Your witness is clearly evident and the love of God exudes from every corner of this blog. 🙂

    Happy Birthday! Hugs!

  64. Happy birthday! I am very grateful for your blogs. They mean a lot to mean, and give me hope to keep on. We are adopting from Korea, and it all seems so overwhelming at times. Thank you for you faith in Him!

    Love,
    Heather

  65. happy happy birthday, dearest friend. Sorry I got the blog update late 🙁

    I hope you had a stunning day–blessed in every way imaginable. You are SUCH a treasure in blog-world. Really you are. You're a treasure in the Kingdom, my friend.

    Praying the year ahead will be filled with every dream and every desire of your heart coming true–including getting settled in your new home AND bringing sweet Jubilee home.

    Love you!
    Adeye

  66. Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday Linny! You are such an inspiration to us all with your selfless love. Such a beautiful picture of Christ!

    I pray the Lord will give you a double portion this year of all that you need and all that He wants to give you.

    XOXO

  67. Hope you have a happy birthday Linny. Keep praying and writing on your blog. It is clear the Lord is using this space to turn people's hearts to the cause of orphan children around the globe.

    You not only have made a difference in our lives (helping lend support to pursue another adoption), but you have also urged and supported countless of other families to adopt for the first time or second, or third, etc! Think of all of those children who have found their forever homes because of something their families read on this blog.

    Keep preaching it sister!

    Love,
    Janet, Kevin, Ted, Philip, and soon to have in our arms Eli

  68. Linny, thank you for the encouragement and blessing you are to me. I love how our Father unites us in family even though we are miles apart and have never met. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

  69. Happy Birthday Lin…
    (Sorry I have been offline for a few days!)
    Anyway, I can't remember HOW I found your blog (The Lord, of Course) but I love it…I really LOVE the Memorial Boxes and will try to find one…I love your enthusiam and how it bubbles over into everything you right…I love your love for the Lord and for your children…You inspire me to be a better mom…
    It looks like you had a wonderful day…thanks for sharing.
    Love,
    C~

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