Memorial Box: How ‘Bout We Celebrate?

We are here in San Francisco. Can you see the glow coming from the East Side of San Francisco? That would be this Momma cause all the kids are gathering together. Tyler and Sarah should be here in a few hours. Autumn is working, but will be arriving on Saturday. My mom is even flying in on Friday.

Abi and Ryan’s apartment is beautiful and the area is wonderful and we are going to have a blast. One day Thanksgiving. One day Christmas. One day Tyler’s 25th birthday celebration. That’s a bunch of celebrating!!

I am so thankful for all the prayers, fasting and for all the people who posted requests. You guys are amazing and God is already working!
So I was thinkin’….how ’bout we do some celebrating here at this Place Called Simplicity? Abigail said that there is a giant Antique store one exit away….I can here it calling me…so I’m going looking for a Memorial Box to giveaway, but should I not find one, no biggie, I found one on my way home from NY a couple of weeks ago….
Here’s what you have to do: all you have to do is leave a comment and you will be entered in a Memorial Box giveaway. That’s all. Just leave a comment below. How fun is that? And if you want to leave a couple, go for it. Each comment will count as an entry. Let’s have some fun! xo

365 thoughts on “Memorial Box: How ‘Bout We Celebrate?

  1. Wow!! Linny, you are such an encouragement! Thanks, from one Jesus-loving mom's heart, to yours. It's so cool to see God working in so many lives!

  2. Here's my comment. : ) I sure loved spending time in prayer yesterday for all those requests. Just picturing God answering them brought a smile to my heart.

  3. It sounds like you have a wonderful holiday planned with your family!

    What a miracle worker our God is!! Thank you for hosting a prayer day yesterday – He has already sent us a sign that he is crumbling those mountains! Praise The Lord!

  4. I sure hope I get to meet you someday because I sure do love your heart. I am so encouraged each and every time I read your blog. Have a blast with those treasures of yours.

    Lot's prayers for a wonderful triple celebration!

  5. Oh! I can comment!!!! I REALLY need a Memorial Box. I was just in the US for a few days and had my eyes peeled for one the whole time but I had no luck 🙁

    Enjoy your holiday…how great to have everyone all together!! I'm still getting goosebumps and tears thinking about Cheremis family finally being together!!!!

    God is Good!!

  6. I can see the glow from SF all the way over here, in El Dorado Hills!

    I don't need the box….because you gave me one last year…:) But wanted to say HI, while you are in our neck of the woods.

    (btw, I am reading Crazy Love and Radical would love to know what you think about either book.)

  7. Have some great holiday memories!!!

    Just have to say that the blessings of being able to gather together to fast and pray not only is amazing because of our "one plea", but also does works in our lives that are becoming very apparent in my life! Thanks for the encouragement to stand together before the Lord – for each other, and for us.

    Still praying!!!!

  8. ok Im just going to say it- I would love to win a Memorial Box, because I don't have the time to shop for one. Goodness, I don't have the time to go to the bathroom by myself! haha. thanks for all the encouragement and prayers and allowing us all to join together in prayer for others.

  9. You are cracking me up!! I can feel the high you are on because your family is all around. I'd imagine Tyler and Sarah are already there. Have lots of fun!! I have chills just thinking about you being with family all together!!

  10. I really hope you have an amazing weekend! & I cant wait to see that picture with your whole family! YAY! I also dont have a memorial box yet, but have a little stash of things to stick it once i get one… 🙂

  11. I love San Francisco, my son lives about 30 miles from where you are.
    I wish that I were there visiting with him too. Have a great visit with your family and I hope you find a wonderful Memorial Box!

  12. Have a wonderful visit with your family. I can feel your excitement all the way up here in Canada. Thank you so much for hosting a prayer day yesterday. What a blessing. Although my friend's mother has not finished testing and final confirmation of the severity of her cancer, I was able to share with my friend today all that I felt led to say and she was able to go home and call her mom and tell her that she loves her for the first time that she can remmeber since being a little girl. Praise you Jesus for your faithfulness, for softening hearts and opening doors…

  13. I just wanted to say that I can see you glow at having all your kids coming together…I too have a few "grown and gone" children and it's absolutely a celebration of a mom's heart when they can all manage to get together. Enjoy your time with them!

  14. Ok, I gotta admit, as soon as I read the lines "And if you want to leave a couple, go for it. Each comment will count as an entry. Let's have some fun!" my first thought was "Oh man. With all the 'troublemakers' Linny has following her blog… this is going to be interesting." hahaha.

    Anyway, count this as my entry. I would love, love, love to win a memorial box, as I still don't actually have one.

    Have fun with all your sweet family (well, other than Finn) being in one place! 😀

    (Look at me, being a good girl… this easily could have been like 3 or 4 comments. ;))

  15. I'm so glad you get to be with all of your kids at the same time. That is an amazing gift once they start to leave home!

    I would also love to win a memorial box. I sheepishly admit that I have yet to start one simply because I don't have the box.

    -Tiffany

  16. I agree with Kimberlie's comment. I sure do love your heart and you are a great source of inspiration!

    It's never too early to celebrate the holidays with family. I'm all for family gatherings whenever, wherever, for whatever! 🙂 Enjoy your time together!

  17. Our God is so wonderful to arrange it so that all your family could getogether at this time. Enjoy and I am praying for safety for Tyler.

    It was wonderful to be able to lift up so many to the Father yesterday.

    Jennifer

  18. You must be having so much fun!! So thankful for yesterday and the prayers that were prayed. I have been so encouraged by so many readers that have left comments on my blog. You my friend Linny, are making this world a little smaller. LOVE it!

  19. WOW I can leave comments again!!!! Instead of facebook or emails, don't know how that happened. Well that has made my day as it morning here in the UK! (going to see if works again!) here goes……

  20. Linny, So happy you are getting together with your entire family! Times like that are precious! We had a reunion with extended family this past summer in San Francisco-it was so much fun!

    Just a small praise report-I had asked for prayer for my back (herniated disc) and the pain has improved tremendously these past few days! Class started for nursing last night-I have an awesome professor and was able to sit for the four hours with little to no pain! Now I am just believing that God will move on behalf of my husband's job permanency and health benefits! Yippee Jesus!!! 🙂

  21. I love reading about the love your family shows one another and everyone else you encounter. I really like the idea of a memorial box but have never done one. Right now I can only manage to write things in my journal. I hope you have a great few days of celebrating and enjoying your family!
    Lisa

  22. I'm ready to start my family's memorial box…just need the box :-). Hope your holiday season is just wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! and Happy Birthday, Tyler. Have a GREAT weekend.

  23. Aw, we just started setting aside things to put into a Memorial Box…just need to get one! What an answer to prayer winning this one would be. Then we would have to get a tin memorial box to put inside the "real" one to show God's faithfulness in bringing us this one!

  24. I love this! I keep contemplating doing a memorial box and haven't..maybe this will get me started! Thank you for praying for my family too!
    I pray your time together is wonderful and blessed!
    Carrie

  25. Oh Linny, you have brought me such encouragement!!! so many similar things going on in our lives, Hashimotos in my teenage daughter with several other autoimmune issues, cancer scare for me, son deploying soon…you have brought me such hope and God has used you to remind me to keep my head turned up and my eyes on Him..Every time I just read Tyler's name in your blog I start to cry, just know from one mom to another whose son is in the Military in Security and Special Forces, I AM PRAYING FOR YOU and TYLER!!!! Sure wish I could have come you are in San Fran and my boy is stationed at Travis AFB which is just about 50 miles northwest of you…give a shout out for me to my boy, he just might hear you!
    Blessings on your special time together,
    Sandy in Iowa

  26. Oh Linny, you have brought me such encouragement!!! so many similar things going on in our lives, Hashimotos in my teenage daughter with several other autoimmune issues, cancer scare for me, son deploying soon…you have brought me such hope and God has used you to remind me to keep my head turned up and my eyes on Him..Every time I just read Tyler's name in your blog I start to cry, just know from one mom to another whose son is in the Military in Security and Special Forces, I AM PRAYING FOR YOU and TYLER!!!! Sure wish I could have come you are in San Fran and my boy is stationed at Travis AFB which is just about 50 miles northwest of you…give a shout out for me to my boy, he just might hear you!
    Blessings on your special time together,
    Sandy in Iowa

  27. Oh I'd LOVE a memorial box! My prayer request was that our updated paperwork would be given the "ok" by our translator so we know our dossier is complete and ready for submittal. I haven't heard anything about that yet (assuming no news is good news) but we received a check from a family member yesterday that was totally unexpected. God is speaking to us. Thank you for your prayers!

  28. And, Linny, I can appreciate the emotions of having your family all together. We are on the east coast, have one son in college on the west coast, and 5 kids we are working to bring home in Latvia! I cannot wait for the day we are ALL together!

  29. I am going to talk about Memorial Boxes to the teens I am starting a bible study with Sunday! I bet starting one when you are a teenager would be awesome! Don't you think?

    Blessings –
    Debbie

  30. Hi Linny! I love reading your posts! They are the highlight of my day! I also loved praying for needs that were being lifted up all over the world!! How cool! And praise God for already answering some of those prayers!!!

  31. Yay! I still don't have a memorial box, either, but I have been amazingly encouraged just to write our memories out on my blog. My husband is enjoying it, too, as he says he doesn't remember things half as well as I do. That must be the Lord!

    The last time we were in SF we were able to walk down to the big farmer's market and it was such a delight. My husband said he would move to SF just for the FM! We would buy a pint of raspberries and scarf them down (we only had two daughters with us), then a wedge of artisanal cheese, then a vegetarian dish, then some fresh juice…it was so refreshing! Don't know if your clan would have time for that but thought I'd throw it out there!

    Happy Thanksgiving!!
    Merry Christmas!!
    Happy Birthday!!

    Jill

  32. So happy for all the celebrating that will be going on… 🙂
    May want to warn the city there "NO there is not an earthquake – We are just celebrating"…..
    Love your post…. 🙂

  33. Hey Linny….can't wait to hear and see all of your celebrations with your family!

    Well…as another ministry wife and adoptive momma…I would LOVE the Memorial Box from you! 🙂 What a blessed way to share it with family and church all that the Lord does to remind us of HIM! 🙂

  34. Like all the others, I would also love a memorial box. I have definitely learned that there are times in my life when I need to cling to the memories of God's faithfulness. I SHOULD have a memorial box by now! Love your blog! Love your heart! Love hearing of your big, beautiful family! Have a wonderful time celebrating with everyone!

  35. Linny,
    Have a great time with your family. You are such a blessing to so many. Your words have given me much needed encouragement along our journeys to our children. I would love an entry for your memorial box as the Lord has done some many awesome things for my family. Don't ever stop blogging. I continue to pray for you and your family.
    Jackie Mom to 7 almost 8

  36. I want a memorial box so bad and I have been looking for one–but it would be so special if I got one that you had chosen since you are the one who gave me the idea in the first place.

    I am praying for you that this would be an extra special time with your family. Lots of celebrating and joy. Blessings to you all!

  37. LINNY! Our most amazing, gracious, wonderful, superb, fantastic, mountain-moving God has done it…AGAIN! On Tuesday I put in a prayer request for my friend Meg, who was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. She was given a 10% chance to live only five years. There has only ever been eleven people diagnosed with this form of cancer, and none have lived over three years. After our fasting and everyone's wonderful praying, our God has answered. Wednesday morning, the doctors came in and told Meg that they MISDIAGNOSED her. They don't know how or why, but her cancer has changed since the original biopsy. (They say the machines must have made a mistake…but we ALL know it was God working in his wonderfully mysterious ways). Meg has now been given a 75% chance of a full recovery! Thank you so much to everyone who prayed and fasted with us on Tuesday. Words cannot describe how much each and every one of you mean to me. We were brought together by Linny, and we'll be kept together by God.

    Sending my love to all of you!

    Amanda
    xoxo

  38. Linny, wanted to let you know that Sophia's surgery went great! This Mama did great too! Praying that you have a wonderful trip in SF!
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Merry Christmas!
    Happy 25th to Tyler!
    Love,
    Alycia

  39. Oh! Loved what Heather said about posting even though she doesn't have a Memorial Box… why didn't i think of that?!
    I think i'll start! Thank you!

  40. Yeah…a memorial box! Wahoo! Have fun in SF, Linny…what a wonderful blessing to have EVERYONE (except precious Finn) there at once! Rejoice and enjoy!
    Praying for a great time…praying for K…praying for all those needs!

    Nancy in CT

  41. Linny,
    May you all be filled with glory and blessings from God as you celebrate HIS bounty of blessings, the birth of HIS son, the Christ Child and the gift from the FATHER in the form of your precious son!!!

    HappyMerryBirthday to you all!!!
    Jennifer

  42. May your whole family feel the wonderful, precious love of God surrounding all of you as you share these special days ALL in one place! You need a picture of all of you to put in your memorial box 'cause it's nothing short of a miracle to get everyone together! =)

  43. I love celebrating! That's like my dream holiday celebrating weekend! How fun! I wish you all a blessed time together with lots of memory making and picture taking!

    Soak it in!

    Mo

  44. I have a Praise to report! I asked for prayers for our financial situation and although this isn't a complete solution I count my blessings as they come and My husband has had overtime 3 days this week!! PRAISE GOD for the extra income!

    Memorial box…WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE! I need to start that I know Im missing out on a ton of memories…pick me pick me!!!!

    Thank you for being such an inspiration to our lives.
    Faye

  45. I have a Praise to report! I asked for prayers for our financial situation and although this isn't a complete solution I count my blessings as they come and My husband has had overtime 3 days this week!! PRAISE GOD for the extra income!

    Memorial box…WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE! I need to start that I know Im missing out on a ton of memories…pick me pick me!!!!

    Thank you for being such an inspiration to our lives.
    Faye

  46. I would love to win a memorial box, I've been looking for one for some time now. I already have some things that I plan to put in it from miracles past!
    Blessings for your family visit!
    Katherine

  47. Linny – I think your blog is a wonderful outreach! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – it's silly but it's a way to encourage other people to check out your blog which is worth it! You can look at my blog for details if you're interested. 🙂

  48. Linny, Let's pray and fast as a group again soon. It was awesome to pray through out the day with our brothers and sisters. It was a day with such purpose – to see God move and be glorified. You just didn't warn us that we would need a box of tissue to read all the praises! Our God reigns! Oh, and this is my second entry by the way 🙂
    Christine N.

  49. I am so encouraged by the answer for Meg that I just had to finally ask to be entered into the Memorial Box giveaway. I always thought – I'm too busy, but I think I NEED this visual reminder to not only remember, but to ask and pray in the first place. Thanks Linny. 🙂

  50. just one more…okay, now I am just laughing at myself! I needed to laugh out loud…Thank you!

    **Never underestimate our JESUS!! You telling me there's no hope….Well, I am telling you're wrong!!!** Praise God that He cares so much for us. HE will be strong and because of Him, I will too!

  51. Ok, I will leave 1 comment but it isn't going to do me any good…I NEVER win these things! Anyway, I would LOVE to win so PICK ME!!!

    Oh and since I'm already leaving you a comment just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE reading your blog! My husband is a pastor and we live with our 2 boys in Wahoo, NE. Our older son was adopted from South Korea and our younger son was born in March!

    Oh, did I mention, PICK ME!!!

    🙂
    Jen

  52. Ok…so I am posting again…I really need a Memorial box!!
    Is there anyway that we can print the prayer request so that they can be taken with places? I would love to have them in my hand so that whenever I have "waiting time" I can be praying for the specific needs. Just wondering??

  53. Yipee Jesus!!!!

    Last night as I was spending time with the Lord he confirmed when to move ahead in the adoption of our next child – Spring!!

    I thought he had given me that time frame before in a couple of ways previously, but he confirmed it again and again last night. Thank you for the prayers! Feeling such a sense of peace and desire to cherish the moments with the family that I have right now. Spring is coming! Fall is already here!

  54. Hi Linny

    You have inspired me to start a memorial box. My first item I will place in the box is each of my twins' baby bracelets from the NICU. The bracelets are tiny and they are a reminder to my that my babies were perfectly protected by God. So, thanks for reminding me to remember Him in everything I do. And, you are right, after waiting many years to become a mom…it is amazing! Even on the hardest days, I am determined to live with grace and joy. Thanks!

  55. How's this for a Memorial Box remembrance…our aodption of our daughter, Kaylin, was left to be found on June 13, 2005 and our plane left EXACTLY in God's timing on June 13, 2006 to bring our baby girl home! Lord..only YOU can do that!! 🙂

  56. I don't really understand what a memorial box is exactly, but I will enter anyway – because I figure if you say it's important, then it probably is. 😉

    I'm off to find a post that explains it.

  57. Oh. I just read the memorial box post. I see now.

    What a fantastic idea! – Yes, I would definitely like to win one! Thank you for the opportunity to enter! 😀

  58. I don't have a Memorial Box yet, but I would love for my family to have one! 🙂 It sounds like such a great reminder to have around the house! I might as well try for it. 🙂

  59. Linny, Hey it is Ellen IN Illinois. I am so happy for all the prayers God is answering in his mountain moving way that man can certainly not ever explain or imagine how it happens. Can I share one more specific prayer. It also was a life lesson for me in the process. My daugher has a dear, dear friend who grew up with an alcoholic Mom and was raised by her grandparents. She was always seeking approval and I met her, her junior year of high school. She and my daughter a year older quickly became life long friends almost sisters. Many many overnights followed and lots of heart to heart talks with my daughter and her friend. She asked my daughter one year ago this month, how she could have this God that my daughter knew. I felt that my sarah and this girl had this relationship for a reason and here it was. Sarah shared her faith with "M". About a month later she asked me if I could answer some of her faith questions. I was currently doing Bible Study Fellowship and that particular afternoon God spoke and nudged me to stay after for one of the seminars offered 2 times yearly. I did and it was titles "Sharing the Gospel". I learned how to share the gospel in steps that showed why it made sense and what the other outcome could be.Ironically the same week "M" called and said could we meet, I have some faith questions I would like to ask. "M" said she was so happy we had the time and she felt confident she had God in her life and was excited. My daughter was a year older in college and in her 2nd year of college and had an awesome mentor female who met with 14 to 16 girls weekly to share praise God, and pray together. My Sarah wanted 'M" to have this but she was an hour away. Again God prompted me to be available to M if she wanted a mentor. God moved "M" to ask me and I was thrilled. We met weekly this past summer for 3 months, one on one and also started a bible study.
    Well, you see the story doens't end here. "M" was in a horrific motorcycle accident on Aug. 13th and was on life support after brain surgery and no brain activity was seen. She had always wanted to be an organ donor and over 80 benefited from her kind generosity. I can smile some days because I know where M is. My thanks in that God spoke and told me to mentor her and I did. I wouldnt' trade those 3 months for anything.My Sarah is now feeling further and further from God b/c she misses M so badly. Please pray for my daugher to feel God's presence here and now in her life. Friends in Christ, Ellen

  60. Well, here I am trying again! Cannot get my comment thingy to work…anyway, I am close to San Fran…hope you get some gorgeous weather this weekend! I'd love to win, and have been pondering what God would lead me to fill it up with. 😉
    Becky
    mom to 5, awaiting 2 more!

  61. I have been looking long and hard for my memorial box. Found a really cute cubby organzier in Pottery Barn,
    but that is not quite as much fun as finding the right one. How much bettter could it get than to win one from the woman who inspires me daily?
    But God has it all worked out already doesn't he?

  62. A memorial box would be a wonderful gift especially coming from such a special woman of God. News from Amanda about her freind is amazing. God is so so good to us. And even if you don't receive a healing miracle, the miracle is that God cares and He is with us through it all.

    zJennifer

  63. We are hoping to bring home a precious little girl from Ukraine by the end of the year. I would love to win the Memorial Box and teach our new daughter about God's faithfulness in the process!
    Praise God for Meg's miracle!

  64. You said that it wasn't cheating to enter two comments so….I decided if I win the Memorial Box – I would give it to our youth group and they could all fill it up with their stories!

    Thanks and blessings!

  65. Thanks for posting that awesome answer to prayer! Looking forward to reading more of those answers soon!

    To my fellow bloggy followers–please keep us all updated on your prayer requests. It's great to see an answer posted! (:

  66. Yay God on the healing:)… yay Linny for getting the whole fmaily together. I am praying that you just have an awesome time celebrating with your precious family!
    sara

  67. Hope y'all are having a blast in sunny California. The west coast beaches are the best…so are the views and the fresh seafood! Yum! On that note, let me mosey on to the kitchen to prepare dinner. 🙂 Have fun!

  68. Just found your site from my sweet sister… a memorial box sounds wonderful…

    And my hubby's in the Navy, so I know how hard it is to say goodbye(at least from the spouses side)… my prayers will be with your family!

  69. Linny –
    Hope you enjoy a fantastic time with all of your family! I would love to start a memorial box – especially as we are nearing a log in date in China. We can hardly wait to find out who our little girl (with special needs) will be. God has already proven Himself faithful during this process!
    Blessings to you!

  70. How fun a memorial box would be to win. I don't have one yet, but one day. All available money right now is going into our adoption. I would love to have a memorial box for the new babies room to remember how God brought him or her into our lives and how HE faithfully provided for our every need and how HE brought us the perfect child created just for our family.

  71. I would love to be entered into this drawing. I live with 6 college girls and am kind of the house mom/friend/mentor. Next week I am going to have us all make our own Memorial boxes, but a real and sturdy one would be great.

  72. I think you are fantastic for this giveaway what a wonderful blessing this would be.
    I wonder what I would put in the memorial box if I were to win. I have so many God given blessings…
    Have fun!!

  73. SO I think I will post again!!! Something precious my 4 yr old did today! She has quiet time at 2pm everyday. Well she watches a show called CAILLOU…very whiney kid show..anyway while laying on the couch she starts kissing in mid air and with arms lifted up she starts yelling "THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU GOD, I LOVE YOU GOD smooch, smooch…" I said What are you Thanking God for? She says…Im Thanking God for putting on my FAVORITE CAILLOU show, its my best one and he put it on for me! And she said she was kissing and hugging God! HOW PRECIOUS! So IF I had a Memorial Box I would put a CAILLOU in it to remember how my little 4 year old REMINDED me to be THANKFUL for the LITTLEST things today!

    Faye (again!!)

  74. I would love to have a memorial box!!! I wouldn't just put something to remind me of something God did. I'm planning on actually writing the story and putting it in there too. So that others can read it in the future if I'm not around or if they don't remember it well!
    Laura

  75. Hi Linny, I'm so thrilled to hear about the cancer "misdiagnosis" – All glory to God who hears all our big and small requests.
    I'd love to have a Memorial Box from you!
    Vicki

  76. Linny,
    I already posted that I want a memorial box and I still do but I have a prayer request-My dear friend was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and had surgery on Friday to remove it. He has since developed pneumonia and was unable to come off the ventilator. They put a trache tube in today. He remains very critical-Please pray for a complete turn around. He is only in his 50's, has a beautiful wife and 2 grown children. They all still need him. Thank you for all you do.
    Jackie Mom to 7 almost 8

  77. Linny,
    I left one comment earlier about dealing with a deep depression and things havent changed much. But on Tuesday night before this post I had to set myself some goals after work so I would not just sit at my table in front of my computer. I had to write down to clean up the kitchen dishes, put in a load of laundry, straighten up the living room and the last thing was give 1 hour to God. I then went back and changed it to 30 minutes because honestly I havent been able to give him a solid 10 minutes at a time in a while and that hurts me. Anyway. I checked off my to do list and then I sat down with my scripture spiral notebook–somewhere I write down scriptures that speak to me and then I write why or what they said to me. I'm going to include what I ended up writing here. Its a little lengthy for a blog comment but I really feel like God came and sat with me on my couch and he was really saying these things to me 🙂

    I've been sitting on my couch for about an hour now going through all the scriptures I have written down in my little book. As I sat here saying them out loud and in my mind, I started to change the words and put me in them. As I was listening to them when I said them, this is what I started to hear……..

    Lisa, stop what you're doing, just be still and know that I am God. I've got things under control for you. Lisa you looked for me, you cried to me and I will answer you, I am answering you. You will be free of your fears. Just trust me Lisa, I know you do not understand, but just believe that I will get you through this tangled mess. I know the plans I have for you Lisa. I will not hurt you ever, I will give you hope again, I will give you a future. You will not stay in this pit. Lisa you know all this yet you still do not trust me. There is nothing that will ever take my love away from you Lisa, you do not need to be afraid or discouraged. I am with you everywhere you go. I will never leave you though others have. Just trust me Lisa. This looks really bad to you I know, but I have a plan for you Lisa and I will work this all out to be something good even though you cannot see what that is. Believe that I do. I already know how it turns out. Lisa I see you every morning when you wake up and I am with you everywhere you go until you go to bed. I do not sleep Lisa so I am watching over you! I know what you are thinking, good and bad, and I still love you. Because Lisa, there is nothing on this earth that can ever take my love away from you. So do not be afraid Lisa no one can do anything to you. Be strong, I will give you courage to do what needs to be done. I will be with you. I will hold your hand. I will lift you up and put you in a safe place. I chose you Lisa to be my daughter long before you were born. I will never leave you, I will never change. All you need to do is just believe that I am here.
    …..
    I have been reading this many many times during the day and it is helping me!

  78. I would love a memorial box. Tomorrow I meet with a surgeon to find out if I will be adding a pink ribbon to it for breast cancer. I know that God has the path before me. I just have to walk it. I am praying that they find out what they need to know and make a plan. I am a single mother to a daughter adopted from China so this weighs heavily upon my mind. Our God is greater.

  79. Ok so I read your latest post about Meg's answered prayer and my arms are all goosebumpy and my eyes teared up. I LOVE hearing stories like that! I love it! So I wanted to write and tell you how excited I was and then I decided to put it here and hope I can win a memorial box. That'd be so fun! 🙂 Hope you're having a blast! Love you!

  80. and entry #4! i would LOVE to win but that's about as "greedy" as i get… 4 entries is my top! 🙂 if i'm meant to win, i will, 1 entry or 100, right! 🙂

    by the way, i have told your kitchen table story a few times to those with eyes as wide as mine were! what a wonderful story! i love it!

  81. In over a year that I have followed your blog this is the first time you have had "All" of your kids together! Enjoy them!!!!!! Can't wait for pictures!!!!

  82. Your faith amazes and inspires me. So glad you are going to be a MiMi too!I became MiMi five years ago with the birth of my granddaughter and now also have a grandson! Grandkids are God's special blessings to us mom's!

  83. Commenting again…would love a box to begin my journey acknowledging God's answered prayers in my life.
    He has been so awesome in my life,
    such showing His crazy love to me.

  84. I don't know if you read all the comments or not but if you do, might I ask you to say a short prayer for my sweet friend H? She and her hubby N are just 30 years young. He is not expected to live more than another day or two due to brain cancer. But she has six more weeks before their first baby is due to be born. Everyone is praying for a miracle of all miracles for him to hang on long enough to meet their baby. Just once would mean the world to H and I am sure one day, baby Emma.

  85. Linny,
    Guess what?…
    I want to be YOU when I grow up : )

    OK, so I turn 42 this Sunday so that's SO not gonna happen. (plus our awesome God made just one amazing YOU!!) However,
    I love you lady and want you to know how much I appreciate you all the way from Southern California.

    Jen

  86. I don't have a Memorial Box! I keep looking but just haven't found what I'm looking for. To be honest, I'm not even sure WHAT I'm looking for, I just know I haven't found it yet!

  87. #2
    Linny, I've been following only a few months and I have to say I love your blog. It's full of conviction and heart stirring for me, the Lord is using you to move me further in my journey with Him. BTW, we brought home a little one from S Korea just 2 months ago!!

  88. Oh! I didn't see this post until this morning. I have been wanting a memorial box for a while. Who better to get one from than the person who gave the idea! Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip!

  89. i have been scouring our thrift shops when i get a chance and just haven't found one yet. would LOVE to have one from you.

    just caught up on your beautiful family. so glad you all had time together. and the news about meg?! AWESOME! He is amazing…i LOVE it!

  90. Linny,
    We have been traveling, my son and I… I thought about your family trip back east and the memories you're making. Such normal family things! Oh for the orphan to have the same experience…

    LOVE AND JOY! Worth remembering!

  91. God has blessed me with a beautiful treasure! She joined our family about a month ago. She just today stood on her feet for the first time. Im praying we can help her learn to walk, talk and eat!! My little prayer warriors pray for her daily!
    I love your blog, it has been a huge encouragement for me! It has inspired me to step out in faith! I started a memorial box almost a year ago!
    I hope I win!!!

  92. I have a Praise. I went to visit my eldest son and his wife this weekend. He used to pastor a church but many things happened and he got hurt very badly and is now walking far from oou Lord. Often times spent with my daughter-in-law are very walking on eggshells times. However, I prayed a lot about this visit. WE had a lovely time and my son said just one or two things that give me hope that God is continuing to work. I'm finding an item for the memorial box I hope to win. I wish I had had one for years. You think you will remember but you don't. At least that is how I find it.

  93. I love a fun giveaway! I don't have a memorial box, I have been just finding items that remind me of God's answers to prayer – a box to put them in would be wonderful 🙂

  94. here's my comment, Linny 🙂

    I'm here in Louisiana, and will be going to Sacramento and then to Utah, YHWH willing… am still waiting to see His hand in all this. I am praying and hoping that I am hearing Him right all this time, I guess I'll find out more when in Utah. 🙂

    Please pray that He will continue to guide me in His way. Thank you 🙂 Hope K is doing alright, and your uncle too.

  95. Well, since you keep telling us to enter more than once… I'll obey. 😉 hehe. I completely would adore winning a memorial box, since I don't actually have one at the moment, nor do I have the money to buy one.

  96. Thank you for entering me in the memorial box give away.

    I know this sounds simplistic but please if you know of anyone who is dealing with depression, please advise them to have their vitamin d levels checked. I could write a long story here but will refrain. That is not always the problem but it can be. Many blessings to you and yours.

  97. I already entered once, but I'll enter again because now I actually have something to put in that memorial box. Up until now I've had some stories, but nothing I could think of to put in the box. Today, though, we received an anonymous donation towards our adoption! This donation will make all the difference in the world to us as we will be submitting our dossier shortly! Praise God! I would love to have a memorial box to put the envelope in.

  98. I can't help but comment again… I really want to get a memorial box… I may just have to get my lazy rear in gear and get one of my own one of these days soon:)
    Sara

  99. I haven't left a comment because I feel that God is calling me back to Nicaragua to serve and there would be no way to take a Memorial Box in my suitcase. However, I'm going to enter anyway.

  100. The Lord paved the way for me to quit my job earlier this summer (big bonus and in these economic times 🙂 for what I thought was to spend time with my mom who is a cancer survivor (which I did). But the Lord had other plans as well: my husband started going to church with me (for the first time in his 54 years!), we joined a new church (that he loves!), a study group, and have grown together as a couple in ways I did not think possible! I never thought I would see this happen and my words don't do the transformation justice.

  101. I have so very much to be thankful for. Whether you supply the Memorial box or I have to find one myself, I am definitely going to begin my own box. The first thing to go in it will be a copy of your explanation about the memorial box so I can always remember where I got the idea. Your blog is such a blessing to me. Love you like family.

  102. I have been participating in Memorial Box Monday for a while now, but I still don't have a memorial box – the one I am using is virtual on my blog. I would love to have a real one!

  103. Glad to hear you're having such fun with your kiddos! I've really been thinking about this Memorial Box thingy… I've been married 11 months now, and we are soon to move into our own – first!- home. I believe a Memorial Box is just what God wants us to put in that new place! Thanks so much for your encouragement and challenge. <3

  104. I'm a new follower. Ok, I'll admit that I've been lurking for many months! 🙂 I love your blog and am blessed by your family! I absolutely love when you have adoptive families link up with their needs. We don't have a memorial box yet so thank you for this chance.

  105. Linny – I don't have a memorial box, but I keep "getting" this feeling that I should share the idea of a memorial box with the ladies group here is Muscat. I have so many things to be thankful for and I know I need to have a way to share these things with my children. I need to "just do it".

    Prayer request/praise! We had the first A*WAN*A meeting in Muscat, Oman last night- we had children from about 6 countries (South Africa, US, India, Sri Lanka, UK, Fiji) Please pray that our group will grown and that these children grow close in their relationship with Christ as they memorize scripture.

  106. OK, if you're going to twist my arm, then I'll leave another comment. I have been working on my MBM stories for about 2 years, but haven't found the box yet.

    Thanks for the opportunity for multiple entries! And remember…..PICK ME!! PICK ME!! PICK ME!!!

    tee hee!

    I'll be praying for your drive back to Durango!

  107. We do not yet have a "true" memorial box. So, yeah, it would be GREAT to win one from you — who got us started on even thinking we needed to have a memorial box. THANKS!!!

  108. Ok – more than a comment. We NEED prayers for our family. Satan is desperately trying to destroy and steal what is NOT his. At times like this, the reminder of the memorial box becomes the strength we need to storm Heaven's gates when we would rather quit.

  109. okay, friend, i was only going to enter once, but you keep encouraging more, so here we go.

    i adore your family. i'm so thankful for you. i have loved getting to know your abi, too. you both are blessings in my life. =)

  110. today my friend's 2 year old went to get casted on the arm she broke a couple days ago. when they took the soft splint off to apply the new, hard cast, they got new x-rays. NO BREAK. i love it.
    many can think this and meg's case are human error…
    i said divine intervention. praise God! =)

  111. i really do imagine joining our families sometime and sipping coffee with you on your porch while we watch our treasures play.

    have you ever thought about a big ol' bloggy meet up?! =)

  112. Mrs. Linny!
    You don't know me BUT…
    I love reading your blog! I check it everyday! It is such a great source of encouragement for me! I think it is awesome that you are celebrating all of your holiday's with Tyler! I will be praying for your family! Thanks for all of your encouragement!
    Allison

  113. Oh yes, I would LOVE to be entered in contest to win a Memorial Box! It will go great with the things I have saved in my hope chest! I think it's a great idea to keep reminders of how God blesses us in unique and mountain-moving ways!

  114. I would love to have a Memorial Box. I can't wait to have something in it to show how He will tear down the walls that are making our adoption look impossible.

    Believing our God is able,
    Grace

  115. I have very close friends who are going through such a horrific time right now. My heart is broken over it and I have lived through the last week by remembering and walking through all the times that God has been so faithful. I have even read back through some of your Memorial Mondays so I could just be reminded over and over that I indeed do serve a faithful God and that he is sovereign even when life is literally spinning out of control. Linny thank you for teaching that to me over the last many months.

    I am also fasting for them and you Linny have taught that to me as well. Thank you sooooo much for how much you have poured into my life.

  116. Hey Lady!

    Thanks for my hugs. Lord knows I need them! And I guess that's why I'm writing this comment. I need to have something in front of my face every day to help me remember how much God loves ME. You understand.

  117. Enter me! I've already decided I am going to get one for my parents for Christmas :)) I asked God today to help me find the perfect one…and let the story of me finding it, be the first memorial story that gets to go in the box!!

    Your family blesses me more than you'll ever know!

  118. I love your blog, Linny. And while I don't comment often, I read almost daily. And I have done MBM in the past…I need to get back to that. I love it. God shows me so much as I mull over and pray for what I should write. Wonderful things have been going on lately, but a little too personal to share openly. That's NOT to say that God isn't moving in a very mighty way! He is, and I am enjoying seeing His hand in all that's going on around me.

  119. OK, I'm entering once again – because you said to and I like that you admitted to entering those contests over and over. I never win at those give away either – they just want to sell me time shares… 😉

  120. Just had to share a powerful, powerful praise report!!! Just got a text from a dear friend whose 17 year old son has been in surgery all day to remove a brain tumor. He is doing well, and the surgeons were able to confirm that the tumor was benign!!! Such rejoicing tonight!!!

  121. I don't ever win anything, but the other day I did! So I thought I'd try my "odds" again 🙂 Thanks for being so helpful for others to remember what the Lord has done!

  122. I've never won a giveaway…would be fun to have my first one be a memorial box! hehe. Exciting news about your little Finley! Can't wait to see pictures!

  123. Hi Linny,
    I never win anthing but thought maybe my luck will change one day… I am so inspired by you and your family. I enjoy the "connection" we all have and look forward to checking in every day!
    Carrie T. In NC

  124. I'm not commenting in order to win a memorial box…I totally understand and agree in the significance of having one, but I have trouble with that "mushy brain" thing also, and I'd have a terrible time getting it together!
    Karen H.

  125. YES!!! I was wondering when you were going to give it away:) I kept thinking I missed it!! I must tell you…I couldn't make it through the last post about Tyler..talk about tears! I did need a good cry:) Can't wait to see a picture of your sweet boy-Finley!! Praying you have a blessed night!

  126. OK-twist my arm to leave another. Thanks for your encouragement Linny. Yours is the first blog I check every morning–your stories make me laugh and cry and always challenge me to live more for HIM. Thanks you!!!
    Laura in Kentucky

  127. I am one of your "lurkers" as you call it. I have been reading your blog since around the time of your fire and your words have touched me in so many ways.

    I do not have a memorial box but have many wonderful memories that need a home.

  128. I am not a blogger, but have enjoyed reading about you and your family. You have encouraged me many times. I told my husband about your memorial boxes and he thinks we need to get on board. Thank you for sharing your ups and downs and how God is always in control.

  129. The most important thing in my makeshift memory box is the hospital band from when my cousin was born. He was 2 pounds 3, and when he was 5 days old, they told us he wouldn't live 24 hours. He's now 9 years old, and even though he's disabled, he is the biggest miracle ever, and the light of my life 🙂

  130. Um…yep…ME again! 🙂 Hey…what's the news on Finn? Do Abi & Ryan have him? I know they are there, but nothing on their blog or tweet, or anything!

    Nancy in CT

  131. I really enjoy reading your blog and I know one thing: You could not do what you do without the Lord Jesus Christ in you!!!!
    God truly blesses all that you come in contact with, you are such an encouragement!!

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