The Lymans...

So speaking of our Staycation at the Lyman's home, I'd like to introduce you to the last couple in the Usual Suspects.  Why do I call our friends, that we do life with, the Usual Suspects?  Well we have a long standing understanding that Friday nights are our hang out nights.  Every Friday night we have dinner and head to a movie or play games or something of the sort.  Even with the addition of 7, almost 8, kids!  So whenever someone would ask me what I was doing on Friday, I would say, "The usual...."  So in order to have a name to refer to them by here on the blog frontier, The Usual Suspects just fit! : )  Wanna meet the others (now by others, I realize I'm mostly concentrating on the girls, but their stories obviously involve their hubbies too!)?  Be sure to go here and here. 

Now last year Jake and Shari, decided to make a change.  They had been trying, unsuccessfully, to have children for a bit and Jake was in a job he didn't feel like God wanted him at anymore.  Since they were kid free and Jake's employment was changing they thought it might be a good time to shake things up a bit and looked in to moving downtown Chicago.  The employment opportunities would be exciting for the web designer Jake is and, after selling off practically everything they owned to put a dent in their debt, it would allow Shari to kind of take a year for herself and not work and do some volunteering a local kids charity.  

Shari, the other ladies from the Usual Suspects, and I were in a wonderful small group for a couple of years before kiddos came along and made it more difficult.  Shari was our leader and I learned so much from her that I will always keep with me always.  Shari demonstrates such a Godly example.  And the wife that she is is truly inspiring.  I could write a hole post on how Shari makes want to, and inspires me to, be a better wife.

Here they are last year when we visited them for a day!

Now although they have LOVED living the downtown experience.  The economy has reeked havoc on the job market for Jake.  Thankfully the Lord has always provided something for them.  Although not permanent, he's always had something.  And a couple months ago they happily said good bye to their debt!  

Unfortunately, they have still not been able to conceive.  This summer a friend that Shari used to work with came to them and told them that she felt God wanted her to tell them that they should adopt before having their own children.  Adoption had always been something they thought about, so they began to pray about that.  Shari did some researching on adoption (at the time international adoption appealed to them) and they're trying their best, when they can, to save for that.  Well a short while after a different women from their old church in Wisconsin contacted them and said she heard of a family from their church, whose 17 year old daughter had become pregnant and was looking into adoption, and she really felt like this child was meant to be theirs.  Talk about God having control....

Shortly after, Jake and Shari were contacted by this family and quickly put in the running to become this precious baby's parents.  Unfortunately this family had another couple, that were their friends, that were also an option.  So these last couple of months the young parents have been getting to know both of these families in order to make an informed decision.  Well to our great surprise just a few weeks ago Jake and Shari got the call that they had been chosen to be this little one's parents!!  Obviously they are over joyed and feel God's hand in all of this because of how came together.

Obviously they are frantically trying to get everything quickly ready for their new addition, financially, materials, paper work, and baby gear.

Would you join me in praying for Jake and Shari?  Please pray that all the preparation goes smoothly.  Pray that their home studies and such go well.  Pray that the Lord will help provide.  Pray for continued healthy, growth of the baby.  Pray for the hearts of Jake and Shari, that they can prepare mentally for a new addition and the act of adopting that can bring lots of emotions.  And pray for the baby's birth mother, father, and families, that they would have comfort in their decision and be able to give their baby to a family that deserves it with great peace.

So with this I conclude, Jake and Shari's story is just beginning.  They have a lot going on right now and a lot in their future.  Obviously this a great chance for Satan to send pangs of doubt and put up roadblocks, so, again, please pray for Jake and Shari these next couple of months and I'll be sure to keep you posted on Baby Girl Lyman due to arrive October 20th!