To begin writing about our family is actually the beginning of two families blending into one. So, as in the “Sound of Music”....'let’s start at the very beginning....':

God has His plan for the Lyman family; the parents, the children, their birth order and their time and places, all are part of His plan. Elizabeth Eileen (now 32) was born to Barbara and her husband. A very tiny child ended up with a very sick Mommy who eventually fully recovered, but could not have any more biological children. So the seed of adopting was planted immediately. At that time international adoption was not common in our area so we chose in country adoption. The wait was five years. However, finally, Carl Robert (now 26) joined us. During this time, approximately 40 miles away, another child, Robert Neale (now 29), was born to David and his wife.

In 1984, David, an East coast transplant, had no extended family in the area. Barbara, with her two children had family to share. David became known as “Barbara’s brother’s orphan friend". During holidays, birthdays, or just big family dinners it was always: ‘invite “your orphan friend” to dinner’.

By 1988 those family dinners became more frequent, Barbara and David had begun dating, and freeway between Renton and Marysville became a regular drive. With parental blessings (yes, even at 40) and children’s acceptance (after all they were 15, 12, 9), we had a family wedding in November, 1989. We discussed more children and agreed babies were definitely out. Yet there was something still missing....

However, we can look back and see God’s Hand in our journey. We met a new young couple at church and we were asked to be godparents to their child. Our godson, Johnathan, was born in July 1996 (almost John David Guo’s age! ... was this preparing us for him??)

Barbara decided it was time to take early retirement from teaching music in the public schools. She still loved being with the kids, however, for the time being she could focus on her second love: raising and teaching service puppies for Canine Companions for Independence.

At this time Elizabeth decided to become a single mother and to adopt a little girl from China. Elizabeth and Barbara went to China getting Megan, the child for Elizabeth and granddaughter for David and Barbara.

Everyone asks what made you really decide to have another child when you could have been content to be grandparents? God had a plan. He spoke to me first while I was reading the newsletter from "Half the Sky". It was telling about the children, mostly girls, who age out of the orphanages at 13 or 14 and have no place to go. I started praying, “tell me what you want me to do about this... Thy will be done ...” Finally, one night while we were at the YMCA swimming pool, water-walking for exercise, I told David my story, and asked him his thoughts about adoption....

....He said go ahead and research it. I wrote 3 agencies. One responded: “you’re too old”; one never responded; and AGCI said: “your age will be fine". Then they asked if we had ever considered looking at a little boy’s file. After checking with David, I said we would consider him. Well, I received the file first; Guo’s eyes looked right in mine and said: “Mama, I am your son.”

The only thing was, I had to remain calm until David looked at the same file and picture. It was a very long afternoon and evening (David reads very slow and methodically sometimes). Actually, I have to admit David’s reaction was not as immediate as mine. We were supposed to call back on Monday because the file had to be released. When I called Tiffany, she was not in because of snow so I left a message. That too was in God’s timing because David was still in prayer. About 30 minutes later David called me and told me he was definitely at peace with our decision and to tell Tiffany we would be filing our LOI (Letter of Intent). Shortly afterward Tiffany returned my call.

It has been a year long process. Each needed document was a struggle, but God has removed road blocks and opened doors one at a time. He has been in charge and it has been in His time and His plan. Thanks and Praise Be To Him.