What prompted your decision to become a SAHM after having a successful career?
I had worked as a pediatric RN at a children's hospital for 12 years. I absolutely loved working with the patients and their families, and for many years found the perfect balance of home and work. I always worked off-shifts, so that childcare would be at a minimum and there was almost always a parent at home with the girls. Working 1-2 night shifts a week was ideal for my family, but definitely began to wear on me, flipping back and forth from days to nights. I also found myself feeling "burnt out" at my job. My heart just was not 100% in it any more and I felt I needed a break. Initially, I intended on just taking 6 months off, and then returning to health care in some form. I gave myself the 6 months to simply enjoy being home without the stress of worrying what path my career would take next. At the end of my time off, I was absolutely amazed to discover that I was the happiest I had been in years being a stay at home mom (SAHM). I love being home and being available for my family and their needs. My girls have both thrived with me home for the past 3 years and although I have missed the nurses and families I used to work with, I have never once regretted my decision. I have not ruled out returning to health care in the future, but for now I am completely content.

You just celebrated your anniversary, Congratulations! What are your secrets to a long and happy marriage?
Thank you! I can hardly believe that Geoff and I have been married for 15 years. I think one of the biggest factors in the success of our marriage is that we are one another's best friends. We trust each other implicitly, we laugh together, we completely respect each other and we thoroughly enjoy one another's company. As best friends, we definitely have our share of arguments, but we have learned over the years how to fight fair and we work things through, no grudges. I would say the other factor in the success of our marriage is that we try not to take ourselves too seriously. Our home is filled with laughter and silliness. We love to tease one another and make the other one laugh.

How did you meet Geoff?
Geoff and I met at a Christian youth camp where we were introduced by a mutual friend. We met up again about a month later when I started college in Seattle, near where he lived. He was still living at home, finishing his senior year of high school. We dated the entire four years I attended college, enduring a long distance relationship at times and married two months after I graduated.

You are in the midst of adopting a little boy from Guatemala. How did you make such a wonderful decision?
Geoff and I have two daughters, Emily and Alicia, and started trying 3 1/2 years ago to add to our family. We had no difficulties getting pregnant with our daughters, so were both very surprised to be hit with secondary infertility. After a year and a half of trying on our own, we went through a year of infertility treatments, including two IVF attempts. Our second attempt ended in a chemical pregnancy and the realization that with my fertility issues we were at the end of our road trying to conceive. Thankfully, at the end of that road was a brand new path, adoption. We spent some time researching all the options and after much thought and prayer, reached the decision that intercountry adoption from Guatemala was where we would find our baby. We accepted the referral of a baby boy on March 28th. Our adoption is still working its way through the Guatemalan courts, and hopefully sometime late this fall we will finally have our sweet little guy home.

What advice do/ you have for other parents who are in the midst of adopting?
I think the best advice I can offer is to research and research some more before deciding which agency or attorney you will be working with. It is so incredibly important to have individuals at the end of that phone line or on the other end of the e-mail that you feel you can completely trust. If you do not feel 100% comfortable with the individuals handling your adoption, then that is going to carry over to your adoption experience.

You have two beautiful daughters...who are they more like, you or Geoff?
Our daughters are truly a blend of both Geoff and I. Both girls were blessed with Geoff's "gift of gab" and gregariousness. Emily has Geoff's athletic ability, mathematical sense and evenness. She has my love of the kitchen, love of music and my tenderness towards others. Alicia has Geoff's strong sense of self and his desire to make things perfect. She has my musical ability, my ability to look at things from an emotional sense and my sensitivity.

How did you become a host here at Womens-Place?
I think I was "set-up" by Host Amy. No, really I became good friends with Chelle, Junior and Amy through the message boards at Oxygen and then followed my board friends here to Womens-Place. In April I was asked to become a host here and I was honored to come aboard.

What do the message boards mean to you?
The message boards mean friendship and laughter to me. They have also opened my eyes to so many different ways of thinking and different ways of living life.

Who or what has changed your life for the better?
What has changed my life for the best has been my continuing personal relationship with God. I really don't know how I would get through each and every day without my frequent "talks" with Him. I have trusted in God through my struggles with infertility and now through my adoption. I feel confident that He has brought me to my baby boy and am trusting in Him to keep my little guy safe until he's in my arms.

Christmas is fast approaching, so if you could wish for one thing for Christmas what would it be?
My Christmas wish this year is that my sweet baby boy will be home with us for the holidays. I would like nothing better than to have him home by his birthday in November and then have all of my children together for the holiday season.

Lynette, we hope along with you that this Christmas your wish comes true! Thank you for letting us know more about you.