Changes

Cathy and Dan Halverson are both doctors, who previously operated a medical clinic in Serenity Point (originally started by one of the couple's parents, not stated which one) until retiring to concentrate on medical missionary work.  The clinic operates a "free clinic" on Saturdays.

Cathy and Dan Halverson are both doctors, who previously operated a medical clinic in Serenity Point (originally started by one of the couple's parents, not stated which one) until retiring to concentrate on medical missionary work.  The clinic operates a "free clinic" on Saturdays.

The Halversons (a White couple) are parents of ten children, a mix of biological and adopted children (two of which are Black, taken in by the couple at the request of the children's terminally ill birth mother, a family friend).

The Halversons (a White couple) are parents of ten children, a mix of biological (six) and adopted (four) children (two of which are Black, taken in by the couple at the request of the children's terminally ill birth mother, a family friend).

The children (in order of book portrayal) are:

The children (in order of book portrayal) are:

*Gareth--portrayed as the oldest biological child.  His story is portrayed in ''[[Gareth (book)|Gareth]]'', the first book in the series.  He followed his parents into the medical profession, and now operates the medical clinic along with two of his adopted siblings (Jay and Janessa).

*Gareth--portrayed as the oldest biological child.  His story is portrayed in ''[[Gareth (book)|Gareth]]'', the first book in the series.  He followed his parents into the medical profession, and now operates the medical clinic along with two of his adopted siblings (Jay and Janessa).

**Aria (nee Jensen)--a friend of Janessa's from nursing school.  Originally from [[Sacramento]], after her mother's death she falls into depression and is fired as a nurse after coming to work intoxicated.  She leaves the medical profession and eventually moves to Serenity Point to work as the clinic's receptionist.  Ultimately she and Gareth begin dating and eventually marry; Aria returns to the nursing profession as the clinic's "backup nurse".

**Aria (nee Jensen)--a friend of Janessa's from nursing school.  Originally from [[Sacramento]], after her mother's death she falls into depression and is fired as a nurse after coming to work intoxicated.  She leaves the medical profession and eventually moves to Serenity Point to work as the clinic's receptionist.  Ultimately, she and Gareth begin dating and eventually marry; Aria returns to the nursing profession as the clinic's "backup nurse".

*Jaylen "Jay"--one of two Black children adopted by the Halversons. His story is portrayed in ''[[Jaylen (book)|Jaylen]]'', the second book in the series.  He and Janessa are biological siblings (Jay is older by two years) whose mother died of a terminal illness (the father's absence is not fully explained).  He is the business manager for the clinic, and frequently clashes with Gareth over operations (requiring Janessa to intervene).

*Jaylen "Jay"--one of two Black children adopted by the Halversons. His story is portrayed in ''[[Jaylen (book)|Jaylen]]'', the second book in the series.  He and Janessa are biological siblings (Jay is older by two years) whose mother died of a terminal illness (the father's absence is not fully explained).  He is the business manager for the clinic, and frequently clashes with Gareth over operations (requiring Janessa to intervene).

**Michelle "Misha"--the new (as of the second book) doctor at the family clinic.  She, her mother (Denise) and adopted daughter (Ciera) move to Serenity Point from Atlanta, after her younger brother (Ciera's biological father) is killed by a gang (her older brother leads a rival gang; Ciera's mother planned to abort the baby, but Misha agreed to adopt).

**Michelle "Misha"--the new (as of the second book) doctor at the family clinic.  She, her mother (Denise) and adopted daughter (Ciera) move to Serenity Point from Atlanta, after her younger brother is killed by a gang (her older brother leads a rival gang; his actions have caused the clinic to close, and the family does not disclose their move to him).

**Ciera--Misha's daughter, she is the biological child of her younger brother.  Ciera's mother planned to abort Ciera, but Misha encouraged her to give birth, agreeing to adopt her.

**Payton--Jay's son, whose existence is not known by Jay until the child's mother discloses it (she is signing away her parental rights; it is hinted that the mother's fiancé does not want to raise another man's child, especially one that is hinted at being mixed-race).

**Payton--Jay's son, whose existence is not known by Jay until the child's mother discloses it (she is signing away her parental rights; it is hinted that the mother's fiancé does not want to raise another man's child, especially one that is hinted at being mixed-race).

*Janessa--Jay's biological sister, also adopted by the Halversons.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Janessa (book)|Janessa]]'', the third book in the series.  She works in the clinic as a nurse.

*Janessa--Jay's biological sister, also adopted by the Halversons.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Janessa (book)|Janessa]]'', the third book in the series.  She works in the clinic as a nurse.

**Will--a long-time friend of Gareth and Jay (and the son of the pastor where the Halversons attend church), who begins dating Janessa.  Their relationship ends after he and Janessa are seriously injured in a car crash (Janessa ends it, being consumed with fear of losing someone else close to her) but is later resumed.

**Will--a long-time friend of Gareth and Jay (and the son of the pastor where the Halversons attend church), who begins dating Janessa.  Their relationship ends after he and Janessa are seriously injured in a car crash (Janessa ends it, being consumed with fear of losing someone else close to her) but is later resumed.

*Kayleigh--works as a manager for a "five-star resort" located north of Serenity Point.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Kayleigh (book)|Kayleigh]]'', the fourth book in the series.

*Kayleigh--works as a manager for a "five-star resort" located north of Serenity Point.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Kayleigh (book)|Kayleigh]]'', the fourth book in the series.

**Hudson--the illegitimate son of Alexander Remington, owner of the resort.  After a series of incidents involving the resort (later discovered to be the work of a disgruntled employee, who believed that Kayleigh was given the manager's job because of Alexander: in the story, Kayleigh -- then an employee -- had previously summoned assistance after his wife was injured on the ski slopes; Alexander is impressed and offers to pay for her college education in hospitality).

**Hudson--the illegitimate son of Alexander Remington, owner of the resort.  After a series of incidents involving the resort (later discovered to be the work of a disgruntled employee, who believed that Kayleigh was given the manager's job because of Alexander: in the story, Kayleigh -- then an employee -- had previously summoned assistance after his wife was injured on the ski slopes; Alexander is impressed and offers to pay for her college education in hospitality), Hudson is sent to Serenity Point to investigate.  He is portrayed as being a Christian but having lost his faith after his mother - a social worker - was murdered by the estranged husband of a client.  Ultimately, he returns to his faith and moves to Serenity Point.

*Charlotte "Charli"--works as an elementary school teacher in Serenity Point.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Charlotte (book)|Charlotte]]'', the fifth book in the series.

*Charlotte "Charli"--works as an elementary school teacher in Serenity Point.  Her story is portrayed in ''[[Charlotte (book)|Charlotte]]'', the fifth book in the series.

**Blake--Charli's former boyfriend, father of Layla.  He returns to Serenity Point after leaving the military when the mother of his other daughter (Amelia) is killed in a car accident.  He and Charli ultimately reunite and marry.

**Blake--Charli's former boyfriend, father of Layla.  He returns to Serenity Point after leaving the military when the mother of his other daughter (Amelia) is killed in a car accident.  He and Charli ultimately reunite and marry.