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Showing posts from May, 2012

Guest Post: The next chapter

This is a guest post from my wife: Our journey is almost done after 2 1/2 years. Our final step will be to adopt Silas here in America. A few more dollars and a little more time. Some of you have followed from the beginning, some part way, and some towards the end. We wanted to take the time to say thank you for your committment to staying update on our adoption and for praying for us. Honestly, I don’t know how we would have gotten through it without you. Not only have we gained a son, but many friendships along the way. Thank you to those who reached out to encourage us through notes, a phone call and those who gave finanically. You are apart of Silas’s story now. I’m looking forward to sharing all you have done on his behalf. He will surely know he is loved.  While I have your attention one more time I wanted to tell you again that without God this would not have been possible. We give Him all honor and glory for this story. Looking back over our journey I am amazed at

My Inner Lion

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I can't remember the exact year but it was either when I was in high school or just out of high school.  I was sitting around with a couple of friends and one of them said, "You know when I see people I see them as animals."  I asked her what she meant by that.  She explained that she saw people and then based on some quality that they had (might be looks, personality, etc) her mind immediately assigned that person a representative from the animal kingdom. Awesome! So I asked her about some friends, teachers, and other people.  She had an animal for all of them and it fit them very well.  (I wonder if that was her spiritual gift, just kidding.) Finally, I got around to asking her what I really wanted to know.  What animal do you see when you see me?  I had no idea what animal I wanted to be.  I wanted to be something cool, but there are a lot of cool animals.  Maybe she would see me as a Tiger, or a Bear, or a shark or something.  Honestly I was not ready to h

6 family members? Check! Our Trip Back.

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Well we are home!  Our trip went incredibly smooth.  Silas has now spent two nights in the crib and is getting used to American cuisine (Reese's Puffs!) We went in Thursday to the US Embassy in Kampala to pick up Silas' visa.  We were nervous.  Mindy was nervous because how poorly things have gone there in the past.  I was nervous because I knew that even though they told us to come "pick up the visa" that that was no guarantee.  We waited just a bit and were called into the little room that looked like a teller's office.  She handed us all of the paperwork and we couldn't believe our eyes.  There it all was.  We grabbed it and she told us we could go.  Mindy asked about payment.  Apparently they had forgotten to charge us, so it was free! Just kidding.  We had to come back, again, on Friday to pay for it.  So we did. Our last night in Kampala with the Thomas' was on a Thursday night.  We didn't need to pack because our flight was leaving at 11:3

Just another night in Kampala

First off, I am worried about preaching on Sunday morning because we are getting back really late on Saturday night.  Then I am worried because I am driving the church van to camp that afternoon!  Those are some great things to be worried about.  Do you know why? Because I'm not worried about Silas' adoption anymore!  I am not worried about the visa!  I am not worried about coming home without Mindy!  All three of us are going to go on the grueling 24 hour trip home together! Entebbe, Uganda - Amsterdam - Detriot - Chicago Wow.  That's going to be crazy. Silas Anyways, the days have all been running together.  Silas is doing pretty well with us.  He is going to sleep without fussing, which is unexpected and amazing.  When "momma" leaves he gets very upset.  This afternoon she left and he screamed for about 10 minutes.  Then after he calmed down he sat on my lap for about 30 minutes.  Then we got down and I played with toys while he stared at me for the n

Pictures for Colin Hopkins

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These pictures are from the babies home and children's home.  The soccer balls and bible are from my nephew Colin.  He wanted to see some pictures of the kids.  Needless to day, they were very happy to receive these presents!