Intro: Below is the sermon manuscript that I preached on August 10, 2007 after my wife and I and our new son Mason got home from Guatemala. I meant to post this a long time ago, but I had to make a few edits. I didn’t really make all the edits and I am fairly sure that what I actually said is different from what I wrote here but the general idea is here (I never follow my manuscript very closely) . I would link to the audio but it just figures that this was the week that our recorder decided to take a vacation. I hope you find this enjoyable. I am going to print it out to put in our adoption box that...Read More →
Category: Adoption Trip
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November 12, 2007
An Adoption Sermon
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September 24, 2007
Guatemala Adoption Process Questions
Since our family finalized our adoption and brought our adorable son Mason Carlos home from Guatemala we’ve obviously received a ton of questions about the process. The first thing people usually ask is: “How long did it take? ” The answer there is: A LONG TIME! We started the process in January of 2006 and Mason came home to Philadelphia in August 2007. We had a number of stalls and a ton of waiting for it all to happen. The second thing people usually ask is “how much did it cost?” The answer there is rather easy also: A LOT! It’s no secret that a Guatemala adoption costs around $25,000 when all is said and done (adoption fees + travel). We were no exception. We...Read More →
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August 9, 2007
Adoption Trip #15 – Cole, Meet your little brother
So, we got home last night after a long 12 hour day of travel. But, it was way worth the trip! It was awesome to see Cole again. Its funny, after you have been holding a child who weighs just 14 pounds, you realize just how big your four year old really is! We’re settling in here as best we can. I am taking the next day or so off and trying to get a play room set up for Cole in the basement (where my home office is, which should be interesting!) Cole is so proud of his little brother. The priceless moment of the day so far: After taking these pictures of them on the sofa Cole says with a smirk on his...Read More →
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August 8, 2007
Adoption Update #14 – In Dallas
We are officially in the good old US of A. We got through immigration with no problems and we’re sitting in the D concourse at Dallas / Ft. Worth waiting for our flight to Philadelphia. Since I had been sick on Tuesday, I hadn’t eaten anything at all. Mostly because i was scared to… It seems strange to say this, but I can’t tell you how excited it was to see a McDonald’s! Well, we’re almost home…
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August 8, 2007
Adoption Trip #13 – Headed Home…
So, sorry for the lack of updates that last two days. I’ve been laying in bed since Monday night at 8:30 with some kind of food poisoning.  I threw up four times Tuesday. Yeah, that was a good time.  But, I think I finally have it out of me so I should be good for the ride home. Our flight leaves Guatemala City at 8:40am and then after we fly through Dallas and then make our way to Philadelphia. Hopefully we make all of our flights and there aren’t any delays because its going to be a 12 hour day already. Off we go….
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August 6, 2007
Adoption Trip #12 – Embassy Appointment Is Done
So this morning we woke up at 5:00 am and headed down for an early breakfast. After that we found our ride to the US Embassy to get approval for Mason’s Visa (no, not the credit card – the document he needs to be able to travel back to the US). So, long story short, the Embassy was easy. Went through security. Waited. Went into door number 10. Answered three quesitons or so. Waited. Went to window number 8 and answered some more questions. The nice lady behind the counter approved his visa. We went back to the hotel. We are now done with the last hoop to jump through for this adoption. All that is left is clearing customs in Dallas which we understand...Read More →
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August 5, 2007
Adoption Trip #11 – Write Mason a Note!
So, I was thinking, here I am writing all these letters to Mason and I know that there are a bunch of people reading this blog who are so very excited about him being part of our family lives. So, I wanted to invite you to write something to him as well. Just click the “comments” link under the title of this post and then write Mason a message that way. I know you want to, and I know that he’d appreciate it (someday!) So go ahead, and let him know just how much he is loved…
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August 5, 2007
Adoption Trip #10 – Dear Mason #4
Dear Mason, So, today is the third full day we have known you. It still doesn’t seem real. When I look at you I can’t believe you are with us and we are here and that we don’t have to give you back. So many of the other families are down here to visit their children. Then they have to leave and wait till the adoption is done to be able to bring them home. I am not sure I would be able do that. From what I hear, its quite a hard thing to do! Anyways, today we had a fun day. Though, most of it was just sitting around with a few other parents and their children since it rained outside. But, you’ve...Read More →
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August 5, 2007
Adoption Trip #9 – Pictures…
We hung out at the pool for a while today and then its started to rain so we headed inside. Right now we’re meeting the many new couples that are coming for the week. More updates later. But click on this picture to the left, or one of the ones at the top right, to view some more shots from today.
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August 4, 2007
Adoption Trip #8 – Dear Mason #3
Dear Mason, Hey there buddy. I figured I would put a little picture of you in this note. Its always helpful to see what you looked like when you were a kid. So here you are. This is actually one of the rare images we have of you not sleeping! Like I wrote yesterday in the last note to you, you’ve been a little sick. We think that’s why you have been sleeping so much. We went to the pool for most of the day today and not surprisingly you slept most of the time. You did wake up for a bit and you and mommy played in the pool for a bit. You really seemed to like it a lot and we can’t wait...Read More →
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August 4, 2007
Adoption Trip #7 – Photo..
So, our camera (being a little old) is going on the fritz. Oh, its taking pictures. It’s just not letting us get the pictures off the camera. So, while we have some fun pictures to share with you… we can’t. While I do some troubleshooting, you’ll have to settle for a pic from the camera built into my mac. … Ok, we’re off to breakfast and then headed to the pool to relax for the day. I know, I know, we’ve got it really, really rough.
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August 3, 2007
Adoption Trip #6 – Dear Mason #2
Dear Mason, Right now you are sleeping in a crib next to our bed. This is quite strange. In fact, this whole day has been quite strange. I know you feel the same way. I can’t imagine how confused you must feel. The woman who has been caring for you for the past nine months, for all you knew she was your mom, brought you this big hotel and you met us. You were all smiles at first. In fact, you wouldn’t stop staring at me (don’t worry, i didn’t mind!). But, as the time wore on it was almost like you knew something was up. You probably couldn’t help but wonder what we were doing in this small room and who these two strange...Read More →
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August 3, 2007
Adoption Trip #5: A Quick Update.
So, a quick update. We met Mason this morning around 9:50 am (mountain time) and we’re spending the day sitting around the pool. He’s been sleeping in the stroller for about an hour now and I just came up to get a good book (Embracing Grace by Scot McKnight – seems fitting). More later, but this morning was acutaully one of the hardest things we have ever done before. Amazing. Wonderful…and hard. No time to blog though…
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August 2, 2007
Adoption Trip #4: Dear Mason…
Dear Mason, We haven’t met you yet. We’ve just seen pictures. I’ll be honest, you’re amazingly cute! I think I am safe assuming that you’ll be even more beautiful when we meet you. (I promise, I won’t call you beautiful when you are 13. But, I’m going to now because you are allowed to call babies beautiful). Tonight, on August 2, 2007, I am sitting in the Westin Casino Real Hotel in Guatemala City and I am fairly overwhelmed when this whole idea. In one sense, your mom and I have no clue what we are doing. We have no clue what to expect. It’s all pretty much like a dream. When we started this process in January of 2006, this moment seemed so far...Read More →
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August 2, 2007
Adoption Trip #3: Hello Guatemala
So, I am sitting in lobby of perhaps the most beautiful hotel I have ever seen. This place is absolutely gorgeous. I love the architecture and the bed, well the bed is unbelievable! Oh, Apparently the president of Spain stays here when he visits. However, the guy in the shuttle said that George Bush is too good for this place. He stays somewhere else. Whatever. Aynways, the flights when as smooth as it possibly could have and we landed in Guatemala City at about 8:10pm. (We’re in the central time zone we’re two hours apart from the east coast. I guess that puts us in the mountian time zone). Customs was easy and we got our bags quickly and were helped by a kind Guatemalan...Read More →
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August 2, 2007
Adoption Trip #2: The Philadelphia Airport Friday’s Stinks (Literally)
We’re sitting on the nice comfortable rocking chairs in the A Terminal of the Philadelphia International Airport. Our flight was delayed an hour so we had lunch at the Friday’s here in the terminal (which, by the way, had the slowest service ever – aren’t airport restaurant’s supposed to have quick and speedy service? Oh, and it smelled like someone had thrown up in there too) Anyways, since our flight was delayed we have only an hour to get through customs in Miami. We’ll see how that works out. If Miami has free WiFi or T-Mobile Wifi, and we have time, we’ll update from there…
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August 2, 2007
Adoption Trip #1: And We’re Off!
The trip has begun. Melanie and I will be on the road in 15 minutes (10:00 am Eastern Time). Hopefully we’ll find some internet access along the way or when we get there and update you on things…
