We were gifted by Florida College with a special thanks to Jason Longstreth, Head of the Bible Department and Tom Hamilton, Academic Provost, with the opportunity to speak at the 2023 Florida College Lectures series. The theme for 2023 was “Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel”. In our opinion along with many others we overheard, “It was brilliant” and perfectly suited to the work so many have done now for sixteen years.
Our topic was “Adoption” Doing Honorable things in the Sight of God and Man.” (2 Corinthians 8:21)
Would you like to get involved with adoption? There are three ways to do so: Donate, Adopt, and Support. Still have questions? Contact us.
The 5th Annual Tampa Bay 5K
We flew into Tampa on Friday February 3rd in order to participate in the 5th Annual Tampa Bay 5K which begins and ends on the Florida College campus. Rusty and Kristin Copeland (Rusty says, “It’s all Kristin) have done a wonderful job putting this race together since 2017.
David has been able to run in at least three of these events and typically finishes in the top three of his age division. This year he dropped from second to third place and said he wasn’t sure if he’d actually gotten slower or if there was one more runner in the category. He did say he was singing the old hymn “When I’ve gone the last mile of the way” during the final stretch home.
The race attracted a record number of runners, about 350 and raised over $15,000 for the babies! Another new record!
After the race, we had the priceless opportunity for a quick picture with all the Sacred Selections parents and children that were in attendance for the race.
Dillon & Katie Home Safe
One last highlight of the Florida trip was seeing Dillon and Katie home safe after a LONG STAY in Arizona.
You may have seen their “GOT THE CALL” back in the early morning hours of December 28, 2022. Due to the bad weather across the country, Dillon and Katie could not get a flight or a car to rent at the last minute to make the unexpected trip to Phoenix. Their birth mother had gone into early labor, and they needed to be there immediately.
Once it was apparent that there was no PLANE, TRAIN or AUTOMOBILE available, they packed up their own car with their young daughter and mother in law and headed west.
You might also remember Sacred Selections chronicled their “Here am I send me” journey beginning that early December morning and over 63,000 people saw their story on the Sacred Selections FB page. This was the highest reach of any SS FB post in the last several years. One hundred thirty three people commented, prayed and extended well wishes as they raced to meet their new son.
Early Thursday morning we had the chance to visit Dillon and Katie in their beautiful rural home and Dana had a chance to hold the baby. It was a wonderful way to end the week.
