Tick Tock, Tick Tock

My common response to the age old question, "How's your summer going?" has always been "FAST!" It's amazing to me how a simple phone call can change everything. In early June, Todd and I were notified by our adoption agency that we had been selected by a birth mother. Our joy was insurmountable, yet laced with a bit more caution. A full month after that call and meeting the birth mother, we started spreading the news. And now, two months have passed and I am updating our blog. One month to go, and we will have our new baby girl. Yes, I said GIRL!!

We are so excited to meet our little lady. We have brainstormed names, registered for everything pink, daydreamed of our future, and continually prayed for a safe and healthy arrival.

While we have been reassured that her September due date will be here "before we know it," it indeed feels like time has drastically slowed down, and the summer that usually flies by is slowly creeping along!

Summer is upon us

Phew, this keeping up on our blog is harder than I imagined! Time just keeps sailing on by! Does anyone even read this blog, anyway? I will do better at keeping it updated, if there are readers out there!

After WEEKS of rainy days, the summer heat is now upon us! I am loving my modified summer work schedule. I am working just two days a week at school, working the summer program. I love that this has freed up so much time, but I honestly don't know where all that extra time is going! I am taking often walks with my dad, trying to hit some classes at the gym, taking a water aerobics class with a girlfriend, cleaning house, and finally trying out many new dinner recipes! Todd is sweating in the summer heat on the job, and trying to pick up a few overtime gigs. Together, we have loved going on bike rides together. We try and ride as often as possible, even if that means all we can fit in is a quick ride to the coffee shop and back. We are looking forward to a Dillon trip next week. I can't wait to get up to one of our favorite places!

We hope you are enjoying your summer as well!

Todd Hula Hoops!

Spead the Word

Hi All! Todd and I formulated a letter to share with EVERYONE we can think of. I don't remember if we mentioned to you how important it is for us to share our desire to adopt with everyone. As we noted in the following letter, often times a match (or connection) is made through word of mouth. We still have confidence that our agency is working hard for us, but neither Todd nor I would be surprised if we found our own match. Obviously we can't do this on our own, so this is where we ask for your help. Spread the word. We are still in the process of sending emails. Our first round (as reads below) was sent off to the City of Fort Collins Co-op. We have already received many encouraging emails, and feel good about being more proactive in our search. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Co-op members,

Last September, my wife and I decide we wanted to expand our family through adoption. We connected ourselves with a local agency, attended all of the required classes, and successfully completed our state Home Study. We were elated when we were matched with a birth mother just a month after we had started the process. We started to spread the good news, and started preparing our hearts, minds, and home for the baby’s arrival. Unfortunately, we were informed on New Year’s Eve that our adoption had fallen through. We were severely disappointed, but remain committed to our desire to adopt. We are hopeful the agency we are working with will be able to match us with another birth mother soon, yet we wanted to broaden our scope. We have learned from our agency, and other adoption resources, that many open adoption matches are made by word of mouth. It may be possible that as you read this someone in your immediate or distant daily life (family member, someone at your church, work, or social arena) may be faced with the desire to relinquish their unborn child, or know someone who is. Our hope in this message to you, is that you store this info in the back of your mind, and if a situation is ever to arise, your thoughts be drawn to us. As I mentioned, we are connected with a local agency, we would be happy to pass on our case workers name and info to you if needed.

Thank you,
Todd and Amber Hopkins

We will continue to keep you posted on the journey. We are excited to see who in our lives (either near or far) the Lord will use to bless us.

Happy Easter!

Todd and I would like to wish you a very happy Easter. We pray you have a blessed Easter, and that you can focus on the true hope and joy of the empty tomb. He is risen!

We spent this long Easter weekend in Denver. We explored three different Denver museums, enjoyed a couples massage at the spa, went to an outdoor "market," and stayed at the beautiful and historic Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. It was all perfectly wonderful! Be sure to check out our Kodak site for the pics.

Happy Easter!

Is Todd Headed for the Food Network??

I think Todd may have stumbled upon his next career. Check out these videos to see if you agree. All good foodies grill in a towel! I've tried my hardest (with Todd's help too) to rotate these videos. I think they are well worth the tilt of the head or laptop. Boy, does he make me laugh! Bon Appetite!

Spring Break at Last!

How wonderful it is to have a job that includes story time, snack, crafts, recess, and best of all...SPRING BREAK!! Even better that my darling husband thought of this when he bid for his vacation time. So, together we have a week off. Yay!!

After the busy month we have had, we are eager for this break. We are heading up to Dillon, one of our favorite Colorado locations. While typically, I am completely content snuggling in, reading a book and relaxing, we have decided to try out snowshoeing this trip. As many of you may know, I am considerably more concerned with fashion than I am with practicality. I think it would be fair to say that Todd was mildly appalled with my lack of winter gear! So, off we went to REI (I DO love shopping!). After trying on a million different coats, snow-type pants, gloves, and long johns, I am confident that I will be a warm, dry, and some-what fashionable snow bunny. I can't wait to try out my new digs!

We know that there are many great trails where we are headed. We sat through a moderately informative snowshoeing class at REI. And we are looking forward to taking in the beautiful mountain sites and scenery. I think we are all set! Ah, I can almost feel the fresh snowy (or at least we are hoping for snowy) air.

Happy Spring Break!