Family Reunions

As far as we can tell, we are making final preparations to leave for language school (Costa Rica) on August 27. The last few weeks, since Debbie officially quit her job at the university, have been spent in packing and sorting our things.

This weekend we will be traveling to the Cincinnati area (our home town). On Saturday we will have a group photo taken of the Hampton clan and later in the day we will go to Indiana to have a reunion with Debbie's family. On Sunday morning we will share our missions burden at Christ's Chapel in Erlanger, KY. Following the services, we will have the Hampton family reunion in Fort Thomas, KY. It will be great to see everyone together again. Only the Lord knows when we will be gather again as a family.

FIRE!

Of all of the hotels we have stayed in ... in all our travels - through the years - it was a first for us!
We were in a hotel this past Sunday night in Delaware. On Monday morning about 7:15, the fire alarm went off ... first there were 2-3 deafening blasts coming from the smoke detector in our room. I reached up to turn it off (a couple of times before in other hotel rooms the steam from my shower had set off the alarm). Then came the announcement through the smoke detector ... and in the hallways: A FIRE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE BUILDING! PLEASE EVACUATE THE HOTEL IMMEDIATELY! I looked out in the large atrium. Lights were flashing ... people were pouring out of their rooms and headed for the stairways. Within a couple of minutes we were in the parking lot with dozens of other guests. And within a few more minutes the fire trucks began arriving. Twenty minutes later, we were safely back in our room. Apparently there was an electrical fire in a light fixture in one of the meeting rooms. Everything was taken care of very quickly. Nothing like a little harmless excitement to start your day.

Ryan and Meghaan

Most of you know that we are the proud parents of three incredible children: Christopher (married to Cynthia), Ryan (married to Meghaan) and Katie. We have pictures of Christopher and Katie on the blog, but Ryan and Meghaan were in one of our previous newsletters. Here are two photos of the couple (one before they were married and the other on their wedding day, with proud Dad smiling in the background).

Ryan and Meghaan were married on October 13, 2007. They live here in Waynesburg, PA with their two dogs, Indie (a pit bull) and Tazo (a Yorkie). R and M both work in Morgantown, WV.

Happy Birthday, Debbie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Debbie Hampton!

Born: July 19th, 19 _ _

"Stuff"

We are now in the process of packing our things - actually more sorting than packing - in anticipation of our move to Costa Rica in August. We are giving away much of our "stuff" to our kids. (There was a sense of the finality of this process when we saw our sofa being carried out the front door!) I remember when we were moving from one church to another a few years ago. We were unloading the moving truck and one man was not as careful with our furniture as I would like. He bumped a coffee table against the side of the truck - put a nick in the leg of the table and said, "Oh well, it's only things!" My response was - "Yeah! MY things!"

We are now going through all of OUR THINGS! Our "stuff". Stuff we have accumulated through 29 years of marriage. Getting rid of some things was not too difficult. The last few days I have been going through my library - hundreds and hundreds of volumes. Some books I simply refuse to part with. Most I either have to give away or put up for sale. I wish I could make a list so I could get the word out to all my minister friends.

Debbie has been going through family photos, heirlooms, etc. There have been a few tears. We will be storing a few things, disposing of the rest. What the kids don't want will be part of our yard sale in August.

This is indeed a fresh start for us at this season of life. I suppose it would not be a new beginning if we continued to cling to all the old stuff.

"We're proud of you, son! (Sgt. Hampton)"

Tomorrow is July 4. It's a time to think about and to be thankful for the amazing freedoms we share as citizens of this great country.

We just want to take a moment and express to our son, Sgt. Christopher Hampton, that we are incredibly proud of him as he serves his country. He joined the military while Debbie and I were on a missions trip to Costa Rica. We were shocked at the timing but not surprised by his decision. When we asked him "why?" - he told us it was all about his family. He wanted to do his part in protecting us from foreign enemies. He served a 12-month tour in a war zone and then he came home safely to us, thank the Lord. Then, last Fall, he "re-upped" for another 6 years. He was married in May, becoming a husband to Cynthia and father to Adam and Brandon. Now he is back in the war, for a 15-month deployment.

Could I ask our friends and family to say a prayer of thanks and also a prayer of protection for him?

Is there a Soldier/Sailor/Airman/Marine in your life? Be sure to express your deep appreciation to him/her today for their sacrifice.