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The South Africa Essay: Part 4
Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Nothing has gone exactly as we planned. Sleep is a necessary but sometimes limited commodity. My body has not adjusted. The mind swimming with images of despair coupled with hope are dizzying. David, my roommate, has been my comic relief. In his deep southern drawl that reminds me of home, commentary about his socks and the day’s events are sometimes surprisingly astute and reflective. Looking around our room, we are reminded that we are in Africa. The electrical system is primitive and the appliances are a little different –not other planet different, but certainly other cotenant different. For no apparent reason, sometimes the power will just go out, even if the weather is perfectly clear. The system will just overload. Locals say it will be out for days, but we have only experienced a few hours. READ MORE
The South Africa Essay: Part 3
Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Today I woke up about 3:30 to the sound of rain on the metal roof of our guest cottage at the Old Berkshire. I could not go back to sleep although it was the perfect slumber weather with rain and the hint of jungle. The temperature has cooled considerably. I got up and went looking for monkeys at daylight, but even they were smart enough to be elsewhere. READ MORE
The South Africa Essay: Part 2
Posted on Monday, November 07, 2011
Story telling around the fire was incredible. We shared for hours. It was like a condensed version of the men’s retreat about getting in touch with your life story that my counselor friend hosts in Holmes County he calls Deer Camp. I had never sat in a circle with men and women in that open of an environment. God created holy ground around in that place. The firewood burned about as fast as we could put it in the rock lined pit. It was very smoky. Shameful historical details of lives lived were shared and chains fell off. At the end when we prayed, I had my eyes open. As the missionary we are supporting named Jason was closing, a shooting star streaked across the sky. I realized after hearing story after story of seemingly blessed Americans on a foreign continent that even under the most ideal circumstances, we all have our own brand of fatherlessness. Thank God there is hope and restoration. In Revelation 9, John talks about the battle four our souls being won: READ MORE
The South Africa Essay: Part 1
Posted on Friday, November 04, 2011
Is it a mission trip or a missions trip? Regardless, it was a long day of travel. The plane from Atlanta to Johannesburg was crammed packed. All types of people going everywhere. I had these big ideas that I would read and write, but I may have written a paragraph and I read a page or two. I watched half of two movies and all of one, which was about a guy who got trapped while rock climbing and literally had to cut off his own arm to survive. It was amazing, but gruesome. The entire group is tired, but we are glad to be in Africa. From the plane, Africa looks brown. I slept a little, but not much. The Delta flight attendants said that the fifteen hours we were in the air is the longest direct Delta flight in the world. I feel like we are about the start a great adventure. I pray for a paradigm shift- like I am moving out of the dessert and into the second half. It feels good. This is probably the biggest adventure I have been on since I traveled Europe in law school. READ MORE
The Sugar Jacket
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2011
One of my favorite television programs is Modern Family. In one episode, the character, Gloria, coaxed her husband into giving advice on the "Good Dog, Bad Dog Training System." Guillermo, the entrepreneur, described his business idea with honesty and excitement. The system was fatally flawed, however: it rewarded the dog for being good or for being bad. For being good, the dog got a bacon-flavored treat; for being bad, it got a bland treat. After listening to the pitch, Gloria's husband, Jay, bluntly told Guillermo the idea was not good. The would-be businessman wept. Gloria told Jay that he should have been nice and "put on the sugar jacket" when he commented on the plan. READ MORE
Your Final Destination
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2011
I was in an airport recently and watched passengers deplane from a flight that was very, very behind schedule. The passengers were panicked, afraid they would miss their connecting flights. A helpful airline employee tried to help them on their way by asking, "What is your final destination?" One passenger replied, "Heaven!" He knew where he was going to end up, regardless of the obstacles the world presented. READ MORE
Redemption and Divorce
Posted on Monday, September 26, 2011
I was in the book store the other day and I was browsing while Rachel and the girls were listening to story time in the children’s section. A little red book by Mark W. Gaither called Redemptive Divorce caught my eye. I finished it last night. While it would seem that Redemption and Divorce are antonyms, Gaither uses a Biblical discussion of marriage and divorce as the backdrop to introduce a legal strategy aimed at keeping marriages together. He proposes that filing for divorce can help save a marriage about 20% of the time. READ MORE
Olivia Y
Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
There are many well-intentioned, talented people with hearts for children and Mississippians working at the Department of Human Services. However, I always advise people to work with a private attorney whenever possible. The DHS workers are underpaid and overworked. Obviously, while lawyers can help with child support collection and can bring certain private court actions related to children, attorneys are not able to provide certain social services. These are the responsibility of the state of Mississippi. One such service is our system of foster care. READ MORE
Why?
Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
So the other night I was sitting at a table for eight in Shapley’s for the celebration of my friend’s birthday. I had mentioned to him that Rachel and I were in the beginning stages of creating an adoption agency, and he had told the other guests about it before we met up with the group. Inevitably, one of the girls at the table asked me “Why?” Remember, we were not in church, people were having a few drinks and I was presented with this heartfelt, well-intentioned question out of sincere curiosity. While the table crew silent, all eyes were focused on me. I needed to have an answer. I don’t know how well I responded to the question for my slightly intoxicated audience, but here is the answer after having a little time to reflect: READ MORE
200 Million Flowers
Posted on Monday, July 11, 2011
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It is my pleasure to announce the formation of a non-profit adoption agency called 200 Million Flowers. Although as a family law attorney, I can already assist in the adoption process, a home study, one of the essential steps in adoption, must be conducted by a licensed social worker employed by a licensed adoption agency. Streamlining this procedure is an essential tool in creating more efficiency in the adoption process, which is my primary motivation. READ MORE
Marriage is hard, there is no denying it and sometimes couples want to test the waters so-to-speak to see if they want to stay and work on their marriage or if they are ready to begin the divorce process. Couples who are not ready for divorce often opt for a trial separation, i.e. someone moves out of the house, gets an apartment, as if they are taking a so-called break from the marital home and possibly the marital relationship. Some states have laws that allow for couples to have a “legal separation”, however, Mississippi does not. Here the rule is simple: the law favors marriage. You are married until you are divorced or someone is dead. There is no such thing as legally separated in Mississippi, couples cannot go to a court and request that it put a hold on the marriage. This does not mean that you and your spouse cannot agree to a separation, it only means that any such agreement will not be judicially enforced. 
