The Thompson Transmit

The strength of Mother Nature!

2011-02-03T21:11:00.010-06:00

Never under estimate the strength of Mother Nature.

A gap in the door, a strong northern wind, snow falling 1-3 inches an hour,

and the enclosure of a heavy duty shed to capture the sculpture.
Look what can be created!

Piles of potential filled the inside of many areas.

But only a few got the wonder of Mother Nature.

It's quite amazing no matter how you look at it.

The rest of the storm was pretty standard issue for us Kansas transplants. We have endured many snow storms with strong winds, low temps and mounting accumulation.

But not in KANSAS!

It will be remembered as the 3rd largest in Kansas history, but for us it was just like many other storms that we had in our 13 years in Minnesota. There were big numbers to the snow fall. 19" and up depending who did the measuring and the place the measured at. The coldest temps ever in Kansas history -8 and lower were recorded. And 4, YES, FOUR snowdays in a row off from work and school. And 3 days of the University being closed~

During the storm which was Tuesday Feb. 1st, it snowed for the entire day. Starting early in the morning and continuing until evening..

The drifts around the front of the porch are tall.

The porch was cleared a number of times.

The garage was blocked by a huge drift as well.

And the back of the house is, well, snow covered too.

The inside of the screened in porch is a bit, well snowy!

The kids made it out to sled at J and D's with cousins, spending the night there.

Then a turn for them all to come here.

It was fun to have time together, to clean, cook and do homework.

I'm thinkful for help from my kids, over the past few days.

But, I miss my husband a bunch, he's in Springfield for the past two weeks.

It's felt the strangest to me to not share the storm with him, as all the others we have.

Tomorrow he comes home and it's suppose to snow again.

More SNOWDAYS to come???

Who really will know???

It seems someone else is in control!~

All in all we survived!~

Thanks to God!

Mother Nature for the surprise~

Aug-Sep-Oct

2010-11-18T20:05:00.016-06:00

I wonder where the time goes....

Ann has grown so much the past few months. She's really enjoyed Volleyball and Football Cheer and is ready for Basketball cheer starting soon.
I found this great vanity over at a garage Sale this summer and she painted it zebra stripe and we put fabric on the seat.. It has a black mirror she uses it in her room to do her hair and get dressed, each day. It's really awesome~

Of course there was fall football and some outdoor fun.... a couple camps for the kids.

and he's taller then me now~~!~

Brian had a good time on the 4-wheeler and in the mud.

We went to a Chief's game on Halloween as a surprise for Brian and Ann's Birthday's, (which are in December and we never do anything for them) so this was our first big NFL game and it was an awesome one. We beat the Bills in overtime and it was also Military Appreciation day~

And now we will travel for Thanksgiving to see family and Casey will come with his girlfriend Jessie and we can't wait to spend time with all there. And then December, Derek will return rom AFG. and we will be soooo glad to have this past year, marking the 3rd in a row of deployment OVER~ and to start again fresh with 2011... Check back again for the update!!

May-June-July (where does the time go?)

2010-07-08T12:56:00.016-05:00

Nothing like a little tree hugging to get the summer rolling~

Since school was out in Mid May it's been go, go, go.. I was thrilled to have my foot surgery done on May 14, 2010 and then to have the last day of school on my birthday May 21st is always fun. We had a big Garage sale here at the house and that made for some fun, (albeit that the weather was already hot by then) days of setting up and selling. But good friends, made it worth it. And the Freecycle.org made getting rid of the remains easy as usual~

Derek arriving after 5 days of traveling~

Derek was home for his two weeks leave by Memorial day and we took off for a week in Indiana visiting family there. A hop over to Missouri to catch up with my brother, sister-in-law and my parents for a day or so and then back home. Derek had a few days in Minnesota to visit some of his friends from High School graduation 6 years ago... Then he was back here for a few days and finally flew out for Afg. again the first of June. Casey was able to meet us in Indiana so the 6 of us were together at Martha's for a nice visit. (and as it goes probably the only time this year that all our kids will be together)

Brian 15, Derek 25, Andrea 13, Casey 21, In Indiana June 2010

I worked at Summer school 3 weeks in June and that was an interesting time with 12 kiddos in the classroom and that many adults. But I love Summer school, it was just the weather that proved to be such a challenge with heat one day and all the rains that kept the humidity so high. Brian took off for Texas the third week in June, to help build a church in Beaumont. Andrea went back to Northern Mo. to spend time with my family there. So that left Donald and I alone for a week...(we managed to survive, LOL)

There is Brian in the gray shirt working on the church~

The trench from the house to the shed~

Brian and Casey laying the pipe~

Now the first of July and Casey surprised us with a weeks visit. My parents came for the long holiday weekend and we got tons of projects done. Donald has been waiting for years to get electric and water in his shed out back and that was the weekends biggest accomplishment!!! HE's so THRILLED!! Casey, Grandpa, Brian and Don worked outside for 2 days, laying waterline, electric and telephone poles to line the driveway. Casey hauled tons of old scrap wood to the burn pit and had two huge bonfires to clean up the drive way. There was a bit of fun with fireworks and some 4 wheeler riding~ Mom and I managed to keep everyone feed and happy and the kitchen somewhat clean. Derek also blessed us with a call on the 4th and we had fun passing the phone around at Breakfast for everyone to visit with him.

Casey having fun~

Now Casey has taken off to go back to North Carolina. And Monday Ann leaves for Church Camp. Brian goes the week after, and I will be done with my summer college classes... (((HURRAY))) and then the calender will say August. I have a long list of little house projects that I want to complete the first of August before work and school start again the middle of the month. I hope to complete them all of course... LOL...So that's how we've been spending our summer so far~ Where does the time go?

The end of many milestones in May~

2010-05-22T18:49:00.004-05:00

The whole spring was wet and cold here in Kansas. It's seemed long and non-ending at times, we have even burned wood in the month of May. It was cold and damp and we could have turned on the furnace, but we have a fireplace that we love and so we had a few fires to take the chill off. It seemed strange to have them when we moved south almost 5 years ago to get out of the cold and now we are burning wood in May.. But hey, one does what one must.

Many things have ended in May, College classes for me are done this semester. It was a semester of the largest number of credit hours I have taken since I started back to college and work full time. I struggled at times this semester with too much work and wanting to get A's.. So the family has had to do with out me, or make do with less of me. Going to church was out the became at day for homework and housework to get done to survive the next week. One day rolled into another with little less than a few hours of sleep. I survied and they survived and I got the 5 "A's" that I wanted from the classes that I took. It all starts again in 2 weeks with 11 credit hours this summer and only part time work in June for me. So that will seem easy.. I sure hope~

Brian is done with 9th grade. He also managed to make good grades with A-B honor roll the whole year. And he's working alot of weekends to build fence or to assist the local farmer. He's taller than me and I'm not sure I'm ready for him to be so grown up...

Ann's done with 7th grade and she's also on the A-B honor roll all year. She's ready for the last step of middle school and excited about the fall cheerleading for football and basketball and playing some volleyball.. (another reason for me to have fewer classes this fall)

I'm also done with my 5th year in the most awesome room with the best co-workers and by far the greatest Preschool kids. I love my job and can't wait for each school year to begin again. Summer school will be fun with many new challenges and new adults to train and fun activities to work on.

May also marks what I hope is the middle of Derek's deployment. He's scheduled to be home soon for R and R and that is a HUGE relief for us. This is the 3rd year of a child in a war zone and I'm about DONE with that~

Casey is doing great and having a super time in Bragg. We hope to see him over Memorial day in Indiana.

May is a super month we are Thankful for the many rains and now glad to see them end. We are glad that May brings good things for our family. God is good to us and we appreciate that God watches out for us no matter what we do~

SPRING/EASTER~!

2010-04-06T19:47:00.003-05:00

Easter Sunday!

Sometimes a mom would just

like for her two kids

that are left at home

to act like they

love one another~

Or to just smile

and stand up straight

so I can remember 20 years from now

how tall they were at 15 and 13!

Maybe it will be their lack of interest
in pictures being taken,
that I will remember!~

Of course it was the smiles!~

and the height,

and the wind,

and the new clothes,

that we will remember...

And the fact that IT was

EASTER

and WE are so glad

that the grass is green

and the sky is blue~!

Garage Sale fever

2010-03-18T20:49:00.003-05:00

I can see that it's beginning. Spring Break is the time to catch up and clean out. I've cleaned out rubbermaid tub after tub of fabric, thread, quilting stuff and now girl stuff from Ann's room. I stopped at GoodWill and the little Catholic resale shop today.. Just to get the fever started more. Nothing like hauling stuff out and bringing home more stuff...
Now to get some more nice weather so the fever will really get high... I"m reading the newest Flea Market Style magazine from cover to cover and I have tons of ideas for stuff that I already have stashed.. Now to get them built, put together and painted..
I want to take a road trip this year and go to a famous sale. The longest yard sale on the east coast or how about out to Washington state to the Farm chicks sale..? now that would be tons of fun.. But gas is a tad bit high for traveling across country and hauling junk back...HUmmm not junk... good used stuff....! so I will have to settle with the close sales, auctions and flea markets.. oh yes, and free trash day~

Is that SUN!?

2010-02-21T16:16:00.005-06:00

This might be one of the shortest months, but it's been the most cold as far as I'm concerned. The weather here in KS. is cold.. snowy, rainy, sleeting and it's just cold... We are almost out of wood to burn and we have the feeling that the season isn't over!~

Here are the pups looking out the window for the sun.. or was that Don coming home?? Any way they are the comic relief around here.. and the source of stress since Snoopy has decided to be a non-sleeper.. Or at least in his bed.. He much perfers the couch with me or in Brian's bed..

So that's about it for excitement~

Oh yes, the big excitement for me was to get a copy of the new Flea Market Style and actually get to read it... Can't wait for Garage Sales to begin now~

Happy Snow!

2010-01-08T07:32:00.002-06:00

Here in the Midwest we have had sleet, snow, rain and wind.. Now it's the cold.... and BABY is it COLD for this area...-4 as I type this morning... It gives us the feeling of our winters in Minnesota, were that temp was average for days, weeks on end..Windchills of -20+ would be common... But here,,, it's not the norm... so schools are closed and we are hiding in the house... What to do with ourselves??? We cleaned house, put away the christmas decorations, vaccumed and mopped.. baked and cooked warm foods, watched a couple of movies, played games on the computer, and on the IPODS~ NOW WHAT? I have bids on Ebay for the college books that I need in a couple of weeks for my classes. I even made some woven potholders yesterday. Today, I've got to find something a little more mind stimulating for these two teenagers to dooooooo?????????
What will it be?????????

A Day of Delays~

2009-12-25T05:09:00.004-06:00

December 23, 2009 will be remembered. It was the day that Casey was to fly from Minneapolis to Fayetteville Ark. To spend the next couple of weeks with us. It was also the day that the Gordon/Thompson families were to get together and share a Perfect Christmas Meal and gift exchange. I was to get part of that meal ready and for the most part that went well. Ham in the crockpot, Sweet potatoes in their crock pot, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, dump cake, rolls and 3 different kinds of fudge. Pretty well all done and ready for what was to be Don talking the food and I would get Casey in Ark. and then meet them.... RIGHT~

We knew that the storm was coming and so we had already changed the plans to get Derek in Salina KS. at training and head to MO. to spend time with my parents, my brother and his family. We would just stay here and see how the storm ended up. Knowing that we had the New Years weekend to go there and for them to spend time with Derek before he leaves for Afg. in January.

So all was well until about 10. When Casey called to say that he was delayed in Mn. even getting on the plane. So that would push back the connecting flight in Charolette S. C. which would more than likely make it late when I was to get him. OK. I can deal with that, missing the meal isn't that big a deal...30 minutes later he calls and the plane he is to leave on, has just arrived and so they have get all the people off and then clean the plane, refuel, load the bags, and then the people and then leave.. so add an hour to that delay... OK..(I'm really working on flexibility with this)... Derek calls to say they haven't left Salina yet and that he's not sure when they will. As other guys aren't back yet and they have to help them when they get back and then have a briefing, load the bus and then leave. OK.... So I tell him of his brothers delays and that we will work it out.... (all the time thinking this isn't looking too good)....

Finally Casey calls that he's boarding and leaving MN. that is good they are to get 24 to 28 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.. So I feel better knowing that THAT possible issue will be avoided.. Now to wait till he gets to SC. so I can see if the next leg of his trip will be delayed. The only problem is that I have a 2 hour drive south to get him and need to leave before I really know if the next flight is on time or not. But I figure it's pretty sure that he will be delayed and so I hang out until 1;30 when he is to land. Finally he calls, "he's landed, and they gave him the wrong ticket to the next flight, it's all messed up and they have him going to Fayetteville NORTH CAROLINA.... YIKES~ (my first thought is that is a really long drive and I'm not going to make it back for dinner now)...LOL....He will call back.... I go to the computer knowing that I have his shedule of flights and info there. He calls back, "Bring up my itenerary, they say I've got it booked wrong and that I'm going to NC." Well it says Fayetteville, but I'm not up on all the names of these airports and frankly, I don't really look at his reservations. He's 21 and been around the world to Iraq, home for leave, back to Iraq and home again. He traveled alone to NC. with his truck when he got his assignement to move there with the ARMY. He's flown back 3-4 times since then, to Fl. to Mn. and back. Who am I to question the plans and check it over... I have less experience with it than he.... But I know from making the flight arrangements for us a couple years ago, that clicking in all those boxes when you have multiple connections is scary and easy to mess up. So it does not surprise me that this is yet again a delay for this day. It's now almost 2 and I'm not heading out the door. Our two other teenage kids that were to tag along with me are wondering if we will ever leave. Back on the phone with Derek they haven't even had the briefing yet and so he's just wanting to tell me that he's going to be much later than planned. Can we just leave his car at the armory and he can get it when he gets in. And what is going on with his brother? (he knows that he's traveling and that there were delays, but I can't get them both on the phone or off the phone long enough to tell the other about it).... OK... I'm laughing now.. Here on Christmas day with the wind blowing and snow falling,, my ankles are cold.. the fire is getting cold... just replaying it all in my mind is so funny... and to the fact that I have two grown children that are traveling and doing all that they are is mind boggling at times..Not to even count for the fact that they have both served in Iraq and one is going to AFG. now....

Back to the story... So the new flight is scheduled and he will be in ARKANSAS today.. he only gives me the flight number and time he's leaving and hangs up.. he's upset at the mistake and the extra expense... $500.00+ that it has cost him... He's a saver, likes his money, likes to see everyone but likes his money.... Now to plan for how to get it all done...OH yes, and all this time I have called Don in the middle of talking with the boys and updated him to the multiple changes. Now I call to ask.. "can you just go with me to ARK. and I will drop all the food off for the meal tonight and let the kids hang with family there, then you can meet me at the Armory and we can leave Derek's car and he can get to the meal when he gets back"... He's such a great man, he knows to just say, "YES"!!! So with that I try to update the teenage children at home as to what to load in the car. Ann is totally lost, she thinks we are packing for what was to be a trip to MO. tomorrow..."which gifts go in the car, where are we going,,, what has changed now" ("welcome to my life," I tell her....) I call my sister in law, explain the delays and the changes, ask if she can watch Brian and Ann while Don and I go to ARK. and if we can drop all the stuff at her Dad's place so that they will have the food for the dinner since probably won't make it back in time. "SURE," (I"m sure she can tell it's not the time to say, "NO".....LOL) So with all the food loaded in the car and the gifts for the correct family loaded now too.. We head out in the pouring rain.. (part of the storm that is coming to KS with ice, sleet and snow they say, "OH JOY") Food, gifts and kid delivered to the appointed new spots and I'm off to drop the car for Derek to have it later when he arrives. Don is waiting at the ARMORY for me in his car and we can take it to ARK. I'm tired now again thinking of it all....
I tried texting Casey, called a couple of times.. nothing,,, I hope that means he's in the plane flying... Derek calls and he's tried getting his brother... we both conclude that it means he's flying... Don's driving so I text with Derek and chat with Brian, make jokes with Debbie about eating at Mc Donald's, chat with my dad to give him the update.... And finally we get to Bentonville Ark. where WalMart is located and the airport that Casey is to be landing at...I call him just as we are turning onto the airport road.. WOW, he's just landed... He will wait outside on the curb and we can just drive up and get him.... (can it be that easy??)
It was!~ Headed back to Kansas.. We visit and tease him about the delays and the mix up.. He's not really laughing...
(well some has to keep laughing as this is my life~)
We get to the dinner at 8, plenty is left to eat and it's all good.... open gifts and continue the contact with Derek as to his werabouts.. He's on the ARMY bus making it's way south and dropping soliders at the appointed Armories along the way... so who knows what time... Finally at 9 he walks in... TIRED! Dressed in his army uniform..(it always makes my heart skip a beat, when he walks into the house wearing that uniform) He's ready to change, "been wearing this thing since 5:30" He says...
SO that day of delays is finally ended.. OUR two older sons are home..

NOW the holidays can begin~!
THE DAY OF DELAYS IS OVER~!

and the third year begins...

2009-12-05T19:49:00.006-06:00

Friday Dec 4th, we had a gathering of family and friends for a bit of a send off party for Derek. WE begin the 3rd year of deployment for our family. This time Derek will be in AFG. doing electrical work. We had a wonderful time with lots of great food and drink.

This past summer Derek made a new buddy.. Grady stayed with us one night and he and Derek had a wonderful time in the yard, playing ball and later tickling and playing cars. Derek was surprised to see Grady and his family come tonight, Grady loves to help with just about anything.. He and Derek had a time cutting the cake.. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more~ See those smiles.. they are quite the buds~

Derek took off early Sat morning for the Armory. We went up later to visit a bit and see some of the other guys.

We watched as the loaded the truck and trailor with suppies for the trip out of town.

Andrea, Derek and Brian posed for a quick photo before we took off to go to our spot along the road. We had the big flag that Don had made and we parked the truck on the corner so the guys could see us good. It was fun to see the police escort them to the edge of town and all the folks who stopped for a while on a very cold Sat. morning to show they cared.

This is the Patriot Guard and the bus load of guys heading for training and then Afg.

Here we are on our spot at the corner displaying our appreciation for the work that all the soliders do.

And the crowd as the bus goes by~

So the third year begins, he's still in the states a while longer. But still on a mission~!

THANKSGIVING 2009

2009-11-30T21:39:00.010-06:00

Casey arriving home from Ft. Bragg, after his year in Iraq, greeted first thing by his oldest brother.

Even though it's all a blur now. It was a fun week. My mother in law arrived the Friday before and we had a fun time passing the time cleaning, shopping and Laughing up to the day others arrived. Casey was the main reason for the gathering.. THANKFUL that he was home from Iraq. But also the gathering of family to share in renewal of each other and our relationships, to share the past year successes and the look forward to see what the next year would be. We are bitter sweet that Derek will be in Afg. this next year and that it will be the third year that our family has worried about a son, grandson, nephew and cousin fighting in a war. But we are sure that he's doing honorable work and serving the country to the best that he can.

We played games, cooked tons of food, rode 3 and 4 wheelers, gathered to chat, shared songs with out bursts of singing, and guitars strumming. It was loud and it was quiet, most of all we enjoyed ourselves.

The boys goofing off~

me with my parents~

This is us~

the Spoons game~

This is the sight that I enjoyed the most. All 4 of my kids under one roof, watching TV together relaxing in the livingroom~

House projects while we wait!

2009-11-11T19:03:00.006-06:00

SGT. Casey E. H. Thompson Iraq Dec. 2008 to Nov. 2009 SPC Derek A. W. Thompson Dec. 2007 to Dec. 2008

Happy Veterans day to my two favorite vets... !!! GOD BLESS all those who have served and who continue to protect us~

We are down to the wire.. As you can tell from the count down.. Casey is in the air as we speak, the delays have been near unbearable at times.. We are glad and NOT glad that we aren't going to meet them at Ft. Bragg. Now that the latest delay means they fly into a different airport and get bused to Bragg we are glad to not be there.. But I won't be sleeping tonight, knowing all that he's doing to get home....

We have finished some walls with my favorite look... barn tin and barn wood.. this is the communication board that Don built right into the decor!
This is the new doorway that will go out to the deck that we will build in the spring more than likely... Notice the extra helper checking out the VIEW~ "snoopy" our little deaf weiner dog.!!

This is the dining room with the finished floor and the rusty tin and barn boards trimming the bar area.. and on the walls by the back door...

This is our finished kitchen floor.. It's wood and tile with this amazing star in the middle. I have an amazing hubby that has designed all our floors and made them.. It's just perfect~

One of the really special things about these barn boards is the dating and personalization that is on it. The dairy farmer that we got it from used to keep track of the dates and the people that they had as customers... Plus to the fact that they forgot the year had changed, (even tho it was Jan 25) and wrote "1946" then scratched out the "6 and wrote 7" I just LOVE THAT~

We can't wait to share our home and love,, as well as some food with family on Thanksgiving this year~

BLESSINGS to all~

Waiting for Nov!

2009-10-28T19:59:00.003-05:00

It seems that in the past few months we have just been waiting for this deployment to be over! Now, finally we are on the last two weeks of our second son's deployment. We won't got to see him and his unit land. We are in Kansas and they will come into Ft. Bragg NC. We didn't get to see our oldest son's unit leave or come home from Indiana. So it goes! But they both knew that our hearts were there with them. We have been with them in thoughts and prayers, many, many boxes of shipped snacks, cards and even some junk to just help them pass the time. Each day since Dec 3, 2008 have been about what time is it in Iraq?, Wonder where on the mission they are now?, was that bomb blast near them?, was that a soldier from their unit that was killed?. Some of the strangest things go through your mind while your son is in a war zone.
For the past year I have worn a metal bracelet with his name on it and the date he left and his unit name. I worn one last year for his brother and I will purchase another one this December for the next year, when our oldest son goes to AFG. While sitting at church I hold it and pray for safety, strength and that God will bring them ALL HOME soon. I never have a problem telling others about Casey and where he is. Or that this is ending the second year of our families deployment, and we will start year 3 in Jan. 2010. How hard it's been with him gone and for him there working non-stop and about the conditions there. Now waiting for next week feels so different, the excitement that they will land in the USA and he will be home. Not, physically home in Kansas, but back to the USA. He will have two weeks there for all the after deployment things, physicals, mental checks, paperwork and just geting a place to stay again. He will fly home for Thanksgiving and I'm already imagining hugging him and just that first sight of him again after all these months. It's really amazing to think that two of my children have served on Iraq and been around the world and back again 3 times each... (one time over, one time back for 2 weeks leave, then back and now returning home again) But my heart is also heavy when I think of those that aren't coming back. Each of my son's units lost soldiers. They will forever be heros of the ultimate gift to us. Now to wait just one more week. God please watch over the 82nd Airborne as they fly home next week, give them patience and strength as they return to families and lives that will be different and life might be harder then they remember. Our economy is different and time has passed. Give us all understanding and love for these family members that have been away at war protecting us and our country. God please Bless all our service members as we wait for them to return!

25th Wedding Anniversary

2009-10-15T06:30:00.004-05:00

It's amazing what 25 Years can do for a couple. This was us Oct. 21, 1984....

Look what we have done in 25 years~

This is us now!~

What a great 25 it's been, I'm looking forward to the next 25!

I love you Don~

Can it be for real???

2009-10-03T18:48:00.006-05:00

Yes, that is Derek, Andrea and Brian with ME, handing a picture of my two Army sons to LEE GREENWOOD~ He was about to sign it for us... October 1st, 2009 was the day we got to attend his concert in Branson MO.
We were in Branson over Labor Day after camping in pouring rain, We spent one night in a motel and went to a show, rode Segway's and go carts. That was a super time away for us this summer. But we dreamed of more.... The signs were all over and the ads on TV told us of the up coming things in Branson. We have loved Lee Greenwood since the summer of 2002, we played his CD all the way to Washington DC from MN. So when we saw the signs telling of his concert coming to Branson, we got excited even more. But the cost of going back to Branson, motel, food and tickets was more than our budget would allow this summer. (We don't use Credit Cards) So after our Labor day trip, I wished to take Derek to see him before he leaves for Afghanistan in Jan. with the Kansas National Guard. I thought that would be a good family trip. I'm an assertive person and so with out telling anyone, I emailed to the person Paul who handles the Fan related requests. I'm so amazingly proud of our two sons and their service with the ARMY so it was easy for me to share their story and ask for tickets for our family. I've never done this before and so I didn't tell anyone. Didn't want to get their hopes up. I was amazed that I got an email from Lee telling me that he would be glad to give us 5 tickets and would be signing autographs after the show, he would look forward to meeting us then. (actually I retreaved the email from the JUNK mail so I could have very easily missed it)

First up were the Bellmany brothers and they played for an hour, singing a wonderful collection of their 35 years of music. The second hour was all Lee Greenwood and wow, did it go by fast. We were so amazed that he played the Saxaphone and it was just great to see and hear him. Of Course the last song was what we had wait for, "God Bless the USA" and it was just what we thought.. totally amazing! Derek ran up to the stage just as the curtain was going down, and shook Lee's hand. We thought that he would come out and sign autographs and so we went out to the lobby were some black tables were set up and we figured he would come. But there was just one woman selling shirts. We chatted to her a bit and ask if he was coming out. She told us that if we wanted to catch him we could go to the back of the theatre where his white car is parked. We could get him to sign somethings there. I was left standing waiting there to pay for my shirt while 3 other people jumped in front of me. I was thinking that all the rest of my family would see him and get autographs and I would miss it all... Finally I got the shirt and hurried out the front and around the back with just about 2 minutes to chat with them when Derek yelled, "MR Greenwood!" and walked up to him. Derek said something about not ambushing him and laughing he walked over to us. I was so nervous and so excited to see him, I thanked him for the wonderful tickets and we all told him how much we loved the show. We almost forgot about the autograph, when I started tell him that Casey had called from Iraq, while we were in the concert. He was surprised by that and said he wished him a safe trip back home. We told him that he was leaving Nov 2, and that we couldn't wait to have him back. He told us how much he appreciated both the boys serving the country and that he was in the Navy once. Told us about his trips to Balad and to Afg. with the USO to sing and entertain the troops. They take loads of t-shirts and CD's to give to the troops and how much he loved doing those trips. I had handed him the picture of Derek and Casey in thier uniforms and ask for him to sign it on the back. He did and we chatted. It's all sort of blurry. But I was so thrilled to have that chance to thank him face to face and to let him know how much we apprecited the chance to come hear him sing. Don clicked a couple of photos but we totally forgot about having a group photo with him. Another couple walked up and got a photo signed and I remember Lee saying, "they have a son in Iraq right now" They made small talk with us, while Lee signed our Army bear that Jenny gave us. Derek got his hat signed and Lee told us that he wasn't feeling well, something he had eaten. So we let him go. WE walked off in total shock,, can it be for real??? Did we just shake hands, listen too, and chat with LEE GREENWOOD~~~ YES WE DID!~

Fall is in the air again..

2009-09-15T18:14:00.011-05:00

We like fall! In Minnesota fall is a sign that things are really going to change.. Here in Kansas fall is a change but we had no idea how big of a change. You see, in the raising of the older two kids, we didn't do sports. NOW, we are! Football and Volleyball.. Brian is now in his 3rd year of football, but last year he was out for the year due to the healing collar bone. So this is sort of like starting over, He did get to play in the JV game, but they ended up and lost. We are excited that he's so thrilled about being on the team. We are anxious to see how the season goes..

We are also supporting Andrea playing on the Volleyball team for 7th and 8th graders. She's learning alot and having a ton of fun.

The change for us, is that some of their games are on the same night and that they have practice everynight.. and games 2 times a week... we aren't up on going that much. We are so appreciative that Derek is here to pick up the kids and to help out.. So we are all learning tons~

We also had a wonderful time camping with family over labor Day.. Even if it rained and we were all drown rats.. We survived and the caneoing was super~ We loved the company!!

We made a stop in Branson for a bit of a family vacation. We stayed at a cheap hotel, had cable (so that was a treat for us), we visited the outlet mall, some go-carting, the kids rode on the Segways and we saw the Moscow Circus. These photos were some of the strange things at the Circus. The Giant Slinky was actually a woman inside moving it all around.. Very cool to watch!... And the bubble man was totally Messy~~ But quite graceful and very pretty.. He made tons of bubble~

God's amazing creatures!

2009-08-25T19:23:00.003-05:00

Some time this past week or so... (honestly can't remember the day) I was graced with three hummingbirds at my window. The Canna's that my sister in law gave to me grow about 7 feet tall here on the east side of the house, and the blooms can been seen from our living room window. Of course, I was working on the laptop and they dropped in to get some afternoon sweets! They are so amazing and I managed to give up some time from the work to get a couple of decent shots of these amazing creatures that God gives to us ~

ENJOY~

Puppies, Seventh and Nineth grade, OH my!!!

2009-08-15T19:32:00.007-05:00

It's always amazing this time of year when school starts. We have had the usual busy summer and the time has just flown by. We have spent the past couple of weeks getting supplies, shoes and eye exams. This year there are only two kids in our house attending school.

Brian is in High school, Nineth grade! Oh course he's taller then me and wears a size 13 shoe.. I think we have purchased our last store bought shoes, it's to special order after this~ He was a bit nervous, but seems to think after two days that he will be o.k. This was also the first full day alone for our puppies that are 12 weeks old now. Brian had Leo to love on before we left the house.

Andrea is in the Seventh grade this year. Ann got her new contacts on Thursday night the first day of school, so she's still adjusting to them. I'm not sure how my baby girl got to be so old. She's wonderful and we're excited to see her growing and learning. Andrea was snuggling with Snoopy so he would know we love him, even when we're gone all day.

It's amazing to see the two youngest kids going off to these challenging years in Middle and High school. How thrilling it is to know that they are capable, independent and so responsible~
WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

more stuff!

2009-08-10T20:13:00.004-05:00

Puppies playing in the yard, or sleeping in the yard. Most of the days lately have been too warm for them to be outside. But when they are outside, Snoopy wants to sleep and Leo just seems to go along with it as his playmate is gone. He does wake up easy since he's the hearing pup. Anyway, August is here and we are starting back to school this week. We just finished a HUGE 3 day garage sale the covered our front yard and driveway. We did well. Clearing out things that we didn't need or use and then giving all the leftovers to a nice family. We were glad to have it all cleared up and gone...

What a cuttiieee!!!~~

SUMMER CLASSES ARE DONE~!

2009-07-29T20:47:00.004-05:00

I'm so glad that I took these two classes, but this is the most excited that I think I've ever been to be done with two classes... it was a hard long summer with these.. Math and History seemed like a good combination as they shouldn't be that bad~~ HA~
Math is not my thing... I do not like it and I have 5 math classes to take to get my B.S. in Education~ I have learned alot this summer for just doing the basic math things and I got an "A" in the class, but I still had to pass the Compass test with a 34 and I got just a 34 today~ So I get to move up to Beg. Alg. that is fine with me.. I will do them all and I expect to learn a bunch more~
I also got an "A" in the online Kansas History class, that has been the hardest class that I have taken online. I was scared to death at the beginning of this class. We had two books with lots of ready and MANY, MANY online sources to read in addition to the books. It was on average 6 chapters a week with 4 different questions all with 3-5 parts. Then 3-6 essays from one of the books each week. I was just blown away at how I would ever make it work... BUT I DID IT~

If you had a picture to go with this post it would be me screaming and yelling.. YEAH~ YEAH~ YEAH~!
But with all the braggin' I've done I'll spare you the picture too~ LOL

THANKS, for all the support and the encouragement you all have given~

Snop's on the beach!

2009-07-28T13:18:00.001-05:00

In honor of summer... Snoopy our little deaf weiner dog had a picture made up~ What do you think??
Happy Anniversary J and D~
Hope you are having a super time~

Chances are...

2009-07-27T07:13:00.003-05:00

...if its early morning, I'm on the laptop surfing to see what the latest news in around the world.

...if its early morning, Don is already at work.

...if it's early morning the kids are all still sleeping.

...if it's early morning the puppies have been fed and out side in the toddler yard playing.

...if it's Monday I will have math class today.

...if I don't pass that math test this week, I'm going to be VERY upset.

...if I don't get an "A" in that online Kansas History class that was SOOOO much work this summer, I'm going to be upset.

...if the weather man says rain this week, the boys will be mowing and trimming today.

...if there are dishes to be done, someone will whine when told to unload the dishwasher...

...if the first child whines about unloading the second one will whine about loading.

...if I don't get out to the garage and price those items this garage sale will never happen.

...if I don't update the blog at least once a month someone will email me and ask if we are all o.k., I love that!

...if it takes two weeks for Casey to call or Instant Message from Iraq then I start getting really worried.

...if I survive Nov. (when one son comes one from deployment) to Dec. (when we have 4 Birthdays in the family and the oldest son leaves for his second deployment) this year it will be a miracle.

...if the sun is up, I'm no the porch sipping coffee with puppies sleeping in my lap.

...if I start reading a blog from the list on my blogsite, I will find something out about others that make me smile, laugh or wonder.

...if I follow a blog link on someone elses blog and read more, I can find lots of fun things to partake in.

...if you think this is fun and you like to blog then follow along and give the glory to someone who thought of it.

http://4littlemen.blogspot.com/2009/07/chances-are.html

http://thisfamilyof4.blogspot.com/2009/07/chances-are.html

lazy Summer days,school and stuff

2009-07-22T06:42:00.011-05:00

Summer this year, for me, has been spent mostly behind this laptop. I've had two classes, Kansas History online, and basic math. It's not that either one were really difficult I just always forget the amount of work is double in the summer.. it's more work since it's less time and this time it was tons more work for the History class since it was online. I've managed to read two full textbooks on the History of Kansas and the people involved in that History and write 26 essays about all those 26 people in that one book. And then from the other book I have had 4 questions with 4-6 parts each to answer over each chapter. sigh!~ So now that I'm within the end of it all, I can finally write and say... THANK GOD I survived~ Well almost this is the final week with most of the work, I have a test next week to finish the math class and I have to turn in the final paper for history, it is about Brown VS. Board of Education that is to be 2-3 pages but then has to comply with a whole Rubic of demands.... Challenge to say the least~!

So that is the update from me.. others in the house.. Derek is leaving in August to beginning the first of 2 months of training for his next deployment to Afg. around the end of the year or Jan. 2010... Casey's unit is in the process of moving out of Baghdad and he has a new address.

SPC Thompson Casey

B Troop

5-73rd CAV (MPs)

FOB Hammer

APO-AE 09308

So please send him packages at this address as of the first of August.

He also learned that he will be moving to Germany in Jan-Feb 2010 for his next duty station. So he's got alot of packing to do in the next few months. Moving from Baghdad into the outer lying areas of Iraq, then HOME in Nov. and finally a move to Germany at the beginning of the year. BUSY BOY~

Brian is home from Church camp, and spending alot of time with Derek just hanging out.

Ann is off to Church camp this week and she's glad that she got to go, since she had that broken Ankle it was a bit tentive for her to be able to go.

Donald is of course busy with work and the many projects that we have here at home...

We hope that your summer is warm, filled with sunshine and enjoyment... We are so thrilled that God gives us each new day to enjoy!

THANKS for checking in with us!!

Oh yes, the puppies,,, (got you to read the whole posting to get to the explainion of the picture)

We got these two puppies almost a month ago and well, we have had a ton of fun with them...

Snoopy (who is deaf) and is sleeping in his usual position and Leo who heard me open the door jumped up) so I missed him resting.

They are doing well and of course are sleeping alot...

PUPPIES!

2009-07-08T07:22:00.004-05:00

Snoopy is looking very shy!

Leo is so small compared to the front steps.

Yes, it's not like we don't have enough to do, but we needed to add some new family members to the mix... It's almost been two weeks now since we got them.. I lovely family in Neosho Mo. gave them do us, and yes, they are weiner dogs, (minis). Since Derek and Brian were gone to MO. to spend the week with my parents the same weekend that we got the puppies we didn't say much about it.. We wanted them to have a great time there and not wish that they were with us. So now the posting of the puppies.. Leo is the two tone brown with cute little red feet and some extra red on his eyebrows.. Snoopy is the Piebald coloring, the stipe done the side of his face and eye makes him so cute. Both have had their first shots and worming medicine,(which most all puppies have them), baths for fleas which they also had.. So we are on the route now with a schedule and potty training. They will go as soon as we take them in the yard and we are limiting where they go in the house. But, there has been something different about Snoopy, he's a follower and a bit more into biting his brother than I would have liked. (some typical play but he won't give it up) He's also not coming to his name when called, and Leo does. Finally, last night while he was sleeping in the screen porch, I clapped my hands about 3 feet from him and nothing. He didn't jump, turn his head or move at all. It became very clear to me that he's not hearing.. After some reading on the internet today it seems that I'm probably right. I didn't realize either that piebald colored dog and white dogs, or dogs with white coloring on their heads are more common to hearing problems or deafness. Generally, having a deaf dog isn't a worry to me as it is a concern for him. I'm so glad that out of the 3 brothers we had to pick from, we didn't leave him behind alone. He's going to need his brother very much for the rest of his life. Now, to train the kids to respect and train the deaf dog is more of a concern.. LOL... IT's difficult when all you know is to "Call" a dog with your voice and you expect them to come. We will need to get some special training going for this our new special puppy. Back to reading about lease and sign training for deaf dogs. BOY, AREN'T THEY CUTE~

THANK A SOLDIER FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY~

2009-07-04T13:53:00.001-05:00

Wishing a "Happy 4th of July" just doesn't have the same meeting to me the past few years. I like the parades and the fireworks, we attended a celebration in the local park where crafts were sold and we bought a funnel cake and a corndog. Don is playing in the disk golf tournment there still. And this is the weekend 5 years ago that we moved to Kansas. Lots of things are important in life revolving around this time of the year. (some familiy birthdays as well) We also watched the local National Guard do a little demo of a battle, complete with booms and colored smoke. They even had a raid siren. They ran in the stream and hide behind the trees and the small stone bridge, fake bullets or rounds, popping out of guns and even a small sand bag area for hiding was built. Andrea said,,"oh that's loud, it's smelly" and of course I didn't have much sympathy for her since her brothers have both been in war zones the last two July 4 celebrations. I said, "that's what your brother's deals with each day". (maybe its uncaring but it was what was in my mind) She knew what I was talking about!
(above this is Casey in his room)

Most were complaining of the annoying rain we got this morning and that some of the early activities were delayed. None of that really mattered to me. I forsure am sick of hearing about the death of Micheal J.!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!

I listened to the news reports on TV of those celebrating at Ellis Island and the opening of the Crown at the Statue of Libraty today. Now, with tickets, visitors can go to the top again. That is exciting!

But, why?

Why is it exciting?

(below, Casey in front of the truck that he either drives or is the gunner on)

How are the picnics and the food, the events and the gatherings exciting?

Well it brings us all together, it's a time to remember, (at least thats what people say)

But do they talk about Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin, brother or son who have served this great country?

Do they share the stories of how the independence was won?

Do they share the stories of when they left or came home?

And lastly do they share the stories of those that did NOT come home?

THOSE that gave it all for us to have this time?

So today, that is what I think about. Not the beer or the weather, not where the best place to see the fireworks will be or that a group of people raised some ungodly amount of money to shoot them off.. Yes, I chat with others about it. BUT, I'm not really listening. NOT Really.

I'm remembering, my dad's brother Chuck, who was in Vietnam.

My father in law who was a Merchant Marine,

My oldest son who served last year in Iraq, spending time with his grandparents this week

and my 20 year old son who is in Iraq now..

And of the soldier from AFG. that is kidnapped.

And many who are in Military hospitals

and those who gave the ultimate gift to our Independence.

T H A N K S!

That's really what I'm thinking about. Just in case you didn't already know...

Have a Happy THANK A SOLDIER FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

(BELOW, view from that Casey has while guarding from the gunner position)

For the past few weeks I've bugged my 20 year old son who is an MP in Baghdad IRAQ, please send me some pictures. I know you can, with internet and the new camera that you got,, take some of your self and of the place there.

Just for mom, take some pictures.

Finally today, after he's had days of rest since they aren't leaving Baghdad and the Iraqi police don't come to get them to follow in a mission around town, and of course the internet would let him email them to me...

I got the picttures...

For me they are the celebration, the reason, the meaning of the 4th of July.

My Proud mom heart is full and wishing that he was home.

Joking and laughing on the phone with him and a buddy yesterday, SURE did help!!

But still we are counting the time for the end of his deployment.

GOD BLESS our soldiers, all men and women who gave their time, lives and those families that served during deployments!

GOD BLESS this Great Country, that we can always celebrate our Independence and Remember why we have it!

Father's day/new couch

2009-06-21T10:32:00.004-05:00

Father's day 2009 Don in the middle with Brian and Andrea, Derek is standing behind, (he's got poison ivy so he can't sit on the new couch.) LOL... And our other son Casey is in Iraq.

this was actually before he left.. But we love this picture of him... I'm hoping for some new pictures soon... Hint, hint~

So Happy Father's day to the best husband and dad to all 4 of my children... We love you~~

THANKS for the new couch~

Happy Father's Day to MY Dad,,, Hope you are having a super day! I love you DAD~!

No pictures needed~

2009-06-20T21:21:00.002-05:00

Some weekends are just a good time. NO pictures were taken and or needed. The weather was good.. well not all the time but just a bit of rain off and on has become expected this summer here in Kansas. All the fun begain on Thursday early while I was driving to work. My friend Jean Ann, who I went to school with from preschool to High School with, we even share the same Birthday month all these 45 years... Well see called out of the clear blue and was on her way with her family to Pittsburg... "HEY," I say..."come one down.. I can't wait to see you!"... They were coming for her son's baseball tournament over in Nevada Mo. I'm not sure when the last time I actually saw her was, my two youngest kids are just with in 6 months and one year of her two kids. It's so fun to see how they have grown, the girls hit it off well. Her son Todd is the ball player and our boys never really have been so they visited off and on. They had played one game on Thursday (lost) and then had two on Friday (won both), so were scheduled again on Sat at 4.30. We got to see part of the second game on Friday night and then we went to dinner with them later. Sat. morning Jean Ann and I went Garage saling and had a blast with the girls and looking for goodies... It was great to have Breakfast with them and then wash ball clothes and head out again for another game. We really enjoyed watching the boys play, they were ahead 6-1 then 6-2 and then finally the lost the momentum and the game 6-7 it was a very good they fought and fought. Had a super homerun, a couple of doubles and some really good plays, but it just wasn't enough for the 24th seated team playing the 9th seated...the boys were very bummed and so were the parents...
It was great to see this special friend, we had many wonderful times as kids and we just created more wonderful memories as adults with our families..
THANKS for calling and coming to see us!! Come back again, anytime~

The new BOOT~

2009-06-08T19:57:00.007-05:00

My Parents with Andrea at the Lake of the Ozarks outlet mall when we met them to pick her up. It's summer and of course for us that would mean.. A BROKEN BONE! LOL

Last summer it was Brian who broke his collar bone..

This summer it must have been Andrea's turn~!

She had a great 2 weeks with Grandma and Grandpa Eggers. They live just down the road from my brother and his wife and girls. R and H are super cousins to Andrea and they had a great time going to softball games, swimming and jumping on the trampoline... It was the trampoline that caused the problems... Two girls jumping at the same time is a problem.. And isn't it just like kids to jump 2, 3 or more at a time.. She's been on tons of trampolines and who would have figured that this time this would happen! Andrea chipped the side of the bone on the outside of her ankle, so she's sporting a lovely boot~~

the Dr. is sure that she will have a huge thigh muscle when this is taken off...TOO FUNNY~

NOW, CJ,,, don't get rid of the trampoline just because of this~

The porch update!

2009-05-31T06:46:00.007-05:00

This is the porch before the update... The storm a few weeks ago helped us along on the porch updating. The screens were old and had some holes and the whole thing needed a good paint job. So when the wind blew out the windows and the umbrella took out a couple of the screens that was it. I set about finding screen online, knowing that we wanted screen that we could see through better and that we had 11 windows to cover. I found the no-see screen and the roll was $200.00+ dollars.. Way over my budget. So I looked at the fiberglass screen rolls and still over $100.00 DOLLARS... I had NO idea that screen could be so much... So off to EBAY to see what the cost and savings could be~
Great deal the width and length that we can use for $28.00 and that was with shipping... Alright~! it's ordered and arrived just after Memorial day... I was thinking of just getting the screen up and I can paint later.. No such luck, as my husband reminded me the paint would get all over the screen.. Sooooo.. I checked at Home Depot to see what paint cost and was surprise that one gallon of exterior paint of $30.00+ depending on the brand. Luckily, I've purchased from the "Oops" area of the paint section before... This time would be no different... I found 5 gallons of exterior Behr paint for $15.00..... PERFECT~ now to get them to add a bit more blue to it.. It was sort of a gray/blue color and I would like a lighter blue or at least blue.. The girl working reminds me that it's risky, but what the heck it's the porch... She adds color and shakes the paint for me... It's "great", I tell her...
Brian had taken all the rest of the screens down and taken the trim off the outside of the windows. I set about scraping and brushing off some of the flaking paint and we were off.. The weather didn't cooperate the best, it turned off cold for two days and I didn't feel like bundling up to just go out there and paint so I just didn't do it..

The BarBQue that Derek bought for us, and the new screens (we also used the .25 cent staples that we got at a garage sale) with barn red trim (purchased two gallons at a garage sale for $2.00) on the outside and the Robins Egg Blue paint..

The table that we made a few years ago (Casey did alot of the tile on this table and it was in the local paper) and two of the chairs that go with it, (the rest of the chairs are outside still). The Robin's egg blue paint and more windows with new screen. We have alot of antique insulators and we love them in the windows.

This is a table that we grabbed from the side of the road on City wide clean up a couple of years ago. It was green for the past two years and yesterday it got an update with red.. Later I'm painting the floor in the porch this same red. The "Stuff" here is all the old things that I like and will find a home in the porch somewhere. Gardening supplies are under the table too.

This is the "crew" well, minus the painter, "ME"... Donald, Derek and Brian were wonderful help..

The new updated "old" fan.. This isn't the one that was in the porch but we had another on that was in a bit better condition, no bent fan blades and smooth sounding fan..So Derek took the old one down and then I painted the fan with bronze spray paint (of course from a garage sale) and the Barn RED paint that we used on the trim outside and the table. (oh yes, that barn red was from a garage sale too) so the final cost in $28.00 for screen and $15.00 for the Robin's egg paint, $2.00 for Barn Red paint, and .25 cents for the staples= $45.25 total~ Lots of labor and some scrap wood from the shed it's all complete...

Next step is to sand and paint the floor..

Also this week I've been watching the birds alot.. (one less kid all week has given me a bit of time to sit and look around)

This Robin mom is taking care of 3 babies on top of our front living room window. I think it's about time for flight lessons...We have 3 bird feeders and we love watching the birds.

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-27T12:22:00.007-05:00

Weather wise it was the typical weekend. Gray clouds with some wind and just enough rain to make it ICKY outside. The company was super and so was the food.. We did the usual, hung out around the house, with lots of food (even homemade ice cream) and played some cards to keep the kids happy, worked on some home remodeling jobs and attended a memorial service. We did also discuss the 2 family birthdays this month, my fathers on May 10th and mine May 21st. We chatted about past family members, those in the military and those who have just passed. Remembering, sharing stories and two phone calls from our son in Baghdad were by far the best parts of the weekend for me.

Past years we have not attended an official Memorial service where the names of those that gave their lives for service to the country are read aloud. Generally ,as a child we would go to the graves and place flowers, remember and talk about the loved ones passed on. Both sets of my grandparents are gone now. Many Aunts and Uncles and some cousins have passed. My husband has lost his grandparents and his father as well as a sister. Since we are a family living the past year and half with a son deployed. (we are on the second son, second year) Even with past military members on all sides of our families they have all passed. Some before my husband or I were even born and difently many before we had the same type of patriotism that we do now. So for those that gave, so that we would have the freedom that we do today. THANKS!

Here are pictures of the ceremony that we attended.

This was an excellent speaker,, 3 star general...

Derek looking on and THINKING~ This is the cementary that Don and I pass most every day.

Today it was decorated so wonderfully...

My parents taking off, our daughter in the back, going home with them for the week..

And this is us with my parents, Yes, that is me on the phone, Casey called right at the time they were leaving..

Our little story!

2009-05-24T07:24:00.004-05:00

http://www.morningsun.net/living_people/x124596936/ONE-MAN-S-TRASH

Check out this link to see us in the paper!!

So long 8th Grade...

2009-05-18T22:07:00.010-05:00

Brian James McNamar Thompson

Even with the rain and cold it's the end of the school year. It feels like March but the calender says May 18, which means 8th grade graduation for Brian. It was the perfect day, warm and sunny all day. His class had practice today and he was home by noon. Derek has been super to go and get Brian or Ann when they need picked up so that Don and I don't have to leave work.

We took some pictures in the yard and then also a couple after graduation. HOW did Brian get so tall and only be 14? I have a feeling that I'm shrinking~ LOL

Brian, Andrea and Derek, who is the oldest but feeling shorter.

And the hat toss~!

And the family. It was a nearly perfect event, 'cept for one person was missing. Deployment does that for a family. We carry on even though part of us is half way round the world.. so this is for you Casey, since we are pretty sure that you were spending your night here in your seat... Hugs from us.. Casey, Look how your baby brother has grown up!

And those controls at the top of the blog are from you
Casey. Not that you are in control, but that we know you have the wheel.. Working hard and doing what you have to do to keep things in line.. WE LOVE YA!

Mother/Daughter Dinner at Church

2009-05-14T20:23:00.007-05:00

Tonight was the annual Mother/Daughter dinner at our church. This is a tradition that we started when we moved here 4 years ago and we always have a super time. The dinner was Chicken Cordin Blue, Aspargus, Twice Baked potato, roll, cake and fresh fruit, we had white chocolate mints and peanuts also! There are always games, poem/story readings and a skit or play to entertain us. Andrea win a journal for wearing the most yellow. We almost had the most pennies, and we also had a bunch of pictures in my purse that got us another gift, it was a debate with the woman with the digital camera full of grand kid pictures...

Also, this year Donald and Derek got in on the action in the "Womanless Weddin".

It's a skit put on by all men, about a "Hillbilly weddin'!"

It of course was hularious and a good time was enjoyed by all...

This is my husband who was the father of the bride!

This is the mother of the bride, being ushered in for the Weddin'~ AKA or minister~

Of course the camera battery was dead and so this one is from the cell phone.

The bride in the dress is another man on our church and the man in the overalls is our son,, he's the man marrying the supposedly pregnant woman.. It was a bit of a shot gun weddin', you see! They are sucking on the "ring pops" that they used for getting hitched~ VERY GOOD~~ Definitely funny~

This is the Brides family.. they are also men in our church... Quite a deal it was the "Womanless Weddin'! "

This week was sure interesting:

2009-05-09T21:19:00.006-05:00

An essential part of dressing right now~

Thursday, Brian got his certificate for being on the football team this year, 7th and 8th grade boys had a winning year and it was tons of fun to be involved with them.

This spring has been cool and rain, rain, rain.. So this a seeming normal week as far as weather goes. We were to have softball, but that was cancelled twice due to weather.

Then Friday morning was the most interesting. We left the house at the normal time 6:55 for our drive to J and D's house to catch the bus. But it was raining hard and it was really blowing. Brian and I chatted about the different ways the wind was blowing when we were driving out the drive way. IT was very wierd. We dropped the Netflix DVD's in the mail box and headed on. The bus was about 10 minutes late and the rain had hardly let up the whole time we set in the driveway. Finally when Josh, told us they weren't going to get on the bus, we decided to get out of the truck and drive home. But when we discovered a tree down across the road leaving their house, we decided to stay and go inside. We could hardly get out of the truck and close the doors to make it inside the house. We all went to the basement with J and D, and kids, it was quite a storm blowing and rain beating down. We were surprised once when we came up to see Green at the back sliding door. The huge branch had fallen right in front of their sliding door and just missed the house. We didn't hear a thing. The school bus was sitting out in the street with kids on the bus and they had just missed the tree behind them and were pulling ahead to try and get out of the way. But their we more trees down that direction as well. it finally turned around and came back to let some kids off at J and D's so they could go and take the rest of the kids home. School had been called off by this time. The High school was damaged and all the electric was off. We were with out power at J and D's house and our house 6 miles away was with out power until 9pm that night.

this is one of our little trees we planted 3 years ago. It was just getting going and was such a nice size.

This is the umbrella, table and chairs from our back deck. All the glass was broke and the table was bent all up.

We cleaned glass, (blown out of the porch) and debris all morning.

Don worked on the sump pumps all afternoon to get them to work with the battery back up that was dried up and dead, then working on the actual pump to get it to stop leaking and pump better, and finally messing with an inverter hooked to the car in the garage so that the pump would still pump the water when he was working. SHEW~ It so wonderful to have a husband that can fix ANYTHING~

Finally I cleaned the Ref. and Freezer and hauled it all to the church to cook what I could for the kids there. They loaded in the church van and headed out to clean debris around the neighborhood and then back to eat and have a lock in at the church. Both kids came home this morning very tired~

I hope that next week is quietier and calmer.

This is the roof on the porch. one class window was broke out and 6 screens were blown out. The glass and screen was all over the yard.

THANKS to God that it wasn't any worse and that no one was hurt and the house is still standing.

Also,,, Happy Mother's Dy to all the mom's and to my MOM!~ Many hugs and THANKS~

TEXTING~

2009-05-01T20:48:00.003-05:00

Yes, we have taken the dive and are texting now.
We added it so now we might not use as many minutes on our plan. Dad's in control.. He's letting us try it out to see how it goes... We would love to hear from you if you are texter too... send them on.. Casey that means you can text too!!!

Rain, Rain and more rain!

2009-04-29T18:45:00.002-05:00

Rain is good when you need it. It's great to listen to when it gently comes down and you need it. It's super to clean the plants, houses, cars, streets, when you need it. If you haven't noticed we DON'T need the rain right now. We planted our garden last weekend so that we could get it in the ground. But now that it's raining for days, I'm thinking that was a big mistake. We will have to plant it all again. That is dissapointing since I started the plants in the house and we spent much time getting seed and all the work it took to plant. Not to mention the help from KG to till it up with his tractor and tiller. It's almost May and I was hoping to have things growing all over. I do have some in the raised beds that are looking good. But I was hoping for so much more. OH well~ IT seems that we will have to take care of it when the time comes and just replant.

Two girls, 4 games, flowers, garden and a PERMIT to DRIVE!!

2009-04-26T07:52:00.013-05:00

M getting ready to bat, and Andrea watching.What fun a weekend can be! For us this weekend was about softball games with two girls and 4 games from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. The first two games where in Cherokee and both girls teams won. Andrea's team was in overtime and She had two good hits that made runs. M. got hit and made a run, got a walk and made it home. So both girls had a super time with winning both games. I also had a wonderful "bat boy" who I forgot to get a photo of. But S. was awesome the whole night!
Practice before the Friday game.

Saturday games were in Columbus and were as fun. M's team did a great job. The Columbus team has some good pitchers and our girls aren't too sure about fast pitches, so it was harder for both girls to hit and get on base. M got on base from being hit again!... and Andrea made a strike out and a walk. M's team won, but Andrea's team lost.
Two teams, two girls both did a super job~
Also this weekend we planted some garden, 34 tomato plants and 34 peppers of 3 varieties, Also a row of sweet corn.

No the plastic won't grow but maybe it will keep the plant from being wind blown.
Lovely ruffled yellow Iris.

Soft violet ruffled Iris

The old fashion purple iris

two yellow finches were in the back yard this am. I was only able to get one pictured.
Many of my flowers are blooming and it's so great to finally see the colors.

ALSO this week, Brian took the test for his learner's permit to drive on Thursday afternoon, then again on Friday. AND I let him drive CASEY'S truck to school, with me and Ann of course...

YES, it's true he's passed, It took two tries, but he did it. 25 questions and only 5 allowed to be missed, first time he missed 8 and the second time he missed only 2. Great job BRIAN~

Look out on the streets for his face~

A 24th Birthday, 1 Softball game, 30 hours of Church and a Solo sung~

2009-04-18T19:01:00.010-05:00

What a busy weekend. Derek left on Thursday for his Guard Duty in Indiana. And today is his 24th B-Day... This was Derek this time last year in Iraq. At least he's in the states this year and we will see him on Tuesday. He also got to celebrate with his cousin Matthew who was 8 today...

Also, this weekend we attended Softball on Friday and dropped Brian at the Church for the 30 hour famine and community work. Andrea played softball on Friday night and then we dropped her at the church so that she could spend the night. The ball game was good, she hit the ball her first time up. Got out on first but she's hitting at least.

Then this morning Don picked her up at church and brought her home for a shower and to dress for the Mid-America Music Festival where she was singing a solo. Then we headed for the ball field and opening ceremonies, back to church to drop her off to finish off the day of community service and famine. And finally, her and Brian are home tonight at 7 pm. Long day.

Andrea at the Opening Ceremonies.

The whole girls softball league at Opening Ceremonies.

This is the video of part of the song she sung, "Reflection" from the movie "Mulan". This was the first time that we had seen her sing a solo and she was a little nervous, but we thought it was wonderful!! UPDATE: She got a grading of a "1" which is the top ranking.

One last photo, Andrea meeting back up with the church youth group. Brian was actually in the van too, but I didn't get his photo.. (Next time)

CASEY UPDATE

2009-04-13T06:52:00.003-05:00

Casey posted on Facebook that he's back in Iraq. He spent 3 days in Kuwait waiting for a ride back to his base. Call or write when you can... Let us know what you need sent over next~
Love you, MOM.

Two weeks is not alot of time!

2009-04-09T04:49:00.011-05:00

When the time is upcoming you think of it as 2 weeks, but all of a sudden it's one week and then a few days. WELL, today is day 14 and Casey is flying back to IRAQ today. It's amazing how fast the time has gone. We tried to do all that we could. I know that he's tried to soak up some rest and visiting with family and friends as much as he could. Flying half way around the world is NO easy task and doesn't happen in a short amount of time. So I would appreciate prayers today as he travels back to his unit to complete his work there. As he's been saying for the past few days, "let me check the calender, Yeap, booked, 7 months out... See you in 2010"

Casey we are counting on you seeing us in 2010, if not earlier~ No guarantees from the Army, ever, but we are counting on you being home soon!

Watching as the new rock is spread out!

Visiting with family and friends!

Time with Cousins!

Brothers cleaning the paintball guns!

Time for working on the barn!

Really what is it that we all have, family, friends, and time together!

The loss of a family pet

2009-04-05T17:19:00.005-05:00

I've talked many times about the changes in our family, growing kids and changes in general. This loss of our family pet wasn't something that we had thought would happen. This was a mixed loss. He was a biting dog. We were able to reason, in the past, to believe that he wasn't a mean dog. (and we don't believe that he was a mean dog just a dog looking for control) It's NEVER easy to see a child get bite by a dog. We have 4 children and we all love the children that were bitten. WE knew that it was serious each time and never meant for the next to happen or ever thought that he would bite again. This is a dog that we have had in our family, around our children for the life of the dog. We were NOT sure of what to do, but we tied the dog and we thought that with other behavioral changes we were making a difference. It didn't work out that way. So this weekend we had to make a choice. NOT ever the choice that we wanted, but this dog could not be saved. I'm most sorry that my son had to be home for his R and R when this happened, for it was the dog that he picked out for us to have. I'm most proud of the man that he is and the action that he was able to take. There are many feelings, guilt, anger, frustration and sadness. We know that we as the owners are responsible for the dog and the safety of the people that come in contact with the dog and we are sad that the two could not, for whatever reason be together. We are sad that those bitten were hurt and thankful that it could have been worse and it wasn't. We are sad that in some ways we failed our dog, not being attentive enough, not properly training him or not supporting him in a way that he needed us to. We loved and shared our lives with this dog for almost 3 years, and we are thankful for that time. We are sorry that we had to end this time together and we wish that things could have been different. We loved our dog.

The poster winner is.....

2009-04-02T20:27:00.005-05:00

6th to 8th grade District winner~~

Way to go ANDREA!!!

SUPER MESSAGE~~~

Nice job with the drawing and coloring on the poster...

This is the link to the official school site with the full details, but we had to post some of the photos here..

http://www.usd247.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2001/03/31/49d2626a5b436

A bit of a time warp!

2009-03-28T19:49:00.007-05:00

This weather is typical of March in Minnesota,, where we USED to live!

But we have thawed out now in the last 4 years and have started to feel quite Kansaan... until today..

The flowers are a bit cool.

And this is the garden, that I planted two weeks ago... I covered what I could and I'm taking really good care of the other seedlings in the house that I didn't put outside. Spring will come back!

RIGHT???

WON'T it???

HOME~

2009-03-24T20:47:00.003-05:00

These boots have finally landed. After a long trip half way around the world, the owner and his boots are home. SPC Casey Edwin Harvey Thompson landed today in Dallas Texas, later to arrive in Springfield MO. He arrived home to Kansas at about 4:30 PM. How great it is to have all 4 kids under one roof, Eating dinner around one table and laughing at each other!

All 4 kids and the dog.. HOME~

FRIDAY ALREADY!

2009-03-20T08:36:00.008-05:00

WOW, it's been a quiet week here. I'm used to the noise of at least 4 kids, then take out the 2 army boys, so the noise of two bickering sibs was left the past 3 years. But this week, even they were gone.. Off to the mission trip, they have called 3 times, of course having a super time. No problem, I was having a super time too with gardening and the house projects. But how did the week go so fast? Well, two more days till they are home so I better get moving.
Homework to do, lesson plans to write for my teaching class, teacher interview to write up and checking up on the online class to see if I can work ahead. For next week will be busy as well. Our oldest will leave for guard duty the end of next week and the other Army son will arrive for his 2 weeks home.

More garden work done!

2009-03-19T08:23:00.005-05:00

My tire garden has expanded to 16 tires (not all are in this picture) and I've got most of them planted now. 5 tires have potatoes now, one is waiting for the sweet potatoes that I ordered, which should have been here. I added 4 more strawberry plants to the center of the two layer planter. They also have a window teepee to keep them warm.

I have a bunch of little window teepees on the small plants that I planted and one that has seeds in it. Garlic and onions are out there too. I love being outside and this week has really been perfect for that. I probably planted too much for this time of year, but I have plenty of small plants still in the house and more seeds if the other freeze and don't grow. I'm so excited to have a larger garden this year. It opens up the world to have a place to plant your hopes and dreams~ Makes the world seem so much more positive.
Now what to make from the old Barbque grill stand? I garden wash sink? Might just work, I have the sink, shutter and some old tiles for the task... I will report later on it as it developes~

Spring Break Mission trip~

2009-03-19T08:18:00.003-05:00

Brian and Andrea are off with the church youth group to St. Louis, MO. The group took off on Tuesday and will be home on Sunday. I'm sure they are having a great time and working really hard~!

Spring Back Ache!

2009-03-17T07:17:00.007-05:00

Oh to have the first spring back ache!! For me that means that I sent most of the first day of spring break outside cleaning the flower beds and garden areas. Hauling the left overs from winter out to the junk and clearing a new area for more beds. I hoed, raked and moved the dirt to prepare for planting and then planted the first part of what I have. I just love getting a jump on things. Of course I know that the weather man has the final say in my gardening, but I hope to have some fresh produce coming from the ground soon. I planted snap peas, lettuce and spinach all in one raised bed. Then added 2 new raspberry plants to the others from last year that are coming out. And planted 20 potatoes in the 4 big tractor tire rasied beds. I managed to complain enough until Derek get out of the basement and off the laptop to build me a new rasied bed that is long enough to hold the old glass patio doors from last year. They were pivotal in protecting my long bed of tomatoes and peppers last year and this year they have their own bed where I will plant the seedlings from the house. The longest bed where the doors were last year is now the berry patch with raspberry and blackberries coming up there. I have tomatoes and peppers about 6 inches tall that can go out. I won't plant all of them since there isn't enough space in that new bed and the question of the weather is still a concern. So, some will go out early and the rest will get the window seat in the house for a while longer. I have snap peas and Okra about 4 inches tall that can out in a different raised bed area with the protection of some old windows that we collected on trash day last year. They make wonderful small green houses to keep the evening chill off the new young plants. I will remove them on the warmer days and replace them for the cool nights for the next few weeks. Actually now, my back is aching to get back out there and see the rest of the plans implemented. Derek and I will deliver the kids to the church at 9:30 for their mission trip to St. Louis, then we are off to the tire place to get more tires, back home to drop them off and then to the garden center for a couple loads of dirt to fill the new bed and the tires to the expansion to the garden today. I still have to get the Canna bulbs out from the basement and make some holes for them. O>K>> off I go~ Let day two begin~

And to add: Casey has called this am. and there is yet again a new date for his R and R this month... He's got a phone service now and so he's called a few times to visit. I will believe that he's coming when I see the whites of his eyes.. or at least his phone number comes up as the actual number and not a blocked unidentified one from across the world~

Deployment update

2009-03-10T19:32:00.005-05:00

Our second oldest son, CASEY, is in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne. They left the first of Dec., yes, one week after his brother arrived back he was sent off... (I'm never going to forget that feeling) ANYWAY~ Each day is the same for me.. Out of bed, visit the bathroom, check email, go to CNN.com, check Instant messanger to see if he's online, then off to the shower.. Some people tell me, "to avoid the news" just don't listen. But for me, that won't work, I'm a real thinker. Not really a worrier. If there is worry, I tell others. I know that the job our son's have chose is what they were called to do. That doesn't WORRY me, I just like updates~
Yes, I know that they are busy, that I'm extremely lucky to be able to even be able to have internet. I'm not sure how parents waited for months for a letter in the mail. Often times it was not the news they had hoped for. I can get information with in a couple hours of the issue.
Today it was the wonder of yet more news of another attack in Baghdad. Many were killed and even more injured. Just the thought of that is enough to make anyone worry.. But to know that your son and many others are there, close or not is just a crazy feeling. Worry isn't even fitting for the feeling that I get. The pit of my stomach drops and my heart skips about 3 beats at a time. This was the same feelings that I had the first year with the first son's deployment. Nothing, about it will make me better until I know that for this day, my son is o.k.
It all stops for a bit, when someone in the family says, "I chatted with Casey today, he's good" or I get an Instant message on my computer that says, "Hey it's me, we are all fine"...
My heart is back to the regular pattern and I will wait again for tomorrow to hear, that he's o.k. again~

GOD BLESS ALL THE SOLDIERS THAT PROTECT US!
THANK YOU~

Spring? Well not outside, but at least in my window~

2009-03-04T19:51:00.003-06:00

I love to garden! Last year I had a very successful garden. This year I plan to expand, so I have a jump on things with many seedlings growing in my window. I can't wait to have some warmer weather and get outside and dig in the dirt~

I have the houseplants lined up and even planted some onions in the extra spots in the bigger plants.. (really,, onions don't take much area) The blue tub is lettuce and there is also a bloom on my Hydrangea has decided to be a show off! (small little white bloom on the right near the window) There are even 2 blueberry plants and 2 raspberry plants there in a bucket waiting to get outside~ Oh yes, the Christmas Poinsetta is still all nice and red. I planted one outside a few years ago and it grew to waist high.. I hope I can do that again too~

This is the shelf that is filled with many seedlings, and that is my palm that is a reminder of how we loved Flordia and the beach. It goes out onto the screen porch in the summer.

These are the little pepper plants they will be all colors.

These are my tomato plants, super beefstake and better boy.. I've got Roma's too..

Onions.. Onions and more onions.. They are doing wonderful~

PAY IT FORWARD

2009-03-02T17:04:00.001-06:00

Pay it Forward, what a great way to meet new friends and to pass on something nice. I am curious what will happen and excited to make a few things to give away. So, if anyone out there is up for the challenge...

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.

2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will pay it forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember it’s the spirit and the thought that count!

4. When you receive your gift, blog about it!

If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

It's all about paying it forward. Come on lets do it~

What to do on a snow day?

2009-02-28T21:22:00.008-06:00

THIS IS WHAT WE HAD OUTSIDE TODAY!

So what to do inside?

This is what Derek was doing.

This is what Brian was doing!

Don worked on adding some little drawers to my kitchen cabinets under the sink in the kitchen. (he's working in the kitchen in this picture)

And today, I cleaned the new floor and the old...

Andrea was the busiest one of all, she played outside and inside with the neighbors, cleaned her room and the neighbor girls room.. Helped me in the kitchen... I missed taking a picture of all of them~

I did move the buffet and put up some pictures on an old window and then arrange the boys pictures there. Watch my Junk Market DVD and dreamed of what Garage Sales I will go to this summer and what great junk I need to look for~

Valentine's Floor~

2009-02-14T20:29:00.004-06:00

The sweetest gift to me is to have another part of our house finished!!! Today, Derek and I took off for groceries in Joplin, a stop at Goodwill and one at Lowe's. It was a super time. While we were gone Don and his friend Mike had sanded and prepared the floor for Varnish. They put the first coat of varnish on and TA DA~~ it's LOVELY! Maple with Cherry border.. It's dried a bit splotchy.. but after a good sanding and 3 more coats of varnish.. it will be WONDERFUL.. THANKS to my wonderful hubby~

Deployment news from Casey

2009-02-09T05:54:00.002-06:00

There are few things that we like to be called out of sleep for. But a phone call from our deployed son is always welcome.. Even at 4:30 am.. It's so good to hear his voice and to get a laugh once or twice on the call. He's at a different FOB and so they have time to just sit and call, something he doesn't generally have time to do at his home base. He's looking forward to R and R in March. The dates aren't set and they will probably change once he does get word of the dates. So we will see him when he gets here. We can't wait to see him, he's not been home since Oct 08 so it will be great to have him here. This time we will have both boys home together for a time. That hasn't happened since July 08.
Casey, thanks for the call,, you just made my week so much brighter..
Be safe and know that we LOVE YOU!

Brian Thompson as George Washington

2009-02-07T21:59:00.013-06:00

Brian's 8th grade history class did a wonderful project to learn about some of our historical people. They researched, wrote about, made costumes for, created posterboards and even learned a one minute speech about their chosen person. All of this was displayed at their "Afternoon at the Max Museum" on Feb 3, 2009. It was tons of fun to see all the different historical people. GREAT JOB!~

SNOW DAY!

2009-01-27T03:47:00.011-06:00

This snow picture of our table is from 1-25-00 in Mn. on a day when we had alot of snow and had a snow day from school. The snow here is NOTHING like that but we did get two days off from school. The kids sure had a nice time outside playing in it.

It's 4 a.m. and I'm on the laptop visiting half way around the world with Casey.. It's 15 here, I have a sore throat and we have the day off today for snow,, sleet and ice really.. In Baghdad it's 60 or so degrees and 2 in the afternoon. He's waiting for a security mission that he normally goes on to call.. Playing on the internet to make plans for R and R time. His time for coming home was to be in July but now it seems that things are changing. So we chat about other possible times. It's not like the Army is going to give you what you want anyway. So the change in plans is just that... A change..We hope that he can ask for March, when we have spring break here, no work for me and the college is closed too so Derek and I won't have classes and Casey's Uncle and Aunt will be home as well, since they both work for the college. We are lucky that with this son's deployment he has internet so that we can chat more. We get calls, all be it early in the morning, about every 2 weeks. To hear his voice is so great, then to webcam more often and see him is wonderful, too. We hear his voice on Webcam too but it's a different computer scratchy sound, the phone is better. It's generally like he's just across town. Isn't it amazing that we even get to do these things.

And then in a second he's off.. the call comes and his group is off to do their job.. the Instant message is over.. the conservation is done, he types, "I have to go" in one screen, and then "I love you, bye" in the next window.. someone on the other side of the world has called him to work. It's what he signed up for, helping others, protecting our country, serving his time in the Army to do what he believes is helping us and others. He's gone for now. I type back fast and hit enter, "I love you too, bye". One second we were chatting about a different date for R and R. looking at beach houses on the web, dreaming of the time we can see him. Where we will go and then done~ Plans change, things move along.

Just like life here, but different, we plan to have work and school and then the weather changes our plans.. A snow day today. We thought it would be on Monday, but the weather system that the weather men had planned for, didn't come until later on Monday. So we have the day off (Tuesday) since the roads are slick and it's dangerous to be out. Changing plans that most of us enjoy since we work at a school. Others, like Don will stay home and do some things for work from the home computer and then go in later when the sun is up and the streets cleared. Others have closed their business to keep workers home and safe. But the Army marches on. No sleet and freezing rain in Iraq, today. There are the occasional sand storms and those do shut things down right away. But generally things go along each day. Change is often, comes with out warning, and must be taken and dealt with right away.

The permanent change has come to the soldiers of the 82nd, they have lost two members of their group since they have been in Iraq. It's the last thing a mother of a soldier wants to hear. NO call and NO strange vehicles coming to my house I think, but then who really knows. I talk to Casey about it a bit, (on IM last week) he knows the second soldier that was killed. He heard the IED explode and on the radio the chatter of the seriousness. I ask no more...

I can only imagine how he feels knowing what has happened, what this change means. I look up the names, ages and ranks of the soliders on the net. To make it real in my mind, I suppose, and to put some personal sense to the whole situation. Yes, they are real. So many times I hear the names and see the numbers of those that have given the ultimate, but did NOT KNOW them. Most, I have never known, this one time, Casey did know. No snow day, or no change of vacation plans will really make a difference. But this loss, this ultimate change will really make a difference, to us and many others who loved these two soldiers.

Birthday's, Christmas and Braces, then New Year's 2009

2008-12-30T21:19:00.011-06:00

Casey's truck with snow on it. f
Could we possibly fit anything else into this month? Well one more day to find out!
For us the month began with deployment of our second son, Dec 3.
Then Dec 11th, Andrea turned 12, she got some new jewelry.
Dec 12th, Brian was 14, We went out to eat and Brian got a gift, that was later returned for money towards his ZUNE. No camera this night. (something we often forget this time of year)
Dec 17th Donald was 46, He's too old for cameras and celebrations. LOL
Dec 20th Don and I dressed for his 80's theme work party, He was Micheal Jackson and I was just me, in a flashy top and ratted-up hair..
Dec 21st Casey was 20
Our first Christmas gift exchange with the Gordon/Thompson families was also this day.

Then Christmas on the 25th

Brian unwraping his PSP game, Andrea and I reading over the Digital/video camera directions,

Andrea and Derek putting together a lego set. WE always get a new lego set or two at Christmas, it's a tradition at our house!

Andrea and Grandpa playing checkers,, Derek showing Grma and Grpa the pictures from Iraq.

We had my parents on the 27th-29th visit, with gifts and we all played cards to the wee hours!

And now today we have two kids with Braces on their teeth.

Tomorrow the kids will have a lock-in at the Church, so Don and I will be alone!! WOW~~
What will the new year bring~?

2008-12-25T22:41:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas,,, We are all done with gifts and dinner, some family things done, some come tomorrow.. But the most thrilling thing for us today was seeing CASEY on WEBCAM! yes, we actually got the hook up to work for a while so that he could see us and we could see him, and others there in Iraq. We haven't seen him since Oct. so it was very good to get this connection today. He's good, growing a mustache, he is!! So that was funny!!!
He's been busy and is working hard. I will update again when I can!

CASEY UPDATE

2008-12-17T21:38:00.003-06:00

Yes, we got a phone call, even though I can't give alot of details and probably know things that I shouldn't I feel better knowing what and where he is.. They are all good the whole unit is fine. They will move their base tomorrow in Iraq. They had a wonderful meal of Lobster, crabs and shrimp in Kuwait and getting orders and packing things. He won't be able to call for while, so that means I won't talk to him on his 20th Birthday on Sunday. But I have hopes that he will call on Christmas. We have already sent two boxes so I hope that one of them might actually be there when he gets there.

HOME AT LAST!

2008-12-14T21:07:00.006-06:00

We got Derek home this week from Iraq and a week in Indiana. I had my wonderful brother make this sign and I wanted a picture of Derek in front of it. Then the dog came along...

and well,, Indy had other plans then posing for the picture... Or maybe he had it planned all along~

he's a closer shot of Spc. Derek A. W. Thompson HOME at last!~

Casey's first week out of country

2008-12-07T15:21:00.015-06:00

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/video?id=6535583
Link of the unit leaving.. CASEY IS IN THE VIDEO.

FOB Loyalty
PFC Casey Thompson
HHC 3 BSTB APO
AE 09313-9998

Casey left on Dec 3. and he called on Sat the 6th for the first time to chat.

Journal removed!!

That is it for now.. I hope he is able to keep up with writing about his adventures!

Deployment day!

2008-12-03T17:33:00.005-06:00

This one was actually taken yesterday. I got it today from a mom of one of Casey's friends. What a great surprise to get an email of pictures from my son's deployment. It was just wonderful for her to take the time to send them to me and such a nice note about Casey. WE are praying for all the soldiers in this unit. THANKS~

PFC Casey E. H. Thompson

Indianapolis Speedway, When Casey and I went to the Nascar race..

Just a few years ago, 1999 in his new room in Mn. when we added on to the house..

Oct 2008 last time we have seen him at the KCI airport.

Again we begin, today is the deployment of our second son CASEY! I can't believe it's here. Where did the time go? just the other day he was the worker man fixin' my sewing machine, under the table as I was sewing.. I would pretend that it didn't work and he would come running with tools in hand and belt around his waist with more dangling from it. "I can fix it mom!" He would declare and it was easy to see he wanted to...

Now my little worker man is off working with the WARHORSE unit from the 82nd Airborne. What a big leap he's made.. It was be his 20th Birthday his month and a Christmas will pass with him away. Many other things will be missed.. But my heart and my thoughts will be with yet again another son half way around the world for the next year.. So hang on here we go again!

Our Front Page Story!

2008-11-30T14:10:00.003-06:00

http://www.morningsun.net/homepage/x1720673609/One-son-back-from-Iraq-another-leaving

Yes, I was a bragging mom,, I emailed with the paper and shared our story of 2 boys in the Army, one coming home this week and one leaving next week...

We are so blessed to have all the wonderful people that support us with our life, now Everyone will know about us! THANKS so much for letting me share!

Turkey time!

2008-11-30T07:57:00.005-06:00

Our Thanksgiving was a bit different this year. Even though we are thrilled to know Derek is sleeping in the US, he's not here. Casey is still in the US, but not here either, It's hard for a mom to not Gather in the flock at home! We had a great week at home mostly. Brian and Andrea had their school musical on Tuesday and that was super. What a great job that music teacher did with the kids. Wed. was off work for me and school for the kids. So we just hung out with soem computer time and laundry. We chose to have Thursday lunch at Ryan's Buffet in Joplin and to the movie "BOLT." I hit the street at 3:30 on Friday to shop alone, it was fun for me since I really don't mall shop or even Big Retail shop at all, I'm a "GarageSaler." The fun comes when you watch others being crazy and I was just out there, managed to get a couple deals and hopefully make some happy at Christmas. Then home on Friday to bake pies with Ann and to preparefor the Kansas Thompson/Gordon family members come over on Sat. That was fun to get them all over and to EAT~
We are very THANKFUL for family and friends, work and church friends that keep us sane in this time of change. We are GRATEFUL to all that show love and support while we never know who or what is happening. Having family members in the Military presents the challenge of arranging things over and over and yet again. I really do like a plan, for it's most easy to cook when you know people will be able to come. So it's been a challenging time for me to say, "YES, we can do that," all long wishing that the Boys were home.

I'm so Thankful that we have family and friends that are here, willing to come and willing to invite us over when the time is good and the mood strikes. THANKS!~

Landing in Indiana!!

2008-11-26T05:14:00.005-06:00

The plane arrived at 6:35 am in Indianapolis, Indiana, some 300 soldiers were arriving back in the US. For us it's our son, Specialist Derek Adrian Williams Thompson, who is most important. But we live in Kansas and there is only an hour allowed to visit before the soldiers are wisk away for 5 days of debriefings. So Derek didn't have the huge hug that we wanted to give him, or the sign we would have had to get his attention, but Where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way~~
ONE SHOULD NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE A MOTHER!
After talking to him 3 or so times yesterday and sleeping better lastnight knowing that both our sons are on US soil... I found today this info on the IndyStar.com site...
The solider on the end of the front row on the right is DEREK!
Yes, I searched it out and after asking him about the arrival he said, "I just jumped up there and got in line.." (he always tends to like to be in the front of the line anyway) LOL. So off to the internet I went this morning at 4 am... (up to load the wood stove anyway) And sure enough with all the other great photos and the stories of the families that I have followed on this site the past year.. The photo that "I" wanted to see...
What is it about just SEEING your child, (and even more after your child has been in Iraq) you just want to lay your eyes on them!!
His voice sounded great, even if I felt he was dissapointed not to see any of his famly there when they marched in.. I know that he's safe, happy, and ready to come home to Kansas. And now at least I can see him and all the wonderful WELCOME HOME, celebrations that happened.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS TOO~

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20081126/LOCAL18/811260387/1007/star

more news!!

2008-11-24T17:23:00.002-06:00

http://www.indystar.com/article/20081124/LOCAL/81124046

Time is near.. Either today or tomorrow... Derek will be on US soil!!

Waiting!

2008-11-21T21:18:00.013-06:00

Casey at a training this summer and Derek in Iraq.

Our house is in the waiting stage. Waiting to hear from Derek from Iraq, with the excitement that he will be coming home. And holding our breath, waiting to hear when Casey will leave for Iraq. I like to think I'm able to handle the wait. But this past week it seems to have caught up with me at times. I hang on the phone when they call and hang up. We say, "I love you, see you soon, thanks for calling and then bye!" But I wait, after they have hung up. I just sit there with the cell phone on my ear, waiting. For what, I'm not sure?

Having adult children is a whole new experience, but having adult children in other countries with danger around each corner, people who wish to do harm to them and many others, is not what I was waiting for when they were preschoolers. Waiting for them to crawl, walk and then to go to school, waiting for the elementary years to end so they would be all grown up and more independent. And then waiting for that graduation day. And finally the moving out and now~

I'm so proud of them, that just typing it makes me cry, but the waiting is the hardest of all.

So to all those waiting and wishing for their children to move from one stage to the next.

DON'T!

Cherish each one, write them down, take pictures of them, watch with appreciation and gratefulness. This is going to be the most unsual Thanksgiving for us, so I just have to share some pictures of what I'm Thankful for and waiting for.

I'm also so very Thankful for our younger two children, Brian 13 and Andrea 11 who we shared School Thanksgiving lunch with today. It's a tradition here in KS. that we are learning to take part in. I still forgot the camera though!!! LOL

http://www.inarng.org/

While we wait we are watching videos and check out the photos, waiting for official word that Derek has landed. We won't go to meet him in Indiana, but we can sure feel the love from all these photos and videos that families are extending to their soldiers...

Sunday evening Nov. 23

UPDATE!! The Foxtrot unit family connection person called and Derek's plane lands on Wed. the 26th at 6:35 am in Indianapolis...

We will surely get a call from him when he gets on US soil before that.. We did have a call yesterday and he's out of Iraq. so that is welcome news....

Casey UPDATE! His unit leaves on Dec 2, he will be spending Thanksgiving with family of one of his buddies there near Ft. Bragg!~

November update

2008-11-09T07:37:00.004-06:00

Don's work selects a best costume each year for a day off work. He went as Homer Simpson this year.. Shaved his head and eyebrows and had a Zig-Zag in the back of his head and we even glued some strands of hair from Andrea to the top for some wisps on top... BUT, still he didn't win! It was fun~
I wore Grandpa Harvey's overalls and shirt to work and was a farmer for the day. IT made my day when one little guy walked in and I ask, "I have my costume on, do you know what I am?"

This was also the first year that Brian and Andrea didn't dress up or go trick or treating. So it was pretty quiet here. No one came to our house to tricks or treats and no one went out!

We did grow a nice selection of pumpkins and gourds this year and we have had them all around the house. Andrea did carve one with come difficulty as it was 2 inches thick. We have cut up and cooked two with hopes of making Pumpkin pie and Bread in a week or two.

NEWS FROM THE ARMY FRONT~
Derek called yesterday to let us know that he's sending the first of two boxes home and we should see it this week. They are now staying in temp. housing, which is the first part of their moving out of Iraq. He has gotten his promotion to SPECIALIST, SPC, and his pay should reflect it soon. They are hopful that they will arrive in Indiana before THANKSGIVING, but his travels may still be limited, since they will have only a few hours with family and then be taken off for 3-4 days of demolization. So lots of things are up in the air.

Casey called two days ago, he and a buddy were on their way to Florida for a 4 day pass. They have been told that their deployment will be put off till Dec. 5. but no telling if that is so or not.
They may or may not get passes for THANKSGIVING week, (I'm betting that they do,) but it will depend on pricing and the number of days, and if the Army tells him he can travel, if he will come home for that time.

Oh, the life of having family in the ARMY! It's ever changing and never the same twice. This next two months presents a real challenge for us with one son coming home and one son leaving. I thought it was over and now it starts over again~!

Fall, means flying time...cool temps and busy days!

2008-10-09T17:16:00.016-05:00

We are so thrilled with the fall results from our garden...

What a pretty porch arrangement they all made..

Where does the time go? It's been a while since I posted and it's time for an update here.We have continued with our home improvements and with the general property improvements. As most know.. we have a long list of them!
So before winter we hope to finish the wood floor, lay the tile and finish the barn... YEAH

Wed, October 1, 2008 Casey made it home for the final part of his 2 weeks of leave before he's packed and ships off for overseas. Where we don't know yet.. But somewhere in the Middle East. We were all thrilled to see him and had taken off work and even Brian and Andrea were allowed to skip school for Thurs. and Friday to spend time with their brother. We had the perfect weather, cool mornings for sleeping in and warm afternoons for working outside. Casey got to help finish up the trusses that Don had started building, help with cutting the tin back to get the roof attached, help with setting the trusses in place and he also helped with splitting a huge pile of wood in front of the shed. We did manage to do some fun things, like eat and sleep and tease each other, had a bonfire, had lots of friends and family come for dinner, breakfast and hot dogs... We do manage to pack alot into a few short days

We sure do like having a good bonfire... It seems that we can always manage to have enough old wood to burn. It was the perfect night for it since it was coolish but still warm...

We got the trusses up with the help of a wonderful group of family and friends. Mike, John P and John T., Coulter, Dalton, and Cody. I had wonderful kitchen help,,, Patty, and Letha. The forklift was a GODSEND!! We are so lucky to have family and friends that will just come and work...
My Canna's are doing really well!! Thanks Cindy!!

A fork lift is an amazing piece of equipment!!

Don designed and built the trusses and set the poles for this 34X24addition to the shed. We are thrilled to have more space to clear out the wood working equipment from the garage and get it moved to this new area. Now if we can get it all done and ready! Roof and sides and concrete all to come...

We hope that October is a wonderful fall month for you and yours!

Prayers to all soldiers and their families,, May you all be blessed and safe!

First week of school done!

2008-08-22T20:27:00.011-05:00

Not sure of the year, but isn't this fun to compare to this years picture???...
They are a bit older now, stand a bit farther apart and seem to think a little less of one another!

The first week of school is over. Not too bad for the first week. Andrea had some homework and Brian had a bit too, but hopefully it was pretty painless. This was also the first week we had kids in the classroom where I work. It's always fun to watch them come in and see that we have cleaned the room and that things are moved around. What great faces they make, even saying, "this isn't my room!" But it's still the same, same stuff, same people and same things to do. Learn about things they are missing and learn about what they don't have a clue they should know, learn to play and learn to have fun with others. Really isn't that what life is about. Getting along with others. Have friends, having fun and doing things we enjoy! If we can't do these things then what do we have? Family, jobs and projects of home improvements, college work and home work getting together for food, fun and laughs. WHY else are we here?

Also this week, I hit a dog! When I went back to see if anyone was home, I found two small children standing over a dying pet. How did this happen? It was raining, cars were behind me and one meeting me. I was close to home and so I pass by their house all the time. Why was this dog in the road when I was coming by? What did God want me to notice that I'm not seeing? I'm a careful driver and I was watching carefully the road as the rain came down and I looked just for a second to click on the wipers. Then there he was, too late. Things sure do change fast. Is it just this time or are they always happening this way? Why is it now that I see the changes? Is it age, is it the time of year, what is it that happens to make me notice?

I do know for sure that if we don't see the changes and appreicate them we will miss out on life. Changes are good, they make us think. I like to think that I'm flexible and that I can adapt to change, but sometimes it's the amount of changes happening at home time that make you say.. STOP! I will watch and I will appreciate the things that we have and what is changing, I will watch more carefully and I will change more with ease. This is something that I wait for to happen, but like the saying goes,,,"God give me patience and give them right now"

Change is good when I don't have to change too much!

THE FIRST DAY!

2008-08-14T18:16:00.003-05:00

Every year for the past 23 that I have been a mom we have taken first day of school pictures. Generally, they are in front of a non-changing piece of furniture in the house. For years we used the piano, it's big and it came from a distant family member and we would never get rid of it, then we had a stair railing in one house, and so that was used, now we have a fireplace in this house, and so that is the back drop for the "first day of school" portait.

This year is a memorable one with two kids only headed back to school, and both in Middle school. (unlike the one year the 4 kids were in 4 different schools) The older two boys are in the Army and one in Iraq and one on the way there somewhere in a couple months. So that would make two in Middle East! Wow!! So it was a success this day the first day of the year with Brian in 8th and Andrea in 6th grade. They both are off on the right foot and things are looking good! We are all looking forward to school 2008-2009!

Last day of summer!

2008-08-13T07:32:00.007-05:00

How is it at the end of the school year the whole summer seems so long, Drawn out and without end to the time off and the possibilities? I pondered this yesterday with my brother-in-law and then all night in my sleep lastnight. What did I do with the summer? I had a list of hopefuls, things to do with the kids, hubby and family, projects around the house, reading a book that I wanted to check out, traveling some, just having time to smell the flowers and take in the world. But did I do it all.
Well here is the mental list that I remember from the summer.
Yard work, flowers redone, raised beds made and planted, mowing, trimming, chopping wood, stacking wood, Barb-Que for family and friends when the Army boys were home, cooking fun things with my kids, traveing to Indiana to meet the boys and visit with family there, seeing my dying Step Grandmother just days before she passed, playing with the dog, reading 1/3 of the book that I bought, signing up for 3 college classes, getting my financial aid done, redoing somethings at work, making some sewing projects that were ask of me, painting polka dots in my daughters room, and letting her paint the shelf and dresser the way she wanted, Watching as all 4 of my children rode ATV's around the property and wondering when would they do that again?, surprising my dad with a B-day party, seeing my uncle for the first time in 8 years, Helping my husband to move concrete to build a base for a drive way where he hopes to build a wood shop, spending the afternoon at an auction when it was 100+ with humidity see my hubby could get some wood working tools, sending children off to war and trainings for war, sending two younger ones off to church camp and girl scout camp, realizing that my 13 year old is tougher then I thought when he broke his collar bone at camp on the second day and stayed the rest of the week with out me!, Endless garage saling Saturdays with my hubby and kids, working to complete the wood floor in the livingroom from the scrap wood we have, painting 2 walls in the livingroom, reading about gardening and making plans to expand the food that we can grow, buying a laptop and new cell phone that bring me knowledge and expand my thinking about technology.
WOW! when I'm forced to think of the many days laid out from May to August it's amazing what I was able to do, I also slept later and sat more on the porch. But those are mental health accomplishments and that can't be missed. After retreaving the list of things that we had planned to do on the house, put in a new livingroom window, add a door from the fireplace to the outside to retreave wood, tile the area around the fireplace and recaulk the bathroom tub still remain on the list. It seems that one thing then the other get us off the list and so we keep moving forward with jobs and accomplishments but we sometimes need redirecting to the list.

Tomorrow makes the start of the 2008-2009 school year! Our two younger ones are both in MIDDLE SCHOOL NOW!! Andrea a 6th grader and Brian an 8th grader! It also will mark the beginning of the two older ones Derek in Iraq and Casey in training for somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistain (I'll have to learn to spell that). So it struck me last night at the open house for school that we have two in Middle school and two in the Middle East. Saying that outloud really give me a startle. HOW did this happen?? this must mean that I'm MIDDLE AGE! There is a theme developing here, "time in a bottle," "Don't let the sun go down." It seems that as time goes by, I think of the older songs that I know, I love some of the new ones too, but the good oldies always pop up. And then in my email today. The Daily Insight, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently." by Henry Ford This doesn't feel like failure but it sure does seem to be a time of new beginnings and hopefully more intelligently doing it. So it goes today, that my mind was overflowing with thoughts, more than the normal, "Thank you God for this day, please watch over my boys as they work to protect the country, keep my family save here in the states and guild us to make the choices you wish for us!" AMEN!

More summer work done

2008-08-04T18:43:00.008-05:00

It seems that the hot days of July and now August are working us to death. We have been getting alot done in the evenings and on the weekends. But the temps pushing 95 and even 100 have pushed us inside to work a while, now. So far we have expanded the rasied garden area with more big tractor tires, (I love freecycle) and gathered rocks for the pond we have started digging by the garage. I dug up all the flowers that I have accumulated around the house and added dirt and mulch to it. Don has moved dirt to the front by the drive way for a new flower bed in the shade and he expanded the pond out back so that it will collect more rain.

I had to add this photo of the raised bed garden earlier this spring. We had tons of rain in the spring and well, in the flat of Kansas we kept it all for a while. All the rain made it difficult to get in the yard and build beds or move dirt. So we had a slow start, but I'm so glad to say that the rewards have been great still. We had 3 good batches of Green beans, Many tomatoes for canning, eating and giving away, Okra un-ending, a few strawberries and Blueberries and we are waiting to see what the sweet potato, pickles, pumpkins (white and Jacko'lantern) will do. So very excited to have the entra tires to expand the whole raised bed area for next spring.

This tire is over flowing with sweet potato in the middle, and pumpkin plants around the outside.

And finally today I worked on canning and freezing for the winter..
28 jars of peach Jelly, 12 pints of spag. sauce, 19 jars of Pizza sauce and 4 bags of blackberries in the freezer. YUMMM! I usually can the pizza sauce in what is called "jelly jars" since they are smaller and better suited for us making two pizzas with one jar. I also did some Spag. Sauce in those jars and in the pint size ones. So that pretty much took up my day. Plus it was really hot out and so I hated to have the stove on all day, but it needed to be done.

The boys are home!

2008-07-16T08:33:00.003-05:00

Our family in the front yard July 13, 2008. We are so thrilled to have our two older boys home. We meet Casey (back left) on July 2 in southern Indiana. He had driven with his roommate to Huntingsburg Indiana and we meet him there along the interstate. It was quite by accident since we ran out of gas! It was quite funny, since the gas is so high and we were pushing the van to make it to the next Exit and we would fill up... HA! We soon learned that we can't make it half way across MO. and all the way across ILL. and half way across IN. on one tank of gas... First time in our married life that we have run out of gas.... Casey and Caleb brought us a gallon of gas and we were back on the road. IT was along 12 hour day of travel and we were thrilled to arrive and Martha and Bennie's dairy farm late that night.
We enjoyed the time there visiting with family and just spending time together. I had talked with Derek the week before and he was to leave Baghdad on July 5th and we figured that meet two days of travel and he would be in Indiana. But we still had not heard from him until the morning on July 7. He finally was able to call and tell us that he was arriving in Indiana on the 8th at 6:15 pm. So finally we had a date and time. Life isn't planned when you have members in the Military. I've learned in the past 2.5 years that FLEXIBILITY is the word of the time. It's still difficult to figure out things and make plans for the rest of the family and for others putting up with us.
We moved from the Bowman's home to the Chuck and Laura Thompson home for a nights stay, (which is closer to Indianapolis airport, making it easier to get Derek when he called). We were lucky that we did get to spend the time with Don's brother and family since Derek called early and we were able to get him at 2:30 and then head to Mo. to see my family. As the saying goes, "All things are for a reason," of course it's not until this week that I have been given the reason. My step grandmother has been in the hospital in Keokuk Iowa and we were able to stop and see her one last time. She passed on this past Sat. July 12, 2008. We are so glad that Derek arrived early and we had the time to drive from Indiana to MO/Iowa border to visit with Grace and Roger Spory before God called her home.
We also were able to spend that night with my parents, brother and his family, allowing them to see Casey and Derek. At least that saved them from the high gas price and the travel to see the boys at our place.

Spring Clean up and Ball Games!

2008-04-26T21:16:00.008-05:00

It's warming a bit in Kansas. We have had a few 70ish days, one or two 80 days and more RAIN then I care to talk about. But we keep working in the yard each day that it's nice. So we have finally cleaned the limbs up from the 4 ice storms and burned them.. WE love big fires... So we had one night where it was warmish and we had no wind.. Hard to get in flat KS. but we got the brush burned..

We also had a good day building some raised beds for garden spots one weekend. Now we just need it to be dry so that we can get dirt into them. Finally we have started watching Andrea play softball. This is her first year and so she's really learning alot. The first few practices didn't impress her and she was about to hang it up. But now with 3 games under her belt she's having fun. She plays right field and has batted a few times. Still working on making a connection with the ball.. But she's good at throwing and running.. LOL

Ann in right field!

now at least she's swinging... still missing but swinging....

And as a sign of how cold and gross it's been here... My Christmas flower bloomed..

At least it's lovely and we also have iris and tulips outside that have managed to bloom in the coolness... We are ready for HEAT!!

One more new event this month was the Dad, Daughter Date night at Girl Scouts. Ann is just finishing up her first year of scouts so she and Don really had a good time.

And one final Ball game we got to see today was Jake's game against Baxter. We haven't heard how the outcome was. But When we watched, Jake made a wonderful catch in center field and got a little hit to get out at first. Very impressive for the Varisty team...

Hope your spring is green and warming!

Where does the time go?

2008-04-11T19:36:00.006-05:00

AMAZING! it's April 11th and I've just gotten time to update the BLOG. Really the news here in weather news.. it's rained and rained and now it's cold again. Down into the freezing temps tonight.. But HEY at least it's not snow. In MN. they are getting a spring covering and I remember those all too well!

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=mpx

We spent 13 years paying attention to the weather. Mostly the winter weather, but those spring storms can be big ones too. Here in KS its the rain, we have had tons of it in the past 3 years, currently the past month about 13 inches.. Which is enough to make the yard a sponge and the Creek at the end of the road a River covering the closest way to town. It generally lasts a couple of days and then we can get around with just low amounts running off the fields at the lowest point. Above you can see the view on our road.

We have started our Allergy season this week with Brian sick last Sunday, we skipped church for a visit to the Urgent Care. He got some medicine and seemed to be feeling better this week. But Ann started coughing and blowing and so today I took her in. I started it last night and so it was a duel visit. We both got some prescriptions and then discussed Brian with the Dr. and got one for him as well. So hopefuly we are on the road to wellness, the rain is drying up and they say there is a chance of 80 by next Wed. I know that we will be out soaking it up.

I did some baking last weekend. Christy gave me some amish bread starter and I made it up into some yummy cupcakes and bread. We have eaten them all this week and it was nice to have homemade snacks on hand. Breakfast has gotten harder to fix and have time to eat. The kids are taking their showers in the morning so it's a rush to get out the door. We haven't had much sunlight to wake us up and with the rain falling more then rays, we are slowwwww.

So I hope that will turn around this week and we will have some SUN!.

NEWS from Derek

2008-03-30T20:55:00.002-05:00

NEWS FROM DEREK!

We missed the call on Don's cell phone, I noticed the number was a 199 which is the same area code that Derek has calling from before. Sure enough about 3 minutes later my phone rang and it was Derek. He got a phone card (AT&T is the only thing that works) and so we chatted about 10 minutes, Don is talking to him right now. It's so nice to hear his voice. He's still working on trainings and will be for about 11 more days, with the other unit they are replacing. He said they can't go anywhere when there is a sand storm, everything is dark and nothing moves during that time. He's up most nights working at a rotation of different trainings from station to station. Each one of them is something different that they need to know. (he talks in vague terms and there is a long delay on the phone) I ask if he'd left the base and if he'd heard about the increase fighting, but he's not able to leave yet and there is nothing going on there. He didn't know of the fighting in Basra (south Iraq)and he says they won't go there at all. He's going to go to Baghdad but that will be in a couple of weeks, for delivering supplies. He's planning to buy a laptop so he can email, said they can't have cell phones at all. So he's talking with Don now about what kind of laptop to buy. I ask what he needs and he says "Beef Jerky"... So that will go in my next box. I have a box ready to send on Monday and I sent one last Friday. He should start getting mail this week or next. Some say one week for it to arrive and others say longer.. We will see...
Big news is that they get 2 weeks leave, he's put in for his in August. We will see if it's accepted or not. He can just wait till they come home in Dec. and take 6 weeks off with pay instead of 4. Time will tell, all things in the Army change.

First Patrol on Ft. Bragg

2008-03-30T16:45:00.007-05:00

Just wanted to post again and remind all about what all Casey is doing these days. He's working nights now and so if you have time,,, call late in the afternoon or evening to chat with him..

He has been training and preparing for his patrol duty at Ft. Bragg and while we were there March 8, 2008 we got to see him all dressed (nothing like a guy in uniform) and working. So this is for you CASEY!
At first, we weren't to excited that on the only weekend we came to Ft. Bragg you had to work. But we were very, VERY thrilled to be there to see you all dressed for work and to meet your partner for the shift. We are so proud of all the work you have done the past year. It will be a year the first part of May, when you left home for Ft. Leonardwood MO. for Basic. WOW!! You have sure grown and worked very hard this past year and look at what all you have learned and done. You are not only an MP but you finished the Airborne training and jumped out of all kinds of planes. You have a new truck and have driven from KS to MO, Indiana and on to Ft. Bragg all on your own. You hauled us around from GA to Bragg for a week in that nice red truck too. We aren't thrilled to know that by the end of this Nov. you will be serving in Iraq too, but we are so appreciative of you and all you have done.. We could not be any prouder of you and Derek!
KEEP up the GREAT WORK! COME HOME SOON!~

Living Last Supper First Christian Church

2008-03-23T18:50:00.007-05:00

The First Christian Church put on it's version of the Living Last Supper again this year. It's a great time for all of us to see how our men have all become a team and practiced together so much that they seem to feel their very parts. It was a wonderful job and each year they seem better and better. Don played Mathew last year and so he did that again this year, (purple with blue vest on the front left) His brother John is Jesus (back center in the tan under the cross) and has done this part for years. John has a wonderful voice and sing a solo at the end of the play about the bread and wine.. It's just beautiful.

Dad as Mathew, making his way to his place as on of the 12 diciples at the table.

Dad and Charles were making their way to the table after saying their lines. Each man comes in and introduces himself then takes his place in at the table. This year they built the scene one my one.

Bagels!!!

2008-03-21T16:20:00.005-05:00

My friend Kim has a blog site and she posts many things there. I was reading her site and saw how they had made these wonderful bagels. I love bagels and they are good for you, if you use the right things. So since I have been into the Flax Seed flour lately, making pancakes, cookies and even gravy with it. I thought HEY, why not bagels.. So we gave them a try. I think they turned out really good for the first time. I want to try some flavored ones now.. Blueberry, veggie onion with sesame seeds on top, strawberry.. Many ideas.

I even added some corn meal with the flax seed and they are very tasty... They are so nice and crunchy on the outside and them nice and tender inside.. And I did use the rapid rise yeast even though the recipe that I had said NOT to.. And they were great. Now to try some other flavors. Hummmm, I wonder how they freeze?

Places to read about news from Iraq and Indiana soldiers

2008-03-19T03:52:00.004-05:00

It's hard to not hear first hand what your child is doing. So each morning it's my challenge to find out what is going on in Iraq. The media is lessening it's coverage on the war. Wed March 19th was the 5 year Anniversary of the war. It marks a time for us when Derek will be entering Baghdad in a few days. So I thought I would share some links that have been useful for me in reading news.

http://www.indystar.com/

http://www.in-iraq.org/

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=4476397&page=1

Of course there are tons more and there are the regular news places also. But these first two are more directed at the 76th Brigade and then 1-293 which is the unit that Derek belongs to.

I did get to talk to Derek two times this week. He's good, has been a bit under the weather. Dry, windy and sand storms are the new name of the game. His throat was sore and he's adjusting to the new climate there. They were out on a 3 day mission, practicing the convey runs that they will make later on. Mostly they are just adjusting to everything.

Georgia trip

2008-03-17T09:40:00.016-05:00

Deployment Ceremony at Ft. Stewart GA for the 76th Brigade

from Indiana's National Guard

Our son Derek (22) is part of the Indiana National Guard. He left Indiana with his unit Jan 2, 2008 for Ft. Stewart GA., where they have been training for deployment to Iraq.
We planned to fly, which we have never done as a family, to Atlanta GA and then on to Savannah GA, which is where Ft. Stewart is located. Then spend the week with all the kids on Hilton Head Island at a resort. (this is a very big trip for us) We left Kansas City Mo., Feb. 29, and arrived in Atlanta by 10 am. Don and I with two of the kids, Brian, 13 and Ann 11, organized into the proper luggage considering weight and what we can bring and can't bring, with the right amount of carry-on bags, remembering homework and things for the other boys.

Brian and Andrea on their first plane ride. Atlanta airport was fun, we had plenty of time to catch the flight and so we rode the moving-sidewalk and the Tram from one terminal to the other. We even thought of taking the Delta miles and being bumped to the later flight since we had time. But, it wasn't to be done. Off to Savannah, where we rented a car and traveled around for the rest of the day on Friday. We visited Tybee Island (loved the sand/sun/ocean) and checked out the downtown area of Savannah, along the water front where many big ships come in to load and unload their wares. We spent the night in a small hotel where Casey joined up from Ft. Bragg. He's been working/training there since Nov of 2007, his unit just returned in Jan from Iraq and he's excited to finally be patroling there starting in one week, (which happens to be the Sat. we had planned to spend with him). He spent the weekend with us and then drove back to Ft. Bragg to finish his class on Monday and back again for more family time the rest of the week at Hilton Head Island where we are staying. (got a great deal on a condo there for the week, just 2 blocks from the ocean)

The banner hanging at the entrance of Ft. Stewart!

The first time we got to see Derek on Sat. March 1, 2008

Derek all suited up for the ceremony.

Saturday we were able to go on base and attend the Farewell Ceremony for Derek and his Brigade from Indiana. It's a big base and there are 3400 soldiers that are leaving in the next few days to a week for Germany/Kuwait/Camp Anaconda, for their work there. We have called him but not seen him at this point. The military does have some things figured out. They can organize a LARGE mass of people, parking in a remote field, direct us to the white buses and get us across the base to the other large field for the ceremony with reasonable speed. We just follow along. The field is packed the bleachers full to over flowing and the roped area around the field is standing room only. Lining the field decked in full uniform and carrying weapons are the soldiers. It's an "awe" kid of moment to see this assembly of bravery, strength and to feel the love surrending them. We got a cell phone call from Derek and discovered that we was very close to us. We got to see him for a few moments. I ran to him, hugged and loved on him, not wanting to let go. It's the time in a parent's mind that should stop the world, it's like all others don't exist and I can only imagine how it will be to see him again when he returns.Don, Brian and Ann on a pier at Tybee Island. Friday Feb 29th, 2008 We were all fed by the Army, trailers with kitchens set up to feed 5,000 folks is quite a deal to take on. It seems they are able to do it quite well. We didn't get a chair or table, but the ground was dry and welcoming after standing for 2 hours at the ceremony. We checked out the games they had set up for young children and walked around listening to the live band. Picked up some "family deployment" info that was being handed out, finally deciding to call Derek and see where he was. He was still turning in equipement and so we drove to the PX (post exchange, small mall) to shop and wait for him. Finally we have Derek with us and we are ready to get off base and head to the condo that we have on Hilton Head Island.

Finally we are there! I found this deal on Ebay, 7 nights and days in this second floor condo on the Island of Hilton Head for $300.00, we can cook, we have cable, alligators in the back yard, heated swimming pool out the front door, grill to use, golf all around and 2 block walk to the beach. Sounds like HEAVEN to me... We figure it sure beats the heck out of 7 nights and days in a motel with 4 kids. Two grown ones that would want something to do and two that need a place to roam... This ended up being the perfect answer. The better part of the week we spent relazing, walking around the area, checking out the beach each day and we drove from one end to the other of the island. We collected shells, sand, and memories. All too soon it was time for Derek to report back to Ft. Stewart on Wed. We took a final tour of Savannah and the water front area, hoping to see more big ships. Casey is the appointed driver this week and he was so great to take us from place to place with little complaining. (it's very humbling to ride around in the back of your son's truck and give suggetions as to where to go) Luckily we only had one close call when Casey decided to back out of a left turn lane and go right, but didn't see there was a couple in a white SUV behind us. Derek, Brian and I screamed, (we turned around to see the couple in the white SUV holding their breath and making scared faces as we stopped close to their front bumper) From then on we tried to tame down the screaming "turn right," "no go left," "take the next run"... Casey just followed the GPS and we got where we needed to be.. LOL

Lovely trees!

Kids walking on the beach

Ship that we saw out off Tybee Island.

jelly fish on the beach, as big as Andrea's foot!

What does a Kansas boy wear on the beach? Well it was cool out so he didn't want to put on shorts.

Brian 13, Casey 19, Derek 22, Andrea 11 Savannah Ga waterfront area. Wed. March 5, 2008, we stopped here to look around before we went back to Ft. Stewart to take Derek back.

Casey and Derek will be seeing each other again in Baghdad this year.
We had a wonderful time on our trip with our 4 kids. Most of all we enjoyed spending time with Derek and Casey. Derek will be home hopefully before Christmas this year, and if not right around that time. We also learned that Casey will be shipping out to do patrols in Baghdad sometime before Nov. of this year. We sure did love the Hilton Head Island and it's nature, alligators, birds, snakes, the trees so tall and full of moss hanging down, the sand so smooth and soft, finding sharks teeth and the many shells we found. We meet many lovely people from all areas, who were visiting there also. We consider ourselves so blessed to have had this time with our family. We are already planning another trip for when the two boys are both in the states again. Maybe California next time.

Derek checking out the alligator that was out behind the condo where we stayed.

Alligator up close.. So glad for nice digital camera...

Sat. March 8th, 2008 was Casey's first day of Patrol at Ft. Bragg. We were so lucky to be there to see him all suited up and patroling with "Joe" his first partner. We spent the day checking out Ft. Bragg, touring the two museums and catching a bit of lunch with Casey and "Joe", (before they had to rush out to a call.

We got to see where Casey lives on base, 3rd floor end of the hall, no elevator. We saw where they shake the shoots and fold them, even the place that repairs the shoots. Casey is a member of Airborne and he's also an MP. We are very proud of his trainings and work so far. His news that he would also be deployed this year isn't my favorite news.. I told him that only one child is allowed in Baghdad at a time. But he says he has no control.. I know that, but as a MOM I don't want to hear it. I also know that there is an Indiana mom with 3 sons deployed with Derek's unit and that does make me feel a bit better. I'm not sure how SHE is surviving. But I pray each day that all her boys come home all that mine will too. It's a bad place that we are in. I sure don't see much other choice.

It's Monday 2:49 pm.. I just got off the phone with Derek. He's still in Kuwait and they have been out on a 3 day training for more convey work. He was sick and other were also, with colds are something. THe sand is bad, wind is strong and they are adjusting to all that. He was tired and ready to head off to bed. He was just finished eating Subway.. They are to be there another 7 days or so. He's calling me again tomorrow with an update of their address that they will have in Camp Anaconda, I tried to send a box and the po said the zip code was wrong.

more when I hear.. Pamela

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T18:34:00.000-06:00

back l-R: Derek, Don, Brian, My dad (Jim), Casey, Me...
Front: Andrea and Mom, (Lorene)

Where does the time go!!??

It's 2008 and I have missed posting for months.. I resolve to do better this year.

We had a wonderful Christmas season. Our two oldest sons who are in the Army both came home. Derek came by Greyhound on the 25 Dec. and returned to Joplin Mo. yesterday for Indiana again via Bus. He's got today to pack and clean out his space in Grandmas basement. Tomorrow, Don's mom and sister will take Derek to the RCA dome in Indiana for a dinner and boarding the bus for GA. He's got about two months in Ft. Stewart GA, before the unit heads for Camp Anaconda, Iraq. It's seeming all too real to me now that the holidays are here and gone.. I was really doing much better before while I had the coming home to look forward to and now that he's gone back to Indiana, I can cry at the drop of a hat. I will go back to work on Friday this week and I know that working with the preschoolers again will help. I have cleaning and sewing projects here to keep me busy until then. We will go to GA when he tells us the date for family visit time.

Casey flew to KC. MO on the 26 Dec. and we all got up early and headed north to get him. We hadn't opened gifts and the younger kids knew that the plan was to buy the thing they most wanted in KC. Brian was asking for the PSP video thing, and Andrea a MP3 with money for clothes.. (MP3's are way less then PSP's she told me early on)....LOL Casey forgot to tell us that his friend Josh was flying over from St. Louis and he was in the next terminal waiting.. so we fetched him and after hugs all around to now 3 army boys we left for the "Legends" mall by the race track, west of KC. It was cold and windy with the possibility of snow..

Casey called from Chicago yesterday and all was well.. We assume since we've not heard from the boys that they are both were they should be and all is well. Otherwise, others would be calling us!!! LOL... Casey flies back to Ft. Bragg, 7 Jan and is hoping to finally meet his unit there. They have just returned from Iraq and have been on leave for 2 months, so he's not meet any of them. He's ready for some REAL work he says,,, NO more raking leaves and cleaning detail, they have cleaned returning equipment. He's hoping to get some jumps in the coming month, and to make some new friends.

Labor Day weekend!

2007-09-03T13:30:00.000-05:00

The end of summer is here, even if the temp is still 90!

We have had a busy and rewarding weekend. I was up early to enjoy the cooler morning time on the porch and the morning glories.. They are taking over the corner of the deck a bit, even out into the stairs.

We had such a wet spring and summer, but the last month has been DRY AND HOT! We had over 3 weeks of 100 and over temps. So, the bugs have really come out as you can tell on the vines here. It's nice now to have a bit cooler temps, we could use a bit of rain now too. Just figures from one to the other extreme!

ON SATURDAY,, I went to Ft. Leonard Wood Mo and picked up Casey. Since he's the BEST OF THE BEST at Basic/MP training he had a pass for two nights and two days. IT was so great to have him home again. We had a nice family dinner on Sunday and everyone got to come and see him.

Don just called from the hotel where Casey was to meet his buddies, they have arrived and Casey is back with his battle buddies, ready to go back on post. Each trainee is to have a "Battle Buddy" so that they have someone to watch out for. It was good to have him here for a visit but it was good to know that he's back and ready to finish his training. He graduates Sept 20th. It won't be long and we will see him again.

Finally the sun is setting on a super weekend and a wonderful summer...

I hope that your family is GREAT and all is good in your corner of the world!!

Next time it's GRADUATION!

2007-08-28T17:59:00.000-05:00

One more trip to the FORT~

We had a chance to go to FT. Leonard wood Mo. to visit our second oldest son CASEY who is the first on the right in this pic. He's finishing up his Basic/MP training there and then goes to Ft. Benning for his Airborne training. So far he hears that he's off to Ft. Bragg to be part of the 82nd Airborne. We hope that he's home for a couple days so we can see him a bit longer!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

2007-08-17T05:35:00.000-05:00

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

Where does the time go? Somehow each day is sucked up and we forget to realize how easy they slip away one to the next and month after month passes by.
Today was the first day of school for us in KS. Today our two youngest started at a new school, with new teachers and new friends, rode a new bus, but went there with their COUSINS!

Today, Brian went to 7th grade and then signed up for football. For him, and us, that was a big deal has we aren't a very sporty family. He's so thrilled with the whole event. We drove the kids to John and Deb's to get on the bus and the 6 cousins were pretty thrilled to be attending school again. Everyone made it off on the bus at 7 am and most of them made it back to J and D by 4 pm. Brian and Josh were staying for the first day of football.

Today, Andrea went to 5th grade at Cherokee Attendence Center. She was excited to see who was going to be in her class and to see what the new teacher was to be like. She was very thrilled with her new MAN teacher, (I guess she's not had a male teacher before, we hadn't really thought about it) She was disappointed that she forgot her pencil box with all the pencils and markers but glad that the teachers gave her 2 new ones for the day...

On my own little note, I've worked all week and some last week setting up the preschool room where I work. (Our kids come there on Monday) We are so blessed to have a new lovely room with 2 bathrooms and big spaces to stretch out in. Even though time is marching right along, each day I say, "THANK YOU" for the things we all have, Home, family, schools and work... FRIENDS and LOVE !!! I hope that you mark your first days of school with positive feelings like we did.....

2007-07-27T13:22:00.000-05:00

Little League Kansas Champions!!!!!

Cherokee, Kansas is very proud of the 11-12 year old boys baseball team... And we at the Thompson house had a super weekend watching them win against Paola Ks. 2 out of 3 games. We were thrilled to see Josh (3rd from right in the front) pitch a NO hitter on Friday night and for the whole team to win on Sat. night 15 to 7.. Saturday night the boys were all off and didn't play well so Paola won. But it was the final on Sat. that give them the State Champs!! Now the team is off to Indianapolis next week to play in the Regional tournment. John Thompson (left back) will have to get ready to teach at PSU working on the road on his laptop!! We are very proud of the whole team!! We wish that we were making the trip with them!

From the excitement I had to create some special totes for a couple of the moms to take along on the trip.. Josh and John are pictured in the one on the left for Debbie, and Chandra will have the tote on the right with the team shirt on it and the team pictures are on the back of both totes! This was alot of fun for me to make a special unique keepsake for both of them.

I will post them on the webpage for orders if you are interested on how to have one made for yourself or a loved one!

http://www.willsew4u.com/

Ceiling done! Well, sort of!

2007-07-20T07:38:00.000-05:00

Well it's almost done. I still have some trimming to do around the edges. But, overall it's done! My arm and elbow have taken the beating from all this work. So I've taken it easy for a while now. Once I got to the point of uncovering the furniture and removing the plastic from everything it was easy to say it's done.
We still have work to do on the walls and floor. But that is time!
We are pretty easy going about living in a less then perfect house and so that makes it o.k. to have things not finished.
Don has finished the bricks on the fireplace and he's ready to put up the barnboard panel, which is the top of the fireplace. But he's still planning on building a deck outside on the right of the fireplace. He wants a door there so we have easier access to the wood in the winter. It's pretty amazing how much we can warm up the whole house with that nice wood insert fireplace. I would like him to build a corner cabinet from barnboards for the tv and electronics, so we have a bit more to work on. Right now it's time to enjoy the kids and attend ballgames to support the Cherokee Ball team.

The Painting

2007-07-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

This was the first color on the ceiling. Then we purchased the second color that I was hoping would go over it and make it look a bit marble like. But the finished product wasn't like what I had invisioned at all. So It's all painted the new color now.
This is what it looked like after the second color was added. NOT pretty at all.. SOOO!!! now it's like this.

We like this much more. It is Semi-gloss paint and so it has a nice sheen with shadows and shine. Plus this lighter color brightens the room alot more.
We are just glad to be able to move the furniture back in.

Don worked on the last row of bricks for the fireplace, but he ran out of mortar and can't finish the last 6 bricks. DARN! We have a barnboard panel that covers the ugly bricks at the top of the fireplace.
Some day we will have this room done!

The remodeling

2007-07-06T20:12:00.000-05:00

The remodeling is coming along. My goal for the summer was to scrape the "popcorn" ceiling in the hallway, entry, livingroom, diningroom and kitchen. Don helped with removing the walls by the front door and moving the wall in front of the laundry room. (We changed the angle of it and moved it back about a foot so that this entry area is larger and the hallway is more open.) We worked on that over Memorial Day weekend. Brian was a huge help with tearing out the carpet and pad and Andrea was right behind him with the vacuum, cleaning up the mess. Now it's painting time. FINALLY!! I have one coat of paint on now and we are off to buy the second color to put over it. The idea is for it to be two colors of tan and the first coat is a darker tan which has covered the ceiling really well. But the second coat will just be rolled on lightly to just the highest textured areas of the ceiling. I hope it works~

The Laundry room got some new (used) cabinets and will also get a new sink (used) countertop and more storage areas.

2007-07-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

Saturday June 30, 2007

Yes, it's raining again. (or it has been, it's hot and dry today)

We have had more rain this year, than we need or can handle.

Many roads were flooded, including the road that goes from town to our house and

this road that runs in front of our house. We had Caleb and Anna come over to spend the

night on Sat. (Jake came along for a visit) and it rained most of the night.

Don took Caleb to town to get a movie and the water was getting higher and higher by the time they came back, and they were even fast at picking out the movie. Later he took

the kids to the corner to see the all the water running over the road.

By morning it was over the road by quite a few feet and we had to go south and then back north to get to church. It was over the road closer to town near the mall as well. We were lucky that our basement was dry and we really had little to complain about compared to others. Other Kansas areas, Texas and Oklahoma are all dealing with tons of water, many with water to the roof. Many in Coffeyville KS are dealing with an oil spill as well as all the water.