Sunday, September 18, 2011

Touchdown


We have some sad news to report. Stella, our cat, went missing about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Anna Clare noticed it first, of course. She said she had not seen her in a day or so. The more I thought about that the more concerned I was. She has never disappeared not even for a day. The odd thing is our neighbor's cat went missing around the same time.

There was some devastation (Anna Clare) and sadness (all of us) as we looked and looked for her, searched the pound and Humane Society, and put up signs around the neighborhood. She still has not been found and it's probably better that we have no idea what happened. Stella has been a GREAT pet. I mentioned when we got her that we are dog people, not cat people. But she totally turned us into Stella-people. And it certainly didn't hurt things that we haven't seen a mouse or a snake in our yard in the almost 2 years we had her.

Steve decided last weekend it was time to get a new cat. We wanted another rescue cat so he took the girls to Petsmart Saturday night to browse. They sent me a picture from his phone of Neptune, the cat they had decided was the one for us. Sunday before church we loaded up the kennel with plans to make Neptune a member of the Thompson family after church. When we got out of church Anna Clare requested that we not go to lunch but go straight to Petsmart in the event that Neptune would be spotted by another potential adopting family. I assured her that Neptune would be safe in his little cage and that Mama was not going to pass up Sunday lunch

After a quick lunch at Momma Goldberg's we headed to Petsmart to pick up Neptune. Lo and behold when we got there we saw a little girl and her parents doting all over Neptune. I told AC to play it cool...they were just looking around at the cats. We got a little closer and when I heard the Petsmart employee say, "You can either take him home now or come back and get him later," I knew we were dead meat. What are the chances?!?! Well, as you can imagine, the tears began to flow. She ran out of the cat room to tell Steve. Steve walked up to me and said "For the love..." We watched Neptune get whisked away with his new little family as AC just stood there crying. I leaned down and whispered to her, "Anna Clare, we prayed at lunch that we would find just the right cat for our family. For whatever reason, Neptune is not it. There are lots of cats here that need good homes, so let's see if we can find one to love."

In about 1.2 seconds, we found Touchdown, or "T.D." as affectionately known by the Humane Society volunteers. I mean, where do they get these names? I guess when you have to name hundreds of cats all the time, you just get desperate. He was sweet, and sleepy (Steve worried they had him doped up to get him a home and we would see the effects later:), and just right. She and Owen agreed he was the one for us, we snapped a picture, filled out our paperwork and snatched him up before some other family could!


One week later, he is still here and happy as can be. Anna Clare decided she did not want to change his name and I once again let go of my control issues even though I feel like an idiot going out in the yard yelling, "Touchdown!" He and Ollie love to play on the back porch, and Wilson won't even look at him. Stella put Wilson in his cat place long ago. So things are all happy and harmony around here and we are ready to begin our adventure with Touchdown.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Ten Years Later


Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks now known as "9/11" on our country. Like everyone else, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. (Prior to this event the main "where were you" event I had experienced was the Challenger shuttle explosion when I was in the 5th grade. I will never forget that one either. For some reason we were out of school that day and I remember watching it on T.V. with my mom). On 9-11-01, I was teaching school at what was then Stringer Street Elementary, now Jerry Lee Faine Elementary. Steve and I had been married a little over a year. I stopped a teacher in the hall to ask her a question about a student that we shared. I was babbling on and on and she looked at me with a blank stare and finally said, "Have you not heard? Do you not know what just happened?" I had no idea. I hurried down to the lunchroom where our princial, Mr. Faine, had the news on and people had gathered to watch the details unfold.

We were on lockdown mainly, I think, because of the near military base and nuclear plant. I remember calling Steve at work and just being terrified. I don't remember at what point during the day our school system administration determined we were "safe." I remember being grateful that my parents, brothers, and sister were home safely and not standing on top of the twin towers where they had been just weeks earlier in August on a vacation trip. And I will always remember the shock, tears, and devastation shared by our country in the days,weeks, months that followed.

I watched several pieces on television and the internet over the weekend. One in particular showed images from the day and a young girl's voice talking to her daddy who had died in the attack first as a Kindergartner, than a 5th grader, then a 10th grader. Telling him all about what she was doing, what she had learned, what she loved, what was hard, and crying over how much she missed him. It absolutely broke my heart as I thought of the people who lost family members and friends and all the things they missed sharing together. My mom sent me this link put together by American Family Radio.

We have a "verse-a-day" scripture calendar that we keep in our kitchen. It was a wedding gift to Steve and me 11 years ago and the original copy was printed in 1973, long long before anyone could've fathomed the events of September 11th. However each year as I turn the page to September 11, this is the verse that is printed there, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

I never want to forget and want my children always to realize the sacrifices made my so many then and now to protect our freedom. May God always bless America.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Baby News



We had our 4D ultrasound this morning.  I'm posting about half of the pictures she took.  I know these are a little creepy looking when it's not your baby but it was such a delight to see our sweet baby boy moving all over the place!

Unfortunately he is breech (sp?) right now. His little feet are right up by his head!




We are praying that he turns himself around before he gets too big. If not, that most likely means a c-section.




A c-section makes me nervous only because I had two really easy, enjoyable deliveries with the girls and am really hoping for that this time around. I know some people prefer c-sections but the familiar is very comforting to me.


Look at that mouth!  Sweetness.


He weighs 3 pounds, 9 ounces. That sounds big to me but the ultrasound tech indicated that was a normal size at this point. Anna Clare weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces at birth and Owen weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces. The thought of a big baby also makes me nervous :)




We were amazed at all his little features. His little full lips were so sweet and we were able to catch him opening and closing his mouth. PRECIOUS!!




Anna Clare went with us and absolutely loved seeing her baby brother perform.




The sweet lady performing the ultrasound was so much fun (she did confirm once more that it is definitely a B.O.Y.) and she predicts that he is going to look like his Daddy and his oldest sister :)




We gave Owen the option of coming with us and she said, "I want to go to school!"




We are so incredibly thankful to God for this precious miracle.


Check out those feet!


He still needs a name. It has been the source of frustration, stress, and tears. But tonight I am grateful. So very grateful. And praying for God to show us the perfect name for this sweet baby boy.



Yesterday, I received the sweetest gift! My friend Mitzi made him the most beautiful gown to wear home from the hospital. I am in love with it and cannot wait to see him in it. Thank you Mitzi! What an special, special treasure.


"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17