Count Your Blessings --

I can't count the number of times that I have counted my blessings in the last few months. I had a chance to have a long weekend (boy, do I wish it was longer because I'm tired). I shared some Big Orange love with a German and some friends as we beat Kentucky for the 26^th time in a row! The VOLS became bowl eligible, and we might be visiting relatives in Mt. Juliet if we can get some one to stay with our poopies – Joe R.? If you can, we will be home for fabulous fun and good times for New Year's Eve.

I'm also reminded about losing family, specifically Matt Marion. We had a wonderful service at church last night. His family and his friends, were sharing their hearts about him and his life. We had a wonderful dinner after the service, and every one came together to help make it a special day. I thought a lot about Granny and Pa, and how they have defied logic in terms of survival. I keep wondering when the call will come and it really be it. I'm reminded that Joe's dad must be on cat life number 11 because he has made it through things that I didn't think I as a 40 something person – namely double pneumonia – would survive. It's scary being in the hospital with a bunch of really sick, old people, and them freaking out when your temperature spikes, you have double anti-biotic IVs, on oxygen and gasping for breath. Funny thing is otherwise I felt fine. I felt it was prophetic when Ricky used Joe's HC tag to park in the very spot we parked in for the Kentucky game in 2004. The one where I left the hospital, with oxygen, skybox ticket, wheel chair and a crazy desire to keep my streak of going to every single home game since 1986 alive. I did. So when we parked in that spot, I knew we would win. I had a crazy German with me, who started cheering for Kentucky – and punching me in the arm when they did something good. I think a bad report about that German is in order for YFU. Ha, Ha, Felix! He didn't realize the value of the streak and that we have Kentucky's number. I didn't reciprocate, although 10 or so years ago, I would have given him hell when we scored, and/or won. He saw a mild version of compulsive Vol Fan, Kelli Thompson.

Why did I bring the German? I don't know. I should have brought my pepper spray to keep him in line. But that is another story. Google Wesloh, pepper spray, 18 month old, and Cumberland Gap National Park to get the picture. So I left the game, and Ricky and Kay took me to church. I'm thinking I have on my UT sweat shirt, tennis shoes, etc. – you get the picture, so I'm not dressed for a funeral service. I was proud to see Ms. Cindy and all her clan in their Tennessee Orange, cheer leading outfits, football outfits, Big Orange blanket – all ablaze in our church. You gotta love the Chadwells. I went downstairs to get the BBQ going, and make sure things were all square.

But then the thing that has been on my heart and on my mind for over two weeks, very heavy, was on perfect display. I went upstairs to check with Joe and I was greeted (not by Joe, he never not talks to any one) with total avoidance, total lack of eye contact, total lack of interaction from some one who should know better. I hate that. I realize what the truth is, now. I realize that some one who is capable of polarizing 70 percent of the people has lost all confidence. Why? Because of what he wanted, because of what he desired, and it didn't work out they way he planned – so he slams the people trying to help.

Oh, what is the love in that? I remember opening my GPS guide from the Church of the Resurrection one morning to see the scripture in Luke about tooting your own horn. I think we had a little bit of that – boasting about what you are going to give and why. I just don't get it, and I just don't get why people decide they have to control the ship, when it should be Jesus in control. I love every body in my church, good and bad, and I call it like I see it. I'm not saying I'm good or bad or any one else is, but I sure know what I do and why – and why I don't boast about it, because there is no reason.

I'm just trying to show Jesus Love, and when you want to show what you do instead, you are seriously missing the boat.

Transforming the World

Transforming the World, One Step at a Time –

Most of our friends know our story.  Joe and I met when I was approaching high school in Cookeville, and we’ve been together ever since – then.  Then and now – and what a difference.  At the time, I was not going to church, because shortly before I met Joe, I became disgusted with church.  I think it was a culmination of the sermon on the age of the Earth and why music does not belong in church.  So I left.  Joe didn’t go to church, but his mother had instilled in him deep faith.  Joe and I both believed in and loved Jesus Christ, but we just didn’t like the church – at all.  So we continued merrily on our way, doing the right things, or at least trying.  I think we stepped foot into churches a total of 4-5 times in the next 22 years, pretty much for weddings and funerals. 

Through the years, we periodically talked about attending church.  Think about that, just attending church.  But we never did anything about it.  Then, we met Matthew.  If you know us, you likely also know Matthew.  He is our first child, apart from my nieces, Stephanie and Suzanna.  We met him on a cold January morning, preparing for Eskimo Escapades.  Joe helped get him ready to water ski (remember this is January), and then, it occurred to me – this kid, he was 21 at the time, was paralyzed from the chest down in October of 1998, and now, in 2001, he’s water skiing – in January.  Matthew and his family became a part of our family.  We’ve watched him graduate, get married, and miraculously, have a baby, not him, but Jeannette, and I got the honor of witnessing her birth. Ms. Kelsee, I love you.

But from the time we met Matthew, we realized how important his faith was to him.  We realized how important it was to his recovery from a devastating injury for an 18 year old young man.  So we began to look harder at church and ask questions.  Matthew was so encouraging, because he’s a good Baptist. I got a mission so I went to the little country Baptist church close to our house, and when the preacher was loosening his collar and wiping his brow at 2 minutes til 12, I bolted out the back door.  I hope he didn’t preach about me after that.  We went to church with Matthew, and I was amazed at the message that the Jews suffered the Holocaust because they rejected Jesus and demanded that the Romans crucify him.   Wow, what love of Christ is that?  I’m not criticizing Matthew’s church at all, believe me.  I’m just stating my perspective.

So the next Sunday I went to the Covenant Life Church in Lake City which is the rock n roll church, and I heard a special guest pastor tell every one that God had told her (she was trying to start a church) that there would be 5 people there that day who could give $1000 to start her ministry.  I think I might have been one of those 5, but I didn’t give.  Then, I went over to the little Methodist church because Joe had been raised as a Methodist.  I had been adamant that no church would learn my name, where I lived or any thing else about me, lest they show up on my door step a few days later.  Before I left Lake City UMC, Margaret Marion had learned my name, where I lived and invited me to sing in the choir.

You have got to love her.   I look at the state of our church now, and I wonder where we would be or where the hatred and division would not be, if Blanche Duncan, Margaret Marion and Harold Wormsley were still alive. They were a big part of the base of our church.  They shared love, compassion and hope.  They encouraged the younger people who started coming to church and who wanted to grow the church.  These were the people who wanted to transform the world.

The funny thing is (actually, it isn’t funny – it is disgusting), is some in the church now resist change.  They loved it when we first started coming to church, and then, joined the church.  But for some reason in the last year and half, that has changed.  Some people think we are aligned with our pastor, when nothing could be further from the truth.  I’ve told him exactly how I feel about messages, talking way too much, and explaining way too much.  I’ve told him preachers are like lawyers, because they think what they have to say is so profound, they say it four different ways.  Just get to the point, please. 

My biggest criticism of our pastor has to do with the holification (is that a word?) of a table into something that reminds me of what they Pharises did with the ark of the covenant.  It’s not an altar, it’s a communion table.  We can all touch it, and we don’t have to be afraid to put anything up on the table or near it.  But things from the beginning were not just so cool with him and the choir.  Why?  In my opinion, some people in the choir had always directed the worship service, and allotted time for the preacher to speak.  When he changed things around, they didn’t like it.  Not that what he was doing was wrong because I really think if it had been their idea, all would have been well. Then, slowly, he tried to play some contemporary songs along with the Hymns. 

But oh no, they didn’t like “that music” or the fact that the flags were removed from the sanctuary.  I was always amazed at the flags in our sanctuary because I never understood why they were there.  Then, when they were removed, the person who bought them demanded that they be returned.  She also kept returning the lovely little cherub angel column thing to the sanctuary, because our pastor moving it out was insulting to Margaret Marion.  It was left there after her funeral, admittedly because her daughter really had no place for it at her home.  I’m serious folks.  The same person demanded that “that music” had no place in worship.  My favorite is how she prudishly criticized those that did not attend Wednesday evening worship, yet now she has not been for almost or over a year.  Why?  Because she is MAD!!!  Mad that the church is changing, mad that things are not being done as they were done “up North” – Oh my!

We had a free yard sale at church to give people school supplies and clothes.  That same woman didn’t like it – at all.  Why?  Because they could have made money for the UMW fund.  Never mind what have they really done with the UMW money over the years – in terms of spreading Jesus LOVE.  Selling pecans only goes so far.

How are we changing lives at our church?  How can we learn from the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas? The most amazing thing to me is accountability.  Once you join COR, you park way away from the front door.  I’m not suggesting any one not park next to the back door, believe me.  But think about a vast church, and letting guests park up close.  You join the church, and you go to the back of the line.  You have to learn some accountability.  Because you have to learn what your gift is – and USE it! 

So how does the Church of the Resurrection impact little Lake City United Methodist Church?  Joe first heard Adam Hamilton last year at the Annual Conference of the UMC, Holston Conference.  He came home blown away.  Joe and our Pastor went to the Leadership Institute at the COR last Fall.  And they came home with so many ideas.  One of them was music in the sanctuary as people come into church.  Another one was food outside the sanctuary – that would be downstairs for us, which we have done since January – never mind the mean woman hasn’t contributed a dog gone thing – although she does so much for the church – and she has a heart of Gold. 

So a few weeks ago, Joe and I took a spiritual journey to Kansas – one of those states I said I would never visit unless I had to go there for work.  But this wasn’t work so much.  COR had an auction in the spring and one of the auction items was dinner with Adam and LaVon Hamilton.  I can only imagine the inner turmoil of the disgruntled types like our bitter old lady – do you really have to pay to have dinner with your pastor?  But the restaurant donated the meal, and all of the money went to ministries.  What is wrong with that?  How many of us crazy VOL fans would pay to have dinner with Derek Dooley or Bruce Pearl?  It's the same concept.  So Joe and I ventured from East Tennessee to Kansas.  And it was an incredible spiritual journey. 

We went to the COR 5 p.m. service on Sunday, and I was awestruck.  First, they passed out “accountability” journals, where you signed in that you attended service.  Then, you looked through the list and were invited to reach out to some one new!  How wonderful!  The music was absolutely incredible.  They had practiced for 30 minutes, fine tuning their music before the worship service, although I’m sure they had practiced a good bit during the week.  So the doors to the sanctuary were closed until about 5-10 minutes before the service was to begin.  And we came into music.  I think I heard Dave Matthews and some BB King.  Wow.

Then, the band played, and they played some great music, “that music.”  I think every one in the sanctuary was signing right along as loud as they could.  It was so uplifting.  Then, Adam Hamilton spoke, and it was just amazing.  I thought in some respects I would be brought to tears.  I was not.  I kept sitting there looking at the “big screen” then back to the stage where right there was Adam Hamilton, who we had watched countless times and read many of his books.  I don’t suggest it was any type of “idol worship” but he is amazingly gifted at putting the Word into easy to understand, touch your heart, messages – although that mid-Western accent does get a little fast for me sometimes.

I didn’t come to tears or faint so that debunks the “celebrity” status.  Although this week at church when Harold spoke in lieu of Charles, I had tears.  Way to go, Harold!  Too bad the flag lady wasn’t there because she needed to hear it. But the thing about COR is what is missing in churches today. It is missing in our church.  That is accountability.  Okay, you want to join?  Now, what are you going to DO?  Church of the Resurrection expects their church members to do, not just join.  It is not a social club.  They are there to show Jesus love all over.  How?  By doing things, not by standing on a street corner, going to a prison or handing out tracks, to get people right with God, before they get hit by a car and go to Hell.  Fear Factor Church is just NOT effective.  COR has so many small group ministries, groups for people out of work, groups that help renovate schools, groups that build Habitat houses, groups that foster children -- I could go on - and on.

Joe and our pastor returned again to the Leadership Institute at COR last week.  For the Leadership Institute, the most amazing thing was COR church people went, laid hands on and prayed on every seat in that sanctuary.  They prayed for every single person attending, and the attendees were told at this time, people will be praying for you, by name, in the chapel – join them if you can.  How amazing!  Volunteers took vacation time from work to do this.  They prayed to give vision and guidance to help these small churches, big churches, all churches to grow and spread Jesus love.  I love Church of the Resurrection’s mission – to spread Christ’s love to the un-churched and the nominally churched.  That is US!

Through the last two weeks or so, I’ve learned Adam and LaVon Hamilton are just ordinary people, but extraordinary people.  They are a gift, such a wonderful gift.  They put their vision to work.  I’m sure they’ve made mistakes, and they move on, learn from them and grow.  They have instilled that on the people who are touched by and become a part of COR and its mission.  The thing that bothers me about our church is when people make mistakes or do something some one else doesn’t like, it is brought up over, and over, and over again.  Where is the Jesus love in that?  It is not there. I hope our church grows and learns.  If we don’t, we are going to die.

 Mark my word, because it will happen.  I don’t want that.  I want us to grow.  We have to change our mentality about our church.  We have to be willing to work hard to enhance our worship experience, and make a difference in our community.  Show Jesus love through your actions, spread Jesus love the same way rather than scare tactics or looking down on other people.  We don’t need scripture, prayer and the Ten Commandments in school or the courthouse, although it’s not a bad thing.  What we do need are actions, actions of Christians, reaching out to non-Christians and the un-churched, showing Jesus love, not being the post card for the hypocrisy of the church.  Do you join us? Or are you against change? 

One thing I can say is I can be critical of the church, because I’m part of it.  It ain’t perfect because the people in it are not.  But some of them are trying their best to make a difference in the world.  Those that just complain, cause strife and are the picture of the hypocrisy of the church, I pray you can change.  Otherwise, fulfill your threats -- and go some where else.  Because you aren't showing Jesus love in our church, at Cracker Barrel, or in your constant criticism of others.

Bill Legge, Jr. 1950-2010 - It's Football Time in Tennessee!

Bill Legge, Jr. – 1950-2010 – It’s Football Time in Tennessee!

I did this once, but it got lost.  So I’m going to re-create the wheel, and do it justice.  A lot has happened since my last post.  Joe’s dad has been in and out of the hospital.  He is a grumpy, demanding, old man, and I’m starting to worry that I have a younger version of him.  I’m not sure how to fix that between now and the next 30 years.  Maybe God will take care of that – for one or the other of us.

 I lost my Uncle Bill the week before the start of University of Tennessee Football Season.  You might think what on Earth does football season have to do with losing your Uncle?  For me, every thing.  My Uncle Bill was a great person -- a wild, fun, crazy person.  He loved life, and he loved living large.  I’m not sure about the veracity of the story, but I heard rumors that he and some friends had his Caddie STS loaded in the back of a 18 wheeler to transport back to Cookeville after a particularly fun day at Neyland Stadium.

My friends know I am super crazy about the VOLS and UT football.  I have not missed a home UT football game since 1986 when I started UT Law School.  Before then, my Uncle Bill took me to my first UT game when I was probably 12.  It was 1976, which was Bill Battle’s last season before Johnny Majors took over as Head Coach.  It was homecoming, and I dressed up in my nice suede jump suit.  Bill bought us all big corsages – white mums with an Orange T in the middle.  We walked to the stadium and all of the banners hung on the rafters outside Neyland Stadium.  I’m like WOW!  It was LOVE at first sight.

At the time, I had discovered the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Iron Curtain, Lynn Swann, Mean Joe Greene, and as a sixth grader had developed a love of football.  You’ve gotta love a girl like me!  So after my first visit to Neyland Stadium, I went to at least a few games each season for the next 10 years.  I like the fact that my “streak” began 10 years after my first visit to Neyland Stadium. 

As I was either approaching or just barely a senior in college, I took a class taught by Virginia Moore at Tennessee Tech on Business Law.  If you ever have a “light bulb” moment in helping guide your career choices that was it.   I went home and asked Joe – hey, what do you think about me going to law school.   He was like what does it cost and what do you have to do?  We found all the facts, I applied to UT, and then, I told my Uncle Bill. Oh my!

My whole family is in the insurance business, and actually, Uncle Bill would have made a wonderful lawyer.  He was a natural.  But insurance people think lawyers are – well, the scum of the Earth.  It’s the plaintiff’s lawyers actually, but he wasn’t distinguishing between them and defense lawyers. When I told Bill I was going to law school, his reaction was akin to me telling him I was going to jail for some horrible crime or going to drug rehab, or something worse.  He was like – “Oh, my GOD, you are disgracing our family!” 

So off to law school I went, and following the passion of Bill Legge, Jr, Kelli Thompson began the “streak.”  I have not missed a home UT football game since 1986 when I arrived in Knoxville.  I love the VOLS.  I endured the 1988 season where we started 0-6.  Derek Dooley is already doing better than Johnny Majors that season.  We lost to Duke who had some up start new coach named Steve Spurrier.  I witnessed the infamous Florida rain game, which Andy Kelly reminded me this week on the radio was in 1990.  The VOLS were leading 7-3 at halftime and rain was imminent.  Dale Carter returned the kickoff following halftime for a TD, and the onslaught began.  The VOLS won 45-3 to hand new Gator Coach Steve Spurrier his head on a platter.  The rain began, the downpour ensued, and the entire stadium, drenched and loving every minute of it, was doing to Gator Chomp back at them!

Of course, the 1998 season was the most magical.  We watched the Syracuse game on a neighbor’s dock, and we all joined hands and prayed when Jeff Hall kicked the game winning field goal.  We were at the UT/Florida game when we were tied 14-14 at the end of regulation.  Florida got the first possession and didn’t score, then Jeff Hall kicked the game winning field goal to win the game.  The stadium was electric, vibrating and actually kind of scary.  I took pictures as the students stormed the field, tore down the goal posts and marched away with a couple of $50,000 CBS goal post cameras. 

My Uncle’s mother, my mom’s mom, and my grandmother died the week before the Arkansas game that year.  She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer the previous year, and had improved quite well that summer.  She told Bill she was going to a game that year, and she had decided she was going to the Arkansas game.  None of us knew the significance at the time.  My grandmother was a trooper, enduring rheumatoid arthritis for many years, and she loved to gamble.  I can remember her delivering her parlay cards to what I now realize was her bookie, betting on college and pro football games every Friday when I was a kid.

Well, she took a turn for the worse that Fall, and she died the week before the Arkansas game.  At her funeral, the preacher told how she had wanted to go to that game, and she would be there in spirit.  For those of you who are die hard UT fans, you know the rest of the story.  Arkansas came to Neyland Stadium ranked no. 7 and we were ranked no. 1 or 2.  It was early November, and we were all sensing the dream of a National Championship was within our grasp. 

So fourth quarter, the Vols are behind, we are driving to get in scoring position, and we need a touchdown, not a field goal to win.  We lose possession of the ball with a little over 2 minutes to go, and people start leaving the stadium.  I look at Joe and we aren’t leaving and neither is my brother.  We are waiting for a miracle.  At mid-field, Arkansas drops back – mind you all they have to do is run the clock out – and Clint Stoner does the infamous Stoner stumble fumble. 

Stoner, the Razorbacks’ quarterback, drops back, stumbles on the foot of his center or another offensive lineman, has the ball in his hand, and puts it on the ground to steady himself. It squirts out, and UT recovered. This is the famous Stoner stumble fumble, which UT recovered, and my brother and I stand up and scream “thank you, Nano!”  because my grand ma caused that fumble!  Never mind we still had to drive 45 yards and score a TD, but we did, and we knew we would at that point.  That was a magical season that I hope I don’t ever forget.

Through the years, we’ve watched so many talented kids play at Neyland Stadium, including that quarter back named Peyton Manning.  I was at every home game.  But the streak was in jeopardy in 2004.  I started onto the road to double pneumonia around the time of the South Carolina game.  I remember because the physician assistant who failed to recognize I had pneumonia at the time was a SC grad who was wearing his SC tie at my appointment.  Within a few weeks, I’m like it’s not normal to speak 3 sentences and be out of breath or walk 10 yards with the same result.  We went to the doctor the Monday of Thanksgiving week, with a bag packed, knowing they would put me in the hospital.  Kentucky was the only remaining home game that Saturday.

After being put in the hospital, I asked my pulmonologist on Tuesday when I would go home.  He said, Kelli, you are going to be here for Thanksgiving.  I’m like I don’t care, but I have a football game to go to Saturday.  He said you aren’t going to game Saturday, and I said Oh yes I am!  The next day when he returned, our good friends, Ricky and Kay, had decorated my room in Orange and White.  He’s like Oh no, she’s serious!

Well, portable oxygen, a wheel chair, a sky box ticket and an agreement to leave at halftime lead to Kelli Thompson being released from a 6 day stay at the hospital at 10 a.m. on Saturday to be at the stadium at noon.  Uncle Bill was quite proud!  And we had fun.

So we all know this season is a huge challenge.  We are already 1-2, but soon to be 2-2 leaving a 4 week home stretch to start the season.  Then, we go to LSU, Georgia, return home to face Alabama the defending National Champions, then South Carolina, who have their best shot at an SEC East title (but not beating BAMA).  But I have hope.  I see a coach who is focused, prepared and not a smart a**, like previous head coach.  They are going to re-build, and let’s hope that Derek Dooley builds at UT what his daddy built at Georgia. 

I know that all of those good breaks this year, and the future of the VOL football program are going to be influenced by an ORANGE clad angel in heaven – named Bill Legge, Jr.  God speed, and I’m so glad you are rid of the burdens that were placed on you in this Earth.  I love you, and I can’t wait to see you in heaven!

Okay, Breathe -- Get Rejuvenated!

A lot has happened since our return from Mexico.  I just have not had the time or the strength to write about it.  I'm waiting on my sister-in-law and nephew and niece to arrive for a lake visit and overnight stay.  I can't wait.  So I thought I would try to jot down a few thoughts.

The most amazing thing that has happened is the birth of Kelsee, Matthew and Jeannette's little, and I do mean little, baby girl.   The most incredible part is I got to be there when she was born.  I remember when Jeannette asked me, and I'm thinking and saying, gosh, I don't know if I can do that -- because I was sure I just might pass out.  Joyce Kaye, a good friend and a nurse, was standing there, and she said it was the opportunity of a life time, especially since I don't have kids of my own.  Joyce said that I wouldn't be the first person to pass out in a delivery room if I did.  So then I asked Joe if he thought I could handle it.  His first words were, no way, you will pass out.  Well, the big day arrived, and I realized that having a baby is a long, long ordeal.  Matthew was prepared.  He had more snacks than a elementary school kid.  We made it fun, because when it got closer and closer, we started making bets on the arrival time, and we decided we were in a competition with the girl next door to see who would deliver first.  I don't think Jeannette was amused.

Well, when it was time to push -- I learned all kinds of terminology that day -- the nurses sprang into action.  I looked at Crystal and asked how long the "pushing" took.  She said it could take up to two hours, and I thought my jaw was going to drop open.  It probably did.  By now it was past 11 p.m., and the little thing that weighs the baby that was outside the other girl's room was moved outside Jeannette's room.  The nurses joked that she better deliver Kelsee before midnight so they didn't have to change the date on all of her bracelets.  Well, God's plan was to save the nurses some extra work, because Kelsee was born at 11:58 p.m. on July 15, 2010.  And we beat the other girl to boot!

So Kelsee officially makes me a grandmom -- I'm Granny K -- in a complicated way.  Jeannette's sister-in-law asked how we were related, and we both just said, "It's a long story."  Two weeks later, they came up to our house for the Patricia Neal IRC adaptive water ski day, and Kelsee got to ride on the tram for the first time.  That was the first time Joe had seen her, and he took her from Jeannette and was showing her off.  I told Jeannette we were going to have to pry that baby away from him, and sure enough we did.

We had a great day with some great friends and cooked 30 pizzas on the grill.  We made some new friends, and we caught up with some old ones.  Michael came to our house but because it rained all morning, they went back home.  So we missed Michael and his family.  Joe got a gift from the Ward boys too.  Harvey and Jacquelyn and Jamie and Joe spent the weekend, and we had a wonderful time.  We had so much fun, I woke up with a temporary tattoo on my back the next morning.

It was a fun way to blow off steam and to calm fears.  When we were cooking pizzas, I looked at my phone and saw two missed calls from Julia, Joe's sister.  I told Joe to look at his phone.  He had two missed calls from Mary Lou, his other sister.  Charles came down the tram and said our phone at the house was ringing off the hook.  All not good signs.  Well, Pa, Joe's dad, had been released from the hospital Thursday.  This  was after many discussions about the reality that alternative care should be considered and discussed.  Pa is adamant that he is not going into a nursing home.  No one wants him to go, but the reality of him being able to care for himself is not there, and Granny and Mary Lou are not healthy enough or strong enough to do so.  So he went home on Thursday, and we are on our dock cooking pizzas on Saturday, when the phones start buzzing.  Pa had fallen and broken his hip, which turned out it was his femur.  It was a nasty break in three places.

To say the least, Joe and I were furious.  There were serious questions about whether he could survive surgery.  He has all sorts of other ailments so that other surgeries have been not done.  He has been hospitalized multiple times this year, and the prior hospitalization was because of blood clots.  So he was on major blood thinners.  Miraculously, he survived the surgery.  But he isn't out of the woods yet.  He is in the Rehabilitation Center, but making slow progress.  His body is just worn out, and I'm always left wondering each time the phone starts ringing, whether he has finally gotten to cat life number nine.  Only time will tell.

So today, I'm waiting on family to visit.  Joe should be home this evening from Calling All Men, which has been a big success based on the reports I have gotten.  I am reading a new book, When Christians Get It Wrong,  which is so far, so good. And I feel like it is the calm before the storm.  Maybe its just a little peace, and just maybe I can get some rejuvenation in the process.  I'll probably need it.

Mexico -- Freedom, Family, Liberty and Protection

I've been waiting for the right time to sit down and write my thoughts about our trip to Mexico.  First of all, for all of us who have been to Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Cabo, etc. the Mexicans want to make it clear -- you have NOT been to Mexico.  They take American money there, and the Mexicans treat these places as non-Mexican.  So we arrive in San Luis Potosi close to midnight, and Jozie and his family pick us up at the airport.  By the way, it is an International airport in a city of 1.4 million people, but it is a third of the size of McGhee Tyson in Knoxville.  We had our bags searched by hand, both upon arrival and departure.  We had  to fill out a Mexican immigration form which we were instructed to keep with us (and our pass ports at all times).  It was to prove our legal ability to be in the country.  Hello!  Isn't this what our government refuses to do in this country?  I was amazed.

So we go to the Westin in San Luis Potosi, which was a wonderful, beautiful and very inexpensive hotel.  I could stay here as cheap as the Comfort Inn Suites in Cookeville, Tennessee -- $113 a night.  We tucked in for the night, and the Ramirez family promised to let us sleep in.  Hurricane Alex had roared (sort of) through North/Central Mexico during the day, and the city was soaked with water.  The data 3g/4g networks were not working so my Blackberry was useless, and better yet, I left the power cord to my laptop at home.  Joe did better than that.  He left his laptop, our Verizon router wireless card, MP3 player and every thing else electronic sitting in his chair in the office at home.  We were off to a good start.

So we got some sleep, and as always, the first night, especially for me, was fitfull, but we awoke and went downstairs to breakfast.  Oh my, I fell in love with the Mexican breakfast, especially at the Westin.  I had lots of wonderful fruit and juice -- celery juice, really!  Then, gorditas which were corn tortillas put together like a pocket with wonderful fillings.  I asked for three different fillings, not realizing I would get three different gorditas!  I thought they would just put them in one.  So we have lunch around 1 p.m. that lasted until 3 p.m. at a wonderful restaurant.   We discovered a new Mexican beverage -- La Paloma, which is tequilla, lime and Fresca.  It was so freshing and light.  We had a wonderful meal, and then went back to the hotel to rest.  We took a long nap -- and my Blackberry started working.  Thank goodness.

Jozie said he would pick us up at 9 p.m. for the graduation party.  We went downstairs and suddenly the hotel lobby was hopping with different parties and people in the air.  They were all dressed like they were going to the prom, a wedding or the Oscars, depending on your perspective.  It was amazing.  Jozie picked us up and said we didn't really have to be there at 9 -- that was an understatement.  We went to an overlook over San Luis Potosi to take in the view.  It was where all the "kids" go parking.  We went to the party, and we quickly realized this is a loooonnngg event.  They served the first course a little after 10 p.m. -- mind you this is Central time for us -- and then, we had dessert around 1 a.m.  I kept saying I would outlast the grannies, but in the end, I only beat one granny.  I quickly learned, Mexicans seriously do not have concept of time, and they love to party and they love to dance.  We got to our hotel at 3 a.m., and I'm thinking -- I can't do this for four days.

We slept, got up, had another wonderful Mexican breakfast, and Jozie picked us up around 11 or noon.  Dany, his beautiful little sister, was having her first Communion at 1 p.m.  Again, I learned that time is relative to Mexicans.  We arrived around 10 after 1 p.m., and the service actually started around 1:30 or so.  It was a beautiful service, and even though it was in Spanish, I know that Joe and Kelli, the American parents were acknowledged and trusted with the guidance of a beautiful young lady.  So now, off to party number 2.  I think that if the party for Dany's communion is any indication, it is akin to a wedding celebration, but with inflatable toys and bouncy things for kids.  The food was wonderful.  We were welcomed into the family in so many ways, and I got some incredible pictures of family, friends, fun and food.  So we go back to the hotel, tired again, and go to sleep.

Next morning, another incredible Mexican breakfast, and World Cup soccer on top of that.  Jozie picked us up for a trip to San Miguel.  It is a wonderful, old, especially by American standards, city with beautiful (and narrow) cobblestone streets, delightful buildings and a lovely vista view.  People were dancing in the courtyard -- Mexicans love to dance and do it often -- and we visited the churches and buildings around the town.  It was lovely.

Then, we went for lunch, late around 3 p.m.  There is an old farm just outside downtown San Miguel that houses a restaurant.  The owner operates it in an old corn silo.  Mexicans love brick ceilings, very unique, and they grace the churches and the grain silos.  We arrive, and the owner seats us.  There is no menu and no prices.  A lady is making home made pasta in the back corner.  What you get depends on the size of your party and the flavors of the day.  We were delighted.  We started with a calamari/mussel/greens salad on a platter for all 7 of us.  Dany, being the youngest, wanted something simple, so she got fettucini noodles with cheese and grilled beef slices.  We also got a beef salad with greens and pine nuts.  Both of them were excellent, but I absolutely savored the squid/mussel salad trying to dissect its ingredients.  The owner of the restaurant operates it as a hobby 3 months out of the year, and lives in Italy the rest of time.  It was incredible.  I have 2 GREAT restaurant experiences -- Nobu in NYC and Delmonico in NOLA, this ranked right up there with both of them.

So next we have a wonderful pasta balls, like pergoli, with pesto and a spinach/cheese ravioli with a mushroom pine nut sauce which was wonderful.  Then several of us had lamb shank and veggies.  Lupita and Dany each had dessert, and with drinks and all the bill with tip was $193.  Oh my!  That puts this eatery over the top from Nobu and Delmonico!  So we drive back to San Luis Potosi, and all the while, I'm thinking, Mexicans drive like crazy.  If I live through this experience I will never, ever criticize Joe's driving again.  After many prayers -- all answered -- I gave him the green light to any time  I criticize his driving to say -- remember Mexico.  I'm sure he will take advantage of it.  So we make it back to San Luis Potosi alive, and the Ramirez family leaves us at the Westin, which just happened to coincide with the first evening without parties at the Westin until 3 a.m.  We slept pretty good.

Next morning, the wonderful breakfast again, and the Ramirez family and Caesar joined us.  Dany showed off her school medals, and we had another wonderful meal.  We took off with Jozie and Casear to downtown San Louis Potosi, and we enjoyed the buildings, especially the churches, the street vendors, and the movie being filmed.  It was lovely and we had a great time.  So we went back to nap (much needed) to prepare for our last Mexican meal.  We went to eat fried worms, but they were out.  So we did better.  First of all, I never saw a basket of chips and salsa in Mexico until the last meal.  Then, it was baked or broiled tortilla strips and homemade salsa table side, depending upon what you wanted pepper, tomato, heat wise.  It was yummy.  Then, since we had no fried worms, we went Fear Factor extreme.  Chips, guac, with ant eggs on top.  It sounds gross, but it was quite good.  Then, I had some baby goat intestines that were grilled, some yummy seafood and a couple of La Palomas.  We had a wonderful last meal and then back to the hotel for an early morning flight.

Oh, and I would be neglect if I didn't state the obvious.  Mexico is not America, and although there are LOTS of places in America I would not feel safe, they are much more in Mexico.  Jozie and his family and friends are "affluent" and they all live with huge walls protecting themselves and their homes.  Every where you went there were huge fences or walls to protect people from the potential violence.  Jozie's house is lovely, but the 2 story and then 3 story walls in the back yard speak volumes, along with the gang graffiti along the exterior wall of his house at the end of the road. I have to ask myself -- if the Mexicans protect themselves with walls and fences, why can't America protect its borders the same way?  Why can't America require every one, not a random citizen on the street, but some one pulled over for a criminal violation, to produce evidence of the right to legally be in America?  I'd have to do it in Mexico.  Why is Mexico suing Arizona over their similar requirements?

Any one who knows me knows I am so open to diversity.  I've had a Mexican kid at the height of the amnesty/immigration debate.  I had to explain to him that the Mexican govt. telling him that there were American border patrol agents ready to shoot Mexicans at the border was not accurate.  I also sat and loved and had family time with my Mexican family.  They never treated me any differently because I was white or an American.  I hope they felt the same love from me.  Our governments are wrong, and they are fostering this divide.  There is a way for many people to immigrate to this country legally.  The offer of amnesty is a joke, because most of the Latinos here just want to work, make money and go home and take care of their families.  They don't want to become US citizens.

So that is my take.  No one can call me names, because I have a Mexican kid and family whom I love without condition.  We loved our visit to Mexico, and we know how much they worry about America's perception of them.  They were shocked at some of the things we told them about our government.  They readily admit their government is corrupt.  What I shockingly admitted, and was surprised, is so is ours.  That is a shame.  America is on a down ward spiral.  We have to save her and ourselves.

Boys and Change

Joe and I will be childless, at least with having kids physically living with us, again in the next few weeks.  Linus returns home to Germany on June 22, and after attending a medical forum in Atlanta from this weekend until June 29, Rain leaves on June 30 -- at 6:30 a.m., no less.  So for all practical purposes, Rain leaves on Friday with Joe and Linus to spend the weekend in Atlanta.  Then, Joe and Linus come home Sunday afternoon, and Linus leaves mid-day on Tuesday.  Did I mention I have a reception at work that evening?  I should just be lovely, with red, puffy eyes.

I have thought all along that we are veterans at this.  We've talked with the boys about what to expect and how to prepare.  But in hindsight we were ignoring preparing ourselves.  It came crashing down on me at church on Sunday.  Charles took the kids up front, and reminded them, the church, and me, not once, not twice, but three times the boys were about to leave.  Charles likes to repeat himself over and over.  He's kind of like a lawyer.  Preachers and lawyers think that what they have to say is so profound and important, they say the same thing four different ways.  In this case, it was three.  And it left me in tears.

It probably is even harder because we don't have kids coming this school year.  Joe's dad is not doing well, and Joe needs to be able to go and stay in Cookeville for days at a time or longer.  I can't get the kids to school and pick them up and work (and feed them) by myself.  So we aren't experiencing the joys and meeting new kids as ours go back to their families at home.  The most wonderful thing about what we do is that we have developed extended families all over the world.

I joke that it is amazing that we hosted again after our first year.  I did everything  I could to embrace and love a child, including taking his older sister as our own.  She still is part of our family, but for a lot of reasons, that first child will never be part of our lives again, barring a miracle of monumental proportions.  I think when you learn first hand a child only cares about themselves and what you can do for them, you realize the love you spent on them didn't stick, so to speak.  I'm not going to punish myself with heart ache trying to help and love a child who doesn't care about any one but himself.  If you think I'm being harsh, I can give you one perfect example.  He actually said that what Jesus did for all of mankind was "easy" and if he were in Jesus' shoes, he would have done it too.  He said that Jesus could have made the pain, not hurt, and he knew he was going to live so it was easy.  I'm not kidding.  I think it was that moment that really made me go, oh no, this kid is just wrong.  But I'm not going to worry about it because I can't change it.

Yesterday, I had visions of Molly after cutting her favorite vegetable, cucumber (not), and putting it on her forehead -- it does have some good qualities -- then, making us Bulgogi -- which by the way, has become a fav in the Thompson house.  Linus and Rain love it.  Even though we've had a Thai kid, we have not had a daily dose of white rice, like we did with our South Korean and Thai girls last year.  I'm reminded of all of the efforts to pack suitcases, keeping them under weight -- shipping stuff home -- Jozie still holds the record!  And standing at the security gate, saying our good byes, hugging, crying.

Linus and Rain said they are going to make us a Thai and German dinner on Thursday.  That should be interesting!  Boys, you need to get me a grocery list quickly.  It brings back memories of so many other traditional ethnic meals we've shared.  From what I call Russian burritos, which are wonderful, to Thai pork, to Bulgogi to traditional German food, including Monika's potato cakes.  Monika hung out with us the weekend Molly and Ploy cooked for us, and we all had a blast.  That reminds me that it isn't just "our" kids, but other kids -- Monika and Christian, for example, that are a part of our family.  Then, you add brothers and sisters and friends -- Dinara, of course, and Svende, Alexandro, Danny, Gabby and Cz Cz.  We are so blessed.

I know these kids and their families will forever be a part of our family.  I know they will come back, we will watch them graduate, go to college, get married and have families.  The tragedies in what we have done are also there.  The lost kids and the kids who don't care about us as evidenced by the way they have treated us. But it is all worth it, the good and the bad.  Because the good outweighs the bad by bunches.  I told the boys on the way home from church yesterday that one of my missions was that every child who comes here knows who Jesus is when he or she leaves.  We also want them to know that Americans are loving, caring people for the most part.  We love our country -- we love God -- we love life.  I'm going to do a lot of thinking and tearing up in the next two weeks, but it is all part of the process.

We are going to miss you Linus and Rain.  We love you bunches!

Waiting for Baby Silas

Some friends of ours, who have grown near and dear to our hearts, are hopefully landing at McGhee Tyson right now coming home from Ethiopia.  They are bringing home the newest addition to their family, Silas.  Silas is a beautiful, albeit much bigger than they expected, six month old boy.  I think we need to start charting his statistics to supply to the University of Tennessee football program.  I am so excited for them.   I can't wait to meet Silas, and more importantly, watch Atley and Ava take care of him, because they are going to be great big brother and sister.  God Bless the Watson family and welcome home Silas!

Memorial Day

I want to thank every single person who ever served in the military for our country, and for both sides during the Civil War.  For those that died, you gave the ultimate sacrifice for me.  So that I could live in freedom and liberty -- in the best country in the world.  Let's hope we can keep it that way.

I cannot imagine the sacrifice you made for me and for our country.  God Bless You!  And God Bless America!

The Game of Politics

I hate politics, but I am very concerned and educated on issues facing our area, our state and our country.  I never, ever provided any contribution to a political campaign until the 2008 Presidential election.  I gave money to John McCain's campaign after he announced Sarah Palin as his running mate -- with the strict instruction that I absolutely not receive any further request for money from his campaign or the Republican Party.  That didn't work out so well because I get requests from the Republican Party for money on a regular basis.  Sarah Palin has been vilified by the mainstream media and made to look like a dummy.  She ain't no dummy, and if I were her, I would never run for public office again, but make as much money as I could (and do something good with  it).

For the hard left and hard core Democrats, they will never admit what a complete joke Barack Obama is as President.  For those that fell for the "hope" and "change" and "we can believe" hooie, I blame you for the disaster this country is in right now. Blame the deficits, the terrorism attacks, the wars -- heck, Nepolitano even blamed Bush for the Christmas Day failed bombing because the regulations enacted during the Bush presidency allowed a terrorist on that plane.  Hello!  You are in charge of Homeland Security, so did you not read them?  If you felt they were flawed, why didn't YOU change them?  Politics is always about spin and blame the other side, and it is getting ridiculous. I've actually seen people argue with a straight face that spending untold amounts of money the country does not have is really helping the economy.  If you dig, you see the only significant amount of jobs in this economy are government jobs.  That means more bureaucracy, more waste.  I'm sick of it.  I'm sick of the spin and the politics. Watch the news -- spending money the govt. does not have has put Greece, Spain, Great Britian and likely, all of Europe in a precarious position.  Our leaders want to make us like Europe.  That is crazy.

So last week, one of my Democrat colleagues asked if I was interested in hearing what the Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party had to say about where the Democratic Party in Tennessee was headed.  I really truly went with an open mind thinking I was going to hear what the Democratic Party in Tennessee stood for, what its values were and what it hoped to accomplish to make our State a better place to work and live.  Boy, was I wrong.  The total presentation was about how important it was for the legislature to come back under Democratic control.  He showed the seats that were vulnerable because they had Republicans running for re-election for the first time.  If you didn't know, the state legislature lost its Democratic control for the first time in I don't know, maybe a gazillion years to the Republicans.  The first time Republicans running for re-election included my representative Chad Faulkner.  The Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party all but called him a back woods, hick, Sheriff deputy.  How nice.

Then, one of the Republicans had the misfortune of going into public office, succumbing to the "power" and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a female worker on his staff.  He is now divorced as a result.  Thanks for that bit of information.  Yet, it takes the National Enquirer to out an affair by a Democratic Presidential candidate cheating on his terminally ill wife.  Now all of the Democratic candidates either challenging or running for re-election in vulnerable positions were "well connected" or came from long standing political families.  Gee, we really want politics as usual so let's vote for these people.   His presentation left me speechless.  I really wanted to say a lot, but I did not out of respect for the two prominent Democrats who are my co-workers and who he mentioned by name -- along with the, at least, five requests for money.  If I were a card carrying Democrat and heard what he said,  I would be embarrassed.

The gist of the presentation was this -- it is extremely important for the Democrats to re-take control of the state house.  Why?  Because the next session will be the one where our State evaluates and re-districts a/k/a making the districts such that it benefits their party's candidates in the federal Congressional elections.  That was what it was all about!  How do you like that?  Did the Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party tell me what they see as the vision for our state, how they can help our state, how they can help the people of our state?  Absolutely not.  It was all about winning and power.  It is sickening.

I would certainly hope a similar presentation by the head of the Tennessee Republican Party would be different.  But I have my doubts.  I get called a Republican on a regular basis, kind of like being called a drug dealer.  I am not.  I am conservative, and I am independent.  I don't fit into a peg on the Democrats radar or the Republicans.  I am one of those Bible reading, gun toting people Barack Obama made fun of while speaking to the crazy people in the People's Republic of California, all elitists who know better than us stupid backwards Americans.   I am well educated.  I have voted in every single election since I was 18 years old (thanks MOM)!  I educate myself on the issues and the candidates.

Heck, when I was young, I even voted for Al Gore for Congress (my old home district) and Senator.  I wouldn't vote for him as the county dog catcher now.  He has used false information to create a "global crisis" and now won't even answer a single question about  the total junk science in An Inconvenient Truth, without it being pre-approved and "scripted" before hand.  By the way, this just happened when he got an honorary degree on Friday from my alma mater.  He has made millions of dollars on the carbon credit scam and uses energy like kids who leave the lights on all the time.  Do as I say, not as I do, and get rich off it, like Al Gore has.

I voted for Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, and a good governor who was handed a mess of TennCare (thanks Republican Don Sunquist) -- prelude to Obamacare -- and fixed it.  It was a painful process which resulted in many people losing coverage, because our state could not afford it. Obamacare is going to be a disaster for our country and it needs to be repealed now.  I sit here in amazement that normal people bought into "I hate Bush" -- who by the way was a horrible President from a fiscal responsibility perspective, but by George, I give him credit for protecting us from another horrible terrorist attack on our own land following 9/11.  Now, we can't use the words "terrorism" or jihad Islamic fanatics" and instead we call it "overseas contingency operations"  -- What?

We are bending over backwards for inclusiveness to tell people who are dead set to kill us, and who could care less about the plight of America (until they realize their economy  and government just might follow the same course if America fails).  Why?  Joining hands with Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran and singing kum ba ya ain't working out so well.  These countries are intent at seeing the destruction of our country, our values and our beliefs.

So what should I do?  I don't know about you, but I'm active in the political process like never before.  The mainstream media might call me a "tea bagger" -- Obama has actually used that term, which if you think about  is akin to calling a black person the despised "N" word.  How can a President get by with calling tax paying, country loving, small government people a derogatory term and nary a mention of it in the mainstream media? Maybe because they are calling the Tea Party protesters "tea baggers" too.  We are the ones who get called racists because we dare oppose the first black President in American history.  The media is evaluating the demographics of the Tea Party protesters.  Yet, Arizona passes a law to actually enforce the federal laws on immigration, and the protests are violent spectacles.  How many people have been arrested at a Tea Party rally, really?  They are people who are grand mas and pap paws.  But oh my, they disagree with the President so they are to be outcast.  What has our country come to?

I can safely say I have been more inclusive and open in my dealings with people from different faiths and different cultures than our President, who apparently despises the foundations upon which our country is based.  Does Barack Obama count as one  of his own -- kids who are Muslim or Buddhist?  I do.  I love my country.  I love our capitalist system because the private sector has good and bad, but for the most part, most businesses realize that treating their employees and customers with respect and dignity actually makes them more profitable.  I love the environment and animals.  I hate to see any living creature killed.  Just ask the 6 foot black snake slithering across my side walk last week.  Hopefully, he is cruising the woods of Cove Norris still because I would not and could not -- or allow any one -- to kill him.  I recycle.  I started composting.  I want to eliminate the trash the Thompson family creates.  I turn off the lights and conserve energy.  I love nature.

I think homosexual unions should never be recognized in a church, but from a government perspective, a marriage is a legal contract between two people.  I have no problem with civil union contracts between same sex people committed to each other. We talk about the sanctity of marriage, yet the heterosexual divorce rate approaches 50%.  How hypocritical is that?  I do not see how any one can say with a straight face that life does not begin at conception because abortion is against God's law.  Can you really say that Roe v. Wade, which allows legal abortion in this country up until the birth of a child, is reasonable or rationale?  I can't.  I know there are reasons that I can ever understand or want to be in that position that might make some one make a painful decision to end an unborn child's life.  But for goodness sakes, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize you are pregnant and make those painful choices early and then you have to reconcile that decision with God.  But our government allows unborn children to be sucked into the birth canal and a needle stuck into their brain to kill them.  Is that something our government should be protecting as "choice"?  I don't think so.  The number of abortions in this country is totally unacceptable.  Yet, we have a culture that promotes sex, single motherhood, abuse of women by portraying them as sexual objects and so much more.  It is wrong.

I am for the Fair Tax.  I want to reduce the ridiculous bloated federal government that we have.  Start with the Department of Education because it is the state's responsibility to educate the children, not the federal government.  I don't want a Supreme Court Justice who thinks Socialism has a place in America.  Do you hear me Elena Kagan?  I don't want a big government.  There is no need for it.  Oh but the only reason for it is to create power.  Not with you or me -- but with the politicians who want big government.  We need to send every one of them packing, and we need to re-gain control of our country.

I am about as diverse from a political perspective as you can get. You might also guess there is no way I will ever run for political office because I don't fit into the pegs.  The most important thing about all of this is I'm not going to worry about it.  I'm going to do what I can to make a difference as opposed to sitting on my rear, not learning about issues and thinking raising my own kids is "community service."  I'm going to trust in Jesus and God to put our country in the right direction -- through the actions of people who care.  And if our country does self-destruct, it is all in God's plan to show the world that political power and greed can bring to ruin the best country ever.  Then, from the ashes what our fore fathers fought to achieve will rise again.

God Bless America!

Happy Mom's Day!

This weekend we celebrate mom.  I have a lot to be thankful for from my mom.  It is amazing how things stick with you.  My mom left an invaluable impression in my life in several ways.  I was born in 1964, and so my childhood was filled with the Vietnam war.  My mom got a bracelet to honor a prisoner of war, and she wore it everyday until the war ended and the prisoners came home.  My mom also instilled in me the importance of voting, but she cherished and kept to herself the reasons or the people for whom  she voted.  Because of her influence, I have voted in every single election since I turned 18 years old.

My mom also taught me an invaluable lesson about discrimination.  Considering the time frame of when I grew up, I had no clue that people were treated differently based on the color of their skin until I was 13 years old.  I remember the moment, because I wanted a friend who was black to spend the night with me.  The problem was we were staying at my grandparents house, and my mom reluctantly told me that my grandmother would not allow her to spend the night with me.  I asked why?  And she told me.  That was the very first time I had any idea that people were treated differently because of their race.  For that, I credit my mom.

My mom also undertook the task of taking in a two-year-old and a nine-month-old baby that were my sister's children.  My sister was incapable of taking care of them, yet she fought tooth and nail to take them away from my mother.  Those girls were with me and Joe when my sister died.  They were five and six years old, and my mother raised them as her own.  Lord knows, she's not perfect -- and she will tell you that.  But she did her best, with us and with them.  Her two living children have pretty good stories.  We both did good in school, and we love sports and life.  We both married our high school sweethearts and have by most standards successful marriages and careers.

Surely, my mom deserves credit for that.  I love her, and I want to wish her happy mom's day.  I also have to give the same love to my mother-in-law.  The first time I met her she was with her twin sister.  Now that's scary.  One of the first things out of her mouth was, "you are full of shit, Joe Thompson."  You've got to love somebody like that.  She is a mom's mom.  Everybody calls her granny and she is the ultimate Granny.  She has endured two separate bouts with cancer, and her spirit and attitude is amazing and inspiring.  I love her so much, and I think she might love me more than she does Joe.  Not really, but pretty close.  I love you Granny too.

Happy Mom's Day to my two moms.  I love you both.

Life With One Arm

Many of you know that I had surgery on my elbow and arm last week.  Because of my RA, I have suffered with elbow pain in both arms since 2008, and the pain has come and gone, gotten better and worse, and then became unbearable in my left arm for the last eight months.  So we decided it was time to try to fix it. I hope it went well, but only time will tell. However, not being able to use my arm has been an interesting experience.  You might be thinking how on earth is she typing this now.  Joe can  type about as well as a two-year-old.  So he has the software that types what he says.  It isn't perfect, and you have to correct it.  But it has made my day.  It is called Dragon naturally speaking.  It works pretty darn good.

So I am trying to recover, and get some work done as I can. I really have to be careful and protect my arm. I am in a cast which they will take off next week. I'm not sure where we go from there, or when I will be typing away at 90 words a minute again. This has been an interesting experience.

Oh, and the absolute best thing about going through this surgery is the wonderful card I got from my good friend today. It has this lovely poopie asleep on the card who is obviously a beagle, and it says "May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace." How sweet and wonderful. Thank you Ms. Kaye.

"Good" Friday Should be Black Friday -- the only good thing is the hope that came on Easter

I have really struggled with a lot of issues, faith based issues, in the last few months.  I particularly have failed to understand how people who call themselves Christians are intent on persecuting others.  Any one who knows me well, knows how much I love U2, all of whom are devote Christians except Adam Clayton (last I checked).  Bono's best quote is "Christians are really hard to tolerate, I don't know how Jesus does it."  The persecutors are doing so for no other reason than -- you are not doing it the way I want it done, the way it's been done, or the way I think it should be done.  Really?  I was reminded of the conflict when two good friends and I shared a Seder meal at Temple Beth El.   I was asked point blank -- why do you think that flower arrangement with the column and cherub angel was left at church.  I'm sitting there thinking -- because it is fit for a funeral and I would have no place for it at my house.  I was silent, and then, met with a reassuring smile and chuckle, because the receiver of the gift was thinking the same thing.  But that flower arrangement has been a source of conflict -- for no apparent reason other than, well, I don't even know.  So we went on to laugh, enjoy a meal with new Jewish friends, and have a better understanding of their traditions.  The most important thing for me, was to see Jesus throughout the Passover meal.  He just added to it, when he broke bread, his body broken for us, and drank the wine, his blood shed for us.  Do this in rememberance of me.  I remember, I hope, each day.

So today I go to work and have a very queasy stomach for some reason, maybe the day.  I left work at lunch and did my sick belly diet of ramen noodles, a milk shake, ginger ale and a grilled cheese sandwich -- not all at the same time  :o).  Then, I think long and hard about the sacrifice of two devoted followers of Christ -- who for the last 39 days (with guidance from their physicians) have eaten NOTHING.  Nothing at all.  I couldn't go a day without eating something, even when I am sick, so what does that say about my will or my devotion.  If Jesus said to me point blank, Kelli, don't eat a bite of food for 40 days -- I truly do not believe I have the strength to do it.   I really wish and pray I could, but I'm part of the crowd.  The crowd that screamed for Jesus to be crucified or part of the disciples who fled like scared rabbits when Jesus was taken captive.  As I have reflected on this,  I really hope and pray I would be like Mary, mother of Jesus or Mary Magdeline, there supporting Jesus, wiping up his blood, sobbing with grief for what happened to him.  But the truth is, none of us knows how we would have reacted or acted unless we were thrust into that horrible, horrible moment in history.  The 24 hours that changed the world.  I can only hope what I would have done.  But I will never know.  I do know I could not go without food, for 40 days -- maybe if I was in a coma. I could not carry a Cross a third of a mile or 3 miles on day 38, and I could not go without sobbing when  I hear nails being pounded into a Cross -- knowing that all of us allowed this to happen -- and needed it to happen to save ourselves.

Today is a very dark day for Christians so I don't really know why it is called "Good Friday" other than what follows.  Easter is the gift, because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  We all are blessed with that gift, whether we embrace it or reject it.  Jesus did it for every one on Earth, the wicked, the sinners, the righteous and the evil.  We are all in the same boat.  So how do you respond?  What path do you take?  I hope I try to follow Christ, although I will never do it perfectly -- or even come close.

Jews, Christians, Christ and the USA

I've had an interesting week.  My boys are bouncing around DC/Philly and NYC on what has to be a spectacular trip.  I told my kids, you are doing things and seeing things I never, ever had the chance when I was your age.  Because I couldn't afford to do it.  My first trips to DC and NYC were work related.  I never went west of West Memphis, Arkansas, until I was a responsible adult and had to do so because of work. 

They have opportunities that kids here do not.  God Bless them for that.  But, how can we help our kids, learn, grown and experience the USA.  How can we teach them that what they see on TV is NOT America, and how can we help them understand what is important to this country and to us as Americans.  It's hard.  The health care debate has been extremely divisive.  But with good reason.  The govt. wants to establish universal health care, and that is not what our country is about, or what we should be supporting.  We should be supporting reforms that lower health care costs and provide broader access.  But for those of you who say with a straight face this bill does that -- well, that is a lie.  The most important things to me for the health care bill are two fold.  First, it is unconstiutional for the FEDERAL govt. to require every citizen to purchase something from a private company.  So the remedy will be -- buy it from the govt.!  That is what they want.  And that will be devastating.  Ask yourself, exactly what has our govt. in terms of entitlement programs, actually run efficienty and effectively.  The answer has to be NONE.  Medicare (which is touted as socialized medicine for seniors) is broke.  Social security -- which so many people have paid thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars into the program -- is paying out more this year than it is taking in -- 9 years before the CBO estimated it would do so. It is broke.  Is the answer another unfunded $1 trillion (or two trillon) mandate.  NO.  We can't afford it as a country.  How do we fix it?  We fix our govt. to start with because they are the biggest bunch of wasteful spending self-indulged politicians I've ever seen.  We need to stop them.  And we need to save our country.

 Could we have gotten a much greater return if we had invested that money in very secure (?) govt. bonds throughout our careers -- and been much better off than what we MIGHT get (if SS survives) from the govt.  This whole business of the govt. knows best and can make the best decisions for ALL of us is about as logical as buying a lottery ticket to hopefully secure our future.  Maybe buying a lottery ticket has a little better odds.  I'm waiting for November.  Because I will do everything I can to clean the house.  These politicians are a bunch of no good, self serving, lying, politicians.  They need TO GO!

So how does this relate to the Jews.  I've asked myself that question since I signed up to attend a Seder meal at the Temple Beth El.  I really struggled with how I would approach the people there, because I cannot understand their rejection of Christ as the Messiah.  But I think I figured it out.   I don't understand it, and I don't necessarily agree with it considering the continual rejection of God from the people of Israel.  But God says they are the choosen ones, and I want to understand and embrace their history. 

When I was at the Seder meal last night, I saw Jesus throughout it.  I wanted to cry out to the Jews, don't you see.  But they might be doing to same to me, if they could.  I don't understand it.  But I'm sure God does.  And it will all work out when we all (the choosen ones -- I hope I'm there) get to heaven.

I know I am trying to understand Christ's walk to the Cross which has to be one of the most difficult actions taken in the history of the Earth (and there is plenty of factual support of Christ's walk).  I want (not really, but think I should) to watch the Passion with my kids this weekend.  Read the 4 Gospels accounts of the last 24 hours of Jesus' life.  Then, watch that film.  Flinch, grimace, groan and break your heart.  But there is no question -- Jesus died a brutual, horrific, undeserved death.  And he did it for each and every single person on this Earth, deserved and undeserved.

I just hope we all understand it, appreciate it, accept it and live our lives the way we should.  God Bless you all.  Jesus lives.

Simple Things -- Like Friends

Although Joe is staying home and Joe R. is coming to visit, I am taking the boys to visit Ricky & Kay in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the morning.  It was a trip post-poned at Christmas because of the fragile state of Granny and Pa.  They are doing better now (or at least Pa is stable) so off we go.  This is going to be interesting.  I am taking a German who snow skis well and a Thai kid who never saw temperatures below 60 degrees until he came here.  He has actually seen snow since he arrived here, which did not substantially materialize for my Thai girl Ploy last year.  Let's just hope that we do not have a repeat of our Jozie, Di Steamboat trip in 2007 where Ricky and Jozie both ended up in the Emergency Room.  The ER doctor was kindof "freaky" and they put Ricky in the OB/GYN room.  The boys are super excited so I don't know how well they will sleep tonight.  But I am super grateful for friends who invite us into their winter home for a great visit.  I have designated myself as short order chef to fix breakfast, hang out (although I will go up on the mountain but not to slide down on slippery skis or a board) and just chill.  Then, I'm going to fix an awesome dinner for when they return from the slopes.  I'm sad though that my girl, Ms. Di can't make the trip because I really wanted this to be a graduation gift from us for her. 

I had a sit down with Dr. Calhoun, my buddy from the Arthritis Foundation, and we are down to last resorts for my elbow and forearm pain.  So I have to decide if I want (ha!) surgery to see if this never ending torture can be put to an end.  So I will do some soul searching about that too.

One last request to God, when we return let the beginnings of spring emerge.  I'm not saying no temperatures at all below freezing, but just a little, and a lot more 40,50 and 60 degree days.  We will miss Joe and the poopies while we are gone, but I will be super glad to be back home, because I am really a home body at heart.

Science v. Religion

Most of you who know me, know of my struggle with faith, and more specifically, the church. From the time I was 14 until I was 37, I stepped into church a total of maybe 5 times, 4 of them for weddings and funerals. I loved (love) Jesus, but it was the church that I found unnerving. One of the things that truly troubled me was reconciling science and religion, because the explanations I was hearing from the church were unconvincing. I got over it as an adult because I can reconcile science and religion, but the contortions some churches go to really bothers me. The Bible is not meant to be a scientific document. It is a spiritual book and a historical account of the Christian faith (and to some extent the Jewish faith).


Last year, I read a great book by Adam Hamilton titled, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White. Although it was disappointing in the end (he voted for Obama as best I can tell), it really sums up our perspective on the world, politics and religion.

I had no idea that the Roman Catholic Church required Galileo to renounce his determination that the Sun was the center of our solar system. Galileo was born in 1564 in Italy. He was a renowned mathematician, astronomer, inventor and philosopher. In 1633, he was convicted of heresy for proclaiming that the Earth revolved around the Sun. He was forced by the Catholic Church to renounce his assertion because it was contrary to Scripture. Imagine that?

As Adam Hamilton says, “To ask the Bible to function as a scientific textbook is to fundamentally misunderstand the intention of Scripture.” What fun would it be for God to have laid out in detail how the Earth and the Universe were formed, or how we were created -- especially since I read the creation story in the Bible as the creation of man and woman that could form thought and discern right and wrong. Six days is God’s time, not our time. Our lives are likely just a speck of a moment in God’s time, yet he knows everything that is happening in every one’s lives. Don’t you think God wants us to discover on our own, learn, debate and grow – a process that must take thousands and thousands of years, just looking at the discoveries and innovations since Jesus lived – or millions or billions of years.

Science and religion are not threats to one another, quite the contrary. To quote Galileo, “The Bible teaches men how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.” Adam Hamilton reconciles the debate pretty well:

Between the black and whiteness of the conflict between science and religion is a place where both are valued for what they offer us as human beings: a place where we don’t have to choose between science and religion. They are not adversaries, but two different ways of helping us understand the universe and our place in it. Those who recognize this have to appreciate the value of gray.

Well said. I am not a black and white person, at all. I am very conservative, especially from a fiscal, small government perspective. But in actuality, I am liberal from a religious perspective. For example, I think gay marriage in the church should not be accepted, but I have no problem with civil unions from a strictly legal (government) perspective – because that is what marriage is to the government, a legal contract. And aren’t we entitled to equal protection under the law.

Sometimes the confines of church and church doctrine, stifle me. I do know Jesus and I love Jesus with all my heart. I want to be like him, although that is an unattainable goal. My struggle is with those that think they have it figured out, or they said the prayer, get dunked in a baptism, or faithfully attend church, so they are good to go and live life accordingly. And sometimes churches say okay they are now saved, so let’s move on to the next lost soul. The thing about that is that person’s spiritual journey is just beginning. Some churches do very little to foster that journey, but rather focus on what I call “Fear Factor” church or trying to scare the hell out of the remaining lost souls to repent.

No one should come to Jesus out of fear, but out of love, because he died a brutal death for each and every person who will ever step foot on this Earth. I question the “judgment” that abounds from churches on a regular basis, either through the people of the church or the pulpit. Jesus was a radical, and he would turn over the tables in most churches today and charge “You don’t get it!” But we are humans so we can’t ever attain that perfection. If you think about it, the closest person to get it (from my life perspective) has to be Mother Theresa. Talk about a selfless servant of the Lord. All of the Popes and smoke and Popemobiles in the world can’t hold a candle to her selfless service to Christ and to the people of the world. She did it with such humility and such gratitude. What an amazing person. I wish and pray I could get to her level, but I know I won’t ever come close. What amazes me most is those who truly believe they are selfless, giving, servants – when nothing could be further from the truth. That, my friends, is the hypocrisy of the church. But I am a part of it, and it has made a world of difference in my life.