Life as we know it...

I think this has been the longest time between posts...ever. Pretty crazy our life is right now. Every plan that we have seems to end at a door gently, yet firmly shut on us.
We are official members of NTM but at this point we don't believe that writing for them is what we are supposed to do. We love NTM, yet we have always wanted to be involved in helping missionaries in a support role. Writing for NTM wouldn't be that. They need writers, but the writing there is more focused on "awareness" of the mission, and we want to be more involved in missionaries lives.
That plus other things has made us look into joining another mission as a writer there. We were SO close, to the point of looking for tickets for orientation the first two weeks of March when some things that caused "red flags" in our and our pastors hearts put a halt to that as well.
So it is back to square...zero.
At the moment we are living in Jen's parents house...the place we left 6 1/2 years ago. Has time reversed itself? I am older, and have a family but everything else seems to be the same!
We know, we know, we know that God is in control, but at the same time we are at a loss as to what the next step will be.
Last April we were told be NTM leadership that we should take some time off and figure out what we want to do. "Get some life experience" as they said. Since then we feel like we have been reacting to what has come our way.
We know that we want to be in ministry. We know that we would like to be in a support role in some mission organization. I know I would love to write.
So how to fit all those together?
Right now we are praying about taking some time off.
From everything.
Having our baby in July.
I could pick up a few writing classes.
I am starting to work in the "real world" and seeing what that is like again. Sometimes we are so involved in the Christian "bubble" that we forget that there is a whole world right outside of our doors that we have no contact with. Jen and I have been in NTM for over 6 years and during that time I have had jobs, but never ones where I have worked with co-workers. This is almost like a culture shock for me. A definite missions field to be sure!
How long would that time "out" be? I have no idea. We're not even positive if that is what we are going to even do...
So alot of prayer is needed. What to do, where to go, what mission board to look into...all that. We have alot of cool pictures, so I will put them on as soon as possible.
I will try to post sooner rather then later...we'll see! I currently live in a technological black hole so I do what I can.

Waiting and Plans

Well, the holidays are over and we are trying to figure out what the next several months are going to look like. Do we stay here in So. Oregon for awhile? And if so, what is awhile?
We are waiting for a call from back east-ways that will tell us an exact date for an interview.
(If I am seeming vague at the moment it is because I want to be sure of what is going on before I tell everyone something...only to have it change again!)
On a more for sure note...
We had our first visit with the mid-wife and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat. That is always exciting. Isabella was so happy to be able to hear it as well.
OH...oh, yeah...
We're expecting again!
The due date is July 11th.
So that adds quite a bit of "wondering" to the plans as well.
Where do we have the little one? What state will we be in come July? Will the baby be healthy? Lots of prayer requests at the moment.
We'll keep everyone updated on what is going on with this pregnancy. Or we'll try to at least!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Pictures of us at our four christmas parties that we went to! A crazy but a fun time with everyone.

My side of the family.

Our family at the "formal" dinner we went to. Yes, yes, I had to wear a suit.

A Thompson Tradition of eating a ball of icecream with a candle on it. Whoever eats it the slowest is the winner...

Jen's side of the family.

Happy New Year everyone.
It is almost overwhelming to try to think about evrything that this past year has contained. Feels like a whilrwind and a roller-coaster all in one!
Thankfully we can trust in a God who is firm and secure and who doesn't move around like we do!

Prayer Request...

A friend of mine came a crossed this blog the other day.
Heart breaking.
And almost exactly where Jen and I found ourselves last year around this time. Please pray for this family. The lack of words that I had last year at the death of our daughter, Anarazell, is where I find myself again here.
Please, Lord, comfort them...

Time in Oregon

It has been really good to spend time with our family here in Oregon. After last Christmas when things were so far from "normal" it is kinda nice to have nothing going on.

Just a young couple enjoying themselves.

Uncle Matty with his two nieces.

Three of my brothers. We got Air-soft guns for early Christmas presents.

Isabella is learning how to cut hair...

Merry Christmas everyone.
God Bless

Life in General

Relaxing is the word I would use to describe life right now. Which is a good thing. Not that life has been totally hectic up to this point...but in comparison it feels like we have completely stopped moving.
We have had our life planned out pretty much from June to December...and now December is here and we are running out of "planned", so that is a little scary. It looks like we will have to make a trip to the Midwest in January, but the dates are a bit up in the air still so it kinda feels like we are in a holding pattern. Which isn't a completely foreign feel for us, it just hasn't happened in a while so it will take some getting used to.
We are just enjoying spending time with our families and each other...
And the rain.
Yes, I have been away for too long and have forgotten how much it rains in western Oregon.
Good Gravy.
But all in all we are doing good as a family.
December 9th, the one year after Anarazell's death we just stayed home by ourselves and just hung out as a family.
Thank you to everyone who prayed, called and wrote to let us know you were thinking about us.
At Jen's parents we have neither Internet or cell coverage...pretty crazy so I'll try to update when I can.

Fun in Idaho

Our time in Idaho was both relaxing and such a blessing. Not only were we able reconnect with the church, we were also able to build better relationships with people we knew just a little bit. One couple, Ken and Jane, we had visited with a bit before, but this time we spent the majority of our time. The reason was that they have a guest house on their property and they let us stay in it while were there. It was so amazing to have a place to ourselves, and to have them as neighbors. They are such wonderful people. All their kids and grand-kids live in California and they really miss them all, so they poured out their time and affection on us.
Visiting the rest of the people in the church was an equal blessing. We are so thankful for the friends we have met there, and for the circumstances that brought us to their door.

Ken, Jane and Jane's mom Dorthy on Thanksgiving Day.

Playing in the mountain snow in Baker City, Oregon.

Here we are all dressed up for a little memory party we had for Anarazell.

Our faithful car in the snow...oh and the ladies as well.

The little house that we got to stay in for the month of November.

We are now heading to spend December with our families in Oregon. Hopfully we will be able to keep this blog more up todate. We'll see!

One Year Today...

Our daughter Anarazell would have turned one today.
I can hardly believe that it has only been a year, and at the same time I can't believe that a whole year has passed.
Thoughts of what might have been, go through our minds.
Would she be walking before now like her big sister was? What would her personality be like?
We try to not let the thoughts take control.
After today we have two weeks...and then is the day that we let her go. What will be going through our heads then?
We also think about how vastly our life has changed since she was here. We are now planning on writing for missions full-time...a concept that would have never really been if I didn't start writing for Anarazell during her life here.
The pain, the joy of having her, the excitement to see what the end product will be, the feeling of loss...all rolled up together with many, many, many more emotions...is what we are feeling right now.
Here are some pictures of her...some of our favorites.

Oregon and Idaho

Well, we made it to Eastern Oregon and Idaho. We forgot how beautiful this part of the country was. It is late enough in the year that there is even snow on the mountains. Someone asked that since we have been all over the country, what part we think is the most beautiful...and we would would have to say that this area is it.
Our time with our church here in Idaho is going very well. We have gotten to talk to our Pastor quite a bit and we are getting in date set to meet with the missions committee as well, so we are excited. It looks like our future plans are beginning to firm up and that is a blessing. We have been in training for seemingly forever, and it is awesome to feel "movement" in our life!
Here are some pictures of us.

When I went to to coast I just had to take this picture. There is a lighthouse on the little island out there and the only tree for miles!

When I went paint balling with Bryan and three of my brothers. We all look really serious don't we!

A "God" story here. When we were with Anarazell in Wisconsin last year this couple randomly called us up to pray with us. Not only did a Christian "happen" to find our blog among all the millions of blogs out there, but this couple live in Oregon! So since then we have had the oppertunity to meet them in person and visit. This time they asked us to share with their youth group. It was a blessed time. I love how the Body of Christ works!

Isabella and I at our little house in Idaho. A couple at our church has a guest house on their property and they have graciously let us stay in it for this month. The view is beautiful and we are so thankful to have our own little place for a while.

Jen doing what Jen does when she has her own kitchen! Baking something or other!

Our Time in Oregon

Isabella with her Uncle Tim showing off and dividing their loot after the harvest festival. Doesn't Isabella look good in her ladybug suit?

Our friends Matt and Jalna. We have know this couple since before they were Christians and way before they were married. They are one of our closest friends in Oregon.

And their two children. Two little rough and tumble boys. So cute and so different then a girl!

Isabella with her little cousin Kacee. It was Kacee's second birthday and it was good to get all the family together for a little while.

Grand Ma Patty's 50th birthday. She had it back in the summer but we weren't there to celebrate it with her...so we did it now!

Well we are on our way to Idaho now. We should be there tomorrow. We will be there for a month and Lord willing our plans for the next couple years will be cleared up by then!
Please keep us in your prayers!