Chad hits the Bahama's!

These pictures I took from Chad's Myspace. He took these in the Bahama's on his way to India...still somewhere in the Ocean...lucky guy, looks beautiful there...

More random photos..

More random photos....

Random shots

These are random shots of playing with photoshop, Shane and me in Cookeville, Tn, Wilson and Me in Cookeville, Annie and me heading to a concert in New Orleans...

Anna's 2nd ball game...

Anna's ball game, Spring 2008
Below, Dera pushing Hayley
Anna playing the game
Gabe fell asleep in bleachers
Hayley sucking her thumb
Gabe and Hayley are Beth's babies, Chad's sister who flew in from Romona, Ca..Chad's mom brought them down for the day to hang with us. Good times....

Finally updating...

So, It has been awhile since I have sat down and updated this thing. I went back to school this semester. Between that, travels, keeping up the girls, remodeling this house, chasing Chad down, I have forgotten about the family blog. My apologies. Here is the rundown as simple as I can make it. Chad is on his way to India with his boat for a job..something to do with pipe work that got misplaced during a storm. He will be home sometime in July. Dera is begging to get her learner's permit and her belly button pierced when she turns 15 in 2 weeks. Both I am on the fence about. She is growing so fast, both are. Miss when they were little and let me braid their hair. Anna has started Softball, the Stealers, and wishing her coach had more faith in her that she can pick up the sport. She is the type of person that once she has set her mind to learn something, she won't stop until she perfects it. Both have been painting lately, sketching, always doing something creative which warms my heart to watch. We have become addicted to Guitar Hero 3, Rockband, and Dance Dance Revolution...So glad winter is over even though we have a cold snap right now. Pool is up and ready for us to get in it. I am ready for school to be over. I got a roll in a play called, 'Heaven Help The Po'Taters'. Rehearsals have been fun. I haven't done anything in awhile so I am enjoying it. Attached are recent pictures. Anna's ballgame, Chad's family came down, and random shots over the months. Walk in love.....

Merry Christmas from the Thompson family!
2007
Anna, D'Nece, Dera, and Chad
Much love and blessing to you!

Celebrated 16 years this month!

Chad and Dera

Chad and Anna

Christmas 2007

Long Time no post. Since October life has thrown some curve balls that we keep on trying to catch. Why? You have to. We wanna strike out, but too competitive I suppose for that. It has just been one thing after another and you somehow have to keep on going. Not let it take you down. Continue to stand on Faith, know in your heart it will all pan out. This Christmas is just odd. But we are pulling it together. Chad went back on the boat this past Wednesday, he had his Christmas with the girls. A friend is coming to town on Monday, we are all excited. My friend took family Christmas pictures for us...post as soon as I find them. I bought cards but got so behind when I got the flu, that I gave up, put them up for next year. So if you don't get a card from me, it is okay...I just didn't get to it this year. This holiday season all I can think about is how grateful I am for my family and friends. That is my main focus. Making my Grandma's fudge tomorrow. I found the recipe. Really excited. Just relaxing. Counting my blessings. Merry Christmas to all of you and I hope you have a blessed New Year!

Tattoo for my Grandma...

This is my respect to my Grandma. Last night I had this tattooed on my upper back between my shoulder blades. Yes, it hurt. I cried because I really miss her. When I think about what she has done the most for me, this would be it. Always praying for me. She never stopped. I love you Grandma, and now you are always with me....

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is my Grandma's birthday. It is the first one without her. It is odd really. I would normally be up in Meridian, holding her hand. But I am at home. I have decided to throw myself into cleaning to get thru the day. I don't want to cry. It is not that I don't miss her. I do terribly. It is because crying won't bring her back. It is unfair to wish she were here with all that she had gone thru in the last few years. I want peace for her and I know she found it. So with that said, 'We love you Grandma, we miss you, we will soon you again." I wanted post this poem she gave me when I was young. It was given to her when she had buried two of her baby boys. It has stayed with me, taught me, and comforted me. My Grandma taught me so much. To love, laugh, be humble, grateful, giving, to hold, to fight for what you love, to try to be the best person you could be. She never gave up on me and was always praying for me. Tomorrow I am going to get a tattoo on the bad of my neck. Prayers Hands. Why? Because that is what she did for me. Enjoy the poem, take it to heart, and heck even try to live by it, I do.

Lord Forgive Me When I Whine
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair. I envied her
she seemed so gay. When she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg, and used a crutch. But as she passed she smile. Oh God, forgive me when I whine. I have legs. The world is mine!

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him. He seemed so glad. And as I left he said to me, "I thank you. You have been so kind. It's so good to talk with folks like you. You see, " he said, "I am blind." Oh God, forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes.
The world is mine!

Later, while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play. I stopped a moment, then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear?" He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he couldn't hear. Oh God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears.
The world is mine!

With feet to take me where I want to go, with eyes to see the sunset's glow, with ears to hear what I would know....
Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I am blessed indeed.
The world is mine!

September 29, 2007; Katy's birthday party

Photo 1: Anna and Allison trying to rock in the float.
Photo 2: Dera and Kaitlyn huddled up together, you would think they were twins at times.
Photo 3: Anna jumps in!
Photo 4: Katy blows out her candles. Happy 13th Kaitlyn!
Photo 5: Dera and Katy do the 'Soulja Boy' dance, they never get tired of it. I do.

Chad hiding from the camera @ Jen's shower, Cypress, TX 9/22/07

Anna's first school dance!
September 2007
6th grade

Dera and Andrew
Cypress, TX
September 22, 2007

Anna and Andrew (Jen's new little guy)
Cypress, TX
September 22, 2007

New Tattoo

Newest tattoo, inside my right ankle. Dera drew the butterfly on the right, Anna drew the one on the left, the Birds of Paradise represent my Nanny. It is still healing and will have to get touched up, some color did not stick..

As I sit and wait on the carpet guys who already came by once this morning, but had to send them away because they were super early (and I was undressed), I thought I would post on this blog and update of sorts. September ended with Kaitlyn (dear family friend) turning 13 and her sister Sydney turning 7. I will post pictures of the pool party shortly. Also posting a couple of pictures from Jen's baby shower, Anna's first dance, and whatever I feel up too. I wanna post pictures of my new carpet because I am about to bust at the seems for them to get here and put it in. My house looks like someone threw up all over it. I can't clean because I have 3 bedrooms crammed into 2 different rooms. I am restless. I want the house cleaned. Fun week planned. Going to see 'Horrorpops' (sound is so not what you think, it is actually pretty cool) and 'Loverboy', that one is old school and both will be a blast. Fun! Fun! Fun! Enjoy the pictures....

Where did the months go?

August flew by and now September is over in a week. You wake up one day, roll over, and it is the next day already. A lot is going on. Carpet has been ordered and the bedrooms are semi-cleared out, slow process. Just waiting on the carpet guys to come install. That can happen any time within the next 2 weeks. So we are living on top of each other. Went to Houston last week. Jennifer's baby is adorable. The party we threw for them went well. Hit IKEA up on the way home and stocked up on my favorite jumbo tea light candles and some other stuff needed for the house. Our goal is to have the house back to pre-Katrina remodel state by November. We have thrown ourself into with superhuman powers. We are so ready to put Katrina behind us as much as one can and just pitter patter around a home that has floors and whatnot. Part of me is really excited and the other part is tired already. Today is a lazy day to recharge my batteries, tomorrow it is back to work. Flooring, repainting, cleaning, sanding, etc....gotta be done. No excuses. The girls are well. Growing like weeds and adjusting to Middle school and High school. Cannot believe I am the parent of a teen and tween. Some days that really ages me, others it is fun. I will post pictures soon, really as soon as I locate my camera among my topsy-turvy home. Much love and prayers to you all.

Happy Birthday!

The girls adding candles to Anna and Bubba's baseball/softball cake. Anna turned 11 on the 1rst and Bubba turned 33 on the 2nd. Anna wanted to share a cake with him since they were coming to town.

Trumie always happy!

My Mother's new view from her yard. So pretty watching the colors change on the mountain through out the day. Caballo Lake, New Mexico

Will (brother) and his little guy Truman...He has the most adorable smile and personality!

80's themed party, Yeah, I had to bring the 80's back...My hair was sick...I couldn't quit laughing!

'Dog Days of Summer'

Long time no post. Sorry. This summer has been a whirlwind of heat, fun, and running around. We are all back home. The girls went to a river I cannot even begin to spell in North Carolina with their grandparents while I went to the Great Out West to see my mom, cousin's graduation, and help Mother move. She moved to New Mexico. Absolutely beautiful there. And they have the best burritos in Elephant Butte I have ever eaten. So blessed good. I now crave them. My friends daughter came to stay with us after we got home, Chad came home, Anna turned 11, My brother and family stopped in for a visit, and the girls started school. On top of that we finished prepping the floors for flooring (soon, keep praying please), went to an 80's themed party, and have been working out like a mad woman to get slim, fit, and trim. It is hard to do since we currently are experiencing what Chad's great-grandmother would call the 'Dog Days' of summer....a.k.a Heat Wave folks. You walk outside, you get soaked by your own sweat, so gross. So, I am gonna try to post picks since I cannot sleep...Chad goes back to the boat around 3am and I can never sleep when he goes to work. Later!