Blake Thompson daht NetI'm just saying….

In the corner of our bedroom sits a chair. I’m impressed w/ this chair. Most times we’ve ever had a chair in our bedroom it’s been covered in clothes to the point you couldn’t even see the chair. But this one has remained fairly clean. Or at least only a few clothes here and there. But the chair doesn’t move much.

A couple of weeks ago a shirt was set on top of the chair and fell off behind it. In the attempt to move it, we discovered some damp carpet in the corner. Wondered if it could be from the water spigot just the other side of the outside wall. But after getting a repairman to take a look, seems our shower on the other side (it’s in a corner) had a subpar caulking job along the bottom. So we’ve been getting water into the wall for a while now. Water in walls usually means damp/moist environments…just ripe for mold.

Thought the home warranty might cover that. But it doesn’t. Lucky us. So now we get to pay someone to rip our wall out, take a scope of the real damage, and rebuild it just like new. Oh the joys of home ownership.

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I’ve caught the bug. At least in downloading them and listening. And now I’m thinking of making one (or two).

First one would be for the church’s youth ministry. Have a few students help. Make some announcements, review past trips, updates on upcoming trips, regular news and information, maybe even some media reviews. Do it all and lay down some phat music behind it, and viola! An audio newsletter/program!

Second would be for an online community I own/administrate. We could to member interviews, game previews, coach/player interviews, general silliness and meyhem. Then of course some phat music in the background.

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Had the online sales chat yesterday w/ my new friend at Earthlink. I should be getting me some cable internet w/in the next week. That means that I’ll be blazing around the net and not having to wait forever and ever for pages to load. In Amory, dialup wasn’t so bad if it was just general web browsing. It would usually connect at 53kbps almost every time.

But here in Clinton, dialup only gets me 24kbps. At first I thought it was our rental house. But even in our new house. Heard other people say they’ve never seen anything higher than that on dialup here in Clinton. But I’ll be zooming soon. And at a table/desk instead of in the floor. So maybe I’ll be able to type a little more soon.

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It was a crazy time. November 16 was my wife’s due date for our 2nd child. We still didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl. But we were concerned. The doctors made us that way. Apparently at our previous sonogram the baby appeared to weigh a certain poundage and all. Of course these things have a margin of error in them. But she went back a couple fo days before her due date and had another sonogram. The doctor said that the baby didn’t seem to have grown any since the last sonogram and that he was a touch worried.

So she has an appointment on her due date. For some reason, I can’t make it that day. I honestly think it might have been the first doctor visit I’d missed in both pregnancies. But I remember beign at a tshirt printers when my phone rang. It rang as I was shaking his hand and telling the owner goodbye. I didn’t recognize the number and knew it wasn’t my wife’s number, so I didn’t get it. I say “Thanks, talk to you soon,” to the owner and walk myself and my 3 year old to the car.

Phone rings again….same number.

It’s my wife. “Why didn’t you answer?” No reply would be sufficient. So I just tried to figure out what she needed and listen to her. But no information was forthcoming. She was still at the doctor’s office and seemed bothered by something. But she wouldn’t say anything. Just that she’d call me back soon or just talk to me when she got home. I was thinking she’d be home soon.

So I make it home. Wait a little while. Then I call her up at the office. They transfer my call to her room, but she’s still really guarded w/ her comments and says we’ll talk later. So I start to get worried.

She finally comes home. Pulls into the carport, but doesn’t get out of the car. I wait a little bit (that seemed like a looooong bit) and then go outside. She’s there in the driver’s seat crying. I’m at a loss. The worst thoughts flood my mind. I honestly thought she’d lost the baby. I was thinking, “So how do we get it out now?” She wouldn’t look up or acknowlege me. Just weep in her hands. Addie asks why her mom’s crying and I have no answer…

But she finally opens the car, comes inside and says that the doctor was strongly encouraging going ahead and inducing labor that afternoon or night. He was really concerned because there was still no measurable gain in size/weight of the baby. But the baby seemed to score a perfect 4/4 on the test they run. It measures movement, heart rate, amniotic fluid and something else that I forget. But my wife and I really don’t want to induce labor unless there’s an obvious danger to the baby or her.

We decide to give it until the next day. We pray a lot and I get my friends to pray a lot. My old blog had a lot of people praying for it too. (I had a lot more readers before I changed domains…hmmm.) Bev said she felt some tightness that might have contractions during the night, but really began to feel them the next morning.

[More to come tomorrow]

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When we realized we were moving to Clinton, one of the things we hoped for was a group of people close to our age and close to our “time in life” that we could identify with and bond with. In Amory it seemed that we just didn’t have that. All our friends that lived in town were either teenagers or parents of teenagers. Now that’s a good thing, on some accounts, but we longed for more.

It happened here. Started as an idea a friend and I tossed around. We invited two other couples, then a 5th joined us. So now we’ve got a regular Bible study of 5 couples that meets weekly. Our first regular study was one on Communication in Marriage. It was something I know The Wife and I need to improve upon in our marriage, but hey, who doesn’t? Right?

But I must admit that while going through the study, it seems our communication was tested pretty firmly. Little things would cause conflict and we’d both blow things out of proportion. It seems that Satan was testing us in the very area we were seeking to improve upon. But one thing we did take away from it all is that conflict and miscommunication is normal. It’s pretty common. But that God’s grace and mercy are so much more powerful. But we, as husbands and wives, need to embrace that mercy/grace instead of reveling in our pride and desire to “be right.” That’s a biggie. One that I struggle with. Especially even after everythings been smoothed over and I still think I’m “right” most of the time.

I truly don’t see how a marriage can really work out w/o God being involved in it.

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The week is done. The house is asleep. And I should be too. But I feel a little off center for some reason. Not sure why. But lots of things seem to be in my head, but none is really that clear.

But I feel that I’m lot in control. Funny, huh? Why should I want to be in control. I know that I need to give control of my stuff, my life, over to Jesus completely. And I think I want to. But for some reason my feeling is that I’m not in control. Not necessarily “out of control” as in a bad way. But you know…

I feel that God’s called me to more than I’m producing. At times I think of the parable of the talents and wonder if I’ve burried mine or if I’ve just been playing around w/ mine instead of investing it and being bold w/ it. I can look back over my life and see countless opportunities God has given me, and the grace and mercy He’s shown me…but not sure if I’ve been the best steward of it all.

I think I could and shoud be much more productive w/ my job in youth ministry. I let time slip by and then get crunched to get things to happen on time. And I don’t prepare as well as I should for things. But on the surface, things don’t look to bad. And that’s dangerous. Now and then I wonder, is this the right job or calling for me? Usually I think yes, and have seen confirmation of that. But I think it actually is good to question and seek God’s will on those things from time to time.

But when doubts about various things begin to creep in at the late hours, then it will keep you awake. I just read on a Xanga that our worship leader for the youth group, a college student, might be quitting us to go to another church. It would be one he would go to worship instead of lead. How can you argue that one. It’s actually a church that I’d probably want to visit on my own. But they meet on Sunday nights, same as our youth group times. I’d checked them out online before I ever even thought of moving down here. But if he’s not going to be with us, then the dynamic of our Sunday nights is severly shifted. Not sure what that would mean. But I admit it worries me.

But I do know this. I do know that God desires me. He wants ME! And I sit in my bedroom floor typing that I desire Him as well. But I spend more time each week on Fantasy Sports than in prayer and the Word. How silly is that? How disgusting is that? I wish my days were like 36 hours long or I didn’t require sleep or that Jesus bought the house nextdoor to me and we could grill out together each night and then I could go sit in his living room and we’d play cards and He’d tell me about Himself. If some of those things happened, then it’d all be easier wouldn’t it?

But is easier the answer?

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I got this from Len Evans. Thought it’d be fun. So here goes.

Ten years ago
I was 21 and looking at two more semesters of college. Thought I might want to work in television of video production. Whatever job I would take, I wanted it to be kinda far away from home. Was dating a girl (she didn’t call it dating) that I thought could be the one, but couldn’t ever figure out what she was thinking.

Five years ago
I was 26, a college grad, married to that girl. I was working as the youth minister at the church I grew up in…yes, back in my home town. My wife and I were expecting our first child in the coming summer. Crazy to think about. Oh, and I still couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.

One year ago
I was nearning the end of my 8 years of youth ministry at my home church. I was about to move my family (which was my wife, my 3 year old, and 2 dogs to a city about 3 hours away. My pegnant wife’s due date was Nov 16th. So I was waiting til after all that before moving. I learned not to try to figure her out. Esp when she’s pregnant.

Five yummy things
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lasagna
Raisenettes
Chick-Fil-A ice cream
Cap’n Crunch

Five songs I know by heart
Foreverandever etc. by The David Crowder Band
Sadie Hawkins Dance by RelientK
Stand by R.E.M.
Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes by The Wiggles
How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin

Five things I would do with a lot of money
Pay off my house
Provide some wells in Africa for fresh drinking water.
Build a church in Costa Rica
Visit New Zealand
Build a new football stadium for Mississippi State

Five places I would to escape to
Oregon
Copper Mountain
Camp Lake Stephens
Liberia, Costa Rica
Destin

Five things I would never wear
Panties
UMiss Jersey
Speedos
Harry Potter shirt
Makeup

Five favorite TV shows (current)
LOST
Survivor
Grey’s Anatomy
The Amazing Race
Invasion

Favorites of all time:
Sienfield
Wonder Years
Fresh Prince of BelAire
Cosby Show
ER

Five things I enjoy doing
Riding in a boat
Reading
Show skiing
Playing tag w/ my daughter
Snuggling w/ my wife

Favorite toys
Laptop
Zen Micro
Cell Phone

Five people who get this ‘meme’
Rick
Kevin
Jeremy
Brad

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I’ve always enjoyed TV. But never let it rule me. But with life and meetings and family and work, I can’t seem to keep caught up on the shows I like to watch. So after taping Survivor during the college bible study at our house last night, I finally watched Survivor and finished Tuesday’s 2 hour long The Amazing Race. Then this morning I watched LOST. I recorded Invasion too, but I’ve missed a few of those, so it’s not a huge priority to see it. I’ve fallen so far behind on Alias I might just have to wait to rent the season. It comes on the same time as Survivor and I can’t record both at once. A few thoughts about them so far.

Survivor:: Bobby Jon’s out, but he made the jury. I thought Jamie was gone if he’d not won immunity. Then Gary found the other idol. So a few twists. Survivor is still my fave reality tv show. But it’s gotta pick up the next few weeks. The next 2 will just be picking off the minority tribe members. Not much fun tehre unless they win immunity.

The Amazing Race:: The entertaining Paulo Family left. I’m not sad for it. But the Weaver fam would have been okay to go as wel. They seem to ooze hypocracy sometimes for some reason. And those girls need to put on more clothes. They look like the just woke up from a sleepover. I never watched TAR until midway through last season. But I’m enjoying it a good bit.

LOST:: Shannon’s dead. Who did it? What happened to the other folks? Will Locke let Merry (or is it Pippen) know he knows about the heroine? Where’s Jack? Will Sawyer get back on his feet? Where’s Desmond? This is a great show. JJ Abrams is genius. No shark jumping here.

And did anyone see any of the Trading Spouses the other night. I caught the end of it on a recommendation. Crazy, HUGE “Christain” lady on there that brought a negative light on all things Jesus. More later.

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Appetizer
If someone made a statue of you, in which pose would you like to be?
Maybe with my head back slightly and laughing. That seems like a cool one. Or either with my hands on my hips and a “I’m gonna get you” pose like Horation Craine on CSI-Miami.

Salad
What perfume/cologne does your best friend wear?
Curve for Women

Soup
Name something satisfying about your work.
The students are top notch and I get to work with a pretty good staff of people.

Main Course
What was the last excuse you made, and why did you need to make it?
Excuses? I only give reasons.

Dessert
Complete this sentence: I wonder why _________________.
I wonder why we drive on Parkways and park on driveways.

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I can always blame it on lots of things. But some of the reason for my lack of blogging has been the fact that we don’t have a computer desk. That means that right now, as I type, I’m stretched out in the floor on my belly. When we moved back in June, we didn’t move our computer desk w/ us. It wasn’t much of a desk to begin with. Just a table. Seems we left our bonafide computer desk w/ someone else when we left Amory. It was too big and too clunky and too….ugly. It was a freebie that was bigger than we expected, but did it’s job for a while. But we didn’t bring any with us in expectations of thinking “we’ll get a new one quickly if we’re in the floor with the computer.”

And that was June.

Same thing happened w/ our table. We sent one of our kitchen tables back w/ my mom. The other was under piles of boxes in the garage when we first moved in here. So for almost a month, we ate on the kitchen floor. Chinese style. Pull up a cushion. Sit cross legged. Lean up against the wall. Whatever it took. But we would all gather on the tile floor and eat our meal. It helped us get the boxes taken care of more quickly out there.

Now it’s time for a desk. Because sitting up typing is much easier.

And here’s a shoutout for today. Rick is finally trying out something besides Blogger. I’ve been trying to get him to give MT or WP a whirl, but he’s on TypePad now. That’s MT’s hosted version. Check him out right here.

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