Prayer Request

I want to ask everyone to please pray for my little nephew. Brady Thompson was born nearly 8 weeks ago but was 4 weeks premature. He has grown a lot in the past two months and seemed to be developing nicely into the cutest baby ever. The only problem had been a recurring stomach pain that would occur evertime after he ate. The doctors initially diagnosed it as acid reflux. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case. Brady's mom and dad took him to the hospital today for some further tests but it seems that he will have to have surgery to repair some intestinal problems. For such a little guy surgery sounds awfully scary.

I urgently seek all of your prayers for Brady Kile Thompson. I pray that God will comfort him and heal him as quickly as possible. I also pray that God will comfort his mom and dad in this very scary time. I am freaking out right now and I am only the uncle, I can only imagine how his mom and dad are feeling.

I thank you all in advance for your prayers. Updates will follow

Azzuri

This week, the Italians got up in our face.

First, after a joint inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of an Italian at a Marine roadblock in Iraq, the U.S. report exonorated the Marines, while the Italians commended their lack of training and poorly executed roadblock. After the joint investigators could not reconcile their reports, the Italian civil authorities announced that they were opening an investigation into the Marine on suspicion of murder.

Second, an Italian magistrate issued European Union arrest warrants for 25 CIA officers suspected of involvement in an "exceptional rendition" operation. There, the CIA kidnapped, abducted, detained, captured or arrested, depending on your version of justification, a suspected terrorist leader off an Italian street and airlifted him from Aviano to Egypt for interrogation.

At first, this offends my notions of sovereignty and the reality of military and covert operation for national security. Then, when I shift the point of view, I am sure that we would be crying out for much more severe reactions from our government if the tables were turned.

I reserved judgment on the merits, but you've got to admire their moxy.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy New Year. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

God bless us all in the coming year. Let us all pray that "peace on earth and good will towards all" will prevail.

I am looking forward to a lot in 2006.
- Most of all I am looking forward to meeting my son. He is supposed to arrive somewhere around March 17th. I am pretty sure it will be the most amazing day of my life.
- Hopefully 2006 will start the process of our troops coming home from Iraq.
- I am looking forward to the Olympics in my beloved Italy.
- I am lookinf forward to some exciting possibilities at work.
- I am looking forward to my friends' band getting a record deal because their new album is awesome.
- I am looking forward to another chance for the Cubs to win the world series.
- As always I am looking forward to everyday I spend with my wife, my family, my friends, and serving my God.

What's on your horizon? What are you looking forward to?

p.s. We have been a little lax in our posting lately. Perhaps we should be looking forward to a new years resolution of posting more frequently.

Black and Gold

This weekend my wife will graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi with her Masters Degree in Special Education, with an emphasis in severe/profound and multiple disabilities and a focus in Deafblindness.

Congratulations, J. I'm forever proud of you and grateful for the grace of traveling on this adventure with you.

To the Top!

Offenders

Where did you commit your first crime?

I think mine was in a convenience store in Lowndes County, Mississippi, where I tried to take a piece of gum while my dad paid for gas. Of course, he busted me and sent me inside to apologize and pay for it. I was about 7, I think.

My favorite crime was when my roommate, DJ, and my girlfriend, were rolling a car at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. My girlfriend was supposed to be our lookout, but she's not a very good crook. Security finally cornered us hiding underneath a jacked-up Ford Bronco in the parking lot. They went easy on us, and Space Camp did not fire us. I married that girl, and she's still a bad sneak. Her heart is too pure.

It must be a mistake!

Let's get one thing straight. I didn't want to like it. I was dragged to the little art house theater to see it. But lo and behold I think it may be the best movie I have seen this year. What movie am I talking about? "Syrianna", "Walk the Line", "Good Night and Good Luck." No, unfortunately I am talking about "Pride and Prejudice."

After seeing the film I walked out with my wife and drove home almost completely silent. It took me a good 20 minutes to finally verbalize my thoughts on the film. I said something along the lines of "I think I need to see that again because my initial reaction can't be right. Because I think that may be the best movie I have seen in a long time."

I don't want to talk about it much further. I am afraid I might gush about Darcy and Elizabeth and that sort of nonsense and the last remaining shred of my masculinity will be torn away.

I will only say this. Go see this movie. It is in wide release now so you should be able to find it about anywhere. I hope I am wrong about it. I don't know if I can put "Pride and Prejudice" on my top ten favorite movies list.

p.s. I haven't seen "Good Night and Good Luck" yet so I do not intend any comparison between these two movies. "Syrianna" is very self important and in my opinion fails to personalize some of the main characers. George Clooney gives a great performance. "Walk the Line" has some brilliant performances but it a little formulaic. It is worth all of your $9.00 (that's how much a movie ticket costs in Denver), however it is not the best thing I have seen this year like I hoped it would be. (I am a big Johnny Cash fan)