God has once again been very kind to the Thompson's in 2007.
In January, Sarah left her job at Covenant Life (after several years) and went back into the IT government contracting world. She was hired by Lockheed Martin in Gaithersburg (where we live) to be a project engineer. This is similar to what she did from 2002-2004.After 5 years of working at Covenant Life, Mike did not believe that he was called to continue working in full-time Christian ministry. He also left in February to go back into IT recruiting. He started off by planning to start his own recruiting company. However, after much thought, prayer and counsel, he has been contract recruiting with BAE Systems since May (www.baesystems.com).
In the meantime, Sarah's position at Lockheed was not all that she was hoping for. Since Mike is a recruiter, he was able to help her find a job with his company, BAE Systems, actually in an office that he also supports 2 days a week. We really enjoy being able to commute together and see each other throughout the day. Sarah really likes her new job and is being challenged and given many opportunities to use her gifts. Mike is being kept very busy with some major recruiting projects for BAE and is really grateful for his recruiting team. He is in Tyson's 4 days a week and Ft. Meade with Sarah 1 day a week.
We have many other places our journey of grace has taken us this year. There were two travel highlights: Egypt and Israel and a Western Caribbean Cruise for our 3rd Honeymoon (2nd Anniversary).
EGYPT AND ISRAEL (March-April)
We already posted about our trip to Egypt and Israel that we took with our dear friends Joey and Evelyn in March-April. (See Israel/Egypt posts on the right.) Being Christian, this trip has only strengthened our faith, as we were actually able to see the places we have read about for so long. This trip reminds us that the Bible is not just some fictional story, it is real, living history and life.
Walking like an Egyptian, in front of the pyramids in Cairo.
Sunrise on top of Mt. Sinai. After riding camels for over 3 hours in the middle of the night, the view was worth it. Could this really have been where God spoke with Moses?
Napoleon took the Sphynx's nose off. It is still pretty impressive.
You really do float on the Dead Sea. It is pretty cool!
HOME RENOVATIONS
It is hard to top a life changing trip, so we did not try. However, we did get tired of our bright red and yellow in our living/dining rooms, so, with the help of Mike's parents, we changed the look of our living and dining rooms. (If anyone wants to help with the cabinets in 2008, let us know!)
We also decided to finally plant (with the help of Mike's brother) our first garden. It's a lot of work. I think Mike has finally convinced Sarah to do a rock garden in 08.
OUR FRIENDS
We have been blessed with some wonderful friends. This section is devoted to some of them and their babies! If your photo is not here, you are still our friend. We just have not seen you as much and want to change that in 08.
MEMORIAL DAY PARTY
We wanted to show off our new garden, patio furniture, celebrate the return of warmth, and laugh with great friends. We realized after our friends arrived that we have officially transitioned from single and newly married to married with friends who have kids. (Over 60% of our guests either brought their children, or had babies on the way.)
For example, our neighbors, Rebecca (rt) and Jen (lf). Rebecca was due very soon after our party. Jen did not know it yet, but she had just gotten pregnant!!
This photo motivates Sarah and I to want to join the ranks. This is little William Davidson, one of our favorite babies. Bill and Amy Davidson are the proud parents. We offer to borrow William whenever they want to share.
Gene and Renee Huston just found out around this time that they were also with child.
Our good friends, Andrea and Travis Oliver, don't know it in this photo, but they also have one in the oven. Maybe that is why they are so happy!
And we had a surprise visit from Felipe and Maria Alcorta, and their new addition, Lourdes Maria. Ain't she cute!
WEDDINGS AND MORE BABIES
After many years and many bumps in the (oh so common and famous) Fetter rollercoaster, we were finally able to welcome Mr and Mrs. Jason and Missy Fetter as husband and wife in January. They celebrated their wedding reception in Williamsport , PA (Jason's hometown) in June.
Look at the way she is looking at him. I think she is thinking, "it's about time!" Actually, it is because she is also pregnant and wondering if she can handle two children 30 years apart!
After 30 years, he still thinks he can sing! I do not think his friend is buying it either!
A wonderful surprise at Jason's reception was some cherished time with some of our best friends, Mike's best friend, Bernard, and his lovely wife Erin.
Then there's our exotic French friends, Cedric and Sandrine. I think Sandrine is laughing at Jason's singing. Cedric is just laughing because everyone else is, his English is not so good, so he does not always understand.WEDDINGS AND MORE BABIES
After many years and many bumps in the (oh so common and famous) Fetter rollercoaster, we were finally able to welcome Mr and Mrs. Jason and Missy Fetter as husband and wife in January. They celebrated their wedding reception in Williamsport , PA (Jason's hometown) in June.
Look at the way she is looking at him. I think she is thinking, "it's about time!" Actually, it is because she is also pregnant and wondering if she can handle two children 30 years apart!
After 30 years, he still thinks he can sing! I do not think his friend is buying it either!
A wonderful surprise at Jason's reception was some cherished time with some of our best friends, Mike's best friend, Bernard, and his lovely wife Erin.
OUR DEAR FRIEND FROM ACROSS THE POND RETURNS HOME
After a 5 year US experience, Karen Solway, decided that she was being called back to the other side of the pond. She was a dear friend and we miss her much! Can not wait to visit you in Guernsey.
Karen rented a party bus which took us out to the wine country for a special wine tasting with our very own sommelier, followed by a festive grape stomping activity in the vineyard.
JUST THE 10 OF US (Dinner Club)
Starting in 2006, we have been getting together with 4 other couples on a monthly basis for rotating dinners at each other's house. This has been a wonderful time of fun, biblical fellowship and memories.
Just the 10 of Us Girls (from right to left: Caryn, Madonna, Annie, Evelyn, Sarah)
When we hosted in August, we threw a 'Murder Mystery Luau' at our house. We even tried to make true luau cuisine and drinks. Everyone had a character and we spent the night eating and then trying to figure out "who did it"?
THE LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND: Madonna Aristorenas
The Lord chose to take our wonderful friend Madonna to be with him this year after a 5 year battle with cancer. This was a truly sad and mournful time for us, as well as many others. Madonna had been friends with Mike for over 7 years and Sarah around 5 years (they were actually roommates). God had other plans and she is now with him, and without pain.
Madonna knew how to have fun and laughed a lot. She will be greatly missed!
SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Mike likes to be spontaneous, so one Saturday morning, he asked Sarah if she would be up for a road trip. She joyfully agreed! So it was off to the eastern shore of MD and VA!
How about riding bikes in 90 degree weather in Smith Island, Maryland (the only inhabited island in the Chesapeake)? With 350 full-time residents, it is a culture shock. The views are quite impressive though.
One of our favorite things to do is to cuddle as we watch American Idol. This year, Mike surprised Sarah with tickets to the American Idol tour at the Verizon Center in September, preceded with a wonderful dinner at Zaytinya.
3RD HONEYMOON WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
While Sarah was not sure if she would want to do a cruise again, it seemed like a cruise was in our future, as we thought about what we wanted to experience (beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving and beautiful water). So we booked another Carnival cruise, this time with a balcony- which makes all the difference. We chose the ports of Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize and Honduras. After this cruise, we are going to take a break from cruises for a while, but we highly recommend this means of travel if you want to see as many islands as possible in a short time. There is nothing like going to sleep in Grand Cayman (a British colony) and waking up in Cozumel, Mexico.
Cruise Map
Our boat, the Legend.
With views like this all the time, it makes it hard to do anything other than sit in the lounge chairs and sleep.
OUR FIRST PORT: Grand Cayman
Stingray City: They are really not as dangerous as you think. The water is this clear and the stingrays are really cuddly and fun.
They are really cute. Like water kitties!
PORT #2: Cozumel
You have to have some rain sometime. Well, God decided that sometime would be upon our arrival in Cozumel and would be torrential. We do not have any nice photos, but we did: rent a car, drive around the entire island, find the island where they film the Corona commercials and eat some great local fish. We would go back!
PORT #3: Belize
Did you know that the national language in Belize is English? We had no clue. So after hearing everyone we spoke with respond without an accent, we finally asked. Pretty amazing, a British colony too. Those Brits get around!
We finally decided that Belize would be the place where we would have our first scuba diving experience (we went down around 30 feet). Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world. While we are glad we tried it ("everything once"), we would probably not do it again. Ain't she cute, the tank weighs around 30 pounds.
After diving, we rewarded ourselves with some margaritas and lime's in the harbor of Belize city.
PORT #4: Honduras (Isla Roatan)
This is a small island off of the coast of Honduras. Apparently the coral reefs are amazing, but since we had already done this in Belize, we decided to do an island tour including: zip-lining through the jungle, a monkey farm, snorkeling and relaxing at a local beach.
These brother and sister monkey's were so cute. They did everything on each others back and did not want to let us go.
So cool!
Beaching it in Roatan. Sarah loved the snorkeling, which was located in the coral just a brief swim away.
On every cruise there are at least 2 formal nights. We are always looking for a reason to dress up.
NEW FRIENDS
On every cruise, we have been blessed to meet some new friends (from left to right: Sarah, Mike, Julie, Brandon, Jason and Julia.) Brandon and Julie actually attended American University, though a few years after Mike, making him feel quite old. Jason and Julia were celebrating their honeymoon and live in Virginia Beach. Jason is in the Marine Corp. Thanks for serving our country Jason!
FAMILY
We are blessed to have very kind and generous families.
Christmas 2006 in Gaithersburg, MD.
Mama T's birthday. Mike's parents live in Frederick and are some of the most sacrificial people we know. They are constant demonstrations of Christ laying down His preferences and giving up His life for others.
(Photos below: Jenny, Greg and baby Abigail, Ben's 8th birthday at the Air and Space, every joyful Joshua driving our car, celebrating Mama Thompson's birthday at Sight and Sound in Lancaster, Aunt Sarah making a gingerbread house with Sarah and KayLynn for their birthday's.)
Mike's brother, sister-in-law and their 6 wonderful kids live only 45 minutes away. We have enjoyed learning about parenthood from them. We were able to have their three oldest kids over to our house for their birthdays, an annual tradition. We look forward to joining them someday with our own additions to the Thompson clan.
Sarah's father and step-mother live in Pennsylvania. We do not get to see them as often as we like, but have been able to meet them in Baltimore (about half-way) for Father's Day and Christmas Day (also his birthday) this past year, which has also become an annual tradition.
Our little brother Matthew has a great new job and has inherited Sarah's old car 'Scratchy' and is taking great care of her.
Sarah's uncle and aunt (Jim and Joanne) also have a place down in Ocean City, so we are able to see them frequently. We are excited to celebrate Memorial Day 2008 with Sarah's other uncle and aunt (Barry and Donna) for a family reunion in Ocean City. We are also hoping to visit Sarah's uncles Denny and Thom, in Chicago in 2008.
Mike's aunt and uncle of Leesburg (Lew and Rita) also added a granddaughter to their clan, making 5. We were able to celebrate Rachel and Gary's first child, Linda's, birthday in August. We hope to see them more in 2008.
MAMA KMETZ COMES FOR A VISIT
Sarah is from Pennsylvania, which is where her mom still lives. We are grateful that God has provided us with such a generous mom. She frequently invites us to take weekend get-aways to her condo in Ocean City, allowing us to see her frequently. We decided to return the generosity this year by inviting her to our house for her birthday in October.
Mama K in Virginia wine country. (Linden vineyards.)
OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO US EVERY YEAR
While we have been blessed with great family, friends (and the babies), visits to exciting places, a house and new jobs in 2007, these things will all pass away some day. What we desire to communicate to everyone who has so kindly visited our blog and have made it this far is that God loves you. Christmas represents God, giving up heaven, stepping down into this world, becoming a man, and living the perfect life that Sarah and I could not live. He was punished on the Cross for our sin, receiving the wrath of His Father for these sins, and then raising again to rule today over our lives and yours. He did all of this because He is a Father who loves us (you) and wants us to experience forgiveness and mercy. All you need to do is repent and believe that this Christ came for you, that you need help and that the reason there is a longing in your heart and soul is because God is kindly nudging you toward Him. To all of our friends and family, we thank God for you all and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
While we have been blessed with great family, friends (and the babies), visits to exciting places, a house and new jobs in 2007, these things will all pass away some day. What we desire to communicate to everyone who has so kindly visited our blog and have made it this far is that God loves you. Christmas represents God, giving up heaven, stepping down into this world, becoming a man, and living the perfect life that Sarah and I could not live. He was punished on the Cross for our sin, receiving the wrath of His Father for these sins, and then raising again to rule today over our lives and yours. He did all of this because He is a Father who loves us (you) and wants us to experience forgiveness and mercy. All you need to do is repent and believe that this Christ came for you, that you need help and that the reason there is a longing in your heart and soul is because God is kindly nudging you toward Him. To all of our friends and family, we thank God for you all and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
