Winter Whiplash

The weather has been really unusual this winter.

It has gone back and forth from 72 to 17 (or 7) several times.

Susan and Samuel got caught in a freakish rain and hail storm

while walking back to the car from the grocery store (Sam's Club).

They both got soaked but no one was injured.

A little snack always helps one recover from such trauma.

A few days later we had a major winter storm with ice and snow and car wrecks;

lots and lots and lots of car wrecks.

Hannah stayed inside and, with Lynsey's help, made some gifts for friends

Then we all had shrimp and grits and thanked God for His providence,

Then it snowed some more.

Then it snowed some more.

The kids bundled up for the ride.

Richmond, VA can clear some roads.

Then this thing showed up and someone thought we should eat it.

Guess what happened next? Did you guess SNOW? You were right!

Annabelle took advantage of school cancellation to work on her reading.

(technically you have to read the lyrics to do karaoke, right?)

Matthew dropped in from Norfolk to see what was happening back at home.

Susan made 5 pans of cinnamon rolls three times.

Why are there none left?

Now the snow has melted again and we eagerly await springtime.

Transplant Day

the bulletin

the liturgy

anointing

blessing

Chppie, empowered by the anointing

Jacob, last giggle of the day

this is not much fun

even Batman balloons didn't bring him much cheer

on a brighter note, he and Susan were indoors during the massive hailstorm

Jacob and Chippie, asleep at last

See Jacob's Caring Bridge site for complete details

It has been a long day for Jacob Shuixiang Thompson. He was doing well earlier this morning when the chaplain at the Amplatz Children's Hospital conducting a beautiful blessing service for his transplant day, with some of our favorite passages of Scripture, prayers of healing, and anointing with oil, a symbol of God's Holy Spirit poured out on him to strengthen him for the days ahead. The chaplain also anointed Chippie, who will accompany Jacob through the valley of the shadows. I attended the service virtually on my iPad. Before it was over Susan and I both needed Kleenex, in a good way. Jacob seemed in good spirits during the blessing but his day quickly turned unpleasant with many aches and pains and gastrointestinal maladies. He did receive the umbilical cord blood transplant in the midst of feeling very poorly. He has pretty much felt terrible for the rest of the day and has been trying to sleep, with occasional success. All of this medical drama was superimposed on some particularly severe weather in Minneapolis, including severe thunderstorms and hail large enough to break windows. The metaphors are so limitless it seemed less like real life and more like a Coen brothers movie.