10/24/02

Dear friends and loved ones,

The last months of this life have been changing so much that I can't avoid seeing the changes. No matter what attempt that I make to keep myself busy and continueing onward I can't help but to think of the events of this year.

I have tried to be a good Christian, I have tried to be a good human in general. My focus has been honesty and integrity. I have failed a few times but I have not let it hold me back. When I say failed, I mean that I have back slidden a few times and I have acted out of character. I may have lost the trust of my friends and family a few times because of the choices that I have made.

Obviously one choice that I have made recently that has not been in confliction with my ideals and faith is getting married to my best friend Kimi. Who is an awesome partner and wife. But in this new life that I have taken on I have tried extra hard to be a good provider and husband. So I quit one of the best jobs that I have had to make some extra cash for our wedding at another job. It was a construction job, and I acted like a fool on several occasions. Which makes me realize how much of a product of our environment that we are. What other people do around us directly effect what we do many times, this is not only my hypothosis but a medical fact.

So I think about what I want, and where I should be. I break it down to one simple truth. Be where you want to be. If you want to be spiritual, be with spiritual people. If you want to be successful, be with successful people, ect... This is where I am at, I want to be both of the to mention traits. I want to have a great relationship with the Lord and I want to be successful at it. That is not to say that I want to be a wealthy religious type, what I mean to say is that I want to be at peace with myself and my God.

I was working at a banquet recently, serving people. It was a business convention for management types, and one of the speakers quoted a famous business guy/writer (whatever, I even forget his name). But what he said was profound and describes where I am, and where I always want to be. "I would much rather fail at doing something worthwhile, then succeed at just getting by in life". In life come many big risks, are you willing to put your neck out for what you believe in?

I know that if in 6 month's, or in 6 years if my life consists of more of this tainted fallen world then it does with Who is important to me then I will want someone to tell me about it if I can't admit it. I want someone to corner me and make my mistakes a greater reality. I hope that my feelings will be my gadge, but as friends and family I ask you to help keep me accountable.

In Christ ~Ryan

10/17/02

Dear friends, loved ones...

Another grateful day in our lives. Kimi and I were married on October 12th, united in the Lord and in love forever.
There are pictures on our website, but none of the wedding yet, that will be soon. WEDDING <-click for pictures.

When I think about how blessed we are I can not think of how much more blessed I should be; But I think about how much more blessed we could be. When our lives seem like they are at their worst, the Lord provides a way to see things differently. Sometimes we dont see them that we but only if we look a little closer it would all come together better for us.

After quitting my current job in an office and going to Louisianna for a construction job that paid MUCH better, so that we could arrange our wedding (as it was, both of our parents were not financially able to help much). By the time I got back and got things figured out, my wife had made her wedding dress, the brides maids dresses and the flowers girl(s) dresses (my niece and her niece, waaayy cute)...
When the wedding day arrived, she had bake the wedding cake, quite well done might I add, and made the table fixtures for the feast.
I helped where I could. I stayed up with her until 4 in the morning that night, trying to help her bake the cake (we had to do it in a camp trailor, since the oven in the house is broken).. I setup tables and tried to cook food during the wedding, and of course I went shopping with her daily.
But all in all, she pulled off the bulk of it by herself.

This is when I was getting frustrated that her parents couldn't pitch in, and since we are in a financial rut ourselves, I didn't see this working out too well.
But it worked out great! As you will see from the wedding pictures to come. Once again, the Lord provided.

He provided me with the most awesome wife, made just for me. I am so blessed to have the love and support of such an amazingly talented, smart, and loving woman. I can't think of asking the Lord for more then what I have right now (except maybe a job so that I can provide for us) .. ;)

I just want to thank everyone who blessed this event, and thank you cards are in the mail this week. God has blessed us in soo many ways, and one of the greatest ways is through friends and families.
Even though our families are not financial institutions, they our a foundation of love and they provided in so many greater ways during this time, and in many others. Same with our friends.

God bless you!
~Ryan & Kimberly Thompson~

Story of My Life 8/11/02

The title of this message comes from the title of a song sang by a musician that has deeply influenced my whole life from the time that I was 13 years old.
Mike Ness the lead singer of Social Distortion went through a lot of the same trials that I did. He grew up poor and on the streets, he used a lot of drugs and finally came to the Lord, then back slid (I dunno where he is at with his relationship with the Lord now). His website is: SOCIAL DISTORION.COM From a song titled I WAS WRONG <(click for quicktime audio)
His journal was put to music as the changes in his life took place. That is why I write; hoping that others can take strength and learn important lessons from my mistakes.
So here is my story . This is not complete; obviously, this is just where I started, where I feel, where the Lord found me and picked me up and mended my wounds. But recently, I have feel again. I have been find relationships to fill the void left by my brothers death, and to fill the void I fill in other areas. Tonight, someone who is not necissarily a Christian, blasted me behind my back for being a fake, and for being weak. I am, and I have done some really crappy things.
Well, if it wasn't for the mercy and forgivness of God, I would probably have chosen to join my brother by now. But the Lord keeps me strong with His love; and this is just a praise report, to say Praise You Jesus! I am grateful for the body, the church, and for the saddness and pain that I feel for sinning. Please pray for me.
~Ryan