Caleb's family is on family vacation this week and so I've had a couple visit that were just me and him.  Something he said last week really struck me as odd.  He said he felt free.  The Lord has given him some incredible blessings like a garden where he can grow tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, and okra.  He's been given some amazing responsibilities that allow him to go places and do things with less restrictions, but feeling free and having a few freedoms is totally different.  As you may have guessed I learn lessons, and nuggets of truth almost every time I'm in contact with Caleb.  The lesson that hit me this week was that I could feel less freedom than my husband who is in prison, if I don't "let" the grace of God work in my heart.  Often I'm so self-willed that I cannot feel the freedom for the fighting I'm doing on the inside.

I've met a few of Caleb's Christian brothers the past couple weeks and seeing their glowing faces was overwhelming.  I asked Caleb, "Do they get out soon."  He replied by saying they may never get out, but the looks on there faces were like angels.  You could see the beauty of their souls right through their eyes. WOW, I think I need to spend a couple years behind bars to have Jesus rub off on me like that.

Thank you for your prayers for parole.  It may seem like a long waiting game, but it's just God's timing we are waiting on - nothing else.  I've heard something about September being the month that they review is case and that November might be when they vote.  I'll keep you posted.  Sure love you all.  Thank you for your dauntless support and love.

-Hannah

Once a year Joshua and Caleb can request a visit together.  The visit lasts about three days and they are put in a cell together that whole time.  Usually it's on a weekend, so we haven't always gotten to share a visit with them while they are visiting. 

Well, this weekend we got to be in on it!  Yep, Caleb was transferred over to Joshua's Unit on Friday afternoon.  So, instead of going to separate prisons this weekend, Maressa and I, along with their brother Ben went to Joshua's Unit.  We were allowed to all sit together in the visiting room.

There were several times where it seemed that the world just disappeared around us, as we laughed, told stories, and debated ideas.  Each of us were almost hyper with excitement. This was the best visit ever! 

You know how sometimes it seems like Heaven comes down and arranges what would be a good time into an extra ordinary time?  Well, that is what this weekend seemed like.  Several little detail that wouldn't have normally happened made the visit like a love note from the Lord.  It's one thing to have a wonderful day, but when it is earmarked with God's love and fingerprints it turns into an extra ordinary day!

Thank you all for your prayers!  I'll keep you posted if I find out anymore on parole.

Hannah

 Well, it comes as no surprise to me that I misunderstood the time frames for the parole review.  I do apologize for unclear information to you all.  I thought his case would have been reviewed already.

Caleb's records are now "flagged," which means the state computer, since the first of June, shows Caleb as needing his records reviewed for parole.  As I understand it, they have till December to review his case, and then till June of next year 2011 to decided what should be done. 

We have more time to pray. (Smile)

Caleb is doing well.  His back is in good condition right now.  He has found some exercises that are strengthening his back.  Thank you all for your prayers.  We had a wonderful visit this weekend.  We told funny stories and the time just flew by.

Please pray with us for the Maynard and their boys home.  They recently had some terrible thing happen.  And please pray for a dear friend GT Prentice.  He is getting ready to undergo surgery that could be life threatening.

We love you all,

Hannah

 Well, I kind'a expected to hear something by now about when, where, etc. about the parole review.  I want to thank all of you who have been checking in to find out what needs prayer.  So far we haven't heard a word.  I don't know if parole reviews can be set-off but if they can they probably will (smile).

Caleb is doing well.  This past week I went to Missouri to go to my little sister's graduation, so Caleb's brother Doyle and his wife went into visit Caleb for me.  They said they had a wonderful time and that time just flew by, and before they knew it the guard was telling them they had five minutes to wrap it up.

Please keep Caleb in your prayers.  Everyday behind bars is an unimaginable hardship.  If you get a chance I know he'd love to get a letter from you as well.  His address again is Caleb Thompson 1208295, Wynne Unit, Huntsville, TX 77349.  It doesn't have to be a long letter, just a card will mean so much to him.

Love and Thanks for your continued support and encouragement!

 Though I have a wonderful relationship with my Mom and Dad sometimes when the sky is blue and the flowers are blooming I "don't have time" to call and chat with them, or spend time with them.  Of course, when I have a question I need answered or help with a dilemma, who's phone number do I call?  Yep, Mom and Dad.

We've all heard the song "It Takes A Storm Now and Then", but I'm starting to think that it takes a storm every moment of every day.  Some of us are so stuck on doing things in our own power that it might take a hurricane now and then.  Either way, when I realize I've been running the show...that is all that it is...a show.  It's a show of physical and emotional stamina and it doesn't exalt the Almighty in the least.  Realizing how impossible it is to do the work of the Spirit without the Spirit's involvement makes me grateful for the "storms" or "hurricanes" that come my way.

What I'm trying to say is that when I see how foolish I am without Jesus, and how bent I am on leaving Him out, I find myself actually hoping for a "rain cloud," a hardship, a burden that I can't bear so that I'll go running to the One who is waiting in the bottom of the boat for me.  He wants me.  Jesus knows that without Him I can do nothing, and unless I abide in the vine I cannot bear fruit, only a foolish display of human religion and self-discipline.  He knows that my good works are like filthy rags, unless I have His supernatural presence on my life.

You know, I bet that being in the bottom of the boat with Jesus is more beautiful than blue skies and blooming flowers anyway.

Just to let you all know we are doing great.  Caleb is doing really well and he is working on getting another book published.  His parole will be here soon, and we are excited to see what the Lord has for us.  We don't know an exact date, but the attorneys said it shouldn't be much longer.  Of course, if court and legal dealings have taught me anything it is that anything can be postponed or set back.  I'll be sure to keep everyone posted. Love you all and thank you for your continual prayers!!!

 Caleb and I had a great visit together this past weekend.  Caleb was telling me that a section of the prison was getting ready for a big state audit this past week and Caleb said that three older women from the state came in especially to "help."  They were serious and Caleb said you could tell they were "no none sense."  Caleb told one of his buddies, "I can't take this.  I'm going to get them to laugh."  His buddy thought that was a bad idea and didn't think he could do it.  Caleb said, "I give me five minutes."  Sure enough within minutes those ladies were having a blast!  One of them said, "We are going to get killed in this audit."  And Caleb with all the seriousness he could muster said, "O I'm so glad you said "we" I feel so much better knowing you guys are going down with us."  They stared at him for a second and then all three just started laughing.  Caleb said the rest of the week was a lot more bearable, and they even had fun.

We laughed and had the greatest time together.  Of course we had some serious talk about parole, too.  I told Caleb this weekend, "I'll just love it if you get parole!" and then I paused and said quietly, "I'll love it if you don't get it either. It will be ok with me.  We'll make it through together."

I figure Heaven doesn't owe me a dime, and I'm not going to expect a bed of roses on this earth.  However, if I keep my attitude right anywhere can be made into a bed of roses if I'll let it.

This weekend Caleb's two sisters, Tisa Damron and Mona Sloan, visited Caleb together.  It was the first time in years that he had seen his sisters together.  It was a wonderful reunion for them all.  It seems that the viruses in the Texas prisons have subsided now and visitation has been re-instated throughout the units.

Thank you all for your prayers concerning parole.  In my own heart as the wife I find myself more impatient than ever to have him home.  The reasons for having him home are endless and logical, but one good reason is that prison is not a place that fosters goodness or rehabilitation.  Though Caleb has maintained a pristine testimony through all these years, it is only to the honor and glory of our gracious God.  Please pray with us that the Texas Board will see this and consent to his parole.  However, with all the trust in our heavenly and all wise Father that I can manage I know that whatever He allows will be for good.  He is worthy of all!
 

 The truth is sometimes, as you may have imagined, I feel sorry for myself.  I think to myself, "I don't get to live with my husband, and I don't have a chance to be near him like other wives do."  Just writing this thought out loud sounds so selfish, but I think this from time to time.  Lately, I've been looking at this thought from a different angle and found how blessed I really am.  Let me explain: most wives have very busy, hard working, and productive husbands, this being the case they may actually spend less personal time with their Sweetheart than I do.  You see, almost every Saturday I get to spend two hours face to face with my husband with nothing worth while to distract us, and nothing else we'd rather be doing.  When I think back to the days as newly weds, even in the honey-moon spirit we didn't spend two whole hours a week face to face.  I mean we may have had conversations and time together that equalled two hours or more, but not face to face time.  My time with my husband could be enviable by most wives!  

The moral of the story is. . .Perspective can change your whole life.  It can leave you sick with desire, or jumping for joy.  Simple change in perspective could lift you from worry and fear to heartfelt gratitude and awe.  God's Word is the greatest place to find a new perspective on things in our lives, and it's perspectives are complete and total truth whether they feel like it or not.  

Psalm 31:3 "For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."  Just knowing that He loves and cares for me so much can make my day!  He is the Lifter-up of my head.

Update of the Texas prison illness: Several of the units that were locked down with the norovirus are now allowing weekend visits to the sections of inmates that are feeling better.  The interesting part is that there is not necessarily less illness.  The men are “sick” of lock down and are not reporting their illness any longer.  The good news is we get weekend visits with our husbands.  The apprehension is risking serious stomach flu. 

A big blessing is that at Caleb’s Unit, as of this weekend, has not been quarantined and none of the flu had reached his area of the prison.  Several visitor in line for visits were turned away this weekend because certain wings of the unit were locked down due to the illness.  As we visited together Saturdays Caleb was musing over the fact that though inmates are lock down the guards work in all areas of the prison from one day to the next, and inmates from quarantined units are transferred between units.  I know this was a big concern to Caleb.  We are just praying that he stays well, and the other inmates will get better soon!  Joshua's Unit had been quarantined for over twenty days. They were excited Saturday to have their first visit together in about a month.  Thank you for joining us in prayer over these matters.

God Bless,  Hannah

My verse for the week it Deuteronomy 4:39 "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."  This verse was pointed out to me in my church's mid-week service.  Thank the Lord for mid-week services!  After a week of disheartening news and a bunch of little disappointments I had ceased to "know..., and consider...,that the Lord he is God in heaven...,and upon the earth beneath:..."  I giggle about that old negro spiritual "He's got the whole world in His hands", but really it is no laughing matter, it's just true!

If you could be praying for Caleb's back.  It seems to be a reoccurring problem, but just this week he re-injured it.    

Quickly I want to thank those of you who have written for Caleb's parole, and those of you who have e-mailed both Joshua and Caleb.  In an environment where there is no sacred music, a blur of profanity, rap music, hateful glares, and unimaginable degradation a note from a kind Christian can do wonders for their hearts and minds.

He's got you and me in His hands!

Hannah