Andrew Thompson:
CLASS OF 1992
Kalamazoo Christian High SchoolClass of 1992
Kalamazoo, MI
Cooking & Hospitality Institute of ChicagoClass of 2003
Chicago, IL
Reformed Bible CollegeClass of 1995
Grand rapids, MI
Andrew's Story
Life
Hiya! I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from the local Christian high school in 1992. I attended Reformed Bible College and managed to obtain an associates degree in just under 13 years. Managed to get second associates degree from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago recently. This fact just goes to show that if a student is persistent in burning and mutilating food products they can graduate culinary school with flying colors.
My wife Lori and I met six years ago and reside in Saint Joseph, Michigan. We really love living by the beautiful Lake Michigan shore. Our daughter Anna was born in 2002 and is getting ready to start pre-school this Fall. Anna is afflicted with Crouzon's Syndrome. You may have heard of this disorder during the past few years via The Oprah Winfrey Show or The Discovery Channel's outstanding program Born Different.
Crouzon's affects the growth and suture rate of the skull. Among the problems Anna faces are strabismus, sleep apnea, headaches, hydrocephalus, mid-face undergrowth, cranial synostosis...lot o'stuff.
Anna is having skull surgery this coming May. Lori and I are a wreck about the process, but relying on God to protect our daughter. The surgery will be a 12 hour restructuring (canthiaplexy) of her head. there will be a series of plates and hinges put in place to facilitate growth and help alleviate brain pressure. This will be Annabanana's third surgery and fourth hospitalization within the last year. She is a trooper, but obviously wary of doctors and trips to the University of Michigan.
Despite the cranial problems, Anna is a wonderfully smart child and very talkitive. She loves to look at books and make up games. This week she is making up personalities for her Hello Kittie dolls and riding around on her Nemo car. We just ask for your prayers concerning Anna and our family. Thank you so much and we'll keep you updated!
School
High School was an insane, but mercifully short experience. I attended Kalamazoo Christian during my Junior and Senior years (90-92). I really was a mouthy little twerp. Some of my favorite memories include Bruno (of Bruno's Pizza) chasing me with a butcher knife and helping place stink packets all over the Crossroads M...Expand for more
all.
I would probably not enjoy doing it all over again. High School was like riding for several years in a cattle car only to let out in order to attend college. Not exactly an apt analogy, but the point is that once I got to college the freedom was quite bewildering. Anyway...life at KC was fun. The Friday chicken/pizza lunch still haunts me (because, if you were the last in line the choices became chicken jerky or pizza jerky). I will always remember Mr. Bushhouse dancing during basketball games and getting everyone fired up. Good Times.
College
During my time at Reformed Bible College I was a little too goofy and immature for college. My memories of life at that age are sort of a blur. I remember making a lot of neat friends and then ticking them off. I lived with a great group of guys-probably the best people I have ever been blessed enough to meet. R.B.C. was so little then (this was the second or third year the new campus was open). For those whom I cooked for in the dining hall...I apologize! My cooking has improved since culinary school! The on-campus population often seemed like a big family, especially in the winter when we were stuck on campus. I loved the classes, especially Pentateuch and Hebrews. What I treasure the most, though, is the friendships I made. I got a great biblical education and tons of lessons about being a decent, honest and caring person. What a wonderful experience and I thank God every day for it!
Workplace
My work life has been a wonderful experience. I have washed dishes and preached the Gospel in Wyoming, been a church worker in Pennsylvania, worked the night shift at the Grand Rapids Main Post Office and (finally, whew) cooked for a living. In January, I will be taking over culinary duties during the day at Tabor Hill Winery and Restaraunt in Buchanan, Michigan.
God has always led my career path back toward cooking. I started out working in my dad's lunch counter in as an 11 year old in 1984. Several years ago I attended culinary school, in part because I realized that cooking for other people is something the Lord has ingrained in my personhood over the years. Now, don't get me wrong--I didn't say the food was good! My culinary career is very much a work in progress!
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