Thankful in the midst....

So, the kids have the flu. Monty has the flu. I have the flu. Yes...the Johnsons are ill again. How ironic that this is a "thankful" blog..and right now I'm trying to be thankful...really I am. Sooo... here goes...

I am thankful my washing machine works...so that I can wash the loads of "barfy" laundry. I'm thankful that we have the resources to buy popsicles for the boys. I'm thankful that the boys have been sleeping. I'm thankful that no one is hungry...so I don't have to cook! I'm thankful that Monty has the next two days off...so that even though neither of us feels great...there are two of us! I'm thankful that Monty helps! I'm thankful it's just "minor" illnesses...it could be much worse. I'm thankful I have a warm house, with blankets, beds and couches for sick people to "lounge on" . I'm thankful for hot tea...it feels good on my throat. I'm thankful for Canada Dry and Cranberry juice...great combo for sore tummies. I'm thankful that I have more than one set of clothes..so that I have the luxury of changing them when Nathan throws up all over me. I'm thankful that JD loves to announce to the whole house "Mommy is Barfing" (Ok...thankful might be a stretch...but it is comic relief) I'm thankful for phone calls from friends..that prove to me that there is an "outside world". (The boys have been sick pretty much straight since the beginning of January). I'm thankful for an understanding home group from church that does not get upset when we have to cancel once again due to our sick children. I'm thankful for call from friends at church, from family I'm thankful for my friend Angie who sent me a $20 gift card to Starbucks....I can almost smell the coffee now...

I'm thankful that God knows that I'm tired of this. I'm thankful that at some point ...my feelings of thankfulness will catch up with what I truly know I have to be thankful for!

Our Trip to Joplin

We took a trip to Joplin, MO yesterday. We got a chance to attend our old church, College Heights Christian Church. (CHCC) I was frankly overwhelmed by the sheer joy the emanates from the very core of the church there. There is a deep level of commitment to the Lord and to each other that permeates every corner of that place. Walking in the doors, I was flooded with the realization that "God is here..and He is moving!" The worship is amazing...It is absolutely breathtaking to hear the whole congregation singing! I mean REALLY singing. The teaching is exegetical in nature...meaning that they go through a book of the Bible, verse by verse. Jay St. Clair was preaching yesterday. He always amazes me, for he memorizes the whole passage that he is preaching from. He will be preaching along when suddenly it dawns on me....."He is quoting the whole passage! It is so challenging to hear the word of God brought to life like that.

After the service a group of us went out to lunch. There were three couples, and Monty's best friend Danny. Our conversation turned towards ministry and the paths that we had all been on. Everyone of us had graduated from Bible School and at one point or another had been in full time church ministry. It is tragic to me, that two of the three couples at the table (the Platts and Us) have been through the "ministry meat-grinder" at other churches. The Platts were wounded deeply in Georgia and in Texas. They have come back to Joplin and are now attending and volunteering at CHCC. Monty and I went through a hard time in Florida. We did not end back up at CHCC, but have leaned heavily upon people there to "get us through" the hard times.

We all agreed that there is something very special about CHCC. It is not special because of cool graphics, great programming or high priced marketing... It is special because it is a church led by Godly praying men. Men who spend hours on their knees for the life of the church. These church elders spend more time praying in their elder meetings than they do spent on an "agenda". It is a church where they strive to be a family. To care for one another. To speak truth to each other. It is that attitude that can make you feel loved the minute you walk through the door. It is a church that challenges you. A church that does not give the "feel good" answers to life's problems, but instead offers the truth and offers to walk alongside you.

Anyway...all that to say, I'm grateful for College Heights and the impact it has had on me and on my family. I don't know that we will ever live in Joplin, MO again. I don't know if we will ever be "regulars" at CHCS again. I do know that it is a place that I will always feel at home.

Empty Laundry Basket

My major quest this week was to conquer the Laundry Monster. It had stealthily crept up on me until it threatened to be my undoing. It's amazing how much laundry 5 people can create. I unfortuanantly am very good at washing and drying the laundry, but not so much the putting away. The clean laundry has a habit of sitting on the love seat, waiting for Mary Poppins to float in on her umbrella, snap her fingers' and with a sweet spoonful of sugar, send the laundry flying obediantly to the appropriate drawers and closests. Much to my chagrin, Mary Poppins does not live here. However, I am happy to report that the last load is in the dryer and everything else is put away.

My walk with God can be like that. So many days, I ignore him. I pass by my Bible hoping that some of it's wisdom will just "fly into me" by some form of spiritual osmosis. I don't do what I need to, and I get cluttered on the inside. I frantically try to sort out everything, to keep myself together. Instead of making progress, I just seem to make a bigger mess. It's then that I realize that without my time with God...I'm just heaping up laundry (so to speak). When I spend that time with him...He tends to clean things out. He takes out the self imposed clutter..and fills my "basket" with the eternal. Things that can't be seen. For, it's when we empty ourselves, that we have room for him.

Global Rich List (Click here)

Hey,
If you are feeling "poor" today, or not sure if you can make ends meet...check this link out....made me stop and think....

Earaches and Advil

Caleb is sick, and has spent the last 4 hours crying. More like being completely hysterical and writhing in pain on the floor. His ear hurts. At least I think that is what's wrong. I gave him some more advil about 30 minutes ago, and I think he finally went to sleep. I'm exhausted. My house is a mess, and now it's Nathan's turn to eat. Don't get me wrong, I love being a Mom. Yet on days like today...I'm frazzled and tired of having somebody "on" me all day.

However, I know that "this too shall pass". There will come a day when my boys are taller than me and I can't cradle them in my arms. There will come a day when the pain they have can't be fixed with advil and a rocking chair. I can't keep them from growing up, and I can't protect them from future heartache. Yet, I can pray. I can pray for each of my children as they grow and mature. I can pray that when advil and a hug aren't enough, that God will heal their hurts. He will be with them and guide them long after I am gone.

So, Father, in the midst of my exhaustion and my feelings of helplessness as I watch my son writhe in pain...I give him to you. Keep me patient and tenderhearted as I do my best to comfort and protect. Let me be an example of you as I hold my child against me. May he someday turn to you when life hurts...may he turn to you for every need. May he learn to depend on you....