A time to Clean..and a time to make a mess

This is how the Johnson boys make cookies....

Emily

So, I just have to tell this story. It's pretty stinkin amazing and I thought that it was worth sharing. Many of you know that I worked on youth staff at Mission Hills Church in Colorado for many years. During my time there, I got the chance to work with so many amazing young women. This story is about one of "my" girls and her recent engagement.

Emily graduated from High School in 1998. She then attended Cedarville University in Ohio. After graduating from college, she returned to Colorado and has worked in the Real Estate business there for the past few years. She is an amazing woman of God who has served Him faithfully in her singleness.

This past year started dating a guy that she had gone to college with at Cedarville. From the start, thier relationship has been rooted and grounded in the Lord. They both have a heart for Him and have honored him in thier relationship.

Over the first week of July, Emily had gone to Ohio to visit Josh. (She lives in Denver, he lives in Dayton, OH). She was staying at a friends house during her visit. Josh came over, and told her that she needed to pack her bags. She did so, and they headed off to an unknown locations. Much to her confusion, they headed to the airport and boarded a plane headed for London. They did indeed fly to Europe. During thier time there, they spent time visiting several missionaries. They went to Vienna, and eventually Prauge.

It was in Prauge where on a rainy morning Josh took Emily out for a walk. They ended up in front of a beatiful statue of Jesus, in front of a cathedral. He then pulled a water bottle and towell from his backpack and washed her feet. He then read some scriptures depicting Jesus' view of servant leadership. He then proposed and she greatfully accepted.

What she did not know, is that Josh had arranged for Emily's parents and brother and His Mother and Sister to join them in Prauge. From a distance, they had secretly photographed the moment. As Emily and Josh walked away from the cross and through the plaza, her parents came into her view and gave her the surprise of her life! It was truly amazing.

They are planning a wedding sometime before Chrirstmas and are heading to Africa for a Missions trip in February. They truly are a Godly couple. I couldn't be happier for them!

Here's a video of the surpise "unveiling" of her parents...

So much to be Thankful for

Our 1994 Chevy Tahoe has had some issues. Mind you, the car was a gift to us, and for that we are continually thankful. However, it has had some radiator issues. Monty has been adding fluid before work everyday and I believe he's been adding some before he returns home. Not good. Monty is a wonderful man, who can fix anyone's jewelry or paintball gun pretty much blindfolded. However, he will admit to anyone, he is not a great "car guy". His schedule and our budget have just not allowed us to get it fixed.

Today, two guys from our Sunday School Class (err, I mean, Adult Bible Fellowship Class) came over with tools in hand. They took the old radiator out and were just about to leave to go get a new radiator, when Jake asked me if I had the receipt for the broken radiator (it was only two years old). We are not the greatest "receipt keepers" in the world, but I went to look for it. Lo and behold...I found it. It was in a file labeled "car stuff"...very professional don't you think? Because of that piece of paper, the radiator was replaced for FREE! That is a savings of $200+. Jake and Dewayne had the Tahoe up and running. I fed them pizza, which seems like a small payment for such a big job! Thank you guys...you are a true blessing us!

My other exciting news is after searching for an outdoor toy box in countless garage sales, I found one yesterday! I drove up to this sale yesterday and spotted the absolute perfect toy box. It was full of random toys that were labeled "free". I asked the gentleman if the toy box was for sale. He said... "If you take the toys in the toy box, I'll give it to you for $10". No joke! So, I handed over the said $10, loaded up the toy box and drove home. My boys were ecstatic to browse through a toy box full of new treasures. (I tossed a bunch of them when the boys went to bed..)

So, all that to say that God is so good. He really is "Jehovah Jirah"...my provider! He takes care of our needs and even a few of our wants along the way.

Thank you Lord for your continual hand in our lives. Thanks for friends who sacrifice their time on a hot July Saturday , thanks for a new toy box for the back yard. You are so good to us...

I'm back

Hello All...no I did not fall off the face of the earth. I am still here. It has been a crazy past month, full of traveling, family and friends. On June 26th, the boys and I headed towards Denver to help throw a 40th Wedding Anniversary party for my folks. I survived the 800 mile trip with the boys ALONE...thank you very much. They actually are good travelers. Monty flew in on the 5th of July and was able to be there for the open house on the 6th of July.

The Open House was such a great time. It was a fun way for my sisters and I to honor our folks. The three of us have not been together for a very long time. (Cari, my youngest sister, lives in San Diego. Christy and her family live in Denver. So, getting us all in one geographical location is not easy. Cari got to meet Nathan for the first time! ) We had about 75 people turn out for the event. It was really a testimony to their faithfulness to Christ and to each other.

We arrived home on the 9th of July. I've honestly had a bit of a rough time getting back in the swing of things. It seems like the laundry would not quit, and I was more crabby than normal. I'm not sure what that was all about. I feel like I'm coming out of the post vacation fog and putting one foot in front of the other.

Monty is really swamped and work and trying to do Grad School work and National Guard and be a husband and Father....you might pray for him. He's stretched really thin right now. He's so tired all of the time. I'm actually pretty concerned for him. I'm trying to do all I can to not put things on his plate, because his is so full. I keep reminding myself that this is a "season".

Anyway..the kids are all napping (praise the Lord.) and I need to go get some things done..and spend time with God. Wait...don't I have the order reversed on that?

Swim Lessons....

For the past two weeks, JD and Caleb have had swimming lessons every morning. They have had BLAST. They love being under water and have actually progressed really well. They love to jump off the diving board and have fallen in love with goggles. They are getting so tan and so blonde...ahh the joys of summer!

Oh the difference....

Boys are so much different than girls. I realized this tonight as I was putting JD to bed. We had had some sweet time together. I had read books, we snuggled under the covers and we prayed. I was leaving the room with a smile on my face...when my sweet boy said this...

"Mommy, if there were bad guys, I would poke them with a sword and they would bleed everywhere..."

Ahh.. the words every mother wants to hear as her son drifts off to sleep.

Delight vs. Tolerate

I just got done making Peanut Butter cookies with Caleb. He was supposed to be napping. However, sleep would not come for him at his regular nap time. His brothers were both asleep, yet Caleb was inconsolable as he lay in his toddler bed. Usually, I am a stickler and do not give in to tantrums. I was getting ready to start on my "to do" list, when the overwhelming desire to make cookies with Caleb came over me. This does not typically happen. So, I went into his room and retrieved a very grateful 3 year old. We made our way to the kitchen and he helped me make cookies with the sheer delight. I let him eat brown sugar and fingers full of peanut butter. He helped me use the mixer and we each licked a "beater" clean.

Once the cookie making process was done and we had each had a glass of milk, I sent him back to his room. I didn't hear a sound from him for two hours. I guess he was hungry for some "Mommy" time. I find that even though I'm home with the boys all day long, that I sometimes don't spend the time with them that I need too. I get wrapped up in volunteer projects, checking email, talking on the phone, cleaning, laundry...you get the picture. My prayer lately is that I will delight in my children...not just tolerate them. Anyone else feel that way?