tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78366983559661511312024-03-12T21:24:15.127-07:00Citizens of Glory"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of Hos glory..." ~Phil. 3:20-21a~The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-52648837745982881942013-04-09T20:58:00.002-07:002013-04-09T20:58:46.084-07:00March: Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>The End of March in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He started to smile and coo quite a bit! SUCH a joy! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dMCQLVT_-Rc/UWN6KLCE1dI/AAAAAAAABoY/XmtRkTkN_V8/s1600/IMG_2458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dMCQLVT_-Rc/UWN6KLCE1dI/AAAAAAAABoY/XmtRkTkN_V8/s320/IMG_2458.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Linnea was making him excited. I took this from a distance so neither of them would notice. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dYRxwI9Cmw/UWN6HwlUzwI/AAAAAAAABoQ/wXHMddfjAVA/s1600/IMG_2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dYRxwI9Cmw/UWN6HwlUzwI/AAAAAAAABoQ/wXHMddfjAVA/s320/IMG_2461.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vWUZ0eT_-w/UWN6LI_8SLI/AAAAAAAABog/VK3IPNlHRaE/s1600/IMG_2473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vWUZ0eT_-w/UWN6LI_8SLI/AAAAAAAABog/VK3IPNlHRaE/s320/IMG_2473.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u>Easter Day! </u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My two handsome boys!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwJ-TREeIZ8/UWN7G193_9I/AAAAAAAABo0/KCztnPc590E/s1600/IMG_2491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwJ-TREeIZ8/UWN7G193_9I/AAAAAAAABo0/KCztnPc590E/s320/IMG_2491.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
He really did look handsome! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NN3pD8Fk8E/UWN7GBj8kfI/AAAAAAAABoo/L-F3ydP5NVw/s1600/IMG_2496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NN3pD8Fk8E/UWN7GBj8kfI/AAAAAAAABoo/L-F3ydP5NVw/s320/IMG_2496.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Grandma" Ochs set a table just for the girls. She is the queen of hospitality and really making things special. The Ochs had us for Easter last year as well, and have really adopted us into their family. We are so very grateful! Next time I will have to include them in more pictures!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ar309uY3dxY/UWN7G6vgHFI/AAAAAAAABow/nF_3fn2utF4/s1600/IMG_2498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ar309uY3dxY/UWN7G6vgHFI/AAAAAAAABow/nF_3fn2utF4/s320/IMG_2498.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ready to go hunting in the front yard!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_AmaAf8GXI/UWN7S3Q5QBI/AAAAAAAABpA/t0tcQGTpwFc/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_AmaAf8GXI/UWN7S3Q5QBI/AAAAAAAABpA/t0tcQGTpwFc/s320/IMG_2501.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The basket was bigger than her! :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnQ56brsDIQ/UWN7VvV3CiI/AAAAAAAABpI/YhEXM8l3rfA/s1600/IMG_2502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnQ56brsDIQ/UWN7VvV3CiI/AAAAAAAABpI/YhEXM8l3rfA/s320/IMG_2502.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And their off!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HZEQdOvNtY/UWN7xBYPTDI/AAAAAAAABpg/08Njjyd6_-4/s1600/IMG_2512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HZEQdOvNtY/UWN7xBYPTDI/AAAAAAAABpg/08Njjyd6_-4/s320/IMG_2512.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbKP4BVsi-8/UWN737dsBfI/AAAAAAAABpo/9tSFKgM5GAA/s1600/IMG_2513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CbKP4BVsi-8/UWN737dsBfI/AAAAAAAABpo/9tSFKgM5GAA/s320/IMG_2513.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDf431MKFro/UWN7asNnUkI/AAAAAAAABpQ/a51VAVJs1BA/s1600/IMG_2506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDf431MKFro/UWN7asNnUkI/AAAAAAAABpQ/a51VAVJs1BA/s320/IMG_2506.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Was going to snap a picture of her smiling, but she spotted an egg. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cG4xnQGx__g/UWN7s9z7HPI/AAAAAAAABpY/o9sZUkSEW3U/s1600/IMG_2508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cG4xnQGx__g/UWN7s9z7HPI/AAAAAAAABpY/o9sZUkSEW3U/s320/IMG_2508.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
All 5 of us!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-waMH8xkbvOg/UWN78cZurII/AAAAAAAABpw/IBNMHHTx7ec/s1600/IMG_2516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-waMH8xkbvOg/UWN78cZurII/AAAAAAAABpw/IBNMHHTx7ec/s320/IMG_2516.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hanging out with "Aunt" Kim!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXIBW_qVpwc/UWN7-33_xpI/AAAAAAAABp4/I0QEWHiUXB0/s1600/IMG_2523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXIBW_qVpwc/UWN7-33_xpI/AAAAAAAABp4/I0QEWHiUXB0/s320/IMG_2523.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All tuckered out after a busy day...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHvDK3NUDFU/UWN8MrTNOvI/AAAAAAAABqA/2B9dXE0dv8M/s1600/IMG_2528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHvDK3NUDFU/UWN8MrTNOvI/AAAAAAAABqA/2B9dXE0dv8M/s320/IMG_2528.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-24187568763807617602013-04-09T20:58:00.000-07:002013-04-09T20:58:10.192-07:00March: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>The Middle of March in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On March 18th (just about 1 year after being in the same hospital with Natalie!), I took Silas into the hospital after being sick for 3 days, not eating well, and having a high fever. He tested positive for RSV.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFjWHoeu_Dg/UWMuYeVuA2I/AAAAAAAABlY/wRoegaUg9TM/s1600/IMG_2404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFjWHoeu_Dg/UWMuYeVuA2I/AAAAAAAABlY/wRoegaUg9TM/s320/IMG_2404.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His carriage up to our room. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIg7otvTpJI/UWMuiN_rq8I/AAAAAAAABlg/uvZ8Ew1eG6g/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIg7otvTpJI/UWMuiN_rq8I/AAAAAAAABlg/uvZ8Ew1eG6g/s320/IMG_2406.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Got lots of cuddle time with our poor boy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDS3mUiCE8k/UWMumojEFPI/AAAAAAAABlo/tXbtaQkEfMo/s1600/IMG_2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDS3mUiCE8k/UWMumojEFPI/AAAAAAAABlo/tXbtaQkEfMo/s320/IMG_2411.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPF65Zw0xMI/UWMuwsH20uI/AAAAAAAABl4/O8V--MdNXbU/s1600/IMG_2413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPF65Zw0xMI/UWMuwsH20uI/AAAAAAAABl4/O8V--MdNXbU/s320/IMG_2413.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was on Oxygen for just under 48hrs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spEhjv54G4w/UWMumzBaV4I/AAAAAAAABls/5AuYOSgXkWc/s1600/IMG_2410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spEhjv54G4w/UWMumzBaV4I/AAAAAAAABls/5AuYOSgXkWc/s320/IMG_2410.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CZT2I0J9lo/UWMu15MhnrI/AAAAAAAABmA/1hSmZdneCxU/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CZT2I0J9lo/UWMu15MhnrI/AAAAAAAABmA/1hSmZdneCxU/s320/IMG_2415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daddy brought the girls for a visit and they were quite intrigued! Silas was starting to improve about this time as well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQeiLxrEu80/UWMu2rDYREI/AAAAAAAABmI/1T5VT4sFwJY/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQeiLxrEu80/UWMu2rDYREI/AAAAAAAABmI/1T5VT4sFwJY/s320/IMG_2418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBjITWyAvzI/UWMu-GRGltI/AAAAAAAABmQ/LR3edOZbsJo/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBjITWyAvzI/UWMu-GRGltI/AAAAAAAABmQ/LR3edOZbsJo/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Getting better!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ipfg4GA1-5k/UWMvHiD9KAI/AAAAAAAABmY/OW93rHNuo0c/s1600/IMG_2421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ipfg4GA1-5k/UWMvHiD9KAI/AAAAAAAABmY/OW93rHNuo0c/s320/IMG_2421.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lots of wires and monitors!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgPnX9HgdEA/UWMvKbas55I/AAAAAAAABmg/pXEd-rSIPGE/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgPnX9HgdEA/UWMvKbas55I/AAAAAAAABmg/pXEd-rSIPGE/s320/IMG_2424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Praisin' the Lord in his sleep! :) Haha.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILc6c3aQwrs/UWMvMVqnYPI/AAAAAAAABmo/1Boyyds7jKg/s1600/IMG_2426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILc6c3aQwrs/UWMvMVqnYPI/AAAAAAAABmo/1Boyyds7jKg/s320/IMG_2426.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltNjkeUz1pY/UWMvXL_FIKI/AAAAAAAABmw/5QVhAUPiyQY/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltNjkeUz1pY/UWMvXL_FIKI/AAAAAAAABmw/5QVhAUPiyQY/s320/IMG_2429.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Getting ready to go home! No more oxygen...</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnbSC634ogs/UWMvca6BPpI/AAAAAAAABnA/3eeDS6xIAwc/s1600/IMG_2432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnbSC634ogs/UWMvca6BPpI/AAAAAAAABnA/3eeDS6xIAwc/s320/IMG_2432.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and no more IV! All the stickers and tape left irritated red skin, but thankfully that went away within a couple of days. Their was still a patch of glue stuck to a chunk of his hair that I couldn't get out, so he had his first haircut at 5 weeks old! :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqs43iAYRu8/UWMva210ExI/AAAAAAAABm4/idv7u7xJjUY/s1600/IMG_2433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqs43iAYRu8/UWMva210ExI/AAAAAAAABm4/idv7u7xJjUY/s320/IMG_2433.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aaron gave him his moose "for comfort". :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KOfKZK0emxI/UWMvjjblI8I/AAAAAAAABnQ/3EGOdEbIXZI/s1600/IMG_2434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KOfKZK0emxI/UWMvjjblI8I/AAAAAAAABnQ/3EGOdEbIXZI/s320/IMG_2434.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy to be home with my children!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsKvRa0Lh4w/UWMvfBoCwGI/AAAAAAAABnI/y5FaJjB51tA/s1600/IMG_2440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AsKvRa0Lh4w/UWMvfBoCwGI/AAAAAAAABnI/y5FaJjB51tA/s320/IMG_2440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpUMxfQB160/UWMvm9AVhYI/AAAAAAAABnY/5fhtGGJP-dw/s1600/IMG_2438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpUMxfQB160/UWMvm9AVhYI/AAAAAAAABnY/5fhtGGJP-dw/s320/IMG_2438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...aaand then we all got the stomach flu a couple days later. :( Everyone but Silas and Natalie that is. Poor Natalie didn't know what to do with herself. She just stared at us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35942YiFNtU/UWMvtJh_C7I/AAAAAAAABng/3nuHZkRimL8/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35942YiFNtU/UWMvtJh_C7I/AAAAAAAABng/3nuHZkRimL8/s320/IMG_2444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And did what the rest of us were doing...haha (lying on the ground).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSad1t5ikY0/UWMvtvJit7I/AAAAAAAABno/FE95-ZGrVuE/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSad1t5ikY0/UWMvtvJit7I/AAAAAAAABno/FE95-ZGrVuE/s320/IMG_2446.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The 3rd storm of the season hit us while we were sick.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jYrOBwcwTds/UWMv6m-NcfI/AAAAAAAABnw/soFfPFB8lKk/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jYrOBwcwTds/UWMv6m-NcfI/AAAAAAAABnw/soFfPFB8lKk/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But thankfully the stomach bug is a quick one, so we were all ready to go out in it the next day (which was Sunday, but church was cancelled, which was different for us!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The girls wanted to ride their bikes. You gotta do what yah gotta do when you don't live in CA anymore! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ3XdqBhgRA/UWMv8fKzYnI/AAAAAAAABn4/wMjrMXi56dE/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ3XdqBhgRA/UWMv8fKzYnI/AAAAAAAABn4/wMjrMXi56dE/s320/IMG_2452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSHsPjcbO4I/UWMv9YBC5eI/AAAAAAAABoA/kWITSVm3P7c/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSHsPjcbO4I/UWMv9YBC5eI/AAAAAAAABoA/kWITSVm3P7c/s320/IMG_2455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-37874057558724234652013-04-09T20:57:00.001-07:002013-04-09T20:57:34.017-07:00March: Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>The Beginning of March in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have lots of pictures of Linnea holding Silas. :) She insists on kissing and hugging him before he goes down for every nap, and after each kiss, she says in a cute high pitched tone, "Love you, Silas"...it's precious!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlQD4SdUNSo/UWMiYljc6sI/AAAAAAAABiA/uHjOI5R9dfY/s1600/IMG_2135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlQD4SdUNSo/UWMiYljc6sI/AAAAAAAABiA/uHjOI5R9dfY/s320/IMG_2135.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie decided he needed his hair brushed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKUsVG1YmKA/UWMia8lbSlI/AAAAAAAABiI/LwgPWIGiQD0/s1600/IMG_2136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKUsVG1YmKA/UWMia8lbSlI/AAAAAAAABiI/LwgPWIGiQD0/s320/IMG_2136.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65cnIMN4veU/UWMic3qzuVI/AAAAAAAABiQ/BLVxv4o5MOs/s1600/IMG_2131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-65cnIMN4veU/UWMic3qzuVI/AAAAAAAABiQ/BLVxv4o5MOs/s320/IMG_2131.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hmmm...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRCyOhQ3IqU/UWMifaLK9qI/AAAAAAAABiY/EpLFEiGXRgI/s1600/IMG_2148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pRCyOhQ3IqU/UWMifaLK9qI/AAAAAAAABiY/EpLFEiGXRgI/s320/IMG_2148.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I found him like this, with the car on him. After being asked, Linnea told me, "he wants to play with it, Mommy." :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_Fwsx7Q8g0/UWMimxCO-aI/AAAAAAAABig/D-mFO57aBjU/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_Fwsx7Q8g0/UWMimxCO-aI/AAAAAAAABig/D-mFO57aBjU/s320/IMG_2144.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsMG9ozhywU/UWMipNl9kyI/AAAAAAAABio/pif6lHyahj8/s1600/IMG_2142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RsMG9ozhywU/UWMipNl9kyI/AAAAAAAABio/pif6lHyahj8/s320/IMG_2142.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*LOVE*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lCTxtfGxfQ/UWMipYa1mOI/AAAAAAAABis/dM4Cw6nlJBs/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lCTxtfGxfQ/UWMipYa1mOI/AAAAAAAABis/dM4Cw6nlJBs/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A series of facial expressions in the span of 10 seconds:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aeNtusUWt4/UWMiz9-5WrI/AAAAAAAABi4/S3lF3ghXLVo/s1600/IMG_2178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aeNtusUWt4/UWMiz9-5WrI/AAAAAAAABi4/S3lF3ghXLVo/s320/IMG_2178.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVgbXYIzJRg/UWMi2HrbpuI/AAAAAAAABjA/cfdJUcaw3OQ/s1600/IMG_2179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVgbXYIzJRg/UWMi2HrbpuI/AAAAAAAABjA/cfdJUcaw3OQ/s320/IMG_2179.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Qw-fGB4CI/UWMi56Hx_HI/AAAAAAAABjI/_NNImnnlSW8/s1600/IMG_2180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Qw-fGB4CI/UWMi56Hx_HI/AAAAAAAABjI/_NNImnnlSW8/s320/IMG_2180.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glftnpMATvM/UWMjCx6orLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/5TF8OexYWOw/s1600/IMG_2181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glftnpMATvM/UWMjCx6orLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/5TF8OexYWOw/s320/IMG_2181.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRKVvK9wMKQ/UWMjDvO7GyI/AAAAAAAABjY/-g69jppWdOw/s1600/IMG_2182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRKVvK9wMKQ/UWMjDvO7GyI/AAAAAAAABjY/-g69jppWdOw/s320/IMG_2182.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-2O-KYeCgU/UWMjLWkfGNI/AAAAAAAABjo/mJwzUnFpgF8/s1600/IMG_2183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-2O-KYeCgU/UWMjLWkfGNI/AAAAAAAABjo/mJwzUnFpgF8/s320/IMG_2183.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My little cutie in the bath!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuXIOYPLtSw/UWMjMEzCA9I/AAAAAAAABjw/H2KCTO8VO-c/s1600/IMG_2188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuXIOYPLtSw/UWMjMEzCA9I/AAAAAAAABjw/H2KCTO8VO-c/s320/IMG_2188.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
9 lb. 4oz. at his 1 month check up!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hUHwksCJEo/UWMjh7E9fbI/AAAAAAAABj4/VH8FD2hMaQs/s1600/IMG_2328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hUHwksCJEo/UWMjh7E9fbI/AAAAAAAABj4/VH8FD2hMaQs/s320/IMG_2328.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lk7p4qIz8s/UWMknWsumtI/AAAAAAAABkY/9eT55gGpvXw/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lk7p4qIz8s/UWMknWsumtI/AAAAAAAABkY/9eT55gGpvXw/s320/IMG_2345.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1jIWMUIlWg/UWMkGm9YB7I/AAAAAAAABkA/FpMOQsjw0z4/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1jIWMUIlWg/UWMkGm9YB7I/AAAAAAAABkA/FpMOQsjw0z4/s320/IMG_2347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She likes to hold him once in a while. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpAWJLz7ivc/UWMkKRGZcRI/AAAAAAAABkI/c70JuT69cto/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OpAWJLz7ivc/UWMkKRGZcRI/AAAAAAAABkI/c70JuT69cto/s320/IMG_2337.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 month old!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4cEDUaOKto/UWMkkhE-9qI/AAAAAAAABkQ/u7RqCDykcRs/s1600/IMG_2355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4cEDUaOKto/UWMkkhE-9qI/AAAAAAAABkQ/u7RqCDykcRs/s320/IMG_2355.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy boy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--cT7Ul2nEqI/UWMknsGKQ8I/AAAAAAAABkc/jPNBvKtuBGU/s1600/IMG_2369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--cT7Ul2nEqI/UWMknsGKQ8I/AAAAAAAABkc/jPNBvKtuBGU/s320/IMG_2369.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Caught her giving kisses to her baby...adorable...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXmBINOh464/UWMldBKXcLI/AAAAAAAABko/iH3RDx1q4vY/s1600/IMG_2383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXmBINOh464/UWMldBKXcLI/AAAAAAAABko/iH3RDx1q4vY/s320/IMG_2383.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daddy got HUGE boots for hunting season!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXdf5263JYY/UWMljzaKmiI/AAAAAAAABkw/jr66ZVch1lg/s1600/IMG_2378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXdf5263JYY/UWMljzaKmiI/AAAAAAAABkw/jr66ZVch1lg/s320/IMG_2378.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My first time going to the park with all 3. Silas slept most of the time, so it wasn't much different. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2_9K1Ywh36s/UWMlmxOKqZI/AAAAAAAABk4/wbnbmrvm8aY/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2_9K1Ywh36s/UWMlmxOKqZI/AAAAAAAABk4/wbnbmrvm8aY/s320/IMG_2391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She gets the biggest smiles before going down the slide, but its hard to catch them on camera when I'm the one helping her down. :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujibNR54Jkc/UWMlqefGZcI/AAAAAAAABlA/R5jRMW1IZfY/s1600/IMG_2398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujibNR54Jkc/UWMlqefGZcI/AAAAAAAABlA/R5jRMW1IZfY/s320/IMG_2398.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The park wore her out!! She had never fallen asleep in her high chair before! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41KWmE2iaeI/UWMls2QzHYI/AAAAAAAABlI/4sqNoUC_zOo/s1600/IMG_2401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41KWmE2iaeI/UWMls2QzHYI/AAAAAAAABlI/4sqNoUC_zOo/s320/IMG_2401.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-71160243270216940222013-04-09T20:55:00.000-07:002013-04-09T21:03:39.199-07:00February!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>February in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was thrown 2 SURPRISE showers! The ladies in my church blessed my socks off...I had no idea! :) One shower was with the elder's wives (no pics of that one), and the other was thrown by the seminary wives. Like I said, I feel so blessed by the wonderful ladies in my life!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vG5DGwiQr5I/UWDdT9JRNTI/AAAAAAAABaw/4JDzPVTaAsY/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vG5DGwiQr5I/UWDdT9JRNTI/AAAAAAAABaw/4JDzPVTaAsY/s320/IMG_1894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0qtwt6fpYk/UWDdZEMVc9I/AAAAAAAABa4/Wo15GaOQqyg/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0qtwt6fpYk/UWDdZEMVc9I/AAAAAAAABa4/Wo15GaOQqyg/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSplZDjrvPY/UWDdjsRnuEI/AAAAAAAABbA/ReMYo8L4lhg/s1600/IMG_1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSplZDjrvPY/UWDdjsRnuEI/AAAAAAAABbA/ReMYo8L4lhg/s320/IMG_1895.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr9mTwC2OOo/UWDdkYReliI/AAAAAAAABbI/zDXruGS2zuI/s1600/IMG_1896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr9mTwC2OOo/UWDdkYReliI/AAAAAAAABbI/zDXruGS2zuI/s320/IMG_1896.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Sissy" pushing Natalie in the laundry basket. Yeah, she enjoyed it. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1xznm_giRw/UWDdpuys2lI/AAAAAAAABbQ/dpb8XeU-dQU/s1600/IMG_1906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1xznm_giRw/UWDdpuys2lI/AAAAAAAABbQ/dpb8XeU-dQU/s320/IMG_1906.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linnea is starting to really enjoy drawing and has so far learned how to draw faces, stick figures and hearts (with a little help). :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sq4ySPukas0/UWDdsGQLylI/AAAAAAAABbY/Wd012YTzCtw/s1600/IMG_1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sq4ySPukas0/UWDdsGQLylI/AAAAAAAABbY/Wd012YTzCtw/s320/IMG_1908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie rarely gets to take a bath by herself, and the one time she does she just sits there holding onto all the toys...and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. Haha!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eIzFrzR9yII/UWDdxsllRHI/AAAAAAAABbg/w73J0XVfPkw/s1600/IMG_1910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eIzFrzR9yII/UWDdxsllRHI/AAAAAAAABbg/w73J0XVfPkw/s320/IMG_1910.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Grandma arrived! The weather was nice enough to go to the park!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tg6YiHfy4uw/UWDeHKfi1KI/AAAAAAAABbw/SbhTOiEF3Pc/s1600/IMG_1912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tg6YiHfy4uw/UWDeHKfi1KI/AAAAAAAABbw/SbhTOiEF3Pc/s320/IMG_1912.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our last night as a family of four. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFbSBlfKack/UWDd6k151RI/AAAAAAAABbo/XJ5VCD1fNpQ/s1600/IMG_1919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFbSBlfKack/UWDd6k151RI/AAAAAAAABbo/XJ5VCD1fNpQ/s320/IMG_1919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Getting ready to be induced. This is the only picture I have of myself and the whole labor and delivery process, as all the other ones are on my husband's phone and I don't have them on my computer yet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwBca9xmorA/UWDeYLZzvYI/AAAAAAAABb4/4kgnkMYJaNc/s1600/IMG_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwBca9xmorA/UWDeYLZzvYI/AAAAAAAABb4/4kgnkMYJaNc/s320/IMG_1920.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Holding Silas for the first time. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xraSlYz4Pb8/UWDeoVCW9NI/AAAAAAAABcA/ELFfSJQQziU/s1600/IMG_1922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xraSlYz4Pb8/UWDeoVCW9NI/AAAAAAAABcA/ELFfSJQQziU/s320/IMG_1922.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One happy Grandma!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iympWkEvV0/UWDet0lZM1I/AAAAAAAABcI/bKMwZzPdXII/s1600/IMG_1927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8iympWkEvV0/UWDet0lZM1I/AAAAAAAABcI/bKMwZzPdXII/s320/IMG_1927.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was love at first sight...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5p6RJEhxgM/UWDewKR6PfI/AAAAAAAABcQ/d-19cuV99IU/s1600/IMG_2190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5p6RJEhxgM/UWDewKR6PfI/AAAAAAAABcQ/d-19cuV99IU/s320/IMG_2190.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPQnV12olgs/UWDeySN5bdI/AAAAAAAABcY/C2SwzDtv2TE/s1600/IMG_1929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPQnV12olgs/UWDeySN5bdI/AAAAAAAABcY/C2SwzDtv2TE/s320/IMG_1929.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
His first photo shoot. ;) I will do a separate post with the precious pictures from this session. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRdHS-zBChc/UWDe8bxNPAI/AAAAAAAABcg/4002D1PIIP0/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRdHS-zBChc/UWDe8bxNPAI/AAAAAAAABcg/4002D1PIIP0/s320/IMG_1932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Going home!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVGJauIwRxE/UWDfBduAIlI/AAAAAAAABco/ba_pKqBaORQ/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVGJauIwRxE/UWDfBduAIlI/AAAAAAAABco/ba_pKqBaORQ/s320/IMG_1938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linnea LOVES holding her brother (usually only for a minute each day, and then she is done. :P)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fivmykfMsLk/UWDfpHN1ZvI/AAAAAAAABcw/P_r7sydW7io/s1600/IMG_1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fivmykfMsLk/UWDfpHN1ZvI/AAAAAAAABcw/P_r7sydW7io/s320/IMG_1949.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie on the other hand likes to "hold" him for much longer. She insists on "holding" him with her hands free, though, so she can touch him all over. Haha.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrPkUv1B8Zk/UWDf3sJlEAI/AAAAAAAABc4/fCQ5tdSckT4/s1600/IMG_1955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrPkUv1B8Zk/UWDf3sJlEAI/AAAAAAAABc4/fCQ5tdSckT4/s320/IMG_1955.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJU0VU-oI84/UWDf38iaHKI/AAAAAAAABc8/-G99jOUy9P4/s1600/IMG_1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJU0VU-oI84/UWDf38iaHKI/AAAAAAAABc8/-G99jOUy9P4/s320/IMG_1953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His first Sunday at church...Daddy introduced him to MRBC. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2frlHSj7uRY/UWDgSkV5BNI/AAAAAAAABdI/aEyaKNngA8o/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2frlHSj7uRY/UWDgSkV5BNI/AAAAAAAABdI/aEyaKNngA8o/s320/IMG_1963.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What? Doesn't everybody slip with one leg up and crossed over the other? :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_y8iG6RX8kg/UWDgdaGZ9CI/AAAAAAAABdQ/HSuBDlL6a3k/s1600/IMG_1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_y8iG6RX8kg/UWDgdaGZ9CI/AAAAAAAABdQ/HSuBDlL6a3k/s320/IMG_1960.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His soon to be best buddy. :) Russell and Silas had the same due date, but Russell is 3 weeks older.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9LVkzAPx1qQ/UWDgejZNx3I/AAAAAAAABdY/z8olDLhqAhg/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9LVkzAPx1qQ/UWDgejZNx3I/AAAAAAAABdY/z8olDLhqAhg/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He doesn't anymore, but he used to squeak EVERY time he yawned. It was so cute. I miss it. :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CnGA1NTBzRc/UWDggynlE7I/AAAAAAAABdg/DE86A1AntvU/s1600/IMG_1971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CnGA1NTBzRc/UWDggynlE7I/AAAAAAAABdg/DE86A1AntvU/s320/IMG_1971.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yd-RX5ZiRno/UWDglTiUPFI/AAAAAAAABdo/mH-nlF6jKfk/s1600/IMG_1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yd-RX5ZiRno/UWDglTiUPFI/AAAAAAAABdo/mH-nlF6jKfk/s320/IMG_1977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not happy after his first sponge bath. :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UhzYDcdpFo/UWDg9eN9egI/AAAAAAAABdw/bTob0xG7Z48/s1600/IMG_1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UhzYDcdpFo/UWDg9eN9egI/AAAAAAAABdw/bTob0xG7Z48/s320/IMG_1997.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Apparently when life gets crazy busy, the front door becomes the shoe closet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVij6UYbARo/UWDg-svUh3I/AAAAAAAABd4/inxozv2H7do/s1600/IMG_2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVij6UYbARo/UWDg-svUh3I/AAAAAAAABd4/inxozv2H7do/s320/IMG_2005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Daddy is so proud of Silas taking a bottle like a champ (and he still does! Mommy gets to listen to whole sermons!! So thankful!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4eHXdJxOuk/UWDhCDpB2mI/AAAAAAAABeA/y8IxHraAZQg/s1600/IMG_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4eHXdJxOuk/UWDhCDpB2mI/AAAAAAAABeA/y8IxHraAZQg/s320/IMG_2009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My late belated Valentine's gift from my husband: flowers sent from South America!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e5eWbtVWAU/UWDhdtNIrMI/AAAAAAAABeg/F_roSnjm3iM/s1600/IMG_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e5eWbtVWAU/UWDhdtNIrMI/AAAAAAAABeg/F_roSnjm3iM/s320/IMG_2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't even know shipping flowers was even possible, but these roses were the most beautiful, longest lasting roses I have ever received. :) Love that man!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90gC957xnQY/UWDhIFuI7FI/AAAAAAAABeI/YBHPerANYXw/s1600/IMG_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90gC957xnQY/UWDhIFuI7FI/AAAAAAAABeI/YBHPerANYXw/s320/IMG_2014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Put him on the carpet to try and wake him up...no go.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZFNbVOjgmg/UWDhMOFFzmI/AAAAAAAABeQ/YVghOwPMrAs/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZFNbVOjgmg/UWDhMOFFzmI/AAAAAAAABeQ/YVghOwPMrAs/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Beautiful boy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNUUGsSilR8/UWDhZMuxoNI/AAAAAAAABeY/RaghVzaos14/s1600/IMG_2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNUUGsSilR8/UWDhZMuxoNI/AAAAAAAABeY/RaghVzaos14/s320/IMG_2028.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1st major snowstorm.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8l_16FsT44/UWDhfkg3F1I/AAAAAAAABeo/aOdSTD01lyY/s1600/IMG_2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8l_16FsT44/UWDhfkg3F1I/AAAAAAAABeo/aOdSTD01lyY/s320/IMG_2018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Excited to go play!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_kOunxlqYQ/UWDhqYPgybI/AAAAAAAABew/GwdFBNx2h-w/s1600/IMG_2031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_kOunxlqYQ/UWDhqYPgybI/AAAAAAAABew/GwdFBNx2h-w/s320/IMG_2031.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPjkqLu3IMA/UWDhtAvlRHI/AAAAAAAABe4/GsN9UC29iS4/s1600/IMG_2035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPjkqLu3IMA/UWDhtAvlRHI/AAAAAAAABe4/GsN9UC29iS4/s320/IMG_2035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgF1wgzkDvM/UWDhtmYnyMI/AAAAAAAABfA/CUp9_BR_fg0/s1600/IMG_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgF1wgzkDvM/UWDhtmYnyMI/AAAAAAAABfA/CUp9_BR_fg0/s320/IMG_2033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He loves productive physical activity! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n1bZY1Eegs/UWDh6MZNsHI/AAAAAAAABfI/LGkZYIi3EcM/s1600/IMG_2036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n1bZY1Eegs/UWDh6MZNsHI/AAAAAAAABfI/LGkZYIi3EcM/s320/IMG_2036.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She loves the snow!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RK7nTvbRL1o/UWDh6zt9wDI/AAAAAAAABfQ/qQ96o-RtCsk/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RK7nTvbRL1o/UWDh6zt9wDI/AAAAAAAABfQ/qQ96o-RtCsk/s320/IMG_2038.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No, this is not a picture of me shoveling one week after Silas was born! :P Yes...delivery went well and I felt great! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PX1CUsSB3Y/UWDh9sBQzyI/AAAAAAAABfY/EcBje14C808/s1600/IMG_2041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PX1CUsSB3Y/UWDh9sBQzyI/AAAAAAAABfY/EcBje14C808/s320/IMG_2041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cold wash cloth on the face = still sleeping?!?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esUSnERWKkg/UWDiADbb5fI/AAAAAAAABfg/n6SdP2YgtIE/s1600/IMG_2047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esUSnERWKkg/UWDiADbb5fI/AAAAAAAABfg/n6SdP2YgtIE/s320/IMG_2047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIKhEjR5S98/UWDiyWVIjfI/AAAAAAAABfo/HL_XzgWDQII/s1600/IMG_2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIKhEjR5S98/UWDiyWVIjfI/AAAAAAAABfo/HL_XzgWDQII/s320/IMG_2052.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First trip to Oklahoma Joe's...raisin' him up right!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKJLMzudpcU/UWDjDdnM5aI/AAAAAAAABfw/5F38CMeXQcE/s1600/IMG_2054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKJLMzudpcU/UWDjDdnM5aI/AAAAAAAABfw/5F38CMeXQcE/s320/IMG_2054.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVHoj-D1G0I/UWDjDPT1QmI/AAAAAAAABf0/sxOMjkJHUpk/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVHoj-D1G0I/UWDjDPT1QmI/AAAAAAAABf0/sxOMjkJHUpk/s320/IMG_2055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I miss her SO much! We had such a wonderful time with my mom!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z0vyEoVm5Q/UWDjD6gFogI/AAAAAAAABf8/21k4v_DeBfc/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z0vyEoVm5Q/UWDjD6gFogI/AAAAAAAABf8/21k4v_DeBfc/s320/IMG_2059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she loved Okey Joe's! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2eea1bdP2i0/UWDjKz4piHI/AAAAAAAABgI/1cuo8j8viCc/s1600/IMG_2060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2eea1bdP2i0/UWDjKz4piHI/AAAAAAAABgI/1cuo8j8viCc/s320/IMG_2060.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grandma played with and read to the girls SO much. She was here 3 weeks and never stopped loving on them in this way!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ae_vNWNXl7U/UWDjNYs-s_I/AAAAAAAABgQ/RLPXMRNmsYI/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ae_vNWNXl7U/UWDjNYs-s_I/AAAAAAAABgQ/RLPXMRNmsYI/s320/IMG_2068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And of course she got some good snuggle time with Natalie (she is our snuggler still!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0x9atZaM4E/UWDjp8HSRpI/AAAAAAAABgY/_c2f833G8pE/s1600/IMG_2086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0x9atZaM4E/UWDjp8HSRpI/AAAAAAAABgY/_c2f833G8pE/s320/IMG_2086.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
2nd snow storm of the season kept Grandma with us a little longer. I didn't complain...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_xZ3wk5bEE/UWDjrDIX4pI/AAAAAAAABgg/gjrWSnUDIbI/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M_xZ3wk5bEE/UWDjrDIX4pI/AAAAAAAABgg/gjrWSnUDIbI/s320/IMG_2079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And it was beautiful!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BHNLgwoASw/UWDjr8vkt7I/AAAAAAAABgo/gqAZC62ZpKU/s1600/IMG_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BHNLgwoASw/UWDjr8vkt7I/AAAAAAAABgo/gqAZC62ZpKU/s320/IMG_2081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snuggling with Grandma.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUvXu62WXNc/UWDj57mXZpI/AAAAAAAABgw/TDiUI6EI0dU/s1600/IMG_2094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUvXu62WXNc/UWDj57mXZpI/AAAAAAAABgw/TDiUI6EI0dU/s320/IMG_2094.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
A little blurry, but my favorite from the ones we took. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVFx6wzI4Mc/UWDj7ish2MI/AAAAAAAABg4/03eNxb7CG5o/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVFx6wzI4Mc/UWDj7ish2MI/AAAAAAAABg4/03eNxb7CG5o/s320/IMG_2098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nap time...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxtTtL-hoF0/UWDj7twA-ZI/AAAAAAAABg8/fLHtssGcusM/s1600/IMG_2095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxtTtL-hoF0/UWDj7twA-ZI/AAAAAAAABg8/fLHtssGcusM/s320/IMG_2095.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V43oipHfHBU/UWDkGCn7EWI/AAAAAAAABhI/YfwTdV2dNLw/s1600/IMG_2107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V43oipHfHBU/UWDkGCn7EWI/AAAAAAAABhI/YfwTdV2dNLw/s320/IMG_2107.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First bath in the puj!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oLctgYAgj8/UWDkGOtRPTI/AAAAAAAABhQ/traCa4q_jbk/s1600/IMG_2111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oLctgYAgj8/UWDkGOtRPTI/AAAAAAAABhQ/traCa4q_jbk/s320/IMG_2111.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
February ended with a bang... New neighbors moved in the same day I wedged our van into the vehicle behind it in this picture. Backed out safely but turned to sharply pulling away and wedged their bumper into our wheel well, blocking the entire street off for almost 2 hours until roadside assistance came to help. Can I say oops. :/ 2nd time I've caused our insurance to go up by hitting a stationary vehicle. Oh dear.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsylr3GA1LY/UWDkL6myB2I/AAAAAAAABhY/qVzvabW-DB0/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsylr3GA1LY/UWDkL6myB2I/AAAAAAAABhY/qVzvabW-DB0/s320/IMG_2125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9XozkLgQYY/UWDrS4aYlaI/AAAAAAAABhw/6dBBMUCLOXQ/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9XozkLgQYY/UWDrS4aYlaI/AAAAAAAABhw/6dBBMUCLOXQ/s320/IMG_2130.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And let us not forget my sweet husband turned the big 30 on Feb. 26! I feel TERRIBLE that I don't have any pictures of it, though. :( I love you, Aaron, even if I forgot to take pictures!! He deserves a huge party next year to make up for it! :)</div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-6903108588462181652013-04-09T20:54:00.002-07:002013-04-09T20:54:31.165-07:00January!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>January in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Went to Fritz's for the first time and we all loved watching the trains and having one deliver our food to us!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Slu04Elp44w/UWDZndgqMrI/AAAAAAAABZ0/vx_1uVPEL64/s1600/IMG_1850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Slu04Elp44w/UWDZndgqMrI/AAAAAAAABZ0/vx_1uVPEL64/s320/IMG_1850.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Didn't realize their ice cream bowls were so big! Natalie didn't mind. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ1et2yAg9M/UWDZ4AyKAjI/AAAAAAAABZ8/RGubmSJ6yrQ/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ1et2yAg9M/UWDZ4AyKAjI/AAAAAAAABZ8/RGubmSJ6yrQ/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Was selfish and sewed myself a nursing cover! :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij9WAVPb2HA/UWDaRczGIaI/AAAAAAAABac/UQGLTNdj4AA/s1600/IMG_1883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ij9WAVPb2HA/UWDaRczGIaI/AAAAAAAABac/UQGLTNdj4AA/s320/IMG_1883.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Went to a freezer meal workshop by a Wildtree rep at our church and loved it! Still benefiting from the meals, and am going to another workshop this month!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WfS2QFbqMq0/UWDaVkEilAI/AAAAAAAABak/rS2ocN4js7w/s1600/IMG_1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WfS2QFbqMq0/UWDaVkEilAI/AAAAAAAABak/rS2ocN4js7w/s320/IMG_1886.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
36 weeks pregnant and feeling 40 at the time! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwVexZlVIYw/UWDaAzZbqdI/AAAAAAAABaE/LZVWGRf34p8/s1600/IMG_1867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NwVexZlVIYw/UWDaAzZbqdI/AAAAAAAABaE/LZVWGRf34p8/s320/IMG_1867.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Natalie being Natalie. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nUrFy3CKm0/UWDaLwDdR2I/AAAAAAAABaU/jLpu7lpJIiY/s1600/IMG_1877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nUrFy3CKm0/UWDaLwDdR2I/AAAAAAAABaU/jLpu7lpJIiY/s320/IMG_1877.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie being like her big sister and coloring while laying on the floor, but her sister never did it in the bathroom...hmmm...gross.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8MM1drzoCA/UWDaGGr-d-I/AAAAAAAABaM/NNmOhgVMyGw/s1600/IMG_1868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W8MM1drzoCA/UWDaGGr-d-I/AAAAAAAABaM/NNmOhgVMyGw/s320/IMG_1868.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are a lot less pics than in December because this Momma was getting extremely warn out from pregnancy! It's amazing to look back and see that God indeed brought me through and gave me all the grace I needed to endure. SO thankful to be on the other side now, though! :)</div>
<br />
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-12421917962203894572013-04-09T20:54:00.000-07:002013-04-09T20:54:06.253-07:00December 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u>December in Pictures</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Had a day warm enough to go to the park! ...Sisterly love...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LZZ1RCzN60/UVOi0ED5CXI/AAAAAAAABWg/Q_VQNCX7cLo/s1600/IMG_1667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LZZ1RCzN60/UVOi0ED5CXI/AAAAAAAABWg/Q_VQNCX7cLo/s320/IMG_1667.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aaron cutting down our first, fresh cut, Kansas Christmas tree!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhsFpdH1scY/UVOi8QuL-wI/AAAAAAAABWo/CekobCMZ9-Y/s1600/IMG_1675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhsFpdH1scY/UVOi8QuL-wI/AAAAAAAABWo/CekobCMZ9-Y/s320/IMG_1675.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was quite proud! (And so was I ;))</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uy-ZpaRuzXU/UVOi_ySdEyI/AAAAAAAABWw/PYalXqbtu98/s1600/IMG_1676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uy-ZpaRuzXU/UVOi_ySdEyI/AAAAAAAABWw/PYalXqbtu98/s320/IMG_1676.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linnea got to help hang ornaments for the first time! She loved it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNNpzMKsjV0/UVOjRRpy-RI/AAAAAAAABW4/ke-1gWs9aAM/s1600/IMG_1679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNNpzMKsjV0/UVOjRRpy-RI/AAAAAAAABW4/ke-1gWs9aAM/s320/IMG_1679.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She also took her first photo of mommy and daddy...haha!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-JGNGn89k/UVOjWCo3QgI/AAAAAAAABXA/NIOkBhLsEVs/s1600/IMG_1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-JGNGn89k/UVOjWCo3QgI/AAAAAAAABXA/NIOkBhLsEVs/s320/IMG_1682.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you tell where Linnea hung her ornaments...apparently she likes clusters ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tekxUY3ylM/UVOjfzPogqI/AAAAAAAABXI/LFnsFw1gMBw/s1600/IMG_1685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tekxUY3ylM/UVOjfzPogqI/AAAAAAAABXI/LFnsFw1gMBw/s320/IMG_1685.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7 months pregnant!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8NzqCWYqmI/UVOjjEvyktI/AAAAAAAABXQ/mc_gpz5N-po/s1600/IMG_1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8NzqCWYqmI/UVOjjEvyktI/AAAAAAAABXQ/mc_gpz5N-po/s320/IMG_1691.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Helping with Christmas baking!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdWmjDfCFRg/UVOjnnK7igI/AAAAAAAABXY/yrZOXeIccW4/s1600/IMG_1696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdWmjDfCFRg/UVOjnnK7igI/AAAAAAAABXY/yrZOXeIccW4/s320/IMG_1696.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Umm, it looked smaller on the farm. :P Took up half the living room when we put it up. Hehe...so worth it, though!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2IKVNWfyJ0/UVOjuITPg7I/AAAAAAAABXg/kPcek3hTIIY/s1600/IMG_1705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2IKVNWfyJ0/UVOjuITPg7I/AAAAAAAABXg/kPcek3hTIIY/s320/IMG_1705.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our new favorite breakfast here in the Johnson household: gluten free waffles with whipped cream and homemade strawberry puree. Yum!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-br-IVX1SySs/UVOjvLpRnOI/AAAAAAAABXo/cslm0D_hFFc/s1600/IMG_1707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-br-IVX1SySs/UVOjvLpRnOI/AAAAAAAABXo/cslm0D_hFFc/s320/IMG_1707.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A definite highlight of the month: "Auntie" Lisa came for a quick visit! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUqVL4S1f9k/UVOj3rrpWdI/AAAAAAAABXw/uwsR2Ox2KGQ/s1600/IMG_1728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUqVL4S1f9k/UVOj3rrpWdI/AAAAAAAABXw/uwsR2Ox2KGQ/s320/IMG_1728.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJP4M0EifoQ/UVOj7uaWI-I/AAAAAAAABX4/JLfTM_JKkGI/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJP4M0EifoQ/UVOj7uaWI-I/AAAAAAAABX4/JLfTM_JKkGI/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our first snow storm! The snow stuck to everything!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aN-OPvAmtSQ/UVOkXS8r9DI/AAAAAAAABYA/CKesx4uxrtI/s1600/IMG_1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aN-OPvAmtSQ/UVOkXS8r9DI/AAAAAAAABYA/CKesx4uxrtI/s320/IMG_1748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our little marshmallow. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz62bDEzxeM/UVOkcwAAQAI/AAAAAAAABYI/ou77gLYoats/s1600/IMG_1765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz62bDEzxeM/UVOkcwAAQAI/AAAAAAAABYI/ou77gLYoats/s320/IMG_1765.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Got one more stocking done this year. Maybe by this Christmas I'll have the other three done (Aaron's, mine and Silas')</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hPPjarbQ1g/UVOkhYD7QuI/AAAAAAAABYQ/1Y0jbckLVIE/s1600/IMG_1772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hPPjarbQ1g/UVOkhYD7QuI/AAAAAAAABYQ/1Y0jbckLVIE/s320/IMG_1772.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Opened their purses on Christmas Eve.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwsAge7gaxE/UVOlPGgyi5I/AAAAAAAABYY/-h-f2pruPJk/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwsAge7gaxE/UVOlPGgyi5I/AAAAAAAABYY/-h-f2pruPJk/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlosDRdBPAo/UVOlUEGNOAI/AAAAAAAABYg/WFKxZKyDa_E/s1600/IMG_1789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlosDRdBPAo/UVOlUEGNOAI/AAAAAAAABYg/WFKxZKyDa_E/s320/IMG_1789.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pretty sure we could have gotten Natalie only one thing: the soft puppy at the top of her stocking. She cared about nothing else after that. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5c3QPAmBHE/UVOlbBrlnXI/AAAAAAAABYo/sJCKntvrm4s/s1600/IMG_1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5c3QPAmBHE/UVOlbBrlnXI/AAAAAAAABYo/sJCKntvrm4s/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My mom was the queen of putting underwear in our stocking. I learned from her...hehe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyJ1IPwhLXY/UVOlgHLX-ZI/AAAAAAAABYw/q0fByF151N8/s1600/IMG_1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyJ1IPwhLXY/UVOlgHLX-ZI/AAAAAAAABYw/q0fByF151N8/s320/IMG_1791.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gotta snap a pic of myself once in awhile. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDUJenNp4js/UVOmHYFxItI/AAAAAAAABY4/8ZImDMdkgIM/s1600/IMG_1806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDUJenNp4js/UVOmHYFxItI/AAAAAAAABY4/8ZImDMdkgIM/s320/IMG_1806.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Watching the snow fall.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKv1MibOvB0/UVOmag6pNXI/AAAAAAAABZA/mAekp77jDoI/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKv1MibOvB0/UVOmag6pNXI/AAAAAAAABZA/mAekp77jDoI/s320/IMG_1813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sick with the stomach flu, poor thing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMvqfuv4EDY/UVOmr3cC8JI/AAAAAAAABZI/PFgHj_PILUg/s1600/IMG_1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMvqfuv4EDY/UVOmr3cC8JI/AAAAAAAABZI/PFgHj_PILUg/s320/IMG_1838.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Broke out in hives at the same time, but no stomach flu! Weird timing, and no idea what caused them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lO4aqaLZNhs/UVOnC0bNZtI/AAAAAAAABZQ/6D2TwdGQfeI/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lO4aqaLZNhs/UVOnC0bNZtI/AAAAAAAABZQ/6D2TwdGQfeI/s320/IMG_1845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our family of four!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kEj14nu3qQo/UVOnLi11-EI/AAAAAAAABZY/DqJqxNTzsbQ/s1600/IMG_1861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kEj14nu3qQo/UVOnLi11-EI/AAAAAAAABZY/DqJqxNTzsbQ/s320/IMG_1861.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our precious gifts from the Lord. We love them so!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ED6XNMGck4/UVOnPRDKWsI/AAAAAAAABZg/IGsvsilWoYY/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ED6XNMGck4/UVOnPRDKWsI/AAAAAAAABZg/IGsvsilWoYY/s320/IMG_1862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-79813661138603218082012-11-26T19:02:00.000-08:002012-11-26T19:02:07.581-08:00For Your Entertainment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have just recently discovered that Linnea is quite the little dancer and quite good at imitating! It's a bit scary how easy it is for her to shake her hips...yikes! We may be in trouble! :P </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CdzLU3Qqeg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-61777709969200416562012-11-24T18:34:00.000-08:002012-11-24T18:34:08.446-08:0027 Weeks...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This one is for my sister's incessant requests to see a prego picture, and because I love her, I am willing to humble myself. :P Yes, I feel much too large for only being 27 weeks (plus a couple days) in this picture (I am now 28weeks and 2 days), but I guess that comes with the territory of feeling great during this pregnancy and actually enjoying the taste of icecream. :) I'm probably enjoying it a little too much! But I'm SO thankful I have felt so well in those regards! Here you go, sis!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2znIipr-M0/ULGDUkHBk2I/AAAAAAAABV8/bq0bCKCOwIQ/s1600/IMG_1613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2znIipr-M0/ULGDUkHBk2I/AAAAAAAABV8/bq0bCKCOwIQ/s320/IMG_1613.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-48873576896933944912012-11-24T18:21:00.002-08:002012-11-24T18:21:46.132-08:00Natalie's Walking Adventures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Natalie has been walking for about 6 weeks now, so I'm a little late in keeping you all updated! Here are some videos from start to finish for you to enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bP81-YGxyLg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7djyAk4hd0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vxEnSHlbvM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_-3wNAt-68U/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-3wNAt-68U?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_-3wNAt-68U?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-69661356795989114102012-10-18T23:50:00.002-07:002012-10-19T08:14:28.611-07:00Cloth Diapers...Is it Worth it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hoifjlx45X8/UID3wZtWB0I/AAAAAAAABVE/M1LoAi1mCN0/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hoifjlx45X8/UID3wZtWB0I/AAAAAAAABVE/M1LoAi1mCN0/s200/IMG_0344.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Lately I have been doing a bit of research on the cost effectiveness of cloth diapering. I admit, I should have done all this before I started over a year ago, but simply assumed I would save bundles by doing cloth instead of disposables. Don't worry... I am discovering that I am saving money, but am finding out some interesting things along the way!<br />
<br />
I started to wonder how much I was really saving our family when one considers the electricity, gas, and detergent I use to launder my diapers. And since I have recently become an affiliate for the company I have bought all my cloth diapers from (which I still love! :)), I figure I shouldn't promote something if it isn't really going to save families that much money. After all, my main reason for doing cloth is to save our family $.<br />
<br />
Well, I came across this <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/17/cloth-diapering-a-real-world-analysis/">really helpful article</a> on The Simple Dollar yesterday. Basically, a gal has done all the hard work for me. :) I understand that she wrote her article a few years ago and prices of diapers and utilities vary and may have increased since then, but I think one gets a basic idea from all of her research.<br />
<br />
Her conclusion? You don't really save any money in the first year due to the upfront cost of buying diapers, BUT for each year after that, you save at least 250$ (if you cd for future children, you would save around 700$ that first year, considering they go through so many diapers). Now obviously if you have been given diapers or don't buy a huge amount in the beginning, you will probably save in that first year. Her calculations were based on the cheapest disposable diapers she could find, bought at bulk price. Also, she estimated on the lower end of how many diaper changes a baby/toddler goes through. So one would probably save more $ than she estimated.<br />
<br />
My conclusion? It may not be worth it for just one child, although, if you factor in selling your used diapers when you are finished, then you could probably save a good chunk of $. But for more than one child, I think it is totally worth it. And say you cloth diaper 3 children... I would estimate that you would save AT LEAST 2000$ (I think this is a seriously low estimation...I would imagine it may actually be closer to 3,000$), if not quite a bit more! And this is if you buy cheap, store brand diapers in bulk. For those moms that buy pampers, huggies, or all-natural diapers, you would save quite a bit more!<br />
<br />
(Disclaimer- I am not saying that one is wiser for using cloth diapers...not AT ALL! I think we all chose to save money in different ways. And for different seasons in life, time is more valuable than saving money!)<br />
<br />
So, I think after my research, I was encouraged that I am indeed saving money, but only if I stick with it! :) And now I feel like I can whole-heartedly endorse the cloth diapers I use! ;) <a href="http://www.JustSimplyBaby.com/?a_aid=5079e4955e0f6">Just Simply Baby</a> diapers are so convenient and easy to take care of, and I just love all the patterns and the soft minky ones. Aaron and I still comment on how cute Natalie is in her big bubble butt diapers, and she has worn them for over a year now. :P I have looked at a lot of different pocket diapers out there, and although I haven't tried any other ones (haven't needed or wanted to), Just Simply Baby has one of the cheapest prices (actually...with all the sales and promotions they have, as well as the option to buy "packages" of diapers, they probably are THE cheapest!), especially for their high quality and fantastic customer service!<br />
<br />
So that is my "two cents", and I hope it is somewhat helpful to anyone considering cloth diapering. And if you ARE considering cloth diapering, PLEASE ask me any questions and go check out <a href="http://www.JustSimplyBaby.com/?a_aid=5079e4955e0f6">JustSimplyBaby,com</a>. You can find out all about their diapers and read many customer reviews on their website.The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-84579624206636680102012-10-12T14:42:00.001-07:002012-10-12T14:42:29.928-07:00Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard?<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Do you not know? Have you not heard?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Does not become weary or tired.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>His understanding is inscrutible.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He gives strength to the weary,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> And to him who lacks might He increases power.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Though youths grow weary and tired,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And vigorous young men stumble badly,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They will mount up with wings like eagles,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They will run and not get tired,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They will walk and not become weary."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~Isaiah 40:28-31~</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How could these verses <i>not</i> encourage a weary and tired person? May <i>every</i> day be a new day to wait patiently on the Lord as we rest upon Him our biggest <i>and</i> littlest needs and burdens. He surely will carry us through, for though we are weak, He is so strong. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
May He shine strongest when we are the weakest!</div>
The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-48826924660195184262012-10-11T12:56:00.002-07:002012-10-11T13:03:28.574-07:00The Everyday Question of Motherhood<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Doesn't it amaze you when the Lord so lovingly and clearly encourages you? After a bit of tears from all the girls in this family over a very rough morning filled with bad attitudes, a playdate gone awry (because of those bad attitudes), my sinful responses, and me feeling like a failure of a mom and friend, I knew the Word was the only place to go. The Lord so graciously lead me to read 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 this afternoon, in which I was reminded of the power of the cross in my life and the ramifications of the great sacrifice Jesus paid on my behalf. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After a time of praying, confessing, and asking God to restore my joy in Him (which I so easily lost in the span of <i>one</i> morning), I decided to put off the dishes for just a few more minutes and find a post to read on a biblical blog. So I randomly clicked on the link to "The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood", which I don't regularly read, and shouldn't have been surprised to read a post tailored for me (well...she doesn't know this, of course :)) by Christine Hoover, titled "The Everyday Question of Motherhood". She addresses just about every sinful thought I had this morning and points mother's hearts to the importance of our everyday task! AND she ends her post with two passages from 2 Cor. 4 & 5!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was so good that I had to "run over here" and repost it on my blog. Wether you are a weary mom right now or not, I know this will encourage your heart and remind you of what God has called us to and the incredible importance it holds.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>484</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2759</o:Characters>
<o:Lines>22</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3388</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>11.1282</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The Everyday Question of Motherhood</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Posted on September 7, 2012 by jrobinson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">by Christine Hoover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a mother, there is a constant, uncomfortable battle that
rages inside of me. It is not the big or dramatic: Will I raise my children to
love God? Will I train them to obey Him? Do my children belong to Him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The constant battle of motherhood is more subtle, more
everyday, more hideable. At the center is one question: Will I sacrifice? Or as
Oswald Chambers poses in My Utmost for His Highest: “[Am I] willing to spend
and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Everyday Question isn’t answered one time, with the
birth of a child, with the planning of school, or with the decision to discipline.
This question — Will I sacrifice? — is answered everyday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s answered when a child wakes early with a need,
interrupting my quiet hour alone with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s answered when a sick child keeps me from worship and
adult interaction at church on Sunday mornings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s answered when I am emotionally spent, but a child’s
behavior requires my patient, purposeful response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s answered almost every moment of the potty training
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s answered as I systematically teach my special-needs son
how to interact with others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In motherhood, the Everyday Question is answered every time
a child’s concern or need must come before my own, which is most of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Too often, I attend to necessary tasks — leaving the stove
to help with pant buttons, putting down the phone to search for a beloved toy,
excusing myself from a conversation at church to take tired children home for a
nap — while my heart grumbles. If I just had one moment to complete a task or
have an adult conversation without an interruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Everyday Question, however, asks not just about what I
do but also about my attitude: Will I joyfully pour out my life as a fragrant
offering before the Lord for the benefit of my children? Will I serve my
children out of obligation and duty or will I serve like I’m serving God
Himself? Will I die to myself so that I might live to God in the specific
calling He has given me as a mom?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Everyday Question must be answered everyday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because motherhood is not so much the big, dramatic acts of
sacrifice, but the little, everyday, unseen ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because we can have a clean house and obedient children and
not sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because we are so easily deceived to think we can live for
ourselves and be faithful to God in our ministry as moms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jesus said that those who live for themselves will actually
have an unfulfilling life, but those who lose for their lives for His sake will
really experience life. As parents, our self-death for Christ’s sake not only
produces fruit in our own hearts, but produces fruit in the hearts of our
children, fruit that grows by the power of God. Let us, then, choose to
joyfully give of ourselves for our children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Everyday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“For we who are alive are always being given over to death
for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal bodies.” (2
Corinthians 4:11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“For the love of Christ compels us, because we have
concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died, and he died
for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him
who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And now those dishes are definitely needing my attention. :)</span></div>
The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-43197333844367591132012-09-26T21:49:00.002-07:002012-09-26T21:50:37.382-07:00Birthday Pictures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I feel like my slogan is often "better late than never." But at least it is true! :) Here are some pictures capturing the fun memories from the girls' special birthday party!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf985Xc04ng/UGPU53mpIXI/AAAAAAAABSY/Msh-SKtZ36I/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf985Xc04ng/UGPU53mpIXI/AAAAAAAABSY/Msh-SKtZ36I/s320/IMG_1104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lily, Linnea and Adeline</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsyiRnRoysk/UGPVFHvwCkI/AAAAAAAABSg/5NJaxtPcikM/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hsyiRnRoysk/UGPVFHvwCkI/AAAAAAAABSg/5NJaxtPcikM/s320/IMG_1118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pizza! One of Natalie's favorites.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb2Ubbis8FE/UGPVPpCjcDI/AAAAAAAABSo/wZEuxjFsngc/s1600/IMG_1105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb2Ubbis8FE/UGPVPpCjcDI/AAAAAAAABSo/wZEuxjFsngc/s320/IMG_1105.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"That was yummy!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItOaOcBvWVo/UGPVYYdHXjI/AAAAAAAABS0/3QiPzZtTO54/s1600/IMG_1119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItOaOcBvWVo/UGPVYYdHXjI/AAAAAAAABS0/3QiPzZtTO54/s320/IMG_1119.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJFQZYQvapA/UGPVjbOOP1I/AAAAAAAABS8/h2HsowYH-20/s1600/IMG_1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJFQZYQvapA/UGPVjbOOP1I/AAAAAAAABS8/h2HsowYH-20/s320/IMG_1122.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bubble time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-quRScTzGtwc/UGPVp0gGcSI/AAAAAAAABTE/lmkX1QLWzqY/s1600/IMG_1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-quRScTzGtwc/UGPVp0gGcSI/AAAAAAAABTE/lmkX1QLWzqY/s320/IMG_1125.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Wow!"...Linnea thinks bubbles are cool! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wr7yNWH6M0I/UGPVwPfzJQI/AAAAAAAABTM/F9mjymBx0Ak/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wr7yNWH6M0I/UGPVwPfzJQI/AAAAAAAABTM/F9mjymBx0Ak/s320/IMG_1130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4TSExQ83Qc/UGPWGRLsl_I/AAAAAAAABTY/CM_zzoNhKZQ/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4TSExQ83Qc/UGPWGRLsl_I/AAAAAAAABTY/CM_zzoNhKZQ/s320/IMG_1141.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sporting the Dora sunglasses Daddy picked out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJYP2L6wlDs/UGPWMHnu5LI/AAAAAAAABTg/_EB5knXGg-c/s1600/IMG_1144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJYP2L6wlDs/UGPWMHnu5LI/AAAAAAAABTg/_EB5knXGg-c/s320/IMG_1144.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes...Dora's face is a little scary. :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgHB5_m7fjs/UGPWrkXtZDI/AAAAAAAABTo/xDJFhqphh04/s1600/IMG_1147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgHB5_m7fjs/UGPWrkXtZDI/AAAAAAAABTo/xDJFhqphh04/s320/IMG_1147.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTInBjLzFA0/UGPW5TEN7gI/AAAAAAAABTw/u6vvfKpR-Lw/s1600/IMG_1160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTInBjLzFA0/UGPW5TEN7gI/AAAAAAAABTw/u6vvfKpR-Lw/s320/IMG_1160.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Candy!...We had to rip Dora's head off. Not even Daddy could hit it hard enough to get the candy out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwMHowaXKGY/UGPW_GacsgI/AAAAAAAABT4/qrVF9EeAsIQ/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwMHowaXKGY/UGPW_GacsgI/AAAAAAAABT4/qrVF9EeAsIQ/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We miss Aunt Kimiko's terrific cakes, but I think I am slowly learning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJYtbT9FyRc/UGPXG99-hYI/AAAAAAAABUE/zUhN-3mfi-w/s1600/IMG_1173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJYtbT9FyRc/UGPXG99-hYI/AAAAAAAABUE/zUhN-3mfi-w/s320/IMG_1173.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ns_unnmWVC0/UGPXW7hw0YI/AAAAAAAABUM/3jW9IBnmY4Q/s1600/IMG_1175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ns_unnmWVC0/UGPXW7hw0YI/AAAAAAAABUM/3jW9IBnmY4Q/s320/IMG_1175.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rl-YAxEr9Fk/UGPXcT2G4AI/AAAAAAAABUU/DmolgTUU3tE/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rl-YAxEr9Fk/UGPXcT2G4AI/AAAAAAAABUU/DmolgTUU3tE/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The kids are all wet because we got a really neat gift for the girls' birthday. RAIN!! A 48 hour rain began towards the end of their party, and the kids all ran in it and had a blast! It was the first real rain we had had in like 2 months!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VQIi17NxrtM/UGPX2vqRhlI/AAAAAAAABUc/ryEVd_jiKgo/s1600/IMG_1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VQIi17NxrtM/UGPX2vqRhlI/AAAAAAAABUc/ryEVd_jiKgo/s320/IMG_1201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyV6jf-YTcc/UGPX9sOz5DI/AAAAAAAABUk/dMdiJVAg6XE/s1600/IMG_1204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyV6jf-YTcc/UGPX9sOz5DI/AAAAAAAABUk/dMdiJVAg6XE/s320/IMG_1204.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are thankful for the many friends Linnea is blessed with here! She talks often of her friends and loved ones that are "too far away" (she says that a lot!) to go visit regularly, but God has brought her many special friends here, as well! And we are thankful for the friendships of their mommies and daddies, too! :)</div>
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-50276539207986239972012-06-12T19:26:00.003-07:002012-06-12T19:29:48.780-07:00Wedding Pictures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIyDVn-TPjE/T9f1R2Wh9oI/AAAAAAAABQw/pDjpi8f-3KA/s1600/392525_557759245440_159900161_31056313_1727395016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIyDVn-TPjE/T9f1R2Wh9oI/AAAAAAAABQw/pDjpi8f-3KA/s320/392525_557759245440_159900161_31056313_1727395016_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are the wedding pictures! Exactly one month late to the day, so Happy 1 Month Anniversary Paul and Sarah! :) The wedding was such a special time, and I'm so thankful for the pictures to help us remember! Thank you Kimiko, for all of these ones!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Best Buds....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIiEqDpWs1A/T9f0XUM98lI/AAAAAAAABPg/kxvxRvHPbtU/s1600/536121_557762284350_159900161_31056345_298219381_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIiEqDpWs1A/T9f0XUM98lI/AAAAAAAABPg/kxvxRvHPbtU/s320/536121_557762284350_159900161_31056345_298219381_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Loving playing with Grandma </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdm0rqbtxjk/T9f0b_D4hsI/AAAAAAAABPo/Ws_vBZZu08A/s1600/403383_557762104710_159900161_31056342_341998850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdm0rqbtxjk/T9f0b_D4hsI/AAAAAAAABPo/Ws_vBZZu08A/s320/403383_557762104710_159900161_31056342_341998850_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOfJ3GmGuok/T9f0hoqGQ9I/AAAAAAAABPw/Cgw_eLSML2s/s1600/536635_557762144630_159900161_31056343_1543088968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOfJ3GmGuok/T9f0hoqGQ9I/AAAAAAAABPw/Cgw_eLSML2s/s320/536635_557762144630_159900161_31056343_1543088968_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
peekaboo!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTcbCaMesPs/T9f119Ckm0I/AAAAAAAABR4/d-C9x06e4DM/s1600/556134_557761750420_1782688417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTcbCaMesPs/T9f119Ckm0I/AAAAAAAABR4/d-C9x06e4DM/s320/556134_557761750420_1782688417_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZpDKGBrVU4/T9f0lz7gHoI/AAAAAAAABP4/lLVmMNP19pc/s1600/150742_557761800320_159900161_31056337_583765192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZpDKGBrVU4/T9f0lz7gHoI/AAAAAAAABP4/lLVmMNP19pc/s320/150742_557761800320_159900161_31056337_583765192_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The wedding site was beautiful!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rAgD6rThFI/T9f0oEfoACI/AAAAAAAABQA/SXW17k6Sfbc/s1600/536054_557761301320_159900161_31056335_814223325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rAgD6rThFI/T9f0oEfoACI/AAAAAAAABQA/SXW17k6Sfbc/s320/536054_557761301320_159900161_31056335_814223325_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Linnea, being a flower girl is serious stuff. Don't worry, I will show you how to do it...I learned from YouTube."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFmHruwqplc/T9f44pkH6fI/AAAAAAAABSI/BeqBCSuvBEg/s1600/543059_557761126670_1100791741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFmHruwqplc/T9f44pkH6fI/AAAAAAAABSI/BeqBCSuvBEg/s320/543059_557761126670_1100791741_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grammy and Grandpa with ALL of their Great Grandchildren....SO special!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1511Vj8nAtk/T9f0qA1MTNI/AAAAAAAABQI/z3mTllBiGRg/s1600/542155_557760727470_159900161_31056328_904718225_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1511Vj8nAtk/T9f0qA1MTNI/AAAAAAAABQI/z3mTllBiGRg/s320/542155_557760727470_159900161_31056328_904718225_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know if you can quite tell in this pic, but I lost it as soon as I saw my big brother up there, about the get married. I was SO overjoyed!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x5IaKxIiW1s/T9f0w_HLPrI/AAAAAAAABQY/BcpwpvfARrQ/s1600/546277_557760088750_159900161_31056323_716195736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x5IaKxIiW1s/T9f0w_HLPrI/AAAAAAAABQY/BcpwpvfARrQ/s320/546277_557760088750_159900161_31056323_716195736_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The most adorable flower girls....ever. Who btw forgot to drop any flower petals. (Apparently Hannah's YouTube videos left that part out! ;) They were on a mission to get to the front!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08FWd5l2Ito/T9f1HJeKLLI/AAAAAAAABQg/WoMw5ESJl0o/s1600/553379_557759759410_159900161_31056320_602803737_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08FWd5l2Ito/T9f1HJeKLLI/AAAAAAAABQg/WoMw5ESJl0o/s320/553379_557759759410_159900161_31056320_602803737_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlGcuoZ872Y/T9f1Mj5UwFI/AAAAAAAABQo/kc8_PIh7FpQ/s1600/534266_557759559810_159900161_31056318_2090626127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlGcuoZ872Y/T9f1Mj5UwFI/AAAAAAAABQo/kc8_PIh7FpQ/s320/534266_557759559810_159900161_31056318_2090626127_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My most precious girlfriend....my sister. I think I will wear heals around her more often. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTr8ByFdLa0/T9f1W4LUnZI/AAAAAAAABQ4/okPEuCU8QsY/s1600/545167_557759050830_159900161_31056310_1005224265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTr8ByFdLa0/T9f1W4LUnZI/AAAAAAAABQ4/okPEuCU8QsY/s320/545167_557759050830_159900161_31056310_1005224265_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
High fives with cousin Samuel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6Nk3j_URhw/T9f1aWwK78I/AAAAAAAABRA/pMP2WdbpEpw/s1600/181411_557758751430_159900161_31056306_1775080869_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6Nk3j_URhw/T9f1aWwK78I/AAAAAAAABRA/pMP2WdbpEpw/s320/181411_557758751430_159900161_31056306_1775080869_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Natalie preferred chewing on the kazoo over blowing into it to send Paul and Sarah off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1NYXbUPLzxk/T9f1fxj1dAI/AAAAAAAABRQ/pAHTTGcnK74/s1600/564932_557757982970_159900161_31056291_1133425763_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1NYXbUPLzxk/T9f1fxj1dAI/AAAAAAAABRQ/pAHTTGcnK74/s320/564932_557757982970_159900161_31056291_1133425763_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All the Parker cousins...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vu7bsShg7I/T9f1n4YNN5I/AAAAAAAABRY/vwO3fk7V0ww/s1600/553499_557762683550_159900161_31056351_1432835238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vu7bsShg7I/T9f1n4YNN5I/AAAAAAAABRY/vwO3fk7V0ww/s320/553499_557762683550_159900161_31056351_1432835238_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J-PabBziQ/T9f1qUrRfdI/AAAAAAAABRg/-eg3ppkAIPY/s1600/579481_557762598720_159900161_31056350_1514345642_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J-PabBziQ/T9f1qUrRfdI/AAAAAAAABRg/-eg3ppkAIPY/s320/579481_557762598720_159900161_31056350_1514345642_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Had to post a picture of the most beautiful woman I know in my life (inside and out!) escorted by my handsome brother!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dgGF54fdyV0/T9f1xJvE3eI/AAAAAAAABRo/h7f005gWM5w/s1600/543244_557760218490_185827032_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dgGF54fdyV0/T9f1xJvE3eI/AAAAAAAABRo/h7f005gWM5w/s320/543244_557760218490_185827032_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God is SO good....Praise the Lord for His beautiful gift of marriage to Paul and Sarah. May they forever remember what it represents...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-hHgj76ixA/T9f1dcILE0I/AAAAAAAABRI/FlKIo5su_XY/s1600/399073_557758676580_159900161_31056304_2063066388_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-hHgj76ixA/T9f1dcILE0I/AAAAAAAABRI/FlKIo5su_XY/s320/399073_557758676580_159900161_31056304_2063066388_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-10955910097193021592012-05-21T19:37:00.000-07:002012-05-21T19:37:20.157-07:00Three Months of Johnson Life!I know I have been doing a poor job of making appearances on my blog, so I figured maybe the best thing to do is to summarize the last three months of the Johnson's life. I will try to be brief...if that's even possible with me. :)<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<u>March</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
After recovering from Natalie's hospital stay, we enjoyed a gorgeous March with very warm weather! All of our neighbors said it had never been that warm in March for as long as they could remember. We began to enjoy the responsibilities of taking care of our yard and home, which is SO fun! We have been enjoying mowing the lawn, laying mulch, watching our flowers grow, and watching the many bunnies, squirrels, and birds (many cardinals) that grace our yard each day! It is SO neat to enjoy God's creation right in our back yard. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
A couple days after coming home from the hospital...happy to be together! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZmWixz9jFs/T7hYJQVQh5I/AAAAAAAABK0/ByMZLVEFn04/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZmWixz9jFs/T7hYJQVQh5I/AAAAAAAABK0/ByMZLVEFn04/s320/IMG_0142.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Still refusing baby food at this point...but LOVING table food, especially meatless drumsticks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYnbc92F2o4/T7hYbXzbujI/AAAAAAAABK8/plZgTsWxjHg/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYnbc92F2o4/T7hYbXzbujI/AAAAAAAABK8/plZgTsWxjHg/s320/IMG_0215.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
This tree is on the corner of our street and was beautiful in March!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7OVzG2ERkM/T7hbNF4UXHI/AAAAAAAABLQ/wpgNrmbqtgc/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J7OVzG2ERkM/T7hbNF4UXHI/AAAAAAAABLQ/wpgNrmbqtgc/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
We were able to go to the zoo for the first time (and many more to come, hopefully, as we were given season passes from a dear friend!), and had a blast!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMLmOQwFmJI/T7ruuAU7FMI/AAAAAAAABMQ/vJ3ptdnVSOM/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMLmOQwFmJI/T7ruuAU7FMI/AAAAAAAABMQ/vJ3ptdnVSOM/s320/IMG_0249.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<u>April</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
I can't quite remember if this was in April or March, but I think it was April. :) Anyways...my mom had a long layover at our airport, so the girls and I were able to have a long lunch with her, which was so fun! Kansas City is a "layover" type airport, so if any of you are ever "stopping by" for a long time, let us know! The girls really enjoyed seeing Grandma, even though it was kind of a mean teaser. Easter seemed to come quickly this year and we loved our first Good Friday and Easter service at MRBC. It was such a joy to celebrate the glorious gospel with our new church family. After church, we enjoyed an Easter brunch at the Ochs' (pronounced Oaks) home. Dr. Oaks is an elder at our church, and his wife, Patty, lead the ladies' Bible study that I attended this spring. They live in a beautiful home out in the country and spoiled our girls' with gifts and eggs full of treasures for Easter. Linnea had a blast looking for eggs along with their grandchildren...somehow she ended up with the most eggs (thanks to MUCH help from the oldest grandchild, Ella). She couldn't have been more thrilled! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HBLNIj7SGA/T7rtc6LnA3I/AAAAAAAABLw/tgy49VzEc4A/s1600/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HBLNIj7SGA/T7rtc6LnA3I/AAAAAAAABLw/tgy49VzEc4A/s320/IMG_0311.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzjXqCPgO7s/T7rtoblgCII/AAAAAAAABL4/v_Mhw5UwgJM/s1600/IMG_0328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzjXqCPgO7s/T7rtoblgCII/AAAAAAAABL4/v_Mhw5UwgJM/s320/IMG_0328.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Lots of walks in the beautiful weather.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kssKrIq1WI/T7ru7rmBsFI/AAAAAAAABMY/gPlaBWdFFz0/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kssKrIq1WI/T7ru7rmBsFI/AAAAAAAABMY/gPlaBWdFFz0/s320/IMG_0289.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
We decided to teach her young. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98fx9gxKmQ8/T7rvhoWm0EI/AAAAAAAABMw/CUxEMHD5QM8/s1600/IMG_0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98fx9gxKmQ8/T7rvhoWm0EI/AAAAAAAABMw/CUxEMHD5QM8/s320/IMG_0435.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Grandma!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--HFe7SdsSQM/T7rt0I03UBI/AAAAAAAABMA/9WEr0nZg72k/s1600/IMG_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--HFe7SdsSQM/T7rt0I03UBI/AAAAAAAABMA/9WEr0nZg72k/s320/IMG_0393.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Enjoying the torture or tickling!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-alNQaoQLV6o/T7rvO1jxggI/AAAAAAAABMo/uLZTWCXtfYY/s1600/IMG_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-alNQaoQLV6o/T7rvO1jxggI/AAAAAAAABMo/uLZTWCXtfYY/s320/IMG_0398.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Patty Ochs made these for the girls before Easter. Aren't they cute?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwwhXQfjPfk/T7rvDYy1O6I/AAAAAAAABMg/POJN2fDsM5c/s1600/IMG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwwhXQfjPfk/T7rvDYy1O6I/AAAAAAAABMg/POJN2fDsM5c/s320/IMG_0336.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Easter Fun! (Linnea tries not to smile in pictures now)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opzVsiwylh4/T7rv2or4WnI/AAAAAAAABM4/hTuTubraPFg/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opzVsiwylh4/T7rv2or4WnI/AAAAAAAABM4/hTuTubraPFg/s320/IMG_0461.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
And of course, when we do get them to smile, they are not looking. :P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFoXNVt2C0/T7rwBu0T74I/AAAAAAAABNA/6Vo5beDr3ns/s1600/IMG_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oDFoXNVt2C0/T7rwBu0T74I/AAAAAAAABNA/6Vo5beDr3ns/s320/IMG_0453.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx260L4X-jM/T7rwLBeRTpI/AAAAAAAABNI/g0PxFKRwr0Q/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx260L4X-jM/T7rwLBeRTpI/AAAAAAAABNI/g0PxFKRwr0Q/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOqK5u--GfQ/T7rweATVC4I/AAAAAAAABNQ/ncnr6Us6TFM/s1600/IMG_0470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOqK5u--GfQ/T7rweATVC4I/AAAAAAAABNQ/ncnr6Us6TFM/s320/IMG_0470.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrCdIkIc55g/T7rwyNh2ibI/AAAAAAAABNY/c-rQ_pNVKnY/s1600/IMG_0471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WrCdIkIc55g/T7rwyNh2ibI/AAAAAAAABNY/c-rQ_pNVKnY/s320/IMG_0471.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4S4DUBq88B4/T7rw9tkVLOI/AAAAAAAABNg/bkWwfu0HGnU/s1600/IMG_0475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4S4DUBq88B4/T7rw9tkVLOI/AAAAAAAABNg/bkWwfu0HGnU/s320/IMG_0475.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Bath time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xkhwkGrGn4/T7rxFOKhveI/AAAAAAAABNo/2UwfEor75R0/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xkhwkGrGn4/T7rxFOKhveI/AAAAAAAABNo/2UwfEor75R0/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Still our fashionista.... :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OypD27_S9c4/T7rxXRk3-mI/AAAAAAAABNw/r39VL-E4DQg/s1600/IMG_0546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OypD27_S9c4/T7rxXRk3-mI/AAAAAAAABNw/r39VL-E4DQg/s320/IMG_0546.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Playgroup turned into everyone joining the babies on the blanket! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ31i6kcQZg/T7rxiv900nI/AAAAAAAABN4/JzcID-vuhew/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ31i6kcQZg/T7rxiv900nI/AAAAAAAABN4/JzcID-vuhew/s320/IMG_0557.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Helping me at Trader Joes. I do believe this girl is going to be vertically challenged like me. She couldn't see very well. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0CrNNoIFlw/T7rxpwuK-oI/AAAAAAAABOA/BeiDwMvNYj8/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0CrNNoIFlw/T7rxpwuK-oI/AAAAAAAABOA/BeiDwMvNYj8/s320/IMG_0560.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Natalie LOVES the swing! She fell asleep in one on Sunday!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg-11cNA1Qk/T7rx2dkZ6cI/AAAAAAAABOI/ukv9LAOgknI/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg-11cNA1Qk/T7rx2dkZ6cI/AAAAAAAABOI/ukv9LAOgknI/s320/IMG_0585.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Right after Easter, Aaron attended Together for the Gospel with the two other pastors at our church. Praise the Lord, there was no hospital emergency that demanded he come home, so he was able to enjoy bonding with Rick and Bob and sit under some great teaching and encouragement from the Word! Shortly after coming home from that, Aaron then got to explore a little more of the Midwest by going to an overnight conference with the guys in St. Louis Missouri. They went to a famous BBQ place there, which only confirmed for Aaron that Kansas City truly does have the best BBQ. I wholeheartedly agree (not that I have experienced much else)...all I know is that the BBQ is goo-oood here! :) The girl's and I prefer to have Aaron home ;), but I'm thankful for these times, as they truly have been good for building friendships with the men he works along side of, which is so crucial to their ministry together! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The end of April brought on what I would call a new season in our life. The number of children has doubled in our home for about 20 hrs. a week in our home! A need was shared at church and the Lord burdened my heart to meet that need (with Aaron's full support). A gentlemen in our church suddenly became a single daddy when his wife left him and his two little ones. His prayer was that someone in the church could help watch his children, instead of putting them in daycare. Sam will be 4 next month, and Adah, his little sister, will be 2 next month. Aaron and I prayed about it, and as long as I could keep my family and home a priority, we felt that I could meet that need. The Lord has already used these children to work in my life in amazing, sanctifying ways, and Aaron and I are both so grateful for this opportunity to serve Scott (pray for him, please!) and his kids. (I am not doing it for free, in case you were wondering, so the extra little bit of money is an answer to some other prayers as well!) Linnea LOVES having playmates, and it most certainly has presented MANY teaching opportunities for her, as she learns what it means to obey, even when others are not, and what it means to regard others as more important than herself (well, she will probably be learning this one for the rest of her life!) :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Block time with Sam and Adah</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm2zjWO_etI/T7ryCPHeCyI/AAAAAAAABOQ/pupmVXYZcRE/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm2zjWO_etI/T7ryCPHeCyI/AAAAAAAABOQ/pupmVXYZcRE/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Coloring time...yes, we do lots of "times" (book time, room time, etc. It helps keeps life sane! :))</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i49S9FsAkaw/T7ryM07JkfI/AAAAAAAABOY/4I2tzutNoFo/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i49S9FsAkaw/T7ryM07JkfI/AAAAAAAABOY/4I2tzutNoFo/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<u>May</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
This month has gone by incredibly fast!! We spent this last weekend in Seattle for my brother Paul's wedding, and had such a wonderful time! Everything took place in downtown Seattle, so we didn't even bring the girls car seats! We took trains, buses and stroller everywhere we went, which honestly was so fun! I love the fact that we had to exercise to get anywhere. :) We were able to rent an apartment vacation rental with James and Kimiko (and Hannah, too!!:)), and due to a last minute change on the rental company's part, we were moved to an apartment with a gorgeous view that should have cost us twice as much! What a sweet little gift from the Lord it was! We greatly enjoyed our time with the entire Parker family and are so excited to welcome Sarah to the family! Their wedding was truly a God-glorifying wedding with an incredible message from their pastor. Jesus definitely shined brightly that day, which I know was their prayer. And if I may say so myself, the two flower girls were some of the cutest I have ever seen. ;)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Just had to post this one! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4uKm8FZIqR4/T7r51W7d3LI/AAAAAAAABOk/uadapCqPRyM/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4uKm8FZIqR4/T7r51W7d3LI/AAAAAAAABOk/uadapCqPRyM/s320/IMG_0695.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
**I will post some wedding pictures in a seperate post, as there are many I want to post)**</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We came home from the trip more tired than when we left (that is just how weddings are...but so worth it!), so we recovered this week and temporarily moved into the Holland home yesterday for 13 days. Rick and Kim, along with two of the other elder's and their wives are went overseas to the German Shepherd's Conference (hehe...no, it is not for dogs) as well as Russia for another conference and a few other places in Europe. We get the privilege of watching their three older boys. They would be appalled if I said babysitting them. In fact, I guess "watching" them isn't appropriate either :)...really we are feeding them, driving them around, and hopefully having some fun with them!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Well there you have it! There are MANY beautiful lessons the Lord is teaching me in between the lines of what I wrote, so if time allows, I really do desire to blog more and actually keep up, so that I can write more in depth! So hopefully next time I won't have to give a 3 month summary! :P I guess we will have to wait and see! There are certainly no promises, as blogging simply can't be one of my priorities right now...not in this season of my life with all these little munchkins running now (and apparently now teenagers!)</div>
<br />
<u><br /></u>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-33101043373269140542012-04-17T11:16:00.003-07:002012-04-17T11:36:51.611-07:00TestimonyI had the privilege of giving my testimony for a ladies' brunch at our church on Saturday, and had quite a few people ask for quotes and a few people who wanted to hear it but were unable to attend. So I thought it would be helpful to put it up on my blog. It was an incredible blessing preparing my testimony and looking back in reflection on all that God has done in my life! I think I may have been more blessed in preparing than anyone who listened!<div><br /></div><div>~~~</div><div>If I am being honest, nervousness has hit me on and off since I was asked to give my testimony, but as I was preparing, the Lord reminded me of one very important truth. Although I am about to share with you how the Lord has worked in <i>my</i><span style="font-style:normal"> life, I do </span><i>not </i><span style="font-style:normal">want this to be about </span><i>me</i><span style="font-style:normal">. I may not be the most eloquent speaker or clearest communicator, but I know the Lord is fully capable of using what I have to say for His glory! My prayer for this morning is that you see a more beautiful picture of who God is and all that He has done for us, His children.</span></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal">There was a period in my life where I wondered if it was a problem that my salvation wasn’t an incredible “wow” story. But over the years the Lord has shown me that the salvation of <i>every</i><span style="font-style: normal"> believer is a “wow” story! Being rescued from my wretched, sinful lifestyle is an incredible thing! If anything, I realize how thankful I need to be that the Lord spared me from a more heart-wrenching story.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">By God’s grace, I was raised in a godly, Christian home, and the Lord used my older sister to reveal to me my sinful, hell-bound state. When I was nine years old, my sister was my counselor at summer camp and was able to live life with me for a week. I praise the Lord that He blessed me with such a godly older sister who was concerned for my soul. She was not afraid to speak truth into my life, and gently shared with me the habitual sin she saw in my life that week. She asked me if I thought I was saved, because she was concerned that she saw no spiritual fruit in my life. Even at the young age of nine, I realized that I was a terrible sinner, and that it was <i>my</i><span style="font-style:normal"> sin that nailed Jesus to the cross! Separation from God was guaranteed unless I repented and accepted Christ’s forgiveness. It was at that moment that I believe the Lord rescued me from my life of sin and my path towards hell.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before we move on to the rest of my life, I would like to read a quote by Alan Redpath that my sister shared with me many years ago. It has forever stuck with me, and really helped shaped my view of every circumstance that the Lord sends my way. He says,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>“There is nothing – no circumstance, no trouble, no testing – that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a GREAT PURPOSE; which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret – for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is! – That is the rest of victory!”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wow! To know that nothing happens in my life by accident, but has come with great purpose is an incredibly reassuring thing. In Romans 8:28 and 29, we learn that the ultimate purpose of all circumstances in our life is to conform us into the image of Christ. And in James 1, we see how trials and testing play a large role in that process of sanctification. So with this in mind, I want to share with you some of the bigger events the Lord has used in my life to accomplish these things.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> ~~~</p><p class="MsoNormal">I would have to say that these trials of great purpose really started to come full-fledge in high school. For me, high school was one of the most trying times of my life. My dad took a new pastoral position right after my ninth grade year, moving us from New York to California. Friends who loved Jesus at my new school did not exist, and I had never felt more lonely in my life. Only two short years later, my dad was forced to resign by men and women in the church described in 2 Timothy, who were not willing to endure sound doctrine, wanting instead a pastor who would tickle their ears and meet their desires. We remained in California as my dad searched for a new pastoral position, and during this time, my mother became very ill. Almost every part of her body ached and hurt, which kept her in bed most of the time. After months of testing, there was still no diagnosis, and her suffering came to the point that I had prayed the Lord would take her home. I praise the Lord that He did not answer my prayer; she was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has learned how to keep her symptoms at bay and is doing much better.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Looking back, I am truly able to see the “great purpose of blessing” these trials brought to my life. By stripping away all the comforts of my childhood years, the Lord used this time to reveal to me that He is all I ever need. Asaph says in Psalm 73, “Whom have I in heaven, but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I also realized I should desire nothing else here on this earth more than Him. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> ~~~</p><p class="MsoNormal">Then the Lord saw fit to send me off to college in Southern California. Leaving my sick mother behind was extremely difficult, but well worth the journey to finding my husband. College was a short experience for me, as Aaron and I were married after my third semester, and the Lord gave me great peace about graduating extremely early with my MRS degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After growing up in the home of a pastor and seeing all the hardships that can come with ministry, I told myself I would never marry a pastor. Yes…my humble Aaron says it’s his good looks that won me over.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Marriage is a beautiful gift from the Lord. Martin Luther said <i>“there is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage,”</i><span style="font-style:normal"> and I whole-heartedly agree! I have no sweeter relationship here on earth, than that which I share with my husband. But as sweet as it is, it has done something challenging for me! Marriage completely peeled back my outer layer of self-righteousness that I had kept so neatly in place, revealing many of the little sins hiding just below the surface.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the biggest things marriage has revealed to me is how selfish of a sinner I really am. During our googly-eyed engagement period, I would have told anyone that I most looked forward to serving Aaron as His wife and being his helpmeet. Well, after all the excitement I had, you can imagine my shock when this didn’t come easily. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Ladies, this is no small task! Daily dieing to my own desires and being a humble servant is actually an impossible task…without Christ.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This leads me to the second greatest thing marriage has taught me, which is that CHRIST is CRUCIAL. My relationship with my Lord and Savior is of greatest importance, even greater than my relationship with my husband. Sometimes I get so caught up in being a Martha to my husband and children, always going, going, going, that I forget how truly important it is to be a Mary, sitting at the feet of my Savior day in and day out! Jesus said in the book of John that “apart from Me, you can do nothing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We would never do our husbands any good without Christ! Janelle Bradshaw, one of C.J. Mahaney’s daughters, writes this on Girltalk Blog…</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“[Christ is] the one, who transforms our motives from “I do me good” to “I do him good.” If it weren’t for God’s grace at work in our hearts, the only “good” we would do our husbands wouldn’t be good at all, but rather manipulation dressed up as goodness. He’s the one who gives us the desire and he will help us persevere in doing our husbands </i><i>good.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </i>~~~</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Aaron and I would both agree that the most stretching, difficult times in our marriage have been during both pregnancies. I have never been so depressed than I was with my first pregnancy, feeling sick day after day for months on end. I knew in my mind what truths in scripture I needed to think on: that it is for my good and has great purpose, that I need to be joyful in the Lord and content with what He has given me, that I must rely upon His strength and grace to endure, etc. But the incredible battle it was to be joyful made me feel like a complete failure before the Lord. I thought that any godly Christian shouldn’t struggle being joyful in the hard circumstances!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But praise the Lord for using my husband to so graciously lead me back to Christ. Aaron completely understood why I was so distressed. I was dwelling on my health and failure to respond rightly, rather than dwelling solely on our awesome God--- His <i>amazing</i><span style="font-style:normal"> beauty, all of His attributes, His work on the cross, His great work in my life, and the </span><i>many</i><span style="font-style:normal"> blessings He has given me. The Lord taught me some huge lessons during that time that I try preach to myself whenever I am not feeling well.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Lesson #1: Don’t let your thoughts dwell on how you are feeling, but rather, fill your mind with thoughts of your Savior and all that He has done for you!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Lesson #2: In times of failure, put off discouragement, frustration, and self-pity, and remember where your identity and victory lie! Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God!” Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we are clothed in His righteousness and freed from sin.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Lesson #3: Don’t read the Word with the intention of finding scripture to encourage you and change your perspective on life (although this often is a result). Read the Word to learn more about who God is and all that He has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pursuing Christ for the sake of <i>knowing </i><span style="font-style:normal">Christ is far more valuable than pursuing Christ to fix your problems.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Lessson #4: Be thankful! “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes 5:8). Sometimes we don’t necessarily feel thankful, but we can always choose to be thankful in spite of how we feel, knowing that our sovereign God truly does have great purpose in all that He gives us!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .25in"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> ~~~</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Learning these lessons was not the only blessing the Lord gave us as a result of our pregnancies, seeing as we now have two more little sweethearts in our home. I must say, being a mother brings so much joy and delight to my heart. I never new two little girls’ smiles could melt my heart daily. It is a gift I never want to take for granted. All that to say, I have come to learn that motherhood is plain, hard work! Sometimes it is easy to feel like I do nothing but dishes, diapers, cleaning and cooking. You know those days when your husband comes home from work, asks you what you did all day, and you give him a blank stare, trying to remember exactly what you <i>DID</i><span style="font-style:normal"> do? Well it is days like these that make me laugh at this story by Veronica Kavanagh:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?" "Yes" was his incredulous reply. She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As funny as that story is, this is the call of motherhood! All the small things we do every day, if done for Christ and in His strength, are so very glorifying to the Lord. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that my impact for the kingdom isn’t very great. After all, I’m “just” a mom, while there are others out there sacrificing so much to be missionaries halfway across the world, but this is such wrong thinking! As a mom, we can have great impact for the kingdom of God in our very own homes! Rachel Jankovic, the author of “Loving the Little Years”, writes,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>“God loves the little offerings. Given in faith, that plate of PB&J’s will feed thousands. Given in faith, those presents on Christmas morning will bring delight to more children than you can count. Offered with thankfulness, your work at home is only the beginning. Your laundry pile, selflessly tackled daily, will be used in the hands of God to clothe many. Do not think that your work does not matter. In God’s hands, it will be broken, and broken, and broken again, until all who have need of it have eaten and are satisfied. And even then, there will be leftovers.”</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For me, being a mom has, above all, been humbling. As if marriage wasn’t enough to sanctify a person for all eternity, add children to the mix and you have what I like to call, “super sanctification”. It takes dying to self to a whole new level, especially when there is often little or no gratitude in return for all that you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I daily see how far short I fall in so many areas, and often find myself discouraged, when really I should find myself on my knees, at the foot of the cross, resting in the power of Christ; for in 2 Corinthians12:9, He says “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected weakness.” No mother is perfect. The sins of this world so easily entangle us, but we can surely take heart, for Christ has overcome the world!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And last for today, but certainly not least, the Lord used our journey here to once again sanctify me a little more and draw me nearer to himself. I never in my wildest, or not so wild, dreams, would have seen this one coming. In fact, I have always informed the Lord that I never want to live in the Midwest because it is equidistant from both oceans, which to me, means "the middle of nowhere." Oh, how I laugh at myself. Apparently the Lord knows better than me when it comes to my human desires, but you know what else…the Lord changes human desires!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When Aaron and I first found out he was losing his job, our world was turned a bit upside down. During the time of wondering what job the Lord would provide, our need for dependence on the Lord was made so real. I wish I could say that this dependence is always there, even when the practical blessings abound, but it's so easy to get caught up in self-dependence. One of my prayers through that time is that I would <i>always</i><span style="font-style:normal"> see my need for Christ in everything, and that I am nothing without Him. Not only is He the ultimate provider of our monetary needs, but more importantly, He is the essential provider of our spiritual needs. And we are always spiritually needy people!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, as you well know, the Lord truly provided above and beyond what we could have dreamed of, seeing as I would have never dreamed of coming to Kansas. Yes, when I first found out that MRBC was in Kansas, I cried, but seeing Aaron's excitement and how the Lord answered our prayers above and beyond, I haven't once looked back. He replaced my frivolous tears with great excitement and joy!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And now that we are here….Well, I shouldn’t be surprised at God’s incredible goodness, but I still catch myself wondering why the Lord chose to smile upon us so sweetly. We have felt so blessed and loved by this church, and I have no hesitancy in calling you all family, even after just two and half months. It is my prayer that Jesus would shine as brightly in me as He most certainly shines through you.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know that I have a long way to go on the road of sanctification and will never obtain complete righteousness until glory, but along with the apostle Paul, I want to “press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-46248629331632728652012-03-15T19:56:00.008-07:002012-03-16T11:54:22.756-07:00Natalie's Hospital VisitTo be honest, I didn't plan on starting this post with a few tears in my eyes... I was just taking another look at all the pictures of Linnea and Hannah, which is always dangerous. What a beautiful gift friendship is! And to see it develop at such a young age is so precious! I love the joy my daughter gets anytime we talk about Hannah...and then we talk about how we can not go see her (usually once a day still), and there is a little bit of ache there (for both of us!) So yeah...I miss my family...<div><br /></div><div>So I guess now would be a great time to say how very thankful we are for our church family here in KC! A week ago today took us by surprise, in that a visit to the urgent care for Natalie landed us in the hospital for 4 days! Our sweet little "punky" had a very swollen gland that I had noticed, and come to find out, it was an abscess that needed to be surgically drained. The abscess was apparently from a staff infection that somehow got into her gland. Aaron was at the Shepherd's Conference, and flew home early on Thursday night to be with us before her surgery on Friday. She was miserable most of the week last week, as well as on the day of her surgery, but praise the Lord, it has all been uphill from there! </div><div><br /></div><div>And Aaron and I have been amazed at the love from this church body. A dear gal stayed with me at the hospital most of the day Thursday, and when she left, others came! People were always with Linnea and a family from church took her in for a few days! Aaron and I ALWAYS had at least one person offer to bring us food around every single meal time while we were in the hospital. And now dinners have been provided for us since Monday and on until Saturday! We are overwhelmed with the encouragement and care! </div><div><br /></div><div>It was so difficult watching my little girl suffer, and being unable to do anything for her. I remember going home after Aaron arrived at the hospital to gather some clothes and toiletries. I went into Natalie's room to get a few things and just broke down at the thought of losing our precious little girl that the Lord has given us. And at that same moment I was overwhelmed with the love of God the Father, in sending His Son to the cross, for MY sins! He not only watched His Beloved Son suffer tremendously on the cross, but He SENT Him there! And to top it all off, He poured out His wrath on His Son, because that is what it took to pay for MY sins! Jesus had to bare the full wrath of God for my justification!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>~Jn. 3:16~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>~Rom. 11:33~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so thankful this experience has given me a deeper understanding of God's sacrificial love for me! Well...praise the Lord, Natalie's surgery went great, and she just had her follow up appointment with her new physician today (who is a gal involved in the music ministry at our church!), and is looking really healthy! The doctor said no more bandaids on her incision, which is healing up quite nicely. We are incredibly grateful to the Lord that this whole situation wasn't something worse and that the Lord has seen fit to entrust Natalie to us for a while longer (hopefully the rest of our lives here on earth!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what her neck looked like before surgery</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nNYvXP0SwT0/T2OFbvSLuZI/AAAAAAAABJQ/ofSUcJG1i5c/s640/blogger-image-512151940.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Debbie! My substitute mom for the day. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sqe-90hDn5s/T2OFdg2J3CI/AAAAAAAABJ4/EAs-ttypf-o/s640/blogger-image-464304779.jpg" /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">Getting her first of 4 ivs (1st if 8 tries)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oFhH7up0sqc/T2OFbXU4C7I/AAAAAAAABJI/RKfDCwVbGr0/s640/blogger-image-2040702179.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All tired out from getting the ivs in (and they gave her some strong pain meds!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cbHdY9RWny8/T2OFaZiTDdI/AAAAAAAABI4/8ZXpTgHdQWc/s640/blogger-image--1175486316.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kathy brought much needed Chick-fil-a!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wnxOvILeb7w/T2OFZN9ze7I/AAAAAAAABIg/xQcUhNkPi5U/s640/blogger-image-124145038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wnxOvILeb7w/T2OFZN9ze7I/AAAAAAAABIg/xQcUhNkPi5U/s640/blogger-image-124145038.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Patty, Liz, and Kim all stayed with me in the evening until Aaron arrived!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C_gPOsuVFPM/T2OFXwB8wiI/AAAAAAAABII/XHRi5Azd2fM/s640/blogger-image-1318754017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C_gPOsuVFPM/T2OFXwB8wiI/AAAAAAAABII/XHRi5Azd2fM/s640/blogger-image-1318754017.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dr. Neuhart checking up on her. Children's Mercy Hospital and Staff were such a blessing...couldn't have asked for a better hospital!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7W5IXCAJU4c/T2OFcZ02vTI/AAAAAAAABJg/IcxPeAoepWU/s640/blogger-image--1623602691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7W5IXCAJU4c/T2OFcZ02vTI/AAAAAAAABJg/IcxPeAoepWU/s640/blogger-image--1623602691.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LyIOS_5-aGU/T2OFc-bkS7I/AAAAAAAABJo/NTTy67D3QEw/s640/blogger-image--220979817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LyIOS_5-aGU/T2OFc-bkS7I/AAAAAAAABJo/NTTy67D3QEw/s640/blogger-image--220979817.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting her ultrasound right before suregery</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ke-Cf0ZUHTI/T2OFZcCf2WI/AAAAAAAABIo/eIFjhZCsr6I/s640/blogger-image-660413636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ke-Cf0ZUHTI/T2OFZcCf2WI/AAAAAAAABIo/eIFjhZCsr6I/s640/blogger-image-660413636.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a few hours after surgery! Already starting to have some happy times (hadn't seen that in a long time!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sureBxVUf1o/T2OFY7RJmqI/AAAAAAAABIY/tArQJ4fFxyc/s640/blogger-image-1987552103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sureBxVUf1o/T2OFY7RJmqI/AAAAAAAABIY/tArQJ4fFxyc/s640/blogger-image-1987552103.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3B84iQYBaAI/T2OFcIfzfPI/AAAAAAAABJY/FE-ZlR1a1W4/s640/blogger-image-890232386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3B84iQYBaAI/T2OFcIfzfPI/AAAAAAAABJY/FE-ZlR1a1W4/s640/blogger-image-890232386.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kim and Rick stopped by after her surgery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ddf481wxCjA/T2OFaDCr_QI/AAAAAAAABIw/QJyKZ_2oaZw/s640/blogger-image-101263930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ddf481wxCjA/T2OFaDCr_QI/AAAAAAAABIw/QJyKZ_2oaZw/s640/blogger-image-101263930.jpg" /> </a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T09E_ZMHnwg/T2OFYdEXLmI/AAAAAAAABIQ/ri9-DvZTxb4/s640/blogger-image-135377734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T09E_ZMHnwg/T2OFYdEXLmI/AAAAAAAABIQ/ri9-DvZTxb4/s640/blogger-image-135377734.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linnea was dropped off at the hospital to visit us, and had lunch with her...her very first corn dog. My daughter was BORN healthy. She didn't touch her fries and decided she liked the hot dog better without the breading...oh, my. :) (I know, not that a hot dog is healthy to begin with, but you know what I mean!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VX3CnDIStng/T2OKmyS0faI/AAAAAAAABKs/dGUdXzCivBU/s640/blogger-image--829946758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VX3CnDIStng/T2OKmyS0faI/AAAAAAAABKs/dGUdXzCivBU/s640/blogger-image--829946758.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yUKL3T-3eIw/T2OKmVx-TNI/AAAAAAAABKk/1dYo1Y31B1s/s640/blogger-image--357334012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yUKL3T-3eIw/T2OKmVx-TNI/AAAAAAAABKk/1dYo1Y31B1s/s640/blogger-image--357334012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's my happy girl! :) Glad to have her abscess gone!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rofJyIHsVbA/T2OFbPfBwdI/AAAAAAAABJA/7gbjrvxgzXA/s640/blogger-image--1881626076.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Home safe and sound and happy as can be!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C3Yf6uY9Pao/T2OFdPKzb1I/AAAAAAAABJw/hpD_Ta9cJZM/s640/blogger-image-1940598200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C3Yf6uY9Pao/T2OFdPKzb1I/AAAAAAAABJw/hpD_Ta9cJZM/s640/blogger-image-1940598200.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sisters are loving being back together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e3tgIzBdaOY/T2OKmHm7pXI/AAAAAAAABKc/gCEi4Sabh24/s640/blogger-image--1958128059.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We really are thankful to have our happy Natalie back! I was starting to think she was just going through a cranky phase, but I think this thing in her neck had been bothering her for a couple of weeks, because she is now back to her old self! (And has given mama 7 straight hours of sleep these past two night! Woohoo! :))</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-1358240714406766752012-02-12T10:07:00.001-08:002012-02-12T10:21:45.506-08:00Sick Day<div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for the <a href="http://www.missionroadbiblechurch.com/video-stream/">live feed</a> on sick days. :)</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeP90J-Kz-U/TzgCvKLiHjI/AAAAAAAABIA/t9dL8fhGa1c/s1600/Linnea%2BSick.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 166px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeP90J-Kz-U/TzgCvKLiHjI/AAAAAAAABIA/t9dL8fhGa1c/s400/Linnea%2BSick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708315536901938738" /></a>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-85484983924513628862012-01-28T08:31:00.000-08:002012-01-28T08:35:09.827-08:00Friendship in Family<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(50, 50, 50); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">Thank you, Kimiko, for your precious post on your blog, and all the priceless pictures. I couldn't help but repost it on my blog. We miss you all so much already, and are so thankful for the friendship we had (and still do!). We had a good cry last night, realizing what we left behind. But we look forward to what lies ahead, and are praying the Lord supplies some new sweet relationships. No to mention our prayer that the Lord brings you out here. Even if we have to wait a coupe of years. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br /></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">"Goodbeyes"....by Kimiko Parker</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mQRUBMxOdp4/TyOCTL38DGI/AAAAAAAAA5A/Z69AUxA8t9o/s1600/IMG_1395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mQRUBMxOdp4/TyOCTL38DGI/AAAAAAAAA5A/Z69AUxA8t9o/s320/IMG_1395.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br />Sunday night was a night I was dreading. It was the night we were saying goodbye to Aaron, Kim, Linnea, and Natalie before they left for Kansas. I was hoping that somehow we could just skip that part, because I knew it wouldn't be easy. We'd gotten so used to having them so close and being able to walk to their house and visit them anytime we wanted. Our girls are best friends and get so excited every time they see one another. We've swapped a lot of babysitting nights. We became more than just family; we became friends.<br /><br />While Sunday night was the hardest time of this transition, there have been little things and realizations here and there that have been hard, too. For example, the other morning I realized that I wouldn't ever hear an unexpected knock on the door and open it to find the Johnsons standing there, stopping by on a walk. It's also hard, because Hannah's been very sadly and pitifully saying, "I want Linnea" lately. It's hard explaining the concept of time and distance to a 3-year-old. All this to say, we are so thankful for the years we were all together and we're looking forward to continuing our friendship long distance. We are so excited for what the Lord is doing in and through the Johnson family and couldn't be more thrilled for where they are!<br /><br />The week leading up to their move, we spent a lot of time with the girls while Aaron and Kim packed, painted, and prepped, so I took advantage of what time we had left and took a lot of pictures of the girls! I figured these would be pictures that not only we, but also Hannah and Linnea, would cherish. Below are a few of the pictures I took. You can see more of them <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.546415688020.2032761.159900161&type=3&l=b2a5a8dddf" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); ">here</a>. Just beware! The link will take you to an album with 81 of these photos!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwbVYKxoL0I/TyOB2iIH9sI/AAAAAAAAA4I/ml7tWzExW1I/s1600/IMG_0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YwbVYKxoL0I/TyOB2iIH9sI/AAAAAAAAA4I/ml7tWzExW1I/s320/IMG_0826.jpg" width="213" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyO5o6-vuSE/TyOB5yPMCMI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/dVOgKWwqLpU/s1600/IMG_0933-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fyO5o6-vuSE/TyOB5yPMCMI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/dVOgKWwqLpU/s320/IMG_0933-2.jpg" width="213" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12qnp_MVfAU/TyOB8xmekOI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8_EV3a09_Qs/s1600/IMG_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12qnp_MVfAU/TyOB8xmekOI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/8_EV3a09_Qs/s320/IMG_0942.jpg" width="213" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlR2G3pNem4/TyOCGlwW8UI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Iz2K0re4U-c/s1600/IMG_1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlR2G3pNem4/TyOCGlwW8UI/AAAAAAAAA4o/Iz2K0re4U-c/s320/IMG_1058.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxgqP7nYWcM/TyOCL4ctNFI/AAAAAAAAA4w/g7EqsfduL2s/s1600/IMG_1369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxgqP7nYWcM/TyOCL4ctNFI/AAAAAAAAA4w/g7EqsfduL2s/s320/IMG_1369.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5_A6o9u68M/TyOCPkqAKtI/AAAAAAAAA44/H8cWOqm8MN8/s1600/IMG_1381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5_A6o9u68M/TyOCPkqAKtI/AAAAAAAAA44/H8cWOqm8MN8/s320/IMG_1381.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsfQcdzrvEQ/TyOCXEyq4vI/AAAAAAAAA5I/-Ht1cfj1tvo/s1600/IMG_1466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsfQcdzrvEQ/TyOCXEyq4vI/AAAAAAAAA5I/-Ht1cfj1tvo/s320/IMG_1466.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5roEFBloXoU/TyOCfcMolFI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/YDPkkHiQP-g/s1600/IMG_1656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5roEFBloXoU/TyOCfcMolFI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/YDPkkHiQP-g/s320/IMG_1656.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5IhDl6Bo3k/TyOCB8XztuI/AAAAAAAAA4g/1N3RuQWBiTc/s1600/IMG_1015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5IhDl6Bo3k/TyOCB8XztuI/AAAAAAAAA4g/1N3RuQWBiTc/s320/IMG_1015.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">I framed this one, so Hannah could have it in her room. :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In a bout of nostalgia, I compiled these pictures showing how Hannah and Linnea's friendship has developed over the past 2 1/2 years. It's so fun to look at how much they've changed and how they've grown into such great companions.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwhynkd-7Lc/TyOE9Wp2ZnI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/QkGB14us-ro/s1600/Hannahlinnea20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwhynkd-7Lc/TyOE9Wp2ZnI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/QkGB14us-ro/s320/Hannahlinnea20.jpg" width="240" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Hannah checking out her new cousin. She's apparently not quite sure what to think.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RA6finD6vF4/TyOFHqMYM_I/AAAAAAAAA5g/RtJSuU1P3q4/s1600/HannahLinnea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RA6finD6vF4/TyOFHqMYM_I/AAAAAAAAA5g/RtJSuU1P3q4/s320/HannahLinnea.jpg" width="240" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">The first time we babysat Linnea! I love how excited Hannah is!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swRJkJd8N4o/TyOFH8VsinI/AAAAAAAAA5o/jFpPG6vqJP8/s1600/hannahlinnea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swRJkJd8N4o/TyOFH8VsinI/AAAAAAAAA5o/jFpPG6vqJP8/s320/hannahlinnea3.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Haha...this one cracks me up. This was Easter 2010.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euhykrmyhiE/TyOFIbMslqI/AAAAAAAAA5w/FL9xg9tCq18/s1600/hannahlinnea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euhykrmyhiE/TyOFIbMslqI/AAAAAAAAA5w/FL9xg9tCq18/s320/hannahlinnea4.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Going in for a smooch. :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHkCHHiijXE/TyOFIwcIOUI/AAAAAAAAA54/PXvLGFeJ_Ew/s1600/hannahlinnea5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHkCHHiijXE/TyOFIwcIOUI/AAAAAAAAA54/PXvLGFeJ_Ew/s320/hannahlinnea5.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Hannah thoroughly enjoys the role of <i>older</i> cousin. :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ2gsx1hbco/TyOFJUer8fI/AAAAAAAAA6A/9BlItc_zW_E/s1600/hannahlinnea6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ2gsx1hbco/TyOFJUer8fI/AAAAAAAAA6A/9BlItc_zW_E/s320/hannahlinnea6.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Love the kisses!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDdvZzlLDGk/TyOFJ58QXxI/AAAAAAAAA6I/48cLlIyyLn0/s1600/hannahlinnea7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDdvZzlLDGk/TyOFJ58QXxI/AAAAAAAAA6I/48cLlIyyLn0/s320/hannahlinnea7.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">The cutest little puppy and giraffe ever!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNApe_Q5VjY/TyOFKDkV2NI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/UDGNaFQEL9A/s1600/hannahlinnea8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNApe_Q5VjY/TyOFKDkV2NI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/UDGNaFQEL9A/s320/hannahlinnea8.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Hannah loves helping out her little cousin.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm9hCPwEttg/TyOFKpEfVdI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/FXVcgNLEk94/s1600/hannahlinnea9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm9hCPwEttg/TyOFKpEfVdI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/FXVcgNLEk94/s320/hannahlinnea9.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Helping Linnea with her buttons.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EwMI5VseQQ/TyOFK38B9lI/AAAAAAAAA6g/AfHp6Oy-tSQ/s1600/hannahlinnea11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EwMI5VseQQ/TyOFK38B9lI/AAAAAAAAA6g/AfHp6Oy-tSQ/s320/hannahlinnea11.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Best friends.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjfijkd3fYs/TyOFLRwIFdI/AAAAAAAAA6o/491aIAPqndk/s1600/hannahlinnea12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjfijkd3fYs/TyOFLRwIFdI/AAAAAAAAA6o/491aIAPqndk/s320/hannahlinnea12.jpg" width="213" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Sometimes Hannah shows a little too much love for Linnea's preferences. :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2p5au3Dw70/TyOFL2cDhBI/AAAAAAAAA6w/b2v2Qmks6c4/s1600/hannahlinnea13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2p5au3Dw70/TyOFL2cDhBI/AAAAAAAAA6w/b2v2Qmks6c4/s320/hannahlinnea13.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbb1Pa5Temw/TyOFMPA2dRI/AAAAAAAAA64/orewhuZPujE/s1600/hannahlinnea14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbb1Pa5Temw/TyOFMPA2dRI/AAAAAAAAA64/orewhuZPujE/s320/hannahlinnea14.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Again, too much love, Hannah. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTgHa21BzaQ/TyOFMnvmgNI/AAAAAAAAA7A/tvOhtsHOk90/s1600/hannahlinnea15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTgHa21BzaQ/TyOFMnvmgNI/AAAAAAAAA7A/tvOhtsHOk90/s320/hannahlinnea15.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Anytime we're anywhere, walking together, they hold hands.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWuJQFIA09s/TyOFNLl_vCI/AAAAAAAAA7I/bzfalZGfeY4/s1600/hannahlinnea16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWuJQFIA09s/TyOFNLl_vCI/AAAAAAAAA7I/bzfalZGfeY4/s320/hannahlinnea16.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Stopping to chat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c55yL_qFKnM/TyOFNvE2hdI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/nqaEJtQjXwI/s1600/hannahlinnea17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c55yL_qFKnM/TyOFNvE2hdI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/nqaEJtQjXwI/s320/hannahlinnea17.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Hannah makes Linnea laugh a lot!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qaf__9J0bPA/TyOFOPlH1lI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/Fxq64ZnTlf4/s1600/hannahlinnea18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qaf__9J0bPA/TyOFOPlH1lI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/Fxq64ZnTlf4/s320/hannahlinnea18.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; position: relative; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094) 1px 1px 5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkD2AGQjtM0/TyOFOqSJjJI/AAAAAAAAA7k/gK6Xjiy87nY/s1600/hannahlinnea19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 203, 152); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; "><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkD2AGQjtM0/TyOFOqSJjJI/AAAAAAAAA7k/gK6Xjiy87nY/s320/hannahlinnea19.jpg" width="320" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; position: relative; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 0px 0px 0px; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: center; ">Laughing together.</td></tr></tbody></table>So Aaron, Kimberly, Linnea, and Natalie, we all love and miss you SO much and we are so thankful that we'll get to see you a couple times this year, Lord-willing! </span>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-59434224379743100682012-01-25T11:07:00.001-08:002012-01-25T13:25:03.177-08:00We Made It!We have officially made it to Kansas, and it is not just a visit this time. :) It has been a whirlwind of a week, and we arrived a little battered, bruised and worn, but we were able to get our first good night's sleep in a long time...praise the Lord! We are so thankful for His sustaining grace this past week!<br />
<br />
Let me first say thank you to all those who showered us with love, help and support before we left. We couldn't have done it all without you, and we are so very thankful for the body of Christ! You all were an example to me of the kind of servant I want and need to be! <br />
<br />
Well, we are so excited to be here and the welcoming was overwhelming! According to MRBC, we have officially been "pounded". If I had any more tears left, I would have cried...the love and generosity we received in our tree of gift cards and massive pile of goods in our new home was overwhelming! Did I already use that word? :) we are eager to get to know all the people behind these gifts, and are looking forward to serving them as they have served us!<br />
<br />
If Aaron and I have learned anything through this whole process, it is that the Lord will always take care of our needs, and often goes above and beyond what we could ever imagine. I know the path the Lord takes His children on looks different for everyone. For some it is a much harder path than others, but I am certain that our God is ALWAYS a good God! Even if His good doesn't look like our good.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures from yesterday. More updates and pics to come as we begin our new journey here in Kansas City! Thank you so much to all who have been praying and loving on us!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WZL_FkPRKt8/TyBemQ9CzAI/AAAAAAAABHU/MJFisknglhs/s640/blogger-image-777368535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WZL_FkPRKt8/TyBemQ9CzAI/AAAAAAAABHU/MJFisknglhs/s640/blogger-image-777368535.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0S5yZwC2Viw/TyBemvPgLWI/AAAAAAAABHc/Z9y7n-n0Q50/s640/blogger-image--589152367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0S5yZwC2Viw/TyBemvPgLWI/AAAAAAAABHc/Z9y7n-n0Q50/s640/blogger-image--589152367.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QbCBsfST0oU/TyBenEdKaqI/AAAAAAAABHk/-kJ0fVID4xA/s640/blogger-image-929915090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QbCBsfST0oU/TyBenEdKaqI/AAAAAAAABHk/-kJ0fVID4xA/s640/blogger-image-929915090.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A47vlBo4btc/TyBenfjnf2I/AAAAAAAABHs/z6Agt-Hd6Gw/s640/blogger-image-228247393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A47vlBo4btc/TyBenfjnf2I/AAAAAAAABHs/z6Agt-Hd6Gw/s640/blogger-image-228247393.jpg" /></a></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-78012392574446726182011-12-03T12:01:00.000-08:002011-12-03T14:26:04.859-08:00Hi-ho! Hi-ho! It's off to Kansas we go!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>For My <b></b>thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD."<br />~Isaiah 55:8~<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNbUYskoClg/Ttqd43JSwFI/AAAAAAAABHM/KTCTmxib11c/s1600/Singing%2BMRBC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNbUYskoClg/Ttqd43JSwFI/AAAAAAAABHM/KTCTmxib11c/s400/Singing%2BMRBC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682027480082464850" border="0" /></a></div><br />This picture says a thousand words...really. This is a picture of Aaron and I singing at Mission Road Bible Church in Kansas. Yes, I did say Kansas. Most of you know this, but it is about time I finally share with the blogger world that the Johnsons are moving! Yup! That's right. And to a place we like to joke is "the middle of nowhere." :) a.k.a...Kansas!<br /><br />I never in my wildest, or not so wild, dreams, would have seen this one coming. In fact, I have always informed the Lord that I never want to live in the Midwest because it is equidistant from both oceans, which to me once again means, "the middle of nowhere." Haha...how I laugh at myself. Apparently the Lord knows better than me when it comes to my human desires. But you know what else...He CHANGES human desires.<br /><br />Ok...let's rewind a bit.<br /><br />Aaron and I found out early on in the summer that due to budgetary reasons (mainly), he was probably going to be let go from Placerita Baptist Church. This was then confirmed in August. I won't go into all the details, but our world was turned upside down for a while. We were quite surprised, and lets just say that the sponge (our lives) was being squeezed, and the water that came out wasn't always so pretty. But to sum it all up, we are so thankful for that squeeze. The Lord showed us sin, mainly pride, that we didn't know was there. He showed us that although we thought we were loving people, that love was not exactly Christ-like, which remains unchanging through ALL circumstances!<br /><br />I can say that this summer until now has been precious, because our relationship with our heavenly Father has been so much more intimate. During the time of wondering where we would go from here and what job the Lord would provide, our need for dependance on the Lord was made so real. I wish I could say that this dependance is always there, even when the practical blessing abound, but it's so easy to get caught up in self-dependance. One of my prayers through this is that we would ALWAYS see that we need Christ for everything, and that we are nothing without Him. Not only is He the ultimate provider of our monetary needs, but more importantly, He is the essential provider of our spiritual needs. And we are certainly spiritually needy people! ALWAYS!<br /><br />So that is just the tip of the iceberg in lessons we are learning, but since I do not have time to write a book, let me share with you how events have unfolded since this summer. As soon as it was announced to the church body about Aaron being let go, He posted on facebook that he was looking for a new job, preferably in church ministry. Not even 24 hours later and he was on the phone with Rick Holland, who is the senior pastor at MRBC in Kansas City, Kansas. After many phone calls, a visit by the associate pastor from MRBC to PBC, and a trip that we made to visit MRBC, the Lord made it so very clear that this is where he wants us to go. We are absolutely amazed at God's grace....ABSOLUTELY!<br /><br />There were fears about looking at churches, because in the beginning, Aaron was applying at churches we knew nothing about. So I started praying in the summer, "Lord, please provide a church through connections, so that we can somewhat feel like we would know the senior pastor through reputation." I NEVER in my wildest dreams thought that the Lord would have Aaron work alongside a man we have heard preach quite a few times, and have always grown and been inspired from those times we were able to sit under his teaching (at Grace Community and Resolved conference). Haha...I even remember listening to Rick and Kim's (his wife) tape series on dating when I was about 16.<br /><br />About my desires...well, to be honest, when I first found out where MRBC was located, I cried. But seeing Aaron's excitement and how the Lord answered my prayer above and beyond, I haven't once looked back. And the picture above reminds me of the wonderful time we had getting to know just a portion of the people at MRBC. I can honestly say that I am completely excited to move to the middle of nowhere! :) Don't get me wrong...just the past couple of days, as Aaron is about to head into his last official week of work at PBC, the realization of all the goodbyes that will be coming in the days ahead causes my lips to quiver and my eyes to water. The goodbyes are going to be hard. Very hard. But I know the Lord will give us grace for that as well. He promises that His grace will always be sufficient, and therefore we have nothing to fear.<br /><br />Aaron will be done working soon, but we are taken care of financially through the end of January, and then he will begin in Kansas the first week of February. We do not have a set date yet for moving, but we know it will be towards the end of January. If you could pray with us as we have a bit to do in order to prepare our current home to be rented out and that the Lord would provide good renters for our place. If you know of anyone who may be interested, be sure to let us know! :)<br /><br />Now I just need to find me some red shoes and hit the ol' yellow brick road!The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-13026474652806407482011-11-21T12:14:00.001-08:002011-11-21T12:15:40.530-08:00My girls...Sending you all a little bit of happiness from the Johnson home!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9Ib4Lfo7qk8/TsqxHeWR-zI/AAAAAAAABG4/EFTSkqKEecU/s640/blogger-image-639320815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9Ib4Lfo7qk8/TsqxHeWR-zI/AAAAAAAABG4/EFTSkqKEecU/s640/blogger-image-639320815.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LadmakubzgU/TsqxJowAZTI/AAAAAAAABHA/y6qQo46ltdA/s640/blogger-image-1264850317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LadmakubzgU/TsqxJowAZTI/AAAAAAAABHA/y6qQo46ltdA/s640/blogger-image-1264850317.jpg" /></a></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-24617431707996265602011-10-25T14:00:00.001-07:002011-10-25T14:00:53.747-07:00Best Friends...Can you tell they are cousins with that same precious smile? :)<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M-Ppf3NB99w/TqcjhI9jZ7I/AAAAAAAABGw/KkOkfgSuDI8/s640/blogger-image--1845102911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M-Ppf3NB99w/TqcjhI9jZ7I/AAAAAAAABGw/KkOkfgSuDI8/s640/blogger-image--1845102911.jpg" /></a></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-44811320735665814842011-10-25T13:55:00.001-07:002011-10-25T13:58:52.314-07:00Great Grammy and Grandpa Time!We had a wonderful, short visit with my grandparents last Friday. Grammy enjoyed lots of Natalie time, and we are so thankful Grammy got to meet her!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xGKh28Csbrw/TqcjABc3DPI/AAAAAAAABGo/Sr8135kTuWw/s640/blogger-image--1769849863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xGKh28Csbrw/TqcjABc3DPI/AAAAAAAABGo/Sr8135kTuWw/s640/blogger-image--1769849863.jpg" /></a></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836698355966151131.post-75999196701745631962011-09-21T23:12:00.001-07:002011-09-22T08:21:03.472-07:00Yeah for my Itouch!I just want to "pop in" and say that I am so very excited to discover that blogger has an app for itouch (a bday present from my wonderful hubby!)<br />which makes it super easy to upload pics to my blogs. I hope to get back into writing more, but for now you can at least expect pictures on a more regular basis! :)<br /><br />Here is Linnea decked out in her accessories...a normal daily entertainment for me. And Natalie is wearing one of her favorite onesies, which is from Aunt Kristin...can't you tell? :) (You have to click on the picture to see the full view)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-enEa9AV_m4s/TnrR0JJHbTI/AAAAAAAABGc/dYsSsBjTj7A/s640/blogger-image--2077241140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-enEa9AV_m4s/TnrR0JJHbTI/AAAAAAAABGc/dYsSsBjTj7A/s640/blogger-image--2077241140.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rYk74D0KUQk/TnrSziNk5zI/AAAAAAAABGk/1H4pKAFj--s/s640/blogger-image-617113089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rYk74D0KUQk/TnrSziNk5zI/AAAAAAAABGk/1H4pKAFj--s/s640/blogger-image-617113089.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>The Johnson Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617179788835353452noreply@blogger.com1