Just Keep Swimming!

We loving swimming around here 

and where we live now...

well....

we have a pool that we can walk to and use everyday!  

Love it! And so do the girls not so much shorty. He more or less just looks at it.  

So what can we be found doing????

Playing

Jumping

Pushing

Fighting

Eating

Smiling

Splashing

Posing 

Laughing

Synchronizing

Relaxing

and Walking Home Wet!

And 

GETTING JOY!

Swimmin, Splashin, and Having a Good Time!

So what does this girl do with her summer?  She volunteers a week at camp!  Royal Family Kids Camp!  If you have never heard of this wonderful camp check it out here or go see the movie, "Camp". (take a Kleenex box with you)

Royal Family Kids Camp Mid Michigan

Camp

Because of the nature of this camp, I will not share names or where the camp is located.  It was very hard to not have pictures of camp...if you know me.  I want to remember their sweet faces.  I have a few things to help me remember....my journal, notes, purple hair ribbon, a signed shirt, my one year pin, and my name tag. I will cherish those sweet things.  

Here are some preparations that happened before camp...

Cards were made for beautiful children by my kids and sweet friends. My campers wanted me to share how much they loved their mail...Thank you!

My sister unknowingly donated these cute soaps to the girls. I had fun making them. Thanks for the supplies Jen! They loved, loved, LOVED these!

Here are just some of the volunteers that it took to bless almost 40 kids!!!

This is what I can share about my week....

Our days were filled with food made with love, swimming, archery, new clothes, a very purple cabin, lovingly placed band-aids, Birthday Party, frogs, games, giggles, sand between the toes, purple ribbons in braided hair, silent prayers, brightly painted nails, yellow swim bracelets, hand jives, candy, crafts, painting,  loud singing, hearts on cheeks, cheering, bouncing in inflatables, life lessons, notes of love, side hugs, laughing, memory books, tears of joy, and tears of hope that God loves them more than us.  

This is how we woke up the girls each morning!

And this is a song they sang to end each day!

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

wounded, outcast.

lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, Joyfullness

Overcoming One, Faithfulness

Friend of God!

Oh my heart is blessed!

GET JOY!

School's Out!

The books have been read.  The homework has been done.  The test have been taken.  Our first year of homeschool is officially over!  And guess what?   We survived!  

I am reminded of that old song I remember hearing back when I was a kid....

School's out! School's out!
Teacher let the fools out!
No more pencils,
No more books,
No more teacher's dirty looks!

No more long, weekly spelling and vocabulary list to study!!!

Hahahaha do you remember that!!!  However, I do not consider my kids fools at all.  I am impressed with what they learned here at home.  It was sooooo hard.  But I could not be more proud!  They worked very hard!!!

No more really hard World History tests!

Maybe their song might go more like this...

School's out! School's out!
Time to throw the homework out!
No more pencils,
No more books,
No more mother's dirty looks!

Ahahahahahaha  that is probably more like it!

I have nightmares about these!  Let's not discuss them anymore...ever!

We worked together pretty well for the most part.  Being at home 24/7 is definitely something to adjust to.  I have to be honest, homeschooling is not for the faint of heart.  This was tough stuff.  There was crying.  There were angry words.  There were unhappy hearts.  There was even a mama who many times wondered, "What in the world was I thinking? Off to regular school with the two of you!" Yup, that was me. I think I have more gray hairs to prove it to!

No more studying, and more studying, and more studying!

But then....

 One afternoon, around 2pm when all the other kids are at school, Kierstyn yelled from her bedroom window while I was outside, "Hi, MOM!"  That one single moment reminded me why I love homeschooling.  I get to be a part of their lives everyday!  

The many good things out weighed the tough stuff....for the most part.  
(So, the moral of this story...if you are trying to talk someone into homeschooling...don't send them my way.  I will be very honest.  ahahahahahaha I may talk them out of it.)

But guess what?....We are going to do it again next year!

No more of this Blahhhhhhh!

For the last day, we celebrated with our yearly tradition....Ice Cream!

We are so proud of these kids!

And guess who gets to be a part of the fun next year!!!  Yup, or new Kindergartener! Lord, HELP US!

And now some rest for the weary mama!  Nope not really...now I got to entertain these children for the summer.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Lord, help us all....

GET JOY!

38 is Great!

The girls and I made this.  We printed them, cut them out, and strung them. So easy and so cute...except that I am not a MSU fan.  It would look better Maize and Blue!

My dear hubby turned 38 yesterday!  He is so wonderful.  So, the kids and I decided to make him feel special all day long. We made a "Food Bouquet" full of all his favorite goodies and the girls delivered it to his work.  Much better than flowers any day for this guy. We then had lunch together at McD's!  

So what was in the bouquet of food???...cheddar pringles, Mt. Dew, homemade
chocolate chip cookies, mini rolos, mini peanut butter cups.  

When he got home after his long day, dinner was waiting for him.  We made his requested birthday dinner homemade meatballs, mashed potatoes, and corn.  A very typical Johnson dinner.  LOL

My little baker made daddy's cake and cookies for the day.  She is at a point where all I have to do is put them in the oven. She is still a little nervous about that. The girls also help with the decorations. 

We sang and watched him blow out his candles.

 I made him take pictures with all of us.  We then sent the kids to bed and ended the night with a free birthday rental from the movie store.  Did you know Family Video did that???  We watched the newest Batman movie.  It was pretty good.  

Here is John's facebook status update from yesterday. 

"I sat in front of my birthday cake tonight racking my brain trying to think of what to wish for. You don't want to waste a birthday wish ya know. But I realized I have everything I want. I am so blessed. Tonight I blew out my candles and wished for nothing!" 

What a guy!

Happy Birthday My Love!

Get JOY!

Stones of Remembrance

A year ago today, I was driving down M-18 on Mother's day, May 13th.  My mom and sister had called me before church and decided to call 911.  My dad was in trouble.  After church was over, they called again to tell me that he had a stroke.  I decided I needed to go be with them.  

Homemade cards!

That drive seemed really long and lonely.  I prayed and I prayed some more.  I could not begin to imagine how this day was about to unfold.  My plans had no room for a stroke, a scared mother, a worried sister, a weak me.  I prayed a usual prayer...God you got this, I can handle this.  

Me and my beautiful mom!

But over the days to come, my parent's world began to crumble.  My world began to be shaken to pieces on the ground.  Everything I knew to be reality, no longer existed.  Within days, my dad could not move his right side, talking was a huge problem, and so many other issues.  My mother was broken.  My husband and I had to make tough choices about our own journey in life which meant leaving our job.  Everything that spoke security was gone by the following Sunday. One week changed everything.  How could I even begin to understand what was about to happen on that long drive to the hospital?!

But God knew all along what was about to happen.  Mother's day 2012 was the day that He began to break the chains that bound my family.  
It was the beginning of really showing me that...

She is too adorable and loves every spinny ride!

He chases after us relentlessly.
His ways are far better than anything we can even imagine.    
His joy will be my strength.  
Who I am is not what I was going through.  
He is in EVERY detail of my life.  
He is truly forgiving, merciful, full of grace, tender hearted, patient with me, and a healer of my brokenness. 
He bends down to me, hears me, and knows my name.
He is not ever going to break me. 
His light cast out all darkness.
His love washes over me.
He caries me, holds me, and covers me with His feathers.
When He calls me to follow Him, I must lay everything down....EVERYTHING!

This past year, has changed me for the better.  The struggle, the wrestling with God has helped me become more like Him. There have been angry walks with God.  There have been countless tears shed until I could cry no more.  There have been quiet moments of just listening for Jesus to speak.  In the struggle, tears, words, and listening something inside of me has been redeemed.  All that I was holding back now lies at the foot of the cross where it needed to be all along.  

My son's first carnival ride ever!

Where does that all leave me a year later?  It leaves me with a thankful heart and determination that what lies pass does not define my future.  God alone defines that!  

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

So this Mother's day we rejoiced in our God who rescued us from the pit.  We thanked Him for His faithfulness. We remembered His power working in us, changing us.  We celebrated His goodness.  And we marked Mother's day 2013 with stones of remembrance just like Joshua had the tribes of Israel gather stones to mark God leading them from the desert, through the Jordan, and to the promise land.  (Joshua 4:1-9)

Some of the best people in my life now and we are playing BINGO!

We determined that this would be no ordinary Mother's day...nope we CELEBRATED!  My parents and sister came to our home, we went out to eat, and of course there were cards and gifts.  In the late afternoon, we went to our church's huge celebration for God's faithfulness and we had no problem joining right along with that declaration.  We went on rides, ate tons of food, played bingo, laughed, and surrounded ourselves with God's beautiful people.  We then went and sat in hot tub and pool at the hotel...a perfect end to a perfect day.

My sister about to spin her guts out!

I laid my head down at the end of the day and marveled at His goodness.  My heart is so full of thankfulness.  Thank You Lord, for healing my dad inside and out.  Thank You, for being my mother's strong comforter.  Thank You, for my courageous husband.  Thank You, for my loving children.  Thank You, for a strong sister.  Thank You, for extended family who runs to our aid.   Thank You; for the dearest friends who call, encourage,pray and love at always the right time.  Thank You, for the most priceless new friends that have entered my life. Thank You, for such a beautiful healthy church to call home.  Thank You, for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are so merciful and kind.  Thank You, for Your love that has amazed me time and time again.  

As my parents drove away from my home today Monday, May 13th, this verse comes to mind....

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

and My heart was full and overflowing!  

GET JOY!

This picture cracks me up...so much here. 

Psalm 139

¹ O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
² You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
³ You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
⁴ You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
⁵ You go before me and follow me.

My adorable kids!

    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

⁷ I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
¹²     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

My beautiful sis and her vegan ways!

¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

Grandma's gift stones with hand prints from the kids.

¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
¹⁸ I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

Beach Birthday!

My oldest turned 13 last week and we wanted to do something special. Her grandparents paid for her and some friends to go to a local pool and then they came over for a sleepover. It was such a great party.

Crayola makes the
 best window markers.
These are the crystal ones.

Swimming was such a wonderful idea; because it wiped them out!

I told my girls that when they were teens no more themed parties...I lied.  LOL

With going swimming for her party a fantastic theme just naturally presents itself...Beach Party!  Here in Mid-Michigan we are pretty tired of winter...it is time to think of warmer days.


We went swimming at our local community pool for three hours.  It was a lot of fun for the girls.  Shorty liked it too.  He decided to get brave and go in as far as his waist and put his face in the water.  Big stuff around here.  If you watch the tv show "The Middle"  my son reminds us of the character Brick without the whispering and Whoops!  LOL  We also brought pizza to the pool.  Man teen girls can eat like nobody's business. 

The house was so easy to decorate.  Half the stuff I had around the house.  You can't live in the "Great Lake State" and not have tons of beach stuff!

We had adorable cupcakes at home! The cupcakes were store bought at a local cupcake place here in town.  I added the umbrellas and the sugar surfboards and flip flops (also bought at bakery).  This was my hour before emergency dessert fix.  My daughter asked for chocolate bowls for ice cream sundaes....bowls were an epic fail!  I have made them before; but I can't figure out what I did wrong this time.  Oh well these were a great yummy substitute.  

 We made sure we sang "Happy Birthday" Johnson style....loud and horrible!

These girls were just too fantastic.  We had fun pigging out and laughing around the table.

Of course, I provided a lot of junk food.  But the presentation was pretty fun, you have to agree! My local dollar store just happened to have some fantastic Beach/Luau party supplies which was perfect timing for my daughters party!  I went to a party store to pick out the plates and adorable Hawaiian shirt napkins.

Sweet friends, seriously fun party, sleeping girls by 2 am, and one super 13 year old daughter equals one happy mom and dad. 

Everybody seems to be saying have a teen would be rough.  I am not convinced!  They have not met my teen and her friends. These girls are pretty wonderful.  We are blessed beyond words!

Get Joy!