God is Good to the Johnsons

Sometimes people ask me when it was that I first rightly knew that a Savior stands beside me, and knows me through and through. I can't tell them of a certain time, one sure moment, or firm scene Because God's been so good to me, I see his Son in everything I see Jesus in my Mother's smile as she makes friends at the store I see Jesus in the starfish when I walk along the shore See, my mother follows Jesus when she's kind to strangers and to friends And the creatures on this planet made by him, their breath he lends I see Jesus in my father, his hands work with tools and wood I see Jesus in my students, when a concept they've finally understood You See, Jesus was a carpenter too, and he continues to shape and build And He's the master teacher, and with each thing I learn, He's thrilled I see Jesus in my brothers, when we talk, they lend an ear I see Jesus in his prophet, for He is God's chosen seer Jesus is my brother too, my troubles he

Have you ever planned a vacation on paper... or Google docs, and not taken it yet? And maybe you won't, for a long, long time? I have, I have and it's not that we won't go it's just that the vacation days and the pennies in the jar haven't added up yet but that ain't stopping me from making my vacation files and getting giddy about the far-offs in the far-future with you because why not? And don't worry, I'm enjoying the now, too But on occasion, I just need some time to dream up a trip 'cross the sky or the water or the road just for fun. And all the foods we'll eat at the pier and all the candies we'll taste in the Europe and all the shows we'll see on that Broadway and all the sun that will kiss us and all the rainwater that will drench us and all the hidden waterfalls we'll become acquainted with. And then I click save, and close. The vacation files, they stay where they be and I open them up sometimes

In my High School yearbooks, the students of the graduating class each year got to choose a quote to accompany their picture. I'm pretty sure mine was by Dr. Seuss, but to be honest, I can't rightly recall. However, I distinctly remember a quote that my friend, Cami, included beneath her picture, I've thought of it often throughout the years: "I believe the secret to life is someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to." -Elvis Presley I've found a lot of truth in that. I'm a lucky girl, and I've never had a shortage of people to love--and honestly, I can't think of a day when I haven't had plenty of things to do (or should do). But when I find myself in an emotional slump, I sometimes think of this quote. It doesn't always work, because heartaches and letdowns are real, but often my spirits have been cheered when I remember something wonderful coming up in my life. Here's a few I've got cooking in my look

So... Kevin Johnson and I may or may not be obsessed with Rice Pudding at the moment. We're trying to be more responsible adults now that we have a mortgage, so going out on a whim for ice cream or stroopwaffel all the time isn't our style anymore (at least, that's what we're aiming for 😉). Rice pudding is this amazingly delicious, creamy, and inexpensive-to-make dessert that has us smacking our lips and wishing for more the very next night. Here's our go-to recipe, credit given to allrecipes.com ! Ingredients:  3 cups rice (already cooked. To cook it: Just boil 3 cups of water and add 1.5 cups of rice, boil for 15 minutes and you're golden) 3 cups milk 2/3 cup sugar 2 eggs vanilla and butter (optional) Instructions:  Mix the rice and 2 cups of the milk together in a medium size pot. Heat it for 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring at least once a minute. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, 1 cup of milk, and sugar. After the rice mixtur

About four years ago, I told someone I look up to and trust that now that I've studied Spanish, I wanted very much to learn French. I'll never forget their look of general disdain as they asked me pointedly, "Why?" Their reaction surprised me. I don't remember how I responded. And sadly, I let that moment shape me. I put French on the shelf. I can't blame my confidant for my lack of effort. But I do think that the "shut-down vibe" as I'm going to call it is far to common in our tone as we converse with those around us, and that strain of negativity destructs the speaker and the recipient. Some other examples--a dear friend of mine (as a teenager) asked his mother if she thought he could finish the Book of Mormon in a week's time, she told him "No, I don't think you can." When I asked a talented classmate of mine some tips she'd have for me while I prepared for a high school choir audition, she responded that I shouldn

I'm well aware this picture is blurry. But I love it. I love it because what if we were all as excited about literacy as my son? Excited to the point of reading our favorite books to our stuffed animal Monkey? Elated enough about words that we preferred them to playing with Duplo Legos and Hotwheels cars? What if we prioritized reading with our family members, and invited them to read with us, as he does when he hands books to me and his Dad and our friends and fellow babies and people in the pew behind us at church? What sort of well-read, intelligent, with-it and well-communicated world would ours be? I wonder sometimes. I'm also grateful that my toddler encourages me to read, and to love it, and to share it with others. Day #310

Sometimes I forget  how much I've learned in my life til seeing your hands Small, sweet, and shaky you sit in Daddy's strong lap trying out a fork I eat without thought I walk without noticing speak without effort But my little love, you're teaching me to give thanks for all that I've learned That God's given life To me, Dad, and you kids And time to learn much So next time I start belittling my efforts I will look to you Clapping your small hands When you cross the room in strides Despite a few falls God smiles on your growth I've learned He smiles on mine too Instead I'll rejoice. Day #309

Have you ever read a book that spoke so deeply to your soul that you wept while you read it, couldn't put it down even for the pain, and thought about it for days after you finished? I have. I've been fortunate to wander upon many books that have done such for me, but the most recent literary treasure of this variety in my life has been "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys. I don't want to give much away, but I will say this: this book brought to my awareness of the WWII era histories of many Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian people. Previous to this novel I was aware that Jews (and other persecuted groups alongside them such as gypsies, the intellectually disabled and homosexuals) were victims of holocaust crimes under Hitler. But I was not aware that Stalin held his own "cleanse" and subjected millions of people to labor, cruelty, and death. The reason why I loved this book was because of the humanity and true charity many victims chose

A few weeks ago, I was inspired by a post my friend John shared on Facebook: "Sometimes church is staying home to cuddle your depressed wife and trying to help her be okay, where you let go of logic and reason to just be for a while. Sometimes church is going alone and sitting between young good looking couples with promising futures, sticking out like a sore thumb, but only because you're trying to sing tenor and bass instead of the melody. Sometimes church is being reminded of things you've forgotten, having good conversations in the halls instead of being on time to class, or making old friends new." I was truly blessed by his words, they've stuck in my mind the past couple weeks as I've started to think of what "church" means to me. I have also been thinking HARD on a video my church released a few months ago, it's only a minute long so PLZ watch it:  Before I continue, I want to emphasize how much I enjoy attending my co

Ain'tchu too quiet, country roads? I though I could recall the quiet of your streets from childhood, interrupted only by the passing train and the occasional whirr of a pickup. But city life, even in a college town, it went and gone got me used to all the noise like a welcome hum of a songbird that never skips town and keeps his place on my front tree. It's like I don't notice him, till all of a sudden he be gone and here I be with all the quiet surrounding me, like a blanket tucked in all the places I can't reach to get out from under it. Those motorcycles, those passerby, the conversations I wasn't meant to hear (but I did hear, cuz they wafted their way through the window, and now I know how she really feels about Blake Smith in biology class) The herds of honks and sirens and music pealing through the windows of every dumpy college car, I miss their ditties like I miss old friends. And I know, I know, I know the calm will reach it's place in

You knew, Lord, that a little extra time to sleep in is just what my body and mind needed today? There are plenty of mornings when I have to hold on and carry on even though I'm a zombie, But not today. Thank you for helping my weary body and my restless toddler find synchrony in staying a sleep, just a little longer, this morning. You knew, Lord, that I was scared of being the new kid again. I should be used to it by now, the many times I've been new at a neighborhood or job... but this time the butterflies still came. And there she was, my old friend from Gig Harbor, with her son and baby sitting behind us at church and I know I disrupted the meeting when I ran to hug her but I think you understand, and my heart was filled with assurance that this is the right place for my family and I'll belong here, too. You knew, Lord, at my panic before the doctor's office and you know perfectly the awful pain I felt there before And while it hurt some, this

The worry babe, It's plain to see it's affecting all of me and I'm trying hard to have faith, believe but help me in what I can't see you've got the strength of many souls to trust in how God's plan unfolds but honey, why's it eating me? This inability to see what's coming next in anything? Day #304

I've been gone a while, I was in the middle of packing. I was in the middle of moving. I was in the middle of throwing up and feeling exhaustion even after good nights' rests and naps. I was in the middle of unpacking. I was in the middle of meeting new people and missing the old ones with ardor. I was in the middle of weeping. I was in the middle of hoping. I was in the middle of caring for five children as a substitute mom to four and a for-reals mom to one, I was in the middle of walking the paths of my childhood while making memories in the present. I was in the middle of art projects, play dough, homemade pizza and movies at the sticky shoe. I was in the middle of l i f e and in the middle of it all I left my writing on the shelf in order to just live. But I'm back now. I started this blog thinking there would never be a day I didn't want to write, because I love love love  to put words on pages. I just didn't anticipate that there are times