Heading North

FUN WITH THE JOHNSON'S!




The kiddos & I are headed to Charlotte, NC...We're off to see our best friends! We love you guys and can't wait to hug each one of you!!! We are leaving at 5am...Phil will join us on Thursday. (We'll miss you baby! Bye for now Papa!)

See you soon Johnson's! Get ready, we're on our way!

Joyfully working

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Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A great work day last Saturday! We, Phil & I, decided once and for all that our work (which is really LIFE because it never ends) was to be enjoyed AS we work not just when we reached the end goal, which by the way never seems to last very long!. We also decided once and for all that we wanted to enjoy working along side our children. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) I often feel as though I'm rushing to get somewhere rarely just in the moment. I want to live more in the now. Enjoying each moment even when doing things that often seem monotonous (laundry, can I get an AMEN sister!) God has asked us to do all our work as though we are doing it unto Him (Colossians 3:23). I think that requires us to enjoy the process. So, we will be praying a lot about this because we can not do this on our own (John 15:5)!

5 day challenge

Mama has to get this weight off! I have resorted to wearing the same 2 things over and over because I can not fit into my clothes yet (after baby) and I refuse to settle into a whole new size! SO...This week I am challenging myself to work off 400 calories each day (M-F). I will go to the gym so I can keep track! Wish me blessings this week! :-)
*EDITED: Monday - Yeah did it! 400 calories!

*EDITED: Tuesday - Yes! Started with Charli in a Mommy & Me class (I'm sure I burned at least 50 calories here!) - she LOVED it...Then finished with 350 calories burned on an elyptical! 2 down 3 to go! Having fun!

*EDITED: Wednesday - had a great 400 calorie burn at the gym with Phil (wow too many prepisitional phrases!). Thanks for joining me honey!!!

*EDITED: Thursday - Today was tough! My body hurts! I changed machines twice to do it but I did it! The 400 calorie burn burned today!

*EDITED: Friday - final day!!! 200 calorie burn today! looking forward to a couple days off from the gym. It was a great week but my body is in need of rest! So, I'll be back to it on Tuesday! Yeah!

The Love Dare

(click on title for link to Fireproof - a must see!)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

I LOVE being married to Phil. God has done so many unbelievable things in our union together but there was a time when things weren't so good! Just this morning my bible study was all about my relationship with my husband. The question that was asked toward the end of the chapter was, "how can you respect your husband today." When we were married, 15 years ago, we had a knowledge of God's word but not much of a heart for God and His truths. This movie, Fireproof, is an amazing picture of what marriage can be! When we live by the world's standards the picture is sad, lonely & extremely frustrating but when we make the choice to let God lead we find our lives, our marriages filled with joy and peace! There is so much more I could say but the one thing I need to say is GO SEE THE MOVIE with your honey! Pray before you go and ask God to do a mighty work in your relationship together! Phil and I plan to purchase the book "The Love Dare." I am looking forward to the fun it will bring to our marriage! I'm looking forward to getting to know Phil, once again, on a whole new level! Thank God today for your spouse and have fun "studying" each other! I love you Phil! (PIP)

Great Weekend

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Our weekend started on Friday spending a day at an awesome park with sister and kids. The kids had such a great time together! Jofus is a lot of fun and Riley loves chasing him around as a velociraptor. Joseph hasn't quite figured out if he likes that or not. Riley's impression of a dinosaur is quite realistic and very scary! Elli is content just hanging out and singing her songs! She always has a song to sing! I love that about Elli! Charli & Jaggar are so silly! Their sounds are similar. Jaggar is so happy just to be held while Charli is ready to get down and play. It has been interesting watching the two personalities unfold! They're so cute! Home for bean & corn wraps with Pops, mmm so good! Beddy bye for kids and spa for parents! So tired. The rest of the weekend FLIEs by like this...Saturday: Joel's 6th birthday party, mom's day to clean!, to dinner with Gma & Gpa Olsen - excellent Margharita! Sunday: 8:30 church, home for a yummy breakfast, Phil & I to see FIREPROOF (more to come on this), Meet at Riley's football game - go Rustler's!, back to mom's for a bbq and dirty ice cream, and a cherry pie kids made - Happy Birthday Tim 33 - "You know Jesus died at 33" words of wisdom to Tim LOVE Phil :-), home, cleaned up, ready for bed...Where does the time go??? Monday, ready or NOT here we come!

My Boy Riley

I should mention that Riley will also be in the play of Esther. He wanted to be "curtain boy - the one who is behind the stage pulling the curtain." Hilarious! He's quite shy but working through that! There will be no curtain but they have asked him to do a little solo part on one of the songs - He sings great! He's not thrilled but I'm sure by May he'll have a whole new outlook! He's so much like little Shannon it's not funny! He jokes a lot but only very few people get to see that side of him! What a treasure he is! I love you buddy and I am so proud of you!

Esther

Esther was a person of faith, goodness, devotion and courage. She built upon these characteristics combining with them a sense of watchfulness. Esther was devoted to her cousin, Mordecai, and obedient to his teachings. Her grace and her beauty gave her favor amongst all that she came in contact with.

You can see why Elli desires to play the part of Esther in the play of "Esther" next May! She auditioned last week and she got the part! She is so excited! We have been in the word and praying about this all week. Not only that God might bless her with this part but more importantly that He would mold her and change her through this experience! She said to me this morning (before she found out) that she felt God had grown her though this time! Elli will be a great Esther! She fits the part! I love you brave girl!

Me want Food!

Good morning. Our morning has been filled with God's word and now we are ready to start our day! We are off to the grocery to purchase Charli's first real food experience! She is watching us very intently and has made it very clear to us that she is HUNGRY! So, we will try out the baby cereal! We'll see how she likes it! edited - she thought her oatmeal was very interesting but was unsure what to do with it! So she let it drip down her chin and into her lap...Silly girl. We'll try again soon!