Happy Anniversary!

Philip & I have been married for fifteen amazing years.

I remember someone asking me shortly before the wedding, "How do you know for sure he's the one?" I thought about it for a minute. Stalling, actually, because who can be SURE of anything. Then it occurred to me. I saw my future as a big drama production...stage, set, sound, etc. In my mind, I switched out every conceivable backdrop in terms of setting: city, country, jungle; poverty, wealth, insanity. I changed out all the imaginary costuming and props. I added and subtracted cast members like friends, family, and future children. I ran through all the possible story lines: thrilling or horrifying; blissful or boring; safe & secure or downright scary. In all cases, the one thing I could never get my brain to alter was the leading man. He was there, standing firm, looking lovingly handsome forever.



Thank You, Lord, for guiding and protecting each of us as we journey closer to You and to each other. Thank You for Your love that makes all of life a blessing. Thank You for Your perfect strength that carries us in times when we are weak. Thank You for Your wisdom and patience when the choices are difficult. Thank You for Your forgiveness and compassion. It's the only way to truly live.

"Can We Talk?" Week 1: Day 1

"No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless [unsettled, undisciplined, unable to be restrained] evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?" James 3:8-11

REALLY? We gotta bust out with tamin' the tongue on DAY 1????

I've read this passage a hundred times, I think. But most of the time it was in a rushed scurry like bobbing through football two-a-day tires. I feared the deluge of conviction that might overcome me should I linger too long in such a direct passage.

This time I stayed. I got prayed up and stayed.

The phrase that caught my attention was "full of deadly poison". I've heard "sticks and stones might break bones..." and I've known "back-stabbing" comments. This paints a different picture. Those wounds can mend. They might scar, but they'll mend. Poison must be ingested, inhaled, or injected. It's target is the entire circulatory system.

My words have the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...") This is not a small deal. My haphazard speech will leave not merely a flesh wound, but a tainting of the whole circulation of the other person.

On the positive side, my words also have the capacity to heal and revive. I CAN speak blessings into the lives of my family and friends. I can speak wisdom and strength to the lost and weary.

I LOVE to worship our Creator. But with similar ease, I find myself criticizing so much of His creation. The other night, I enjoyed an hour of "Praise Father, Son & Holy Ghost". Then, in the 3 minutes it took to get to my car, I complained about 5 or 6 humans, dogged the fact that there were ugly nails in the walls of our freshly painted church house, and ultimately griped about the weather.

"[Sist]ern, these things ought not be this way!" Hello?

Thank You, Father, for Your Word. It is alive and powerful. Thank You for even wanting to try to teach me ONE MORE TIME, the truths I should already know. Your patience is amazing. I DO love You...help me demonstrate my love for You by loving Your creation too. Give me words to speak so that I might shine Your love and light into people's live. Guard my heart so that the words of my mouth will be pleasing.

Bless all my sisters who are studying this same passage. Speak to us. We want to hear You and respond.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, January 12, 2009...

Outside my window...breezy and bright.

I am thinking...about all the changes a little baby will bring into our home. Happy, welcome, changes.

I am thankful for...restored health throughout the household. One stomach bug times eight persons equals thirty-seven loads of laundry, one hundred fourteen Clorox wipes, three sleeves of saltine crackers, four liters of diet sprite, one gallon of applesauce and a dozen bananas. I kept thinking, with all this laundry and cleaning, it's a good thing there are no meals...I haven't the time!

From the learning rooms...today we "learned" how to rearrange furniture, dust baseboards, organize belongings, and be kind one to another. That's it. Week 20 begins tomorrow.

From the kitchen...no dinner prep...folks are still feeling wary about large spicy meals. I imagine we'll have grilled cheese or pancakes.

I am wearing...gray pants, white henley.

I am creating...several schedules and lots of lists. Not really creative, but fun any how!

I am going...to take Ardyn to basketball practice in just a sec. Tomorrow evening I have a children's council meeting and Wednesday (Lord willing) I will get to attend choir rehearsal for the first time in a month.

I am reading..."A Woman God Can Use" by Alice Mathews, "Can We Talk?" by Priscilla Shirer, and my Holman Bible in a Year.

I am hoping...to take noticeable strides toward being "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry". Deliberate living is tough stuff!

I am hearing...kids playing outside, classical Christmas music playing in the girls' room (?), and clothes tumbling in the dryer.

Around the house...clean laundry fills one whole couch, but the whole house has been vacuumed and dusted. After the kids soak up the sunshine, we'll use our dark time to fold and deliver.

One of my favorite things...is when all three girls play together in their room. It is rare that they find an activity that all three are interested in at a certain moment. Today it was a "party" in their freshly laid out room. They all dressed up, turned on the tunes, and welcomed each other with curtsies and cheek kisses.

A few plans for the rest of the week...lessons tomorrow, AWANA and choir Wed, our 15th anniversary on Thursday!!!! and Philip's parents are coming on Saturday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...sorry...gotta run. I'll try to post something fun later.

To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.

Framing the Face

We had to cut Mari some bangs. Ashlin had done a tiny make-over during room time, and had taken a little off the top, and a little chunk out of the front. I combed down some bangs for Mari and trimmed them across her eyebrows. She looks more like my kid pictures than ever!

We let her try on my glasses, and it was crazy how much she looked like me. Then Ardyn wanted to try them on. With her dark hair and eyes, she favored my appearance as well. Finally, Ashlin wanted a turn with the eye wear. Using her 20/20 vision to peer through my heavily prescribed lenses was a bit of a trip for her.

She gazed around the room in groovy wonder. She looked back at me and said, "Mom, you have two noses!" I giggled, and told her she looked cute. Then in amazement she continued to call it exactly like she could see it from her pluralistic vantage, "Two noses...and two mouths...and four or five chins!"

Friday Flashback Foto

Seven years ago...

In a home across town...

Two little boys asked, "How do you KNOW markers won't wash off our faces?"

And a slightly stir crazy Mom replied, "Well, let's see..."

Can We Talk?

Last week my cousin, Leslie, proposed an excellent idea. She invited her blog readers to participate in an online discussion relating to Priscilla Shirer's new Bible Study, "Can We Talk: Soul-Stirring Conversations with God". We had discussed the study prior to her post, so I had dutifully purchased the book and had begun to thumb through the sessions.

All weekend, I couldn't shake the notion that I might not be the only one "out there" who would thrive on the accountability that such a low maintenance set-up could afford. So I sent out an invitation to folks in my email account. As of this afternoon, 11 ladies have responded that they plan to simultaneously journey through this study. Five of the ones who live here in town have agreed to come join a Wednesday morning discussion. This is VERY exciting for me. I LOVE support...not just in undergarments, but in so many areas of life!

It's not too late, if you weren't in my contact list, feel free to grab a book. We begin the study Monday, January 12. You can complete 5 brief lessons a week and we'll be done by the end of February. For those who are "getting personal", we'll have our first meeting the next Wednesday on the 21st to make sure everyone has time to finish the week's questions.

I have no idea how the posting schedule will go. I'll follow Leslie's lead, post her permalink, and then readily accept input from other readers and bloggers.

Hope you can join us!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, January 5, 2009...

Outside my window...quiet, cold and drizzly.

I am thinking...that time flies if you're not paying attention. I guess it does anyway, but I seem to be able to keep track of things if I pay attention. Duh. Today will apparently NOT be one bent toward profundity.

I am thankful for...all my little chickadees. They are blessings!

From the learning rooms...not one tiny peep. I offered to read after lunch and everyone looked at me like, "Perhaps, we've been unclear...this is Luke's birthday. So despite your troubling notion that getting ahead would make tomorrow better, school resumes Ma-nya-na!" I took the unanimous hint and came to blog and nap.

From the kitchen...Landen and the girls are cleaning up the rest of lunch. I gave them a big head start...they just need to finish the dishwasher. Luke asked for lemon poppy seed cake and brownies with chocolate chip cookie dough. I'm not sure who told him he could make two requests, but it's done.

I am wearing...navy fleece 'loungers' and a warm, woolly sweatshirt.

I am creating...several schedules and lots of lists. Not really creative, but fun any how!

I am going...to take Luke to his friend's house later so they can watch the football game. Other than that, I'm stickin' put until Wednesday's choir practice.

I am reading..."A Woman God Can Use" by Alice Mathews. My mom gave it to me for Christmas and I'm halfway finished. I'm also still on schedule with my "read the Bible through" plan. 5 WHOLE days of consistency...woo hoo.

I am hoping...this baby will continue to grow and have a healthy birth. I heard the heart beat this morning...amid lots of shuffling and whooshes on the ultrasound. [He?] is quite a mover and a shaker--oh gosh, Ardyn's sibling??? I think I can almost feel him. We'll have a sonogram in 4 weeks to see [him?] move and shake for ourselves. I'm also [apparently] hoping for a boy baby:)

I am hearing...keyboard clicks and motor hums. That's it. Everyone thinks I'm napping. Sh-sh-sh! Don't blow my cover.

Around the house...Luke is lounging for his birthday. The others are catering to his every need. Mari & Oscar-dog are napping.

One of my favorite things...is when Mari calls out in the mornings and comes to get in my bed. She always snuggles up really close and if I'm really lucky, she scratches my back for a few seconds before speaking her morning greeting: "I hungry, Momma. Let's get down and go see 'bout some cer-ul."

A few plans for the rest of the week...Lessons, MP3 prep, tidy/clean, & reading.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Happy 11th Birthday, Brendan Luke!


To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.

Fellowship to Follow

Just before we were to pack up all the Christmas decorations and store them away, I walked down the hall toward the girls' room. The lights were low, but sounds of the season scaled surprising heights of praise.

From the doorway, I could see all three girls facing the small, overly adorned, prelit tree on the dresser. They had assembled all their pretty ponies from Christmas around the manger scene. My daughters joined the imaginary equestrian chorale in a passionate arrangement of "O Come Let Us Adore Him".

I smiled and quietly worshipped from afar. As the song ended, Ardyn raised her voice (and one fist)and proclaimed triumphantly, "HE IS THE MIGHTY KING OF KINGS AND HE WILL REIGN FOREVER ON HIS THRONE!!!" Then in a jolt of stylistic transition, she added, "Now, let's get ready to shake it and bake it!"

I have no idea...

Friday Flashback Foto

Landen & Luke in 1998 in Uncle Don's recliner. They will turn 13 and 11 this month. Yikes! Thank You, God, for my handsome sons!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 1, 2009...

Outside my window...chilly and bright. Weather forecast calls for a warm afternoon, so I turned the heater down this morning despite the low 40's temperature. Climate control in Texas...never dull.

I am thinking...that I am ready for a fresh start. It has been so nice to spend so much time with Philip and the kids over the holidays. I feel like we're ready to face the new year as a team...an energetic, unified, well-fed team.

I am thankful for...so much! God has done great things. It's almost overwhelming to think about. I'm thankful for the opportunity to raise another Johnson. I said the sentence to Philip last week, "We have five more years to parent Landen in our home." I think I had a panic attack as the words came out. How did time fly by so quickly? I'm in that weird phase of pregnancy, where I'm no longer feeling ill, I'm not feeling the baby's movements yet, so I just feel like I've gained 10 pounds. Very strange. Mari and I talk about the baby almost every day. She will be a very good big sister. She's had some great role models.

From the learning rooms...What a nice break the last couple weeks have been! I've shaken the role of teacher and have embraced the privilege of just plain ol' mom. I do look forward to next week. It's been slightly unnerving to approach each day without a plan or routine....ultimately fun, but not initially comfortable.

From the kitchen...Half a load of dishes wait patiently in the left sink. They didn't make the 2008 cut last night. I've been sick since last week, but I gathered myself enough to help Luke prepare one last culinary expression of love for our family. Last night's menu included venison queso, taco salad, chipotle rice, refried beans with melty cheese, warm tortilla chips sprinkled with chili powder, and homemade salsa. Together, all eight of us enjoyed a warm, tasty dinner with cool, creamy Bluebell to wrap up 2008.

I am wearing...black pants and a red tee shirt.

I am creating...some purposeful approaches to the new year. God has blessed us, and to whom much is given, much is required. I also hope to come up with a healthy rendition of bacon mushroom swiss burger melts for the guys when they return from hunting.

I am going...on a date tomorrow night. I have the sweetest, most handsome husband in the world, and he thinks I'm a fun girl. What more could I wish for?

I am reading...my new Holman translation. It's laid out to read the Bible through in a year. I love the story of Adam and Eve. The tough lesson I learn each time I visit their story is the importance of getting the Truth straight from God. When the serpent questions Eve's knowledge of the tree, she is limited to hearsay from Adam. (Chapter 1 says that the Lord told the man not to eat of the tree. By Chapter 2, Eve has expanded her once removed version to include 'no touching the tree'.) I want to stay in the Word. Read it for myself. Receive teaching and admonition, but go back and test it according to the Word. I don't want to add to Scripture or only read what I believe. I want the faith to believe what I read.

I am hoping...God will prompt and lead our family to live boldly for Him. Jesus' earthy parents were asked to ignore public opinion even before His birth. As Joseph tried to spare Mary public humiliation, the angel commanded him to do otherwise...and ultimately allow the Lord to handle their reputation. May He give us the courage to be obedient.

I am hearing..."Between the Lions" on PBS. The girls ate a late breakfast with their Daddy, so they are holding out for a comparably late luncheon when I finish this post.

Around the house...Christmas decorations need to be gathered and stored away. Always a slightly sad event. JW, Philip, and the boys are hunting and the girls are hanging out in my room. Oscar is napping somewhere.

One of my favorite things...is my new NetiPot. It is a terribly invasive apparatus that forcibly, yet mercifully cleanses all sinus cavities and passages of "all that plagues me". It's a little tea pot that you fill with a "patented portion" of warm saline solution. As you lean over the sink, and cock your head to one side, you insert the spout into one of your nostrils and tilt the teapot until the saline has traveled through your passages and is draining out the other nostril (if not eyes and mouth) into the sink. Hello?

After five days of debilitating congestion, I succumbed to the peer pressure --"Leaf Lan Ree!" and yielded to my apprehensions concerning my overactive gag reflex. Except for good tasting food and drink, I consider myself an "exit only" kind of girl. I see no pressing need to insert needles or tubes, ingest gigantic pills, snort medicinal mists, inhale foul smelling vapor, or swallow non-nutritive fluids -- simply for the sake of potential improvement to overall good health. However, five days in the recliner can change your perspective.

Philip and James walked in the house discussing the odds of my willful participation. JW: "She'll never do it." PJ: "Oh, yeah, she can do it, but she's totally gonna puke." Then the discussion turned toward me concerning their eager involvement. JW: "You gonna do it now? I gotta see this!" CDJ: "IF I do this, I'm doing it in private." PJ: "Bull. You're gonna do it, and we're gonna watch."

I did it. My whole family did it. We had a bit of a NetiPot Party. I must say that Mari is slightly addicted. "Do NetiPot 'gin, Momma?" The fellas thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle of my giggly, tearful spewing and slobbery spatting over the bathroom sink. It was not my finest moment, and they found great joy in my humiliation. But I DO feel MUCH better today. I actually felt better immediately after the "administering", but my physical relief was clouded by the emotional jeering and snickering that continued for hours as the menfolk would retell of the "hilarity". Seriously, if you're stuffy, buy a NetiPot, you'll be glad you did.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Keep reading, straighten & clean the house. Write out the next few weeks' lesson plans, and get a jump on ironing for the next couple weeks. And don't forget Datenite! Basketball games on Saturday and then back to the church house on Sunday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...My darling brother, JW gave this little morsel of framed encouragement to me for Christmas. Precious. In case you can't make out the fine print, it says, "Blogging: Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."


To participate or simply enjoy more daybooks, visit The Simple Woman.