I recently started to follow Grace at Camp Patton and yesterday she had a post listing "5 things" about her life, which I discovered was part of a blog post chain of sorts.  I thought it sounded like fun and then this morning I saw that Ana had written her 5 things and tagged me! Needless to say, I was excited to participate.

Drumroll please...

1. I was a "doughnut girl" growing up. My grandpa, dad, uncles, and a few cousins all worked for Krispy Kreme (some still do). I loved that my dad would come home from a long day of work smelling like doughnuts and coffee. It was a known fact that every birthday my mom would bring a doughnut cake to school. The two most common questions we got were, "Do you ever get tired of eating doughnuts?" and "How come your family is so thin?" Despite popular belief, we did not have a running conveyer belt in our home constantly supplying us with heavenly glazed doughnuts...how fun would that have been?!

2. I love to paint. I am no professional by any means, but if you hand this girl a blank canvas, a brush, and some peace and quiet,  I am one happy camper.

3. My high school had an excellent theater program. The musicals were incredible (considering it was a high school production).  I cannot sing for the life of me, in fact when I would audition I would tell them up front that I just want to be in the chorus and then I would sing "Happy Birthday." Impressive, I know. I just loved being in the dance numbers and being a part of the fun.

4.  My mom and grandmom instilled in me a love for Little Women, Hello Dolly, Thoroughly Modern Mille, and Anne of Green Gables.  Did anyone else watch the Avonlea series on the Disney Channel? Two of my dreams growing up were to one day visit Prince Edward Island and to marry Gilbert Blythe. I have yet to go to Prince Edward Island, but I think I did very well with the second dream- and he never had to pull my hair to get my attention:

photo from here

5.  My family used to have random dance parties after dinner (in case you were curious, we have already started to continue the tradition in this Johnson Party).  I have many memories of my dad chasing us around the house doing the Rock Lobster.   My siblings and I would run and scream and giggle, trying to hide from him. I don't think that scarred me for life. I seem pretty normal, right?!  Speaking of being scarred for life, I just went and watched the music video of this song for the first time and now I might have nightmares...And everybody had matching towels...

Sheena, Jess, and Jenn: TAG, You're it!

This morning I went to write a blog post (because I want to make sure you stay up to date with our little life) and I saw two of my buds, Jess and Ana, had linked up with Hallie at Moxie wife. I thought, how fun, I should too! So here we go.

1. Spring

(photo taken by my sis)

I love living in Alabama! The end.

2. Emma's red boots

I love her style. I love her.

3.  Chicken Fajitas

This has always been one of my favorite meals. ever. Last night Dan had to work late (and by late I mean 7) and so I fed the kids earlier, got them bathed and ready for bed, so when Dan got home we had a little chicken fajita date while the kids watched one episode of Team Umizoomi before bed.  The conversation was great and the fajitas were delish.

4. HGTV Magazine

I recently ordered a year's subscription for this mag. My first issue came in the mail a week ago and I think I have looked through it a dozen times. It was so fun to get a little "gift to me" in the mailbox!  I love the ideas, now if I could just get motivated to apply the tips in my own home...

5. Family Time

This weekend we went to Mass at a small parish in Mt. Vernon, AL.  Dan was asked to give a talk on "family life" after Mass was over. The sweet priest asked us to sit in the very front row. It was obvious that everyone knew each other and that we were visitors. So sat in the front we did, and after the final blessing Dan was asked to give his talk. Emma and Kolbe thought it was so cool that Daddy was now up there talking about them, so they proceeded to run from the pew and run circles around him.  I had no idea what to do because I was also holding Joshua and as much as I wanted to grab them and drag them out of the church, my husband was up there talking about the joys and blessings of children...I finally, with the help of my angry eyes,  got them to sit next to Dan where they then began licking each other's arms. Model family. And deep down, proud of it! ;)


Now, click on over to check out more favorites!

For the first time I am joining Jen at Conversion Diary for

I now present 7 quick takes of Joshua:

I am a big boy...just chillin'

I like my view up here, maybe I will help Mommy and clean some...

Mommy!!! Emma looked at me! 

Help me...!

Oh...what is this...sure, I will have some...

A little sour, maybe??

King of our world. And he knows it.

Happy Friday!!

Last week Sheena and I gave a talk to about 250 freshman and sophomore girls. I always get stressed and nervous before I give a talk, so I texted Dan my thoughts:

"Hi. I am here. The teens are still at Mass and now I am just waiting. Nervous."

And this is the response I get a few minutes later:

"Love you too! The young men's nd women are amazed by you nothing ability. Love you too!"

Of course I read this a few times and was extremely confused. I tried to make sense of it, but nothing came to me. I kept reading the words "amazed by you nothing ability." I finally decided that he must have meant "speaking ability" and then I proceeded to prepare for the talk.

No matter how many times I have given a talk, I always get extremely nervous. Example: I chose to write a thesis for my double major (for this incredible university), instead of doing two seminars where I would have to speak in front of the whole class. Since graduating college, God continues to use me in my weakness and calls me out of my comfort zone in ministry. I was in charge of a girls group at the high school for 4 years, helped teach weekly sessions on Theology of the Body to freshmen girls, and have spoken many times at the campus ministry retreats. But, despite all of my experience, I still get nervous. And I still doubt my ability. So in a way, my "nothing ability" made sense- because I am nothing without God.  I need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me in what I say and do. He uses the weak to lead the strong.

After the talk to the girls was over, I was driving home and finally a got a hold of Dan. He had spent the morning with the senior class and also gave a talk. He was so excited because it went really well and he then asked if I got his text. (Yes, thanks, i think) He went on to say it was perfect because when I texted him, he was in the middle of his talk and happened to be speaking about Joshua's birth and how amazing I was for birthing a 10lb 6oz baby. So when his phone buzzed he took it out of his pocket and said to the seniors: "Oh it's my wife! She is probably nervous about the talk she is giving, we should encourage her." So then he tried to type while talking, saying: "love you too. The young men and women are amazed by your birthing ability." (To which all of the seniors loved and burst out laughing.)

Oh, awesome. So glad. Wonder Woman, I guess??

Birthing ability
Speaking ability
Nothing ability.

I think I am most grateful for the last one.

One last thing, in case you were wondering, it is really awesome to have eighteen-year-olds walk up to you and say that they heard that I am really good at birthing. Seriously.

Location:My Nothing Ability

February 27, 2008

February 27, 2009

February 27, 2010

February 27, 2011

           

February 27, 2012

February 27, 2013

Happy 5th birthday Emma Rose!

Happy 3rd birthday Kolbe Francis! 

We love you so much!

Emma's favorite princess is Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.  I know you all know the story, but what I love about it is that it is a beautiful story about good triumphing over evil with the Sword of Truth and the Shield of Virtue all for the sake of true love.  When Emma asked for a Princess Aurora party, I was thrilled to accept the challenge and I even let my inner little girl come out in order to pull off a fun, magical party.

Once Upon a Dream, Princess Emma was enjoying the beautiful sunny day looking, out from her castle. She was excited because her fellow princesses and knights were on their way, to celebrate her 5th birthday. (yes, that rhymed).

Finally the guests began to arrive.

Even the youngest knight and princesses were excited for the party.

Then the party activities began! First, the Queen (me, of course) had prepared a craft for the guests to make. The girls decorated their crowns and the boys made their shields.  I got the foam crowns at Sir Michael's and they decorated them with glitter glue, stickers, and jewels, of course.

I made the shields out of cardboard boxes and taped aluminum foil over them. And then I took some elastic and stapled it to the back to create a handle.

Once the craft was completed (which took about 15 minutes), they were handed their foam swords and wands and then the battle began...

for about 5 minutes and then the King stepped in and lead them in a game of Prince, Princess, Dragon (or duck, duck, goose) 

Then musical chairs...

   

After that thrilling game, we sang to the birthday girl.

And no party is complete without a piñata...

And apparently the castle made a great hideout....

from these crazy knights! :)

I am so thankful we were able to get a group picture!

Princess Emma had a wonderful 5th birthday party celebration! Thanks to all family and friends who helped to pull it off.

And they all lived happily ever after.