When Life Hands You Lemons.....CELEBRATE!

It seems like this pregnancy has just flown by! Maybe it's because I am chasing around two other littles, or maybe I don't have a lot of time on my hands lately either way one little baby coming right up. I just can't believe we only have four weeks left. Our sweet little bundle will be here in less than a month.

I haven't really had a lot of crazy cravings up until recently. I am loving anything with LEMON!! I got a lot of recipes, with lemon as an ingredient, off pinterest and have been cooking up a storm. The picture at the top is one of my fav dishes so far. However, I also have been craving lemon on some crazy things like potato chips. I haven't given into the potato chip craving just yet, but it sure does sound good.

What are some of the craziest things you have craved while pregnant or heard of people craving?

My Christmas Wish

This year I only asked Santa for one thing for Christmas and that was to be able to stay home all day with our boys. I must have been good this year, because I got what I asked for and so much more. I am so happy to be creating precious memories with my children without the hustle and bustle that sometimes distract from the true meaning of the holiday. I loved watching them open their gifts and seeing their little faces light up. I also love the fact that they realize the true meaning of Christmas isn't found under the tree. Case in point, we have a book we've been reading every night at bed time for a few weeks now about the Christmas story. It tells of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and Christ's miraculous birth. Well, last night as we were laying out the cookies (yes, I said cookies, the pie didn't go as planned) and milk he asked me, "Mommy can we leave the book out for Santa? That way he can know about Jesus!". That was the sweetest Christmas blessing ever. My little guy already sees the importance of sharing his faith and love for Jesus with people. Praise the Lord! I am so thankful for God's provision for my sin, the birth of my Savior, and seeing Him work through the lives of my children.

Merry Christmas.

Yummy Treats: Santa Hats

The other night I had a fun holiday event to attend and I ended up making these sweet little Santa hats. They were a hit, and were so easy to make, so I thought I'd post the recipe here.

Santa Hats

Ingredients:

Betty Crocker Brownie Mix (eggs, oil)

Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberries

1. Make Betty Crocker Brownie Mix as directed. Line mini cupcake pan with mini cupcake liners. Pour brownie mix into liners

2. Bake as directed on box

3. Take brownies out and let them cool. Pipe cream cheese frosting in a swirl around the top. (if you don't have an icing kit you can cut a corner off the end of a Ziploc bag, put frosting in, and use it as a frosting bag)

4. Wash strawberries and cut tops off. For bigger strawberries slice in halves.

5. Place one strawberry on top of mini cupcake and pipe a little dot on top.

6. Viola. Santa hats.

Hope yall are having fun making yummy holiday treats as well. Today we are off to bake sugar cookies and make peppermint bark. DELISH.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

What an eventful weekend. Joel had two days off in a row. Praise the Lord. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, having him home with us. It was so nice to be able to wake up and make pancakes together and not be rushing around trying to get somewhere. I truly cherish times like these. Although, I can not complain. I feel more than blessed that Joel's work is still going steady because around this time last year he was already laid off.  We have ALL of our Christmas shopping done. We also made our annual trip to Hensler's to get our tree. We have been doing this every year since Kade was born, it's a Johnson family tradition. I just love having a real tree. There is something about the way it looks and especially the way it makes our home smell that makes me swoon. It is starting to feel so much more like Christmas around here. We also took the boys to see Arthur Christmas yesterday. What a CUTE movie. While Joel and the boys thought it would be fun to be one of the elves in mission control I would be satisfied with being Arthur, (in the beginning of the movie not the end), replying to all of the Dear Santa letters. What a fun job to have. Your day at work would consist of reading joyful, hopeful, letters and responding back with the most beautiful stationary, peppermint smelling ink, and glitter pens. Speaking of Christmas stationary I just love this little etsy shop and all of their whimsical designs.
Tonight I have a Women's Bible Study ornament exchange to attend. Can't wait. A bunch of lovely ladies gathering around for sweet fellowship and yummy treats =  a good time. I should get off here and get to baking. Hope you had a magical weekend as well.

P.S. Does your family have any annual Christmas traditions? If so I'd love to hear about them!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

We are loving listening to A Very She & Him Christmas around the Johnson household this holiday season. Listening to Christmas music instantly puts me in a good mood.  I wrapped a few presents yesterday (even one for Santa himself ) and today I will be attempting to get photos of the boys for our Christmas card this year. Send up a little prayer for me today. LOL. I don't know what it is but taking pictures of your own children is much different than taking pictures of other peoples.

On another note a few of the toys we've been looking at buying for little D are on sale today. Click here to see! We love Melissa and Doug toys. Especially this little wooden set. Adorable.

Hope you all have a cheerful Thursday.

Oh Christmas Tree

Last night we took our boys to Norwayne Field for the annual Christmas tree lighting. It was our first time this year and I must say it was a lot of fun. Although we had to battle the cold the kids had a great time. K loved the parade with the fire trucks and police cars. :) Daddy, David, and I truly enjoyed the lights. A lot of people put hard work into decorating those trees and we were very grateful for their efforts. If you notice in our family picture my coat is open, that's because it won't zip anymore! :) 7 more weeks until we meet the newest member of the Johnson clan. I must say I am excited about Christmas but I am even more excited to meet our own little miracle. :) Hope you have a good weekend.

Fun With Play Dough



We had such a good time a few nights ago making home made play dough. This is one of K's favorite things to help mommy make. If it looks pink in the picture it's because it really is. I put a whole little tube of red food coloring in but it must not have been enough. LOL. They didn't seem to mind. ;) I read somewhere you can use Kool-Aid also so I think that's what I'll try next.  The picture of K on the lower left is of his MONSTER. I know it's SOOOOOOOOO scary. So why you collect yourself and stop shaking I will post this easy recipe so you can make your own with your sweet family

Play Dough Recipe

Basic ingredient ratios:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)

food coloring (liquid, powder, or unsweetened drink mix)
scented oils

Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes.

When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, as shown below, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: if your play dough is still sticky, you simply need to cook it longer!
Keep stirring and cooking until the dough is dry and feels like play dough.
I've gotten many comments asking about sticky dough, so please just keep cooking a bit longer and it will work!

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat, and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring.

Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the play dough, trying to keep the raw dye away from your hands and the counter. You could use gloves or plastic wrap at this stage to keep your hands clean- only the concentrated dye will color your skin, so as soon as it's worked in bare hands are fine.

Work the dye through, adding more as necessary to achieve your chosen color.

HAVE FUN!

Friends Who Pray For You

³ I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴ As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. —2 Timothy 3:3-7

I’m more persuaded than ever that God’s work in my life is a direct answer to the prayers of people.

When I was in high school, our pastor assigned a senior to every student in the student ministry. I was assigned to a woman named Evelyn White. All through high school I would go over to her house about once every other month, and she would say, “Oh James, let me pray for you.” And she would place her hand on me and pray. I had never heard anyone pray like that. She would ask Him to use my life. She would pray against sin in my life. And she prayed for purity, a good attitude, and perseverance. She called out to God for me!

Evelyn went to be with the Lord early in the ‘90’s but the mark that her prayers made on my life was indelible. I thank God for her ministry in my life.

The lifetime lesson I learned from Evelyn is that we don’t have to go through the Christian life alone. The Lord places friends around us, sometimes unexpected friends, who pray for us—who lift up our name before “the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Timothy had such a friend in Paul. Paul says, “I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” Do you realize that people who might not even know you are praying for you?

Before Harvest Bible Chapel ever began, we’d be on our knees calling out to God. Do you know who we were praying for? You! We were praying that God would allow us to reach you and impact your life. In a major way, Walk in the Word is a ministry outgrowth of Harvest Bible Chapel. Even then, we were asking God to cultivate in our hearts an understanding of what it would really mean to minister to you and to care for you and to build into your lives hope and truth and faith in God’s Word. Now, every week, we at Walk in the Word continue to pray for marriages, for lost loved ones, for rebellious children—whatever needs are made known to us.

You have friends who love you and pray for you. We are your friends and we love you and we pray for you. Persevere in doing what is right—someone is praying for you.

Journal:

• Have I ever been surprised to find out who has been praying for me? Have I thanked God for them?
• Who am I actively praying for?

Prayer: Father in heaven, What an amazing gift it is that You call Your people to pray for one another! Forgive me for not appreciating the impact others’ prayers have had on my life. Your Word says that Your Son lives to intercede for the saints. Help me to realize that when I pray for others, I am most like Your great Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

www.walkintheword.com

Just wanted to share this with all of you. Thank you for everyone in our life that prays for us. We thank the Lord for yall!

Rockin The Air Guitar!

Don't you just love this. This makes my heart so happy. I love to see my children worship the one true God. :) This week in church Devan talked a little about how worship isn't just about singing and lifting our hands in praise. It's about the way we live. We can worship God in our everyday lives. I have been trying to put this into practice. I thanked God this morning while doing the laundry. As simple as it may seem God is pleased when we acknowledge Him always. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." I did laundry with my heart today.

I pray you get quiet time alone today to worship God. I also pray that even if you are doing simple things, like laundry in my case, you do it unto the Lord! Happy Tuesday.

The Mother Of Boys

Hand prints on cupboards

and shoes in the hall.

Toilet seats up and there's

mud on the wall.

Every sports channel to

them will appeal,

And the front room doubles

as a football field.

The shelves in the kitchen

are continually bare.

There's toys on the couch

and jeans on the chair.

Wrestling and mud and

cars and noise;

I'm sure you can guess I'm

The Mother of BOYS!!!

-Patsy Gaut

Love is more than an emotion.

Love is best seen as devotion and action, not an emotion. Love is not exclusively based on how we feel. Certainly our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. True devotion will always lead to action—true love.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth.
I John 3:18 (NIV)

Thank you Lord for my sweet husband. I am so grateful for all his does for our family. He has truly shown me what unconditional love is about. I am blessed to be his wife.  

Sing to the Lord a new song

Yesterday I recorded K singing and saying some of his newly learned verses. I am so proud of our little guy.  I pray that he will grow up to be a man after God's own heart. I just stand in awe at this little boy and his capacity to learn. I can't believe what he is capable of retaining.

I know I have been MIA lately as we have had such a whirl wind of events sweep through our lives. I am just thankful we are now experiencing the calm after the storm. God has been faithful to us through all of the hard things that have been thrown our way. So today we are singing and praising His great name!

Psalm 96:1 "Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth."

I will shout. I will sing. Jesus you're my everything.

I have been listening to this song a lot lately. I know its older, but new to me! Praise God that my name has been changed from sinner to saint! :)

Our Little Soccer Player

I just love the smile on D's face. He is a good soccer player too (with daddies help) !

We have had an exciting week. Yesterday was K's first soccer practice and let me just say I couldn't be more proud. He paid attention to his wonderfully patient coaches. He was so cute in all his gear, which I guess is only something a mom notices according to Joel. He is "super smoosher" (a K original) fast. When did the baby I gave life to grow into a little boy? Overnight it seems. I am just so proud of him and can't wait to cheer him on at his first game! :) Did I mention he just loves it? He can't stop talking about it today, and wants me to help him practice his stops. lol. Wish me luck!

Pool Days

This summer we have been having such a blast playing with friends at the pool. My K is the bravest four year old I know. He has been going down the slide frontward, backward, and every which way you can think of. He is an adventurer. Wonder where he gets that from (Joel Johnson)? Hmmm. lol I love the last picture as well. Those two are hard at work. :) I am so thankful to have such sweet little friends for my boys to play with. We truly enjoy it.

Lions, Tigers, and Gummi Bears...OH MY!

I took our boys to the Albanese Candy Factory for a little treat. K loved trying everything, and those sweet little workers couldn't tell him no. lol. He ate everything from chocolate covered raisins to jelly belly jelly beans. One of his favorite treats are the gummi army guys. How cute are those? Joel loves the chocolate covered almonds and I am a huge fan of the chocolate covered coffee beans. :)  D also got to try gummi bears and had a huge grin on his face afterword. Nothing but sweets for my sweethearts! We will see how well the rest of my day goes now that everyone is all sugared up. lol.

Starke County 4-H Fair

Last night, amidst the sweltering heat, we took the boys to the fair. K absolutely loved it. The dragon coaster was his favorite. D loved all of the sights and sounds. He just rode around in his stroller in awe, taking everything in. I am so thankful that Joel had a rain day. I just love going to the fair for the shaved ice. We had such a fun day. I just love summer nights with my family.  

God's cleaning service.

Kaden: "Mom, you a good mom because you clean up our house."

Me: "Thanks Kaden. Sometimes I feel like that's all I ever do"

Kaden: "Well mom, I not a very good boy because I don't clean up my room."

Me: "Well you need to pray that God will help you with that."

Kaden: "God CAN'T help me clean my room because him's in heaven."

Joel and I were rolling on the floor laughing. Love him.

Colorado Adventure

Our little bear on the way up.

The view as we walked along. (Pike's Peak)

K at the summit.

Both of our snuggle bugs.

 

View of Pike's Peak from the top.

We were in Colorado over Memorial Day weekend for an absolutely beautiful wedding. But while we were there we decided to take our boys on a little hiking adventure. I am deathly afraid of heights, so anytime we've ever done these climbing adventures I've always had to talk myself into them. Seeing as how climbing the first step of a ladder freaks me out. I convince myself "God Protects" and just throw caution to the wind. Or something like that. lol. 

I love the adventure. I love experiencing God in this way. We just stand amazed and in awe at the summit of this mountain/cliff because next to them we are incredibly small. It puts God, life, and creation back into perspective. I serve an AWESOME God who is all powerful. Who hung the heavens. Who knows the depth of the deepest ocean. Who counts the hairs on my head and catches the tears that fall from my eyes. He calls me His child. I am by association apart of this Glory revealed. He is great, and I am not. He is strong, yet I am weak. He is holy, and I am but filthy rags. Yet still He calls me His own. Thank you God for the adoption you provide so freely through your son Jesus Christ. I stand in awe of Your power and glory.

Silly Summer Days

Our Science lesson involved talking about God's beautiful creation.

Best Buddies.

Just one last picture that will hopefully make you smile. I think this is the reason my momma always said, "if you make that face for too much longer it will get stuck like that." lol. Let's hope not!

We have been enjoying playing outside on these hot summer days. What have you been up to this week?

DIY: Laundry Soap

I received this mason jar of home-made laundry soap from a sweet friend of mine as a gift. I was skeptical at first because we use Tide and I was unsure of how well it would clean our clothes. Oh well, I thought,what's it gonna hurt? I will give it a try. I did and it worked. Our clothes have that clean clothes smell to them as well. I am very excited to make this and use it for our clothes (mine and the children's). Joel's clothes get super dirty because of his occupation so I will use this plus a little tide. At a little over $3.00 a bucket to make why not! :) So here is the recipe to the do it yourself laundry soap. You will be quite the little laundress! :)

Ingredients:

1 bar Fels-Naptha (heavy duty laundry bar soap)

1 cup Borax (natural bounty) (box)

1 cup of Arm & Hammer (super washing soda) (box)

Directions:

1. Grate the bar of Fels-Naptha

2. In a pan 1 qt or more water- to dissolve the grated bar- boil until dissolved.

3. Pour mixture into 5 gallon bucket.

4. Add the powder ingredients (i.e. 1 cup borax, 1 cup arm & hammer)

5. Stir

6. Add watter to fill the 5 gal bucket full. Stir well.

7. Let set for 24 hours.

8. Stir when ready to use.

9. Make sure to shake each time you use, as mixture will become thick.

Yields: 5 gallons of Laundry Soap

Enjoy your weekend.

Happy Birthday Amanda

My baby sister turns 24 today. I called her an old fart yesterday, and she told me that she wasn't over 25 so that didn't apply. lol. I am so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful sister. She is funny, kind, loving, beautiful, and very thoughtful. She can always make me laugh no matter what kind of mood I am in. Her stories are always long and drawn out but that's why I love her. We can always talk for hours. We have been through so much together and I am so thankful to have such a wonderful friend.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday today. I love you and wish I was there with you celebrating. Oh yeah, watch out for the U.P.S. man the cane I bought you should be delivered today. xoxo

p.s. Joel, Kaden, and David say Happy Birthday  too! :)

A quaint little place and a fun date.

A few days ago I took K on a date. We went to "A Step In Time" here in North Judson. What a cute little place. I loved the atmosphere there. I also swoon over any place jam packed with antiques as I try and find new/old favorites regularly. Well as soon as we walk into the establishment I start looking around a immediately spot two things I can not live without ( a little dramatic? Not I. lol.  ). I look down at K to ask for his approval and I realize he does not have any shoes on??? "Where are your shoes?", I probe kindly. "I took my shoes off in the house mom.", he replies. And then it hits me. This does look like a house and he is just being polite. He is taking his shoes off at the door like he would when entering any home. I just love his heart. And take a mind picture to remember this sweet event. I love how polite my boy is!

 I get his shoes back on and buy him a big delish ice cream cone and we talk. And I listen. I just sit there and live in the moment. Much of what I have been trying to do lately is be there present in each moment with my children. To stop the thinking about the next thing I need to get done in the day, the dishes, the laundry, and all of the other things that occupy my time and thoughts. And I just am. I am there with him. Paying attention only to him, the place, the icecream. I realize I haven't done this enough in my life. Its raining outside and I have an umbrella. I decide that we will not use it on the way back to the car we will run in the rain and splash in the puddles and I will be ok with the dirt, the wet, and the spontaneity. I laugh and K chuckles and there we are experiencing true joy together! Thank you God.

*image from weheartit.com

I get to. I get to LIVE.

" I wake wildly wanting to live. Physically feeling it in the veins trembling, the hard pant of the lungs, seeing it in the steady stars, how much I really want to really live. How I don't want to die. Is that the message of nightmares or dreams? To live either fully alive...or in empty nothingness?

It is the in between that drives us mad.

It's the life in between, the days of walking lifeless, the years calloused and simply going through the hollow motions, the self-protecting by self-distracting, the body never waking, that's lost all capacity to fully feel-this is the life in between that makes us the wild walking dead.

The sun climbs the horizon. I throw back the covers, take another breath, and begin. I get to. I get to live." -Ann Voskamp from "One Thousand Gifts"

I have been reading this book and I can't put it down. I am so thankful of this reminder today that life is a gift from God. Sometimes with all of the business and things going on around me I think life is something that I'm owed. Oh how easily we forget that God allows us to live here in this very moment and wants us to live our lives abundantly. I pray that we are not the wild walking dead. I pray that our family is always fully alive in Christ. Thank you Lord for this day.

*image from weheartit.com

*Thank you to a wonderfully sweet lady for this book. I can not express how thankful I am to have you in my life.