Another Chapter Closing

“Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told."

I love this passage from Habakkuk 1:5. It has been a favorite of mine for years but this year it keeps showing up over and over again. When that happens, I know that the Lord is trying to tell me something.

I'm in the midst of another season of transition. My apartment is filled with boxes, the walls are blank, and it's beginning to feel less like home. In early December, after a lot of prayer, I accepted a job at an adoption agency in the Washington D.C. area. Since my lease wasn't up until the beginning of February, they have graciously allowed me to work remotely for them so that I could finish up things here in Tulsa, pack up, and finish out my lease. I am so excited for this opportunity at an agency I have always wanted to work for and in a city I have always loved. But with any new chapter beginning, another chapter has to close.

Reaching the decision to pack up my life here and move, was not an easy one. It was a week of wrestling back and forth with the Lord and a lot of tears. But once I made my decision to take the job, a peace that can only come from Him washed over me and even though I knew the upcoming months would not be easy, I knew it was the right decision.

For the past 6 months or so, I have had this strong pull to move closer to my family. As I get older, as I think about hopefully someday meeting that special someone, settle down, and raise a family, I want my parents and family near. I will still be 300 miles away from them, but it is a doable drive. Much more manageable than flying back and forth between Tulsa and Buffalo two or three times a year. I have missed out on so much because I've been so far away -- bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, retirement party's, weddings, and just seeing my siblings and watching my nephews and niece grow up. Family is important to me and I realized, I have one life to live and I want to live it closer to my family and be able to see them more often than I do now. I have lived 1,000 + miles from my family for almost 5 years now and quite honestly, I'm just ready to be closer.

The absolute hardest thing about leaving Tulsa this week, is leaving my friends. I was so blessed to meet some of the most incredible people in the first two months I lived here. I have loved doing life with them. They inspire me to be a better person and a better friend. We have laughed and cried together and they have been more then just friends here these past two years, they have been my family. I know that we will keep in touch, I know that I will come back to visit, but I also know that it is going to look different since I won't see them each week. As scary as that is to walk away from "your people," I also know that that the Lord has placed amazing people into my life no matter where I have lived -- whether it's Jamestown, China, or Tulsa, and I know it won't be any different in Virginia. The Lord has already opened the doors for a wonderful living situation for me in Virginia and I already have friends there waiting for me.

I spent 3 weeks in Jamestown for Christmas and New Year's to process, recharge, and re-focus, and flew back to Tulsa on January 7th to start packing and finish up some things here. I knew that it was going to be a challenging few weeks, but it became even more challenging when a week and a half ago, I was in a car accident on the highway and totaled my car. Not exactly what I had planned when I was moving across the country in less than 2 weeks!

But God is faithful. I have seen His hand at work so much this past week and a half there is no doubt in my mind that He is at work. From walking away from the accident without a scratch or bruise on my body, to the amazing rescue crew He sent, to my insurance claim going through in just over a week, and my parents possible already finding me another car -- God has been at work. There is no other explanation.

As I sit here in my bedroom for the last lazy morning in my apartment, I can't help but feel the tears of sadness coming on as well as the bubble of excitement for all that lies ahead. Is it going to be hard? Absolutely. Are there are going to be moments where I will question if I am making a terrible mistake? Of course. But I know when I am following my heart and the direction I feel that the Lord is leading me in, I know that it is never, ever a mistake. I know without a doubt that He called me to Tulsa, it was just for a shorter amount of time than I thought. He showed up big time here and I know He'll show up big time in Virginia. 

I am finishing up packing today and my Dad will hit the road this afternoon to start the 1,100 mile trek from Jamestown to Tulsa. He'll arrive tomorrow, we'll pack up the uhaul, and start driving back to Jamestown Tuesday morning for a few days before heading to D.C. 

• Please pray for my Dad as he travels these next few days by himself. Being in a car is making me nervous these days anyways, but especially the thought of him driving that far by himself. 
• Please pray for me as I pack up my cute little apartment and begin saying "see you later's" to some of my favorite people.
• Please pray for my Dad and I as we drive across the country Tuesday and Wednesday. 
• Please pray for my transition to my new home and new job in Virginia next week.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Christmas 2016

Praying that you all had a very Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year! I am finally getting around to uploading some photos to my computer and thought I'd share on the blog. It was such a nice Christmas here in the Johnson house, busy but fun spending time with family. Although all the siblings were not together in the same place at the same time this year, I was able to see all of my siblings at some point over the holidays. 

For the last few years, Kiah and I have done a sister picture and this year was no different! Although we didn't take the picture in our normal spot outside (we ran out of time before the Christmas Eve service), we did take it. I love look back at the pictures of us over the past few years!

Christmas Eve we had Seth, Cindy, and the kids at my parent's house which we have done the last few years. We missed Cael and Kristin (they came over on Christmas Eve Eve) this year but it was fun to have the rest of us together. Grandma Rich even made it over for the evening festivities!

One thing that is so hard about living so far away (thus my upcoming move!) is that I hardly get to see my nephews and niece and they are getting so big! Love watching their wonder and excitement as they open their gifts. Below, Micah is modeling the gift they gave Thaddeus -- a ninja mask and sword!

Praying that your Christmas was filled with family, fun, and remembrance of the reason for the season. I pray that you were able to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and make memories with your families.

On this New Year's Eve, hard to believe that 2016 is coming to a close, but so excited for all that 2017 has in store! If you don't follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter -- my big news is that I am moving to Virginia in February! I will most more on that later.

Happy New Year's!

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19)

Birthdays and Baseball

It was so wonderful being back in New York with family for 11 days. I especially happy that I was able to be there to Celebrate "Micah man's" 4th birthday! Like most things Johnson related, it was a baseball themed party.

The one request I had for my trip home was to watch some ball games. Between Thad, Tage, and Kiah, I watched 9 games in 11 days, 4 were in less than 48 hours of being home!

Tailgating at Thad's game!

The little boys favorite part of the game, after when they can go out on the field and play catch with Uncle Thad.

I'm now back in Tulsa, getting caught up on work in the office. I am trying to get caught up as quickly as possible because in just a few short weeks I'll be gone or another two weeks. This time for another trip to Korea!
                                                 

Home Sweet Home

Nothing quite like being home with family. As much as I love Oklahoma, it is hard to be away from family, especially from my sweet nephews and niece. Babies change so quickly and that is definitely the case with Miss Quinlan. She was just 5 months old at Christmastime and now at 9 months, she is crawling and jabbering away. Even though it was a chilly few hours at the Bona game, it was so fun to see these sweet kiddos and of course watch Thad play! It was too cold to take lots of pictures, but I did grab my camera from the car for a few shots.

You can't go to a baseball game without your glove!

I love this picture of Micah and Landon with Thad at bat in the background.

They rolled down this hill probably 25 times. It was making me dizzy just watching them!

It's also super fun dropping rocks down the drain. This kept them entertained for quite a while. Between this and rolling down the hill, they were happy.

Sweet baby girl!

My time in NY always goes way too fast. Soaking up every minute I can!

Birthday Thoughts

Fifteen years old. How is that even possible? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was meeting this 15 month old baby girl in the Buffalo airport? I think what throws me off even more is that she is almost the age I was when we met. And that seems like it was yesterday.

It's true, my baby girl is growing up and turned 15 years old yesterday. I am so thankful for this gorgeous little sister of mine. She is smart and funny and my favorite thing of all, is her love for people. She never wants anyone to feel left out and will go out of her way to befriend the kids who may not have many friends. I have learned and continue to learn a lot from this girl.

As always, around this time of year, I can't help but think about a very special woman on the other side of the world. The woman who gave birth to my sweet Kiah. Does she think about her? Does she have any idea how loved and cherished she is? How she is confident 15 year old instead of that tiny, sick baby who arrived at the orphanage at just a few weeks of age? My position at Dillon International changed a few months ago and one of my new roles is to direct our search program. I work mainly with Korea adoptees and a few Haiti. It has made me think even more about Kiah's birth mother and how much I respect this incredible woman. I just wish I could tell her how well Kiah is doing and how thankful we are to her because she gave us such a precious gift, one that I can't imagine my life without.

Happy Birthday, Kiah. I am so thankful to be able to call you sister.

2015

What a year 2015 has been. As I sit here reflecting on all that has happened this past year, I can't help but stand amazed in all that God has done. I started the year in a new city where I knew no one and I am ending it with an evening spent with friends. He is faithful.

January was spent settling into my new home, city, job, and life in Tulsa. It was also the month when I joined the "glasses and contact club." And what a joy it has been to be in that club (note the sarcasm). January as also the month where I traded in my New York drivers license (tear).

February highlight was a visit from my mom, dad, and Kiah! And my first experience of snow in Tulsa. Let's just say my family was beyond thrilled to be able to experience a Tulsa snow. :) 

March brought many fun memories with friends and my 29th birthday! It was also the month of concerts and conferences including Winter Jam to see Skillet, Jeremy Camp, For King and Country, and many other great Christian artists, a Kari Jobe concert, and a women's conference!

April was the start of tornado season. All I have to say about that are 3 words. "Not a fan." But with that also was the arrival of spring and the flowers began to bloom. I also went to a great 2 day event at Church to "find your life purpose" as well as an adoption conference which was very informative.

May was a month of making memories with friends and having my aunt come visit for a weekend! I had so much fun spending the weekend with her and showing her around Tulsa.

In June, I traveled to Korea for two weeks to co-lead our Korea Family Birthland Tour. It was so much fun returning to Asia but this time to a country I had never been to before! I had the opportunity to visit with many of the kiddos who are matched with our families and take pictures and videos for the adoptive families waiting anxiously for the approval to travel and bring their sweet kids home. As much as I loved traveling and seeing a new country, I was more than ready to return home by the end of my two weeks overseas.

In July, just four days after I returned to the US (I arrived home on the 4tho f July), Kiah arrived in Tulsa for a week! She helped with our China Heritage Camp and it was so fun having her here just hanging out. After a week of having her visit me in Tulsa, we flew to NY together where I spent a week and half with my family. The other highlight of July was July 8th when my niece, Quinlan Grace, entered the world! I was able to meet her when she was about a week old which was such a blessing. As usual, my trips to NY go way too fast and it very quickly it was time to return to Oklahoma.

August was a month of catching up. Between traveling to Korea for two weeks, having Kiah visit for a week and then flying to NY for almost two weeks, it was a whirlwind few months. August was a great time to just relax, get back on a normal schedule again, and catch up with friends (all of us had such different schedules this summer and we barely saw one another!). We also went to see one of my favorite speakers, Steven Furtick who is the pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. What an awesome night of worship and teaching.

September brought a fun women's night of worship with friends, journaling, beginning several new Bible studies, and enjoying the last few days of summer but the pool.

October was all kinds of fun! The Tulsa State Fair took place in early October where one of the bands featured was For King and Country! My women's small group took a trip to the pumpkin patch and the end of the month was filled with memories of carving pumpkins and a Halloween party.

The first week of November I flew to Orlando, FL, to spend a a few days with my precious Kate (AKA: Charlotte) and her family! Many of you will remember her from my time in China. It was so good to see her again and to see how loved she is in her forever family. God writes the best stories! November finished out with a weekend trip with friends to Branson, MO, and Thanksgiving with friends.

December, my favorite month. I tried to make the most of it this year since last year since I really missed out last year having just moved to Tulsa. Ugly sweater party, special Christmas activities, and a trip home to be with my family for Christmas. It doesn't get much better than that.

Wow, what a year 2015 was! It makes me tired just looking back on all that took place and all that the Lord has done. I am always ready for the start of a new year but I am especially excited for 2016. Not sure exactly why, but I feel as though it's going to be a big year and I can't wait to see what plans God has in store.

Happy New Year, sweet friends! Thank you for you love, encouragement, and friendship. I am so thankful that the Lord put each and every one of you in my life.