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!

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.

Christmas 2015

Praying that you have all had a very Merry Christmas! Hard to believe that another Christmas has come and gone and that it is almost time for me to fly back to Oklahoma. Vacations always go way too fast, especially during the holidays. It has been a wonderful week in NY, relaxing and making memories with my family. I didn't take the time to edit the pictures below but wanted to document photos from the Johnson Christmas 2015.

Soon after arriving in NY, Kiah and I baked lots and lots of cookies early last week. It's a tradition and so I do them, but they are a lot of work! Thankfully I have Kiah now to help me out.

Christmas Eve we had all 7 Johnson kids together! With me living in Oklahoma, this doesn't happen that often and it was wonderful to have all of my siblings together in once place, even if it was for just one evening. We enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Eve service at Church before having everyone over at my parent's house for dinner and gifts. I always love spending time with my two nephews and niece who I wish I could spend much more time with.

It is tradition in our family to have Strawberry Ice Cream pie. Oh. My. Goodness. It is delicious. We have been having it on Christmas day (and now Christmas Eve as well) for as long as I can remember and it's served on a plate with an attached candle. We turn out all the lights and eat by candlelight. It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

This year was probably the most low-key Christmas morning that I can remember. With so many kids, it's usually a flurry of activity and excitement but as we all get older, it has changed. Kiah was pretty excited and woke us all up earlier than we would have liked. :) After opening our stockings, we took a break for cinnamon rolls, orange juice, and coffee. The boys started watching a movie so we had a little intermission before opening the gifts under the tree. Finally around noon, it was time to get dressed for the day and for my Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, and cousin to arrive. More eating, more gifts, and more dessert, was how we spent Christmas afternoon/evening. I cherish these moments with my family since they only happen a few times a year for me.

Christmas ended with a gorgeous sunset. Sunsets have always been a love letter to me from God. Reminding me that no matter how crazy life may be, He is still in control.

Praying that you all had a Christmas full of memories, magic, and family. Hard to believe that 2016 is almost year! Excited to see what the Lord has in store for this next year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

World Record Grape Stomping ~ Jamestown, NY

Did you know that I am from the birth place of Lucille Ball from the show "I love Lucy?" I have never watched the show (I know, I know), but apparently there is some "grape stomping" that occurs in an episode.

This past weekend was a first. My sister, Aunt, and cousin all took part in making history. The record was broken on October 11th for the most "grape stompers" at once for a 3 minute period. That is right, Jamestown, NY is now in the record books after beating Spain's previous record. Spain had 800+ people and Jamestown had 1,232! I opted to be the photographer rather than taking part in making history. After all, we have to document history, don't we?

First, we had to prepare to stomp grapes. What in the world do you wear? Garbage bags will do!

Kiah hamming it up for the camera.

Aunt Sharon and Stina all set to go!

There was a quite a bit of news coverage for the occasion.

The crew! (Grandma didn't stomp grapes, she was there for moral support).

This was all her idea. She was so excited!

My sweet (and crazy photogenic) sister.

And the bandannas are on!

Helping others take pictures.

It was so fun having some cousin time this weekend!

Entering the "vat." They had to walk to carefully in order to not stomp all the grapes right away!

So many people!



It's like "where's Waldo?" But rather, "where's Kiah?"

There is the group!

Great job, ladies!

Purple feet for the next few days.

 It will definitely be something that will be remembered. It was a fun time!