Seasons Greetings

Our Ice Story

The Johnson family survived Icemageddon 2013 or Iceappocolypse or Cleon or whatever they landed on as the official name. In fact it didn't really phase us all that much. Justin worked from home for two days, but life pretty much went on as normal for us. I did get driven to work by one of our police officers on Friday morning, which I guess is not-so-normal. We shut down the city for the first time ever, but a few of us went in when we learned we had some homes without power. Luckily, it didn't end up being a city-wide outage and I was home by noon.

 

 

We had plans to go to Waco on Saturday for the last Baylor game of the season and the last game to ever be played at Floyd Casey Stadium. It was a sell-out game and one that we could have made a hefty profit on had we decided earlier not to go. That wasn't an option for me, even before we knew the weather was going to be terrible. Anyway, we made the trek, (which was admittedly a little scary), but definitely something I am glad that we did. Did I mention that Baylor won the Big XII for the first time ever? Yah, that happened and we were there to witness it. And we sat through frozen fog to do it. That was awful, but worth it. Kind of.

Our church canceled all services on Sunday, so we called our good friends (and former roommates), picked them up and had breakfast at our neighborhood greasy spoon. We also had them over for dinner on Monday night since our Sunday school class Christmas party was postponed due to the roads. We are hosting that party tonight, but still enjoyed the benefits of living in the same neighborhood as sweet friends on ice days. It really was an unprecedented December storm, but somehow us Johnson's didn't really let it get to us. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but even a few white weekends this winter will do. Preferably snow and not ice.

Alive and Well

Helloooo. Is anyone out there? Can anyone hear me?!

I have neglected my little corner of the blogosphere far longer than I ever intended. At first I was just sad and uninspired. And then I had an issue with my iPad. And then, well, it just felt like it had been too long. Perhaps it has been too long, but I missed chronicling our life and having a space to call my own. So, I'm back. And I'm alive and well and happier than ever.

For starters, we FOUND A HOUSE. And not just any house, but a house that we love and that perfectly blends both of our styles. Not a simple or common thing by the way. The story of how we ended up in our house is a story that deserves it's own post. It's a story that very clearly demonstrates the Lord's provision over our lives and how he IS inside of every detail. Don't get me wrong, I miss our sweet, cozy little first house - and probably always will, but to feel confident in following God's plan and not our own is powerful. And a wonderful feeling. I'll definitely blog that story and do a little online home tour. We've had a lot of fun making the house ours.

Aside from the house, we've been busy as usual.

We went to Mexico to celebrate our one year anniversary. One year!

 

Less than 24 hours after we returned home from Mexico, I was back at the airport on my way to Phoenix. It was a crazy week for sure, but I was honored to be asked to speak at a national conference for government marketing professionals.

 

 

We've been doing lots of tailgating in Waco. Lots.

Oh, and my Bears beat OU again. That was fun. And totally worth driving back on a Thursday night and not getting home until 1:30 a.m.

All in all, we are alive and well and very, very thankful. To our family and friends, thank you for loving us through a very difficult time. We are so grateful for your prayers. Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Home

I haven't posted in a while because life as I know it has been turned completely upside down. And I never saw it coming.

Justin and I were out running errands the Saturday before Father's Day. I asked him to drive through this neighborhood that I've always loved. The last "new" neighborhood in our town. I prefer old homes, but Justin definitely prefers new construction. We saw a brand-new home with a for sale sign in the yard. I called the builder, who answered, and gave me the code to go see the house. She also added that the price was negotiable. We both loved the house and over dinner that night decided we were ready to sell our home. My first house that I've always been so proud of. We met with a realtor (who we love by the way) a couple of days later and less than 24 hours after our house went on the market we had a full price offer. We even celebrated that fact. The celebration did not last long. By the following Monday we were made aware that "negotiable" didn't really mean that. Not in our minds anyway. We looked at a few homes and realized we weren't in fact ready to leave. No big deal we thought. Surely they'll back out during the option period after we decline to make any repairs or give any allowance to do so. Surely. Or maybe our house won't appraise. Somethings gotta give.

Of course they proceeded every step of the way. Reality began to sink in over time, but it was not until we were informed that they were not negotiating the close date (which they had asked us to do) out "of spite" for us, that things really began to unravel emotionally for me. Our buyers were very upset that we did not make any repairs, so they chose to "punish" us. To essentially kick us out of our own home. The house that I've called home for 6.5 years. The house that I brought sweet Avery home to only days after moving in. The house that I've hosted countless showers, dinner parties and family holidays. The house that watched Justin and I's relationship bloom. The house we came back to after our honeymoon and made our home instead of my home. Our house on Trailwood Drive has quite literally sheltered me from so many things over the last six years. It's been my refuge and now I'm losing that. Losing something I've taken so much pride in calling my own. I'm just simply heartbroken.

The movers are coming next week. We are fortunate enough to have generous friends who have opened up there home to us. We're storing most of our things in a POD until we have a permanent home. We're looking. Obsessively looking, but we have no idea when our new home will pop up. What I do know are these things:

• God's got his hands all over this. The sermon last week could not have been more direct to Justin and I. "You have faith like Abraham when you are willing to leave when God calls you, live where God leads you and long for what God promises you." That was at the bottom of our sermon notes last Sunday. Doesn't get more convicting than that.
• We have so many people who love us. Who have offered boxes, packing help, dinner and even cupcakes ;)
• Justin and I have each other (and little Avery) to lean on. We're in this together and even though this is by far the toughest thing we've endured in our eleven months of marriage, it's making us stronger as a couple. Without question.
• No home on this earth is a permanent home. For anyone. We take comfort in that.

So thank you for praying for us. For loving us through this. We need it and are so grateful.

Coincidence?

One of my closest college friends is getting married this weekend. We're the last two to get married out of our little circle of friends and I like to think I had a little something to do with the blessed event that's happening this weekend. The bride-to-be did catch the bouquet at my wedding, much to the delight of her then new boyfriend I'm sure. Rumor has it Anthony knew Laura (who we affectionately call Furr) was *the one* from their first date. That first date also happened to be just a few weeks before our wedding. So, is it a coincidence that she caught the bouquet? I think not.

All kidding aside, I am thrilled for my dear friend. She is marrying the one that God intended for her and I know how precious that is. God is faithful and his plans are so much greater than anything we could hope for or imagine. I am so excited to witness such a happy day tomorrow! And, for the record, I think I should clarify that I don't really think I had a thing to do with their marriage. I just think it makes for a nice story ;)

P.S. The groomsman that caught the garter recently got engaged. And I love that too ;)

Goodbye Caldwell

My parents closed on their house today. Their house on Caldwell Creek Drive. They bought the house when I was a senior at Baylor, so I didn't grow up there, but I did make some wonderful memories in that house. I lived there for nine months after college, spent the last nine Christmases there, house-sat a time or two, did most of my wedding projects there and packed up my parent's car for the long haul to Salado for my wedding weekend right there in the circular drive. Lots of sweet memories.

dad packing his truck before the wedding weekend

I hope the next family has just as many great times in their new home. I also hope some of those moments are featured in a reality show. I won't name names, but the new owner has been on a few reality shows and was even a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, so another reality show is not out of the question. It would just be funny to see the house on television. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, happy closing day mom and dad!

For those curious, mom and dad aren't really going anywhere. They are building in North Richland Hills.

Fur for Furr!

Last Saturday I celebrated my last single college girlfriend's upcoming wedding with a fur themed bachelorette party. I know, sounds a little strange, especially given the fact that it's summer. Well, her last name (for two more weeks anyway) is Furr, and we just couldn't resist the play on words. We decked out in our finest fur for our favorite bachelorette and headed to West 7th for a little fun. We may or may not have gotten a few stares walking around town in our accessories. We did have the best time celebrating our girl, and I can't wait for her lake-front wedding in two short weeks!