Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sad News

I just found out about this when I got to work this morning. Truly heart-breaking news - please be in prayer for the Chapman family. Here's an article from The Tennessean this morning, with a quote from John Styll, GMA President (my boss).


Singer Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter is struck, killed by car

By LINDA ZETTLER and KATE HOWARDStaff Writers


Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home.
Maria, one of the Christian singer's six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver's name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
"It appears to be a terrible accident,'' McPherson said.
No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.
Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music's most recognizable and most awarded names.
He and his wife, Mary Beth, have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest.
The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah's Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.
With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called "Change for Orphans." He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process.
"I don't know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension," said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association.
"He talks about his kids all the time. That's his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that's for sure."
The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.
And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.
Styll got the news not long after Maria's death.
"I'm confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this," he said.
Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children's hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff's deputies.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Allergies....booo!!!



This post has nothing to do with catching up. It has nothing very meaningful to say really at all. All I really want to say in this post is that I HATE allergies!! Mine have been flaring up a lot lately, which leads to crazy-violent sneezing, itchy nose/throat/inner-ears....I'm not kidding, itchy everything! And the worst part for me is REALLY itchy eyes that get really red and puffy & threaten to swell shut if I don't give in and drag myself into some air-tight facility devoid of any living thing. Ugh.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big, over-due thank you to someone very important in my life.....Dad, thank you for the incredible gene-pool you have so graciously passed on. I look forward to the next time we can sneeze together.

Oh, and Kels, you better start praying that this junk calms down before June 7 or you might have to add some eye-drops to your maid of honor's bouquet! (I know it's supposed to be matron, but I just can't.)

Friday, May 16, 2008

Going Backwards

I think I'm going to work my way backwards a little, so I'll start by updating you all on what I'm doing now. Dan & I returned from our wonderful, restful, sunny vacation to Pensacola, FL on Sunday evening and headed back to work bright & early Monday morning. Dan started his new rotation (just 1 more to go after this one!) at a Dermatoligist's office here in Nashville and is learning all sorts of crazy things about weird skin (I'm sure that's the technical way of explaining if). He's already started picking at the very few (!) blemishes I have and reminding me daily of the dangers of skin cancer...thanks babe. Good thing I got my sun in BEFORE this rotation started!

As for me, work is back to a normal pace for a little while, though we are quickly gearing up for our next big event in August - Music in the Rockies. Besides work, I have spent a couple nights this week helping out my friend Megan (whom we vacationed with) while her husband is away in Sneedville (remember that place?) on his rotation. Megan is about 7 1/2 months pregnant, so I'm helping her around the house & getting lots of good time in with sweet little Abby:


Pretty cute, huh?

So I've been there more time than I've been at home this week which has been good, but a little exhausting. I'll be helping Megan out as much as I can over these next 5 weeks, so you'll probably be hearing more about that!

In other news, I won a drawing for a free massage and free consultation with a local chiropractor - crazy, huh? I was really more excited about the free massage at first (which I had last night and went home drooling), but I'm actually thinking this chiropractor thing might actually be an answer to prayer. I get (very) frequent headaches & have for some time now but really had just settled in to dealing with it as I have not been able to find many answers from my doctor(s). I had kind of forgotten that it's not really normal to spend so much time in pain, and I was encouraged to hear the chiropractor (Dr. J) remind me of that. I go back Wednesday to get my X-rays & hear his plan to fix me, so I'll keep you updated on that. A little boring for most of you, but REALLY exciting for me to know there is potential for more headache-free days in my future!

That's all for now...I'll be back soon with more updates on my month + of blogging absence :)

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

So obviously I've been struggling a little bit lately in the realm of blogging! I have still been faithfully reading all of the blogs I regularly enjoy, wondering why people don't post more often, and trying to ignore the fact that I have a blog of my own. Not really ignore, persay, but certainly not writing! So in an attempt to get back into the swing of things, I am going to start things off with a short series of catch-up blogs. Or at least that's my goal at this moment...we'll see how things go!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Beautiful Pensacola







We just got back tonight from our trip to Pensacola, Florida with some great friends of ours from here in Nashville. We had a wonderful, restful, SUNNY time & I look forward to sharing more with you all soon. For now, enjoy a few pictures while I go unpack!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

I've been tagged!

My cousin Roberta recently tagged me (okay, so it's been over a week....I'm really behind on the blogging!), so now I get to tell you all a little more about me. Here's a quick update first - I survived GMA Music Week! God was gracious and healed me quickly, and everything went quite smoothly. After that, I was able to go home and spend a few days in Missouri & Iowa and saw lots of wonderful people I miss very much. I'll try and post a little more about that soon, but in the meantime my in-laws are in town for Dan's graduation this weekend. It's been a busy month for the Johnstons! Thanks for being patient with my recent lack of blogging. I think I'm back again :)

I am: a small-town girl married to a Cali-boy & a daughter of the King!
I think: double-stuffed oreos are quite possibly the best thing ever created by man
I know: that I serve a risen Savior!
I want: to travel (maybe to somewhere with a beach...)
I wish: I lived closer to my family
I hate: injustice
I miss: hearing nothing & seeing the stars at night
I fear: SNAKES!!!!
I feel: passionate about missions
I hear: David Crowder band & traffic
I smell: the brownie I'm eating :)
I crave: Double-stuffed oreos at pretty much any given moment, and more recently zucchini
I search: for new recipes quite often
I wonder: what my children will be like
I regret: the times I let people down.
I love: hiking & camping with Dan - or any time I just get to spend time with him
I ache: for people who do not know the hope of Christ
I care: about injustice and its victims
I always: make the bed before I get in it - even if it's midnight
I am not: pregnant
I believe: that God is LOVE, that His Word is True, that He has redeemed me, and that He will come again!
I dance: when no one is watching
I sing: always - just ask my coworkers :)
I cry: easily, especially when I'm tired
I don't always: work out like I should.
I fight: when things aren't fair
I write: notes in my head that often don't make it to the person they are intended for
I win: every chance I get! Anybody up for a game of Monopoly?
I lose: only when I let Dan win...which isn't very often :)
I never: take any condiments with food except butter & ranch dressing
I confuse: peaches & pears - I don't really know why
I listen: to my husband's medical stories when he comes home from work
I can usually be found: at work or in the kitchen - I love to cook!
I am scared: of not fulfilling the purpose God has for me
I need: a nap!
I am happy about: the wonderful husband I get to spend my life with
I hope: that I will be a good mother someday
I am tagging: Jenny, Olivia, & Sara - have fun guys!