A Day (or so) of Love

Ah, Valentine's Day...a day to celebrate those you love, and of course eat lots of chocolate :-) But for Dan and I, Valentine's Day also brings with it lots of wonderful memories of our very first (official) date which took place way back (okay, 4 years ago) in 2004 when he asked me to go with him to the Ballroom Dance at NWC. In fact, it was so long ago that neither of us had a digital camera back then so I can't even throw up a fun picture from that night for this post - wow, we must be getting old (okay, now I'm being fecicious...)! Here's a pic from the lessons a year or two later:

Okay, so moving on...this year we talked about it several times and really had decided on not doing much for V-Day. Neither of us really felt like fighting the crazies here in Nashville who would be willing to wait in line for hours for a nice meal I could probably fix in less time, so I thought I'd just make a "fancy" dinner and we'd be all set. But Dan insisted that he wanted to make dinner for me, and I finally agreed. So I went to bed on Valentine's Eve (that works, right?), reminding myself to make a card in the morning so I'd have something for my dear husband, and hoping we might even look through a photo album from our first year together and reminisce for the evening. Then I woke up to this:

Isn't he sweet?! I cracked up when my second pancake was added, and rather than a heart I got Mickey Mouse! I guess he messed up a little and thought he'd just be creative :-) They both tasted pretty good to me!

So I went off to work with a full belly and anticipation of what the evening would bring. After a busy day with the Dove Press Conference, I finally got home and opened the door fully expecting to be met with a wall of delicious smells. Instead, Dan stood grinning mischeviously in the kitchen with no food (or smells) in sight, and this on the counter:

Instead of cooking, he surprised me by taking me to our favorite Mexican restaurant in all of Nashville! So we dressed up (a little - nothing too fancy) and headed out, and when we arrived we were seated right away (apparently Mexican isn't the cuisine of choice on V-Day). And after we gorged ourselves on a delicious meal involving WAY too much cheese (or is there even such a thing as too much cheese?), we headed back to our cozy apartment, cuddled up on the couch, and watched several episodes of "The Office" - what more could a girl possibly ask for?! Oh, and we even got to flip through a few pictures, too.

Feeling completely spoiled, I decided to return a little of the favor on Saturday and cooked Dan a meal I knew he'd love: Steak (which we never have), garlic mashed potatoes (complete with 4 heads of roasted garlic), some yummy vegetables (zucchini & egg plant), and some sourdough garlic bread.

Oh, and I topped it off with a chocolate pie! He was one very happy boy :-)

So there you have it - our Valentine's Day extravaganza(s)! It's been a lovely weekend, and I'm so thankful to have had 5 wonderful Valentine's Days with Danny boy...here's to a whole lot more!

It's 4:51...

...and I'm quite sure that 5:30 is NEVER going to get here today. It's just one of those afternoons that drags on and on, seemingly without end. Not that I'm complaining about being bored at work...okay, maybe I am. It's just been rather slow around here lately, and I being the effecient person that I am have managed to complete all possible tasks for the time being. So here I sit, twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the clock to strike 5:30 so that I may carry on with my life. As for now, time is at a standstill I'm quite sure.

Honestly, I really do appreciate the slow times here at GMA as the crazy-busy season is quickly approaching. From about mid-March through mid-August, it will be pretty non-stop around here as we prepare for GMA Music Week, BreakThrough '08 (a simulcast event), and GMA Music in the Rockies. Then you will probably read blogs (if I even have time to blog) about how the clock hands must be on crack because I can't possibly imagine how a whole day has passed and my to-do list has only grown.

But for now, I'll try to enjoy the peaceful afternoons when I have some spare time to check my blog and search for new recipes (a weird way to pass the time maybe, but Dan enjoys it!).

Speaking of recipes, I tried a new one this morning - Curried Chicken. Dan loves to try all sorts of different ethnic dishes and frequently suggests that I try fixing some random cuisine I generally can't pronounce, so I thought this one was worth a shot. It took me all of about 10 minutes to throw together in the crockpot, so we'll see how it turns out!

Okay, it's 5:01 now...thanks for helping me pass a few minutes. What do you do at work to pass the time? (Not that you'd ever be bored at work...but theoretically, if you were...)

We're Okay!

Just wanted to get a quick note up to let everyone know that we're okay after all of the scary storms that swept through Tennessee last night. It was a long night as the tornado sirens went off twice, but the downtown Nashville area didn't really get much more than high winds and a little bit of rain. I was so glad Dan was home!

If you think of it, please be in prayer for the families who lost loved ones and homes last night - this storm really caused some devastation.

He's Back!

Just a quick note to let all of my faithful readers (all 2 of you...) know that Dan is officially back home to stay for awhile! Yeah!! He got back late Saturday night, and I am so grateful to have a husband again...even if my apartment has already become more cluttered :-) I'll take a cluttered home WITH my husband anyday over a clean home all by myself!

He really did enjoy his rotation out in Sneedville (except of course the part about being away...) and got a really good taste of what the medical field looks like in a more rural setting. The laid-back setting was right up his alley and in true Dan-fashion, he connected with the people right away and was able to fit right in. I don't know that we'll be moving to Sneedville anytime soon, but I'm so proud of my husband for the adaptibility he has shown in 4 VERY different settings already - an Internal Medicine clinic in downtown (predominantly black) Nashville, a Phsych clinic in rich (predominately white) Nashville, a Pediatric rotation in a more rural town outside of Nashville, and of course Sneedville. And while he would never tell you this himself, he has gotten great reviews from all of his Doctors. Way to go babe! You're going to make a fabulous PA :-)

Reflections on Nehemiah

We have begun a study on the book of Nehemiah at our church, and Dan & I are both quite excited about it. We've had 3 sermons and about a chapter and a half so far, and that has lead to a lot of thoughts which have been tumbling around in my head lately - so I thought I'd share. In the first chapter, Nehemiah (who is Cupbearer to the King of Persia) receives word that Jerusalem is in ruins and the walls are down, and he is sersiously greived by this. In this messiness and disappointment, he sits down and weeps, which our pastor described as "sitting in his reality." He sat for some time and faced it, not trying to make it into something it was not, but he dealt with the reality of unmet expectations. About 4 months later, the second chapter begins and he is now with the King. The King notices that he is really sad and he asks him about it, so Nehemiah tells him about the destruction of his beloved Jerusalem. At this point the King straight up asks him, "What is it you want?" to which Nehemiah responds with an extensively thought out answer.

As I listened to the message this week, I was struck by Nehemiah's boldness, but also by the fact that he had an answer ready to go - he had goals! Dave Ramsey (the Financial Peace Univ. guy - you may have heard of him) spoke this week, and his message was focused on dreams, visions, and goals, and the message could not have been more timely for me. Since the New Year, I have really taken the time to step back and reflect on where I've been and where I am at right now in a lot of areas of my life. I've had plenty of quiet with Dan gone, and in these spaces God has challenged me to truly take stock of my life, and honestly there are plenty of areas where I'm just not where I want to be right now. And as I evaluate my reality, I have also begun to look ahead to what exactly I hope my future holds and what I hope it will hold - but it seems that lately I stop there. Maybe I get as far as a dream but I have forgotten how exactly to make those into tangible goals for myself.

Dan & I had a long conversation about this the other night (before we heard this message) about this and how much life has changed for us these past few years. Our goals used to me a little more clear cut - I want to graduate from high school at the top of my class, so I need to concentrate on my studies and make sure to do extra where I can...CHECK. I want to get involved in ministry opportunities, so I'll sign up for a Spring Service Project and get involved in Campus Ministries...CHECK. I want to be a leader on campus, so I'll work towards being an RA, work hard in my classes, get involved...CHECK. I want to experience what true missionary life is like, so I'll commit to doing a Summer of Service Project...CHECK. You get my drift. In high school and college the opportunities abound and you need only "pick your poison" so to speak.

Now my goals are much more etherial and much less tangible. Goals like, I want to have a strong and healthy marriage...I want to walk closely with God...I want to be a consistent daughter, friend, and wife. Will I EVER be able to check off goals like these?! Not on this side of Heaven!

All of this to say, I have been challenged first to sit in my reality, take stock of where I'm at, what's missing, what's gone wrong. But in the midst of this reality, I want to be a woman of prayer who brings this to God and asks him, "What's next? Where do I go from here? What would you require of me?" But I don't want to just stop there. I want to be able to put feet to my dreams - to make my dreams into goals that I can actually achieve. Not for the purpose of checking something off a list, but for the purpose of being prepared when the King asks me "What is it you want?" Somewhere in his grief, Nehemiah was able to come up with a plan for restoration, and I'm pretty confident that he didn't just come up with that on his own. He spent time with God, he pleaded with him, and then he listened. Oh God, that I would learn to shut up and listen to You, and then follow through with what You ask of me!

Thanks for muddling through some of my rambling thoughts. For a much more elequoent delivery (and a lot more insight), I'd encourage you to check out these messages - you can either watch the video or download the MP3. They have certainly challenged me, and now I feel ready to take on the New Year (so I'm a month late!)!

Pictures of Us

Dan asked me today to put some pictures of us up here because he wanted to show some to the people he's working with in Sneedville. Aparrently he doesn't carry any pics of me (other than one he some how got of me as a Freshman in high school - eek!), so I'm humoring him. Enjoy the random smattering of pictures! (I love you Dan! Come home soon.)

Hiking at Fall Creek Falls (TN)

Montana De Oro (CA)

Montana De Oro (CA)
a van full of Johnstons! (Christmas '06)

Glacier National Park, MT (our honeymoon)

Tulip Festival, Orange City - 2005

Wedding Reception in CA

Iowa Winter - 2006

Lamrof - 2005

Visiting the Fuglers - summer 2007

Christmas in MO - 2007

One More Week...

and Dan will be home to stay! We've just about made it through this rotation away, and I am so grateful. Not that it's been terrible, but I am certainly ready for my husband to come and live with me again. I mean, isn't that kind of the point? It's definitely given me new respect for military wives (Jenny & Liv!) and others who have to face seperation under much different circumstances. And I'm learning that God truly does give us exactly what we need to get through each day -- sometimes it's only enough for that day, but it is ALWAYS enough.

Dan & I were able to go on a retreat this weekend for Community Group Leaders (essentially our church small groups). We're excited and a little nervous to be stepping into the leadership role in our own community group in just a couple of weeks. We've been in our CG for about a year and a half now and have truly come to love the people. In a sense they have become like our family here in Nashville where very few of us have family close by, and it's been a neat process to see the Lord knit our hearts together like he has. Our leaders our stepping down to go start another group and have asked us to step up -- so here we go! In lots of ways it is comforting that we already know the people we will be "leading", but in other ways it's a bit intimidating to step up and lead our friends (when we're the youngest!). Mostly we're just excited, though, and very grateful for the opportunity the Lord is giving us to use our gifts and stretch and grow us in new ways. Tonight we were able to lead together for the first time, and though Dan had to leave immediately following, we parted ways with a great deal of excitement and thanksgiving as we felt the Lord's presence so accutely tonight as we took our first little feeble step of faith. We're willing, and I'm so very excited to see what the Lord is going to do with that in our own lives and in the life of our group. Oh that we would learn to be willing and ready at all times to answer his call - "Speak to me Lord, for your servant is here listening!"

That's all for tonight - thanks again for praying for Dan & I as we've been apart this month. They have been felt. Oh, and one random request...if anyone has any suggestions for some healthy meals for 1 person, I would love it! My goal is to stear clear of the cereal and Ramen at least for this last week :) Thanks!