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!

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!

Wow, it's been awhile!

When I looked at my last post today and realized that I haven't written a thing in April, I was a bit disappointed in myself. So I thought about writing a gigantic post about what's gone on since then, but I can really summarize it in about 3 points:

1) I celebrated my 24th b-day on April 5. Dan went the surprise route yet again, and we got to hang out with several different friends throughout the weekend. It was low-key, which was exactly what I needed!

2) My Dad's hearing is officially over! We won't know the outcome until late May, but right now we are all grateful that part is behind us (Mom & Dad especially). Thanks for all your prayers, and keep on praying as we await the results next month. (I realize I haven't really mentioned this much on my blog - maybe someday I'll try and write about the whole ordeal for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about).

3) GMA Week starts on Saturday - hence my total lack of communication. I've been living at work these days as we try to lock in our final preparations for this huge event. But even as we put in the long hours, I am reminded of the down times we also have in event world, and I know I can make it through! We move into the hotel & convention center tomorrow.

So why am I taking the time to write today, you ask? Just one day before load-in? Well, here's why: I have strep throat :( Somehow in the midst of everything I managed to come down with this horrid sickness and am now on my 2nd day at home. It's obviously less than ideal timing as I try to finish everything up at work, but I'm realizing there just isn't a thing I can do about it right now except do what I can to get better. My sweet husband has been taking wonderful care of me and was able to get me some antibiotics yesterday so we could get it in my system early (there are benefits to being married to someone in the health care field!). Hopefully I'll be well enough tomorrow (and no longer contagious!) to work on load-in with my co-workers. If you think of me, I would certainly covet your prayers throughout these next few days as our event begins & I continue to try and fight this sickness.

The good news is, once this is all over, I get to go to Orange City for a few days! Now I just need to make it through this week....

What I've Been Up To Lately

I don't have time for much of a real post right now, but thought I'd throw some pictures up for the time being. We've been busy!

We went bowling with our good friends Megan & Alan Weatherford (& Abby!):

Then Dan surprised me (AGAIN!) and took me to Memphis for our Anniversary! We went to the zoo, stayed in a snazzy hotel (Hyatt Place), and saw our good friends Travis & Jenny Fugler.

Then this weekend we finally got to go to the Grand Ole Opry! My boss's husband is actually a background singer for the Opry (cool job, huh?) and was kind enough to share his back stage passes with us, so we got to meet all sorts of cool people!

Me & Phil Stacey (from American Idol)

Me & Melinda Doolittle (also from American Idol)

Vince Gill (he held the door open for me - quite the gentleman)

Me & the legendary Little Jimmy Dickens...this seriously made my night!

And one more to end on...

All I can say right now is....

Thank GOD it's Friday & the work week is over! 3 weeks out from GMA Music Week...which means I'm about 4 weeks away from the end of this madness. Oh the wonderful world of event planning :-)

Amazing Grace

I had a wonderful weekend which I look forward to sharing with you all, but tonight I'd rather share for a moment a few thoughts. I just finished watching the movie Amazing Grace, which I'd encourage all of you to watch if you've not yet seen it. It's really quite inspiring. I must admit that before watching the film I was really quite naive as to who exactly William Wilberforce was. He was certainly a man of great conviction and perseverance, a man who understood that God's perfect justice will ultimately prevail even while he faced the horrific injustices of the slave trade.

As I was watching this movie, I was reminded of the injustices that still exist in our present world. It is tempting to study history like this and condemn the "evil" people that stood by and let slavery continue, or worse yet, fought against abolition. But I am aware that there is currently more slavery in our world today than has ever exist at any other point in history - I'm pretty sure that includes the 1700 & 1800s. And because I am aware of that, I am responsible at some level to do something. I'm not sure what exactly that something this, but I'm sure God will reveal it to me in His perfect timing. I was quite convicted when I read this quote by Wilberforce: You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know.

I think about what we celebrated yesterday during Easter, and the Amazing Grace that we sing about which gives sight to the blind. Christ LIVES! And His heart for justice & mercy is just the same today as it was when William Wilberforce gave his life to a cause he was convinced God cared about. I pray that the Lord may guide each of us by the passion of his Holy Spirit to do his work.

Surprise Anniversary!

It's hard for me to believe, but Tuesday marked 2 years since our wedding day! The time has gone so quickly and in many ways it seems like just yesterday that we said "I do" and celebrated with our dear family and friends gathered around us. But in some ways, it's almost hard to remember not being married, and it's especially hard to imagine what my life was like before Dan -- I mean, was there really a time when I didn't know him? Oh yes, there was a time like that in fact, and it was less than 5 years ago! Life is weird like that sometimes.

But anyway, like I said, Tuesday was our anniversary and we planned to go out to dinner that night to celebrate. Instead, when I got home from a long day at work on Monday, Dan greeted me at the door and said, "I have a surprise for you!" He then led me into the other room with my eyes closed and produced a lovely red pocket book I had been wanting! I was so excited and completely floored that he had managed to purchase that for me without my knowledge (he tries really hard, but I usually know what my gifts are before I actually get them!). Then, he went on to say that, "if it wasn't a leap year, TODAY would be our anniversary! So let's go out tonight instead!" Whether or not this was planned or he was just a little too hungry to wait on my cooking I wasn't sure, but I was all for it! So I quickly spruced myself up and we headed out to Macaroni Grill, where we also celebrated our 1st Anniversary.

(This was the fancy dessert we got in honor of the occassion - berry tiramsu!)

(They have fun paper on the table and bring crayons to color, so we tried writing upside down like the waiter - we weren't as good as him!)

(Enjoying my pomegranate italian cream soda!)

(Please ignore the messy house! It was my anniversary - I didn't need to clean.)

(Dan -- what are you doing?)

This is the only picture from our actual anniversary on Tuesday - Dan thought we needed one first thing in the morning :-)

All in all, it was a really wonderful anniversary. There was no frozen wedding cake this year, and it wasn't a new thing, but it was wonderful none the less. I found it ironic that the traditional gift for 2 year anniversaries is cotton - something that I associate very closely with comfort (maybe it's the Hanes commercials, I'm not sure....). But as we reflected, we talked about how very comfortable our 2nd year of marriage has been. Sure, there wasn't quite as much excitement as the 1st year, but there is a lot to be said for being comfortable with your spouse and I am very thankful for that. So here's to many more years of wonderful, exciting, and comfortable anniversaries! I love you Dan.