MOVING!

Hey ya'll!  I am not physically moving!  I DO NOT LIKE that one bit!!!!  My blog is moving over to www.yakadoo27.wordpress.com  Go check it out!  For awhile I will have both up but linked together!  I needed to create a new name for my blog and I got permission from the ever fabulous Sam Glenn to use the YAKADOO in my blog title, after all he is the create of such a fun word!!!!  I learned the word "YAKADOO" back in 1999 at Acquire The Fire Day One!  It was FANTASTIC!!!!  YAKADOO means JOY FOR LIFE and I most defiantly have that!!!!  So, without further adoo go start reading over at yakadoo27!!!! 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

You may be thinking does Jennifer know that it is July?  Does she realize that this is a Christmas song?  The answers are Yes and Yes and there is a point!   As I was driving, which I LOVE to do, I was listening to random music on my iPod and "Hark The Harold Angels Sing" came on and I listened to the song several times.  As I listened to this song it came alive to me, the virgin birth, the angels celebrating!  It was a moment in time that we should celebrate not just in December!  As I take time to reflect on this song now in the stillness and humidity of July I am able to get a better image of what Mary had gone through and the celebrating that had gone on when Jesus Christ, the Messiah was born!!!!  I'm grateful that I heard this song in July.  I think at times we get so caught up in the busyness of December that we don't take time to truly reflect on the words of the song but rather we go through the motions.  So, even though it is July and there are no Christmas decorations up at your home take time to reflect on the words of this Carol!  Be blessed as you are a blessing to others!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mujlhR5VG40&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Rest for the Weary!!

In Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST!"

When was the last time you took time out to rest in His presences?  These past two weeks I've had the opportunity to go to some good friends "Camp Parker"!  They have a really cool little underground house!  I've had the opportunity to stay there.  Its peaceful!  It reminds me of spending many summers at Camp Adventure, the place I felt closest to God.  Its a great place to go because I get to unplug from the cell phone world!  At first I was frustrated but I learned how much I needed that peace!  And granted I did not take the opportunity to lay out under the night sky, it is no doubt God who created the star lite sky!  Take time to rest!  We live in a day and age where we want it now but yet we are so desperate for the peace and quiet!  The few things I cherished over these past two weekends were the fellowship despite sinking chairs, amazingly yummy home cooked food and the bugs in the bathroom!  Yes, BUGS in the shower brought a smile to this face!   Why you ask because it brought back memories of camp!  The shower how ever was beautiful clean clear water bliss!  If you've been to Camp you know exactly what iron, rusty water I am talking about!  The other quirk that made me smile was to keep the shower temperature "normal" you had to have the sink water running too!  :-). Its the little things that make me smile!  So, I encourage you to make a way to find time to take rest!  Be blessed as you bless others!

Scrapbooking

When you think of scrapbooking what comes to mind?  Beautiful pages with perslicely placed pictures? Hours upon hours of work put into one page?  For many it means different things.  I started scrapbooking when my daughter Lily was born.  I did it to create something beautiful for her to have.  I journaled some.  And I am grateful for the books I have made for her.  Timmy has a scrapbook for his first year that is not complete but I found great comfort in journaling about his time in the hospital.  William has a scrapbook for the first three months of his life.  My goal is to work on it some more!  Right now I am working on a scrapbook that has good memories but also brings along with it grief and heartbreak.  Why would someone want to put themselves through that when it would be easier to put the pictures in boxes?  If I were to do that I would not receive healing from the hurt.  You see Walt Disney World is the last great memory of us all together (minus) Josh.  There are happy pictures.  My ex MIL is in the pictures.  It would be sooooo much easier to cut her out.  The hurt would be gone but I choose to leave her in because my boys love her and she was part of that memory for them.  I encourage you if you have photos that bring hurt, dig them out allow the emotions to surface and scrapbook them.  It will bring healing and you'll be writing your story!!

Your children

Lily my oldest, she is 10, has been having a hard time getting to sleep at night.  She wakes up having nightmare's that Hyena's and bears are going to get her!  Or she also dreams something bad is going to happen to someone important in her family at night.  We pray every night for the enemy to flee and for the God of angel armies to be around her, before the door, in between the door and on the other side.  We also pray for the precious and holy blood of Jesus to wash over her!  We listen to praise and worship music that she knows too.  Last night was a sweet moment for me as a mom,  she started praying that the enemy would get out of her head and that Jesus would protect her!  It's a powerful moment as a mom when your child is praying and believing the prayers they have heard prayed over them!  It is so important as a parent that our kids HEAR us praying over them not just a dinner or when something goes wrong but each and every day.  For some it may be hard for you to do this because you don't like the way your prayers sound,  it does not matter HOW they sound rather it matters that God hears them and your kids here them.  Now you may be reading this and not have any kids of your own BUT there are kids in your life, allow them to see you pray.  You may be the only person they every see pray! 

"...future generations will be told about the Lord.  They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it." Psalms 22:30-31

Communion

I am not sure if I did a post on this or not but it means so much to me that I am going to write about it again!!!!  At my church, Madison Park, each Sunday during worship that are 5 different stations you can go to.  They are a cross where you can pin your prayer requests to it and KNOW that a member of the pastoral team is praying for that request throughout the week, light a candle, kneel and prayer, communion and finally anointing with oil.  I LOVE the fact that my church ENCOURAGES you to get up out of your seat and move around as the spirit leads you!  I have served communion for a while now.  I have served every Sunday despite my best efforts to get out of it one Sunday because I just wasn't feeling it!  I am BLESSED beyond measure to serve each and every week!  I can not tell you how amazing it is to look somebody in the EYE and say "The Body of Christ Broken for YOU!"  Sometimes they will tell you their name and it takes it to a whole new level because now you have made the connection!  What I find interesting is that you can tell the people who do it week after week because its ritual and then you can the people who do it out of the spirit moving them to do it!  The differences is that the person who does it week after week is going through the line quickly, just to get done.  The person who is taking the elements because the spirit is moving them takes it all in.  Takes that moment to share their name.  The savor the moment's of partaking in the body of Christ and the blood shed for them!  We have had some new worship leaders leading us in worship for about a month now and the ice BROKE yesterday!!!!  I can not tell you how AMAZING it was to be at the back of the church serving communion AND singing GIVE ME FAITH!!!!  The Holy spirit's presences was so powerful, I wanted to stay there FOREVER!!!!!!!!  My challenge to you is to serve communion.  It's not hard.  It does not requiring anything special.  All it requires is a WILLING heart to present the elements of JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!

Show Us Your Single-Jennifer!

Introducing the author of this blog!  Jennifer Johnson
Quick Facts:
Age: 34 1/2
Height 5'11"
State: Indiana
Kids: Yes 3 beautiful children!

Past the quick facts!  I LOVE to have fun and live life to the fullest! I am straight forward and direct.  I don't beat around the bush!  My relationship with Jesus Christ is most important next to my family.  I have been back in the work force for about 9 months.  I was a stay at home mom for 10 years!  I considered myself blessed to be able to invest in my children's lives for that time. I am divorced but have a good relationship with my kids dad.
Going to church is NOT optional, it's what I do!
I don't smoke nor drink.  I won't date someone who does smoke!
I do not have any pets but would love to get a dog at some point in time.
I love listening to Christian music and going to concerts!  My favorite group at the moment is Third Day!

 My 3 fun, cute children!

Love the Peanuts gang!

Go Ahead

and ask anything!  I may not have an answer but I'll do my best to find you one!  In return tell me where you are from! :)

Father

When you hear the word Father what comes to mind?  A father of anger, a father who was not present, a father who was drunk, a father who hurt you, a father who loved you, a father who you could not see, a father who was too busy, a father who was proud of you?  Just think for a moment that there is a FATHER who LOVES you more than YOU can EVER IMAGINE or fathom!  He has loved YOU from before you were created!  He has loved YOU just the way you are!  He loves all of you!  Big, tall, short, skinny, freckles, pale, tan, short hair, curly hair, long hair, blue eyes, single, married, young, old, childless he LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU!!!! As a matter of fact HE is CRAZY about you!!!!!!  I know for some of you this may be hard to comprehend or understand but it's true!  There is a FATHER who loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!!!! I know for some this may be hard to grasp that there is someone who LOVES you no matter what YOU have done or WHERE you have been!  HE LOVES YOU!!!!!  I at times have a hard time wrapping my mind around the FATHER's UNCONDITIONAL love!  I am beyond grateful that he loves me so much no matter what I look like, how many questions I ask, how much I talk to him or say things that are silly, He still loves me exactly the way he created me!  I know He LOVES YOU that much too!!! In fact HE loves you so much that he stretched his arms out on the cross and said "(insert your name) I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH!

 If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I high encourage you to seek one out!  It will ROCK YOUR WORLD!!!!! It rocked my world in high school and into my early twenties!  I had known that Jesus lived in my heart since the 3rd grade when I had asked him in but it wasn't until I was 18 years old and started attending Granger Community Church where I realized how much Jesus Loved me and how much He wanted to KNOW me!  The creator of the UNIVERSE wanted to know little ol me!  The not popular girl who was working at United Airlines!  Once I realized during one of Rob Wagner's sermons when he said that Jesus wants us to climb up into his lap.  He wants us to look him in the face and call him Abba, Daddy!! did I realize that the only person in the whole entire universe that could LOVE me no matter what I did or where I went was my HEAVENLY FATHER!  Yes, we can disappointment Him by the things we do, we can make Him mad, angry and upset but he sits with open arms welcoming us back in!  I am so grateful that I realized what that personal relationship could be like!  I spent many of nights on my bedroom floor praying to my heavenly father, talking to him just like I would talk to you!  I still have conversation with my heavenly father each day.  Yes, I can NOT see HIM but I know HE hears my prayers, my hurts, my pain, my JOY's!  He is all knowing and for that I am grateful!  In Psalms 68:5 it says "A father to the fatherLESS...."  

Reconcilation!

Today was a hard day too but much better! I took the kids to Kings Island and it was hard not calling dad and telling him about it because that was something he would have loved doing with us!

So, on with the story where we left off.....Josh and I were dating and he asked me what I thought about moving to a church in Iowa.  At this point in life I was dead set on going to the Honor Academy at Teen Mania, little did I know that plan would change.  I told Josh that I would LOVE to move to Iowa since the majority of my family was from there or lived there.  So, we went out and candidate....that is give a practice sermon.  It was the last weekend in August.  We had already driven out there prior so Josh could see what Iowa looked like since he had not been past Chicago!  We told my "mom", Sandy to bring dad and grandma and grandpa to the church.  Dad was very surprised to see us!  After church the board had a meeting with Josh to decided if he was the one for them.  While the meeting was going on I chit chatted with my family and I could tell my dad was getting very excited about the prospect of having me 2 hours away!  A side note, while we were talking my Grandpa Cobb said he needed to go for a walk.  So, he went for a walk and found a nursing home to play a piano in!  He was always on the look out for a piano to play for people!  We moved to Iowa a week later and God started mending a broken relationship between a father and a daughter.  To be quiet honest it may have never been broken, I was angry that my dad was so far away and the Lord provided a way for us to make up for lost time!  I am beyond grateful for the 6 years I had in Iowa with my dad.  It was by far one of the HARDEST days of my life to have to move from Iowa back to Indiana.  Some of the things that happened while living in Iowa that may have NEVER happened otherwise: we got to see my dad at least once a month, he got to be at the hospital within hours of each of the grandkids being born, I was a hop, skip and a jump away when Grandpa passed away, dad was there when Timmy was transferred to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, we got to spend a few Christmas together and Thanksgiving's.  Something that had been missed for YEARS!, he was at the grandkids birthday celebrations.  The one thing that I have learned from the time the Lord gave to me with my dad being so close was that BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!! You NEVER know when they will be gone until next time!!!!

Seperation

DISCLAIMER: Today has been an emotionally rough day!

We live in a world of brokenness!  My parents were divorced after 19 years of marriage.  I'll never forget being in 5th grade gym class and proudly telling Mr. Foster, my parents are celebrating 19 years of marriage today to which he responded I hope they have many more!  Little did I know that my world was about to change and my dad was going to leave for Iowa and come back for a little while then leave for Colorado then come back for a little while and then leave for Iowa again this time for good.  In between those times my dad was hospitalized for various mental disorders.  This rocked my little world of being a 5th grader.  All of a sudden my dad is gone!  I dealt with the situation the best any child could have.  I was in counseling all throughout jr. high and high school because this was a strange time for me to begin with and now adjusting to a "new" dad and home.  This was not how life was supposed to be and I am sure my kids think the same thing but it is how life is.  Each summer we would spend a week with dad in Iowa.  This was the best week of the year because we got to plan what we did.  Some times we would go back to Jefferson, go swimming, ride bikes around town, go shopping in Boone, Carol, Des Moines or Ames.  We would go to Adventurland  each summer as well.  Dad would give us $50 or $100 in cash to spend on whatever we wanted!  Being a teenager and getting to spend cash given to you on whatever you wanted was exciting!  I would buy clothes, lotion, music or jewelry.  Some summers we would go to Wisconson Dells and one summer dad let me drive to the Mall of America!  It was exciting!  Little did I know how much my dad delighted in watching us spend the money and enjoy being kids with him!  Then it was back to reality back in Indiana.  Back to the broken world that we would now have to wait another year before we could see dad again.  Back to waiting each week in hopes that we would get to talk to him on the phone.  Waiting each week for his weekly diary letter and yes the $1 bill or stick of gum that John and I would fight over. In some ways I am sure God sits and waits for us to call him.  We should call and talk to our heavenly Father as much as we can!  He delights in that! As I grew older and become more involved in work I grew apart from my dad and was angry for the situation that I had no control over.  And Yes I am well aware at some point my children may become angry at me for the way things have gone.  I don't really remember the exact moment I just remember growing apart from my dad and not wanting to spend time working on our relationship.  I think it was him being in Iowa and me in Indiana and we lived two different lives.  But I am not 100% sure.  I am sure if Sly, my old boss from McDonald's, was reading this he could help me recall as I spent many hours talking to him about this!  Then I met Josh and he suggested moving to Iowa.  I was excited at the thought but did not want to get to excited because I would be closer to my dad again.  GOD'S HAND WAS IN THIS PART!  You'll have to come back tomorrow to see what happens!!!!!!

Remembering

This year is my first Father's day where my earthly father is no longer here.  It's the first of many to come that I won't be searching the card aisle to find him that perfectly worded card that only Hallmark could write!  and BEFORE my mother makes a comment YES I DO HAVE another FATHER figure in my life to buy a card for his name is BILL.  O.k. got that out of the way!  Now my dad had a collection of shirts that we had gotten him for fathers day ranging from a hat that said BANK of DAD (sorry closed) to a t-shirt that said something to the effect of Grandpa's the name Spoiling's the game!  He loved his grand kids to pieces and had a unique connection with each of them in his own special way.  Lily was the first born and like her mom the only granddaughter!  She had grandpa wrapped around her finger and they loved spending time together weather that was reading a book, putting a puzzle together or going swimming.  She was his buddy.  Timmy was the first grandson.  Dad was there when Timmy was born!  He was there when I called him and said we are being transferred to Blank.  Timmy and Dad had a special bond.  Then there was William.  William could get dad to do ANYTHING because he was just smitten with him!  When we were in Florida and dad was exhausted, William said "up grandpa" and Dad picked William up because he LOVED him!
Growing up as a child I have fond memories of making dad tread water when I was in preschool because I was scared to jump off the diving board BUT he wanted me to jump in so much that he bribed me with a McDonald's happy meal if I jumped in!  I jumped into his safe arms and never looked back!  My dad took us swimming just about every week he could.  He would have to bribe us with Slurpies from 7-Eleven to get us to leave the pool!  Some weeks we would go play putt-putt golf and he got to share in his enjoyment with his grandchildren because William called it "putt golf".  Once in awhile we would get a special treat and get to go to Chuck E Cheeses or to G.L.Perry's and buy something!  Does anyone remember G.L.Perry? My dad delighted in seeing us be happy and I know that God delights in his children when we are filled with joy!
Tomorrow I will share with you the story of separation and then the story of reconnection!  Don't miss it!

Rhett Walker Band

So, there's this new, up and coming band.  They are playing at WFRN Friend Fest in a few weeks and I HIGHLY Encourage you all to GO and support them!  If you love any of these bands then you more than likely will become a QUICK fan of them!  They sound similar to THIRD DAY, or if any of you all remember a band called THIS TRAIN.  Right up there with them!  They are out touring with the them FAMILY, FAITH and Country!  They actually wrote a really amazing song for their wives and I hope that they will share it with you all!  These guys I heard first on K-LOVE's Fan awards and they said "We are ALL a bunch of messed up people SAVED by Grace!"  So, so so TRUE yet so so so SIMPLE!!!! So, Here is their COVER ALBUM SONG!  Come to the River!  I feel like you should have a bunch of river dancers! :) And another one of their song's that is RIGHT UP there is BROTHER!

So the above link is to the song "BROTHER"!!

 "Come to the River"

Go find them and SUPPORT them!  They are AMAZING men of God who have been saved by Grace!  They LOVE some SUN DROP soda too!

Final thoughts on Rejection part 3

What brought all of this discussion on?  Ouch...this hurts!  Well, two weeks ago tomorrow I met this guy.  Said guy and I hit it off!  He was so easy to talk to and we could have talked for hours!  Said guy came over and hung out on a Friday night.  We kept talking into the wee hours.  Said guy came over again on the following Monday.  We talked again until the wee hours.  I was enjoying where this was going.  It was good!    BUT on Wednesday we texted back and forth most of the day.  First off I am not a HUGE fan of texting a whole lot because tone and emotion get lost and misinterpreted in texting.  He found my insecurity.  I allowed him to push me to talk about my insecurity.  But by opening up about my insecurity I kept asking if "I" was ok?  I was looking for that rejection.  Since he found my insecurity I wanted to be affirmed by seeing him, by getting a hug.  He had told me the day before that he was going to be busy for the next few weeks because of an assistant manager being fired.  But I continued to push and asked 4 times if I could see him!  I ruined something that could have been.  That I will now not know what could have been.  I was told I was too pushy and needy.  I will agree with the pushy part.  I also learned that by being in an unhealthy relationship for 11.5 years where I constantly sought out the rejection and the negativity that I have to reprogram my mind to know that not every guy is the same.  That being talked down to is not "normal".  So, the next time something good is placed in my lap I am going to enjoy it rather than seek out the rejection!

ReJection part 2

Now the more in depth part of this........
My parents divorced in between my 5th and 6th grade years.  That year the church that I had found stability in also split.  So, not only was I going through the moving to a new school, house, and my parents finding a new church.  I was also dealing with the loss of my dad moving out of state.  So, going into 6th grade I was already insecure about moving and lacked the social skills that most kids have to make new friends.  I clung to teachers because they were "safe" and were not going to reject me no matter how bad of a bowl cut I had or how ugly my teeth looked with braces or how hunched over I was!  They accepted me.  In many ways I wonder what my jr. high years could have been like HAD I been that outgoing, bubbly person that most people see now!  Well, the fact is I can't go back and change it but I can learn from it!  In some ways I see myself utilizing the gifts that God has given me to reach out to jr. high kids who are in that weird awkward stage of life.  When I am in the midst of ministering to jr. high kids it is the one place that I know I am NOT going to be rejected!  I can let my wall down and be who I was meant to be.  In high school I knew people but didn't have a "group" of friends that I hung out with either.  In some ways looking back I super duper protected myself by putting all sorts of Christian Band Patches on my backpack and wearing "Christian" shirts to school.  I had a nice bubble around myself because I didn't want to get hurt.  I'll never forget being in 7th grade gym class and this kid, his name was A.J.....he came up to me and asked if I wanted to go out.  I looked at him and said "no"!  I mean really who would have wanted to go out with me?  I don't even think I would have wanted to go out with me!  I was not the popular girl, nor the smart girl, nor the athletic girl.  I was the girl who wanted to be noticed!  In jr. high the cool kids wore Guess Jeans and had Esprite bags.  Do you remember those things?  I remember clearly, my mom taking me to the mall to look at buying a pair of Guess jeans and they were over $60 and she was like clearly I am not spending that kind of money on jeans for you.  REJECTION!!!!!!!!  Now my mom wasn't doing this out of hate, it just was not in the budget at that time.  From her saying "NO" to that I learned to condition myself that I was not worth this or that.  Now your thinking, didn't you know your mom LOVED you!  YES, I knew she loved me but for me this was more about how I was accepted at school.  I thought oh if I have those jeans then I can be accepted with the cool kids!  As I grew up throughout high school I learned as so many of you have to build that wall up around me.  If I don't let people in I won't have to feel rejected.  I didn't go through the "normal" high school boyfriend/girlfriend statues because I didn't want to be hurt.  I built that wall.  Why do we build a wall?  Why wouldn't we want to let someone in?  It's much easier to build the wall and just be casual than to let someone get in and know our heart.  To know the good, the bad, the ugly and STILL LOVE US for US!  This is my challenge going forward, to allow people in who want to invest in my life, who want to love me for me and stomp that fear of rejection in the ground!  If I get rejected it was for a good reason.  One I may or may not ever know or comprehend.  I have one more post to write.  Just not tonight!  What are you thoughts?

ReJection part 1

I am going to start a mini series on Rejection!  We have all dealt with it in one form or another.  I am going to be vulnerable about my experience with rejection!

Rejection HURTS!!!!  I don't know for you but for me it is easier to build this happy wall around myself so that I don't have to put myself out there  to be rejected.  If this is all they see then they will accept me and like me.  They won't know the hurt, broken and some times crazy Jennifer.  If I have my guarded wall around they will only know the fun, full of life Jennifer.  As I was talking to my co-worker the other day about how I push people to reject me so that I don't have to allow myself to get hurt.  It takes away the beauty of falling in love and getting to know someone because I am more worried about what they are thinking and if I am doing the right thing that will please them.  My co-worker said "you just need to ENJOY getting to know the other person and LET them tell YOU when they don't like something you are doing INSTEAD of constantly ASKING them!"  The light bulb went on and I realized that I am in a new phase of life and I need to put the past behind me the past where I was ALWAYS looking for approval despite being rejected time and time again.  I need to ENJOY this time!  How about you..........do you not knowing look to be rejected because then it might not hurt so bad in the end?  I know that this is kind of all over the place. My next post will be a bit more organized and detailed.  Thanks for reading! :)

Happy Birthday to my only brother!!!!

John Cobb!  AKA Johnny Corn Cobb!  AKA Uncle John!
You have many names!  I am so lucky to have gotten to have you as my brother!  Growing up we sure did have our love hate relationship!  It was intense!  But on the days we loved each other, we really did!  We would have Nerf Gun wars, play with hot wheel cars and Legos!  We would have world class water gun fights that would start with water guns and lead to the hose!  We stuck together!  When we would fight, we would FIGHT!  You would get so mad at me that you would take rope and tie the doors together so  I could not get out of my room!  You loved to watch MacGyver and all things that he did you wanted to try and be like him.  We grew up, I went one way you went another.  But this past year we did something that most of our friends have yet to do and that was allow our dad to go.  That was hard but I know it brought us closer.  I'm grateful you were there to hold us together.  My kids are pretty darn lucky to have you for an uncle too!

What a Difference One Year Can Make!

Tonight was Lily's piano recital.  It was hard!  I'm not going to lie about that!  As I look back to a little over a year ago and she had her piano recital.  Life was different!  I had taken 6 out of 7 kids to the piano recital ALONE!!!!  Yes, it was CRAZY!!!!  I was thankful for Papa's help with one of the boys who could not sit still!  I was not going to miss Lily's first piano recital and I am grateful that I stood up, braved it and went with 6 children under the age of 9!

 Last year Skyping Grandpa Jay

7 Children Under the age of 9 ready ON TIME for church!

This year!!

We Skyped my dad, who was in the hospital.  He had payed for her lessons all year long and was unable to make it out from Iowa to see her.  He was weak but I know he was blessed by her music!  My dad is now gone!  That was hard this year not getting to share in the joy with him!  I know he delighted in the music from heaven but not the same as the physical presences via technology. :)  You see piano runs deep in my family.

 Grandpa Cobb playing the piano!

Cousins!

My grandfather Cobb played the piano until his dying day!  He was 94 and would go and bless other's that were YOUNGER than him in the nursing homes, assisted living and senior living centers across central Iowa!  If there was a piano he played it!  I then in turn started piano when I was in second grade.  I am very hard on myself and don't feel as though I play well!  So, a few years back when we were at my mom's house, Lily was playing on my old piano.  She had no music but had an ear for the sound!  I had several people encourage me to get her involved in music.  So, when the opportunity arose Lily started taking piano from Carolyn Patty!  The two of them are two peas in a pod!  At this years recital instead of 6 kids to be accountable for  I had my three kids sitting on my lap or near me, my ex and his significant other where there as well.  It was different.

A Life Well Lived!

A life well lived!  Grandma Shaefer passed away from her earthly home to her heavenly home on Saturday May 11, 2013.  She was Josh's maternal Grandma.  I can recall the first time I met her.  Josh was quite nervous because it was very important to him that I had her stamp of approval.  I passed.  I remember arriving to her home and sitting in her blue chair, her home was very clean and she was proud of that.  She also was very proud of her St. Louis Cardinals!  She always watched them faithfully!  Win or loose!  I don't follow baseball but I am quite sure that she was able to see them go to the World Serious a time or too.  She was very thrifty but she was very giving.  She gave all she had.  She gave of her time to others and of her money.  She loved without regrets.  She lived life!  She served others well.  I can remember many times she would come out and "save" me from my piles and piles of laundry that I had.  She always would start her day with the newspaper and a cup of coffee.  She loved well and her family knew that they were the most important thing to her.  I think my favorite meal that Grandma cooked would be TACO'S!!!!  It was always extra special when we were able to order pizza from Saylor's.  Especially when we were visiting from Iowa! I know that Grandma is rejoicing at being reunited with her beloved husband, Pat.  Her siblings, Mike and her beloved flea bags as she called the dogs!  She loved them along with Lily's beloved cat "Angel"!  I am sure her and my grandmother Cobb are catching up as well!  Grandma will be missed but her memory will live on!
Below is a link to watch a video I made of her and some pictures.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiQbDdikKus

Happy Birthday to Lily!!!!!

Lily Adeline Johnson you came into this world on Monday May 12, 2003 at 1745!  You wasted no time getting here and you have not wasted a minute since!  You were born by emergency c-section and I am so grateful to the amazing doctor's and nurses that worked quickly to get you here healthy, kicking and screaming and showing us that all of your vital organ's were functioning!  You were the FIRST Grandchild and the FIRST Great Grandchild on almost all sides expect for my mom's side.  After you were born it was a grand event, you had many visitors coming up to see you!  So many in fact the nurses had to put a stop to the number of visitors you were having just so that mommy could get some rest!  In your ten years of life I think you have experienced and rebounded with great zeal!

Your first birthday was a celebration to remember with over 50 people packing in the parsonage!

We moved to a new house at 1228 Reed Street in the spring of 2005 where we celebrated your

second birthday with a slightly smaller celebration!

We welcomed your little brother Timmy into the world on December 20th!

You were very excited to have a baby but there are days now that I am not sure how excited you are to have the endearment of Timmy!  I keep telling you though one day when you are older you will be so glad you have your brothers!

You were a champ when mommy spent 3 weeks away in the PICU with your brother!  You loved on him well!

You LOVED your paci and "nene's" as you called them!  We may have lost one of them but the other you still sleep with!

For your 3rd birthday you wanted a GREEN tractor!

In February we welcomed your little brother William!  There were times where I think you thought he was YOUR baby!

Then there was the move back to Indiana.  You had only known Iowa.  We moved to Fowler and lived there for 4 years.  Then we moved to Shirley where we are now.  You are a blessed girl as you got to experience the joy of 6 GREAT Grandparents and the joy of 5 Grandparents!  I can not wait to see where these next year take you as you lead your friends, as your grow in your walk with the Lord, as you mature in your piano and horse lessons and as you continue to blaze the trail!  I LOVE YOU!!!!!

If You Want Me To! By: Ginny Owens

This Mother's Day Sunday was Andrew Lyon's last Sunday to lead worship for awhile as MPC is going to be having Alana Story as our Worship Leader's.  I have LOVED having Andrew lead us in worship!  There is something about his sweet spirit that takes you to the THRONE room!  He dissects songs just like a scientist dissects an animal.  Piece by piece, verse by verse!  I am sure if we ever had the opportunity to sit down and dissect this particle song it would be EPIC!
Today it was just Andrew and the piano and it was a slice of heaven!  He did a melody of several Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin Songs!  LOVED IT!  Ending with a Hymn!  He even had the HYMNAL out!!!!!!  Ya'll that is unheard of any more and there are times where the richness from a song can nail the spirit!  I am going to dissect how this song "If You Want Me To" has been played over and over and over again and again in my life!  When Ginny wrote this song she wrote it out of her own trouble of finding a job.  You see she is a gifted piano player and singer but yet she is blind.  She struggled with finding a job as a choir teacher and I am not 100% sure she ever did but she did put out some pretty AMAZING CD's!  I get her and connect with her just the same way I connected with Jesus today in worship!

"If You Want Me To"

written by: Kyle David Matthews and Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear

And I don't know the reasons why you brought me here.

But just because you love me the way that You do

I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to.

Wow!!!!  We are saying YES LORD I will go through the valley of life that you have prepared for me because I know HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME!!! The many time's that I have moved from state to state or even city to city.  Not because I WANTED to but because it was part of God's bigger plan!  

Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step

And I'm clinging to the promise You’re not through with me yet.

So if all of these trials that bring me closer to You

Then I will go through the fire if you want me to.

"Cause I'm NOT who I was when I took my first step!"  POWERFUL words and so thankful that we are NEVER who we were when we took that first step in our Christian walk!  I am thankful that we are always striving to be more like Christ.  To be more like him!  And how AWESOME is it to say that we can CLING to the promises he has written in the bible!  I am not sure where I would be without the everlasting WORD of God for guidance and strength! And to say YES Lord I will go through this FIRE if that is what I need to do.  I don't know about you but for me those are SCARY words to say but yet at the same time such FREEDOM can come from them when we say YES Lord I will go through this trial!  Never did I think that going through two back surgeries was part of MY plan but God knew it was part of HIS plan!  Never did I think have a child sick and in the hospital be part of MY plan but it was part of HIS plan!  Each time we go through a trial in life God uses these to mold us and shape us into more of his image.  These fires that we go through stretch us, teach us to trust in HIM more and gain our strength from HIM!

And it may not be the way I would've chosen

When you lead me through a world that's not my home

But you never said it would be easy

You only said I'd never go alone.

WOW!  This first line is SUCH THE TRUTH!!!!  There are many things in life that did not go the way I thought it should have gone!  I never thought that I would go down the path of a divorce, nope, I never thought I would go through seven surgeries that doesn't happen to me!  I never thought I would be a "heart mom" NOPE!  I am a good person, that wouldn't happen to me but you know that it DID and God has used those trials to teach me and grow and make me stronger!

So when the whole world turns against me

And I'm all by myself

And I can't hear you answer my cries for help

I'll remember the suffering that your love put you through

And I will go through the valley if you want me to.

"When the WHOLE world turns against me!"  How many times have you and I said that nobody understands?  I have no one to turn to.  God WHERE ARE YOU?!  He has never LEFT you!  He died on the cross for your sins!  He stretched our his ARMS and said I LOVE YOU_______ this much!!!!  We can MAKE it through these trials in life because HE loves us and has already GONE BEFORE US!!!!!

Outlive Your Life!

As many of you know that read my blog know two things
1) I LOVE Music!
2) I went to the Josh Wilson, Colton Dixon and Third Day Concert this past week

At my church, Madison Park Church of God, we have been studying Max Lucado's book "Out Live Your Life"!  This book has reiterated some points to me about serving.  I am thankful that I grew up and served in an amazing church that made it a point to SERVE other's!  Do you realize that there are people you can SERVE right around you!  You don't have to go to a third world country to be used by God!  God can use YOU in your every day life!!! How cool is that!  Today as we were talking about our attitudes and how we can take it from,what is in it for me, to what can I do for you!?!  I think of how we worship!  When we WORSHIP and you raise your hands we are reaching OUT...saying "here am I SEND ME/USE ME!"  We don't worship with our hands towards us but rather outwards.  Think about that the next time you raise your hands in worship.  Worship with your hands outward towards others!  Towards GOD!

This song "I REFUSE" really nails it on the head as to what we have been talking about.  How many times do we stand and watch instead of participate   Being used BY GOD is not a spectator sport it is a participant sport!  REFUSE to just move on but instead DO something about what is going on around you.  You don't have to have money, you don't have to be educated you don't have to be anything but WILLING for God to use you!!!!!!!!!  What are you doing to do today that will make a mark for eternity?????

"I refuse" by Josh Wilson

Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
[. From: http://www.elyrics.net .]
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse
Lyrics from eLyrics.net

Concert Review! THIRD DAY, CoLtOn DiXoN, and jOsH wIlSoN!

First of let me start out by saying that I am enjoying more than I could have ever thought getting back into the concert venues again!  It has been over 11 years since I have attended 2 concerts in ONE year!!!!  Don't EVER change the person YOU are for some one else!  If they can not accept you AS YOU ARE then they are not worth YOU!!!!!!

Ok....so here's the story!  I had gotten my ticket's to see The Miracle show right after the Chris Tomlin Concert back in March because the radio station that supported the Chris Tomlin concert mentioned that the Third Day show was just about sold out!  I had bought two tickets and my friend said so who are you taking.  To which I replied I don't know!!!  You see I have been a long time THIRD DAY fan from back when they first started and were the OPENING act for the Newsboys!  Ya'll I am either OLD or well seasoned in the Music arena!!! So, the week was approaching and on Wednesday I made the decision that I would not be able to go because of my daughter's all day field trip to the OLD state capital on Friday!  I knew staying out until midnight Thursday night and going on a field trip at 5a.m. with 3rd and 4th graders would be a recipe for a grumpy mom!  So, I took my tickets to Northview and explained the situation to their receptionists, as itickets could not exchange them.  She said well maybe someone else is in the same situation as you are and there might be two tickets for TONIGHT's show.  I thought o.k. that would be really awesome but what are the chances...right?  So, I left her my name and number.  I also tweeted MAC Powell from Third day that there were 2 tickets to the SOLD OUT Thursday night show and to bless someone with them!

Well, not more than 30 minutes later I get a phone call from the church that there are two tickets for WEDNESDAY night's show waiting for me and I get a TWEET from MAC Powell...ya'll getting a TWEET from MAC is like getting a PHONE call, letting me know that there were two tickets and to come on out and enjoy the show! I picked up the tickets from the church office and while doing so, drove by the tour buses and caught David their drummer taking some pictures of the BEAUTIFUL Indiana sky!  I chatted with him and thanked him for allowing me to come to the show!  So, the friend that was going to go with me was not able to go, I called another friend, nope, and finally I called another friend who REALLY wanted to come but had a mowing job to do early Thursday morning and could not come.  So, I went ALONE!!!  You may think wow that sounds not fun at all but in reality I am learning to be content doing things alone and basking in HIS presences!!!!!  I went and I sat next to the receptionists and she probley thought what did I get myself into??!?!  This girl can YELL!!!!  Third Day put on a SOLID, CLEAN Third Day show!!!!  The only part I missed was not as much worship but I guess it was not the WORSHIP tour! Ha! HA! :) 

Their opening acts were Josh Wilson which I was not familiar with but did recognize his songs and then COLTON DIXON!  You could tell that there defiently was the "teenage girl" factor as they scream so much higher pitched!  And they don't jump up and down like Third Day Gomers do they head bang! HA!  O.K. So, I don't watch American Idol, probaley one of the few in this country that does not but my MOM who is 64 does!!!!!  The crazy thing is I told her that COLTON DIXON sang and she was like your serious!?!?!  I said YUP!!!!  She KNEW WHO COLTON DIXON WAS!!! MY 64 MOM!!!! That is just CRAZY to me!!!!!  I will tell you this Colton Dixon is the REAL deal!  He is amazingly gifted and I can't wait to watch him grow and mature as an artist!  His sister Skylar sang with him and Third Day as well!  A beautiful young lady!  I can't wait to watch her grow in her musical talent as well!  My favorite song by Colton was SCARS!  I will write a post about my own SCARS another time!  But that is a great starting point to a book!

Great Concert and I am beyond grateful for Third Day being so REAL!

Closing a chapter and starting a new one!

Have you ever looked back and reflected on the many different jobs you may have had or for some it may have been just one or two jobs.  Tonight I have been reflecting on the many different jobs I have had and the lasting friendships that have come from those jobs.
So, aside from babysitting and helping my brother out with the newspaper route my first job was working at McDonald's on Lincolnway   Bob Newcomer asked if I would like a job there and as they say the rest is HISTORY!  I loved working there when most teens were out at football games on Friday night's I was working at McDonald's have the BEST time ever!!!!!!  I learned so much from the job!  McDonald's is a whole another post!  Some of the greatest time's were spent with Holly, Sly, P.J., David, Josh, Nick and many others!  I am grateful for that job!
Next up after high school I went to work for United Airline's in reservations!  I was so excited because I could not yet be a flight attendant!  I enjoyed this job but did not do a great job of keeping in contact with friends from there.  I worked there just about a year and quit because I wanted to counsel at Camp Adventure for ONE week!  Ya'll I was crazy!  I quiet a great job to counsel at jr. high church camp but I HAVE NOT REGRETS!!!!
Once I returned from church camp it was on to find a new job!  I do believe I worked between McDonald's again, Wal-Mart and Knollwood Country club as a lifeguard!  This did not last too long as in August of 1998 or 1999 I can't remember exactly I went to work for United Express aka UFS at the airport in South Bend! That was a fun job as well!  I still stay in contact with Donna!  I LOVED working with Donna!  Such a sweet and gentle spirit!  We survived the Y2K and returned in the new millinum!  Delta aka COMAIR had opening's as they were expanding and away I went down a few spaces down at the aiport to the Delta counter!  I worked a mix of shifts over the years there and I am still maintain contact with a few from there such as Larry, Chris, and Mark! I will never forget one Christmas we had an oversold flight by 4-6 and no one was budging!  I remember asking for $150 then $200 in vouchers.  I got one taker!  Come on people we are not going ANYWHERE until the flight was down to just 50 passengers!  I asked my supervisor if I could go up to $250 he said "yes".  I blurted out $350 or $400 and got a whole slew of people!!!  My supervisor then had to honor that and figure out a way to award that amount since $200 was our MAXIMUM we were allowed to give in travel vouchers!  We had our people though!!!! These people made me laugh and laugh and laugh or maybe I made them think I was crazy and I just laughed at myself!  I am not sure which but we had fun!  Then I moved to Iowa where I did many odd jobs. We moved there in October of 2001 and I worked at the small grocery store from 2001 to 2003 just before Lily was born.  Then I worked at a local nursing home 3rd shift and that was not easy with a nursing newborn at home.  So, I stopped that for awhile then in August of 2004 I went to work Mayflower Nursing Home in Grinnell.  I then went on to have Timmy and William!  Then we moved to Fowler, IN where I worked at the local grocery store.  We moved to Shirley where I began working again in October 2012 at Sallie Mae.  I jumped in ready to be back in the work force again!  After many different life events today ended a short time there.  Although I AM BEYOND EXCITED to NEVER have to "bring current" a student loan again!!!! I WILL miss the friendships made!  I pray that the friendships made will continue.  As I told my friends today as we drove home, I will miss the laughter that we all shared but alas I now have a new audience to make laugh and doing something I was wired to do!

Church!

Why do you go to church?  

Do you go to church because you HAVE to?

Do you go to church because you WANT to?

Do you go to church out of OBLIGATION?

Do you go to church out of RITUAL?

Why exactly do you go to church?

As I was driving to church today this very thought crossed my mind!  We live in the land of the free.  We have the choice to go to church!  For many years I went to church because I HAD to not because I wanted to.  My heart was filled with hurt and anger!  I was hurt by the church.  I was angry because I was the Pastor's wife and it was my duty to be at church.  It was not in a place I wanted to be and it showed.  

Growing up as a child I went to church because that was how I was raised!  My parents took us!  I loved going to church because I got to see my friends and Miss Shirley told the most awesome stories of Wee Mouse and his adventures in the bible!  Loved it!  Then the church split and from the time I was in jr. high until I graduated my parent's church hoped!  We were fairly consistent between two churches but it still was not where I WANTED to be!  So, the day came when I graduated from high school and I got to go to church WHERE I WANTED to go and that was GCC!!!!!  I was so excited to be able to go and grow in my relationship with God and my relationships with friends!  I am sure that I would still be at GCC if I had not met Josh and moved to Iowa and back to Indiana again.  You see when you are in the ministry you don't have an option to go to another church for spiritual growth.  You go where you husband is at.  

This past Winter I finally had the opportunity to find my new church home.  I found Madison Park Church of God in Anderson and I just LOVE it!  It is the perfect fit for me!  It may not be the perfect fit for you!  Find a church that works for you!  I love this church because I am able to use my gifts and serve!  Today for example I got to serve as an usher and serve communion!  I get the biggest smile on my face when I get to look someone in the eye and say "This is THE BODY OF CHRIST broken for you!"  Nothing more awesome than that!!!!!!!

I know many people go to church out of obligation or ritual because that is what Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa did.  Why don't you go because you are going to meet the almighty maker of heaven and earth at CHURCH!!!! YOU ARE GOING TO HIS HOUSE!!!!!! GO BECAUSE YOU WANT TO!!!! SERVE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO!!!!!!