Celebration in the Oaks Fun Run

OK I wrote this blog a while ago, and forgot to post it, so here it is. The race we ran was on Dec. 9th:
So, last Saturday Rob and I ran a 2 mile run through New Orleans City Park for the Celebration in the Oaks Fun Run. It is an annual run. I ran it once in high school, and thought it would be fun to do again. Rob and I had fun running together (yes, he ran with me the whole way, even though he runs much faster than me!).
For those of you who don't know what Celebration in the Oaks is: During Christmas time they decorate city park with a LOT of Christmas lights and decorations. And you can just walk through the park and enjoy. After the run, they gave us "free" (we had to pay to be in the race) enterance to the part of the park that is decorated for Christmas. Although they don't change a whole lot every year, it is always something I enjoy going to. I can remember walk through that same park as a little girl, and now I can go with my husband! How fun!

Our First Christmas Together!

Last Christmas was Rob and I's first Christmas together and needless-to-say it was quite interesting. We had just moved down to New Orleans, we had just got hired with a contractor, and we were living in a FEMA trailer. Now, as many of you know, those trailers don't have much room. We didn't have the room or the time to even consider decorating for Christmas. Christmas kind-of came and went in a blurr. We didn't even get to have our first Christmas tree together.
Although it is a little sad when I think about it, we are having so much fun this year. It feels like our first Christmas together. Last Saturday we went and chopped a tree down, went shopping for Christmas decorations (we only had about 4 ornaments for our tree, now we have about 15), went home and put up lights and our tree! It was so much fun! I never really realized how much fun it could be to decorate your own place! It just makes me want to curl-up next to my husband every night, with a cup of hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies! (Rob loves that!) Here are some pictures of our day:

Here is my buff husband carrying our Christmas tree after we chopped it
down.

The tree must be decorated!

Here we are by our very first Christmas tree!

Early Christmas

So, Rob and I are in Nebraska visiting his family and we are having a great time! This morning we had the Johnson family Christmas! It was fun to have Christmas so early! Today really feels like Christmas day! It feels like everyone is celebrating Christmas today. I almost want to call my mom to tell her Merry Christmas!
Christmas came really early for me this year when Rob completely surprised me by giving me my Christmas gift on Wednesday night. He presented me with this huge box in front of his whole family. I was completely shocked when I found that he had gotten me a brand new digital SLR Cannon camera. It is absolutely amazing! It came with a tripod, 2 lenses, case, and a card that holds a huge amount of pictures! I was so surprised. So, I have been playing with it for the past couple of days. It takes amazing pictures! It's so much fun! I have a great husband!
So, here are some pictures of our time here so far (taken with my new camera!)

This is Becca (Rob's twin sister) giving me a ride on her horse Sullivan!

Rob taught me how to shoot a gun! We had a lot of fun with the family shooting clay pigeons and I actually shot a few! I never really thought that shooting was so much fun, but we had a blast! I know my mom is going to love this picture!

Our niece Kylie is so cute. She just turned one and she loves to imitate people, as you can see!

At the Johnson Christmas everyone picks names and our brother-in-law pulled Rob's name. Our brother-in-law and his wife came and visited us in New Orleans a few months ago and we took them fishing. There were the most fish we have ever seen all grouped together, but they would not bite our lines. We all wished (especially Rob) that we had a net because we could have caught some fish then, but of course we didn't. So, they got Rob the most enormous net in the world! (it's so big, I don't know how we are going to fly home with it. It looks like we will have to mail ourselves a package!) So, it looks like we should catch some fish next time!

My New Family

So, we will be leaving tomorrow for Nebraska to be with Rob's family for Thanksgiving. We will be there for about 6 days! All of his immediate family is going to be there are we are thrilled to spend some quality time with them.
It is so interesting how when you first get married, your husband's family becomes your own. As I have come to know the Johnson's more, spending holidays with them, vacations, and even opening our home to them, it is amazing how a person comes to know and love a group of people as much as their very own family. Even though I did not grow up with the Johnsons and I haven't known them for a very long time, I have come to love them greatly. At first it was a little weird to know that I had a motherand father-in-law, sister and brother-in-laws, a neice and a nephew (and more on the way at some point, I'm sure) . They are a whole other family besides the one I grew up knowing, making memories with, fighting with, and loving. I have come to a point where I feel blessed to be called a Johnson and to be a part of the legecy of an amazing family. As cheesy as this sounds, it is so true, there is no other family in the world I would rather have added to my list of people I love and respect than the Johnson family. They are a blast to be around, an encouragement to converse with, and a joy to know.
So, we are leaving tomorrow to see my other family, the Johnsons and I am so excited to spend time with each of them!

I have some sad news

On Thursday night Novemeber 9, my grandmother, whom we know affectionately as "Honey" passed away in her sleep. Honey is my father's mother. Rob and I were fortunate enough to spend some last sweet moments with her, showing her some recent picutres of our honeymoon, trips we've taken, and friends we love. Her death came as no surpirze to the family as she was in her 90's and her health had recently depleated. Although, it does not make the loss any less. We love Honey very much. She was a wonderful grandmother who loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren deeply. Honey was a fitting name for her always sweet demeaner. She will be grealy missed.
If anyone is interested, the funeral will be held this Thursday Nov. 9th. Viewing is at 10 am and the service at 12 noon. Location: Lake Lawn Funeral Homes: 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.New Orleans, LA 70124.
Please pray for our family during this time. For comfort, and more importantly that through this time our family member who do not know Christ in a personal way might come to know the truth of Christ's death and resurrection. That Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
My biggest comfort is to know that God is sovereign. I know that He is in control of all things and that He has a purpose for every situation. Praise the Lord that He is in control!

Women's Retreat

So, I went on my very first women's retreat. Honestly, I was a little nervious about going. I've never been on the same reatreat with my mom! A little weird. I've been on youth retreats and college retreats, so I wasn't quite so sure what to expect. I mean, what exactly does one do on a women's retreat.
Well, our adventure began with quite the surpirse. There had been a tornado the morning before that had touched down close to the camp we were staying at. So, no electricity in the woods. Good thing we were all told to bring flashlights. Everyone was ready for quite a night, but the ladies handling the retreat quickly made the adjustments, (order pizza and eat by fir light!) and everything went smoothly. The next morning we all awoke to electricity, and a surprise at who else was sleeping in our room (it was very dark the night before).
The women who put on this retreat were from Cedar Mill Bible Church in Oregon. There were about 30 women who flew down at their own expense, just to minister to the women of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. They did an amazing job of caring for us and praying for us. They even had women who go to the church praying for a specific woman at the retreat. How amazing! We each recieved a letter from that woman. I felt very blessed and encouraged. There is something about women ministering to other women and is just so meaningful.
One thing that I came from this weekend realizing is that people are people. Sounds weird, I know. Let me explain. It seems as though there is often a huge gap between "younger women" and "more mature women". But, we are all in this walk together. When it comes down to it, we are all trying to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. And there should be great unity in that This weekend, it felt like the age gap melted away and we were all just trying to live life together. We are all together here in the body of Christ, although we have different struggles, talents and interestes, we are just women trying to love the Lord.

Katrina Land Right Next Door

So, now that Rob and I have moved, our new apartment is right next to the 17th Street Canal. As many of you know, the 17th St canal is one of the canals that broke during Hurricane Katrina. We are living on the side of the canal that didn't break. The neighborhood right on the other side of the canal from us is where many of my family lived, including my gradmother. What once was an area of life, has now been replaced by complete destruction. In recent days, I find myself driving home from work, passing houses that were once so familiar, and now gone.
Living down here in Katrina land, there are times when I just get completely use to the destruction. Sometimes when I am driving down the road and I see water marks on the eves of homes, vacant guttted houses everywhere, I don't even give it a second glance. And then there are times, when I pass by my grandmother's house, schools I have attended or even the house that I grew up in and I greive as if Hurricane Katrina just happened yesterday. I have so many memories of this city. It is amazing how a place can be so familiar and so foreign at the same time. Despite all that has happened, there is one thing I know for sure, New Orleans will always hold a speacial place in my heart, no matter what it looks like.

Moving Again....

So Rob and I are moving, again. I realized that we are about to move into our fourth place since we have been married and it's only been one year!!! How crazy is that? I guess, we just can't settle down. We are going to stay in the New Orleans area, however we are moving to a location that is more centralized. Since Rob is working in consrtuction and he has houses all over the New Orleans area, we are moving to a place that is more accessible. We are not really excited to move all our stuff AGAIN, especially since we are moving from the 3rd floor of one apartment building to the 3rd floor of another apartment building. (Anyone want to help us?) Oh yeah and there are no elevators in either building. (still want to help?) But after our stuff is moved we will be excited about a new place.

College Friends

You know those kind of friends who you haven’t seen in a long time and when you get together with them, it’s as if you were never apart. You just pick-up where you left off. I love those friends! Over Labor Day weekend, Rob and I went on a camping trip with those kind-of friends, and we had a blast!. From hiking to boating to just hanging out around the campfire and even a quick trip to Wal-mart (you gotta love “camping” in America!) we enjoyed every minute.

Now that we are living here in New Orleans, we are finding it difficult to find friends who are in the same season of life. Although we are getting more involved in our church and meeting more and more people, there are no friends like the ones you make in college. I wonder if it is because you have more time to hang-out together or because you are in a season of life where it is easy to connect with people. Whatever the reason, it seems like your friends from college are going to be your lifetime friends

Just Getting Started...

So, I have been thinking about having a blog for a while now, and I guess there's no time like the present. As most of you know, I am horrible at keeping in contact with people. Although having a blog doesn't give me an excuse not to answer my cell phone, I do think it will be an opportunity to keep in contact with all of you, as well as give me an outlet. So, if you are ever wondering, "What is going on with those Johnsons I never hear from???" here is your answer, hopefully. And if this doesn't answer your question, just give me a call..... I'll try to answer my phone!