Party Time!

These are a collection of Pictures from Isaiah's birthday party. Sorry it took me so long to post them. He is such a big boy now and it is hard for me to believe. He took 5 steps today, I couldn't be more excited for him!


Frog Theme: Cake.


Friends


In Your Face!


I love this picture! It's so typical of trying to take a picture of kids. You never know what you will get!
Two beautiful grandmothers!


Family


Opening presents with friends


I love my riding toy from mom and dad!



PopPop

Book Review

The luxury of having the time to read a fictional novel is rare. I absolutely love to read so I have been saving up some novels for this summer. One of the books on my list was "Her Mothers Hope"; by Francine Rivers. Having read several of Rivers books before. I knew it would be well-researched concerning historical information. I also knew it would inter-weave themes of faith amidst struggle and family. One thing I was not prepared for was the picture of marriage it would display through it's characters.

From reading the title and the inner flap of the book, I was under the impression it would mostly be a story of a mother and daughter. The struggles they faced to see "eye-to-eye", and learning to embrace those differences. While yes much of the story does deal with these issues. The picture of marriage was what affected me the most. The relationship between the main character Marta and her spouse Niclas Waltert plays out in the beginning of the 20th century and all that was taking place in the world at that time. They are sharecroppers in California, with four children. Rivers gives the reader many "peaks" into life at that time, and the difficulty that many faced during that time in history. It was very convicting to see how another couple relates to one another, in good times and bad. I would become so frustrated with the wife, Marta. Thinking to myself "how could she be so selfish?" or 'how could she speak to her husband that way." Then the Lord would remind me in his ever gentle and merciful way that I too have acted those exact same ways before! It was wonderful to be able to see myself in Marta's character and to repent over behaviors that I had let slip by. When seeing my sin in someone else, it allowed me the opportunity to be prodded by the Holy Spirit and move into repentance.

I also enjoyed the picture of redemption in marriage that was shown throughout the book. When the main characters Marta and Niclas would argue, they were always quick to reconcile. How often do we allow unresolved issues to be swept under the proverbial rug, only coming back to them; when we need ammunition to cause a new hurt? I came to admire the Waltert's consistancy to never let the sun go down on their anger. It is natural in marriage that you will disagree with your spouse, but what do we do when this happens? I was definitely challenged to be quicker in my resolve to complete a conflict and reconcile with my mate. While I was challenged and convicted many times throughout the book, I was able to see how hurtful words can be. Words of a wife to a husband are very important and it is vital to season our speech with love. I have always been a quick responder, meaning I always snap back quickly in conflict. I blame it on being a younger sister, but in truth I am...a sinner. Seeing the pain in Niclas character when his wife Marta would demean him or undermine his authority in the home, was eye opening. It further showed the depth a wife's words can affect her husbands feelings towards his place in her heart, and the home. I was challenged to always be mindful of how I treat my beloved.

Nothing I learned from this book was necessarily new, but it was a great reminder and encouragement. If you get the time, I definitely recommend it!!!

Isaiah Stephen Johnston

I had gotten up early to run errands in Greenville with my bright eyed and beautiful baby girl Olivia. I turned into our drive way after a full morning of running around. I was finally getting the swing of being a mom of a three month old baby, having now recovered (mostly) from my c-section. When I got home, I put Liv down for a nap and I started thinking "when will I get my "womanly time of the month back?" (I didn't know the best way to phrase it for a blog post) = ) I was thinking I am not breast-feeding so it should be any time right? I was always very regular so it mildly concerned me that at three months postpartum I hadn't received another "period" after my initial one coming home from the hospital. I mentioned to Kirk that night at dinner that I still hadn't received my period (like it's a gift, ha!) and I was concerned. He reassured me that it wasn't a big deal most likely and that in a week or so I probably would.

The next morning I felt a very uneasy feeling about the situation and felt compelled to see if maybe...just maybe I was pregnant again. I drove to the local Bi-lo and purchased the least expensive test I could find. I drove home and took it. I played with Olivia on the floor while I waited, becoming more and more convinced that there was surely no way I was pregnant with my second baby only three months after the delivery of my first! I walked back into the bathroom and there staring back at me were two bright pink lines.

I was so excited, but completely taken off guard. I thanked the Lord for this precious baby and I called Kirk. He was at work, but I felt I needed to tell him immediately. I knew he'd be thrilled...but totally shocked! I called several times, and on the third time he answered. He had walked out of class to answer the phone. So I knew I had to be quick. I said "Guess What?"..I gave him no time to answer. I said "I'm pregnant!". He was totally surprised and super excited! Olivia and I were supposed to go over to a friends house for a play date that morning in Powdersville and I knew I was going to be late. I called my friend and explained a little of the situation. She was super excited for me, and said for me to come when I could. It was great to be able to share my exciting news with a friend!

Isaiah entered the world via c-section on July 13th 2009 at exactly noon. He was 7 lbs 12 oz's and all I remember right when they showed him to me was how he was so wiggly! He seemed very active from the beginning and we were beyond thrilled to have a baby boy. He has brought so much activity to our home. He is our fearless child. Rolling over at 2 weeks, and crawling at 5 months. He has been on the move as soon as he could figure out how. He is constantly in motion, even in his sleep! He reminds of Kirk, always busy and so joyful! Isaiah is such an explorer and oh so curious! We have enjoyed having his bright personality in our family, he is a blessed addition!! Happy Birthday baby

Olivia Marie

I had been married ten months when I found out I was expecting a baby. It was an ordinary day minus a small stomach bug I thought I might have, so I headed over to our universities nurses office to receive something that might make me feel a little better, so I could make it through my day of classes. Everyone on campus loved nurse Paul, and I knew he'd help me figure out what was making me feel so icky. Once I explained my symptoms. He said well maybe you have a UTI or possibly your pregnant?? I immediately declared "that could never be possible, I need to graduate college first and get a job, and a house..." He just made me stop and go take the test, and when I came back, a few minutes later ran back into the room and declared "YOUR PREGNANT!!" I think I about fainted, and then I cried and then I called Kirk, who said "your what?" I repeated myself" and then he screamed "YAY!!" I'll be right there" He ran in the rain and wind about a mile to the nurses station. He was SO thrilled, neither of us had any idea how our lives were about to change...for the better!!!




Olivia Marie Johnston entered our lives at 6:09pm on June 21st 2008 (3 weeks early) after an intense 24 hours of labor and eventually a c-section due to complications. She was born 4 lbs 10oz's, larger than they thought she would be. She was the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen and I loved her immediately. All the nausea, continual bathroom breaks, weight-gain, tiredness, pre-ecamplsia, restricted interuterine growth, anxiety, and fear went from my mind when I saw her face. Olivia was a huge blessing to Kirk and I's lives and marriage and we thank the Lord each day for her precious life. She has brought so much joy, laughter, and light to our family! She has had somewhat of a hard road these past two years with intense developmental therapy (OT, PT, Speech and EI's) but God has proven Himself faithful each step of the way, opening her mind to learn new things and catch up She is talking up a storm, walking, running, jumping, counting, and exploring her world with all her senses! The Lord has used Olivia's life to teach Kirk and I that His timing is always perfect, and although we map our "plans" for life, he guides our steps. We have been learning how to trust God in all things, we had no idea how to be parents to this beautiful gift He gave us but he has surrounded us with those who have guided us along the way. Giving advice, a listening ear, and gentle encouragement to run the race, and to raise her to honor the Lord. I am excited for our journey with Liv, she surely has made things a lot more exciting around the Johnston house!

Things are a changin'

We have some big events coming up in our family: one being that my mother is selling the house that she and my dad built together and is downsizing to a smaller home that is closer to Kirk and me. We are absolutely thrilled to have mom closer and to enjoy her company more often (if only we could see Kirk's parents more often, we miss them!!!) This move has proven to be very difficult in many ways for mom, she has had to pack up 25 + years of memories in only a few weeks and say good-bye to the home where she and my dad had dreamed of the future together. My dad passed away 5 years ago due to a sudden heart attack at the age of 50 and he is a dearly missed father and husband. While this move is sad in many ways it is also a time to get excited about what God may have for the future as she moves to Greenville from Powdersville. You could be in prayer for us as a family as we help mom move and readjust to her new home.

Another big event or should I say events coming up, are the birthdays of our two beautiful children!! Olivia will be turning 2 (June 21) and Isaiah turning 1 (July 13). They are both such a joy and wonderful additions to our family. They have taught us so much about our continuing need for the Lord and his grace and mercy. No two children have made us laugh as much as these two! We look forward to what all we will experience together as a family...

We are also gearing up for Kirk to start his masters program in the fall while teaching full time. This will be a new experience that we are a little hesitant and nervous about. We know that this is God's timing for him to pursue this degree, but we know it will take a lot of extra time outside of work. Kirk will be pursuing a degree in Apologetics. He absolutely loves this area of theology and he hopes to one day teach at the college level. So, we are excited to support him in this next step we believe God is leading us in.

Along with Olivia's birthday, comes the fact that she will be 2....AGH! Olivia is a very social, happy, and strong willed child. We have been seeking a lot of advice from those who we respect on how to best shepherd Olivia, to guide her in a way that honors the Lord. We are currently reading Shepherding A Child's Heart and Toddlerwise. We have gained so much knowledge from these two great books, and are continually trying to stay consistent with Olivia-pointing her towards the gospel, even if she has no clue what we are saying. This week we have decided to start "breaking her away" from the thumb sucking. This involves using a very nasty tasting (all-natural) liquid that we put on her thumbs to keep her from sucking them. She has been very unhappy about the fact that her thumbs taste so bad, BUT she has not once since the initial taste tried to suck her thumbs again! So day 1 is going pretty good...other than some minor frustration.

Next up: POTTY TRAINING!


The house my parents built together.

Vacation to Tennesse

This past week we packed the car up and headed to Tennessee to Kirk's parent's, more affectionately known as "Nana and Pop Pop". We decided to leave around the kids bedtime so that the kids might fall asleep and the ride be more peaceful for us. Our plan worked and we made it to Tennessee last Thursday evening. The week was filled with many happy memories including swimming, playing with the dogs, playing with Nana's tuberware, visiting their great-grand pa, going to McDonalds for Olivia's FIRST ever fudge sundae, running around the Johnston's 14 acre paradise (that's what I call it) and of course enjoying Nana's awesome cooking! It was a fabulous and relaxing week and we feel blessed to have had such a great start to summer after such a long school year for Kirk. We can't wait to go back for Olivia's 2nd birthday in a few weeks, my how time flies!

Please enjoy the pictures:

Modesty Among Believers

I have wanted to write a post on modesty, a huge issue in the church. Especially one for us as women seeking to honor the Lord and our spouses through our dress. I found this article by Dr. John Piper that I feel so eloquently addresses the topic. I enjoyed the read and greatly benefitted from his wisdom and truth from scripture. I hope you take the time to read it, it's well worth every Christian ladies time.


By John Piper November 19, 2007

Is modesty an issue in the church today?

Yes. And it's not just a problem for males. Women have issues with it as well. But it is true that males are more visually spring-loaded to lust or to think unhelpful thoughts when they see a certain picture or person, so that's where I'll focus here.

My concern today is that it seems like a lot of Christian women are oblivious to the fact that they have some measure of responsibility here. I say it carefully though, because I know that some women would turn the issue back on men as if it is their own problem.

But I know that a sincere Christian woman would not have that attitude. A Christian woman would respond, "Really? I didn't know. Please, tell me what the issue is here." She wants to serve her brothers, and her brothers want to serve her. The brothers don't want to put her under any artificial constraints and she wants to serve them. So there ought to be dialogue about this.

Necklines are an issue these days. Everywhere I turn—at the airport and at church—the necklines are plunging! Some fashion designers in the world are communicating to women today that the thing to do is have your neckline split extend too low.

Women should dress in such a way that they draw men's attention towards their eyes, their face, and not towards the other parts of their bodies.

A woman can test herself in this arena by how she dresses her little girl. What kind of bathing suit do you put on your little two-year-old? Is it a cute little bikini? Or do you begin from the very start to teach this little girl that there is an appropriate way to dress? Are you preparing her so that by the time she is seven, eleven, or fifteen her whole mindset is, I dress appropriately, modestly, and not to entice or flaunt?

One of the first words that my daughter Talitha learned was "appropriate." She didn't even know what the word meant at the time, but now it is built into her DNA as an eleven-year-old that she should dress in a way that is appropriate.

So I plead with the Christian women of the world that they take into consideration the things they are saying by what they're wearing. Dress to please the Lord.

And you can still dress beautifully. You don't have to look stupid or out of style to be modest. I know this is the case because there are hundreds of very attractive women at our church who dress modestly and don't cause men to stumble, and they don't look out of style.

Why do you encourage women to draw a man's gaze to their eyes?

There is something about the face that makes it the most full and complete expression of a person (see Numbers 6:24-26). My hands only communicate a little bit about me, my shoulders don't say much at all, and my belly tells you hardly nothing! But my face says a lot about me—my eyes, my countenance, and my mouth. Having someone just stare at another part of my body would make me very uncomfortable. I'd say, "Look at my face! I'm a person!"

But women are selling themselves because Madison Avenue has said, "Show your belly-button, your knees, your cleavage, etc." And women, evidently, are wired to want men to notice their bodies. And that is what must be channeled in an appropriate way.

Women should handle the desire to be noticed by preserving it for one man, whether he is present yet or not. They should also protect themselves (and other men) by not saying things that they don't want to say. We are always saying things by what we wear.

© Desiring God

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Top Three Thursday

Top Photos of the week.

Taken at my moms retirement gathering given to her by the teachers at her school and Greenville County 4K.

Through the Storm

Wow, the last two months have been a whirlwind in our family and I am just now finding the time to sit down and reflect. These past two months have brought Strep (2 x's), Multiple Sinus Infections, Stomach bug, Multiple Ear Infections, and a Severe Bladder infection to our family. We now know all the nurses at the pediatricans office and I think we might own stock in the minute clinic?? We have been through almost every free antibiotic from Publix and are well acquainted with the med aisle in Wal-mart. We have had to miss quite a few opportunities these last few months because of all the sickness including church, FPU, being with friends, going to small groups, and just being together as a family. I am praying that we might be coming near the end of this sickness and have a break for the summer and Lord willing on into the fall.

I know it may sound silly that these minor illnesses might effect my relationship with the Lord, but I surely neglected to come before Him. Often in my need I retreat. I try to rely on independence to get me through. I have always been a "get it done" kinda girl, and through these past two months I have really had to reach out for help... humbling. The Lord has been showing me that I need dependence on Him, even in the small things like a few cases of strep and ear infections. I have had to be more open to my wonderful spouse, that I need His help or that I am not feeling well, so he can drag me to the doctor (i'm stubborn about that). I have come to a deeper realization that the Lord cares about all our needs, not just the huge matters in our lives. These past two months sometimes all I could get out in an hour or day is "Lord be with me, give me strength." He never fails, He has met me everytime. He didn't always relieve my immediate situation or take away the pain...but He was there He was peace admist the struggle. I admit I asked him why he couldn't just make us all well, or why we seemed to be getting ill more frequently than others. But in His most gentle way He reminds me that He will never forsake me.

My husband told me this great quote I wanted to share with you all:

"God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, and shouts in our pain." C.S. Lewis.

Top Three Thursday

Top three photos of the week. These were taken at the zoo.

Stop and Listen

I am a shameless fan of Bethany Dillon. I have seen her twice in concert and I feel she expresses herself in song many times the way that I am feeling in my heart. I can relate to her as a young married, seeking to know the Lord in a deeper way during this time in my life where I am also learning to be a wife, mother, and friend in a way that honors HIm. So enjoy this video and my plug for Bethany's music and her new album Stop and Listen...

Dinner with the Johnstons!

Isaiah experiencing his first Cinco de Mayo Meal!

To Know Him...

My number one dream as a child was to be a wife and mother. I don't know when exactly I started thinking and dreaming about it. Probably around the time I started wishing I was a Disney princess or Blossom from the Disney channel?!? Either way, I really cannot remember a time when I didn't desire those two rolls. Now, that I am a wife and mother I realize that they are two of the hardest rolls in a woman's life. It can be so easy to go throughout a day, and not even once think about God's hand on my life, or his desire for me that day. I mindlessly go through the tasks of the day, waiting for a second to sit down, read a book, check my FB, make a phone call, or write a grocery list. I am waiting for that snippet of down time or a clam moment to collect my thoughts. In reality my life is not all that busy, and I could easily remove much of the "noise". Although, I feel I may have come to depend on that "noise". I can use it a diversion to quieting my thoughts and heart before the Lord.

My husband, Kirk and I were talking the other day about hearing God's voice. We both were sharing times where we felt we so clearly heard God's voice it felt almost audible. It made me reflect on the last time I had come before the Lord, and instead of throwing at him my list of wants, desires, and favors, I sat quietly before Him, pouring myself out, to be filled with Him. In having this conversation with my husband I believe I heard God's voice, calling me back to quiet moments with Him. Stop trying to be a Martha, and to sit before Him as a Mary. I so often feel I need to be the most awesome mother around, to take my children to every educational experience, or activity to make sure they have all the opportunities in life. I think instead I can be a much better mother if I sit before the Lord, and allow Him to transform me. To allow him to show me the areas in my life where I need brokenness. I think the rolls God has given me, are more to change my into his image than to make me happy or to give me my best life now. So my prayer this day for each lady is that we would quiet our hearts before the Lord, and seek to be changed by Him.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garment of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10 NKJV

Praise He who is on high...

Olivia was scheduled to go to the cardiologist on Friday morning for her 6 month check-up and I had to go alone this time because neither Kirk nor my mom could take off work. Any appointment with 2 babies under 2 is stressful so I geared myself up to go, complaining all the way in the car as I went. I had such a bad attitude that morning and I was silently cursing the people who design parking lots as I found a space, almost a mile from the door. Once inside the office, I had to hold down Olivia so they could take her blood pressure, weigh, and measure her...all while trying to convince her that it's totally normal and that she shouldn't cry, yet love the snow white sticker she'd been given. Finally, we were placed inside the room and were waiting for Olivia to have her echo, the procedure that examines her heart through an ultrasound and feeds the results to the cardiologists (it's all very fascinating!) Almost an hour and half later, we see the doctors face and I am totally prepared for the worst, Olivia had been having some issues lately with turning blue at various times, and I had even spoken with the doctor recently about it. So I braced myself as he breathed in, a serious expression on his face. He smiled at me and almost like it was no big thing he says to me" good news" I couldn't even find a problem on Olivia's echo. The valves seemed to have returned to normal. and I can't even hear a murmur when I listen to her." I sat there for a long pause and then said "huh, what?" he repeated himself, and the information he was giving me slowly sank in, this time he made sure to tell me that he has only seen this "sort of thing" happen with a few patients in his 25 plus years of practicing. I was so excited...finally the news really having seeped it's way to my heart. I pick Olivia up, look her straight in the face and I say "baby, Jesus healed you!!!!" She looked at me, smiled and then wanted to get down and play. The moment passing for her, as if no big thing had just been said. The dr. said "you can call it supernatural if you want." I stopped him immediately, smiled and said "oh I will". Jesus healed our baby!" He rambled something off about coming back in a few years for a precautionary re-check...

By this point I had pretty much tuned him out, Jesus healed our baby and I was complaining about my parking space on the way in!! The Lord taught me a huge lesson that day, the Lord is not out to get me, to strike me around every corner, he loves me! Yes he does promise pain to shape and grow us more unto his likeness, but he is also a healer and a giver of grace! Wow, he continues to amaze me and teach me about himself. Thank-you Jesus for healing our baby girl!

All Wrapped Up

Today on the way home from speech therapy for Olivia, she was fussing in the car, mostly because she was way past due on her nap. She kept saying "ga-goo" her word for food (which I am continually correcting her about). Anywho...she is fussing for food so I reached for a lollipop we had received at the bank, still in it's wrapper, and I hand it to her. I wanted to avoid all the mess, and stickiness of unwrapping the lollipop for her, so I just handed it to her, wrapper and all. She stares at it for a few seconds, and then sticks it into her mouth, wrapper included. I knew we were close enough to home that she wouldn't be able to get it off before we got out. I felt so releaved that I had avoided another mess, and a whole lot of stickiness.

Then right before turning into my drive-way the Lord brought a thought to my mind that was very convicting. I felt the Holy Spirit impressing to me how often I try to avoid the "messiness" in other areas of my life by avoiding things like community and friendships because they can become sticky and not always be pleasant or fit into my little "box". I know this seems like a jump but the Lord has really been working on me about this... I groaned because I knew the Lord was right, and I knew I was going to have to do something with this conviction. So often in my life, I avoid situations where I know I will have to be vulnerable or reveal myself on a deeper level, this is my way of avoiding life's sticky moments. I try to keep my "shell" or "wrapper" about myself, so that I don't have to be truly transparent outside my own family. The Lord showed himself again to me in the smallest act of giving my child a lollipop with the wrapper still on.

So my prayer is that the Lord would bring times in my life where I can live out my repentance, and be truly vulnerable with others in his body. Community if done in the right way, is a beautiful thing and is very honoring to our Lord, it's a chance to show redemption, grace, and acceptance to others. As mothers, it is easy to get so caught up in the day to day that we forget the vital importance of friendships and community with others who might spur us on to a greater and fuller relationship with our Lord. We forget to be seeking out those opportunities to be mentored by "older" and wiser women (Titus 2). I don't want to live my life so inside my self and my own little world, that I forget to look-up and take the "wrapper off," to engage in life change through community, the way our God intended!

Hashimotos

Becoming a mother has changed me so deeply and in ways I never thought possible. One certain way it has changed me is the way I view life, and the preciousness of it! I was recently diagnosed with Thyroid disease, more properly known in the medical realm as Hashimotos. In other words, my Thyroid cannot seem to get it's act together and start working properly because in no uncertain terms, my body is attacking it! Hashimotos is an auto-immune disorder that I will have for the rest of my life. This runs in my family, so I was not totally surprised to find out about it, but nonetheless it made me stop and think. My body is tearing down, and starting the race towards finality. I have always been told as a child, and into adult-hood "life is a gift, don't waste it." How often do we stop and truly reflect on the truthfulness of the verses found in James 4:14 "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Any life I am given is so precious and a blessing!

So...Hashimotos has done a good thing for me! It's reiterated in my life that God knows what He is doing with me, he has it under-control! The way that he shapes us, draws us closer to him is many times in the pain he brings our way, the uncomfortable times, and the suffering we will experience in this life...that he has so gracious bestowed upon us.

A mothers reflection on Easter...

What a gorgeous Easter Sunday 2010! This is our first easter with two children and it made me reflect on how truly gracious the Lord has been to us these past few years. I was thinking in the car on the way home from church, how painful it must have been for Mary to have seen her first born hanging on a cross, a most horrible death. I tried to imagine the torn feelings she must have had as a mother to let him go, to not truly understanding. I also imagine she must have felt such overwhelming JOY three days later, knowing that he arose and conquered death!! What a roller coaster of emotions that week must have been, and I get cranky if my schedule is changed even a little bit.

How awesome! The Lord is victorious in every way! He turns our darkness into light, and guides our every step. I don't have to worry or stress, because he planned my steps before I ever took them.... I pray as a mother that I can convey these deep and precious truths to my children, and extend grace to them and to my husband as the Lord has so graciously done for me. This was a glorious day!