Weekend Wrap Up

How To Read the Scales and Find Your Perfect Weight:  Beautiful post, wonderful reminder. . .

How to Cut Letters, Make Your Own Stickers, and Fingerpaint with Preschoolers (*Whew!*):  I'm totally making one of these canvases with Cole for his room (may use a different quote, but adore the technique).  LOVE it!!

Wake Up!:  Although not quite recent, a favorite post by my dear friend, Regina.  A constant encouragement on spending time with the Lord early in the morning.

Muffin Tin Monday:  I've seen these once or twice, but have found a blog with bountiful ideas (thanks Rebecca!).  GREAT way to con picky eaters into trying new, healthy foods.  Can't wait to incorporate these fun themes into Cole's lunches!

Short Lessons - Good for the Boyish Soul:  The M.O.B. Society - For Moms of Boys, By Moms of Boys.  A little homeschooling encouragement. . .

Meet Cletus

I always said I was a one pet kinda girl.  Those of you with multiple dogs, fish, and hamsters - more power to ya.  Don't even get me started on cats. . .

Anywho, a new pet has joined the Johnson home; BUT my mind is at ease knowing that this pet will need no feeding, walking, playing, or much attention.  Maybe a 'bath' once in awhile, but that's to be expected.  

Meet Cletus - Cole's new Pillow Pet :)

Cole has seen advertisements for these on TV and LOVES them.  He especially loved the dog and would grin from ear to ear through the whole commercial.  We had planned on getting him one for his birthday, but Michael saw them last night at Walgreens (of all places) and couldn't resist getting him one (I think we need to work on delayed gratification :) ).

Cole was so excited and named him Cletus.

Surprise!

Love at first sight :)  

Cletus has already been on a road trip to pick peaches and blackberries and is Cole's constant companion around the house.

  

Welcome to our home Cletus!   

It's Here!

Consignment sale season is once again upon us.  Time to get Cole's winter wardrobe (and even a few birthday/Christmas gifts) in order.  

I. am. so. excited!!

I'll be hitting my first sale tomorrow - Grace's Closet.  Here's the info. . .

The Church at Grace Park (all sale proceeds benefit MOPS)

506 Hester Dr. White House

Friday: 8-6, Saturday: 8-1 (50 % off)

Check out www.kidsconsignmentsales.com for a thorough list of sales in your area (and be sure to attend the College Heights Baptist Church sale on Aug. 12-14 - help support MY MOPS group!) 

Happy Shopping!

Wordless Wednesday: Gone to the Dogs

Our sweet five year old boxer, Tank

When Cole arrived, he took a backseat and still loves us unconditionally.  Figured it was time he had his own post :)

Titles

As part of my Type A, slightly OCD personality, I love for things to be organized, neat, and I make at least one list a day for some sort of activity.  Seeing as I thrive on structure (yes, organized chaos counts) and routine, I felt I needed some sort of daily titles to keep my blogging mind focused as I share with you thoughts I have on family, fun, parenting, teaching, and Jesus.

I began Monday's Menu which not only shares yummy recipes with you, but helps keep me accountable to write my weekly menu on Sunday and prepare the week's grocery list.  I didn't post for a few weeks and had many of you asking for them :)  I hope to also add Multitude Monday which will link from a wonderful site that I've just discovered: A Holy Experience  - more to come next week (oh the suspense!).

Tuesday will be 'Tuesday's Tip'.  Here I'll share deals for the week, fun activities to do with your kiddos, tips on teaching, parenting, and the like.  I'll be on the lookout for tips to share, so let me know if you have any you'd like offer.  I may even open up for guest posts on these days :)

Wednesday is 'Wordless Wednesday'.  A chance to share a few recent pictures of our adventures.

Thursday and Friday I'll keep as 'open' days to share random thoughts, quotes, or other family fun (or take a rest :) )

Saturday will be 'Weekend Wrap-Up'.  Here I'll share my top weekly posts from other bloggers and sites.  Although I don't cruise the blogging world much, I have come across some great articles and posts that I would love to share with all of you.  Encouragements on motherhood, cleaning tips, kid activities, and the joy of reading how Jesus Christ is changing lives around us.

Of course, there will always be other things that I'll want to share with you and those posts will be sprinkled in.  Let's just say these 'titles' help put my anal persona at ease :)

So. . .

Tuesday's Tip:

Grandparent's Day at the Nashville Zoo

This Saturday, July 31, the first 300 grandparents to pass through the gates will receive FREE admission to the zoo.  This is perfect timing for us as we have a membership, but my grandparents (Cole's great-grandparents) have been wanting to join us.  Let's just hope it's not 100 degrees outside :)

Crayon Discs for tiny hands

Ever wonder what to do with broken crayons from around the house (or all those crayons your kiddos receive at the restaurants when you dine out)?  Turn them into crayon discs which are perfect for toddlers learning to color.  They are easy to hold for those developing fine-motor skills, no paper to chew, and they do not break easily.

1. Separate the crayons by color and break into small pieces (or mix colors for a rainbow effect)

2. Place each color into a separate mini-muffin tin cup - two crayons per cup works best.

3.  Cook on low (about 250 degrees) until the crayons melt together (around 7-10 minutes)

4.  Place muffin tin in the freezer for quick cooling and hardening

5.  Pop out and enjoy! 

 

Hard to believe TWO years have passed since I took these pictures of my little man - feels like yesterday

Monday's Menu

Monday:  Barbeque chicken pizza, tossed salad

Tuesday:  Poppyseed chicken casserole, okra, creamed corn

Wednesday:  Slow cooker vegetable soup, grilled cheese sandwiches

Thursday:  Fajitas, Touchdown taco dip

Friday:  B'day party at the Nashville Zoo - Happy 4th Birthday Abby!

Saturday:  French onion pot roast (slow cooker), carrots, potatoes, strawberry salad

Sunday:  Leftovers

Check out this Giveaway!

I've been following a creative mama's site, Pitter Patter Art, for sometime now and have fallen in LOVE with all of her art pieces, tees, baby items, and other crafty concoctions.  

Laura Kelley is a beautiful mom of three and uses her God given talent to bring Him glory and bring smiles to faces in the process.  I ordered an Ethiopian key fob from her this summer for a friend and hope to order many more things in the future! 

From now until Monday evening, you have the chance to win a custom, handmade art piece by Laura.  Not only is the piece beautiful, but the story behind it is as well.  Click here to stop by her site, view the piece, and see the many ways to enter her giveaway.  You don't want to miss it!

(You can also find her site on the right-hand side of my blog under "Blogs/Sites I Enjoy - Pitter Patter Art".  Her button is on there as well!)

**Be sure to check out her photo gallery while you're there!  I know you'll fall in love with her creations too!

Wordless Wednesday: Staying Cool

Lovin' the slip-n-slide! 

 And I'm not alone. . . Mommy has the bruised knees and elbows to prove it :)

Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know

I love that old hymn. . .there is something so comforting, powerful, and joyous in that one name - Jesus.

Bedtime is a favorite for our family.  The conversation that seems to stem after Bible reading and before/after prayers is a highlight of my day.  Listening to Cole talk about our sweet Savior is one of the most precious sounds I'll ever behold.

A few nights ago, after reading the story of the Prodigal Son, our conversation turned to Jesus and Heaven.  I tried to take a mental snapshot of the moment and remember all that was said by immediately recording it on paper after laying Cole down.  Michael and I were moved to tears by the tenderness of Cole's heart at such a young age towards spiritual things.  I'm sure I left out a few details, but here is the heart of our talk together.

Michael and I were talking about how the Lord rejoices when the lost come home - just as the father rejoiced upon the return of his son.  We read our Bible verse (1 John 1:9) and discussed how if we confess our sin (when we disobey), then the Lord is faithful to forgive us.  We then talked about Jesus fulfilling this promise when he died on the cross and rose again.  Cole then asked. . .

Cole:  Where's Jesus?

Mommy:  He is here with us.

Cole:  Where?  I don't see him.

Mommy:  Well, Jesus lives in our hearts by the Holy Spirit

Cole:  What's the Holy Spirit?

Mommy:  The Holy Spirit is what God sent to us as a gift when Jesus went to live in heaven.  The Holy Spirit is our comforter and helps us to obey God.

Cole:  And gives us peace in our hearts when we're afraid of lightening?  (I was thrilled he remembered this from a previous conversation we had riding in the car through a storm one evening)  

Mommy:  That's right.

Cole:  Mommy, where is heaven?

Mommy:  Heaven is where God is.  It's a special, wonderful, beautiful place.

Cole:  I want to go there.

Mommy:  Me too.  One day, we'll be there together and we'll see Jesus face-to-face.  What do you think he looks like?

Cole:  He's got green eyes, brown hair, lipstick, and earrings (ha!!)

Mommy:  Well, I doubt he's got earrings and lipstick, but he will be wonderful.  We won't be able to take our eyes off of him!

Cole:  Let's go to heaven Mommy.  Hold me up!  Let's go high in the sky!

Mommy:  We can't go to heaven right now, but one day all of us with Jesus in our heart (the Holy Spirit) will be there.  We can dream of heaven. . . 

Why do you want to go to heaven?

Cole:  Because I just want to see Jesus  (have you ever heard anything more precious!?)

Mommy:  Me too buddy, me too. . .

Uncool

You MUST WATCH this video created by the amazing media/worship team at Long Hollow.  Our summer sermon series has focused on The Sermon on the Mount, and is titled "Uncool - When Faith and Culture Collide".  This is the second promo video for this series and it is HILARIOUS!

Although we laughed until we cried on Sunday morning, this series has really challenged us to live, walk, talk, and look differently than the world.  As followers of Christ, we were truly called to be 'Uncool'.

The piano tie wearin' fella is our new Worship Pastor - Gerald Trottman.  This past Sunday was his first 'official' week with us.  He's already been corrupted :)

Disclaimer:

I was in the marching band for a few years and still considered myself to be 'cool'.   If you participate in any of the mentioned activities below (past, present, future) know that in my book, it's all relative :)

 

UnCool Bumper #2 from Long Hollow Creative on Vimeo.

Monday's Menu

You'll see a few meals repeated because of surprise dinner invites last week hosted by friends and family.  I am surrounded by such good cooks!

Great thing about menu planning is meals that aren't prepared just roll over to the next week - glorious!

Monday:  Parmesan chicken, baked beans, mac-n-cheese w/ broccoli

Tuesday:  Tangy Pork Chops (slow cooker), corn on cob, fried okra

Wednesday:  Hearty Kielbasa Supper, salad

Thursday:  Beef Burritos (slow cooker), black bean salad

Friday:  Meatloaf, green beans, twice baked potatoes

Saturday:  Chicken Marinara w/ angel hair pasta, garlic bread

Sunday:  Leftovers

Tangy Pork Chops:

4 thick cut boneless pork chops

2 medium chopped onions (I use one)

1 green bell pepper; sliced

14.5 oz. can stewed tomatoes

1/2 c. ketchup

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 beef bouillon cube

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. water

Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper and place in crockpot (use the slow cooker liners for easy/fast clean-up!).  Add the onions, pepper, and tomatoes.  Mix ketchup, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and bouillon.  Pour over vegetables and chops.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Mix cornstarch and water and stir into liquid - cook on high for another 30 minutes. 

Beef Burritos:

3-4 lb. chuck roast

1 medium onion; sliced

1 (4 oz.) can diced green chilies

2 Tbsp. veg. oil

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste)

1 tsp. chili powder

salt and pepper

1 bottle (4-5 oz.) hot sauce (or to taste - this is a little too spicy for us so a few drops is enough)

water

Trim chuck roast of excess fat.  Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Sprinkle roast with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Add roast to hot skillet and brown on all sides to sear in juices.  Add roast to slow cooker.  Place onion over roast.  Season with other ingredients.  Pour enough water to cover 1/2 of the roast.  Cover and cook on high for 8 hours or until meat is falling apart.  Shred meat and serve in warm tortillas with rice and black beans.  Garnish with cheese, salsa, and sour cream.

From my MOPS cookbook "From Our Table" - submitted by Ellen Grant

  

Party Time!

I feel like that's the mode we've been in over the past few weeks.  Family and friend birthdays have been fun to attend, but a highlight PaRtY was for dear friends Shane and Lori Woodlief.

This sweet family has been a part of our lives for 14 years.  It all began when this newlywed couple became a part of the pastoral staff of College Heights Baptist Church taking on the role of youth minister and English teacher at CHCA.  I was a part of the youth group at the time and since then, our relationship has grown from mentor to dear friend.  

Michael and I began to work alongside Shane and Lori in the youth ministry and have shared many joys and sorrows as families along the way.  Fun memories of game nights, New Years Eve parties, youth camps, mission trips (Mexico baby!), and a getaway to Philly flood my mind.  However, etched in my heart are the times we prayed together, cried together, questioned God together, and ultimately rejoiced together at His goodness towards us. . . a friendship that is cherished indeed.

Well, why the party you ask??  

Shane and Lori moved to Vancouver Island, Canada four years ago to follow the call of God on their lives.  Shane now helps to pastor a church led by Mark Buchanan and has fallen in love with the ministry there.  

Since December of 2006, we have not had a face-to-face conversation with these sweet friends.  TOO LONG!  We've watched kids grow up and family adventures through blog posts and Facebook, and JUMPED at the chance to get together when they let on they were coming stateside to visit family.

Making a Rita's run together - Shane introduced us to this DELICIOUS concoction in Philly six years ago :) 

Shane and his son, Conor

Lori and I - hilarious how we matched :)  Good friends think alike!

Cole and their daughter, Mackensey

Before Cole was born, Michael and I used to host a guys 'Poker Night' every Thursday at our home.  Although everyone left empty-handed (aka no gambling ever took place), it was a highlight of their week.  This weekend, my dad hosted the 'old gang' once again.  William, Kevin, Clayton, Ray, and Josh - they missed you guys!  

This past Tuesday, I offered our home and we gathered with 25 other friends to catch-up and offer many overdue hugs :)  Such a FUN time!

(Make sure to check out the three previous posts. . . I've been on a roll today!)

Time Flies. . .

Eighty seems like so far away.  Then I remind myself how 30 used to seem SO OLD and far away - (I'll be 31 this September).

I must say that I pray I see my 80th birthday and hope to look back on my life as my grandfather did this past weekend.  A life full of Jesus, love, and family.

We gathered at my grandparents home to celebrate this memorable occasion together.  Happy Birthday Grandaddy!!

The guest of honor 

Grandaddy and his girls (Aunt Cristal, Mama Jo, and my mom)

The grandkids and great grandchild (minus Kyle. . . we missed you!)

The 'in-laws' to the family :)

A photo collage I made for him with pics of myself and Cole.  Inscription reads:

Grandfathers are. . .

Dads with lots of frosting

Antique little boys

A little bit parent, a little bit teacher, a little bit best friend.

Thank you for your love and laughter. . .

We LOVE you very much Grandaddy!