Blood Water Mission

At VBS this year, the collected offering went to the Blood Water Mission ministry.  This organization helps to provide clean water to impoverished villages and towns in Africa.  Each night of VBS, the boys and girls saw a story of a named child and what he/she had to do to get water - and oftentimes that water was filled with bacteria, mud, and other harmful additions.  With our neighborhood yard sale coming up, I thought it would be the perfect time to set up a lemonade stand (summer bucket list item) AND give the money collected to a good cause.  Blood Water Mission came to our mind and so it was...

Cole made signs while I stirred the lemonade.  We had the perfect spot at the end of our driveway with yard sales on either side and across the street.  With hot temps, those precious signs, and that handsome face, shoppers couldn't help but stop and purchase a refreshing drink.  Many people gave above the 25 cent price tag and it was the perfect lesson in generous giving lived out in front of my children.  

Sweet friends from our small group came out to support.  Thankful for this crew!

That Sunday, Cole took his earnings to church and gave them to our Children's Pastor, Mr. Andy.  $64.50!!  Praise the Lord!

Celebrating

This weekend begins with a story that started almost one year ago.  The boys and I were headed to the Gallatin Library to return our books and check out new ones for the week.  As we entered the parking lot, I looked down and realized I had left our bag of due books on the kitchen counter.  The boys were sad and I needed a plan B quick.  I called my grandmother (who lives close) to see if she and my grandfather would like some afternoon company.  Just so happens they weren't at home...crazy.  Plan C - head to the nearby city park and let the boys picnic and play.  As the boys were playing, I met a mom sitting on a bench and we began to chat about kids, jobs, etc.  She was a new transplant to the area and I invited her family to join us at church one Sunday.  We didn't exchange any information accept for our names and kindly parted ways.

Later that week, I received a Facebook friend request from this sweet lady.  I had NO idea how she had found me seeing that we only exchanged first names.  Turned out that she called the church and asked if they had any member with the name 'Adrian' (glad my name is uncommon!).  From there she found me on FB and we became 'friends' :)  I invited her to iMom which was beginning soon and she jumped at the chance to join.  Fast forward a few weeks - she comes to the first meeting and a few days after surprisingly gives premature birth to her son, Gage, 2 months early with complications.  The Lord knew they would need some support and our table was given the opportunity to love on her family with meals, encouragement, and prayers.  From that moment has grown a friendship that has continued to be a blessing in my life.  Her family began attending church with us on Sundays at LHG and recently, Michael had the JOY of leading her oldest son, Caleb to Christ at VBS.  I stand amazed.  Coincidence that those library books were left on the counter one summer day last July?  I think not.  God is always at work...we just have to stop and grab hold of the opportunities he places in front of us.  Kieryanne, so so glad the Lord brought us together that picnic park day.  Thankful for the gift of your life and the strength that you portray - you really are a Superstar! 

Celebrating Caleb and Collin's carnival birthday 

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Celebrating didn't end at the birthday party.  The Sunday after, Michael had the honor of baptizing Caleb during our morning church service.  What a gift!  We are so proud of this young man and the decision he has made to follow Christ!

Cole with his Poole buddies

Cole and Caleb

Foreverland

I LOVE Vacation Bible School.  I was saved during the Thursday evening service of VBS when I was nine years old, so this fun, meaningful week for children will always hold a special place in my heart.  I've served every year (in lots of different areas depending on our season of life) and was super excited to jump in and teach my beloved first grade age.  A friend from the H'ville campus and new LHG member taught with me - we had a blast teaching a group of 9-10 spunky first grade boys about God's love.  This VBS was during the evening which was new to our family, but it seemed to work out well enough :)  By Thursday night, we were ALL exhausted but loved the fun-filled week our church and volunteers provided.

Cole enjoying Legos in our room before heading to his class

 These boys really were gems to teach.  Good listeners, curious questions, and creative minds.  Loved it!

Andy did such a great job leading VBS and getting the kiddos pumped up each evening.  

Over 120 kiddos...a LHG record!

Mr. Andy was covered in Silly String because of our large offering :)

 Craft time

Outdoor Rec

God knows you and calls you by name :)

L.O.V.E.

LHG Putt-Putt

It's been exactly a year since our family joined the Long Hollow Gallatin congregation to worship and serve.  It's been a journey learning the ins and outs of a satellite campus and the differences they hold apart from the 'normalcy' of the main campus that we knew for seven years.  Making new friends, building new relationships, finding new areas to serve that grow and stretch our faith...it's been a hard ride that we're still navigating yet really beginning to enjoy.  

Being the newbies on campus, we have tried to attend all the large gatherings - movie nights, dinners, scavenger hunts, and on this occasion, the LHG Putt-Putt Challenge.  We know that we'll never feel connected unless we make the effort to truly get to know individuals and families outside of the 'big room' as Pastor Bill likes to say :)  So, we headed with a group of 50 other LHGers for a fun dinner at Cock of the Walk and then over to Grand Ole Golf for an evening of putt-putt.  

We were paired with a sweet family and really had a great time!  The boys had a ball with their new friend, Lizzie, and we built yet another foundation for a Sunday morning 'Hello!' with a couple that went from strangers to familiar.  Thankful for this body of believers and excited to see what the Lord has for the Johnson crew as we continue to follow His leading...

Blast from the Past

This past year, my friend Audrey and I have had the joy of teaching 11th grade girls on Sunday mornings at LHG.  We've grown to love these gals, and were surprised/humbled/excited when they invited us to join in their 2015 TCHS prom picture taking before their fun night began.  After both Aud and I struck out with sitters, we decided to go for it and drive to Trousdale County with ALL five of our boys in tow.  Road trip!

Thankfully, the picture taking was outdoors at a beautiful home and the boys could run off a little energy.  We snapped a few pictures and away they went.  Whew...brought back so many high school memories.  Crazy to think I was partaking of those same events the year these girls were BORN...gah!

Quest 2015

Ever since Michael and I followed in obedience and joined the Long Hollow Gallatin campus (a story for a different post), I have been co-teaching 11th grade girls on Sunday mornings with my dear friend, Audrey.  This was (and still is) a huge step out of my comfort zone.  Elementary aged kids are my jam...I love them and am totally in my groove whether teaching them academics or serving at a VBS.  However, after much prayer (and persistence my Mr. Nate Dooley), I agreed to serve these young ladies and prayed that God would teach me something in the process.  Wow.  Has. He. Ever.  My faith, patience, and heart's motivation has been tested, perfected, and stretched more than I could have ever imagined.  Some days are tough, but the blessing outweighs the trials and I've truly come to love each one of these girls.

I attended the fall student crusade and knew that Quest was coming up soon.  I thought of a thousand reasons for why I couldn't/shouldn't go, but when the date drew near, I knew God wanted me to serve our youth at this weekend event.  Michael agreed and this past Friday, I headed out for a two night stay at Opryland Hotel with over 1500 other youth and adult leaders.  Upon loading the bus on Friday afternoon, I pulled out my packet and saw that I had been placed with fourteen 7th-8th grade girls instead of my usual 11th graders.  I admit that my heart was frustrated at first, but after a chat and prayer with a friend, I knew that God was telling my spirit to trust Him and that He was going to move in a big way.  Not only in my life, but in the lives of our students.

My gals!

Friday night's service was wonderful and my two college leader sidekicks were amazing.  When it came time for student's to ask for prayer or make a decision, one of my sweet gals pulled me aside to ask some hard questions and talk through some personal struggles.  I had specifically been praying for her...she was the younger sister to one of my 11th grade girls.  Yep, God had me right where he wanted me and I was blown away.  Amazing how our selfish desires can potentially blind our heart's eyes to the blessings He wants to pour out on us.  Thankful.  I also got the opportunity to see one of my 8th graders open her heart to Jesus.  Both she AND her SISTER followed in obedience with believer's baptism at LHG on Sunday.  Again, thankful (and praising the Lord for lives changed for eternity!).

These two college ladies are amazing!  Olivia and Derian, you made my weekend that much more wonderful!

The rest of the weekend was fabulous and went off without a hitch.  I tell ya, Long Hollow is a well oiled machine!  Service on Saturday morning, CFA lunch on the hotel lawn, service project at Rucker Stewart Middle, a bus run to McGavock High for dinner, and then evening service.  Sunday we headed back to LHG for a delicious breakfast provided by our church family and then finished with 118 youth/adults in the late service.

Quest leaders ready to go on Saturday!

6th - 10th grade LHG girls serving at Rucker Stewart Middle School on Saturday.  We cleaned cobwebs out of each classroom, scraped gum off the gym floor, swept and cleaned bleachers, and cleaned walls around the hallways and bathrooms.  These gals did not complain and did it with a joyous spirit...so proud!

Little dance move our girls made up while sweeping :)

View from our balcony room - wish I could've enjoyed this view a bit more :)

Whew.  What a weekend.  I was plum exhausted, but I wouldn't trade it in for my 'normal' weekend activities.  Such a gift to experience so many lives encouraged, impacted, and changed forever for the Kingdom.  Quest 2016, I'm ready (well, almost...I still need a nap).