I was inspired by Kelly over at Kelly's Korner to post about some of my PRAISES. There is so much negativity going on these days, and we need to continually remind ourselves of our blessings. I'm giving Him PRAISE today!


For a wonderful, Christian husband and best friend...



For an incredibly supportive, loving, and FUN family...



For being a Bulldog fan when they became SEC Champions...


And, I certainly cannot end this post without PRAISING Him for such a beautiful day!! It's amazing to watch the changing of the seasons! Thank you Jesus!

What are you PRAISING Him for today?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

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I DID NOT allow my 8, 9, and 10 year old students to show me how to do the "Stanky Leg!" I would never allow children to move in such a way. That is totally inappropriate! And I most certainly wouldn't let them show me the dance as we listened to 99 JAMS. Do you really know any teacher that would allow that behavior in their classroom?!

I DID NOT leave Old Navy, where I discovered my new and much larger pant size, and race to the nearest gym to purchase a membership! There is no way that I would let myself go that much! And it would never be so bad that panic would ensue. Absolutely not!

After finding the gym was closed, I DID NOT drive straight to the grocery store to purchase yet more food. And, while I was NOT at the grocery store, I did not take the advice of a new blog friend, Abby, and purchase these! I don't need to watch my weight! I didn't eat one pack of three cupcakes only to find myself wanting to eat the whole box, either! (Seriously, I didn't eat the whole box...just wanted to!)


I DID NOT lay in bed Saturday until 10:00! I would never sleep that late! Teachers always wake up early - even on the weekends - right? And, I most definitely DID NOT get out of bed only to lay on the couch and watch one of the 3 movies I rented Friday. Me? Lazy? Never!

With only two days until my in-laws visit, I DID NOT spend the beginning of my Spring Break washing and folding two weeks' worth of laundry. I would never let dirty clothes pile up so! Besides, I NEVER freak out and go on a cleaning spree, becoming impossible to live with, when we have house guests! I am not that "anal."

I AM NOT worried about taking Farley to the groomer's this morning because his parents have failed to brush him since his last bath - whenever that was! I am NOT hoping that they have mercy on us and don't call the Humane Society! I would never neglect my baby in that way!


I DID NOT spend Sunday afternoon with my eyes glued to the television when the Dawgs beat Tennessee during the SEC championship, securing a spot in the NCAA tournament. And, during the last 20 minutes of the game, it was NOT so exciting that I gradually moved closer and closer to the television so that I could make sure not to miss a single play. And for pete's sake, my dad and I would NEVER text back and forth during such a game. He did not text "Dang right!" and "Shoot!" My mom would never take the effort to figure out how to text on her new blackberry to text "Whooooooo whooooooo!!!!!!" My parents are too old to text! That would never happen!

And, finally, it is absolutely, positively NOT Match Day on Thursday! I am certainly NOT a nervous wreck as I wait to see where Russ and I will spend the next five years of our lives during his residency! I am NOT the kind of person that needs a plan for my future. I've never been that way! Not me!

What have you NOT done this week?

Fun Friday

I want to express my thanks for all the emails, phone calls, and precious comments on my earlier post. I feel blessed beyond measure, and I know God hears our prayers. He answers those who call to Him according to His will. Your prayers mean more than you know!

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Since I'm so excited about Spring Break (Woo hoo!), I decided to post some Fun Friday pictures! Enjoy!

Even teachers need a fun day! Ha!

Not exactly sure what's going on here!
Smith Panama City Beach Vacation

I never knew I could have this much fun with MY MOM and her friends! This is our first "Ya Ya Bachelorette Party." Natalie and I are official Ya Ya Juniors now! Ha!

My parents have still got it! A little frightening, I know!

We have the coolest kid ever!

What are some of your Fun Friday memories?

Praying for More...

"There is no way to learn of faith except through trials. They are God's school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment. And once the lesson of faith has been learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained. Yet without trust in God, even great riches will leave us in poverty."

Faith. That is what I'm learning. God has worked in my life so much this last year. This is going to be a very personal post, but one that I feel God wants me to share. Russ and I began trying for a baby in May of 2006. We did not share our decision with anyone. Still, almost three years later, only a handful of people know. In the last year and a half I have had surgery, began seeing an infertility specialist, taking meds, been tested, poked, and prodded, and been through five aggressive additional treatments. So far, all has been unsuccessful. In February, we were thrilled to see a positive test...only to find out five days later that I had apparently had a "biochemical pregnancy" (something tried to happen, but failed) and an early miscarriage.

During the last year and a half of actually seeing a specialist and getting help from "modern science," I had become extremely discouraged. I went from hope when we first saw Dr. Hines, to disappointment when the meds didn't work, to depression when the next five treatments failed. All of these feelings are universal, I'm sure, for those who have plans for their life that happen to be different from God's. If I were completely honest, I would have to say that for a while I was bitter - almost angry - with God. I just didn't understand why He would not grant me the one thing I've wanted all my life! What had I done to make God want to punish me so? Being the stubborn person that I am, it took a year and a half of these feelings for me to FINALLY come back to the only One who can give me hope again. The only One who sacrificed His very own son to cleanse me of my sins. The only One who knows the number of hairs on my head and understands my pain. You may remember my earlier post about Becoming a Woman of Prayer. This was the beginning of me giving it completely over to God. Yes, I'd like to think I had done that before. But, I had not. As I got on my knees for those 28 days of February, I was giving it to Him and praying with persistence for Him to grant me this request.

After this last month, it was almost like God was saying, "You're doing better. But, I want more." Through a new commitment to my quiet time with Him and reading His Word more, I am understanding more and more the importance of faith. I am comforted by His Word, and I am comfortable laying it all at His feet. Don't get me wrong. I'm still completely heartbroken each time I discover that it's "not time yet." But I know in my heart that His plan is perfect and SO much more than I could ever imagine. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

I gotta have faith!

So, for now....

We are Johnson Party of Two

...praying for more!

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue on this journey God has set before us. Pray that we cling to one another for comfort and enjoy the time we have with just the two of us. Pray for our patience and understanding as the emotions of the journey take over. And, most of all, please pray that we continue to have faith that God hears our prayers, and he will give us what we ask if we pray according to His will.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him,

that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,

we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

I can't wait to see what God's plan is for our lives!

"God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine." Eph. 3:20

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

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I DID NOT wake up this morning only to find out that it was 8:00, when my students enter the classroom at 7:30!!! I would never do something so irresponsible as to forget to set my alarm. And, I certainly WAS NOT on the interstate by 8:15 and at school by 8:30! It would be insane to move that fast! If that did happen, which it DID NOT, I would have at least taken a shower! I would never start my week off so terribly stinky! Nope! Not me!

Russ and I DID NOT eat out every single night last week and this weekend because of a lack of groceries! I am a much better wife than that! I would never procrastinate on such a trip!

Kelly and I DID NOT sleep on a mattress on the floor this weekend. My roommate DID NOT pack up her entire house only to find out the day before she moved that the sale fell through, causing her two roomies to sleep on the floor. That would never happen!

I DID NOT upload Spice Girls onto my iPod, along with "Mmmm Bop" and "No Diggety." I would never listen to those songs and actually enjoy them - singing and dancing to every word! Not me!

MSU DID NOT beat Ole Miss 82-80 Saturday. And, I'm certainly not rubbing it in to any Ole Miss fans. I would never do that!

I DID NOT put all six of Farley's toys away only to walk back into the living room seconds later to find ALL six toys back out. He didn't carry his dog bed in there just to top it off! He would never do such a thing!

And, I most certainly DID NOT vote for four of my favorite dancers on Dancing With the Stars! I would never waste precious text messages on something like that! No way! Not me!

What have you NOT done this week?

A Night With the Roomies!

Last night, one of my college roommates was in town. So Kelly, Nikki, and I went out to dinner and had a fun night! We met at Mint, a newer restaurant in Renaissance Mall. It was very good! We hung out there for a while before heading over to my house to pick up some pajamas, a pillow, blanket, and Farley (of course!). Russ was on call last night, so we shacked at Nikki's. Her husband just got over the flu, so I'm pretty sure I'll be coming down with it soon. Ha! Hope not! Anyway, we had a great time catching up and just being, well, CRAZY!! It was like old times ...except that there was a boy there! Growing up is just plain awful! Ha! Kelly and I enjoyed and are used to being alone since our husbands are still in law and medical school. Husbands? Where? Ha! Just kidding! I love my husband who will be in college for a total of 13 years. Of course, we took MANY pictures! I've posted some of the less embarrassing ones here:

Me, Nikki, and Kelly at Mint

Me, Kelly, Farley, and Nikki at Nikki's

Roomies!

Who needs boys when you can spoon with your roomies!?!? Typical of our apartment in Starkville!

I had a great time girls! Can't wait 'til that beach trip! Get busy on that Kelly! Love you!

Tull Thanksgiving

That's right! Kristin has already begun on her Thanksgiving table decor! Seriously, these are the latest dishes she has created. I'm thinking....business venture!! How about you? Gail Pittman did stop her business. Maybe it's time for Kristin Jayne to step up!

Beautiful, Kristin! I'll take an 8-piece place setting! Now, get busy! Ha!!

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

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I DID NOT let my husband fix my lunch complete with a sandwich, chips, and dessert for the last two weeks. I would never do that! I'm a much better wife than to let him fix my lunch for school!

I DID NOT freak out when I saw a possum on top of our fence and Farley barking ferociously at it. I would never be scared for my dog's life because of a possum. I most certainly wasn't screaming FROM THE DOOR and sweating profusely when Russ came in the front door from studying. I would never overreact like that! And, if my dog was in danger, I would never just stand at the door to take care of it because I, too, was scared of the possum. Not me!!

I DID NOT cause my entire house of guests to jump from their seats because, "OMG! There's a black dog in the back yard!" I would never forget that our very own dog is black, and he was outside playing! No way! I would never be that ditsy!

It DID NOT come a blizzard Saturday night. It would never fall below 70 degrees in February in south Mississippi! And I did not scream to my husband, "Look, look, look! It's a blizzard!" in front of everyone at Julep Saturday night. I never embarrass my husband or demand his immediate attention. Not me!

I DID NOT tell my students after WAY too many, "Mrs. Johnson!" calls, that Mrs. Johnson wasn't there today. Her twin sister was there instead. I would never tell such a story!

I DID NOT become victim to an angry parent this week complete with a mom's screaming and my tears. I would never let someone treat me like that!

I DID NOT sit and watch my husband and twenty-year old brother slide around on my new wood floors in their socks Sunday afternoon! I would never allow them to be so childish! They most certainly didn't try to moonwalk and race/slide down the hallway. And, I definitely did not see my husband try to get a running start only to slip on his first step and almost bust his face! We would never have things like that going on in our house!

When we went home last weekend, my mom DID NOT hand Russ a pair of his boxers she had washed. And she most certainly DID NOT say, "I'm not even going to tell you where I found these!" My mom would never embarrass us like that! My dad definitely didn't respond by saying, "Where were they?! On the ceiling fan?" My parents are much to conservative to think up those questions! Not my parents!

I DID NOT start back at Palm Beach Tan Sunday because of my transparent ghostly whiteness. I would never subject myself to those UV rays. My husband is going to school to be a doctor! Do you really think I would put myself at risk like that?! No way!

I DID NOT take a mental health day to avoid taking a personal day. I would never consider myself mentally unstable. Not me!!

And, I am positively NOT counting down the days until Spring Break! No sir! Not me! I DO NOT know that there are only 12 days - 10 school days left!

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What have you not done this week?

Smithite Weekend and Birthday Wishes

We had a fun weekend! Kristin and Lee came in town Friday night to visit. We were all starving and went to eat at Cozumel. When we got home, we decided to play Singstar! Yes, we sang for a good two hours or more. Kristin and I even sang a tribute to Dustin from his second grade talent show! He sang Chattahoochee. Of course, we were texting Dustin throughout the night to let him know what he was missing out on. By Saturday morning, I had a text from him that said, "I'm on my way!" He just couldn't stand it! So, we ended up having a 'Smithite' weekend!

Reba and Brooks and Dunn singing a duet.

Lee and Russ even battled it out!

Yeah, well...I tried!

Kristin and I spent all day Saturday at Target, Material Girls, Juicy Drama, Azwell, and Old Navy. The guys met us at Mellow Mushroom for a late lunch. Then it was time to head over to the birthday party. My college friends, Rachael and Marcee, were in town. Rachael had us over to her parents' house to celebrate Marcee's birthday (She's actually only 6 1/4 years old! Her birthday is Feb. 29.) and watch the State/Auburn game. The game certainly wasn't much to see, but we enjoyed the party. Afterward, Marcee's parents took all the "younger people" out to Julep to enjoy a fun night! We had a blast!

Marcee blowing out her candles. If you look closely, Rachael placed the candles in the shape of a 25. This was after Kristin caught her making the 5 backwards!

Marcee, me, and Rachael

Marcee, Rachael, me, and Kristin
Since I graduated early and got married, Rachael and Marcee pretty much took care of Kristin when she first got to State.

Lee and Dustin saving a table

Me and Russ really enjoyed seeing old friends

Jimbo and Dustin

My battery went dead early in the night, so I don't have pictures of the others. Allison, Russell, Jay (Rachael's brother), and Marcee's sister were among the other "young people" there. Sorry!


Happy birthday, Marcee!! We had a great time!