Aaron and I started the year with our annual week-long trip away from the kiddos - a cruise to St. Maartin, St. Kitts, San Juan and Haiti. We always have such a great time together, seeing new things and reminding ourselves why we committed to spending our lives together. This coming year's getaway to Maui will be supplied by Aaron's company - a reward for his hard work and success this year! And to that we say, "Yay, Marcus & Millichap!" In other travel adventures, as a whole family we spent spring break in Gulf Shores, Ala. with our good friends the Ormsbys, Father's Day week in Myrtle Beach with the Holbrook clan and discovered a new overnight destination sure to remain a favorite - Great Wolf Lodge, where Nora learned to howl :)
This fall Louisville gained a new resident, whom we like to call Grandma J. Aaron's mom Penny moved to a condo not far down the road - and just a stone's throw from Shelbyville Road's retail action, which I think she rather enjoys. We had spent eight years without any in-town relatives, so I can't tell you what a blessing it's been to have Grandma J so near. The kids are enjoying special time with her on a regular basis, and that's priceless.
Shall I even start with talk of our medical issues? What a year! After a MRI showed spinal stenosis and various other owies in my back, I've been learning to deal with new limitations and perpetual soreness. This getting older thing really stinks, but it could be so much worse! Aaron is finishing the year recovering from a harrowing battle with kidney stones - one he is enormously grateful to have behind him. I've watched my parents each struggle with their own physical woes. Mom had back surgery three weeks ago, after several months of pain that had her using a walker or wheelchair at times. About that same time we learned my dad has lymphoma; a slow-progressing form of the cancer, but an unwelcome diagnosis nonetheless. His prognosis is good, but this all has been a reminder of just how much my parents mean to me. It's also been a real gut check in my relationship with the Lord, whom I love and trust with everything in me. I'm praying for ever-increasing faith to accept whatever the future holds for any of us, all with praise to the One who holds our futures.
Truly the Lord has been good to us. Here's a look at what each of us has been up to this year:
My biggest change this year has been taking a leadership position and co-teaching The Cord, a Sunday school class at Southeast Christian for young married couples. This entailed a new social group to pour into, many new couples to get to know and challenges to bring the Word of God to a different age range. It's a little strange being the ones bringing experience of marriage and raising kids to this group, as Tonia and I see ourselves in the midst of the struggle ourselves.
In the fall we picked up another co-teacher for The Cord, so Tonia and I started leading a year-long Discipleship Curriculum group for high school students. It's great to go back to teaching teenagers!
Work went very well this year, as a low interest rate environment combined with aggressive investor demand to push Kentucky multi-family prices to record levels. I set the Louisville record for highest price ever for a new apartment sale ($100K per unit); however, that record only lasted six months. Our new revenue allowed us to pick up some new missionaries to support.
One of the highlights of the year, as always, was hosting attendants for the Global Missions Health Conference at Southeast Christian. In years past, we've met fulltime missionaries with years of ministry in the field and lots of amazing and inspirational stories to share. This year we had 15 college students - each considering missions - at our house during the conference. Their eagerness to reach the nations is energizing and is a big reason we have them stay with us!
I've already told you most of what I've been up to - it's a perk that comes with authoring the letter - but I'll fill you in on the rest. People keep asking if I've been writing, and the short answer is "no." Have I been missing it? Absolutely! However, I know there will be a day when I'll have more spare moments than I'll know what to do with. Until then, I'm loving my days spent being a mom and wife to these wonderful people in my house!
I'm also loving the teaching and leadership opportunities I've had in several groups at church. The Women's DC group I co-led graduated in the Spring. I'm staying involved in this program through shepherding another group that began this fall in addition to co-leading the teen group Aaron mentioned. I also co-led a group for new believers called Understanding the Story this fall, and I can't tell you how much I gained from being around women so eager to learn and get involved. Sometimes seasoned believers need to hear Gospel basics with fresh ears to be re-energized, and this group really grew me in that way. Plus, they're just really great ladies :) So what's next? I'll be co-leading a Bible study for the women in The Cord; we'll begin with the book of James beginning Jan. 13. I hope to continue growing this community of wives and moms who love and support one another well. I hope to remain involved in Understanding the Story, and I may never leave DC!
Our first born just turned 7 and seems to be turning into a little lady right in front of our eyes. While she still enjoys roughhousing with her brother and pretending to be a cheetah, Katie's growing maturity shows in her thoughtful questions, expressions of empathy and increased willingness to try new things. She also had her first three lost teeth this year and has a brand new, beautiful smile!
She's taking a victory lap in kindergarten this year and is making wonderful strides in reading. Of course, her favorite subject remains art - and she's really good at it, I must say! Katie's classroom is next door to her brother's kindergarten class, which has turned out to be pretty cool. They have the same homework, attend the same field trips and see each other several times throughout the day, which seems to make them both happy and more comfortable. We'll see if they still feel that way in a few years.
Ah, the boy. Well, the blond hair is just about grown out, and at 5 he's just not a baby anymore. Sometimes I look at Adam and can't believe how dramatically he has changed in the last year. He's sailing through the academics of kindergarten, although he does get a note sent home from the teacher from time to time. Once she reported that Adam was singing while he did his work, and more recently she had to tell him twice to stop dancing in the hall. Is it wrong that I love those violations?
Outside of school, Adam has been dabbling in some recreational activities. He and Katie spent a lot of time in the neighborhood pool this summer, and Adam jumped off the diving board for the first time! He gave soccer a try this fall, and while he did stop a few balls as his team's goalie, Adam wasn't that interested. Oh well, on to something new next year. In the meantime, Adam is happy following in his daddy's footsteps and loves playing games on the iPad - namely, he enjoys spending time building things in his Minecraft world and then setting them on fire. Should we be worried?
As of today, our family has watched Frozen roughly 683 times, give or take, because Nora just can't get enough of it. Basically, when Nora finds something she loves she overdoses. I can't tell you how many sticks of string cheese she has consumed - she even asks for it for breakfast and, if I'm not quick enough, she'll fashion a ladder-like device to get it out of the fridge herself. We've listened to Pharrell's Happy ad nauseam, which actually didn't bother any of us because we're cool with just about anything that makes that sweet girl giggle. And you have to admit it's a great song :)
I know she's my kid and all, but she's so stinkin' cute I almost can't stand it.
Nora is one smart cookie, too. Have you ever heard a 2-year-old count to 12? I don't know where that came from because we haven't been practicing. And you know she's not using the potty regularly because her mother is such a good potty trainer. Seriously, ask brother how good I am at it. My only deduction is that she picks up on everything the rest of us say and do, and that's fine by me. Thank you, Lord, for this delightful, easy kid!
All things considered, no matter our momentary circumstances we can't thank God enough for how He provides for us - most of all, with the salvation He granted us through Jesus Christ. But also, we are blessed with the opportunity to live life with and love one another. May the Father grant you and yours a life of love, joy and peace in 2015!
The Johnsons
