Ask and Ye Shall Receive.. . .

D&C 66:9 - "Lay your hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. Return not till I, the Lord, shall send you. Be patient in affliction. Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

I can honestly say that this last year was the hardest in my 32 years of existence.  Losing a loved one affects everyone so differently.  Enduring the loss of my dad, shook me to the very core.  I questioned everything that I hold dear to me:  my faith in God, my testimony of my religion, my marriage and my life as a whole!  It was some pretty rough and dark times for this little girl!  As the year has progressed, I knew that something had to change in my life. . . didn't know what it was yet, but I just knew I wasn't doing well in my healing.  As most of you know, I've worked at East High School for 6 years.  I've been the Principal's Secretary for 3 of those 6 years and I've loved it!  I've grown to adore and love so many of my coworkers there and built friendships that will last a lifetime!  July brought the change that I spoke of. . . not exactly planned change, but does the Lord ever really forwarn us?  He prepares us for it, but we don't always know what the "IT" is going to be :). 
I saw a job posting for a Career Center Secretary job at Hunter High School (my high school rival growing up. . .G-High Lancer forever!).  I put in my application for it, not thinking that there'd be any chance I'd get an interview.  But, Hunter is so close to my house and I thought the job just might be the change I was looking for.  We were getting ready to head out on a week long vacation around the middle of July, when I got a phone call to go and interview for the job.  I was shocked of course and also very nervous because I was afraid of how this would affect my current job.  The night before my big interview (and 2 nights before we were leaving for vacation!) my Bishop called me to see if D and I could meet with him.  D and I have been serving in the Nursery.  LOVE it in there!  The kids are so funny and cute, we get to eat a snack and we get to play with toys!  What's not to love about that gig?!  But we've been in there for a while and I had mentioned that I missed the "big kids" class.  So I knew that change was coming. . . . .(this is where I open mouth and insert foot!) My Bishop told us that we were being released, but that it had to do with a change and the change involved ME!  Picture me, sitting in between Miss Pretty and D, smiling and nodding when he says "We'd like to call you to be the Relief Society President."  Now imagine my jaw hitting the ground, my eyes filling up with tears and the ugly cry in full affect!  That's right my peeps. . . .Relief Society President!  I thought for sure that Ashton Kutcher was waiting to jump out and say "You've been PUNKED!"  Nope.  Didn't happen.  Ashton was nowhere in sight.  The first thing I thought and said was "I'm just not ready!"  I really felt like I was just gathering up all the pieces of my broken and stomped on heart.  Just starting to really trust that the Lord knew the plan and that I could trust Him, but then he goes and does something like this! By the end of the meeting, I had said "Yes", I was a hot and snotty mess and I had been given an amazing blessing by my husband.  I told my Bishop that I had this job interview the next day and now I was thrown off my game with this shocking new detail!  He told me that "Life is like a snowglobe, it wouldn't be as beautiful if it weren't all shook up!"  Ain't that the truth! 
Along came my job interview. . . it went well, but I learned that they were interviewing 26 people!! YIKES!  I just felt very blessed to have the opportunity to at least interview. 
So I left on vacation the next day (Saturday). . . with a new bombshell of a calling and perhaps, a very small, but very real chance of a new job!  Talk about a double whammy eh? 
Vacation was a blast!  I tried to play and keep my mind off all of the "change", but when I hadn't heard from Hunter by Tuesday, I thought for sure it was a no-go.  That night I was bummed and I prayed that I would be able to do my job at East, which is at times very stressfull and heavy, AND do this calling that the Lord needed me in, with hopefully some of me left over for my family.  I cried some tears of disappointment, but knew that the Lord would provide a way to make it all happen.  The next morning I woke up to a voicemail on my phone.  . . it was the principal of Hunter High School.  I hesitated calling back for fear of hearing the reality that I didn't get the job.  I decided to just "rip off the band-aid" as Pheobe said on "Friends" and get it over with.  To my utter shock and amazement, they offered me the job!!! As I knelt down to thank my Heavenly Father, the reply that I got was "Why do you still doubt me?"
Isn't it amazing what can happen in a month?
As I prepared to leave my East High family to head out on this new adventure, I realized just how blessed I am to have been able to work with and rub shoulders with some very fabulous people!  I felt so very loved by so many and when it came to my final day, was a big bawl baby.  I had the most amazing boss that became like a 2nd dad to me when I needed it so much in my life.  You know those people that you just know the Lord placed in your life for a very specific reason. . . .he's one of them! 
I've now begun my new job at Hunter.  Everyday reassures me more and more of why I'm supposed to be there.  Right from the moment I told my boss at East that I was interviewing there and he realized that the Principal at Hunter was one of his assistant principals at Cyprus.  One connection after another. . . it's been truly awesome!
Today myself and my rockstar presidency were sustained and set apart.  This journey is just beginning, but I've already seen the Lord's hand in it all.  He's led me here, to this very point in my life and I know that He is in charge now!  What a humbling experience this has been for me.
I've seen the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ work in the hearts of myself and my loved ones.  It's real!  It's wonderful and truly amazing!
As terrified as I am for this next adventure, I'm also just as excited!  I know that the Lord has prepared me for this.
This song has come up so many times these past few months.  It reminds me of this season of my life. . . .

  

4th of July FUN

We got to go to the West Jordan parade this year.  So much fun, but muy caliente!  The girls were super cute and loved all the floats. 

 After the parade, we headed over to the rodeo.  My cute nephew was doing some muttin bustin'!  So fun!

And fireworks of course!  The perfect ending to a fun day!

One can't have too much fun!!

This summer has been a blasT!  We have tried to play as much as possible and I think we've succeeded.  In June, we headed up to Strawberry to do some camping.  The kids got dirty, we ate smores and D caught some fish, so everyone was happy!

The kiddos were hilarious and just had fun.  

It's Summa Time!

We had quite the day this past Saturday! We got to go to a friend's birthday party and see "Brave". Such a cute movie and so fun to see so many friends. From there, we headed to Leatherby's with some of my sibs to eat cheezy fries and laugh at ourselves and our kids. After which we took a dip in the pool and played. To end the night, we headed to a fun BBQ with some more friends. My sis and I (kids in tow) braved the madness of the WestFest (Local carnival. . ."Carnie Folk. . .Small hands"). We had some free tickets for the rides, so we got to enjoy the entertainment!

Here we are all crammed in the "Berry Go Round". It's a rendition of the Tilt-a-Whirl, only like a "hot box" with excellent accoustics! The girl's high pitched squeals were intensified 100x's.

One of my favorite quotes of the night was when my nephew was riding on the merry-go-round and said "This doesn't even feel like a real horse!"

To end the evening, we got to watch fireworks!

Other favorite quote of the night was while Miss Pretty was watching fireworks. There she was with her face toward the sky and her eyes all sparkly and she says: "Wow! I'm gonna have to tell Grammy about this!"  There really is something magical about watching fireworks on a hot summer night.

It was a fun day with so many great people!

For Father's Day this year, D got tickets to the concert of his dreams:

"Heart" & "3 Dog Night"

They'll be at the Blackfoot Fair this year and he is sooooo excited to go! It was one of those "firsts" that I've talked about.  The first Father's Day since my dad passed away.  I thought about my dad a lot all day. There are days that I feel at peace about things, then there are days that I feel in a constant turmoil. I have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't that long ago and that I don't have to be "completely over it". I was really wishing that I could have a big ol' hug from my dad on Father's Day. Monday night, I got my hug. I had a dream about my dad. I've had a couple of dreams with him in them since he died, but he was more like a memory in them. In this dream, he was talking right to me and it was very real. I was planning a party at my parent's house and on my way over there, I realized that I couldn't have a party there because we had cleaned it all out and sold it. But I went there anyway and when I walked in, my dad was sitting in the front room in his recliner. That was the only thing in the house. When I saw him, I was shocked and we both started crying. I walked over to him and he looked very weak, like he'd just gotten out of the hospital. He had oxygen on. I told him that I was so happy to see him and that everyone thought he had died. Through his tears he said "It just feels really good to be clean finally!" He hugged me really tight and said he was sorry. I just remember sobbing and being so glad that he was there. Then he told me that he needed to go lay down because he was so tired. When I woke up, it felt like I had just seen him. It felt so real. I sure miss him. I wish that I had been more forgiving with him. Addiction is one of those ugly things that Satan uses to beat us down until we give up. That's what I feel like my dad's addiction did to all of us. I got to where I didn't have anything left to give. But now I know that he's okay and he's getting better. But I sure wish that he was here to go camping with us and to be there to hold my babies when and if I have any more.

We are heading to our first camping trip of the season pretty soon and I've been thinking about all the memories that I have of being out on the lake with him. The smell of the water, the worm guts on his fingers, and of course, the country music! I'm excited to be up there in the mountains and to hopefully feel him close by me for a bit.

I miss you dad!

My baby girl is growing up.

It's crazy to think that Miss Pretty already finished her first year of preschool!  I was able to go to her little program at school, where they sang lots of cute songs.  She just loved school this year!

Especially her teachers Miss Emily and Miss Pam.

Her and her BFF's from school.  So cute!

Congratulations Miss Pretty!

Some of my favorite girls!

For the first time in more than 10 years, all us (but 1) Rick's College "D-3" roomies were able to get together for a little reunion.  It was so fun to see and meet everyone's husbands and kids and to catch up for a bit.  I love these girls! 

We used to get ourselves into all sorts of trouble up there in Rexburg, Idaho.  From breaking in to boys' apartments and rearranging furniture to going cowtipping past curfew (insert Beavis and Butthead's "Breakin' the Law! Breakin' the Law!") it was one of the most memorable years of my life! 

It was so great to get together and see everyone.  I only wish we were able to do it more often.  Love you girls!

Temple Square

Last month, we Johnson's decided to go see Temple Square with the tot.  What a fun trip we had!  We took Trax downtown, which I highly suggest.  Don't have to worry about traffic or parking. . . .nice!

Momma and Miss Pretty becoming culturally diversified.  "Ole!"

 I love this pic!

 Miss Pretty wanted to take a picture of us by the temple.  Not too shabby eh?!

By the time we were heading home, she was all tuckered out.  So cute!



Happy Birthday Daddy!

On April 29th, my dad would have been 59.  I decided that I didn't want to spend the day being sad and so I planned a big ol' party for the fam and friends to celebrate his life.  I know that he would have wanted that too.  We had a bounce house, hot dogs and home made rootbeer.  It turned out to be such a fun a day!  The kids had a blast playing in the bounce house and running amuck.

This homemade rootbeer's for you pops!

I love my family.  I'm sad that my dad isn't in this pic :(.  But I know that he is so proud of all of us.

We did a balloon release (I know all you environmental freaks, pretend like you didn't read that)  It was such a beautiful moment!  I could feel my dad with us.  Loved that part!

Does this picture need any explaination? I mean really?

The kiddos having a ball! 

So it's been 8 months already since my dad passed away.  I can't believe it's been that long since I saw him or talked to him.  I think about him all the time and try to remember all his little quarks.  I still feel like I'm picking up pieces here and there of what life was like before September 9th, 2011.  I don't know that I'll ever be the same.  This has changed me.  I don't know what I've learned from it yet.  I'm still figuring so much out about me, about life and about my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Still working through some anger, some disappointment, and lot's of grief.  I remember when he first passed and people would tell me that it never stops hurting, you just get used to the pain.  I'm still not used to the pain.  I miss him terribly and I'm sad that things weren't good before he died.  I'm sad that i didn't get to tell him I loved him one last time or that I didn't hug him tight enough the last time I saw him.  But I'm getting there.  Very slowly, I'm letting the healing in.  The Lord is so patient with me.  He knows that I need a little more time than most because I question so much.  I think of those times in SuperMan when a building or something collapses on him and he suddenly comes flying out of the rubble and all the "superhero" music starts to play. . . . someday that will be me!  I'm going to come out of this rubble and I'm going to have a theme song!! Something like "I'm Sexy & I Know It".  Until then, I'll keep digging through the rubble. . . or swimming through the molasses. . . . :) 

My Mini-ME!

I love my mini-ME Miss Pretty!  She is so stinkin' cute even when she's being naughty.  She does and says the funniest things these days.  She got a new swimming suit and wants to run through the sprinklers all the time.  Here's a pic of her and her daddy.

Quite the ham! 

She came in the other night in her halloween costume from 2 years ago.  She also had a tutu on underneath.  

Her favorite things to do:

Go to Aunt Jenny Poo's house (that's what she calls her)

Watch cartoons on Netflix.

Hang out in her underoos and get her back scratched by mommy.

Water the garden or pretty much anything that she can poor water on.

Play dress up and sing songs like "You are my Sunshine" and "Tuty Ta".

Put together puzzles.

Dance like there's no tomorrow!

Spring has Sprung in Johnsonville!

This spring has been an eventful one for our family.  Miss Pretty got a trampoline for her birthday this year. aka: the "Tramp" as us West Valley natives call it :)! 

The crazy little leprachans came and made a mess at our house this year!  But they left behind some yummy treats for us to eat!

We went to the Clark Planetarium for an Easter Egg Hunt and breakfast with the Easter Bunny.  The girls had fun gathering lots of eggs.  The Easter Bunny gave away its idenity when Miss Pretty saw her blonde hair hanging out from under her bunny mask.  Too funny!

"The real" Easter Bunny came to our house to bring lots of treasures.

Last but not least, the hubby and I got a night out on the town, thanks to my sis.  We went to City Creek to see what all the hype was about.  Very cool, but very overpriced for my liking.  It was still fun though.