Friday, November 25, 2011

~X, Y, Z~


Thankful for: 
Xerox machines : ) 
X Rays

Yard Sales
Youth
Yesterdays

Zaxbys
Zip Lock Bags
Zoo
Zzzzzzs : )

~Rachel

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

~V, W ~



Today I am grateful for:

Virginia
Vehicles
My Valentine
Valentine's Day
Victory
Vacuum
Vanilla
Vacations
Vivid colors
Video Camera
Village : )
Vision
Voices
Visitors

Word of God
My Wedding Rings
Wednesdays
Worship in Freedom
Warmth
Weddings
Waffles
Washer
Whispering
White House
Josiah's Whistles
Wreaths


~Rachel

Monday, November 21, 2011

~U~


Today I am thankful for:
Unfailing God
Undeserving Grace
Unmerited favor
U.S.A.
Unity
U-Turns
UT


~Rachel

~T~



I am thankful for:
Today
Tomorrow
Trisha Edge
The Tangemans
Thanksgiving
Teachers
Tape
Target : )
Tea
Tenderness
Texting
Thrift stores
Transportation

~Rachel 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

~S~


So thankful for:
A loving Savior
My Salvation
My Sister
Sara Wood
Sunny Sachse
Sue Gobble
Silly Times
A Sweet Boy
Strawberries
Starbucks
Sunshine
Salad
Soup
Songs/Singing
Silence

~Rachel

~R~


I'm Grateful today for:
Righteous God
Reese's
Rainboats
Rain-X
Red (color)
Recycling
Ranch Dressing
Rest
Red, Hot & Blue
Red Lobster

~Rachel

~Q~


Thankful for:
Qdoba
Quiet times
Queen size bed
Quart size zip lock bags
Quick jobs : )
Quesidillas


~Rachel

~P~


Today I am thankful for:
Preacher
Parents
People
Philip King
Pankuch Family
Pugh Family
Pharmacy Friends
Precious times with Family
Pinterest
Pandora
Picnik
Panera
Pjs
Peanut M&Ms
Puppy Chow
Pizza
Pictures
Pumpkin Rolls
Pretzels

~Rachel 

~O~


Thank you Lord, for:
Olive Garden
Ocean 
Onions
Oriental food
Ornaments
Outlets
Olive Oil

~Rachel 

~N~


Thankful for:
Our Nation
Nail Polish
Niagara Falls
Natural Products
Naps
Nursery
Nieces
Nephews
Neighbors
Noon (lunchtime) : )

~Rachel

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

~M~


Today I am thankful for:
My Mother
Mother-in-law
Matthew King
Misty Jones
Melissa Cormican
Mellody Family
Michelle Bryan
Melissa Carr
M&M
Make-up
Moes
Michaels Arts & Crafts

~Rachel

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

~L~


Today I am grateful for:
Lord Jesus Christ
Life
Love
Lawren Jackson
Lottie Bachman
Leah Dickey
Laughter
Light
Lungs
Leaders
Lemonade
Lollipops
Lip Gloss
Little things in life


~Rachel

~K~


Thankful for:
King family
Kind words
Kisses from Josiah : )
Kaiser
Karen Hatcher
Katie Satterfield
K-Cups
Ketchup
Kids
Kleenex
Kitchen Aid
My Kitchen

~Rachel 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

~J~

I am grateful for:
Jesus
Joy
Johnson Family
Josiah
Julie Alcorn
Jennifer Pankuch
Judy Meersman
Jewelry
Juiceboxes
"Justified" - song

~Rachel

Saturday, November 12, 2011

~I~


Today I'm thankful for: 
Independence
Insurance
In-laws
Iced Tea
Ice Cream
Income
 
~Rachel 


Friday, November 11, 2011

~H~


Heavenly Father
Heaven
My Husband
Home
Health
Hands
Holidays
Happiness
Hannah Sawyer
Hannah Dove
Hannah Kuschel
Humor
Ham
Hershey's Chocolate
Hot Chocolate
Highlights
Hobby Lobby
Hugs


~Rachel 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

~G~



Today I am thankful for:
God
Guidance
Grapes
Gum
Glasses
Grill
GPS
Groceries
Grandparents


~Rachel 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

~F~



Thank you, Lord for:
Faith
Family
Flag
Fingernail Polish
Fondue
Fruit
Frosting
French Fries
Forgiveness
Firefighters
Fridays
Friends
Freezer
Fall colors & leaves
Fun with my family



~Rachel 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

~E~


Thankful today for: 

Easter
Ears
Eyes
Eyesight
Erin Muessen
Emily Kelley
Elissa Schmid
Earrings
Elevators
Emotions
Education
Elections - don't forget to vote!
Energy

~Rachel

~D~


I'm thankful for: 

Dad
David Johnson
Deborah King 
Daily Devotions
Diane Baker 
Dairy Queen
Diamonds
Dates
 Disney World
Doctors
Dessert
Daisies
Dishwasher

~Rachel

Sunday, November 6, 2011

~C~

On this day, I am thankful for:

Christ
Cross
Children
Church Family
Christmas
Christians
Cookies
Cara Soto
Cindi Radacsy
Caffeine
Coffee
Camera
Candles
Cell Phones
Cheesecake
Chocolate Milk
Cinnamon
Clothing
Cousins
Clearance Items
Crockpot
Contact Lens
Compliments
Computer
Convictions
Cuddling
Coupons


~Rachel

Saturday, November 5, 2011

~B~


I am thankful for:

Bible
Blessings of everyday life
Boys to raise
Babies
Breathing treatments
Bandages
Baseball
Basketball
Beth Bischoff
Bonnie Ludka
Big Bear Hugs
Beach
Blueberries
Boats
Books
Bouquets
Best Friend - David Johnson
Bracelets
Brain
Breakfast
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Bubble Wrap : )


~Rachel

Thursday, November 3, 2011

26 Days of Thankfulness ~A~

 

Today I am thankful for: 
Another BOY on the way!!!!! : ) 
America
Autumn
Almighty God
Accessories 
Andrew King
Apple Cider
Almond Milk
Andrea Holmes
Amanda Killion
Appetizers
Apple Pie
Apple Butter
Appliances
Amazing Grace
Asiago Cheese 


~Rachel 

Announcing...

 One son was so much fun, we thought we'd have another one! 

We are thrilled to announce that Josiah is going to have a little brother to play with in March! 
It's another BOY!!!

Our hearts are full of joy & excitement in anticipating another precious gift to hold, love & raise!




~Rachel 



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Monday, October 17, 2011

I Know a Love



This song has been such a huge blessing to me this past week. I'm so thankful for a God that never changes & loves us more than we could ever imagine. 

 

 

I KNOW A LOVE


In the dark and lonely hours,
I listen to God’s voice to calm my fears.
As I stare into the quietness,
My heart beating alone is all I hear.

But I know that You are near me,
Even when I cannot hear You,
We are never far apart,
You are here within my heart.

And the Love that You have given
Is all I’ll ever need to make it thru
I put my hope and trust in You.

I know a love that loves beyond all limits, 
I know a God whose arm is strong to save.
I know a grace whose power is all sufficient.
And that the blood of Christ can wash away each stain,
I know a love!

In the times of endless questions,
There is only one truth that I need to know.
That it’s Your love that surrounds me,
A love that will not ever let me go.

And I know that You are faithful
When in human eyes it’s hopeless,
So I cling to You alone,
And You make Your presence known.
And so tenderly You guide me,
You remind me that the love I found is true,
I will trust alone in You.

I know a love that loves beyond all limits,
I know a God whose arm is strong to save.
I know a grace whose power is all sufficient.
And that the blood of Christ can wash away each stain,
I know a love!

So when the darkness comes,
It won’t overwhelm my soul,
My hope is in my God and this I know, I know 

There is a God Who never changes,
There is a love faithful and true.
I know the Power of His Spirit works within me,
There is nothing that my God cannot do!

I know a love that loves beyond all limits
I know a God whose arm is strong to save.
I know a grace whose power is all sufficient.
And that the blood of Christ can wash away each stain,

I know a love!
I know a grace
I know a God faithful and true!!
I know a God
I know………… A LOVE!!!!

~Rachel 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

An Original

Loved this Inspirational Quote from MoneySavingMom.com!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Best Friends One Could Have



I have the best friends a gal could ever dream of having. They are the most caring, compassionate, giving, selfless & thoughtful people I know. They are the type of ladies who are constantly encouraging, uplifting & are there no matter what (even if it's a late call because I'm scared out of my mind after hearing someone yell my name after getting home after dark!) : ) What a joy to be around those who make your day brighter! Their friendships make me want to be a better Christian, better encourager & do so much more in reaching out to others. I am grateful for the example they set of giving their energy & time, just to be a blessing & not expecting anything in return. Over the last few days of preparing for the Missions Conference, I've had so many calls, texts, emails & "I'm praying for you's" that have meant the world! I just want to let you know that I love you all & that the encouragement means more than you will ever know. Thanks for being the most wonderful friends a person could ask for!

~Rachel

Love Beyond Explanation



Our family is growing and so is our love,
We are expecting another bundle from above!


We are thrilled to announce that there will be another addition to the Johnson family in March 2012! We are overwhelmed at God's goodness in blessing us with another child. Josiah is so excited about being a big brother & can't wait to have a sibling to play with. Anytime he sees a little one, he repeats "Baby, Baby" over & over again with a huge smile on his face.

When God blessed us with Josiah, I realized what kind of love you have for a child. Nothing can explain the love, the joy, the excitement, & fulfillment they bring into your home. I'm so grateful the Lord has given us another child to love & raise for Him. There is absolutely nothing else that makes my life feel more complete than being a wife & a mother. Our hearts are filled with joy in anticipating another child to love!

A Mother’s Prayer

Anonymous

Lord, give me strength for today
To lead my children in your way;
Oh, give me wisdom, Lord, and grace
To show to them your precious face!

And help me, Lord, to teach them, too,
The things of Christ so rich and true,
Just let them see in me, dear Lord,
Your holiness in life and word.

Keep me from sinning with my tongue,
From harsh, quick words that might have stung
Their tender hearts that trust me so
And watch to see which way I go.

Dear Father, keep my thoughts so pure
That they will always know for sure
My Lord has lead me all the way,
Lord, grant my prayer for today.



~Rachel

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Moments Stood Still

Isn't it amazing how you can look at a picture & have a thousand memories flood through your mind? For me, I can remember everything from what was around us, feelings that were felt, smells that were around, the weather, & smiles that were exchanged. We LOVE pictures! Lately, I have thought so much of how thankful I am that we take lots of pictures. Some would say we take too many or go over board, but I'm honestly grateful to have captured some of the most precious times we've had together as a family.



Here are some moments we are glad could be stood still during the summer so we can have priceless memories flooded into our minds.



Bristol with my family ~ Knoxville Zoo, Fun Expedition & Sprinkler after setting up the tent



Sweet times with the Hatchers in SC



Disney World!!! Magic Kingdom & a blast with Becca & Madi




Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios Josiah's favorite was the Safari!



Epcot Loving life meeting the characters



Magical Memories - some of our favorites! Laughing one second, sleeping the next



Hilton Head Water fun & The Crazy Crab




Family Fun Night in Manassas with Friends...

Josiah was so happy to get his ID!

Josiah's first Redskins' Game! He cheered the whole time with his buddy Oliver. :)



~Rachel






Sunday, May 15, 2011

Fear or FAITH

If you are like me, you look at the words "Fear & Faith" and think "I'm not a fearful person, I have faith that the Lord will help us in all aspects of life"...But when it comes to situations that the Lord brings into our lives, it is a completely different story. When things come into my life that I would not choose for myself or my family, I have to truly pray earnestly that the Lord will give me the faith I need to trust Him and it’s in those times, that I admit, I fear more than I realize.

I read this quote that my brother posted and immediately had to ask the Lord to help me see things the way He would have me see them. The quote was: “Can’t God prevent this? What do you mean, can’t God prevent it? Certainly God can prevent it, but you are praying the wrong way. How can the Lord use this?” Oh, how this spoke to my heart. None of us want to go through hard things in our lives, especially see our children go through them. I catch myself saying "why is this happening?", "what else could we add to the list?” and having my mind race to the worse, when the very words I should be praying is "Lord, how can You use this?" THAT is living by faith.

Josiah has been to the doctor more times than I can count in the last month. He was scheduled to have an endoscopy and before the test came, he got extremely sick with a high fever for days, with no other symptoms. As we were back and forth to the doctor, they decided to do blood work to see what was exactly going on. As soon as I got home, his doctor called me and said that his white blood cell count was extremely low and I needed to bring him in for a course of antibiotic shots. She explained that if he were to have a bacterial infection or get anything else, his body would not be able to fight it off. So, we went in and got the first course of antibiotic shots and then the next day got the 2nd course of shots. The 3rd day, he woke up with an extreme case of hives that continued to get worse. The nurses had given me things to look for if he was to have a reaction and that’s exactly what was happening. His allergist expressed later her concern that it was an allergic reaction to that antibiotic and flagged it in his record. After giving him Benadryl for a few days, the hives eventually went away which we were thankful for. Then we prayed and prayed for him to be well so he could have the test we had hoped to give us answers.



His endoscopy day came and our hearts were filled with mixed emotions. We were relieved that the day was here where we may find out what was causing the issues of pain and discomfort for him, but at the same time we hated seeing him go through it all and we didn’t want anything to be wrong. The test went well, and the procedure for the Reflux monitor went smoothly as well. We took him home with his monitor and awaited the 24 hour mark when he could have that thing out. He was such a trooper through it all, carrying that little bag on his own across his chest, and his “no no’s” on his arms so he couldn’t pull the tube out. He is definitely our brave boy. Then the hard part came….waiting. Waiting for the results that would give us the answers we had been praying for. Answers that would explain everything

The day before my husband and I were to leave for our 5th Anniversary trip, the doctor called and let me know of the results from the tests. I was relieved at the words “everything shows nothing of concern” but then my heart hurt as we still had no answers. I was thrilled that there was nothing wrong shown from the tests but was overwhelmed knowing that there still was something going on yet we still could not fix it for him. I was fearful of the next step. Oh, how my heart was hurting and so discouraged from expecting to find something out yet to have nothing. And the Lord encouraged me, as He always does. I’m so thankful for a God that is always there. It’s so comforting to know that He will never forsake us or leave us alone during the trials of life, whether they be small or great. This verse has meant a lot to me lately, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, has not forsaken them that seek thee.” There are times we are so stressed we feel as if we cannot manage one more thing and He quietly says, don’t worry, I know what is happening to you, for “My countenance doth behold the upright”. I have to remember that whatever may happen today is not a surprise to God. It’s when I trust Him completely that I will experience true joy! Justin and Grace Hayes were in our Sunday School class recently and he said something that has stuck with me "Be happy in the Lord, even when you're hurting on the inside". God is so good to have people and messages encourage us at the exact moment we need them. The Lord keeps putting this part of a song on my heart whenever we are on the way to the doctor’s office.

You must have faith in God, Who maketh no mistakes. Have faith, God makes no mistakes.”

Truly, we should not fear, we should have faith in our God, because He never makes mistakes. I’m so thankful for that! My prayer is that the Lord would help me live the life of faith and not fear.



~Rachel