Oh so Many Lights!

After watching 'Christmas Vacation' I found where the Griswolds live! So if you have been frantically looking for them you can breathe a sigh of relief and follow the glow of light to this...

A Surprise for Him

This weekend was Neal's birthday and I had a weekend full of surprises planned. Ok well only part of it was a surprise. On the 9th his birthday I made him lasagna rolls and salad for dinner and an almond cake per Neal's request for dessert and decorated in Vikings football colors.

 
Then on Monday I had one of our friends mention that we should get together and do dinner at Oklahoma Joes. But little did he know that we were meeting a bunch of friend and do dinner together then we had everyone over to our house and had cake (I told him I was making cup cakes for work so would not get suspicious on why I was making a ton of cup cakes). I do have to say that on the way over to Oklahoma Joes I was really glad that it was dark outside since I had an excited grin on my face. I think that he was totally surprised and did not suspect anything. Happy Birthday Neal!

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving has such a different meaning to me this year. I am so very thankful for everyday that God has given me, for my amazingly wonderful husband and for all the people that God has had in our lives.

For our holiday weekend we were able to visit Neal's brother Luke, his wife, Elise and their kids and spend the long weekend with them in Minnesota. We were also able to see Neal's mom and we all got to enjoy an amazing Thanksgiving dinner (thanks Elise). It was so nice to be able to catch up with everyone and meet my new nephew, Boaz, for the first time. Ne-J and Vienna were like great long lost friends and were buds the whole weekend! On Black Friday we decided that shopping was just not worth it so we just bummed around, and the guys went and got a Christmas tree and then that night we helped decorate their home for Christmas.  We also got to experience our first snow of the season. So now I am officially ready for the Christmas season.

Ne-J and Vienna enjoying the street view

Then on that Sunday we went to the Chiefs/ Bronco football game here in Kansas City. It was definitely not a pretty game but the Broncos won so we were happy with the outcome!

Watching the Broncos warm up before the game

The Big ??

Oh, you though that I would reveal my age. Well you are wrong. A girl never reveals her age! For my birthday we just kept it low key. Neal took me out to dinner at Dodge City Distillery. Then when we got home he gave me my birthday/ anniversary gift. He got me a beautiful necklace. A heart, with one half rose gold and the other half white gold (these signify us) and cradled in the middle, a ruby  signifying Gabrielle. Thank you honey for such a wonderful birthday I am so thankful to be able to celebrate another year of getting older with you.

Two Years!

Two years I said 'I Do' to the love if my life, my dear hubby Neal. The time has just flown by and it seems like only yesterday I was walking down the aisle. This last year has been wonderful and so extremely hard at the same time.

Since our anniversary fell in the middle of the week we had a week long anniversary celebration. The week started off with Neal bringing me home a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Then on the 10th I came home to more flowers, a gorgeous bouquet of roses then we went downtown and had dinner at Westport Cafe and Bar. Neal had taken Saturday off which is such a nice treat, since we hardly have Saturdays off together, and we headed to Weston, MO. Weston is a quaint little town with a ton of little shops that we went in and did some shopping. We also went to a winery and did a tasting. It was wonderful to have a week long celebration that I think that we might have to do it every year!

Healing

I don't even know where to start. These last two months have been an enormous test on my faith and my heart. Through our loss of Gabrielle I could not have made it through with out turning to and relying completely on God. I don't know how people who do not have faith in God go through extremely difficult trials and make it out on the other end okay, because I know I sure could not have. Some days are definitely better then others but through God's grace I definitely have more good days than not and am thankful for that. Neal and I have learned to lean on God like never before, as a result we, as a couple, have grown much closer as well. I know that through all these trials God has a purpose, I do not know what they are and may never know, but I know he has plans for us.

'For I know the plans I have for you,declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.'
                         Jeremiah 29: 11-14

Gabrielle Ann

Our precious daughter Gabrielle Ann Johnson was born into God's hands on Friday July 20th 2012 at 440am. She weighed 4 pounds 12.8 ounces and was 18 inches long.

You are so loved by your Mommy and Daddy. We wish that we were able to have more time with you. Even though you were in our lives for such a short time you have left an amazing impression on our lives and taught us so much.

We love you so very much
Your Mommy and Daddy.


We will be having a Memorial service for Gabrielle Ann on Saturday August 4th at 2pm at
Providence Community Church
10113 Lenexa Dr.
Lenexa, Ks 66215