tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82495141708823900532024-02-21T05:20:41.138-07:00THE JOHNSTONSLive Your Life CRAZY & Love Every Second of itJohnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-68912158744906274982012-09-27T23:54:00.001-06:002012-09-28T00:01:19.173-06:00Just Kidding & Ramblings of Music<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, you know my last post, how I said I was coming back to the world of blogging & all of this amazeballs stuff was to come REALLY SOON? Well I gotcha, I was just kidding...I just didn't know it at the time. Ha Ha! I am so hilarious...hahaha...uncomfortable, pity laughter starts fading into background noise...hahaha... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ANYCHOW, I am just going to ramble on for a bit, so here we go. I love music, like <i>really</i> love it. It's therapy for me. I find that sad songs seem to actually comfort me somehow when I'm sad, cause I feel that I am not alone in how I am feeling in that moment. When I am stressed, I know that I can count on my music to calm me down. When I can't sleep, music can help lull me back to sleep. When I am scared or lonely, music fills the silence. When I am happy, music makes me even that much happier. It makes cleaning my house, so much more bearable, driving long distances more of an adventure & dancing more personal. I am constantly on the hunt for new music & over the years have compiled quite the eclectic music library. I feel like different songs from different times in my life can bring back memories like nothing else. And they are like soundtracks to that time of my life. I hear<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse</span></b> & I am suddenly in Mike's arms dancing our first dance as a married couple. I hear<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" by</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dixie Chicks</span></b> & I am back in our apartment holding Jaden in my arms & soothing him to sleep. I hear<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <b>"In my Arms" by</b> <b>Plumb</b></span> & I am in our first house swaddling Camren & watching Jaden drawing a work of art at the table. I hear<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> <b>"Just let me cry" by Hilary Weeks</b></span> & I am reminded of the years & years of struggle with infertility. I hear <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Sea of Love" by Cat Powers</span></b> & I am in the back seat of the car just staring at little Makai's face as we drove her home from the hospital & realizing that many prayers had just been answered. I could go on & on. When I turn on my music, it somehow turns off the loud things of the world that I want to forget, even if just for the few minutes it's on. Music makes me laugh, cry, dance, pause, ponder & most importantly smile. </span>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-63668881852242353712012-02-09T12:41:00.000-07:002012-02-09T12:41:32.818-07:00Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My, my, my... how time flies.... I cannot believe how long it's been since I've blogged! I think about coming on here and updating & then I realize how much stuff I need to update about & it makes me run to my bed & hide under my covers. Blogging to me is a great way to journal & let's be honest, for me to come on here and just be a straight up don't tell me weirdo sometimes! I've missed this outlet & I am so glad to be back. There is probably not too many souls left on this planet that still even check my blog, but to those that are reading this I say 'Ello Mate! So, this isn't going to be a long post, but just me toe dipping my way back into the water. I always want to come on here & share just how magical Makai is. I wrote so much about getting her here to my family that I only think it's fair to share how it is with her here. But instead of doing that, I go snuggle with her some more, so if you wonder what I have been up to, wonder no more my loves. It's been so fun to see Mike with a baby girl, they have this bond that is undeniable & I just absolutely love watching him be wrapped around her little finger. And oh my heavens, you would just all melt into a puddle of goo if you could see how cute & protective Jaden & Camren are with her. All THREE of my kids are mine & Mike's world & we can't believe how lucky we are to have 3, count 'em 1,2..3! So let me make a list of what I need to come back on here & catch up on in upcoming (SOON!) posts:</span><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>*Makai being sealed to our Family*</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>*Birthday jiberish*</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>*Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas OH MY*</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>*A whole lotta other stuff that probably will never see the light of day on this blog, just cause I'm lazy like that sometimes*</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks! Tu da Loo!</span></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-39824269349871475992011-06-14T15:42:00.001-06:002011-06-14T15:44:02.239-06:00Music I HEARTMusic I definetly heart (also known as my most recent music obsessions, haven't done one of these in a while, figured it was time, figured most of you don't really care, figured I don't care that you don't care, it's my blog):<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Good ol' Fashion Nightmare" by Matt & Kim</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Castles in the Snow" by Twin Shadow</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Big Fight" by Stars</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Amarillo" by Gorillaz</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Everywhere I Go" by Lissie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Charmed Life" by Joy Williams</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Pickup Truck" by Kings of Leon</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"The Curse" by Josh Ritter</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Truth" by Alexander</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"The Twist" by Metric</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Get Some" by JC Flow</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"The Ghost Inside" by Broken Bells</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Big Jet Plane" by Agnus & Julia Stone</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Farewell" by Rosie Thomas</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Arms" by Christina Perri</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the Kids</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial;">"Eyes" by Rogue Wave</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Go ahead, look them up & try not to heart them as well, I triple dawg dare you....</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-58621251594440084622011-06-14T14:41:00.001-06:002011-06-14T19:06:29.172-06:00Sweetie Pie....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lets update with a few precious pix, shant we?</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This first one was taken when Makai was a few weeks old & Jaden was sketching her. Sooo cute, he has always loved to draw & does an amazing job & I think that he has finally found his perfect model. This picture makes my heart flutter.....</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KhxSBUvd5l7IDzJ3lq9ejTsJr4EU21LG6xQmSgwNgDrGsZBzni_GU3RdvA83ijb2MlrTbqg20dYIGzr3lyP8Xpmj10k1qOm-8EuJtTnVpdTUKSmiaHiD-SEh9tHayrhy8wHqcuc8Sfbq/s1600/251567_2151989318140_1198594992_32755635_7978800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KhxSBUvd5l7IDzJ3lq9ejTsJr4EU21LG6xQmSgwNgDrGsZBzni_GU3RdvA83ijb2MlrTbqg20dYIGzr3lyP8Xpmj10k1qOm-8EuJtTnVpdTUKSmiaHiD-SEh9tHayrhy8wHqcuc8Sfbq/s400/251567_2151989318140_1198594992_32755635_7978800_n.jpg" t8="true" width="238px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Next up, we have Makai dressed up in her Sunday best. You can see her just a kickin' her little legs in excitement. She also has got the CUTEST dimples of all time. LOVE!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlGKI-M6oQtUT3Ut7KYY5JW-R4klsfIFlrtwr52OkeKgZmJGl-aFjE0EGRvjngiDP28zCPbBochygC8SMMirk181NxKI8772M-_qaal5BFndWmK-vgpoeCsZzg6QxdzZehZGbqSJw43U0/s1600/228112_2135638149371_1198594992_32729395_6359416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlGKI-M6oQtUT3Ut7KYY5JW-R4klsfIFlrtwr52OkeKgZmJGl-aFjE0EGRvjngiDP28zCPbBochygC8SMMirk181NxKI8772M-_qaal5BFndWmK-vgpoeCsZzg6QxdzZehZGbqSJw43U0/s400/228112_2135638149371_1198594992_32729395_6359416_n.jpg" t8="true" width="238px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lastly, in the picture department, this picture....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnDMoLS7ufL1gILAi-GgK_JC3IXUzwdH-vX4WZtiX9m8K3l9pGQAdL7FoSu6_NnVJqilHGr-qis4gz__czE_vvna72pycoPw_EI_fTGl6vxahzbBXlf87Pv5-15Dnpb1slOE7n-CPGlnl/s1600/188691_1941055884936_1198594992_32465756_1115109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnDMoLS7ufL1gILAi-GgK_JC3IXUzwdH-vX4WZtiX9m8K3l9pGQAdL7FoSu6_NnVJqilHGr-qis4gz__czE_vvna72pycoPw_EI_fTGl6vxahzbBXlf87Pv5-15Dnpb1slOE7n-CPGlnl/s400/188691_1941055884936_1198594992_32465756_1115109_n.jpg" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> This picture makes me wanna burst out in tears every time I see it. It captures every emotion I was feeling that day that Makai was born. It is literally my first time holding her in my arms. If you could ever capture the pure feeling of gratitude in a picture, I think this is the one. My empty arms were filled. Filled with a gift so precious & I will forever be indebted to all who made it possible (you all know who you are). Especially the Birth Mother, we love you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIgaRnJsZ8q686YZVC3kpJ6FAG8hqEO2Hf9TNARUgRC1JPK-fe_flsepq8weSWC8JP3CjU7tJcTL0ns-fZtgWB-fIUw4UHSCFD12kwJwJfzVroImIsgWt8Z-HdQz75rEGykeNHn6AjluC/s1600/249685_2190100070885_1198594992_32810784_6480396_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIgaRnJsZ8q686YZVC3kpJ6FAG8hqEO2Hf9TNARUgRC1JPK-fe_flsepq8weSWC8JP3CjU7tJcTL0ns-fZtgWB-fIUw4UHSCFD12kwJwJfzVroImIsgWt8Z-HdQz75rEGykeNHn6AjluC/s400/249685_2190100070885_1198594992_32810784_6480396_n.jpg" t8="true" width="400px" /></a></div></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-25957787723404222492011-05-12T10:41:00.000-06:002011-05-13T14:29:35.029-06:003 am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's funny the things your mind thinks about at 3am when you are up for a middle of the night for a feeding. The whole house is quiet & dark & it's just you & your beautiful little baby girl, in your arms enjoying every minute of her bottle & snuggle time from you. So precious. So, last night at 3am one of my main thoughts was this: I need to post MORE pictures on my blog of this sweet angel. For many reasons, but the one looming in my head last night was so that Grandma & Grandpa Johnston can enjoy her more in even some small way on their mission. So, I promise, I am going to be a LOT better at posting pics of the fam. So these next few ones are especially for you Grandma & Grandpa J!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cutest lil' Tiny Dancer you'll ever lay eyes on:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddfO221hyphenhyphengqPp4nDp5e1_XAmLhkOiC4ljQg8GYjw8ynVer-hl6sSGy7zocs30hyphenhyphenytT0nQ-LLVPSF7w79d2TDP_sOdJm0GMH2RhSf7NwF2hyphenhyphenNmuMyTi8guVMfsYXqgfFqBgXBoHthUDkQk/s1600/226421_2079594548316_1198594992_32657769_5823447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddfO221hyphenhyphengqPp4nDp5e1_XAmLhkOiC4ljQg8GYjw8ynVer-hl6sSGy7zocs30hyphenhyphenytT0nQ-LLVPSF7w79d2TDP_sOdJm0GMH2RhSf7NwF2hyphenhyphenNmuMyTi8guVMfsYXqgfFqBgXBoHthUDkQk/s400/226421_2079594548316_1198594992_32657769_5823447_n.jpg" width="237px" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> She smiles at you now & her smile lights up the WHOLE ROOM:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGonqe8rMda9tgMrTWjMfkIP81j2H70IbydHOdzyZUoddZv8yME3E4zcmzEGaUYcNT7hWDWH6Vxwviy-G2CIyejFbfS-T_nIOESCOQwez2ioduWfaf_DU1h2Ws0pRDBdfdItv74mzKwd2/s1600/225387_2102522121491_1198594992_32692888_1111506_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGonqe8rMda9tgMrTWjMfkIP81j2H70IbydHOdzyZUoddZv8yME3E4zcmzEGaUYcNT7hWDWH6Vxwviy-G2CIyejFbfS-T_nIOESCOQwez2ioduWfaf_DU1h2Ws0pRDBdfdItv74mzKwd2/s400/225387_2102522121491_1198594992_32692888_1111506_n.jpg" width="238px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sleeping like a, well, a baby:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ve9gmuXbtyS1LfkfpGQ0sd2dR1sMcmhQsJhxA0TTC3TC3SGlMRel_r8t9NH9GrhdtZ2-6QTFBqQ91opLim5ExlYbUhMHhwB7iaagsA0KVCMpxbgYXiKW_rtutJiDsNmxqX8gj6SQktia/s1600/198900_1944303765626_1183445816_2401936_4426007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ve9gmuXbtyS1LfkfpGQ0sd2dR1sMcmhQsJhxA0TTC3TC3SGlMRel_r8t9NH9GrhdtZ2-6QTFBqQ91opLim5ExlYbUhMHhwB7iaagsA0KVCMpxbgYXiKW_rtutJiDsNmxqX8gj6SQktia/s400/198900_1944303765626_1183445816_2401936_4426007_n.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> We are enjoying every single second of her, every single coo that comes out her mouth, of course all of the fun new smiles that makes our hearts want to basically explode out of our chest, the way she LOVES her bath time, her expressive eyebrows, the way she lets out the cutest little sighs while she's drifting off to sleep, I could go on & on..... And as much as the boys just adore her (they always say to me "Mom, guess what the cutest thing on the earth is?"..."Makai! Makai is the cutest thing ever Mom!"), & I know that she adores them right back. She just lights up when they talk to her & loves all of the attention she gets from her older brothers!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I honestly can't believe that she is already 2 1/2 months old! At her 2 month appointment she weighed 10 lb 2 oz (when I saw that number I just started to laugh, cause that was the EXACT weight that Jaden was BORN at) and was 22.2" long. So she definitely is growing great! She has the yummiest chubby cheeks, they are just sooo kissable! We are so lucky & so blessed. Well I must wrap things up, the tiny dancer is in need of another bottle, no not a 3am feeding, but I am going to enjoy the snuggle time just the same! :)</span></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-51495707828250901152011-03-17T22:26:00.001-06:002011-03-17T22:30:37.476-06:00The journey of many hearts now beats as ONE<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's here, she's <em>actually here!!!</em> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Makai Kimber Johnston</span> was born on March 1st at 11:48pm</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She weighed 7 lbs 1 oz & was 17 1/2" long</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has tons of beautiful auburn hair & is quite possibly the most adorable lil' angel EVER!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscj1r-jc4K7JQqfkf_FlBHSWqLb4NjM-nR20Z9kktVqtQ1mQIGE-rgmXv_hnw3Jb3hHnlNL6hx4p6UkJS3WPnO1ZOxEzNUO3xssAb12GePB2_9sKH7FMYUuoMtNTVzNlH1Qt1OH-hG-SF/s1600/makaipicnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscj1r-jc4K7JQqfkf_FlBHSWqLb4NjM-nR20Z9kktVqtQ1mQIGE-rgmXv_hnw3Jb3hHnlNL6hx4p6UkJS3WPnO1ZOxEzNUO3xssAb12GePB2_9sKH7FMYUuoMtNTVzNlH1Qt1OH-hG-SF/s400/makaipicnik.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I hold her in my arms & she snuggles right up onto my shoulder,my heart melts & everything is just as it is meant to be. I honestly can't imagine our family without her in it now. I used to say when we were trying for another baby that I didn't understand how I could miss someone so much that I didn't even know. It was like I longed for & missed this little girl that I didn't know, didn't know how or when she would be brought into our family. And now here she is. And there have been so many different little tender mercies along the road to get her here that truly made me realize that Heavenly Father was watching over the situation the whole time, as he always does. It makes me feel more than so loved & blessed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time that she got placed into my arms was just minutes after she was born & I cannot even describe the feelings & emotions that were going on inside of me. I got to feed her her first bottle & so I sat down in the rocker in the room & looked down at her in my arms & it was literally a dream being realized. I had seen that EXACT image in my dreams 7 1/2 years ago. For those of you that don't know I had had this dream of myself holding a baby girl with lots of brown hair (I do realize that it is more auburn, but before she got all washed up it looked a little bit more brown, just like the dream) in a rocking chair in a hospital room & I had this dream for a week straight, until I finally told Mike that I thought we were supposed to have another baby. We got pregnant that next month, but imagine my surprise when a blonder than blond hair baby BOY was who was meant to come next. I thought, hmmm, where is this little girl I saw in my dream? But I will tell you what, that image of that dream is what got me through many a low points. Because even though it has been a lot longer of a road than I would've thought to get her here, I knew she'd get her somehow, someway. So there she was, in my arms, in the rocking chair, in the hospital room & I just said the simplest of prayers in my head. And though it may have been simple, because it was just me saying "Thank you, Thank you", it felt like one of the most powerful prayers I've ever said. I felt that same gratitude towards the birth mom. The strength that she's shown throughout this whole thing is amazing. The love that I know that she has for Makai is beautiful, that she was able to do that for Makai & for our family is beyond words. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day that we were able to go & pick Makai up from the hospital & bring her home was such an emotional day. My nerves were on level a billion as we were about to leave the house. And then another small miracle, as we are driving down the street, I looked out the car window & there it was, a full rainbow. I just burst into tears, that rainbow held so many meanings to me & I know it wasn't just a coincidence that it was there in that moment. I could go on & on about just how many meanings it had for me, but I will just say this, you really do need sun <em>& rain</em> to make something come about as beautiful as a rainbow. And there has definitely been sun & a lot of rain on this journey, but we got something so beautiful out of it that the beauty of a rainbow can't even compare with. And her name is Makai.</span>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-84886437213713432372011-02-01T10:45:00.003-07:002011-02-01T11:03:39.992-07:00Unanswerd Prayers How does one put into words something that there could never be the right words to even begin describing the way she feels in her heart? I don't think there is a way, so whatever I end up saying, just times it by a bazillion & then maybe we can be just a little bit closer to the feelings I actually have in my heart. <br />
<br />
For those of you that have followed me through this journey of trying to have a baby & for those of you that have actually gone through the same trials of trying to have a baby, you know what a difficult heartbreaking experience it has been for me. I have never had such low lows in my life, but I also have never felt so much love & support surrounding me from family & friends before either. Seriously, your kind words, prayers, and a shoulder to cry on has meant more to me than you'll ever know. You all are angel's to me & I know that prayers were answered for me through you. Thank you.<br />
<br />
As you know, we had started to go the adoption route & had been held up, at a total stand still for some reason that I just couldn't put my finger on, until now. The baby that was meant to be ours wasn't quite ready yet, the way Heavenly Father orchestrates things is seamless & beautiful. Just a little bit before Halloween this last year I got a phone call (in the middle of teaching dance & I NEVER answer my phone during dance, but something inside of me told me to pick up this call), I don't know if she wants to be mentioned or not on this blog, so I will leave her identity secret until I hear differently from her, but on the other line is an answer to my up until that moment, unanswered prayer. She told me that she was pregnant & that she felt this baby needed a Mom & a Dad & said that she read my previous post (labeled "Untitled") & felt really good about us & would we consider adopting the baby? I felt such a warm good feeling, I wish that I could've just shouted "YES!" right over the phone, but I knew that Mike & I needed to really pray about it, so I set up a time for Mike & I to meet with her at her house, where we could discuss some more things with her. Those next few days were spent praying & pondering together as a couple. We both felt immediately like it was the right thing. It was really hard for me though, because how could my tremendous joy & answer to so many countless prayers & sleepless nights be at the price of someone elses heartache & on top of that someone I knew!?! We decided that we wouldn't know for sure for sure to move forward with it, until after we actually went & talked to her. I needed to know that she 100% wanted to move forward with this. My heart couldn't take it if she wasn't. I was soooo nervous going & talking to her that day, but by the end of talking to her, Mike & I didn't even need to have a private conversation elsewhere, we just looked at each other & KNEW. That was on a Saturday & that Monday she was having an Ultrasound to find out what she was having & I got to go with!!! What's crazy though, is every time Mike & I prayed & thought about this baby, we just knew without any doubts that it was a girl. So, I get the privilege of going to her appointment. They first find the heartbeat & of course tears just start streaming down my face, as they are right now as I write this. And then they pull the image up on the screen, it's a GIRL. I stare in awe, there she is... this is real & it's the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. When they printed off the images, they hand them to birth mother, & very respectfully she hands them right over to me. I don't know if she knows how much that meant to me. It meant the world. I drop her off at her house & go to pick up Cam from my Mom's (she was babysitting). I walk into the house & my mom runs to the top of the stairs & I say through tears of pure joy "It's a GIRL" & she comes flying down the staircase crying tears of joy as well & just gives me the biggest hug & we jump around, exactly the scene that I said that I had played out time & time again in my head in my "Untitled" post, but this time it was real. <br />
<br />
I have grown very close to birth mom & have more gratitude & respect for her than words will allow. What she is doing is the most unselfish thing she could probably ever do. I hope she knows that this little girl will be showered with more love than she'll know what to do with & that this little girl will always know that the person that carried her in her belly & brought her into this world & placed her into loving arms that had ached for her, is so special & has such a beautiful heart.<br />
<br />
This lil' angel is due within the next few weeks & I cannot wait to meet her & hold her & kiss & love on her. I never thought that I would be so excited for sleepless nights in my life. The boys can't wait to be BIG brothers to a little sister. & Mike, well I can honestly say that I believe he wanted this baby every bit as much as I do, I know that he is just going to absolutely melt when she gets placed in his arms & have daddy wrapped around her little finger from day one. I can't wait to see him with a little girl & he says the same about me. <br />
<br />
And I never thought that I would ever say this, but you know all of those times I begged & pleaded with the Lord "Please, this month, let me be pregnant, it's a righteous desire, please..." & my answer was no month after month, year after year, well as cheesy as this is I am going to quote Garth Brooks on this one...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> "Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers, </div><div style="text-align: center;">remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> just because he doesn't answer, doesn't mean he don't care,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMjxdXYWrnQNwzUjOO38dsQKKQDQD4sIqVek42MaGm0JqIhxdxjwtRjX9mLB1trsk4YrTwf4sJqu0dnqtiCPA4rEFLCyKEfWfN-Fo0KYTlmzIunkG1802EUlNeUuDxvZnQU7CHY_-h9-Y/s1600/j0431278quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMjxdXYWrnQNwzUjOO38dsQKKQDQD4sIqVek42MaGm0JqIhxdxjwtRjX9mLB1trsk4YrTwf4sJqu0dnqtiCPA4rEFLCyKEfWfN-Fo0KYTlmzIunkG1802EUlNeUuDxvZnQU7CHY_-h9-Y/s400/j0431278quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-34980297872554416102010-12-06T12:56:00.002-07:002010-12-06T13:04:52.498-07:00May I tease you with some pictures....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No time to update lately. Between MAC, Dance (our performance is coming up THIS Saturday), Holiday stuff-o-rama & oh yeah, something that is yet to be mentioned on this blog, & this 'something' deserves a post to top all posts, with words that I have yet to find. But soon, I will get on here & pour my heart out (again), but until then, here is some pure good old randomness, summed up best by pictures.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike won the coveted trophy at our annual Thanksgiving Bowling of Fun. </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He got the high score of</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the day, 151. My Madre deserves an honorable mention with a 147! </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wbFjG3TXscn-7rqPKtFAnOLCJzPE-nXl4A41q47A5rTmZuTiyDKV9lC4_EBvsFFNHd76d2C4wDLsRDzmLojB6IGS-Qz-D04WXX6aVL_FDsy6Fk8-3tYgPD6FvKJi_zTHH2Vekx8LUCVf/s1600/DSC01557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wbFjG3TXscn-7rqPKtFAnOLCJzPE-nXl4A41q47A5rTmZuTiyDKV9lC4_EBvsFFNHd76d2C4wDLsRDzmLojB6IGS-Qz-D04WXX6aVL_FDsy6Fk8-3tYgPD6FvKJi_zTHH2Vekx8LUCVf/s400/DSC01557.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Halloween at MAC, the 1st day was be whatev's, I am a "Dark Fairy", very creative, I know. The 2nd day we did masks & I have no photo proof, sorry ya'll. Here I am with some of my MAC fam.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilalfvzbh_mOEogHOWx5KyeAxkgAH9Qenz_iNF2mnmVi24qSneCJdZZ2FVJLjIcYv6NJy9aOQatihO8Q3Z2LcTqE9JPOhnlCh3ytB98vF3Ms84ido3p9vYSz9vJAhIoVDFeT4MQomscG3u/s1600/162726_1618251448689_1008466331_31724330_6754844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilalfvzbh_mOEogHOWx5KyeAxkgAH9Qenz_iNF2mnmVi24qSneCJdZZ2FVJLjIcYv6NJy9aOQatihO8Q3Z2LcTqE9JPOhnlCh3ytB98vF3Ms84ido3p9vYSz9vJAhIoVDFeT4MQomscG3u/s400/162726_1618251448689_1008466331_31724330_6754844_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me & Lindsey </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn579P8dAvBshoOAB2HjphxP4_6zSaKiYPypZa-I6gfa70xE8Kdfdhm4OrkyDJ_zTn43AkI4riDqnxNhrm4fk9KR4e6GwZarZpMudnkziNCuEqsONzVA0UDRIYCQKIlx1bLkBw4zSudXyp/s1600/63622_1618254448764_1008466331_31724336_7543419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn579P8dAvBshoOAB2HjphxP4_6zSaKiYPypZa-I6gfa70xE8Kdfdhm4OrkyDJ_zTn43AkI4riDqnxNhrm4fk9KR4e6GwZarZpMudnkziNCuEqsONzVA0UDRIYCQKIlx1bLkBw4zSudXyp/s400/63622_1618254448764_1008466331_31724336_7543419_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> BEST. COSTUME. EVER. Jess was Oprah this year & she came in to my work & we got her all Oprahphied, loved it! She won most creative costume at the annual Webb family Halloween Party.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She IS the white OPRAH!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PtEetNekHRUCbCm5lkjfjaOP6J6DPP2T5Tqlaic0DIdret1lGL3dgUuhz2bV4btgQYiIF9T1d-qEnrU21Eu2IXrI99Jv8CoOm-Vroq1ukGujieamTzE0LZEq4LswggIP_tIXMpl27tUE/s1600/68249_1618309090130_1008466331_31724481_5258542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PtEetNekHRUCbCm5lkjfjaOP6J6DPP2T5Tqlaic0DIdret1lGL3dgUuhz2bV4btgQYiIF9T1d-qEnrU21Eu2IXrI99Jv8CoOm-Vroq1ukGujieamTzE0LZEq4LswggIP_tIXMpl27tUE/s400/68249_1618309090130_1008466331_31724481_5258542_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camren wants to be outside ALL of the time, doesn't bother him if it is only 4 flippin </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">degrees out, not one bit!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvFVPNx6WaofUF_nccmY0U1HURxSRsE8KqAX8kiA9DzeB3DQgRb2gqFqBJ6AAVTaogEY36HnVwmcNtpJK0bGAonvYMjgJm4oxJpoQQg7paOoe7RDH6xXvX0C22GHj9VgQhzmgfIpn_EQw/s1600/61549_1644507431410_1198594992_31860626_4072907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvFVPNx6WaofUF_nccmY0U1HURxSRsE8KqAX8kiA9DzeB3DQgRb2gqFqBJ6AAVTaogEY36HnVwmcNtpJK0bGAonvYMjgJm4oxJpoQQg7paOoe7RDH6xXvX0C22GHj9VgQhzmgfIpn_EQw/s400/61549_1644507431410_1198594992_31860626_4072907_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is Mike & his bud for life doing a mini triathlon, yes this is the same one he did in the summer with some of his bro's as well. I warned you that there were some random pix coming up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRqCKN93bfr9ka8JRHwT1OJcJaLaNdC59nP9fPQ9lVfgDD9eArMawrzYEdosI1LxrVZcJy9FSOyVkr457VLBPF2yhewf_QNPjZgeWkET2S1qfFbRkwb0vJzSGssZxeifkkGlGOuDrF41X/s1600/41323_1558812533388_1327503667_1482277_6190301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRqCKN93bfr9ka8JRHwT1OJcJaLaNdC59nP9fPQ9lVfgDD9eArMawrzYEdosI1LxrVZcJy9FSOyVkr457VLBPF2yhewf_QNPjZgeWkET2S1qfFbRkwb0vJzSGssZxeifkkGlGOuDrF41X/s400/41323_1558812533388_1327503667_1482277_6190301_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Another pic from this past summer, but I felt it needed to be present on this blog. Isn't it gorgeous? Looking out my window right now staring at a blanket of snow, I am having </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">warm summer day with drawls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywzwFnzqrfK0o6sYEHGDUqCS2nU1b1Ee1kgodYv2WiXe0oWWGLMQQpMFoM4zLuJNNZ9k72PijocgWnZt7lQyGcTfPyY_QLrAVZ1GY6iGk19PvxlZUZzmkuACo-suwZtaHY4DtS5L3Ynag/s1600/June_2_2010_%252866%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywzwFnzqrfK0o6sYEHGDUqCS2nU1b1Ee1kgodYv2WiXe0oWWGLMQQpMFoM4zLuJNNZ9k72PijocgWnZt7lQyGcTfPyY_QLrAVZ1GY6iGk19PvxlZUZzmkuACo-suwZtaHY4DtS5L3Ynag/s400/June_2_2010_%252866%2529.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Z boys chillin eatin some fries before the grand feast at the bowling alley</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb07Qk86NaujM7xkXALUWz-2ybI74z7gnpzt0Di5UjXSn6w6Xv-HtB2c452Wc-k8vIWD7I_NzNvDQIgDBx2FkOMv_ytsGlLpoSYYl54fjlSDuxFE3eGDCOFYxzykUuaj8qur1OzLSxy7X/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb07Qk86NaujM7xkXALUWz-2ybI74z7gnpzt0Di5UjXSn6w6Xv-HtB2c452Wc-k8vIWD7I_NzNvDQIgDBx2FkOMv_ytsGlLpoSYYl54fjlSDuxFE3eGDCOFYxzykUuaj8qur1OzLSxy7X/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Jaden being Harry Potter (well a much cuter version if I do say so myself)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaGZud0oFFvLSIwUOqF5sKhW9Cbr5d-s5clnKIop-nJVQ-16gDKCGL5p9dLtjY16C-ZCFw4yjnLMYGV0HG0deLsQhSs7lhpbVqf6eOBcA1hLk6lxexUYVjF9wmTyVfC7TnwK4SDf6jJQQ/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaGZud0oFFvLSIwUOqF5sKhW9Cbr5d-s5clnKIop-nJVQ-16gDKCGL5p9dLtjY16C-ZCFw4yjnLMYGV0HG0deLsQhSs7lhpbVqf6eOBcA1hLk6lxexUYVjF9wmTyVfC7TnwK4SDf6jJQQ/s400/187.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> O'Gwin cousins having a slumber party with my kiddos last time they were out here</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGKJBLXp2oISonZ4KX-NVSHDTqLNrUcLzLqCMcT0XdTSIe39txw1YwSoPqR7zgWaa4lr3E61o0QWqlW7-JJ8Q0Z9MFaiabdYmtGfScuZ5cr2hMHype-OsSkZyyb3gQ-9b6bjctxdA3xbM/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGKJBLXp2oISonZ4KX-NVSHDTqLNrUcLzLqCMcT0XdTSIe39txw1YwSoPqR7zgWaa4lr3E61o0QWqlW7-JJ8Q0Z9MFaiabdYmtGfScuZ5cr2hMHype-OsSkZyyb3gQ-9b6bjctxdA3xbM/s400/245.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
Peace Out!</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-27399744034221565812010-11-16T23:47:00.000-07:002010-11-16T23:47:56.583-07:00I mean...You know how I said in my last post that we were going to the Greg Laswell concert on Friday night? Well we did. And it was more than TERRIFIC! Here is the play by play:<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrive at the hole in the wall venue (which I adored, would love to see all of my favorite</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">artists play at The Avalon) just 10 minutes before they open the doors. Magically we are like 12th in line.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Run in & nab 2nd row seats! My dream come true...literally.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About 20 minutes later the first act comes on, some random dude I've never heard of, but am amply impressed by his voice & lyrics, all accousticy & such.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, the 2nd act comes on, randomness to the 10th degree. A local Provo band. I could end my explanation of the band right there & you all would have a perfect image of who they were. Mike & I were giggling like 6th grade girls the whole time they were performing. It was awesome.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3rd band comes on, set's up some new, definitely improved equipment on stage & introduces themselves as "Haper Blynn", hate to say it but Mike & I were a bit skeptical of them to say the least. And then, they started to perform, won us over instantly! I was just a bobbin my head & a tappin my foot the whole time they were on stage. We LOVE them! Turns out they were going to be ol' Greggy Poo's band & back-up singers for the night as well. Mike bought their 2 CD's immediately after they had performed & before Greg came on stage. Later the whole band signed them for me. The lead singer simply wrote "Laura! Saw you boppin'! Jay" Melt...</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg comes on stage & my heart grows 3 times it's normal size. He put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. He was equally parts charming, funny & of course talented. I felt as if he was singing just to me for most of the show (oh the benefit's of sitting 2nd row)</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the show was over Harper Blynn & Mr Greg Laswell himself come out & take pictures with people & sign autographs...I truly did not want the night to end. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hers is Greg, doing what he does best, serenading me, sigh...</span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjmTEYNJxolFeuCb9FLwGP0P8ufPczcJxzOcr0E6aUuRPsU8Q-vOG7xDt2NZGeufJ2q4z_A2xzxK3Kw2ehfOrvBVRHZEgPMXoOSe3uo7v4JuL7CG9vv17PPyAlv0GjWBxmatGzYsuP8v2/s1600/74349_1750860930181_1198594992_32081972_7373379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjmTEYNJxolFeuCb9FLwGP0P8ufPczcJxzOcr0E6aUuRPsU8Q-vOG7xDt2NZGeufJ2q4z_A2xzxK3Kw2ehfOrvBVRHZEgPMXoOSe3uo7v4JuL7CG9vv17PPyAlv0GjWBxmatGzYsuP8v2/s320/74349_1750860930181_1198594992_32081972_7373379_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted to um, stand out, so I asked him to do a goofy picture with me instead of the 'smiley' pix I saw everyone else asking him to do. He humored me, & can I just say that mine was the only one he asked to see how the picture had turned out? Standing out mission accomplished!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL16LzvnD6d4BlWnVK3aKtDLSzEW91L9e_K4bLTgfpHWJmU7c9ptFZbXj-8NM_745kXFyae9N3jE8vmorl6S1B1E2C5XR-zUniBf1nNsUI1qIntM49YIp8LqeIewIJpjIzAtxfMnPwuJtL/s1600/greglaswell.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL16LzvnD6d4BlWnVK3aKtDLSzEW91L9e_K4bLTgfpHWJmU7c9ptFZbXj-8NM_745kXFyae9N3jE8vmorl6S1B1E2C5XR-zUniBf1nNsUI1qIntM49YIp8LqeIewIJpjIzAtxfMnPwuJtL/s320/greglaswell.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here I am with Harper Blynn, sorry the pix aren't the greatest, only had my phone on me to capture such sweet sweet moments...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8dYaU41NInVZSJ0FyJxG0QC42HjHU8Peq4qYBI00_vzy7Jx9e5VMmAJLx1QcZtpHvseo03g-y3UCxli6FjYnMJ4jxKNQN6OH1RzWAzkCuRRLj36qEi8WwY-9brfKf7yRMptvS3Z0Spza/s1600/harpersblynn.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8dYaU41NInVZSJ0FyJxG0QC42HjHU8Peq4qYBI00_vzy7Jx9e5VMmAJLx1QcZtpHvseo03g-y3UCxli6FjYnMJ4jxKNQN6OH1RzWAzkCuRRLj36qEi8WwY-9brfKf7yRMptvS3Z0Spza/s320/harpersblynn.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">If you haven't yet heard of Greg Laswell, check him out, he truly is a hidden gem. And for sure look up Haper Blynn while you are at it, it'll be worth your time, I promise. </div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-46369733796671143672010-11-11T09:53:00.000-07:002010-11-11T09:53:12.811-07:00Thirty to the Two & ya don't stop<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Happy Birthday Mike!!!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">(Photo courtesy of Mike, being Mike, pretending to be me at Lake Powell this summer)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWheWZCsq2BSUjfN3WJRoyh6y-YlfuSF-xwcqPa3fTfnaFTPuNq4ZvAtEKecWk7NEwFHNOA8Xvb4u1_buHX9Gh34A5ZtuB09JuovfNpZVVPgWWwCRfkaqIKMyzlRqs16wGNtXSAfUyeZL2/s1600/June+2+2010+%252859%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWheWZCsq2BSUjfN3WJRoyh6y-YlfuSF-xwcqPa3fTfnaFTPuNq4ZvAtEKecWk7NEwFHNOA8Xvb4u1_buHX9Gh34A5ZtuB09JuovfNpZVVPgWWwCRfkaqIKMyzlRqs16wGNtXSAfUyeZL2/s320/June+2+2010+%252859%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mike turned the big 3-2 yesterday & we spent the day sleeping in, having doughnuts as our<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">breakfast of champions, lunch at Kneaders & strolling around Barnes & Noble (one of our fave past times) & then getting Pizza for dinner while watching Jazz BEAT Orlando. Very laid back & relaxing, just the way Mikey Likey. The celebrating is being drawn out till tomorrow though, as we are going to the Greg Laswell concert tomorrow night. So excited for that, I adore Greg Laswell & his beautiful man voice.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">32 things I ADORE about Mike</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. He is super goofy (refer to picture above if proof is needed)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. He is so great with kids. One of the first things that made me fall in love with him, when we were first dating, was watching him play with his nieces & nephews, so cute!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. He makes me & the boys pancakes every Sunday morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Whenever I am sitting on the couch, he'll come into the room, grab a cozy blanket & wrap it around me, just in case I am a little chilly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. He built my beautiful Dance Studio for me (now that's a dream maker right there)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. He lets me cry whenever & for however long I need on his shoulder</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Even when my hair looks like I just stuck my finger in a light socket, & I am in ratty old sweats without a stitch of make-up on, he looks at me & says "Man you're beautiful!" Makes my day, even if he is lying through his teeth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. He is obsessed with basketball & is an awesome player. He IS the white Michael Jordan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. He researches every purchase that he ever makes. And I mean RESEARCH.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. He is the Best Dad to our two little boys. So hands on & loving. I am more & more impressed with him everyday I see him with them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. He changes the words to almost every song that I am ever singing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. He reads his scriptures every single night, no matter how tired he is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. He'll watch chick flicks with me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. He ALWAYS remembers the important dates (birthdays, anniversaries, valentines etc..)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. He supports me in my dreams & ambitions </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. He helps clean the bathrooms</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. He gets just as excited for the holidays as I do</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. After making fun of the movie "Phantom of the Opera" the first 40 minutes of me MAKING him watch it with me, it has now become one of his favorite movies of all time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. He could sit & draw floor plans all day if time allowed</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. He works so darn hard for our family</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. He is more than respectful to his parents</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. He makes me laugh until I cry on a regular basis</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. He's the first one to volunteer when any one is in need of help</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. He gets along with my family so well that sometimes I wonder if they get more excited to see him than me, pretty sure the answer to that is yes, & I would agree with them. I would definetly get more excited to see him over me any day of the week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25. He doesn't complain when our dinner for the night is cereal... again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26. He was there for me month after excrushiating month that I didn't get pregnant. Just there to listen, cry with, take my mind off of it, get me flowers, the list goes on & on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27. He knows just how important birthdays are to me</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28. He loves taking on a challenging game of Soduku</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29. He's worthy & willing to give me a Priesthood blessing whenever I am in need of one</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30. He does the funniest dance moves for me whenever I am jamming to my music in my bathroom getting ready to go out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31. He encourages me to go on 'Girls Nights' with my girls. Which means a lot, cause I've seen some girls have to practically beg their husbands for a night out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32. Because he is just HIM, plain & simple (refer to picture above, if needed)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm6A3zPGviYoN_Atyj2KfkwRCWTgzdUFvJAlsQkGVNg-ZVwwKd8x8-PKPa6GBKHBXRjW1Ej3BGYhQneV56FNJafgZneRVfYSGwYMTAhIC0Uq31iR7Fyk5KJCXadHpnYFrQyCY9DBc7ue2/s1600/img-thingCA6H8VRK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm6A3zPGviYoN_Atyj2KfkwRCWTgzdUFvJAlsQkGVNg-ZVwwKd8x8-PKPa6GBKHBXRjW1Ej3BGYhQneV56FNJafgZneRVfYSGwYMTAhIC0Uq31iR7Fyk5KJCXadHpnYFrQyCY9DBc7ue2/s1600/img-thingCA6H8VRK.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-48310256920425079172010-11-08T23:53:00.001-07:002010-11-08T23:54:50.777-07:00Be Weird<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be weird. It's funner to be weird anyways</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make a funny sound<span style="background-color: white;"> for no good reason, other than to hear what comes out of your mouth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Look in a mirror & try to make the craziest face known to man & see if you would still recognize yourself if you passed yourself by on the street. If you wouldn't, mission accomplished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take a piece of American cheese & throw it at the fridge & see how long it sticks. Crappy fake cheese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Always have some random rap song playing in your head while walking up & down the aisle's of Wal-mart. You will feel like you are in a runway show rap video & it'll make going to that black hole; where I swear they need stop lights on every aisle just to accommodate all of us that get lured in by their low prices (curse them) a wee bit more of a sunny spot in your day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Utter things like "G'day Mate", "That's old hat" & "Stupendous!" throughout the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ask for an extra straw at a restaurant & put both of the straws in your mouth, in front of your top teeth, behind your lips & pretend you're a Walrus. Gets Mike every time...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Walk around your house spritzing cologne in the air, so it will smell like a Holister store instead of a house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Call up a friend & instead of starting out with the old 'How are you doing?' question, genuinely ask them if there refrigerator is running, more than likely they will say yes & then even if they were having a bad day, well at least their fridge still works. (I know where you all thought that was going, but no crank call jokes, just weirdness today.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Play the game "Sorry" & whenever you actually 'Sorry' someone back to their home base say "Did I DO THAT?" in your best Steave Urkle voice (Mike does this ALL of the time & not just in the game 'Sorry'. Come to think of it this is a very annoying thing to do, not weird, but annoying).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">People watch whenever you can, I will take my breaks at work & while I am indulging in what can only be described as a small slice of heaven at the Nordstrom Cafe, I sit back & people watch. There is a lot of weird people out there & I like it. The more of us the better</span>.Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-75668963387298944282010-11-06T15:13:00.002-06:002010-11-06T23:17:05.550-06:00Anything But BASIC<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This past week I was in Portland, "But why Laura?" One might ask, well patience my pretties & I will tell all. MAC, you know that sweet company that I work for? They sent me (along with 3 other girls from my counter) to what they call "Basic", my first official Bidnis trip of my life- it was sooooooo much fun!!! Flight paid for by MAC...check, Hotel paid for by MAC...check, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner paid for by MAC...check, going to classes that I get to soak up an obscene amount of make-up knowledge & techniques & actually get paid to go to them (not the other way around, & trust me, I would have shelled out a pretty penny to attend said classes) by MAC....chigitty check! I met so many fun people who will forever be life long friends, got to go roam about the beautiful city of Portland at night & I feel like I learned so many new tips & tricks for doing make-up, what a fun week! I, of course missed my kiddo's & huzzy like crazy while I was away, it's nice to be back. But man, oh man, what an awesome experience! Now enjoy the picture overload from my trip... </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is some of us in MAC Heaven at the MAC store</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeIssnbDhzRsbRyiCLZI_Ty4UQgbtyVaydFmMMvHITl5LzEAlei1LRGVhP6pvQfhdaZyd9zHcyWBxjaplimAIeYNkovG4-apEAHyfaZNCSPo4StBMs5mBrm-71n2HvERrtx3eMGPaLEuf/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeIssnbDhzRsbRyiCLZI_Ty4UQgbtyVaydFmMMvHITl5LzEAlei1LRGVhP6pvQfhdaZyd9zHcyWBxjaplimAIeYNkovG4-apEAHyfaZNCSPo4StBMs5mBrm-71n2HvERrtx3eMGPaLEuf/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yours truly & my beautimus roomie, Stephanie</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN1mxXJyCp5vAiO0yVRF15x_mgYA4uztKvSTVQp5pUhlbhCOhjXv8Gdhd_F6PitX876a1mP9uF2TJi7EapwtQa52mOublyUwYXqG9aXaEBN6K5bHIcGinOy4IOhJd-yplxMTH1HL1ezt6/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN1mxXJyCp5vAiO0yVRF15x_mgYA4uztKvSTVQp5pUhlbhCOhjXv8Gdhd_F6PitX876a1mP9uF2TJi7EapwtQa52mOublyUwYXqG9aXaEBN6K5bHIcGinOy4IOhJd-yplxMTH1HL1ezt6/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SLxzxbUdULR4JQxX7731xji0vQjdJKi8k-6XXvgPbn4JUxRYJSXVCF9cPNyVG_G_3OAyQVukRnjYavZs0Ajf9Dtdgm0eWwngYSSGSG6Qw8DBqZ0DlH76uf56Hg9rC1fNA7DneqPL09f8/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SLxzxbUdULR4JQxX7731xji0vQjdJKi8k-6XXvgPbn4JUxRYJSXVCF9cPNyVG_G_3OAyQVukRnjYavZs0Ajf9Dtdgm0eWwngYSSGSG6Qw8DBqZ0DlH76uf56Hg9rC1fNA7DneqPL09f8/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the whole gang showing off our personalized MAC lipsticks that</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we got to make ourselves, too cool</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxWoQ0xcqvb5fXpO-eHHZVtgQptfoxEbyp9kSGhrr_39sfQx5UrH5t-xMFnqwG094FvGR2DhX92_ggARa1YbbdMYviVsEii5EWwl0jXU0evJQx80hO1wrVe_0nOBgkP0L_1M_z4Vhuw1T/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxWoQ0xcqvb5fXpO-eHHZVtgQptfoxEbyp9kSGhrr_39sfQx5UrH5t-xMFnqwG094FvGR2DhX92_ggARa1YbbdMYviVsEii5EWwl0jXU0evJQx80hO1wrVe_0nOBgkP0L_1M_z4Vhuw1T/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mua, Yolanda & Stephanie out & about our first night there</span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu1BFfY-SUg9735yWfhKmkYjb6zMCeuwixeZ4uPPU07aorBPGasGx96rz2g7onnDxRZX3IOHRwl9HXhlDEWBFkqPBjUv-ihscoP3cHD7lK1Rkvhigwjf5jdc857InLuNtFJoe0e9Mkdb4/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu1BFfY-SUg9735yWfhKmkYjb6zMCeuwixeZ4uPPU07aorBPGasGx96rz2g7onnDxRZX3IOHRwl9HXhlDEWBFkqPBjUv-ihscoP3cHD7lK1Rkvhigwjf5jdc857InLuNtFJoe0e9Mkdb4/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was the cutest Yummiest frozen yogurt shop right </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">across the street from</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> our hotel, here we are indulging...TASTY!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99ZDhIH9xL6O2I1WwKJJwFL8VKVcQ2dbKpoxuB4vv0xhOlZB3ZJ-66LlnxqHB2FVtJFNQzE03MsIP9DYNrB6IYFGI9EYPkqPmQhNWduvgoayO2j0E06Hxb0WFGpWuF28TxCA9gpigft5k/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99ZDhIH9xL6O2I1WwKJJwFL8VKVcQ2dbKpoxuB4vv0xhOlZB3ZJ-66LlnxqHB2FVtJFNQzE03MsIP9DYNrB6IYFGI9EYPkqPmQhNWduvgoayO2j0E06Hxb0WFGpWuF28TxCA9gpigft5k/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> First night out, just a strollin in the rain, needless to say we were singing "Umbrella" by Rihanna all over the city that night.</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekZp2q11VKsKi5GlpMYyIrU_xpI60W3fvc61groH24U1HPIgPebrR3WS3lLXDTZnnEQUxjwlRBGJAizqjneah0KnNuB8DDftAAYp1JjiCk5I7NewBigW7FUR5oB5VDRGM5FpM7qoKfxPk/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekZp2q11VKsKi5GlpMYyIrU_xpI60W3fvc61groH24U1HPIgPebrR3WS3lLXDTZnnEQUxjwlRBGJAizqjneah0KnNuB8DDftAAYp1JjiCk5I7NewBigW7FUR5oB5VDRGM5FpM7qoKfxPk/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Same yogurt shop, different night. Me & Vanessa fresh faced, </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in jammies & lovin life!</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScJhorjJ6vb9qMWhdbc4RSEYdrQQDtUG3axFesWb840iutUu5Cfvt6LhXe2D9WZLeLjVFLSHv4ugQOVIsypP51siN4MbKDIxP6LLdKXwiIHHVWaauhiTLFrmLh3l-GQhcWf9wnGmYMPri/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScJhorjJ6vb9qMWhdbc4RSEYdrQQDtUG3axFesWb840iutUu5Cfvt6LhXe2D9WZLeLjVFLSHv4ugQOVIsypP51siN4MbKDIxP6LLdKXwiIHHVWaauhiTLFrmLh3l-GQhcWf9wnGmYMPri/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hate how whited out this pic is, but here we all are in front of the hotel. The cutie patuties in the middle (red hair, Shauna , to the right of her, Melissa, & to the left of me Bethany) are our trainers</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZchbUuWFdUNpuABA_GnaAZzreae3gq4npopfahb9qPm5tFHhHQiOWapSZqS-AahM4G5A5wvT5f8VxxbJFkWOMV9fFhzrRWVFk50maO_MTjaQKhuNOIpIle90f8GFrEemjwP4nGcOZOCf/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZchbUuWFdUNpuABA_GnaAZzreae3gq4npopfahb9qPm5tFHhHQiOWapSZqS-AahM4G5A5wvT5f8VxxbJFkWOMV9fFhzrRWVFk50maO_MTjaQKhuNOIpIle90f8GFrEemjwP4nGcOZOCf/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-21766263088746641022010-10-11T19:07:00.001-06:002010-10-11T19:16:00.263-06:00Happen to be HAPPY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-xiPvM7LABCB3b6h0ulGYUcN9MA0WA1WGczFIoJuNIWTduhCyvmn50h6Uz3YGwSbKOAMkgvP7SK_-rubVqUVs1HF-8ntE4rooMFpk89FDVra1GXpcDRyLtqCZe2c5rgZxpADDaa5wLeI/s1600/img-thingCA1YQQDYhappy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-xiPvM7LABCB3b6h0ulGYUcN9MA0WA1WGczFIoJuNIWTduhCyvmn50h6Uz3YGwSbKOAMkgvP7SK_-rubVqUVs1HF-8ntE4rooMFpk89FDVra1GXpcDRyLtqCZe2c5rgZxpADDaa5wLeI/s320/img-thingCA1YQQDYhappy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">pRESENTING: sTUFF tHAT mAKES mE hAPPY</span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* qUOTING "fRIENDS" oN mORE tHAN a rEGULAR bASIS *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* sNEAKING wALMART bOUGHT cANDY iN mY gINORMOUS hANDBAG iNTO tHE mOVIES & fEELING aS iF i'VE jUST sAVED lOADS oF mULA & pULLED a fAST oNE oN tHE mOVIE bUSINESS aT tHE sAME tIME *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* dAYS tHAT i lITERALLY dON'T cHANGE oUT oF mY jAMMIES aLL dAY *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* pLAYING cHUTES & lADDERS wITH mY kIDS, tURNS oUT i lOVE tHIS gAME aT 29 aS mUCH, iF nOT mORE aS i dID wHEN i wAS a kID mYSELF *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* bURNING aUTUMN sCENTED oILS & cANDLES, cAN i eVEN bEGIN tO tELL yOU hOW fABULOUS tHE "cARMEL aPPLE" oIL fROM bATH & bODY wORKS sMELLS?,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> i tHINK nOT, iT'S rAD! wEIRD sIDE nOTE, iT sMELLS wAAAYY </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">bETTER iN tHE oIL tHAN iN tHE cANDLE. *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* sNEAKING kISSES fROM mIKE aT rANDOM tIMES tHROUGHOUT tHE dAY *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* wATCHING "gLEE" sEASON 1 (bORROWED fROM bREE, tHANX bREE!), wITH z hUZZY, wE aRE jUMPING oN tHE gLEE bANDWAGON a lITTLE fAR bEHIND eVERYONE eLSE,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">bUT bETTER lATE tHAN nEVER, aM i rIGHT, oR aM i rIGHT? *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* dECIDING tHAT "jEGGINGS" aRE mY mOST pREFERED tYPE oF jEAN tO eVER wEAR dUE tO tHE cOMFORT fACTOR aLONE *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* lOOKING iN mY kIDS bACKPACK'S tO sEE wHAT hOMEWORK tHEY hAVE & fINDING a cUTER tHAN cUTE cRAFT tHAT tHEY mADE aT sCHOOL tHAT dAY *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* fINDING tHE pERFECT lEOPARD pRINT sCARF tHAT i wILL rOCK aLL oVER tOWN tHIS wHOLE fALL/wINTER sEASON *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* gIVING oR rECIEVING a gENUINE cOMPLIMENT oUT oF tHE bLUE *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* pRETZEL m&M'S *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* sEEING hOW eXCITED mY dANCERS gET aT gETTING sTICKERS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> aT tHE </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">eND oF dANCE cLASS *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* fRESHLY dONE lAUNDRY, dOING tHE lAUNDRY hOWEVER,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> dOES nOT pUT </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">mE iN mY hAPPY pLACE, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">bUT bASICALLY tHE eXACT oPPOSITE oF mY hAPPY pLACE *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* hAVING aLL oF mY mAKE-UP oRGANIZED, tOOK mE lITTERALLY 5 hOURS tO gET dONE, bUT sOOOO wORTH iT, & bONUS, iT'S bEEN aBOUT a mONTH sINCE i dID iT & iT rEMAINS jUST aS oRGANIZED aS tHE fIRST dAY tHAT i dID iT, i tHINK i fINALLY hAVE a gOOD sYSTEM gOING hERE! *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">* pURPOSFULLY tYPING sTRANGELY, hELLO lOWER cASE aT tHE fRONT oF eVERY wORD wRITTEN *</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-31809768913728328572010-10-04T11:15:00.001-06:002010-10-04T11:19:21.803-06:00Untitled...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is going to be brutally honest, & maybe not in my best interest to even post this, but I kinda feel like putting it out there in the Universe somehow validates it, gets it off of my chest, gets people off of my back, however you want to put it, but here it is. Adoption. I am pro adoption. Mike & I started our papers back in January, our momentum & motivation was unstoppable, until it was, well... stopped. Everything felt like it was falling right into place, at the beginning. What happened? I don't know, it puzzles me. In some ways when I went in to have our first intake interview with the social worker (she's great, love her, NONE of this has anything to do with her), I felt judged, under a microscope & I wasn't good enough. Is that what has paused this process, my own insecurities? Or is it something more. The trusting, hopeful side of me says that it is just because whomever is supposed to come into our family still isn't ready yet, that everything has it's place & time. This is the side that I <em>try </em>to listen to & be in harmony with. The other part of me is still bitter that I couldn't get pregnant on my own again, I was able to get pregnant without even having to put any thought whatsoever into it with Jaden & Camren. Why has my body failed me this time? Why am I hung up on the fact that I am sooo sad that I don't get to proclaim to my family & friends that Surprise! I am preggers! Yay! Every one screams & starts crying out of pure happiness & everyone is hugging everyone. Why do I feel like I need to have this scene played out in real life like I have seen it played out in my head month after month for the past 5 years? I don't know, I wish I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I get nervous that my youngest is now SIX, what a large gap there is going to be now (and only getting bigger by the days) if we do have another child. So then I think, well we will just have to have two more close together now, but how will we have 2, when it seems impossible to even get one more into our family at this point. Hmmmm, I know it all boils down to faith. And I know mine is being tested. I DO have faith, I DO know that it eventually is all going to work out & fall into place exactly as it is supposed to. Sometimes it is just easier said than done. As are most things in life. There, I put it out there, don't judge me, please. This is just how I feel, for now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another way I feel when I put stuff <em>like this </em>on my blog, for all to read, Like I have said before, I feel like some songs can just put into words what I can't, so as cheeseballs as I realize this is, a song by 3 Doors Down fits perfectly...</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center">"What happens to a man when</div><div align="center">He spills his heart on a page and</div><div align="center">He watches words flow away then</div><div align="center">His feelings lie on the page alone</div><div align="center">There waiting</div><div align="center">For someone who cares to read them</div><div align="center">To open their eyes to see them</div><div align="center">To see if they can make his thoughts their own</div><div align="center">To find out that maybe your life's not perfect</div><div align="center">Maybe it's not worth what he gives away..."</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">"Pages" by 3 Doors Down</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-7902777671125540302010-09-22T09:49:00.002-06:002010-09-22T10:07:48.808-06:00I made you a Mixtape to show you how far we are in this Relationship...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVfguyqzh1AQIMzF7fLnTNh0Ta9JWGtrthfYkjXbH9zCuQ3X3AI5O-93qyMkTVMhxg3V_ytfzQd2XCvjKZDDy9arhdTwb0cD6OMpkbBkk5HNba9B-w8jyy19rvIAY_HCndatOyv_dM130/s1600/cassette-transfers-blank-cd-caselj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVfguyqzh1AQIMzF7fLnTNh0Ta9JWGtrthfYkjXbH9zCuQ3X3AI5O-93qyMkTVMhxg3V_ytfzQd2XCvjKZDDy9arhdTwb0cD6OMpkbBkk5HNba9B-w8jyy19rvIAY_HCndatOyv_dM130/s400/cassette-transfers-blank-cd-caselj.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">So, at this point, I KNOW you all know my obsession with music. Can't get enough of it, looove finding new music, love jamming in the car/shower/anywhere in general to it, can't live without it... and so on & so forth. I love it so much that I want to share my love for it, in some small way, by making CD's of it for those that I love & adore. I especially like making CD's for people who seem to appreciate the music that I "share" with them as much as I do. If they know it or not, I put a LOT of thought & time into making each & every CD I make. I literally think of the recipient, go through my music (CD by CD, yep, I have yet to store all of my music on to my computer, seems too daunting of a task at this point. So, I actually sit at my PC & load CD after CD, grabbing different songs off of each & adding it to a play list that I am personalizing for said recipient) & really try to choose songs that I think that they might possibly love. Some CD's can take me up to 2 hours to create. Sounds like I am crazy? Like at that point when I am making a CD, that I don't have any form of a life? Well, you're probably correct on both accounts, but I actually LOVE doing it! I get to listen to some of my favorite music & be creative in my own little way (what? I know I didn't actually create the songs themselves, but putting them together in my own little mix is fun & satisfying to mua). Each one is filled with sweet music (in my humble opinion) & a little Laura Love from me. If I were to make a custom CD right at this very second, here is what would be on it...</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>1. "Kandi" by One Eskimo</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>2. "Can you find me?" by The Summer Set</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>3. "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>4. "Sea of Love" by Cat Power</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>5. "Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer cover)" by Florence & the Machine</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>6. "Dimestore Diamond" by Gossip</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>7. "Kid's" by Sleigh Bells</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>8. "Clementine" by Sarah Jaffe</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>9. "Twisted" by Katie Melua</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>10. "Love the way you Lie" by Eminem ft. Rihanna</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>11. "Soldier of Love" by Sade</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>12. "Send you on your way" by Eastmountainsouth</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>13. "Summer Rain" by Belinda Carlisle (that's right, from the 80's)</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>14. "Electric Twist" by A Fine Frenzy</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>15. "Anything but the Truth" by Jack Johnson</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>16. "This Conversation" by The Submarines</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>17. "Who am I to say" by Hope</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>18. "Always on my mind (Willie Nelson cover)" by Iron & Wine</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>19. "Closer" by Kings of Leon</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>20. "Friend" by Brandi Carlile</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Most of these songs are at the bottom of this blog on my Playlist. Which is my own version of a Mixed CD for myself, I always pull it up to listen to on shuffle whenever I am on my computer. Chiggity check 'em out if ya want, I will be enjoying them either way. Cheer's to Music...</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-52342661799551525192010-08-31T10:15:00.002-06:002010-08-31T10:21:54.643-06:00Numero One Hundred-OThis is officially my 100th post on this blog (as a hush falls over the crowd), so I better be making it special. Well, I haven't been on here in a while (for good reason, I've been a busy little bee) so I have like, 100 things to catch you up on. On your mark, get set...... GOOOOO!<br />
<br />
<div align="center">1. I officially am working (part time) at the MAC counter, Loving it thus far!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">2. At my tender age of 29 I finally took the leap & pierced my ears (I can hear all of my familia </div><div align="center">letting out a shriek right about now).I am soo excited for my 6 weeks of wearing studs to be up, <br />
so I can get to the 'fun stuff' in the earring world.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">3. Cam's Birthday was yesterday...can't believe my BABY is 6!!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">4. Cam started Kindergarten last week. Can't believe my BABY is in Kindergarten!!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">5. Jaden is a BIG 3rd grader... when does time get away from me so quickly?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">6. We got a kitten & he lasted all of one day at our house. He was super cute, white hair, blue eyes (just like my boys) & we named him Boston. But after both of Jaden's eyes swelling completely shut from just being in the same room as him, we sadly had to give him back.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">7. Mike was in a mini triathlon & KILLED it! He finished like 26th or something out of like 350!</div><div align="center">Go MJ! And now he has 'the bug'. I have a feeling that this will be the first of many for him.</div><div align="center">I am so proud of my Mike & who knows, maybe someday I'll join him on some of his new adventures in physical fitness. That remains to be seen...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">8. My mother & father in law left to the MTC yesterday. They are going to be serving a<br />
mission inthe New Hampshire, Massachusetts mission at a Joseph Smith historical site<br />
in Vermont. They are going to be amazing!!! <br />
I love them both so much & am going to miss them terribly. <br />
But I KNOW that is where the Lord has need for them now. <br />
<br />
9. Bonus for me on where they are serving their mission: when Mike & I go & visit them, we will travel to Boston & go to a Celtics game at none other than 'The Garden'. Wishes being granted left & right.<br />
<br />
10. I am starting dance up again next week. Super excited. Can't wait to see all of my cutie patutie dancers again. They have been missed.<br />
<br />
11. Sorry, nothing to report on the 'baby' front. (Just in case you were wondering)<br />
<br />
12. Went to 2 fantabulous concerts this summer (both at USANA) The first was Jack Johnson. Me & Bree went together & it was a blast!!!! Love Jack J! Love to say that I actually have sang along with him LIVE! Have too many funny 'drunk men' at the concert stories. I'll just leave it at Drunk Guys at Jack Johnson Concerts are Insane!!! The 2nd concert was Dave Matthews Band! Double date with Krista & Jesse (thanks again my loves), & lets just say I think that I smelled enough Pot that night, that I went home with the munchies.... Loved the company at both concerts, Loved the outdoorsyness, loved it all!<br />
<br />
13. Went to "Eat Pray Love" twice! Loved it both times. Found it inspiring. Some of the peeps that I<br />
went with the 2nd time didn't love it like I did. As a matter of fact, I think they loathed it. Sorry in laws.<br />
<br />
14. I got a new bedding set!! So cute, feel like I am in a Hotel every time I slip into bed at night. I had my other bedding for 8 years & have been wanting something new & fresh the last couple years. Found a bargain on something I LOVE at TJ Maxx & the rest is history.<br />
<br />
15-100. I won't bore you to tears... leave 'em wanting more Laura..... always leave them wanting more.</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-54378623702114355132010-08-06T14:36:00.000-06:002010-08-06T14:36:23.444-06:00Notice<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>'I want you to notice, when I'm not around'</strong></span> </div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love those lyrics from Radioheads 'Creep', maybe I am just a bweirdo (me, weird?....) but, I mean really, don't we all kinda feel that way? Wouldn't it feel nice for people to notice when you're not around? Like, hey, where's (your name inserted here)? I don't think anyone likes to feel invisible, like it makes no difference to the people around them whether they are present in their life or not. For example, I totally notice it when someone- Anyone, is missing from a Sunday dinner at either sides of the Family. When Spence (my bro) & Tiffany (my sis in law) have their week to be with her side of the fam (which is obviously tot's understandable) I'm missing them & their funness that they bring to the Jackman abode. (Don't worry- rest of my family- I too very much notice when any of you are missing too, I was just giving an example) Or, on Mike's side of the familia, it's definitely pure insanity when everyone is there, but that is sooo much fun! I look forward to seeing everyone, I get a wee bit sad when I realize that it's Krista & Jesse's off week, or the Burges or what not. I just DEFINITELY NOTICE when peeps in my life aren't around. Am I making a dollop of daisy sense? And I would hope that my familia/friends maybe notice when I'm not around, just for the sake that maybe that means that I actually have somewhat of a positive influence over those around me & that I am not just a waste, where people go...'Oh, Laura wasn't here? I didn't even notice'.... Randomness, I know & I kinda feel like I am putting myself out there a bit by even proclaiming this little inside my headness thingamajigger. Some other random stuff I've noticed lately:</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * Men, boyz, boyz II men, however you want to put it, think that fluffing (passing wind, farting, ahem) is like the funniest thing on the planet. I get it, it's natural, whatevs & a lot of times it makes a silly noise, but the joke is really just always on me, cause now I get the pleasure of smelling a smell that should only immediately be flushed down a toilet. PeeUUU!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That somehow, I've realized that some people think that I am 'quiet'. What? Me quiet? They just must not know me too well. I always am surprised when I am sitting around crackalackin some jokes with someone, you know, just fun this & that banter, & they say to me "Laura, I had NO idea that you were like this!" I guess I get it, around some people, some people (no, not you) intimidate me, so I probably am a bit quieterstererer around them. Or maybe you just mostly see/talk to me in Sacrament meeting or heck, z county Library for that matter, but those places I would just be a jackhole if I wasn't quiet. For the most part I am loud & obnoxious & not the least bit sorry about it. And if we aren't in a Chapel or Library setting & I still appear quiet, then Congrats, you probably are one of the people that intimidates me a bit. :)</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * No matter how old I get, I still get unnaturally excited when a teacher brings treats as 'part of their lesson' in church. So, of course, I will always be coming up with some sort of snack whenever it is my turn to teach the lesson in Young Women's. There is something about being in a place that doesn't have a pantry or fridge full of food, that makes food (of any kind) look like the most tastiest thing you've ever laid eyes on.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That this whole Blogosphere thing keeps dwindling & dwindling. Not as many comments come into the comment box as there used to, not as many people updating their blog as often as they used to, not as many people even blogging at all anymore. A tear rolls silently down my left cheek ;) But on the reals, yo, I still love this whole blogging thing & I miss a lot of you & miss reading your random thoughts on your own blogs & heck, I am just going to be selfish, & your random thoughts in my comment box....</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That painting my own nails is both so relaxing & the most frustrating thing ever at the same time. Not too many things have that combo.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That I invest WAY to much of my personal emotions into reality stars (and I guess just famous people in general) lives. Why oh why do I give such a hoot when the couples from The Bachelor don't make it? I mean really, did I really think that it was going to last anyways? It's like they are my personal BFF's & I discuss them at length with my real life BFF's, strange. But still fun, none the less, so I will carry on in the tradition of being a sucker for these things. Gotta love it.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That if you lay down in a bed, lights off, eyes shut long enough, you really will eventually fall asleep... even if it is a few hours later & you feel like you have lost at least a thousand brain cells telling yourself over & over again to FALL ASLEEP!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That I waste so much milk every time I decide to actually have milk with my cereal (I normally just eat it dry). I take a spoonful, drain out the excess milk & then eat the bite of cereal, by the time the cereal is gone, there is basically a full bowl of milk & there is no way that I am going to drink it on it's own, so it goes down the drain, right before the bowl goes into the dishwasher.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"> * That 'love at first sight' really is possible. I noticed this the other day. My older sister Stacy had her fourth baby & Jess (my younger sister) sent me a simple text with a picture of my new niece (they live in Cali & my Ma, Pa, & Jess went out there for when she had the baby) & I took one look at her & I haven't even had the chance to meet her, just seen the one picture, but I already felt such a strong love for her. And that proves the theory of 'love at first sight'.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0eBo_uxHuEt6lPf6Q0W5J-Hn6a_60ewkDrN-JlLoU8r4cj6lvhdXQxiZOIO9QR7zVPWNST7-oHKVx65yN60vUqVU6I4meTAy6Sla-ix_eiUkol7ZOWxEbiP1pIihnMHY1urv6RNJQaw7/s1600/img-thingCA86JB0A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0eBo_uxHuEt6lPf6Q0W5J-Hn6a_60ewkDrN-JlLoU8r4cj6lvhdXQxiZOIO9QR7zVPWNST7-oHKVx65yN60vUqVU6I4meTAy6Sla-ix_eiUkol7ZOWxEbiP1pIihnMHY1urv6RNJQaw7/s320/img-thingCA86JB0A.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-78989133078731752022010-08-02T11:49:00.004-06:002010-08-02T12:02:16.297-06:00POP ROX<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjxhFos055SEsdby1pjJEoE561eDg-_Trs2Uclf2wpVtJ8Y5its_oQAzMYERqFrz-EdrT54fBazc1bPdCzVbV00ZdjmWOxpWPVVWaIHs42XPGLNNggfwP2yrcYSjpN0mZ6FzoUKC_0Zpl/s1600/colorful-spectrum-pr.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500871605715448210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjxhFos055SEsdby1pjJEoE561eDg-_Trs2Uclf2wpVtJ8Y5its_oQAzMYERqFrz-EdrT54fBazc1bPdCzVbV00ZdjmWOxpWPVVWaIHs42XPGLNNggfwP2yrcYSjpN0mZ6FzoUKC_0Zpl/s400/colorful-spectrum-pr.jpg" /></a> It's that time!!!! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yay</span>! I am having open registration for DANCE now!!! Call & sign up, it is going to be a blast & a half!!! I do classes from 3 years to Adult & charge $30 a month. I mostly focus on Hip Hop & Modern dance styles. So, please give me a call today if you are interested, classes beginning Sept 7<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>!!!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>POP <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ROX</span> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>Dance Studio</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><strong>801-792-2670</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Hope to hear from you soon! :) </div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-80921474259688328002010-07-23T15:53:00.006-06:002010-07-23T16:38:13.058-06:0020 Dollar Bill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_od-vv6KYaUENH0IqMHmnMe43KbKrIl2y3KZVwVakXRNvrDwVrjLJ6v3KUbK6lc2avDKF3-mYKEo4GZOfx6-qvrEKGdSLR6FiEH0jG0lE5YC6OG_DP7XXNi-HrmY_MWkdE9dJ7eDiAaVg/s1600/ist2_3731835-crumpled-20-bill.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497228071968995634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_od-vv6KYaUENH0IqMHmnMe43KbKrIl2y3KZVwVakXRNvrDwVrjLJ6v3KUbK6lc2avDKF3-mYKEo4GZOfx6-qvrEKGdSLR6FiEH0jG0lE5YC6OG_DP7XXNi-HrmY_MWkdE9dJ7eDiAaVg/s400/ist2_3731835-crumpled-20-bill.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I was so touched by a talk President <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Uchtdorf</span> gave at April's General <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Conference</span> titled </div><div>"You Are My Hands", it has been on my mind a lot lately & so I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">thought</span> I would share some of the parts that really stuck out to me in my mind. Here are some of my favorite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">excerpts</span> from his talk:</div><div></div><div><br /><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="18"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="19"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">loveth</span> the world, even that he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">layeth</span> down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. … </span></div><br /><div><br /><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="20"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, … [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="25"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In truth, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Do we not yearn to feel the Savior’s embrace?<br /></span></div><br /><div><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="26"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves. </span></div><br /><div><br /><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="27"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen. "</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here is my FAVE part...</span></div><br /><div><br /><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="28"></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#009900;">One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But I am still a 20-dollar bill. I am worth something. Even though I may not look like much and even though I have been battered and used, I am still worth the full 20 dollars.” </span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="30"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With this in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn. We are commanded “to mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort.”</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><a class="bookmark dontHighlight" name="32"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the book of Proverbs we read that “a friend <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">loveth</span> at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Let us love at all times. And let us especially be there for our brothers and sisters during times of adversity. "</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div></div><div></div><div>So good, so inspirational! I am sure most of you have heard it, read it, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">etc</span>... I just felt like re-sharing it here on my blog. And the part above that I said stuck out to me the most, the part about what the lady said about the $20 bill. I've always realized that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God & that we are all beloved children of our Heavenly Father. This just help give me a great visual example & REALLY made it CLICK in my head. We really are all worth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> much & even though we go through life & have our personal struggles & can get stained from the world, we still are worth the same amount. I love it, I love to know through all of my sins & repenting & oops, there I go sinning again & coming back to ask for repentance. Through my weaknesses & struggles, I am still worth so much in the sight of the Lord. And you know what, so is every single person around me. And THAT is how they deserved to be treated. It doesn't matter how tattered & torn they are, they are still worth the same amount as a crisp hardly used $20 bill. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Hopefully this speaks to you as much as it does to me. Thanks for reading. :)</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-55932151506481989412010-07-15T13:38:00.007-06:002010-07-15T15:05:45.955-06:00Little Miss ObsessiveStuff I am obsessed with as of late....<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The show<span style="color:#3366ff;"> 'Double Exposure'</span> on Bravo. It follows these</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">two photographers as they do major photo shoots with major stars. The guy is bonkers</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">& the girl is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">gorg</span> (she's an ex model), & they used to date each other & they</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">fight mad <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">crazy over</span> stuff, but they are amazing at their craft.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Very Entertaining!!!*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The <span style="color:#33cc00;">chicken c<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">esar</span> salad at Kneaders</span>. I am very picky </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">when it comes to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Cesar</span> Salad & they nailed this one.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mmmmmmmmm</span>!*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The<span style="color:#ff6600;"> songs</span>:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"My Delirium" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ladyhawke</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Merry Happy" by Kate Nash</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kandi</span>" by One Eskimo</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Goodbye" by Greg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Laswell</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Starstruck" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Santigold</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" by The Submarines</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Samson" by Regina <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Spektor</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"The Kiss" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pallers</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Everywhere I go" by Lissie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Look 'em up, you won't be disappointed, I promise</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(well, unless u have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">sucky</span> taste in music,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">then I can't help you there:)!*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*<span style="color:#ff0000;"> Raspberries in milk with honey on top</span>. This isn't a new </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">obsession, I've done this since I was a young one.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Learned it from my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">gramps</span>, so yummy & good for you!*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*<span style="color:#cc33cc;">Two finger rings</span>, that's right, rings that go over TWO fingers.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The first time my mom-in-law saw me</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">wearing one she asked,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Are those things legal?"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She thought that it was brass knuckles. Awesome!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Made me like the ring & her even more.*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The show "<span style="color:#33ccff;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bethenny</span> Getting Married</span>" also on Bravo.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you are familiar with</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'The Real Housewives of New York', then yes,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">it is the same <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bethenny</span>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She has her own spin off show & I laugh </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">uncontrollably </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">every episode.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She has got to be THE wittiest lady on TV. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The <span style="color:#ffcc66;">Summer Vanillas</span> home oil collection from </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bath & Body Works.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Berry one is my personal fave.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Just wish they </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">weren't limited edition.*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">*The word '<span style="color:#006600;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Amazeballs</span></span>', not always graciously accepted amongst</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">many people, but I find it to be a crack up</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">when lightly peppered into any conversation.*</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left">There you have it, my people, what are you obsessed with?</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-57856679769570440522010-07-10T18:29:00.004-06:002010-07-11T13:36:01.817-06:00Girls Camp Rocked the Hiz House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg4YxQqGBbVpey61kOOwCnNYErLY8QVO3P_R3k6HwK5VsVCRfU1aBAgls_zaN-7VSXsjIwljZ9hAch8mfSXnvu0IwFMAOQUfhEdBAqRnrLbwVvERCcCkmUD2vwqaiwHlHLWMR4T2hlPwl/s1600/36996_1443888610635_1035694790_1275592_2893388_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492731977664915538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg4YxQqGBbVpey61kOOwCnNYErLY8QVO3P_R3k6HwK5VsVCRfU1aBAgls_zaN-7VSXsjIwljZ9hAch8mfSXnvu0IwFMAOQUfhEdBAqRnrLbwVvERCcCkmUD2vwqaiwHlHLWMR4T2hlPwl/s400/36996_1443888610635_1035694790_1275592_2893388_n.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Girls camp was even more funnier, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">awesomier</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">coolier</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">bettier</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">sweetier</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">spiritualier</span> & <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">dopeier</span> than I could ever imagined. It seriously was a blast and a half! Loved it! We stayed in The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sorensen's</span> sweet cabin (we were roughing it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">fo</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">sho</span>). So many fun times, and oh how I truly LOVE every single person that shared in on the girls camp experience 2010! Some highlights:<br /><br /><div align="center">***The ride to and from camp... talk about a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">partay</span> in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Montero</span> my loves!***</div><br /><div align="center">***Doing all of the girls make-up (a wee bit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">foreign</span> lugging a bunch o make-up to CAMP, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">whatev's</span>) & seeing just how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">beautimus</span> every single one of them really are!***</div><br /><div align="center">***Seeing a baby Moose right outside the cabin & naming him "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moosey</span>"***</div><br /><div align="center">***Crying my eyes out, later that night after applying make-up to the girls, telling them that </div><div align="center">inner beauty is SO much more important than outer beauty, that they are all beautiful daughters of God & that THAT is what REALLY matters!!!***</div><br /><div align="center">***Singing awesome silly songs with the girls***</div><br /><div align="center">***Having a very spiritual Testimony Meeting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Friday</span> night out on the porch surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery***</div><br /><div align="center">***Going 'Snipe Hunting' with the Beehives....Priceless***</div><br /><div align="center">***Laughing till I nearly peed myself with all of the leaders (basically every second we were there, but in particular the last night, after all the girls had gone to bed) My vision for being a leader myself at camp realized!!!***</div><br /><div align="center">***Getting to know everyone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> much better & literally loving every second of being with all of them, Long Live Girls Camp 2010!!!***</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Let's get to some Pix, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">shant</span> we.....</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center">So, this is the last day when we were packing up & Katie was about to snap a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">fabu</span> pic of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">mua</span> & instead got this (which is even MORE <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">fabu</span> if you ask me). For some reason <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Steph</span> decided to scare me half ta def at this very instant & Katie captured it. Loves!</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUix7iOs1wBRJfoy6AFRGBUQaj9S9XaSULx3eRTiBDGsyZcvPUgspgYgqV21Opg-Z-rBnAzD88zzFYPtRxbNETLB2e3Sc09zvagrkFwCBBHkMNvf0Fg_HbGZkCTx6uWpJ0ajBePFtG0-rY/s1600/36188_1339013319314_1350593362_30823909_2378560_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492442723904267554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUix7iOs1wBRJfoy6AFRGBUQaj9S9XaSULx3eRTiBDGsyZcvPUgspgYgqV21Opg-Z-rBnAzD88zzFYPtRxbNETLB2e3Sc09zvagrkFwCBBHkMNvf0Fg_HbGZkCTx6uWpJ0ajBePFtG0-rY/s400/36188_1339013319314_1350593362_30823909_2378560_n.jpg" /></a> Here is '<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moosey</span>', inside joke: </div><br /><div align="center">"I tried to stop him, I said 'Moose Stop!', but he didn't listen..."<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECApW730hIDoJ1C36yewDXrgJeEBel3uL0UZyBbed0ofD9Y8NyMZKpgcILo8lUShLfdQg2d8TSDFvxFy-3AB-Wa9n5swMXfPvNKi1nZe6LvXA46dsj4VkerY5yx2B0sp007qSf6qM3JKC/s1600/30444_1339017319414_1350593362_30823947_6192596_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492442716899118354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECApW730hIDoJ1C36yewDXrgJeEBel3uL0UZyBbed0ofD9Y8NyMZKpgcILo8lUShLfdQg2d8TSDFvxFy-3AB-Wa9n5swMXfPvNKi1nZe6LvXA46dsj4VkerY5yx2B0sp007qSf6qM3JKC/s400/30444_1339017319414_1350593362_30823947_6192596_n.jpg" /></a> Here is me, Katie & Katee doing our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miley</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">pouty lips</span> face right after the makeovers.</div><br /><div align="center">Work it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Girlz</span>!!!<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejtRk16B-uBnpG2qiPV0DxvVtnd-tx2voKU07kb9cOTjf6L0y_Rmjp3YdJEzrNh0g0s6pWtMD0FUfg7ROqBHAYUR7LRm6B9Uf95TRKCdjSfANfofcJnuq62oNLV8Sq0o93hwjfEGMoa3G/s1600/34538_1443879970419_1035694790_1275507_5368265_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492442712259244738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejtRk16B-uBnpG2qiPV0DxvVtnd-tx2voKU07kb9cOTjf6L0y_Rmjp3YdJEzrNh0g0s6pWtMD0FUfg7ROqBHAYUR7LRm6B9Uf95TRKCdjSfANfofcJnuq62oNLV8Sq0o93hwjfEGMoa3G/s400/34538_1443879970419_1035694790_1275507_5368265_n.jpg" /></a><br />Stretching out atop z ladies<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2drwHsE9Pl6JccMlLVbLTrbZfgetmIVX4LpaTc89AAqx_3sPIvcn9bgHpxabS3JGXKJTWdEtz5WMmT1iBjy1Bkge1m_IGbQ_Pwk-q83HoLyCJUhUp7W7CR55rtJPXI3VUoK_Nj4vsN7J/s1600/36481_1339013719324_1350593362_30823913_3618358_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492442706953851074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2drwHsE9Pl6JccMlLVbLTrbZfgetmIVX4LpaTc89AAqx_3sPIvcn9bgHpxabS3JGXKJTWdEtz5WMmT1iBjy1Bkge1m_IGbQ_Pwk-q83HoLyCJUhUp7W7CR55rtJPXI3VUoK_Nj4vsN7J/s400/36481_1339013719324_1350593362_30823913_3618358_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Right before 'Snipe Hunting', notice the Beehives have Toothpaste plastered on their faces. The Laurels told them it "lured" in the snipes. Good stuff!<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68I2ENbcOB6XgmU03rG-kWZynm2M6n2_Y15Fz2CBIVj3m0Q7MFFXnT3ZoL85Ne5pk56r5Lj15HlxXPyzp3Yohzc5Xq3mwJ7wBzM2YDDvgjhr16ftH5dqJIspiUzsfbaQ2zPeEzbM6ONLh/s1600/28271_435880811498_698336498_5768830_1335917_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492442702862962626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68I2ENbcOB6XgmU03rG-kWZynm2M6n2_Y15Fz2CBIVj3m0Q7MFFXnT3ZoL85Ne5pk56r5Lj15HlxXPyzp3Yohzc5Xq3mwJ7wBzM2YDDvgjhr16ftH5dqJIspiUzsfbaQ2zPeEzbM6ONLh/s400/28271_435880811498_698336498_5768830_1335917_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Great times, great times! Thanks Jake for allowing us unlimited back stage access to your sweet cabin, you are the ONLY reason I would ever claim to be TEAM JACOB! :) Thanks to all of the other leaders, not only did you make me feel like a kid again, but you truly made me feel like a true Stand Up Comedian (which, let's all be honest, I so am not! Only at midnight, in the dark, when I am literally Standing Up, whilst you were all laying down)! And especially Thanks to the 'girls', thanks for accepting me into the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">YW</span> clan with open arms... I love, love, love you ALL!!!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-87708915044202856842010-06-19T16:17:00.004-06:002010-06-19T16:22:21.498-06:00BEAUTY BLOG<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUCMVfoR6UKXi7rwhaEaCNea99EQQ98ukBntVqcR5k4WrQOnWbmzP3N8GyhoYZ0k51IvMJQZ3-CyMNuWm_Qrvrey_Td3fuLUEFavQ69i33Kyc-HV0oMs9AgXzIVLZVCUb0L7miYgyp2G/s1600/ocean-inspired-eye-look.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 349px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484612709243679202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUCMVfoR6UKXi7rwhaEaCNea99EQQ98ukBntVqcR5k4WrQOnWbmzP3N8GyhoYZ0k51IvMJQZ3-CyMNuWm_Qrvrey_Td3fuLUEFavQ69i33Kyc-HV0oMs9AgXzIVLZVCUb0L7miYgyp2G/s400/ocean-inspired-eye-look.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I decided to start a 'Beauty Blog' called Glow. Check it out if you are interested, or don't, whatever floats ya boat. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://glowbeautifully.blogspot.com/">http://glowbeautifully.blogspot.com/</a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Gracias, carry on.</div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-22628118896419555192010-06-17T16:58:00.007-06:002010-06-17T17:36:44.713-06:00Untakeable<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9N99KooGjjMDS0j4NIYOGjK4zmDnAQThN4_0g1feQM95lPPHACi7HlOYYjvRk-vZF_LbuiXaxvOaHbPjjG3eErvzovkGJB5EfsPd6BNdxL_MRsBnp8D7RjFHWkgWBOQM_VhVoow4wU37/s1600/Laura_0887.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483882557578521234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9N99KooGjjMDS0j4NIYOGjK4zmDnAQThN4_0g1feQM95lPPHACi7HlOYYjvRk-vZF_LbuiXaxvOaHbPjjG3eErvzovkGJB5EfsPd6BNdxL_MRsBnp8D7RjFHWkgWBOQM_VhVoow4wU37/s400/Laura_0887.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Things I cannot photograph....</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-the laughter of my kids-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-my crazy tangled emotions of wanting another child-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-how great it feels to jump into a lake on a hot day-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-my love for the people that surround me-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-the respect i have for the life my grandpa lived-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-the refreshing feeling i get after giggling really hard-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-my gratitude towards my parents-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-the way i feel about music-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-sheer joy of a yummy home cooked meal-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-my passion for dancing-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-the feel of raindrops on my skin on a warm evening-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">-how nice it feels to feel loved-</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></strong></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-69102820145534103462010-06-01T20:13:00.007-06:002010-06-01T21:47:56.449-06:00Happiness is...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRG_TwQbzULnG5Ukm72TuBEVG_IO3tCrLlcVIPAZIWbODfEh_NJFFZCji4ZFSrwiya7A2tGRDYUmDGXWEU-XlaR_9SHnmUY8de5uYVr6trIk2mxSwUoLcQi_wdX9JqFayffs6En0z6UQ-/s1600/tumblr_kyvpvv1JRX1qar23fo1_500_large.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477995529698355746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRG_TwQbzULnG5Ukm72TuBEVG_IO3tCrLlcVIPAZIWbODfEh_NJFFZCji4ZFSrwiya7A2tGRDYUmDGXWEU-XlaR_9SHnmUY8de5uYVr6trIk2mxSwUoLcQi_wdX9JqFayffs6En0z6UQ-/s400/tumblr_kyvpvv1JRX1qar23fo1_500_large.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">* Lying in bed listening to the<span style="font-size:180%;color:#339999;"> <strong>Rain</strong></span> outside * * Going to a Bee's Game with good<span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff9900;"> <strong>Friends</strong></span> (thanks <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Steph</span>!) * * Getting an unexpected<span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc66cc;"> <strong>Note</strong></span> in the mail * * Finding an old favorite</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33ff33;"><strong>Sweatshirt</strong></span>, ALL the way in the very back of your closet * * Watching your 8 year old</div><div align="center">son play Guitar Hero <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">as his</span> <span style="font-size:180%;">"<span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>talent</strong></span>"</span> in the scout Talent Show * * Hearing a favorite </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffcc00;">song </span></strong>while strolling through a store *</div><div align="center">* Celtics making it to the <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffff00;"><strong>Finals</strong></span>, we WILL beat LA * * Playing the game Ripple with family & seeing how happy my<span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;"> <strong>Mom</strong></span> gets when she gets a ripple/card she wants * * Bubble <span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>Baths</strong></span> * * <span style="font-size:180%;color:#33ffff;"><strong>Laughing</strong></span> so hard that you feel like you just did 314 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sit ups</span> * * Looking out my back window & seeing Mike & <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Camren</span> doing their new favorite thing <span style="font-size:180%;color:#33cc00;"><strong>together</strong></span>: Gardening * * Having those yummy Powdered <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Doughnuts</strong></span> every once in a while for breakfast * </div><div align="center">*<span style="font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>Hula Hooping</strong> </span>with a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">BFF</span> in my living room watching So You Think You Can Dance, hoping that it really is burning the 600 calories in 60 minutes, like a magazine told you * * Going to late night<span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffcccc;"> <strong>girlie</strong></span> movies with Sis in</div><div align="center">laws * *<span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffff33;"> <strong>Watching</strong></span> Brian Regan <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">DVDs</span> that Jess lent to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">mua</span> * * <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Smiling</strong></span> at a total stranger & they actually smile back * * <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc66cc;">Reading</span></strong> the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sequel</span> to 'The Hourglass Door': 'The Golden Spiral' * * Realizing that no matter your circumstances, you really can <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33ccff;">choose</span></strong> to be happy, everyday *</div><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SFycHi3B86kIwDX-Ln1Q2bJXcKs08C0JMIyxxgyhZVTvXKeJdpFgsl4AYNrB5XAYnO1Z322Yqrx_KNEX1nKx8abt4rgpJLg-L2clMStAdXcYsq5ahyb4WH6nbj3jfw0ts3ZFUxS1XVG0/s1600/20iam84.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 353px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477995521936248546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SFycHi3B86kIwDX-Ln1Q2bJXcKs08C0JMIyxxgyhZVTvXKeJdpFgsl4AYNrB5XAYnO1Z322Yqrx_KNEX1nKx8abt4rgpJLg-L2clMStAdXcYsq5ahyb4WH6nbj3jfw0ts3ZFUxS1XVG0/s400/20iam84.png" /></a>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249514170882390053.post-84461372635257749782010-05-24T13:25:00.005-06:002010-05-24T22:34:03.111-06:00The Story of US...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGppj4WXhfFB8Sw3fWIb-tiP3kTIjirVsU-_BesZjKemmzmNju80rabKWsa8tT_-9PIasSW040uaDy8ipXXk6yOJsiGG85YyjOOvymxBpumBNU-_gu3jk6RDym4KdOndoF6v6zPvydKriE/s1600/brownandpink4141247238.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474927782073943234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGppj4WXhfFB8Sw3fWIb-tiP3kTIjirVsU-_BesZjKemmzmNju80rabKWsa8tT_-9PIasSW040uaDy8ipXXk6yOJsiGG85YyjOOvymxBpumBNU-_gu3jk6RDym4KdOndoF6v6zPvydKriE/s400/brownandpink4141247238.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#330099;">I was going to do a post of our gooey love story & wait & post it on our Anniversary, or V-day, or something semi-lame like that, & then thought to myself, why not just do it now? On a ordinary, out of the blue, non-special event day Monday in May? I love our "Love Story" & I am just going to highlight a little bit of it here. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gooeyness</span> and all! </span><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">* On our first date, as he was driving me home, he asked me out on a second date.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">No waiting around by the phone wondering, 'Is he going to call?'</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">A boy that doesn't play mind games, knows what he wants and goes after it. Now that's what I'm talking about!!! *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">* On our second date, dropping me off & saying goodnight on the porch, he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">leans</span> in for</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">a sweet little kiss. Smiles at me and starts going down the porch stairs, turns around</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">and says "Um, I think that I am seeing stars right about now." *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">* After a week of dating, driving me home in his sweet Land Cruiser that he had fixed up himself, reaches over and grabs my hand & sorta yells over the wind blowing through our hair "I want to date you, and only you, so what I am basically asking is Will you go out with me?" Yes, he was a return missionary, & he was asking me with this cutest boyish smile, very aware that he sounded like he was still in middle school, but just as sincere as Mike always is.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">I laughed a little bit, looked at him to see if he was really being serious &</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">said "Yes, I will 'Go Out' with you" *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">* Mike, leaving to go to college up at USU just a month after we had started dating, rearranged his whole <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">schedule</span> so that he only had Tue/Thur classes, so that he could come home</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">from Thursday night to Monday night to be with me. Let's just say he spent a lot more time </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">in So Jo than in Logan that semester. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;">My apologies to his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">roommates</span>, who never got to see him. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6666;">* Sept. 30, 2000 (just a short couple of months after we had began dating), taking me to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">USU's</span> Homecoming Dance and afterwords going back to the Alumni house & back in the beautiful gardens in the backyard. Just me & him, he drops to one knee, tells me some very beautiful things & asks 'Will you marry me Laura? I promise I will ALWAYS treat you right & take good care of you?' And he still continues to make good on his promise. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#00cccc;">* December 28, 2000 , we are sealed for eternity in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">SLC</span> Temple! What an awesome day (other than the fact that the high of the day was 17 Degrees). We even had dancing at our reception, which is something I always wanted. Our first dance as <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">huzzy</span> & <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">wifey</span> was to </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#00cccc;">"Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;">* February 12, 2002, laying on an operating bed with Mike right up by my head, lovingly playing with my hair to comfort me, and after 3 hours of pushing & then being rushed in for an emergency c-section, Mike looking in my eyes & saying "I want us to see him for the first time together", then hearing the first cries of our baby boy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jaden</span>. Both of us shedding tears of joy/relief as they bundled him up and placed him in Mikes arms. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663333;">* Aug. 23, 2003 Moving into our first HOME together, looking at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">each other</span> feeling like "We Made It!!!" *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#999900;">* August 30, 2004, sitting in a hospital room with Mike, knowing that for sure this time, that our next baby boy is coming via c-section, just waiting for the doc to be ready. Scared & with tears in my eyes, Mike gives me a big hug & tells me that it's going to be Okay & that he will be there with me the entire time. Again, he waits by my head, so that we can see <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Camren</span> for the first time together. And then a couple hours later, holding Cam in my arms, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jaden</span> walks in the room wearing a "I'm the BIG Brother" t-shirt. Mike picks him up & brings him over to see his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">lil</span>' brother & there we were, the four of us together as a family. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#330099;">* Dec. 21, 2007, packing up & moving out of our first house & I felt <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">devastated</span>, I loved that house, how could we leave it, we had made that house our HOME. But then, as we were driving away, me & the boys in my car & Mike following behind in his car. I looked in my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rear view</span> mirror to look at the house once more, but had an Oprah "Aha" moment. I didn't see the house, I just saw my two boys in the back seat & Mike in his car & realized that everything that was special & meaningful about that house was right there, leaving with me. And as long as I had that, then I had MY Home. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">* Dec '07- Feb '08 Living with Mike's parents in their basement. Learning more & more about where Mike comes from & what makes him, well Mike! Seeing the daily interaction of him with his parents made me love & respect him even that much more. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">* Feb '08- Oct '08 Living with Mike's sister Krista & her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">fam</span>, thinking that we were going to be building a home over by Daybreak, plans all in place. Heavenly Father had a different plan for us & it brought us to where we live now. This was a real trial for Mike & I, having this plan for our family & then doing a 180 & realizing that the Lord wants us somewhere else. It brought us closer & was a testimony builder that the Lord <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sees</span> over everything in our lives & </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">his plans/ways are always better than our own, we just need to put faith in him. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">* Feb '06- Present Time: Realizing that there is another little one out there that is meant to be added to our family, but after many infertility treatments, prayers, blessings & still in the process of trying to adopt, & no such luck..... yet. I KNOW that it WILL happen, just don't know how or when quite yet. But I do know that I couldn't ask for a better partner to go through all of this with. Mike has been there to hold me as I cried every single month when I would realize that, No, I am not pregnant....still. When I was on all of this medicine that would literally make me crazy and Mike would call on his way home from work and would ask what kind of take-out he could bring home for me so we could have some yummy food to munch on while we watched whatever movie I was in the mood for. When Mike would be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> strong for me, even though I knew that it was something that was so hard for him to handle as well. He wants another baby just as much as me. One day Mike, we will be holding our baby that we have prayed so hard for & you will have said to me "I want us to both see her/him for the first time together" & the waiting will have been worth it. *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff6600;">* And then of course all of the little details, that really make our love story special. The way that we squeeze <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">each others</span> hands 3 times, to secretly tell the other one "I Love You". The songs that have become the soundtrack of our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">journey</span> together: "Love of a Lifetime" by Firehouse, "I will Love You" by Fisher, "Everything" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lifehouse</span>, "Tangled up in You" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Staind</span>, "Everything I do" by Bryan Adams, "Fix You" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Coldplay</span>, "All I want is You" by U2, just to name a few. The way that he still gives me that boyish grin & it melts my heart every time. The way that we laugh together, and the way he can make me laugh harder than anyone I've ever met. The little inside jokes we share that no one else would probably even care to understand. The way he still opens doors for me, lets me control the remote, writes me cute little love notes & shows up with flowers "Just Because" & the way that when we went on a date the other week to see the flick "Date Night" & at the end of the movie Steve C.'s character says to Tina F.'s character "I would choose you every time" & Mike <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">leans</span> over and whispers in my ear "I would choose you <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every time</span> TOO Laura, I love you!" Well Mike, I would choose you too, every time, & any situation. I love you with all of my Laura Johnston Heart!!! *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#330099;">To be continued, and never to end.....</span></div>Johnston Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11004887020051649964noreply@blogger.com12