Free to be me - Photo Challenge Day 13

Finally a day on the photo challenge that's a no-brainer. Day 13 is your favorite artist or band.
I highly recommend Francesca Battistelli! She's a Christian artist with a very unusual flavor.

I'm uploading two songs for your Saturday viewing pleasure - first one on deck is "Free to be Me" which is an upbeat tune. You gotta listen to the words; they're quite inspiring.

Then for a more calming effect, check out "Beautiful, Beautiful" which makes me cry almost every time.

Let me know what you think about my girl, Francesca, and tell me: who's your favorite artist or band?

Peace like a river - Photo Challenge Day 12

"Be still and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10

I used to think I had cornered the market on crazy schedules. Between working (a lot) and keeping up with my two girls' schedules and all the traveling we do, I am always on the go. It's a self-imposed insanity, so I'm not complaining. But I had to recently pass the "Crazy Crown" over to a friend who I discovered is managing a madness much more than my own. She has three kids (girls, no less), plus foster kids, plus working, plus a husband who travels out of town, and when I saw her, she looked like she walked out of a fashion magazine. 

"How do you do it all?!?" I asked her when our paths happened to cross at Azteca, which is the restaurant that just happens to be both of our favorites. 

"I dunno," she said. "I just love what I do."

Amen, sister! Amen.

That's why today's photo challenge - a picture of something you love - for me, could only be one thing. 

I LOVE my quiet time in the mornings. Sitting out on my back patio, watching the sun rise with a steaming cup of coffee in my hands. It's the "still" moment before my spouse or children are up and at 'em. No cars can be heard on the streets in town. Now that it's getting warmer, the birds seem to have come alive, and they chirp happily in the trees. It's like all of nature is crying out, saying - Be still and know that I am God!

More than any physical position of stillness, God calls us to have a stillness in our hearts. Even more, a stillness in our soul.

He wants us to have peace, whether we're in deep seas or calm waters. It's a peace that only comes by having your little raft anchored to the cross.

As I sit out on my back patio each morning, the words to a favorite song often come to mind. These words remind me that no riot of a day will ever pull me under, as long as I have stillness in my soul.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say:
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

I'm no slacker! Photo Challenge Day 10-11

In case you were wondering, no, I’m not a slacker. I’m just having a hard time with some of the items on this 30 Day Photo Challenge. Yesterday should’ve been a picture of someone you do messed up things with. Well… if I did messed up things, I certainly wouldn’t be bragging about it here, and I definitely wouldn’t embarrass someone else by including their picture in that degradation.

And today’s challenge is supposed to be a picture of something you hate. Maybe I’m taking this too serious, but it’s my belief that you’re not supposed to have any hate in your heart. I can’t count how many times I’ve told my children, “Never say HATE!”

Hate is just a very strong word – it’s like one of those words that you can’t take back after you’ve said it. 

I’ve heard it said that in order to hate something, first you have to love it because it’s such an intense emotion.

Oh sure, there are things that I don’t really like – like certain foods or vegetables. 

I don’t like yard work – YIKES! I don’t really like doing anything that requires you to get dirty. (Unless it means having chocolate all over your hands.) 

But do I HATE those things?

Nah.

Tomorrow’s challenge, however, is a picture of something I love. 

Wow! That could be so many things. I LOVE lots of things; I don’t know how I’m going to choose just one.

So help me out! Tell me, what’s one thing that you love? Maybe even, what’s the one thing you love the most?

Comment below so I can steal your ideas! :)

Piece of cake - How to leave a comment

A couple folks have asked for help on how to comment.

Here’s my best Tutorial:

If you’re looking at the homepage, there will be a place under each story that says “5 Comments” or “0 Comments” – Click on that. That will open up the “Post a Comment” box.

Type your comment in the box. (I LOVE COMMENTS!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEAVING A COMMENT!!) 

After you’ve posted your comment, you have to identify yourself using a couple options.

See the place that says: “Comment as” and there’s a drop down menu next to it. 

Again, several options…

If you do not have a Google account or any of the other things listed, then select “Name/URL” – then another window will pop up where you can enter your name. 

(Leave the URL line blank – unless you have a website you’d like to list.)

Then click “continue.”

Another option is to select “Anonymous” under the drop down menu. (Just be sure to include your name in your comment.)

That should be it!

Piece of pie?

I think I’d rather have a piece of cake. Strawberry cake!

I'm still learning...

I am continually surprised by the way God works. You would think by now, I would learn.
Just when you think that you know what God is doing in your life, He says, "No, that's what YOU wanted to do. Now let me show you what I will do." And isn't what He wants to do always so much better than what we could imagine?
God is so good...

She's going to kill me - Photo Challenge Day 9

Well, I just know in advance that she's gonna kill me. But it's worth it cause she deserves a little recognition.
Today is Day 9 of the photo challenge - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
For me, that can only be one person: Bonnie Hudson.

Bonnie is truly a unique gift from God in my life. I remember the first day I met her... it was August 1998 and I had come to the Columbian-Progress to interview for a job. She was wearing a gray sweatsuit and tennis shoes, but her hair was perfect, her make-up was perfect and she was completely and fashionably accessorized. When she spoke, she was tough, direct and to the point. She didn't mince words, and she scared me to death.
Nearly thirteen years later, I would unequivocally say that she is my best friend.
The funny thing is, I'm not the only one who would say that. There are scores of people who would call Bonnie Hudson their best friend. It's because she cares about people - not just in the being nice kind of way, but in the really caring when it's not always easy kind of way.
Oh, she's seen me through some hard times. She's also usually been a part of some of the funniest experiences in my life.

Bonnie is the kind of friend that will tell you the truth, and I love that. I also love that she tells me when I'm wrong and when I can do something better. She can do all that though, cause I know she loves me.
If I have a secret to tell, Bonnie is the first person on my list to go to.
If I need to pray with someone, I know Bonnie will drop to her knees in a heartbeat with me.
She makes me laugh almost everyday, even when I know she's not having a great day, and I know that no matter what, if I really needed something, she would stop what she's doing to be there for me.

Bonnie, thank you for being a Godly woman and an awesome friend. I love ya!
P.S. This does not mean that I'll go to that Loretta Lynn concert!

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Go ahead. Make my day.

My favorite thing about this new "website" has been logging on to see comments from my friends. It's pretty cool to know someone out in the world is reading my meanderings.
But this afternoon I felt like jumping up and down cause I have a new "Follower" that's not related to me by blood.
I'm not sure why this gets me so jazzed, and I'm sure it's completely ego-related (yes, I know that's not a good thing) but, oh man, it just makes me want to jump up and down and DANCE!
Would you look over there in the right hand column? No, not here. Over there.

There's a little button you can click on that says "Follow" - it looks like this:

I know it's confusing... I'm not sure why they make things so difficult. I'm still trying to understand the whole Twitter Follow/Follower thing.
I'm not even sure what happens when you "Follow" my website - except that it makes me feel like getting a thousand birthday presents when it's not my birthday.

Don't you want to make my day? I know you do. Click on that little button over there. C'mon... you can do it!

Here comes the sun - Photo Challenge Day 8

What makes you smile?
Seeing the sun come out after a million days of cloudy gray?
A favorite song that you've not heard in a long time playing on the radio?
A surprise visit by an old friend?
Today's photo challenge is a picture that makes you smile, and there were numerous shots that I could've taken to fulfill this mission. But I chose to take a picture of something that makes me smile everyday. Well, everyday I'm at work.

My precious girls smiling faces.

This is the corner of my desk at work - the view I see the most. There's nothing I'd rather see, and nothing makes me smile more than these two pictures.

What makes you smile?
Comment below...

Eat, Dance and Be Merry - Photo Challenge Day 5

Oh what a night. Late December back in '95... that's how the song goes, right?

It's hard to believe it was more than 15 years ago that CJ and I got married. In some ways, it still seems like just yesterday. The wedding itself was what I had always dreamed it would be, but when I think back to my favorite memory (which is Photo Challenge Day 5) it would have to be our wedding reception. 

 In case this is the first time you've ever read my blog, or my Facebook, or my Twitter, there's a little something you need to know about me: I love to dance! Not like professional dancing - the being silly, having fun, kind of dancing. The kind that makes you feel good.

So the best decision I made for our wedding reception was to hire a DJ. We danced, and danced and danced... My parents danced. My friends danced. Even the minister who performed our wedding was dancing. It was a blast!

Then to top the night off, my wedding cake was strawberry cake. I swear in Heaven there will be strawberry cake for breakfast every day. I LOVE strawberry cake.

 












It was a great night. I married the love of my life, I got to dance and eat strawberry cake, I also was surrounded by some of the best friends a girl could ever hope for. Not just friends... sisters.

Yeah, it was a great night. And to think, it was only just the beginning...

(P.S. You can click on the pictures to make them larger.)

It's a contest! Sorta...

I need an official URL. Anybody know what URL stands for?!? Well, then this will be educational...
A URL is that web address that you type in to go to a website. For instance, www.columbianprogress.com is the URL of our newspaper (a very good website to visit, by the way.)
Currently my URL for this blog is seepy1.blogspot.com which equals blah, blah, blah! I need something catchy. Something people will easily remember so that they can come back to my blog over and over :)
The kicker is I've got to pay $10 for whatever URL I decide on (if what I decide on is actually available). Plus whatever I'm buying, I want it to be what sticks for the long haul - you know that upcoming LONG HAUL that I've been blogging about for the last six months?
This blog title is Resolutions and Revelations - which works for what I write about - but www.resolutionsandrevelations.com just seems a little too long. Too easy to misspell too!
I also don't want anything with my name in it.
www.juliejohnson.com = uh, no!
So I need some suggestions.
PLEASE!
If you have an idea, comment below.
P.S. If you suggest something that I actually end up using, I have a prize for you! It's not like a million dollars or anything big like that, so don't get crazy. But hopefully worthwhile enough for you to post a comment with a suggestion for me.

Bump, Bump, Shake, Shake, Twist Photo Challenge - Day Three

Will the judges please reveal their scores for Julie Johnson and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy?

 Perfect TENS?!?!

"Oh wow. I'm really just dancing for the fans! My partner Maks is just so amazing and he has taught me so much. I just enjoy being on the stage. The scores just really don't matter." - Yeah, right!

Day Three of the Photo Challenge is a picture of your favorite show. Have I mentioned that I love to dance? Not out in public or anything. Just at home, listening to music, playing with my children or whatever.

So it makes sense that Dancing With The Stars is my favorite television show.
Maks is almost as handsome as my husband, CJ. Almost....

We're not just close, we're tight! Photo Challenge - Day Two

Today's challenge is a picture of you and the person you've been closest with, the longest.

For me, that can only be one person... my mom.

My mom and I have always been close, and I'm so thankful for the relationship we have.

I know I wasn't always an easy child. After all, she raised me to be strong and independent. She set an example of working hard, and she told me to shoot for the stars. My mother inspired me to think that there was, and is, nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it.

I have always been able to talk to my mom about anything, and my mom has always made me feel loved unconditionally.

But most importantly, my mother is a Godly woman who showed me, by her lifestyle, the importance of walking daily with Christ.

She loves to laugh; she loves to cry - she's never been afraid to show her emotion. She is humble enough to be silly from time to time, but wise enough to have earned the respect of others.

As I look in the mirror each day, I think I look more and more like my mom every day. This picture shows it all.

Love you Mom!

Discussion vs. Decision

I brought my girls’ school pictures to the office the other day to put them in the Grandparents’ Sweethearts special section of the newspaper. Those pictures are still sitting here on my desk, and all day yesterday, I kept staring at their pictures thinking, “Gosh, they’ve grown up so fast!” Interacting with them on a day to day basis, I still see them as my babies, but looking at these pictures reminds me that my girls are growing into young ladies.

My fear though: do I have the skills to be a good mom at their increasing ages?

Being a parent is by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done in life. It’s hard to be a parent and not just a friend. It’s hard to discipline and set boundaries when all you want is for your kids to be happy. It’s hard to know which battles to fight and which ones to let go.

When my girls were little, I constantly used the phrase, “This is a decision, not a discussion.” And that was the end of it. Whether they wanted a piece of candy or to go to a sleep-over. Sometimes “no” is necessary.

But now as they are learning how to make decisions for themselves, they want to understand the “why” and the rationale in making good choices.

I want my girls to grow up asking questions and not just taking everything at face value, yet at the same time, I want them to know when to just respect their parents’ words.

I was watching a movie last night and it took me back to the old days. In this movie, there was an 18 year old girl preparing to go off to college and her parents were having a very difficult time with their daughter’s transition into adulthood.

There was a household rule for the girl and her younger brother growing up that they were not allowed to ride motorcycles. The parents just felt it was too dangerous despite how good a driver their friends may be. Yet one day right before the girl went off to college she came home on a friend’s motorcycle, and the mother flipped out.

“I’ve told you not to ride motorcycles! Don’t you know how dangerous they are?!?! Don’t you know how easily you could be killed?!?!”

To which the normally quiet, patient and smart daughter yelled back, “I’m an adult now and I’ll make decisions for myself!”

The mother was speechless. (As I think I would be.) Oh sure, the mother could’ve bitten back something about “as long as you live under this roof….” but she didn’t, wisely I think. That speech would’ve likely just pushed the daughter farther away.

I realized that the process to that moment in time for that mother and daughter began a long way back. The process to good decision making began in childhood, and for my daughters, that process is beginning now.

As I sit and look at my girls pictures on my desk I think, “How do I avoid getting into situations like that when my precious girls are 18?”

How do I teach them to make good decisions? How should I react when they don’t? How do I teach them to be strong and independent but at the same time, smart and safe?

As of this moment, these pictures on my desk are an accurate reflection of my girls. Their smiling faces show that they are happy; they are healthy and they are loved.

I know it won’t always be easy – after all, I remember being a young girl very well. I know there will be friend problems. I know they will likely get their heart broken by a boy somewhere along the way. I’m sure they will fail a test at some point down the road, and sooner or later, they are going to be faced with making decisions about important things when mom and dad aren’t around.

I’ve been studying lately in the book of Isaiah. This morning I was reading the passage in chapter 43, verse 2-3. It says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God…”

Sometimes, it’s such a relief to be reminded that I’m not in control and to know that God is.

I pray every day that God will help me to be the right kind of parent, but more importantly, that He will be “Father” to my girls.

Now where is that passage in the Bible about not riding motorcycles?

Going home...

Have you ever driven in the pouring rain? Try driving in the pouring rain for eight hours straight. It’s a little nerve-wracking. Especially when you have big, 18-wheelers whizzing by splashing water and debris all over your windshield. Then there are the noises coming from the back seat - the constant ringing and dinging of sounds coming from my two daughters’ Nintendo DS hand-held toys. They’re playing the game Mario Brothers against each other.
“I’m gonna win!”
“No! I am!”
They scream at each other as if they were on separate ends of a football field and not sitting right next to each other in my little car.
Throw in the continual, “I need to go to the bathroom!” and “Will you please turn up the radio? I can’t hear the music!”
In the 500 miles from Columbia, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, I drove silently trying to keep my wits about me.
I’m vaguely aware of my mother chatting away incessantly in the passenger seat next to me. I know she’s talking because she’s excited and she wants to make sure I don’t fall asleep, but there’s little chance of that. She’s going over our schedule and all the things we will do once we arrive in our hometown while she points out all the businesses off every exit off the interstate. She really wants to stop at a Stuckeys to buy my dad a pecan log because she’s been buying them for him since he was in Vietnam. “Only a Stuckey’s pecan log will do,” she says.
Meanwhile, I’m trying my best to just tune everything out so I can focus on the road and getting there.
It’s hard to believe it’s been over three years since I’ve been to Nashville. I’ve been to distant places on the other side of the globe more frequently then I’ve been up the road to the place where I grew up and where most of my family still resides.
Ultimately, it was family that provided the incentive to make the long trip this past weekend. I really needed to see my grandparents; it’s been way too long. And as I studied my calendar and the things we’ve got going on before our family leaves the country, I discovered there weren’t many open weekends available. My daughters had a break from their weekly Upward basketball games, so my mom and I made the snap decision to jump in the car and go while we had the chance despite the nasty weather.
The tiresome trip and the drive were worthwhile. We had a jam-packed day and a half filled with visiting friends and family. First we saw my dad’s sister, Aunt Emily. She is a fun-loving, always smiling, warm-hearted individual who has a way of making everything seem cheery when she’s around. (And I’m not just saying that cause I know she’ll be reading this column.) :)
Saturday, we were able to spend the day with my grandparents, my mom’s brother, and ironically, my two cousins who are in the Marines stationed in North Carolina. (They just happened to come home on the same weekend.) They will both be shipping out to Afghanistan in the coming days, so it was especially poignant for my grandparents to have all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their house at the same time for the first time in more than five years.
“Laughter” best describes our time that day. It was just a joyful occasion for us all to be together, to share what’s going on in our lives, and to recall the funnier memories of years past. My grandparents are doing great, and it made me feel so much better to have that time with them.
We even managed to have a few hours with some old friends. I feel very fortunate to have some high school friends that I still stay in touch with and try to see whenever possible. These are the kind of friends who knew you back when you had acne and braces and boy problems, but they still loved you and wanted to be around you. They’re the kind of friends who are brutally honest, and will say what you need to hear whether you like it or not. They are also the kind of people who go out of their way just to see you and hug your neck because there is no amount of time or distance that could ever separate your friendship.
Yes, I’ve got some amazing friends and family in Nashville and they were worth every bit of that difficult drive up there.
But I realized something as we began that same long trip back home on a sunny and unbelievably beautiful Sunday. Nashville will always be a very important place to me, and it will always hold a special piece of my heart, but Mississippi is now my hometown.
Driving down the interstate, as we passed the big, blue sign that says, “Welcome to Mississippi,” I heaved a sigh of relief knowing we were finally home.
There’s something refreshing about getting back to one’s roots, and I can’t help but think about how it will feel to come back to Mississippi after we’ve been gone for several years. But no matter how far from here I roam, Mississippi will always be my home. I am proud to be a Mississippi girl.
P.S. In case you wanted to know, Stuckeys no longer carries the pecan logs. We stopped seven times just to be sure. Dad, I hope it’s the thought that counts!

(published in the Columbian-Progress 02/10/11)