Out of Reach

Never mind "Keeping up with the Kardashians", life is extremely busy just keeping up with the Johnson girls. We are 9 1/2 months old and we spend our days crawling, standing, attempting to walk, playing with Daddy's iPad and currently chewing on our doggie's bone. We are everywhere and in everything! Life has gone to another level. It is so much fun seeing life through their eyes and as exhausting as it can be, I truly love this season of being a mommy.

Kennedi and Brooklyn are their daddy's girls. They love iPads, iPhones, lap tops and anything media. The other day as we were playing, Kennedi noticed mommy's lap top which was of course a whole lot more exciting then her pretend cell phone. (yes they know the difference) As she reached for it, I moved it just slightly out of reach. For the next few minutes I watched as she tried everything in her power to get to my lap top. I attempted to distract her with something else and before I knew it, she had moved on and was unpacking her diaper bag.


For your protection.

A moment like this happens just about every five minutes, whether I am drying their wet hands from splashing in the dog's water bowl, pulling them out from the cupboards or moving things out of their reach.  I am not trying to be a mean mommy to my love bugs when I do, but in actuality I am being a good one. Kennedi wasn't reaching for my lap top in hopes to send out a few e mails and post a few status updates. She wanted to take my lap top and put it in her mouth. I move things out of reach not to punish them but to protect them.

I'm a lot like my daughters. There are things that I want so desperately but God has moved them just slightly out of reach for my protection. Not because He is a mean God and doesn't want me to have certain things, but it's because He loves me and knows that I don't quite know what to do with them yet. Maybe for you it is a husband or a wife you are believing God to bring you. You know that he or she is out there but right now God has moved that relationship out of reach. Maybe it's a promotion at your job that you want desperately but for some reason it just hasn't landed in your hands quite yet. Whatever "it" might be, God has strategically placed "it" just outside your reach for a reason. Not to punish you but to protect you.


When my girls understand that cell phones are for talking and bones are for dogs I will no longer have to keep those things out of their reach. But until then this place is baby proof.




TRUTH: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11


DARE: Trust God when He moves something out of reach. 

 

Drawing the Line

These past 10 days have been nothing short of crazy, funny and frustrating at times. I think just about every day I experienced something "BLOG worthy." So let me fill you in on my life for the past week and half.

Here goes CRAZY.
BJ, Kennedi, Brooklyn, our dog Graham and myself moved out of a two bedroom loft and into a one bedroom apartment. Good thing we don't have a pet fish because it would have had a permanent residence in the bathroom toilet.


Here goes FUNNY.
We were eating lunch after church last Sunday and we smelled something. The question wasn't if what we smelled was a poopy diaper, but was which baby was responsible. So I did what every mom has done and I did the good ole "diaper check." If you're a mom, you know what I'm talking about. As I pulled the diaper away to take a peak, I realized that the poop I smelled was at the top of her diaper and now was on my hand. Yep, I had lots of baby poop on my hand! I started cracking up. I went to the bathroom with baby in hand and my best friend Alyssa followed closely behind with the diaper bag. As I was washing my hands I asked, "Is this tweetable?" Her response, "It is now."

Here goes FRUSTRATING.
These past few weeks have been challenging in every way you can imagine. We have been confused, unsure and just plain ole frustrated as we have been trying to navigate through this thing called life. As most of you know my life has involved a lot of risk. BJ and I have packed up our things several times and moved to where God has asked us to go. Some moves were 3,000 miles in distance and this past trek across America, we brought along our twin baby girls. I have DARED many of you to take leaps of faith, to trust God with the impossible and to see Him fulfill His promises. I have seen God perform miracle after miracle in my life and in your life so why have these past few weeks been so challenging?

I decided to draw the line. 

"God, I have done what you have asked me to do. I have sacrificed. I have been obedient. What else do you expect from me? I'm drawing the line." These were my exact words to God a week ago as I sat on the stairs of my half empty apartment. In that moment, what God was asking me to do, I wasn't willing to. What he was asking me to sacrifice, I wasn't willing to sacrifice. I was drawing the line. Even more so, I was thinking about quitting this whole thing and began entertaining ideas of a normal life. Shouldn't we be settled into a nice little home with a white picket fence, drive two cars and a have a pet gold fish by now? Maybe we should. But is that what I really want? Is normal what I really dream of having? There is a great scene in the movie "Soul Surfer" where Bethany's mom makes a statement to her that hasn't left me.

"Normal is so overrated."
 

I don't want normal. But sometimes my current situation or the obstacle I am facing makes normal seem more exciting than it really is. BJ and I have been on a long journey just like you and we have dreams inside of us that we can not wait to see come to pass, but the journey to getting there is going to cost us everything. On the other side of the place we draw the line is often the place where God leads us to. It is in that place He hides himself and in that place we find His blessings. I was talking to one of my dear friends just this week and we were filling each other in on the latest and the greatest and even the not so greatest. She told me, "Sarah if you had normal you would hate it." I believe her. Nothing about my life has been normal and I pray that it never does. I pray yours never does either. 

It takes courage.

When we say no to a normal life we embrace a courageous life. It will take courage to face adversity head on and dare to believe that what God has placed in your heart will happen. It will take courage to stand against the "dream haters" (the people who think you are absolutely irresponsible and crazy) and not see your situation from their perspective but instead see it from His perspective. It will take courage when you feel like you have nothing left to give, nothing left to do and just stand. 

What miracle have you been tempted to quit believing for? What dream have you considered giving up on? Where are you drawing the line?

TRUTH: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9(NLT)

DARE: Erase the line you have drawn in the sand. Forget normal. Take on courage.

 

My life is GREAT!

When I was young, my younger brother and I would pray with my dad before bed. We would each get a chance to thank God for things. We often would start listing off everything in sight. We would thank God for the trees, the clouds, the rain, the sun, the birds, etc. I think we hoped the longer the list the longer we didn't have to go to bed. And although that might have been true, I do believe we had a great perspective about this life we live.

For the past week I have been taking a morning stroll down to a local coffee shop. I buy my cup of Joe, find my favorite place to sit and reflect. It has been quite relaxing and something that I have truly looked forward to every morning. 

This morning was no different. I bought my coffee (ok,ok and an apple crunch muffin too, but who is taking notes?) and sat down in my favorite little place. Instead of writing in my journal I decided to read my past entries. I read of bad days and good days. I read of frustrations and of miracles. Every worry or doubt seemed to have worked itself out in the pages to come. Tears streamed down my face as I realized everything I have ever worried about God had come through for me. Over and over again. 


I starred at the blank pages yet to be written in and decided to write down all the things I am thankful for. It became a long list as I began to write down everything and anything I laid my eyes on. My girls' smiles, my eyesight to see the beauty of the world, the air I breath, the birds in the air, were just a few that made the list. 

The things I woke up thinking/worrying about no longer seemed so significant. It was a perspective shift I so desperately needed. I know it is not easy took look past our current situations, so I think it's important we look back and take account of all that we have overcome. In the end, you will find just how great your life really is. 






TRUTH:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                 MATTHEW 6:25-34

DARE: Write a list of things that you are grateful for and see just how great your life really is.

Hold on Baby

My girls are 8 months old! I can not believe how quickly time is flying. It feels like it was just yesterday that we brought these two little babies home from the hospital. I am absolutely head over heels, in love with Kennedi and Brooklyn! They are my world and there is nothing, absolutely nothing that I wouldn't do for them. 

I love being a mommy and so thankful I can stay home with them. We have so much fun throughout the day! Whether it’s watching "My Baby Can Read", trying new foods, reading our books, playing in our saucer or just snuggling on the couch. People are always asking me if it is crazy taking care of two babies, but honestly, I don't know any different. My mind has always and is always thinking in twos. And even though I have learned to empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, read a book, drink coffee all while holding them both in my arms (lol) there are times when I have to put them down for second. 

The other day I needed to change both of their diapers before feeding them and laying them down for a nap. I changed Kennedi and laid her on the bed while I changed Brooklyn. Well, Kennedi was very hungry and thought that right after her diaper change she was going to eat. So when I laid her down she started crying. I tried my best to hurry and while I was changing Brooklyn I kept saying, "Hold on Baby, Mommy is going to feed you." Unfortunately, she didn't understand what I was saying to her and just became more frustrated. Those minutes I'm sure felt like a lifetime for her as she laid on the bed thinking she wasn't going to be fed. 

I'm a lot like my daughter Kennedi. I often find myself frustrated when I'm not where I used to be, but not where I want to be. I kick and scream in confusion while the Lord is saying, "Hold on Baby, Daddy has something great for you if you will just hold on." 

Maybe you are there today. Maybe you are confused and unsure about why God has you where He has you. I challenge you to just hold on. We must endure transitions and the "in- betweens" in order to get to where God ultimately has for us. He didn't bring you this far to leave you. He knows what He is doing. Just hold on.

TRUTH: We can make our plans,
      but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

DARE: Hold on.

When Traveling to Mexico with 2 Seven Month Old Babies

I know. I know. I promised to BLOG once per week and I haven't... but I have a great excuse! We were on VACATION! We spent 7 wonderful days in Los Cabos, Mexico with my mom, dad, my younger brother, older sister, my brother in law, their daughter, and our precious baby girls, Kennedi & Brooklyn. 

Some people thought we were absolutely crazy to plan a vacation with two 7 month old babies. But, if you know anything about me and my husband BJ is that we love vacation and we love to do what people think is crazy. So, we decided to join some of our family for a week in paradise. Since I had been pregnant the summer before we didn't take our yearly vacation. So, this was a much needed time away for us. 

Once we booked our flights, we began preparing ourselves for the trip. We went to the post office the next week to get the girls their passports. I began searching the web for "items to bring when traveling with 7 month old babies" as well as shopping for all the water gadgets and other items we were going to need for our trip. We even started taking the girls to the pool so that they would get used to being in the water.  As the days approached, we became more excited about our trip. Every once in a while we would look at each other and say, "Cabo baby!" Anticipation surrounded us. We would picture ourselves sitting by the pool or laying on the beach, eating delicious food and swimming in the ocean. We could hear the sounds of the waves crashing at the shore and could even smell the salt from the ocean. We were beyond excited to say the least. 

With all of the craziness when flying these days, we decided we were going to get to the airport really early. Well, that didn't happen. We woke up at the time we had planned to arrive at the airport. We jumped out of bed only to find out we had accidentally set it for PM instead of AM. We quickly got ourselves ready, piled into the car and headed to the airport. As we were weaving in and out of LA traffic we noticed cars stopping. Not that traffic in LA should have surprised us, but this was not your ordinary LA traffic, this was a complete halt. There was an accident up ahead and the four lane highway was merging into one lane! I nervously began tapping my feet, clapping my hands and even cried out to God saying, "If you could part the Red Sea, you can make this traffic cease!" Well, we sat in traffic for longer than we had hoped. 

Once we finally made it to the airport we quickly unloaded the car, grabbing bags and babies. We decided that we would take advantage of the Curb Side Check- In. We waited for the gentleman and as he began checking us in, he informed us that people flying internationally could not do so outside. So, we grabbed all of our things and headed inside. The lines of course were LONG. We weren't going to panic or at least attempt not to. We waited patiently in line and finally we were at the Kiosk. BJ took the lead and began checking us in. We looked at each other with a sigh of relief. That lasted for about, oh, I don't know, 2 seconds. The Kiosk informed us that people traveling with small children needed to check in at a different desk. Our departure time continued to get closer and closer and the excitement of our trip was slipping away. 

If we wanted to make our flight there was no way we could afford to stand in another long line. We grabbed a supervisor, informed her about our situation, and to our surprise, she took us to the front of the line. We handed her our four passports, our reservation number, lDs and everything else we needed. The lady looked at us in all seriousness and asked, "You have tickets for your two daughters correct?" Umm.. no, they are only 7 months and babies under the age of 2 fly free. She went on to tell me that because it's an international flight the same rules do not apply. My heart dropped, my face went pale, and my dreams of going to paradise were slipping away right before my eyes. There was no way we could pay for two additional roundtrip tickets! After much debate and conversation we came to the understanding that we had to pay the taxes for the girls' tickets. We had to use our Cabo spending money to pay for the tickets. 

We headed towards security and of course I was "randomly selected" to be checked. They went through my bags, made me take of my clothes all in a very slow, not in a hurry kind of manner. Finally, the gate was in our sights! We were getting on the plane! We gave the attendant our tickets and as she opened the door we realized that there was not a plane on the other side. This particular gate was under construction and we were going to be shuttled to another part of the airport. 

We thought we would never make it to Cabo! But after ALL of that we did. We landed in sunny Mexico and for the next seven days we enjoyed the pool, the ocean, the food and the great company. We quickly forgot about all the unexpected detours and obstacles that came along the way. Looking back I can laugh as I tell the story. The priceless memories we made while on our first vacation with our daughters far exceed the craziness we endured to get there. 

In the pursuit of our dreams we will encounter situations we have not planned for. And although it can be frustrating and overwhelming at times, we will get to our destination. But how we get there and who we are when we arrive is what matters. I'm so thankful for a husband who keeps me balanced and who can see the humor in the midst of adversity. During this whole ordeal he kept saying, "Cabo baby!" With every new obstacle we faced he continued to remind me of a great vacation we were going to have. BJ made me laugh at our situation instead of crying about it. Although I do believe I cried at some point between LA and Mexico. 

There has been a handful of unexpected situations that have come along our journey. Some have been easier to get through and others have made us question if we were ever going to make it to where we are going. If you have found yourself there, or if you are there now, be encouraged to know that you are not alone. Face these challenges head on. Remind yourself about His promises to you... "Cabo Baby!" Press forward.  You will make it to where you are going. 

How did she do it?!

Can I be honest. For just a second. We have all asked the question, "how did she do it?" Usually when someone we know has recently shed a few pounds. A few months ago, I ran into someone I hadn't seen in a while. The first thing I noticed when I saw her was that she had lost a significant amount of weight. I knew that she had trouble sticking to diets and weight loss plans in the past, so when I saw her I immediately complemented her by saying, "WOW, you look GREAT!" Of course, she brushed it off by saying, "oh thank you... I've just been busy." Busy? Really? That's it? No secrets. Nothing. She wasn't giving up any of her secrets.

The girls were about 3 months at the time and I was eagerly looking for a weight loss plan that would help get rid of the baby (babies) weight. I had been trying to eat healthy and work out a few times a week. It seemed as thought the weight was just not coming off. I was a bit insecure in my weight at the time and so I immediately compared my results with hers. I had turned down dessert after dinner, went to workout instead of napping, ate my vegetables, and cut out a lot of my favorite foods. And she lost weight because she had been busy? It wasn't her answer that frustrated me... but my reaction.

I realized something that day. Many of us, including myself, compare what we go through privately to what we see in others publicly. We see people take fancy vacations while we scrap for change to treat ourselves to a coffee. We see our friends  fulfilled in their life while we are in the "wilderness" not knowing what tomorrow holds. We see others fall in love and get married while we are obedient day after day, waiting for God to bring "the one" our way. It's frustrating and disheartening at times and it just seems unfair. But comparing what people are willing to admit publicly to what we go through behind closed doors will get us into a lot of trouble. It can be quite dangerous actually. If we are not careful, we can get caught up in a vicious cycle of comparing our lives with others. What we see of their lives is only a small piece of a bigger picture. Just because they don't tell the world that they have been eating grilled chicken and celery everyday doesn't mean they have lost weight "because they have been busy." :) We don't know what people have endured in order to be where they are or what they are currently going through to have what they have.

Comparing leaves us feeling discontent, ungrateful, and empty. When we are discontent we miss out on the day to day blessings that God has for us. Let's not fall into a habit of comparing. Instead, let's be people who embrace where we are in our journey while encouraging others in theirs! Your journey is your journey and is not made to be lived out by anyone else. So when we are tempted to ask, "How did she do it?" let's assume she has done it simply.... by the grace of God!

To all my friends...

Good morning or Good afternoon! (if you are reading this from the East Coast)

I wanted to write each of you a quick note to let you know how thankful I am that you and I are on this journey called life together. Many of you know that this BLOG was birthed out of one of the most challenging times of my life. I was on the phone with one of my "mommas in the faith" and as we were talking, she encouraged me to start using my gift to write and BLOG. I was a bit nervous at first. The thought of displaying my life's journey for all to see was a bit intimidating. I'm so glad I listened. 

This BLOG, now entitled, "TRUTH OR DARE" was never meant to be just another BLOG... because, we all know, there are plenty of them out there to read. It's purpose has always been to remind you of the TRUTH... God's WORD/ His promises to us, while DARING you to believe it! It has stretched me to be honest with where I have been, with where I am now, and with my concerns or expectations of where I am going... 

I have connected with a lot of old friends, kept up with my close friends, and have even met some new friends along the way. I have LOVED every response; whether it be a comment on Face Book, an e mail, or even a text. Thank you all for sharing with me your experiences! With so many of you spread across the country, It feels like we get a chance to "meet for coffee" every once in a while and encourage each other. :)

This is just the beginning! Over the next few weeks, I am going to be adding video Blogs to the mix. Many of you have asked me to...and so I will :) I have also been asked to write weekly...and so I will :) Thank you for stretching me! I think it will be fun to "meet for coffee" once a week, don't you? 

Like I mentioned earlier, many of you respond via e mail or on Face Book. If you would HELP ME by commenting on the BLOG page. I know many of you share personal things with me as well, so if you would, comment on the page as well as e mail or text me :) This will give us ALL an opportunity to share with one another!

I love each and everyone of you, and so humbled by how God has used this BLOG to speak to you, to encourage you, to excite you... Looking forward to our weekly coffee dates! 

xoxo,

Sarah Jo