Day 1. 89 To Go.

This morning I woke up early and went for a run. It felt good- not when my alarm clock went off, of course, but it did feel good when I felt the sun kiss my face and the fresh air enter my lungs. It was a new day and I was ready to see all that this day had for me.

Alarm Clock.

Waking up and going for a run is no foreign thing for me, in fact it has always been a big part of my life. I have never been the 'personal trainer' looking kind of girl, but I have always taken good care of my health. This past year I ran a half marathon, something that I wanted to accomplish in 2012. But today was different- that half marathon (In November) was truly the last time I went for a run/exercised.

A Million Excuses.

I can come up with a million excuses as to why it has not been a part of my daily routine, but the truth is is that I have not been living a balanced life. Since November, when I ran my half marathon a lot has changed. We moved 3,000 miles to a new city, I went back to work full time(after being home with the girls for almost two years), and we started making huge steps in our church planting efforts.

Mind. Body. Soul.

My physical health as not been the only thing that has suffered, my spiritual, mental and emotional health has suffered as well. I believe when our physical beings are not working at its best, all other areas of life lack as well.

Blog Moment.

I have not had some spiritual awakening or anything of the sort, but what I did have a few weeks ago while beating myself up about everything I wasn't doing, was a BLOG moment.

I have had BLOG moments since my last post, but just like everything else, my BLOG has been put on the back burner, being left for "tomorrow's to do list." I have never been someone who waits until 'tomorrow' to do anything-instead I have always been a person who does things in the now!

Blah. Blah. Blah.

This, going about my days, hoping that everything I needed to do/wanted to do in one day would just happen was getting old very quickly. As I laid in my bed going over a list of things that I needed to do the next day, I remembered a quote my 4th grade teacher told me once, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

Action Plan.

I had been secretly hoping my days would be longer or that I would have some crazy motivation at 10pm at night to workout out for the past few months, instead of coming up with an action plan.So, instead of doing something, I did nothing. Not because I didn't want to, but I didn't know where to start.

Stuck In A Rut.

I have always handled change pretty well. Most of you know that I am someone who loves adventure, so change just comes with the territory. This move has been different. Every detail about this move and this new life here in South Florida has been the very DIFFERENT than what I thought it would be. There have been great moments, tough moments & moments of disappointment. We all go through these moments, it is a part of life.

What I noticed most, was that anytime you and I begin a new thing, step out into the unkown it is going to come with challenges, feelings of uncertainty and hard times. When we allow these things to overwhelm us, we will become stuck- going through our days, making a minimal impact in the world around us.

Re Adjust.

This past weekend I sat down and looked at my life & all of my responsibilities. I put together an action plan that consisted of everything from working out to resting! What has worked for me in the past, didn't necessarily mean it was going to work for me in this season.This is what I came up with.

 FIRST: I had to stop feeling guilty for the days that I didn't accomplish all that I set out to do.

SECOND: I resolved that God knows ALL that I have to do in a single day and that I could not do this on my own. That He is not number one in my life, but instead the very CENTER of who I am-making everything I do better!

THIRD: I had to resolve that it is OK to schedule time for me, with no babies, husband, dog, social media etc- That when I schedule time for me, everything else will then benefit.

Today, I started DAY 1 of my 90 Challenge. I am excited and expectant.

Have you recently started a new routine and finding it hard to stick to? Or have you been finding yourself unmotivated? I want you to be encouraged today! Stop feeling guilty and reject the idea that it is too late to start working towards your goals. Everyday I will post a little nugget from my day, good or bad! I would like you to join in on the fun and start something you have been wanting to do today! There's a lot of life to live and you and I need to get out there and start doing!

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUTH: "Try and fail, but don't fail to try." -unknown

DARE: Try something today!

Bye Bye Diapers.

Mickey Mouse Diapers.

For about a month or so, my girls have seriously been begging us to let them go potty in the potty! They have told us over and over, "I no like diapers!" or "No more Mickey Mouse diapers!" Haha. They are for sure some smart little girls. I have gone back and forth about beginning this whole potty training thing. We have an upcoming trip to California that I was wanting to get back home and get settled before we said, "Bye, Bye Diapers!"

Disney Saves The Day!

Well my little plan didn't work. After a series of attempts to remove their diapers, BJ and I decided to go to the store and buy two potties! I posted a shout out to all the mommies who know a thing or two about potty training their little ones, and I was so grateful for all the tips! During my lunch break we took the girls on a true shopping adventure and purchased a Minnie Mouse potty, a Disney Princess potty, lots of snacks and a candy bar to get the excitement started!

LOL. OMG. HAHA.

When we got home, we said farewell to the diapers- the girls even tossed the diapers in the trash and said their goodbyes. We put them in their pink panties and made a huge deal about their new potties! They loved it...sort of! I don't think they were as excited as we thought they would be - but who gets excited about toilets? We sat them on the potty and waited. Nothing, absolutely nothing. I had to rush back to work, so I kissed them goodbye and waited eagerly for the "We went pee pee in the potty!" text. This is what I got instead.

                             

Lets just say day one wasn't too successful. BJ spent more time in the bathroom than he did anywhere else! At one point he said that after Kennedi had wet herself for the second time she said in a very funny voice, "Mickey Mouse diapers please!!" The girls were just not feeling it, and refusing to use the restroom in their awesome, Disney potties! 

Day Two.

Same thing, different day. My husband spent the entire morning on all kinds of parent websites trying to find the "nuggets of wisdom" we have obviously been lacking! Everything they said to do, we tried. Just about all of them reminded us, that if they are just not responding to this new thing or if they seem to be opposing it, to stop for a few weeks and try again. Give up? Does that mean we should give up on this whole potty training thing? I thought they were ready, after all they begged us! We were the ones that wanted to wait!

BLOG Moment.

I just got off the phone with my amazing, stay at home daddy of a husband and during our conversation, we both considered putting the potty thing on hold for a week or so. As we were talking I of course, had a BLOG moment- hence the mid day blog post.

Looking in the Mirror.

How many times have I been that girl who begged and begged for change, something new, something different and when I saw all that it truly entailed, rejected it and even asked for my old thing/way of life back?  I am not exaggerating a single bit when I say my girls dislike their diapers! I have had seasons of my life when I simply did not like where I was or what I was doing, and in my ignorance begged and begged for different. I tend to be a risk taking junkie and love new things, but if I am transparent, not every new season have I embraced with such grace. Many times on the other side of change I have kicked and screamed and regretted my choice to change!

Going Back.

Why would Kennedi and Brooklyn want to go back to wet or squashed poopy diapers? The answer is simple, change is difficult, and as much as their little bodies are wanting change, it doesn't make change any easier. As I sit here and think, I can recall numerous times that I have wanted to go back to wet or squishy diapers. Not because it was something I really wanted, but it was easier. I don't think I am alone in this - I see it just about everyday, people returning to cities they have left, jobs they have resigned from and relationships they have ended. Since our bodies are so wonderfully made, there is an inner desire for my girls to want to use the potty, just like what is inside each of us, the desire to grow. But just like anything else what is on the other side of that desire is a whole lot of work and a whole lot of new!

A Whole Lot.

Saying yes to move across the country to plant a church in South Florida was an exciting thought, and although has been a whole lot of fun, it also has been a whole lot of new and a whole lot of work! When I said yes to going back to work, the thought of a nice paycheck or the thought of meeting new people was exciting, on the other side of it has been long days at the office and less time with my girls. I have had opportunities to kick and scream and resist this change, but by the grace of God I have avoided the temptation to go back to wet and stinky diapers. 

What About You?

If you have recently taken a chance, if you are in the process of change, I encourage you today to not go back to diapers. Look forward, not backwards and resolve that you are going to embrace every aspect of this new season. Whatever that looks like. It will be a lot of work, and it will be a lot of new, but it will also be a lot of awesome! Hang in there!

Kennedi excited about her new potty!

Brooklyn with her new potty! 

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

TRUTH:   

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 18-19(NIV)

DARE:  Move forward! 

My First Thanksgiving.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We sure did. It was our first time celebrating Thanksgiving in our own home-we even had guests! Well, not exactly guests, they are friends we call family. It was so much fun! Since we missed all of our family and friends that we are used to celebrating with,  I decided to share a few snapshots we took throughout our day.... so it kind of feels like we spent the day together!

I cooked my FIRST turkey & took a picture with him!

Set the Table! 

Each person had their place! "Thankful for You..."

My girls LOVE D & so do I. Thankful to 

Kennedi & Brooklyn... I'm thankful for them!

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

TRUTH:  "In all things give thanks."-1 Thessalonians 5:18

DARE:  Be thankful, eat leftovers! 

13.1

So Sorry!

Whoa! I want to start off by apologizing for not blogging these past few months. As you can imagine, life has been nothing short of crazy! Crazy, in a totally, awesome, couldn't be happier, loving our life, kind of way! I am officially a working mommy and I love it. I think I have reached a new record of getting dressed, brushing my teeth and doing my hair for the most amount of consecutive days since giving birth to the girls almost two years ago. True story. I love staying home with my babies everyday, but I am truly embracing this season of working. I have met so many people and everyday it proves to be just what I am supposed to be doing. BJ is an amazing stay at home daddy and manages to work on building our church, taking care of the girls, clean the house and even has dinner prepared for us! He is rockin' the whole "Daddy Daycare"! I love walking through the door and hearing those sweet little voices say, "HI MOMMY!!!" It really is the best part of my day. 

 Bye Bye 2012.

Can you believe it is already the week of Thanksgiving? Where in the world has 2012 gone? Is it just me or does it seem like everyday, time goes by faster and faster? It seems like yesterday that I blogged entitled, " Cheers to 2012!" Like any other year, I declared my new year's resolutions. I had every intention of fulfilling these goals/resolutions. 

This is what I declared to all of you...

"My new year's resolutions are to: Trust God more. Pray audacious prayers. Dream big. Believe His promises are true. Love authentically. Run a half marathon. Give more."

Guess what? 

I have accomplished every single one of them! This past Sunday, I checked the "Run a half marathon" box as I participated in the St Jude Rock & Roll Half Marathon here in Miami, Fl. It was so special on so many levels and I can not think of a better city to run it in, than in my new favorite city and the place I call home! The race started on Ocean Blvd in Miami Beach, FL and ended on the sand of the beach! How cool, right?! 

Go! Go! Go!

My favorite part about the race was seeing the hundreds and hundreds of strangers cheering on the 2,000 plus runners as they made their way to the finish line! Many of those people were standing on the sidelines waiting for that one special person in their life to run by, but it didn't keep them from cheering on someone like me, who has never met them before. I had many BLOG moments during my 13 mile run, but mile after mile, I couldn't get over just how special it was to be encouraged and cheered on by complete strangers. 

You Got This!

Life should look more like what I witnessed on Sunday. People cheering people on! I remember turning the corner on mile 7, I was pretty tired at this point. In my mind I thought through all the reasons I had to walk for a second or two. As I was considering it, I locked eyes with this young lady. She looked at me and said, "Don't you even think about stopping, you got this!" Wow! It was everything I needed to hear at exactly the right time. She didn't care who I voted for, she didn't ask if I went to church or not, she didn't care if I recycled or if I give to charity regularly. In that moment, I was someone who passed her by for a few seconds that needed some encouragement! 

Not One Time! 

I can proudly say that I didn't stop, not one time. But I thought about it, mile after mile. Had it not been for those strangers, I don't think I would have been able to keep going. Whether or not you have accomplished some or all of your 2012 goals/resolutions, I encourage you today, to stop and lock eyes with that someone in your path that needs encouragement! It doesn't take a lot of effort or time, just a few seconds to remind someone that they can get through whatever they are facing. 

If that is you today, if you are that person that needs encouragement 
             "Don't you even think about stopping, you got this!"



Here are a few photos we took. This day will forever be in my heart.

I ran mile 11 for him!!!

I ran mile 12 for my girls!

Love my friends... they cheer me on daily! 

I especially loved the signs the girls were holding that read , 

"MY MOMMY ROCKS & GO MOMMY GO!" 

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

TRUTH:  "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 

                                                                                                        -1 Thessalonians 5:11

DARE:  Encourage someone today!!!

Waze. A Traffic & Navigation App. .

I love living in Los Angeles; great beaches, diverse people, chic boutiques, fun coffee shops, and the lots of traffic. Just kidding, the traffic is what I like least about living in a place where people from all over the world vacation. No matter what time of the day it is, no matter what day of the week it is, there is usually traffic. If you need to drive 20 miles to your destination, plan for your journey to take you at least an hour. Some days you will be surprised and you will zip your way along without using the brakes, but those are just "some days." My husband BJ  loves his iPhone and is always downloading new apps. A few months ago, he downloaded a FREE App called 'Waze.' Waze is a fun, community- based traffic & navigation app. What this App is designed to do is, navigate you around traffic. When he first started using it, I wasn't buying it, how can you possibly navigate your way around traffic? But, time and time again, this app has helped what would be a 60 minute journey take us only 20 minutes. 

Our Waze. 

On our way home from visiting our friends in Orange County, we did like we usually do and plugged in our destination into the Waze app. She (Waze has become a part of our family and travels with us wherever we go & goes by the name Waze or She, haha) calculated our journey and we began our 1hour and 30minute journey home. Our friends followed behind in their car. Once we got into familiar territory, we were surprised Waze was telling us to go a different route, one we had never taken before. We took the suggested route and continued on our journey. We quickly noticed that the car behind us was no longer following us. We thought this was a great opportunity to put Waze to the test! We arrived at home almost 20 minutes before our friends. We promise, we didn't speed! It worked, Waze's crazy navigation actually worked. In that moment, I had a "BLOG moment." There have been so many important decisions we as a family have had to make in the past two months that we know are life decisions. We, like the 20 million people who use Waze to navigate our way through traffic have been seeking God in prayer to see what route He wants us to go. To be transparent, His route, like Waze's routes, have not made sense and have been routes we have never taken before. In the moment they have seemed really ridiculous. We have listened to the best of our ability and have followed no matter what it appears to look like. It has not been easy and there have been a few times where we have been faced with the opportunity to do what "we think" is best! 

His Waze.

When we arrived before our friends, BJ looked at me and jokingly said, "Her waze are not our waze!!" It made me laugh because it sounded a lot like a scripture I've heard many times before.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.- Isaiah 55:8

This scripture has never been so clear and so true in my entire life. If I believe that the Waze app is not out to make my life more complicated, I have to believe the same is true with God. His ways often seem crazy, but I know that He wants the best for me. Waze calculates every route and then chooses the route with less stops, detours, or bumps along the way. When you and I decide to trust God's leading, we are saying yes to a route with less stops, detours or unnecessary bumps along the way. Will we still experience hard times, or even stops? Absolutely! But, His way is the best route to get us to where we need to be. 

Taking it HOME.

Sitting in traffic has a way of wearing on you. I know that any time I have sat in traffic I feel drained and almost always need a moment to refresh. That is why I love our traffic and navigating app, Waze. Every time we travel, we use it, whether we are going on a 10 mile journey or a 100 mile journey. These past two months I have used my life and decision making resource, The Bible more than I have in a long time. It has become so very necessary as I have tried to navigate through complications, disappointment, and faced with life-altering decisions. It has kept me refreshed and joyful through some of the most discouraging days. If your life is anything like mine and you are needing some guidance or a moment to refresh, I want to remind you that you are not alone in this journey called life. You have a resource so valuable! His name is Jesus, and today He wants to help guide you and lead you. His ways will often seem ridiculous, but I promise, if you trust His leading, you will find yourself exactly where you need to be. 

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

TRUTH: 

"You can make many plans,

    but the Lord’s purpose will prevail" Proverbs 19:21

DARE: Trust His leading today, no matter what it looks like. 

Layovers.

Yesterday, while driving in the car with my parents, we began to tally the number of times my daughters have flown on an airplane. In the past 20 months, my girls have made 10 trips on an airplane (20 times if you include both departing and returning flights). My girls have flown more times than most people do their entire life. That is a lot of flying! Each time has been a different experience, some great flights and others, not so great flights. We usually prefer the flights with the least number of layovers and if we have to make a stop, we prefer the least amount of "wait time" before boarding our next flight. No matter how much we have tried to avoid them, I don't remember the last time we took a direct flight.
 
Puerto Rico.

This past summer, we had a great opportunity to vacation with my big ole family to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. It was such an amazing trip, filled with so many lasting memories. On route to Puerto Rico, we noticed that we had a 2 hour layover in Philadelphia. Philadelphia? Yes! We were departing out of Los Angeles and our final destination was south of Florida, why in the world would we stop in Philadelphia? It really made no sense. Once we boarded the plane, found our seats, and listened to one of the flight attendants explain the "what to do in case of an emergency" procedure, the pilot told us to enjoy our trip to "Phoenix." Phoenix? I thought we were going to Philadelphia! What they failed to mention was that airlines do not include a stop on your itinerary if you do not deplane. We were so excited and very eager to meet our family in Puerto Rico and really not looking forward to making a stop we had not planned for.
 
Surprise.

When we arrived in Phoenix, two very familiar people boarded the plane. It was my brother Vinnie and my sister in law Nina. What a surprise! We thought we were meeting them in Philadelphia, but instead we actually met them in Phoenix. 
 
Unnecessary.

After our recent trip to North Carolina and the what seemed like unnecessary stops along the way, I realized something about Layovers. I realized that just like layovers on an airplane, there are "layovers" or "seasons" in our lives that although seem unnecessary or insignificant are very important as we journey towards our dreams, plans, or final destinations.
 
Why Layovers?

• Layovers allow us to refuel and recharge certain areas in our lives so that we can have enough for the journey ahead.

• Layovers allow certain things to "deplane" making room for other things to board.

• Layovers are a part of the journey!

I don't know where you are in the process of seeing your dreams come to pass in your life, and although I have written countless BLOGS encouraging you all to step out and take big risks, today I want to encourage you to be still. Sometimes the biggest acts of faith are the times we choose to stay when we want to go, relax when we want to panic, and stand when we want to step out. This past season has been one of the most daring seasons we have walked through yet. This too might be your season to stand, to "layover" and simply trust that what He is doing in you is greater than anything you can do for Him. Just breath and trust His leading. He will not fail you.

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it.

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE.

TRUTH: "Be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10


DARE: Stand still.

Yo Gabby Gabby!

I love the Summer Olympics, especially women's gymnastics! I have stayed up way past my normal bedtime to cheer on the USA. My most favorite moment was when Gaby Douglas won GOLD in the women's all around. When interviewed, this is what she said. 

“The hard days are the best because that's where champions are made so if you can push through, you can push through anything!”

Hard Days.

Yesterday was a hard day in the Johnson house. We experienced a series of events (including our car not starting and needing to get a new battery put in our car) that left us feeling a bit overwhelmed and discouraged. I had to take a few deep breathes in and out, pray and then attempt to shake it off, believing that God was in control of all things. Gaby's statement about tough days was immediately brought to my attention and it was then when I looked at what we were facing as an opportunity to build us, teach us and most of all remind us of a few things.

Remind Me.

While in the midst of a hard day, I did what most of us do and asked God, "Why?" I also asked Him what it was He was trying to teach us. I felt as though He said that it wasn't so much about TEACHING us anything as much as it was about REMINDING us about a few things. We often look at trials and hard days as times when God is teaching us things, but I realized that it is not always the case. Most often, it is God simply reminding us of things. Yesterday, I was reminded of three things: 

                         1. God is faithful.

                         2. God is in control.

                         3. God is my source. 

Yo Gabby Gabby

After Gaby Douglas won Gold, I scrolled through my Twitter account to see someone tweet, "Yo Gabby Gabby!" I assumed she won gold and after a ton of confirming tweets, I knew she had won! I was bummed at the spoiler alerts, but it was still just as exciting and nerve racking to watch it hours later. I laughed at the "Yo Gabby Gabby!" tweet because my daughters are HUGE fans of the Nick Jr show, "Yo Gabba Gabba." When I say huge fans, I am talking about, we watch it at least twice a day upon their request. It is a really weird show but teaches some great life lessons. Yesterday's episode featured a song that went a little something like this. 

"Keep trying, keep trying, don't give up, never give up." (repeat 10x)

Facing this hard day, I was reminded that God is faithful, in control, and my source. I also was reminded that hard days make champions and that if I can push through them, I can push through anything! I don't want to just survive in this next season of our life as church planters and pastors of a church, but I want to thrive! I know that hard days are not meant to break me, but build me. 

Taking it Home.

I am not sure what kind of hard days you have been facing lately, but I want to encourage you to trust that whatever it is, it can be the very thing you need in order to truly walk in all that God has for your life. Tough times are the times we remember the most. Take a quick synopsis of the situation and ask yourself, "What is it that God is trying to remind me of today?" 

Every week I highlight a TRUTH about you, your life, or about a situation you may be facing and then I DARE you to believe it. 

Here is this week's TRUTH or DARE. 

TRUTH: 

DARE: Push through the hard days.