everything's changin

Since our last post so many things have happened:

We celebrated the wedding of my former roommate, who is truly an inspiration in my life, to another admirable friend from college. It seems like every wedding reminds us of the blessing of marriage and helps renew our commitment to each other. 

We spoke at a junior high camp with St. Andrew Presbyterian Church's BASIC group and had a wonderful time with the junior highers as well as their high school/college aged leaders. were so blessed to share the life-altering truth that we are "beloved" children of God.

We moved to Lebanon, Ohio! Packed another U-Haul, towed the Jeep full of stuff and drove a stuffed minivan the nine hours from IC. Our first residence in OH was a fantastic historic home right next door to the church which we housesat for three weeks. It was dangerously close to two local ice-cream shops, which we may or may not have visited numerous times. Along our walks, we found several random bluegrass concerts. 

I took a two-week class back in Wheaton and had a wonderful time getting to know a new class of GRA's and reconnecting with friends from my cohort. Meanwhile, Andrew plugged away at his new job, visited a monster truck named "gravedigger" (apparently this is a famous truck), and handled all the negotiations for the next item on our list...

We bought our first house!!! With the housing market being what it is, our incredible distaste for renting, and the opportunity to invest our inheritance, we could not pass up our dream house! The process has been thoroughly stressful and exhausting (word on the street that it used to be easier to buy a house, but several agencies have cracked-down on the process significantly), but we are closing on the 15th and moving in on the 20th. We are SO grateful and look forward to being able to offer hospitality to our family, friends, and any body else. The only problem we are facing-- we have zero furniture. But that's not so bad!

We took a senior high trip to Cedar Point, and had a great time getting to know more of the students at LPC. After a whole day in the park, the group spent one night at a local campground in cabins, and then visited Lake Ontario and a local ice-cream factory (is that called a creamery?). It did not compare to Sherman's in South Haven, or even Whit's here in Lebanon, but worth the stop. 

I got a small job coaching one of the Lebanon Warriors' 7th grade volleyball team. Our season got off to a great start yesterday with our first scrimmage, and we walked away undefeated. My group of girls is tons of fun and eager to learn everyday. What a blast!

We spent a week in Michigan with a smattering of my mom's side of the family. Two days at the pool, one day at the beach, an entire day of kayaking on the Grand River, nightly campfires, crafting, and games. I loved having a running partner (Denver, the family dog), and spending time with my siblings in a variety of combinations. Every time we see cousins, it blows me away how we are all so different but share so many experiences, habits, and personality traits. While in W.Mich, we made a venture to GR to see five friends, and also got to meet up with another couple for coffee before heading out of town. We continue to be "smitten with the mitten."

It's been a busy past two months, but each event has been a sign of God's faithfulness and guidance in our lives. In the words of a favorite hymn by the Getty's: "my heart is filled with thankfulness."

waiting, sort of

Dear Husband, you got a sweet job with a sweet church in a (hopefully) sweet little town! Yes, that is right. We are moving to Lebanon, Ohio to join the youth ministry at Lebanon Presbyterian Church--major excitement. Can't wait to work, pray, struggle, rejoice, and grow in faith and love alongside you (Mr. ACJ) and teenagers again!

Dear In-Laws, it takes special kind of people to let their children move an apartment full of stuff into your garage/basement, crash in said basement, and then also feed said children. Your love, hospitality and generosity is such a blessing. I apologize in advance for our sprawl.

Dear Summer, welcome! It's going to be a great season of fresh berries, live music, evening walks, sailing, swimming, and campfires. Even though your blasting hot temperatures make me run at early hours of the morning, you are worth it.

Dear Ohio, here we come! Better get your DMV, Insurance and Bank offices ready cause we are establishing residency. You will be the first place these Johnson's technically live together, and even though you are not Iowa or Michigan, we're happy to be in the mid-west, in a place where the Big-Ten lives, and not too far away from our families.

Dear Better Half, You are currently running for your third day in a row. Way to go! It gets better from here, and I am proud of you for persevering this far!

big week

Dear Husband, it's been a special stage of life-- having the freedom to stay weeks at our parents' houses, meet up with friends all over the country, dream about ministry together, research different kinds of hypoallergenic dogs....what a blessing to be growing in friendship with each other!

Dear West Suburbs, Not going to lie--it's been a rough year. While I hope to never live in a place like this again, with miles of strip malls connected by four lane roads and fast food chains, you've taught me a lot. Discipline. Patience. Hope. Would I have grown in the same way if our circumstances were different? Maybe.

One of the Desert Fathers (I think it was Anthony) said, "Wherever you find yourself, do not leave easily." 

Will I be happy to move on? Yes. But these past nine months have been deeply formative, and as I reflect on the triumphs and disappointments of them, it will not be easy to leave.

Dear NBA, Basketball is not my favorite spectator sport, but you are doing a great job of piquing my interest this season. Maybe a small part of me is interested because of my proximity to Chicago and serious Bulls fans, but either way, these conference championship series are acceptable substitutes for football.

Dear Best Friend, you are having a baby SO SOON! I am really excited about this and am praying praying praying for a healthy baby boy and healthy mommy! Can't wait to meet junior and celebrate with you! (note the excess of exclamation points--mucho excitement)

Dear Other Half, WOO-HOO!

one more week...ish!

Dear ACJ, even though the amount of dirty dishes and laundry we currently have kind of drives me crazy, it is so awesome that you are totally comfortable with it, because I have not had time to keep up with it. Strange, but I guess I am thankful (at least in this moment in time) that you are messy. Sort of? 


Dear World, it may be that all you hear me talk about these days is writing papers. Well, I'm sorry to say, that is almost all that I think about these days. Finishing up one this evening, and then there will only be five to go in this semester. What was I thinking taking an extra class? Credit hours correspond way more with actual work load in grad school than in undergrad. Who knew?! 


Dear Church-That-Will-Not-Be-Named, even though I haven't met you yet, and even though we are just coming for a visit, and at risk of sounding desperate: I just want to say thank you for giving us a chance this far. Mr.J is so fantastic, I just am excited (and hopeful) that you will see the same heart for the Lord, the Church, and your teenagers in him that attracted me to him in the first place. What a stud! 


Dear Artsy-Fartsy Friends, what is this pinterest you speak of? Can I join your fun in approximately 9 days? And seriously, what kind of person sends homemade chocolate "Easter-bunny-barf" across the country? An awesome one, of course!


Dear Better Half, I know I am a grouch right now, slightly stressed out. As you jokingly say "somebody has to love [me]" and I am so thankful it's YOU!


Loving always (at least trying),
Christy

Wednesday

Dear Mr. Johnson, whether its finding new awesome music, cleaning the apartment like a pro, or calculating car rental-v-jeep expenses, you are the most thorough person I have ever met, and it's awesome! Have I said it lately? What a stud. Dear No-Bake Cheesecake, I understand that you are not healthy. I understand that you are not (actually) cheesecake, but sometimes, you are just right. Especially with homemade hot fudge sauce. Dear Legs, Welcome back! It has been really great to stretch and run again after a slight post-marathon breakdown. Can you make it through a 25k in three weeks? I think we can do it! Dear Mr. Johnson, Even though I have never won against you in Trivial Pursuit...you better watch your back cause I'm gonna study those cards for the next time we play and take the cake, or pie piece. That's a promise.


Love,
Christy

rainy saturday

Dear Mr. Johnson, I have known your stud-li-ness for four years now, so it's fun to watch other people catch on...especially people interested in hiring you to work with their teenagers. We're goin' for a visit! Woo-hoo! Dear First Friend at Grad School, so thankful for you and really looking forward to our coffee date this morning. Dear Legs, it was wonderful to spend some time with you again on the run yesterday. You ready for some more? Dear Buswell Library, I'll be seeing you...  
Dear Other Half, you are my best friend! Growing more and more thankful for you everyday!


Love,
Christy

Dear Mr. Johnson, Who knew that post-race support would be so important? Thanks for helping me go backwards down the stairs, making me eat when absolutely nothing looks appetizing, going for walks with me even when I wake you up early, and holding me when I cry for no apparent reason. Dear final papers and projects due in the next four weeks, To be honest, I am not very happy with you right now. Research, reflections, presentations...blah blah blah. Even though there are a million of you and only one of me: you're going down. Dear self, You can do it! Dear Other Half, While dollar tacos last night was a brilliant idea, and I agree that the steak is the best, maybe we should never spring for the chips & guacamole again...too much of a good thing, or something like that. 


Love,
Christy