March is here already?

Another month, come and gone.

We just wrapped up our February challenge but I have to admit, we forgot to do our verse yesterday. So here it is...

John 13:34-35

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

For March, we are participating in Lent (which actually started on February 18th). I gave up caffeinated drinks and fast food. Aaron gave up caffeinated beverages too and he typically drinks as many of those a day as one should drink water. 

Aaron completed the Polar Plunge yesterday which helps raise awareness for Special Olympics. He said it was colder than ever... No hot tubs this year to warm up in afterwards. Here is a photo of Aaron and some of his coworkers getting ready to become popsicles...

I decided not to go watch in person this year because it was so cold. I'm proud of Aaron for doing it though!

Earlier this week, my sister, dad and I went to a Nickleback concert at the Yum! center. It was a lot of fun. I don't remember that last time we'd done anything with just our dad. My dad is a pretty cool dude. His laugh is one of a kind and he knows how to have a good time. I hope my future children will think as highly of me as I do my parents. 

This year is already flying by but I am looking forward to warmer temperatures! 

Happy (early) Valentine's Day

This video is super sweet. Watch it and spread the love...

Nieces, a nephew, and cousins... Oh my!

I can't believe we are already into the second week of February. I wanted to share one of my favorite verses from our verse challenge last week:

To whom much is given, much is expected. 

Luke 12:48

Its been interesting (and eye opening) to see how Aaron and I interpret the same words differently. To me, this was a reminder to give more because I have been given so much. We are so blessed. 

One of my most treasured blessings is my wonderful and growing family. We had a very fun weekend hanging out with family. Aaron and I have a new niece! Little Miss Kyla Davis was born early last week and we got to snuggle with her over the weekend. She is a cutie. Speaking of cute, how good does my husband look holding a baby? 

Really good... I know! :)

Of course, we also loved playing with Kenley and Sawyer. They are going to make a great big sister and brother. 

Yesterday, I had a movie date with my cousin Bryce. We went to see the new 3D Spongebob movie. His dad gave him $10 and he got a kick out of paying for his own Icee at the concession stand. I got a kick out of watching Bryce reach out his hands when the images were 3D on the screen. Too cool. 

Have a good week! :) 

Support Aaron's Plunge!

Aaron is participating in the Polar Plunge once again this year.  The Polar Plunge is one of the biggest Special Olympics fundraisers of the year.  Participants solicit donations to support their effort much like a walk-a-thon but instead of walking, Polar Bears take a chilly dip into the Ohio River! 

If you'd like to donate, please do so via the link below:

http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1120743&supId=399823931&extSiteType=1

Here are some photos from last years event:

February Challenge

It's February 1 and that means Aaron and I are starting the next monthly challenge for 2015. This month we have committed to reading a bible verse together every day. I searched for a month long Bible challenge on pinterest and found the one below.  

The theme of the challenge is blessing your spouse which I thought was perfect for February. Along with daily verses, it comes with daily challenges to complete.

Check it out! 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+35&version=NIV

 

Aaron is 30!

Aaron turned 30 this weekend!  I’d been planning a surprise party for his birthday for many months and was so excited on Saturday when the day finally arrived.  I just knew that Aaron was going to pick up on my antsy disposition or sudden need for the house to be spotless that day.  He didn’t even notice me stashing a rather large knife and a lighter in my purse as we walked out the door on our way to what Aaron thought was another one of Bryce’s basketball games.  There was a lot of fibbing going on but it was all for a good cause!  Of course, Aaron had insisted that he drive to the game that day so when we were about a mile away from the party venue, I started to panic because I wasn’t sure how I was going to convince him to turn into a parking lot that clearly didn’t belong to a gym.  I am not a good liar and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise so I sort of just awkwardly yelped “turn in here” as we approached the building.  Needless to say, Aaron, who was already annoyed that I made him leave the house before the UK game finished, was now very confused.  It all made sense when we walked into a room filled with family and friends that had travelled to Louisville to spend the afternoon celebrating with him.  He was genuinely surprised and I was thrilled.

Here are some pictures from the party.  I wanted to do something a little out of the box so I asked everyone to meet us at Bluegrass Indoor Karting.  It was a blast!  Thanks to everyone who came!

Aaron and Reese before the first race.

 

The Johnson family

 

The adult karts top out at 40mph. 

 

 Bryce was up first in a junior race.

 

 Aaron finishing his first race of the day.

 

 The kiddos greeting the racers as they pulled in the pit area.

 

 Several people spun out around this curve.

 

 The birthday boy.

 

Blowing out all 30 candles on the cake that Kristen made... delicious!

Our little house had never had so many people in it!

 

 Sawyer

 

 Kelsey and Tyler

Opening birthday cards.

Andy, Bryce and Tyler still trying to figure out who won the final race. Aaron and Tyler argued about who won for the rest of the night! haha.

Birthday hugs!

 

 Aaron got paddles for his new kayak!

 

 The kids were more than happy to assist with opening presents.

 

 Time to leave... Time to say goodbye : (

At least one person was looking straight at the camera and smiling!

Sawyer wasn't leaving with a sucker!

Hello 2015!

We did not ring in the new year in any sort of exciting fashion. I made pizza grill cheeses for Aaron and as payment, he had to suffer through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We were snoozin' when the ball dropped. 

We may not be that exciting but I am pretty excited about the coming year. I feel like it's going to be a good one. Aaron is turning 30, my sister is getting married, I'm finishing my masters degree, we are doing some work on the house, we've got a few vacations on the books and both of us are busier than ever at work.  Life is good and for whatever reason, we are blessed beyond what we deserve. 

Last week, our pastor quoted Mike Ashcraft's thoughts on New Years resolutions... "Our New Year's resolutions seldom work because they're based on the type of person we are tired of being rather than who God wants us to become. Plus, resolutions can be "broken," leaving no room for the process of growth. What if our hopes for the year ahead centered instead on who God wants us to become, and the transformation process?"

This really got me thinking and I came up with monthly challenges for Aaron and I throughout 2015.  January's is pray independently every single day. (Aaron- I know you will read this so here is your reminder.)  They say that when you do something for 30 consecutive days, it becomes a habit. Well... I don't know who "they" are but I'm hopeful that they are right. And if not.. It's about the process of becoming the people God wants us to be. 

Happy New Year!