Politics... ugh!

Ok, so not being one to normally talk to people about politics unless asked my opinion, I am going to step out there and blog about it. Since it is my blog, I guess I can break my own "rules", right?

I am sure that there are people out there reading that don't agree with my choice of President (and I use that term loosely since I don't feel that I have a choice based on my morals and beliefs) and that is fine to disagree with me. However what I want to encourage you to do is to really take the time in the next 13 days to really think about who you are choosing to vote for. First and foremost, you need to get out there and vote. It's your duty as an American and your right to do so. Please don't do this without praying about it though. Ask God for direction in who He would want you to vote for. Be still and listen for direction, He is sure to answer that for you. This incoming President is going to greatly impact our nation, possibly more than ever before. Our children and grandchildren will feel the effects of this new Presidency and its effects either good or bad. If you are concerned with sanctity of life, protection of marriage being one man and one woman, and the tax and spend policies, you will think long and hard and really research and know your choice of candidate. In the past, Americans and in particular Christians are not always so eager to get out there and have their voices heard. November 4th is your chance. I urge you to take the opportunity and the gift you have been given and get out and vote! Let your God given voices be heard!

Please join me in praying for our nation and for those that will be in power. The late Reverand Billy Graham said this; "To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees."

See you at the poles!

The twins turned 7!

Cameron and Colby turned 7 this past Saturday! What a great day of fun we had and the boys had "the best birthday EVER"! I can't believe that time has flown by this quickly and that they aren't little boys anymore :( They are quickly becoming big boys and doing more and more things that their big brother and sister do. I love the little men that they are growing into though. They make me laugh alot :) and come out with some really "deep" thoughts and discussions. They both have wonderfully sweet and sensitive spirits and really complete our family.

Seven years ago when I found out that I was having twins, I regularly would ask God if He was sure that He had the right Janet Johnson, since we are told that He never gives us more than we can handle, hehehe. But since the day they came into this world October 18, 2001, I knew God had the right Janet Johnson!

Happy 7th Birthday Colby and Cameron! Mama loves you lots!

Fall Family Fun

These past couple of weeks we have had the opportunity to enjoy some fall activities that we enjoy so much! We have been to the apple orchard twice and even had a chance to get a nature walk in to collect leaves, pinecones and such for school projects! The kids have had a great time and I had the opportunity for some great photo ops, yea me!! Soccer and football have also kept us out and about in the beautiful, yet sometimes chilly, autumn air! I love this time of year!

God is good to us and we have so much to be thankful for! This time of year, in particular, I tend to think a lot about being thankful. Not just when things are going well... but all the time. Looking around us and knowing that someone somewhere is having a hard time, maybe closer to us then we even know. We are working on teaching the kids this too. Trying to put an end to the negativity and complaining that can accompany complacency. Looking beyone ourselves and seeing the needs of others! We are taking great pleasure at doing things that cost less and have more family time involved... time of just enjoying being together. And suprisingly the kids are rising to the occasion and having a lot more fun than I think they even thought they would!

Happy Fall everyone! Hope you all get a chance to get out and do some family fun!

Wow... where have I been?

Oh yeah, I remember! I have finished my first year of homeschooling, started a new job, Co-Directed a VBS, went on a family vacation, taken some day trips with my kids and started homeschooling again, all since I last wrote, phew no wonder I am tired out! Seriously, God is good and He continues to shower us with blessings beyond my imagination.

All in all, we are really doing well. The kids are busy with school, sports, private music lessons and such. Kendra turned 15 in September and is waiting to start her drivers ed (yikes, I can't have a kid old enough to drive yet can I?) the end of this month. She is dating a really nice guy from our church and he is really good to her and they are enjoying their first relationship together. Casey fits right in with the rest of the boys in this family and the little boys like having another "brother" to beat up on and wrestle with! Austin is in 6th grade and is currently playing football. He is growing taller by the day it seems and the girls are starting to notice what I as his mom has always known, just how handsome he is! The twins continue to keep laughter and joy in our home. They will be turning 7 this month and the countdown is on! They are doing really well in school. Colby loves math and Cam loves to read... it amazes me all the time that they were in my womb all at the same time and yet are so different... God proves His power to make all of us unique for His purpose all the time with these two. They both play soccer and love the chance to run and socialize with their friends. Frank has gone back to school two nights a week. He finally got his chance to move into a machining position at Mid State! I am so proud of him! He stuck with it and waited for the Lord's timing to be perfect and here we are. He will take classes through Nov. 2009 and then will have a degree in machining. This allows him to move to another company easier if ever necessary, as well as make more money at the place he works now. He continues to amaze me with how he juggles work, school, youth group events, and still finds the time and energy to be an awesome husband to me and daddy to our kids! What a blessing he is in my life! I continue to homeschool the kids and work 20 hrs for our church as children's ministry director. God is bringing me through my own trials and tribulations and is definitly bringing me into a place of pure submission to Him. We have great friends of ours that have so gracefully reached out to us to bring us into their family and for this we are eternally grateful. Nona and Ken have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and have recently stepped in to being the grandparents to my kids and filling a void that was so needed. Their daughter Devon and I have quickly become best of friends and God knew I would need this in my life. I have become Auntie to their two little girls and I couldn't love them more if they were mine. Devon's husband Ryan is a great friend to all of us, especially to Frank who has been needing a "guy" friend for some time, again God's timing is perfect and He knows us better than we know ourselves especially our needs and desires.

I think that about catches us up to date! I am really trying to get better about writing things both to people in form of email and cards, as well as journaling more. So, I will add this to my list and hope to write more even if its just a little thing about what might be going on at our home and in our lives!
Thanks for checking in and catching up with us. I pray that this finds all of you well and that God is showing himself to you in a new and special way at this time in your lives!
Blessings!

Exciting happenings in the Punkin Patch...

Over the past two months we have had so many exciting events happening that we have had a hard time keeping up with it all! God is good and has shown Himself to us....

Our neice Kaylee Jean Valcourt joined our family on 5/1/08! I was able to be there to witness her arrival into the world and was so blessed to be a part of this miracle from God!

Our nephew Nic Lee graduated from Lawrence High School on 6/6/08 ! We are so proud of him. He is headed for college in Chicago in the fall.

On May 26, 2008 I officially joined the staff at our church, Faith Evangelical Free Church. I have been asked to become the new Children's Ministry Director when the current director moves away to the mission field of Africa. Please pray for me as I adjust to this new adventure in my life. I am so excited that God has provided me with a job that will allow me to work with children and reaching them for His Kingdom! God is good!

So, as you can see, there has been a lot going on but really great and exciting things. Summer is here and we will be super busy with mission trips, Vacation Bible School, a family vacation and more. Check back for pictures and little updates along the way! And keep us in your prayers!

Update

Just wanted to take a quick moment to let you all know that we are alive and well! Many of you have been sending us emails and notes (so nice to know that we mean so much to all of you) wondering why you hadn't heard much from us as of late. We are super duper busy with homeschooling, sports, music lessons, and just getting out to enjoy God's gifts of sun and warm weather.
Kendra is playing softball for the Waterville Jr. High Softball team. She is doing so well. She is the starting catcher (yes, my little, petite, baby girl is catching!) and really likes it and does very well at it! She is hitting the ball regularly this year too, so it is really exciting to watch her games. Frank and I joke, that this is the payoff for all those t-ball games we sat through when she was 4-5 years old, hehehe! She is really loving the sport this year and the girls at the school have really accepted her and her homeschooling choice, so she is a happy girl!
Austin is playing in the minor league of the Waterville Cal Ripkin league. He started playing catcher (like his sister) and 1st base. A week ago, the coach wanted to try him on the pitchers mound. We all were unsure what he was doing this for, since he had never pitched before. However, he pleasantly shocked us all when in the course of 4 innings he struck out 9 boys!!! We were so thrilled and he was so excited. He has pitched since then and is only getting stronger and more acurate the more he pitches! Who knew he had this talent in him, since he only started playing baseball last year! He is truly coming into his own and we are so proud of him! He is a great sport, has a great attitude on the field and simply loves to play the game!
Colby and Cameron both started playing farm league baseball two weeks ago on Saturday mornings. The first Saturday it was rainy and very cold. Cam ended up crying and sitting with me in the van. He decided baseball was not for him and quit for this year at least. He loves to cheer on his twin!! Colby is having a little hard time with not having Cam on the field with him, since they have never done any activity apart. I think this is good for them though, as they are very different little boys with very different interests. It seems this might just be the beginning of things to come for them.
Frank finished his last class at the local college with an A- for his grade! We are so proud of him and how he perservered through all he had going on. He is still working lots of hours to provide for us, but seems to be a little calmer now that he doesn't have so much studying and homework to do. He and Kendra are preparing to take a missions trip together to Mexico the end of June. And he is playing on the church softball team too.
I am spending more time in my van these days playing taxi driver for the troops! I love it, except when I have to go to the gas station, ugh! I am a little down and depressed about my unability to keep up with housework and getting healthy meals on the table before 7pm at night, and keeping up with my quiet time, and finding time to spend with Frank... the list goes on and on. Sometimes it gets the better of me, and I get really upset about it. I keep telling myself it is just for this season, but it still gets to me and I find myself a little on edge about it all. Plus, we are winding down our first year of homeschooling, so that has it's own challenges! Oh, well, such is the life of a homeschooling, SAHM! I am still very thankful that I am able to stay at home and I wouldn't change a thing, just getting a little frustrated with the lack of time I have these days for things that I need to get done!
We are healthy and have much to be thankful for! God is good to us and very real in our lives. We pray that this true for all of our family and friends! Lord willing, things will settle down in the next month or so and we will have time to grab that glass of ice tea or coffee together and just visit!!!

My thought for today:Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT).

I'm seeing spots!!!

So, in case you ever wondered what happens when a 6 year old gets bored and has a sheet of stickers! He really liked this look too, everyone that saw us at Shaw's that day took a second look at him, hehehe!