How About A Smile?

Looking Forward

via

I am amazingly, insanely, euphorically, mind boggling excited for 2013.

There are plans.

Oh yes, there are plans.

Low expectations, but plans for days.

Plans never fail us, we are the ones who fall short. I'm going to try my best in what I want to get from 2013. If my plans don't succeed or fall short of their marks I will have still done my best and *hopefully* have gained some new insight in the process.

How I adore a personal challenge!

Headed Home

I'm headed to Utah bright and early in the morning to spend the holidays with my family. Ah.....much, much needed family and friend time is just what I need to kiss this cruddy year goodbye!

Has anyone else had a superbly heinous 2012? Ugh. Ready for 2013 is an understatement. Hopefully we make it through the Mayan apocalypse unscathed, I would hate for the end of the world to get in the way of my plans for the new year.

Happy Holidays! I hope yours are totally fetch!

(It's like slang from England)

"That's Not Fair"

Whenever we would utter the phrase "that's not fair" to my dad, he would swiftly follow up with, "life's not fair". He was right, even as a small child I understood that he was right. Now as an adult I see every day how life is not fair but that doesn't mean that I have ever come to terms with it.

Life is absolutely unfair when you send your child to school thinking they will be taken care of and returned to you at the end of the day. Life is unfair that some people will struggle with mental illness every day of their life. It's also unfair when blame is placed on individuals or groups when it's not their fault and that finger pointing is coming from a place of intense pain and anger.

The killings in Connecticut have brought both sides of the gun debate to the fore front screaming how if they had their way things would be different. Those angels babies would be alive. Those families would have a merry Christmas. Isn't that life? Who is right in this? I'm not voicing my opinion nor asking for yours about gun control, but this is the greatest example of how polar our society is right now. Both sides think they are right and living as they do will bring about a more moral society. 

I am wrecked by the horrid event that happened Friday morning. I refuse to point fingers at any one or any group because at the end of the day we all have our agency and exercise it how we like. We need more tolerance, love, and support for those around us who live differently than us. 

This article provides amazing and heartbreaking insight into the event and possible others in the future. Let's all pray that there are no more in the future.

xoxo

songs about home

I'm stuck on a musical theme right now. Lately the songs that are sticking in my head and leaving the greatest impression are all about home. What does that mean? Maybe I'm missing my family, or am totally sick of traditional love songs, or they're just all really good songs - plain and simple. Who knows? I'm loving them now so here's a little bounty for you to share in -

"the troubles they might drag you down,

if you get lost you can always be found.

just know you're not alone

i'm gonna make this place your home"

"let me come home,

home is wherever i'm with you"

"just know, you're never alone...you can always come back home."

(thanks for introducing it to me, UK Rachel!)

chills.

(who else can't wait for les miserables?!?)

have a lovely weekend. be happy.

The Liebster Award

My friend, Lizi, nominated me for a blog award/survey. I had a great time coming up with all my answers!

The Liebster Award.

here are the rules:

**list 5 things about yourself**

**answer 11 questions your nominee made for you** (I just used Lizi's)

**choose your own 11 favorite blogs to nominate** (I won't nominate but I'm hoping some of you play along, I want to know your answers!)

 My Five Things

1 - I can spell words backward without writing them down

2 - I recently took an (online) test for autism and I scored close to the cusp of "may need further testing". Basically I'm on the cusp of the cusp of Aspergers and dang it y'all, it explains too much about me

3 - You should take me shopping with you. I'll tell you the truth (good or bad) and give you a legit justification why you should buy

4 - I can almost quote Mean Girls word for word

5 - If I wasn't an interpreter I would want to work with animals

 Lizi's Questions

1. What is your favorite animal and what does that say about you?

Like I could possibly answer this. Either elephant, koala, Corgi, or panda. Hmmm, an elephant might say that I am old and wise but sometimes destructive. The koala speaks to my lazy yet adorable side. A Corgi (dog) is regal, lovable, and has short legs and a long torso, like me. Pandas are vegetarians and seem to have a lot of fun on playground equipment. I don't eat much meat (and am considering going full vegetarian) and sometimes have to remember to not be such an old soul.

 2. What is your first memory?

I was sitting on a suitcase in our living room in Virginia Beach when I was 3 years old. My older sister slammed the door and a piece of aluminum along the bottom of the door cut the top of my foot. I still have a scar.....and a vendetta.

 3. Who has made the biggest impact on who you are today?

Not an easy question! Obviously my parents have made a tremendous impact on who I am but that's the easy answer. I would like to lump all of my Deaf Studies professors into one and make that my final answer. College was a great time of change and mental/emotional upheaval for me and I am grateful for that everyday. I like who I am and how I see the world because of them. Thank you, Flavia, Will, Dale, and Bryan!

4. If you could be any celebrity who would you be and why?

Last question was tough, this one is easy! Either Tina Fey or Amy Poehler. They are sassy, hilarious, working mothers, and wonderful examples of womanhood. See! Check out Amy!

(originally seen and LOVED on Danica's blog)

5. What is your favorite holiday?

Independence Day! Maybe you've noticed - I love America! My family is quite patriotic and it's one of my favorite aspects of us. I especially love Independence Day in my parent's town because it's the same every year. The day starts with a pancake breakfast fundraiser, then later there's a parade that never fails to be utterly hilarious, a BBQ with the family, and fireworks. Always fireworks. 

6. What is a movie you have cried in?

Recently? Honestly, I cry in many movies because I'm sensitive like that. Most recently was probably Perks of Being a Wallflower. So good. So, so good.

7. Who/what has inspired you?

- My siblings. Their capacity for service makes me want to be better.

-Ms. Ramsey, my 12th grade English teacher. I still think of her often when reading or writing that book that I keep hidden.

-Good photography inspires me to express myself.

8. Where is the best vacation location?

Any location that has good history, is near a beach, and is cheap to get to. Backpacking, my friends. These have been the greatest vacations I've ever taken. 

9. What goals do you have for the next year?

To improve my spirituality and really, truly learn to "let it go"

10. What were you like in high school?

I went to two high schools and was like two sides of the same coin. Freshman/sophomore years I was quiet, athletic, shy, dying to show my true self, and living a bit in my older sister's shadow. Junior/senior years were amazing! I was outgoing, athletic, involved, and happier. Although, I did have a back problem for those two years as well, so I guess I was also a hunchback.

11. What makes you happy?

Good conversation, talking to my nieces and nephews on the phone, riding bikes, visiting a beach, a good book, milkshakes from Chick-Fil-A, when a stranger smiles at me first, feeling useful, going to the movies, and being with people who get me. This list is not complete, I add something new all the time!

I hope you've enjoyed getting to know me a bit better!

Take It Away, Mariah!

In my opinion there are less than a dozen *acceptable Christmas songs. 

I'm a grinch, but everyone knows that. 

*"All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "O Holy Night" rank #1 and #2

"I beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer." 

- Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet

All Seven Johnsons

October 5th was the day that we were all in the States for the first time in 28 months. Welcome home, Maria! The amazing and super talented Lizzie came and documented this for us one final time. I'm so grateful to her for helping us preserve these important moments for us!

Maria's plane landed pretty late so the two nephews stayed at home with my brother-in-law, but other than that we were all there to gather the last one home. The plane was delayed by about 30 minutes and then she tortured us further by being almost the last person off! That sneaky punk.

They have grown and changed so much since she left but those little girls remembered their Aunt Maria very clearly

The fam! (minus John, Porter, and Grant. Plus Sorella Olsen, one of Maria's companions)

Johnson siblings. I still suspect I may have been adopted.

Oh, I missed this lady.

What a blessing to have them all go and do what they felt called to do, but now what a blessing to have everyone home. Being able to pick up the phone and call any of your best friends whenever you need is an unexplainable treat.

So grateful this holiday season to have my sweet family!

Still Kickin'

So.....I haven't blogged in a while, have I? Not a single post for all of November and we're 9 days in to December and this is my first. Odd. Definitely odd for me. No good excuse, it just didn't happen.

I'm back and happy to post again for all 11 of you who read my blog. Thank you all.

Now back to regularly scheduled programming!