Specs!

Last year when Cameron went for his 8 year doctor checkup, they told us to take him to the eye doctor because they thought he needed glasses. We took him to an opthamologist and he said to wait one more year. Sure enough, after this year's wellness checkup his eyes were even worse and we went back to the eye doctor again. This time we left with a prescription for some cool specs and Cameron couldn't wait to pick them out. Waiting for the lab to make the glasses seemed to take forever, but finally on Saturday they were finished and ready for one very excited 9 year old. I'm all too sure that the novelty of having to wear glasses will soon wear off, but as of right now he can't wait to show them off to his friends and I think they make him look grown up and sophisticated. And pretty stinkin' adorable. The girls are gonna go crazy! Maybe it's not such a bad thing that he got his eyesight from his Momma :)

Second Annual Johnson Derby

Last Friday was the second year our family participated in the Pinewood Derby. Cameron was excited to compete again and pretty much made the entire car on his own. Some of these dads that get all crazy and make their kids cars for them totally bug me, this is supposed to be something the kids do, not the parents. Last year his car came in close to last place and Cam was disappointed so this year he was really hoping to do well. While he did do better, he still didn't get a trophy and he proclaimed his car was no good. We tried to tell him it was his effort that counted. Maybe next year I'll just give in and get Jeremy a book on how to make a wining car. After all, we have like 7 more years of this!

New Year, New Attitudes

This past year has been difficult for so many people I know, ourselves included. It was not easy to make the decision for me to go back to work, but it was necessary and despite the rough transition, it's now just become part of our lives and we've all adjusted. There have been times when I've whined about our situation and felt sorry for myself and then eaten a piece of humble pie as I watch the trials my friends have had to endure. This past year I have had friends that have lost their jobs and friends that have gotten divorced but I've also had two friends lose their children in terrible accidents.

In June, I received the tragic news that my boss and friend of many years had accidentally left her almost 3 year old son in her car all day while she worked. It wasn't until she drove home that she found him dead in the back seat. My heart broke for her dear family and I continue to mourn with her as she faces her court date in March. I cannot imagine anything worse happening to a person or a family.

In September my old English teacher from high school lost her 12 year old son in a flash flood while playing in their neighbors back yard. She and I had recently reconnected through each others blogs and she has allowed her readers to journey with her through this gut wrenching experience on her blog. I feel a piece of her pain as I read through her entries as she deals with her irrepressible grief.

In a year where I have found myself consumed in thoughts of whether my kids are doing well enough at school or in sports or whether I need to lose a few more pounds or clean my house better, I thank God that those are the problems I have to deal with. Our family's trials are small and trite in comparison to what these families are enduring. I cannot even conceive what my life would be like if I lost one of my darling children and yet I find myself yelling at them and not spending the quality time that they yearn for. The lesson I have learned through the experiences of these other people is that I need to cherish more. I need to suck the marrow out of each moment I am allowed to be the mother of my boys and truly realize what a gift they are in my life. I am thankful to have learned this through another's experience and not my own.

Pray for these friends of mine. And then pray that you never have to live a day in their shoes. Love your family more and treat them a bit better than you did yesterday. Consider yourself blessed to be able to live such a gifted life. This is my resolution for this coming year, to live in the moment, make the most of each day and to count my many, many blessings.

Fon-Dudes

It's tradition for the Johnson's to host the New Years Eve party every year. But for several reasons I just wasn't feelin' it this year. I had to work Saturday and church was early the next day, so we opted for a more family friendly version this year and had the Tolers (all of them, yay!) over for a fondue feast and faux count down for the kids at 9. We had dinner a la Melting Pot cooking up meat, cheese, and chocolate fondues. The dippin' was delicious! The kiddos donned their hats and noise makers and counted down as the men set off the balloons from overhead. It was crazy-loud! Then we sipped our sparkling cider and toasted to great friendship in the coming year. Jonathan Toler is leaving today back to Afganistan but we are excited for him and his family to move to New Zealand in September for a couple of years. As much as I, and Cameron, and Gavin, will miss our very best friends, I am so happy that they get to be a real family unit again. It will be a wonderful new year, this 2012!