Alec’s 1st High School Season

Well… it’s officially in the books. As much as I hate to see it go, football is over (well, at least high school football).

Alec had an incredible first season playing for the Ravenwood Raptors. After their first JV game of the season, Alec earned the starting Running Back position on the Freshman squad. He continued to excel there and earned the same spot on the JV squad as well.

After a hard fought season with the JV team going 2-5 and Freshman team going 1-2, Alec scored 10 touchdowns and ran countless yards (countless, because we didn’t count them, but there were a lot!)

Unfortunately, he separated his shoulder during the first play of the last game. He managed to finish the game, scoring a touchdown and playing the most time on offense he had all season. He’s got time ahead to heal and prepare for next year.

We’re so proud of him and his continued accomplishments on the gridiron. He’s done well off the field, too. He made High Honor Roll during his first 9 weeks. He had 4 A’s and 2 B’s on his report card with a 3.91 GPA.

Looking forward to the years ahead and anticipate great things from him on the Varsity squad.

Go #6!

We Bought A Crib!

Ok. Maybe she needs a crib as well as a chandelier! After 6 months of shopping around…we finally found one! Now if I could only settle on the bedding….

How?!?!?

SERIOUSLY!!!! There are way too many choices for girls. HOW will I ever make up my mind….atleast she already has a chandelier. (that’s all a baby girl really needs, right???)

Thank You

Ken and I are so blessed to have you, our family and our friends, support us in our decision to adopt.

Many of you were so gracious to bless us with a financial gift to jump-start our process. For that, we are forever grateful for your contribution ~ we are indebted to you, as we understand what a great sacrifice you made to do it.

For your prayers, we can’t thank you enough for never ceasing to lift up our sweet Addie Grace to our Heavenly Father, when she comes to mind.

Thank you for your questions, your concerns, and your excitement about when that day finally arrives. We will never tire of answering them, and talking about her with you. Though she is not physically here with us yet, when she is talked about, it makes her all the more real to us all.

I can’t wait for her to meet each one of you, and for her to experience the same kind of love and support that we do.

Please let us know how Ken and I can pray for you.

God Bless You

Packers vs. Titians (Cheeseheads)

Here are some of the “Johnson Boys” after the game. Grandpa Johnson and Uncle Kevin and Scout came to town for the game. Scout and Kev stayed in Music City to celebrate Scout’s 13th Birthday.

What a good-looking bunch of men, huh?

Still Waiting......

Our LID: March 7, 2006

Referrals were sent out for awaiting parents with a LID (Log-In-Date) of 11-25-05. It looks like it will be (best-case scenario) May of 2008 before we get our referral (picture) with a Travel Date of July 2008, or (worst-case scenario) September 2008, with a travel date of October.

ticktockticktock…

Heart of a Child Gala

Ken and I were honored to be a part of the Heart of a Child Gala. It was a benefit that was held at Nashville’s beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, that benefited the Nashville area Youth Life Learning Center. Donna Summer was gracious to perform a few of her favorites for the crowd! The Silent Auction alone raised over $15,000.00.

For information on the Youth Life Learning Center, please go to www.youthlifelearningcenter.com

First Day of High School!

Even though the temperature gauge reads a record 106 degrees, the start of school officially marks the end of summer. Alec starts high school this year. I can NOT believe I have a freshman in High School!!! He is such an amazing young man, and I can’t wait to see all that God has in store for him. He is a blessing to Ken and I, and I know that God will continue to bless him with many talents and gifts and grant him many opportunities for greatness. I love being his mom, and I can’t wait for Addie Grace to meet her big brother.

Ready for School…

There he goes…Bye. (FREEDOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!) just kidding.

July 16th - Kelly’s B-day

My favorite way to spend my birthday is with my precious friends - especially when it’s at Cheesecake Factory - yum!(Just a couple of days later, Bethanie gave birth to a baby boy - her 3rd baby)! Thanks to all of you who sent “well wishes” my way. Your friendship means so much to me.

My sweet Friend Liz and I (2nd blonde from left, next to the teal “belly”!) share the same birthday, same year! (she was born just a few hours before me! That means she’s older.)

Camping - In the Summer???

I decided to make my husband VERY happy and go on a family campout for the weekend. Ok. I don’t do “camping”. It was too hot for flannel sheets, and a down comforter, so I had to improvise. After filling up the queen size air mattress, and placing a mattress cover over the top, I smoothed on my 450 thread count Egyptian Cotton Sheets, fluffed up my down-filled pillow, and plugged in the fan to our electrical outlets that were connected to the handicapped site that we picked out to camp on… Ok. Maybe camping isn’t so bad. (Especially if you remember to bring the extra strength fumigator, and set it off all around your campsite!)

However, there was no moving the bath house any closer to our site. Yep. I had to jump on my bike and pedal (fast, because of all the bears and mountain lions, and other critters chasing you in the pitch black darkness…) all the way to the bathroom, with toilet paper in tow.

After Ken and I fell asleep in the tent watching Bourne Identity on his Laptop (hey, we were still sleeping on the ground), we awoke to the sun coming up.

Here is a picture of our campsite, just for proof that yes, in fact Kelly Johnson DID indeed go camping!

We did do quite a bit of Hiking, Biking, and Swimming on our camping weekend

Ken and Alec Swimming to the Falls

Still Swimming….

Ken and Alec found a hidden “swimming” hole! Boys being boys!

“Addie Grace, are you out there?”

July 4th

July 4th

The day began with a 5k race at 6:00 a.m. for me. Ken was nice enough to come out and cheer me on, as I finished with a time of 33:00. For those of you who have raced, or interested in running a race ~ especially in warm weather, I have some incredible advice for you: do not, I repeat, do NOT apply self-tanner to any part of your body the same morning. Let’s just say, those places where you sweat the most…yeah, ALL the tanner will congregate to that one area, and leave a wonderful scary brown spot…need I say more??? I will leave that picture out.

As usual, our 4th of July celebration (day-off) ends up at Crockett Park, up on the Ball Field with several of our friends, to enjoy the spectacular fireworks show. It was awesome this year!

Here are Ken and Alec and I posing for an “Independence Day” photo. I LOVE my boys! ( can’t wait to add another brown-eyed cutie to the photo!)

Alec's 1st Job

Here’s Alec at the Snack Shack at the YMCA! He is LOVING the fact that mom snuck in and shot a picture of him in action. “I would like 250 hamburgers, please!!!”

It’s nice that he can draw his OWN $ out of the bank for a change!

Ken In London

Ken had the most amazing opportunity to take his work to London this summer! He and very talented producer, arranger, etc, David Hamilton met Michael W. Smith in London to record strings and boys choir at the very famous Abbey Road Studios. (yes, that’s where The Beatles recorded, and that’s what our license plate says!)

“It’s a Wonderful Christmas” by Michael W. Smith will be out in October, and it is musically BRILLIANT!

left to right: Michael, David, Kenny outside of Abbey Road Studios

Ken is playing “Lady Madonna” on the SAME piano that McCartney played “Lady Madonna” on when The Beatles recorded it…cool.

Batizy Family Reunion - June

Our summer began with a trip to the Batizy Family Reunion at my uncles’ lake houses.

Ken and I are enjoying the kayaks - no racing anytime soon for us! (especially if I keep coming in last!) Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of my dad tipping over in his kayak, just before reaching the shore on our 6 mile row!

Alec on a tube going about 35 mph!