just where we are: family photos by Heal Courageously

the moments turn into minutes

the minutes into hours

hours into days

days, weeks, months, years

it has been years since we have had our family photo professionally taken

and so when Michelle from the incredible organization Heal Courageously offered her free service 

of taking our family photo

i was elated

Heal Courageously is a non-profit organization which provides a free service to those dealing with life threatening illness 
patients, care givers and survivors 

in which photographers volunteer their time to capture life just where they are 

in what Michelle calls “the night side of life” 

this time of life that shapes us the most  

she gives them the opportunity to to reflect back on those things that cannot be taken by illness  

to hear more about Michelle, her story, and why she founded this organization

be sure to check out my LifeBeats Project podcast with her here

"learning connection while being broken open: how cancer gave me my voice"

i am sure you have all experienced the stress that comes with getting ready for and taking family pictures  

this experience was nothing like that  

it was freeing 

it was freeing to know that some one was coming to our home for the purpose of capturing us just as we are  

no wardrobes were purchased 

no predetermined poses 

just us  

we had not had our family photographed professionally in over five years 

and so much has changed  

Michelle and her photographer Emily came to our home and were there to serve  

their presence was calming and warm  

we captured Mike in his wheelchair 

with his garden

with each of our children  

we captured him and i together 

and us as an entire family in our home 

and on our back porch  

emotions were there on the surface as I watched my little family 

and cherished where we are 

and that we could capture this time in our life together

here are just a few of the many photos captured

that will forever freeze this time in our life

in our home

our beautiful home

16 moves in the making

where we can thrive as a family

and provide the clinical material for each of us to grow into our potential

i can't wait to watch

our surprising news

to borrow from a classic movie scene
if we woke up with our heads sewn to the carpet
we wouldn't be more surprised than we are right now

another little person will be joining our family

yep, you guessed it

we’re pregnant

if you’re shocked

you can bet you are in good company

it still seems surreal

the chances of this little one joining us are pretty much one in a million

as i have processed this news over the last few weeks

i have passed through every emotion possible

mike has been my calming influence

a few things are for sure

this child was meant to come to our family

it will be loved with all the squeezes and snuggles that a baby can receive

the Lord must think i have a lot more to give

He will mostly definitely provide what we need as he has in every uncertain circumstance of this our Johnson Journey

everything is awesome: my valentines day crew

everything is awesome

happy valentine's day 

from my growing crew

amidst the complexities of life, little tate's sweet inquiry as to if i was going to make them valentine's day shirts this year, ensured that the simple things that preserve the structure of family life as they know it remains strong

traditions

traditions keep our family identity alive

and give so much to look forward to

to read about out how our family valentine's day tshirts tradition began, read here 

our traditional jump shot

their absolute favorite

eyan definitely wins this year's best jump

felicity steals the show once again for her daddy

this little cutie pie is daddy's best buddy

simplicity was the name of the game this year

but its always a challenge to come up with a design the boys will wear

i have strict instructions are our first year's design, that no hearts are allowed

so i stuck to something that has been chiming repeatedly in our house for months

as i am sure in so many of yours as well

can you even say it without singing

everything is awesome

everything is awesome

i used my silhouette cameo to design this stencil i cut out on freezer paper

you can see my freezer paper tutorial here

as much as i love seeing changes in my children from year to year

i secretly or not so secretly wish for them to be frozen in time

happy valentine's day to you and your crew

our past year's valentines t-shirts:

3 mr rights and a little miss

my valentine bowlermen and miss charleston

love rocks

check out my tutorials for tshirt appliqué and free hand cutting & freezer stencils

come join us under the State Farm umbrella

since leaving Apple there have been a few more bumps in the road career-wise for Mike than we had anticipated

but my words back then still ring true today

the bitter + sweet ending of jobs past has brought us that much closer to our hopes for Mike

that he would find a new job that would allow him to not be completely knocked out from exhaustion and pain each and everyday, a job that would allow his skills and abilities to be unrestrained in their reach-yes, he's got skills!, a job that would be more conducive to the schedule of a growing, young family

and as his Multiple Sclerosis progresses, this job description continues to be increasingly essential to our family's ability to function and succeed 

we are beyond thrilled that stars have aligned and heaven's blessings poured down, and that this seemingly illusive job has become a reality for our family

a job with a future for us even if health wise the MS does the unthinkable

i invite you now to come join with us in this new career

for you have a large part in our success as well

a symbiotic relationship at its best

come join us under the State Farm umbrella

MS has led to some eye-opening perspective changes for both of us, i finally coming closer to acceptance.

this new reality that progressively comes with new physical limitations

+

Mike's lifelong passion for life and financial planning...not to mention his tendency towards going against the grain and challenging conventional wisdom

=

new career with State Farm Insurance

although life and financial planning has been a lifelong hobby of learning for him, he has spent the last 8 months training and learning on the fast track 

in large part due to my incredible brother, Luke, whose agency Mike is managing

Mike wants your business

he's someone you can trust

someone who will be there

i give my full-hearted ringing endorsement

its more than just insurance.  

auto & fire = yes!  -- but also Life Insurance, Financial Planning, 401K Rollovers, Health/Disability options, Long Term Care insurance, and banking options!

Mike can help you 

manage your risk

recover from the unexpected

and realize your dreams!!

please reach out to him.  he wants to be your advocate and advisor:

• Life Planning
• 401K Rollover
• Retirement
• Banking {Mortgage, Auto Loans, Checking and Savings, Credit Cards}
• Business Insurance
• Auto Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Home & Renters Insurance
• and more

he would love to have a chance for your business
to put the protective umbrella of State Farm over the ones you value the most

you know of his determination in the face of difficulty

you know he will work that hard for you

so for those of you who are a California neighbors please

call or text him at 951-249-4577

email him at mike@dixinsurance.com

tweet @leachwoodmile

visit their website at www.dixinsurance.com

visit their facebook page

those of you in other fine states
we encourage you to contact your local State Farm agent

we have been the recipients of a great many of your prayers and service over the past few years

and we thank you

i know that we can count on you in supporting us in this latest and promising endeavor

this message has been approved by the 'Mike Johnson for your Life Protector' campaign

i'm briana johnson and i approve this message

3 mr rights and a little miss: a valentine tradition

happy valentine's day

from my mr. rights and little miss

our annual 'matching' valentine's shirts has to be one of my favorite traditions

catch a peak at our past years tees here, here and our first year with wee O and E here

i love seeing how much they have grown in just a single year

felicity steals the show in this one

our traditional jump photo

tate's hair reached rockstar status here

and this is how things ended up

spins in dad's coveted office chair

{our disneyland passes expired, so this is as close to the teacups as we can get at this point}

this year our t-shirt design was inspired by a piece of authentique scrapbook paper i ran across in my travels to Minnesota at the mind boggling store of Archivers

my sketching and x-acto cutting skills were put to the test

here they are up close

my mr rights

and little miss

look for the tutorial here...

to see the tutorial for last year's mr. bowlerman and miss charleston shirts, click here

what are your favorite valentine's traditions?

just daddy and me

i am missing my daddy

today is the first time i have seen these photos
these incredible photos that are causing me to hold my breath
wishing i could just go back to that day
when i could hold him
feel his soft hair
hear his laugh
and just be next to him

i love all the subtleties in these
my gaze
his gaze
the lean of my forehead onto him
soft kiss
soft smiles
silly grins
each capturing varying emotions and aspects of my relationship with him
admiration
pride
safety
comfort
appreciation
love
silliness
joy

i just wanted to feel near him today
so i asked our dear friend cheryl who had the foresight to take these
if i could finally see the ones of him and i
i had seen the ones with each individual grandchild
and the one of us as an entire family
but not the ones of just Daddy and I
oh how i adore him
and ache to have him here

really having these photos are an absolute miracle and mercy of a loving Heavenly Father
this was the last day that i can remember Daddy really being Daddy
laughing at ease
happy to be near us
even later on that night at my cousin's picturesque wedding, dancing the only way Daddy could
he had us rolling

daddy is not a 'photo' person
its a definite 'man' trait in our family
but he was so gracious, so easy going that day
he just enjoyed each and every one of us and our individual, unique relationship with him
he always made each of us feel special

of course he enjoyed the dynamic of our whole family together
that's always eventful
such as when the sofa that we hiked out to the middle of the field, the sofa that has been in our family since we were kids, sunk into the ground when we all sat and leaned on it
and when sudden gusts of wind blew hair and clothes and surrounding debris every which direction just at the moment we were all finally situated, causing continual laughter and mayhem
its never a dull moment

so even though it is difficult to see these
i will treasure these each and every day until i will see him again