4 years and going strong

This is Denis and I this year at Josh's graduation



This was taken by rachel the christmas after our engagement...wow...look how short his hair is!



This is us last year at Nanette and Gabe's wedding. Denis was MADE for a tuxedo!



This was also taken last year over the summer when our family was getting family pictures taken. What a hottie he is!

It is hard to believe that only 4 years ago I was putting all of the finishing touches on my big day. For anyone who knew me 4 years ago, they would know that i was a tad bit stressed and overwhelmed with wedding plans, but still crazy excited about becoming Mrs. Denis Johnson. These past 4 years have had their ups and downs, there good times and bad, but i can say with all confidence that i am a better person now because Denis is in my life, so this blog is dedicated to my hot husband.

So, i thought i would take this opportunity to share with you a few of the things i have learned each year of my marriage! Here we go!

Year One:
- I learned that Denis will ask me everytime i go to the bathroom if i washed my hands AND check to see if the bar of soap is indeed wet.
- I learned never to put the peanut butter knife into the jelly jar WITHOUT cleaning it off first.
- Denis does indeed know everything there is to know about the cosby show.
- Denis does not like doing dishes, but he sure does know how to cook
- I learned that you have to choose your battles and not make a big deal out of little things.
- Money doesn't grow on trees
- i also learned that moving sucks

Year Two:
- Laughing with my husband is one of my favorite things in the world.
- I came to grips with the fact that i really stink at cooking
- I am extreemly sensitive
- I learned that a quiet night at home can be better than any extravagant night out
- Being in weddings in EXPENSIVE!... very very expensive...
- I now know eveything there is to know about the cosby show
- money still doesn't grow on trees

Year Three:
- Alias is the great show ever made
- I LOVE decorating for Christmas, and denis does not
- Denis looks good even with long flowing dreads, if not better than when we first got married
- Weddings are still expensive
- Having a spouse in college is hard...really hard...but i couldn't have been more proud to see him walk across that stage at graduation
- When driving in the car for significant amount of time, it is better if i sleep! it is the best for all.
-Moving still sucks!
- It is a bad thing when you forget your anniversary...

Year Four:
- I learned that my memory is fading and fast
- Sometimes stepping out in faith is hard, but it is exciting to see the Lord move in our lives
- I learned that my husband has so much wisdom, and that even if some things are hard to hear for the moment, that every word is truth and i needed to hear it.
- I was reminded over and over again what a silly man i married. we laughed ALOT.
- I learned that communication will never stop being important.
- The Philidelphia Eagles are the greatest football team ever!
- Our dream of working side by side in ministry finally became a reality
- Money may not grow on trees still, and it may make the world go round, but we have learned to make every dollar count.
- I have learned that Denis is the greatest man i have ever known and i am truly the luckiest woman alive.

I am more in love today that i was 4 years ago but not as much as I will be tomorrow or the day after that. Everyday i learn something new about life, marriage and my husband. I don't know what this next year will hold, but i don't need to know all those detials to know that my life is complete just being with Denis. The Lord has blessed us abundantly in life and for that we are truly thankful.

I love you denis. Even if i could, i wouldn't change a thing about these last 4 years. you have taught me so much about myself and what is truly important in life. You have taught me live for the moment but to dream big. You give me confidence, you give unselfishly, and you love me with all that you are. You are the love of my life and i will love you forever. Happy Anniversary baby. ( i remembered this year! YEAH)

How much have i changed in 10 years....

10 years ago.....

How old were you?: 15 1/2

Where did you go to school?: Allegany-Limestone Central School (GO GATORS)

Where did you work? In the winter i worked at O'Dea's Snow Tubing Hill... i hate the cold to... Lets just say I wasn't the BEST worker they ever had... But boy was I entertaining! :)

Where did you live?: At home with my parents. I beleive around then we had just gotten our new house! YEAH!

Where did you hang out?: At home or at Perkins...mostly home though.

How was your hair style: um...i believe it was shoulder length and blond because i used "sun in"....man...anyone remember Sun-In?!?!?! crazy....

Did you wear glasses?: I HAD glasses, but NEVER wore them....

Who was your regular-person crush? I was in love with Mike Bartz from 7th to 11th grade. But i believe i was dating Jason Hoffmire at this point in my life.

How many tattoos did you have?: NONE!

How many piercings did you have?: just my ears

What car did you drive? um.... I was only 15. i couldn't drive yet DUH!

What was your worst fear?: Not being liked

Had you smoked a cigarette?: nope

You been arrested?: Gosh no

Had your heart broken?: unfortunatly

Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter?: Taken...kind of...he had left for the navy... we never did really break-up....just kinda stopped talking...hope he doesn't still think we are dating...that might be a little wierd....

**HA HA HA!!! LETS SEE WHAT YOU ARE NOW !!!!!**

How old are you?: 25 1/2

Where do you work?: Pearce 4 Kids

Where do you go to school?: NO WHERE! I actually teach school now....look how the tables have turned!

Where do you live?: North Chili NY

Where do you hang out?: church mostly. and applebees! :) and at home with my hubby

Do you wear glasses? still don't wear them...don't even have a clue where they would be....

What is your hairstyle?: semi-long, and brown....not by my choice though...just the way it turned out when i colored it myself.

Still talk to any of your old friends?: Just a few of them. I guess only a few decided to stick around! :)

How many piercings?: just my ears still....but if you ask John, my voice is piercing as well...whatever!

How many tattoos: none!

What is your biggest fear?: Losing someone I love

Has your heart been broken?: Yes

Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: MARRIED!!!!!!!!! to the most wonderful man alive. we are coming up on our 4 year anniversary!!!! I am so lucky....

How sweet it is....

I know i haven't written a blog in sometime now...june to be exact...but i promised some very special friends of mine that they would have an appearance on my blog in honor of their wedding. Here are a few pictures that really help capture the day, if you want to see more, check out rachel's blog at www.fotogirl14.blogspot.com.

Enjoy!




Here is the whole crew in all it's glory. We are one good looking bunch if i may say so myself!!!! It was perfect weather for a perfect day! :)



Awwwww.....so cute! John complained that you can't see anyones face but i just love this picture! Great pic rach. You're a good kid, i don't care what they say about ya!



This is amy walking down the path to meet her handsome groom. I was told not to watch...but i did...sorry john. It was a special moment i am sure. Amy was such a beautiful bride....one of the prettiest i have seen...and i have seen alot of them! :)

Just the 4 of us at the end of the evening... when john saw this he said "look, each twin went to the side of the person that likes them the most..." you know what i have to say to that... THATS FINE WITH ME SUCKER! :)



I took this picture during Amy's brother dance. Ben is offically one of the funniest people i know. He really is. Of course, he smiled for the camera! CHEESE! Oh and ben, if you are reading this, my husband is not related to Bob Marley!



Oh... I know this look all to well. And for anyone who wasn't there, this look is once again directed at me. i have no idea what i did, but it was obviously something that John felt the need glare at me for...HAPPY WEDDING DAY GRUMPY PANTS!



When rachel emailed me this picture, her caption was "this is the picture where fervent prayer was happening" I think he was extreemly concerned for his cousins well being...amen brother...amen.



This picture has a funny story. When i first asked for picture from rachel, i specifically asked for a picture from the canal. When i told rachel this, she said "I think I only have one, but Johns Fat arm is in the way of Amy's face" exact words folks. Well i just laughed at that. So then rachel felt bad for what she said, but soon decided that she didnt feel AS bad cause she felt like she was getting back at john for calling amy's face big....that is another story for another time... But after she sent it to me she realized that his "fat" arm wasnt really covering amy's face. but it is still a funny story!

Congrats to the mr an mrs. I love you both so much. Thanks for letting me be a part of your special day!

Pomp and Circumstance....

"Joshua Stephen Freer"

They called his name and across the stage he went. It didn't even seem real. My little brother, a high school graduate. He looked as handsome as ever in his bright pink tie he wore in honor of his girlfriend who couldn't be there. I could not have been more proud of him at that moment. My brother...all grown up.



It was a family affair. It began with a graduation party on saturday. Denis and I arrived fashionably late due to a tire malfuncion on the way there. The yard was full of friends and family. It was thrilling to see so many family memebers there. Family I hadn't seen in years. We ate, told stories, laughed and played games... mostly bocce ball...thanks to my brother in law!...he is a whole other story. He said he wanted to spend his weekend making sure he had the position of our family clown. Mission accomplished. Don't believe me, come over sometime, i will show you the "graduation video" aka "The Mike Shipman Extravaganza!" Hysterical.



Some might say i am a TAD bit overprotective. I have spend years attempting to chase girls away from josh, hanging up the phone on them. Putting on my tough girl face to scare them away. I must say though, i do LOVE his current companion. She is awesome. I would like to keep her around. BUT, I still enjoy being the over protective big sis. I love him to death. Don't believe me...check my wallet...case in point.



It isn't often that i get to make the trip home with Denis. I am pretty sure this weekend was the first time he was in Allegany on a sunday morning. Of course we put him to work. Rach, mike, denis and I all sang together for the first time, just the 4 of us, at good old Allegany Baptist Church. Practice was no fun, but the real deal came out just fine....but according to rach i was a microphone hog. Sorry rach...



Here is one final picture of the Handsome Graduate. So long allegany-limestone. The freers have left the building. Try not to miss us too much! :)



Josh, if you are reading this. I am so proud of you. I love you so much and that will never change.

Alive and Kickin'

Hello out there!!! I must begin (once again) by begging for your forgiveness in the area of keeping up with this blog. I guess I just don't find that I have anything interesting to say!! But I want to be true to my fans (no autographs please) and give you an update.

It is sad, but true that my good pal john is retiring from the blog business... let us pause for a moment of silence....


Ok...enough of that. But anyway, he has written his final blog, or so he says, and john, you will be missed. I will miss our Fridays when you call me into your office to read your blog as you watch me practically cry with laughter each week. (He knows that I think he is so funny. and he gets an ego boost when he watches me read it). But to keep a long explanation short, I am saying farewell to my good friend’s blog. BUT in honor of John, I am going to steal his format for this blog...in honor of him of course, not just cause I wanna be like him, cause that is just nonsense!
So here we go...

Apology of the week:I think that I already did that in the beginning, but I will once again apologize for not keeping up with this blog as I should. There is just no excuse for it! I guess I figure writing no blog at all is better than writing a dull one. I will try my best to keep up with it in the future. Try is the key word there...

Embarrassing story of the week...well actually month:The other day after a Wednesday evening church service at The Father's House, Denis and I went out to dinner with our good friends Matt and Andrea. We had a great time catching up and we were out far past my bed time, and I just can't be held accountable for what I say or do after about 10 at night. So anyway, I am not quite sure HOW we got on the subject of albino's, but we did and Denis made a comment about this black woman he knew that was an albino, to which I quickly corrected him saying that if you are black then you can't be albino. In my head that just made no sense. How can you be black and albino at the same time? (Even though I am black and white at the same time....hehehe) Denis just gave me this look, that said "wow, I can't believe you just said that you ignorant boob." I know he wanted to say it out loud, but his look said it all for him. You would think that most people would just stop talking, but oh no, it was 12:30 and I just kept going insisting that I was right and he was wrong. Well, that got me nowhere, as usual, and by the end of the conversation Denis, Andrea and matt were begging me to just stop talking cause I was just making myself look like a fool... Looking back, that is exactly how I feel.

Quote of the month: This came from one of my students during their graduation. To preface this, what happens is my students were all up on stage at their graduation ceremony and they were getting ready to receive their diploma. I call their name and they come down and get their diploma from me, pose for a picture and then go sit with their parents. This story is about a little boy, let’s call him bobby.

Me: Bobby Jo Johnson (not his real name OF COURSE)...This is his cue to come down...well he just stood there
Me (again): Bobby Jo Johnson (he then proceeded to shake his head at me)
Me (holding the microphone away from my mouth) come on, you have to come down.
Bobby: No
Me: Bobby, come on, lets go
Bobby: Ok (and he makes his way down)
Me: Congratulations! Here is your diploma
Bobby: I don’t want it
Me: Huh
Bobby: I don’t want it, you keep it (and then he proceeded to walk away from me to sit with his mom, leaving me standing like a dweeb in front of a few hundred people.)
I guess I can’t expect a graduation with 3,4 and 5 year olds to go perfect.

Congrats of the week:First I would like to congratulate John. John is being ordained as a Free Methodist Pastor this weekend!!! He has worked so hard in seminary, believe me folks, he is a verse memorizing CHAMP! But really, I am so proud of you. You are going to be a wonderful pastor!
Second, a congrats goes out to Larry, Andrea, Heather, and myself for graduating from The Summit this week. The Summit was a 6 month program to teach us about leadership in ministry. I must admit, I wanted to quit a few times since it took the place of my date night, but I stuck through it and I am so glad I did. I really did learn a lot. So congrats to ME!

Jealous moment of the week:I actually don’t think I am quite over this yet, but I am doing better then I was at first. Let me take you back a few weeks where our story really begins. My friends John and Amy have been planning for a while to go down to Pittsburg and visit Rachel and Mike. Way back in March I asked if I could go with them when they picked a weekend. John was hesitant cause he didn’t want to spend 4 hours in a car with me. That and he has this complex where he thinks Amy is mean to him when I am around, which is just crazy talk in my opinion. Well a few weeks ago, John and I are having lunch, and he says to me:

John: So we picked a weekend to go and see Rach and Mike
Me: REALLY!!!! WHEN!?!?!?!
John: May 26th through the 29th
Me: oh…I can’t go
John: really? Why?
Me: I have a concert
John: Oh, in Springville, with Christopher on Friday night?
Me: (suddenly very confused cause I NEVER mentioned it before to him) yeah… how did you….
John: (who suddenly has a smug grin across his face) so you can’t go huh
Me: (now yelling) YOU PICKED A WEEKEND I COULDN’T GO ON PURPOSE!!!!
John: it was just the best weekend for us. And you just happen to have plans too. Sorry bec….

SORRY! WHATEVER YOU WEREN’T SORRY! But…like I said, I am getting over it. I am over the fact that you had a great time. I am over the fact that you saw their new house before I did. I am over the fact that you like Rachel better… I am over it…almost

Also, I am having a really hard time with the fact that EVERYONE is having babies. I can count about 6 off the top of my head that are due within the year. I have baby fever. I want a baby and I want one NOW! I guess I will just wait until John and Amy are married and then Amy and I can have a baby together. Right Amy… 

Well I guess that is all folks. I had a great time visiting my parents for an ENTIRE week. It was so nice to be back in Allegany. I was tempted to use a quote from my dad and a quote from Rachel as my quote of the week, but I found it inappropriate for all viewing audiences. I am pretty sure my dad would disown me if I put his quote up for all to see. But lets just say, it was a side of my father I had never seen before, and don’t care to see again anytime soon!

Until next time

Stay Classy San Diego

The award goes to....

The winner is......RACHEL!!! Congratualtions Rachie. You all did a great job. I will have to say though, John deserves a little credit. He may not have taken this seriously AT ALL, but was was crying when i read his answers....no really, i was. ask him. he watched me read it. my boss thought that i was CRAZY cause i was laughing so hard. So john, well done. I can always count on your to make me laugh!!!

Here were the points:

John: 2...i gave him points for creativity for the first two. if i had done that for all of them, he would have won with flying colors
Mom: 8
Jaime:11
Amy: 12
Rachel:13

Besides John, it was a pretty close race. I think that rachel needs to do a quiz. not only so i can win, but so she can FINALLY POST SOMETHING NEW!!!!!! get on that rach, or i will have to de-throne you from the winners seat.

Here are the answers!!!!

Here are the answers to the quiz. i have yet to go through and tally up the points, that will be done asap. be looking for the results SOON!!!

Here they are...thank you to all who participated. Thanks my my mother for being the first to respond, thanks to john and amy who decided NOT to boycott, and thank you to Jaime for taking this very seriously and thinking hard about her answers, and thanks to rachel for making us wait a million years for her response!!!!! geepers rach... hehehe

1) If i were a color, what color would i be and why?

* points will be given as to how creative your answers were, not if they match up to mine!

anyway, i would say red, because it is my favorite color, every room is splashed with it, it is the color of love and the color of my wedding. :) boy that was a nice wedding huh! hehehe

2) If i were an animal, what animal would i be and why?

* again, points will be given according to creativity*
I would say a cat. because they are cute and cuddly, loyal and drama queens. ( i know amy is cringing right now, but get over it!) BUT if you cross their path their claws will come out and they will do something about it.

3) What is my favorite ice cream flavor?

i actually have two and i can't decide which is my favorite... they are cookie dough and chocolate peanut butter. both equally yummy and bad for you...oh well... moving on

4) What is my favorite movie?

I have a ton of favorite movies, but my all time favorite is Newsies. i know every song and every line of that movie. and i could watch it over and over and over again.

5) What is my CURRENT favorite TV show?

24... i just can't get enough of it. it gets crazier and crazier every show. THE PRESIDENT IS GOING DOWN!!! yeah jack bower!

6) Name one of my celebrity crushes (this question is SOOOO easy, this is like free points!)

ok, here they are. Ty Pennigton, Nick Stokes form CSI, and Michael Vartan. NOT Keifer Sutherland...i mean he is cute in a kinda old man kinda way. but he is like my dads age...gross (sorry ma)

7) What is Denis's middle name....rachel, i am going to ask you NOT to answer this question since you definatly know...i will give you the point anyway?

Denis GILBERT Johnson. he would kill me if i told all of cyberland that...so lets keep this our little secret...

8) On average, how many pairs of shoes do i own?

Sorry i worded this wrong. but i am not sure of the exact number i have, so i wanted a good estimate. Sorry for that Jaime...smarty pants....anyway, i own and extimated 40 pairs of shoes.... :)

9) What color is most frequet in my wardrobe?

right now, it's brown. i own a ton of brown. it is the new black

10) What color are my eyes?

Brown...just like my daddy's

11) How many piercings do i have?

One in each ear...NOT my voice JOHN!!! i wouldn't define it as piercing!

12) What date is my wedding anniversary?

December 21 2002

13)What kind of car do we own?

We own and Honda Accord (black)

14) How many pillows do i have in my living room? (this one is TRICKY!!!)

16 throw pillows and 2 bed pillows making a total of 18!!!!

15) Last but not least...who do you think will win this quiz?

My guess as of know would be rachel. but we will see. i will tally up the votes and will post asap!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Quiz Time!!!

ALrighty folks. It is quiz time once again. And why do I love quiz time, cause it is ALL ABOUT ME!...or so john would like to think. No, really....Rach suggested it so i am going to do another quiz. This quiz will be a little different because you will give the answers, there won't be selections to choose from. So answer very carefully...and remember, my mom reads this blog so BEHAVE! hehehe... Just like the last time, i am going to post my answers when it seems like everyone is done taking the quiz. Good luck to you all...

1) If i were a color, what color would i be and why?

2) If i were an animal, what animal would i be and why?

3) What is my favorite ice cream flavor?

4) What is my favorite movie?

5) What is my CURRENT favorite TV show?

6) Name one of my celebrity crushes (this question is SOOOO easy, this is like free points!)

7) What is Denis's middle name....rachel, i am going to ask you NOT to answer this question since you definatly know...i will give you the point anyway?

8) On average, how many pairs of shoes do i own?

9) What color is most frequet in my wardrobe?

10) What color are my eyes?

11) How many piercings do i have?

12) What date is my wedding anniversary?

13)What kind of car do we own?

14) How many pillows do i have in my living room? (this one is TRICKY!!!)

15) Last but not least...who do you think will win this quiz?

happy quizzing!

need a little help.....

ok, so i know it has been a little while since my last post, but i am telling you, i am at a loss as to what to write about...so i am going to you for help. i am not afraid to admit that i can't come up with something fun on my own. so... what would YOU, my faithful followers, like to hear about. throw some ideas at me and i will pick the best one. we COULD make this a competition. we all love a little competition don't we! :) i know...i am a dork. but really. i need some ideas. rachel is really showing me up and we all know how much i HATE to be out-done by rach! :) hehehe.

be creative

have fun

I'll be back...

Drum Roll Please....

I have been trying to upload these pictures onto this blog for a week now. I almost gave up...but i thought to myself..."self, who are you to keep not only your whitty and entertaining blog from your ever faithful fans, but also your talent of photography..." well...not really. i didn't really say that. i am not THAT full of myself...(insert sarcastic comment from john HERE) So i pressed on and here they are.

Here are just a few pictures of the wedding of Larua and Nole...



I took this picture while Jenny was singing "Meant For You", a song that she wrote for Laura and Amber. There was a perfect reflection in the piano of Laura and Noel lighting the unity candle.



This is a picture of the lovely couple that we took while on the breathtaking estate of a friend of Laura's. It was such a great place to take pictures.



The blushing bride herself...the funny thing..this picture was taken in the bathroom of the church... i was cramped up beside the toilet...



Again, this was taken while on the estate. The water was gross so that is why i made it black and white.



This was taken right after Laura put on her vail. She was one of the most layed back brides i have ever been around. You could just tell that all she wanted to do was enjoy every second of her day. I hope that she did just that.

more pictures...

Here is Eva stealing the show. (Eva is Christopher and Jenny's daughter who just turned 1!!!!) The two women in the background are both of her grandmothers. As you can see Eva was being so silly. Isn't she the CUTEST!!!



This is one of my favorite pictures of the Happy Couple. The sun just makes them glow. I cannot take credit for this picture, this was taken by my talented sister, rachel (congrats on closing on the house babe...i can't wait to see it)



Here she is folks. The living miracle herself. This is Amber and Laura. Her spirits where high and she was smiling and laughing the whole day. I had a hard time forming sentences when I was around her because i was just overwhelmed with emotions. She should be going home for good soon. i have said it so many times before, but God is so faithful....



This is the end of the ceremony and intead of using the stairs off to the side, Noel just jumped off the stage and carried her right off!



Here is the pretty girl once again...and Laura...hehehe. I just love this picture.

I just know that this couple will live happily ever after. Congrats to the happy couple! I hope that you like the pictures!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

I apologize once again to my faithful blog readers...I told you before that I would be keeping up on my blog and I have failed to do so...PLEASE forgive me!!!

So...I don't have one specific thing that i could tell you about, i guess that i just have a whole bunch of random events and thoughts for you this time. Try and keep up...

First, I would like to discuss my TV shows. Contrary to what John might think, i don't get to watch TV very often these days, but when i do my favorites are CSI, American Idol and 24. First, lets talk about American Idol. I would like to start off by saying THANK GOD THAT BRENNA IS GONE! i couldn't stand her... BUT i was VERY sad to see Kevin in the bottom 3 last week. Amy and i were so nervous about him leaving, so he better step it up this week or thursday could get ugly! My favorites this season are Katherine McFee, Ace, and the weird teeth guy...his name is escaping me at the moment. I also like Paris as well AND the bald guy...WOW. he is GOOOOOOOD!
It is hard because even though i really like the show i hardly ever get to see it these days cause i am in class tuesday's and at church on wednesdays....oh well. i still love it. And then we have 24. For all of you fellow 24 fans can i just say THIS SHOW IS GETTING CRAZY!!!! I almost cried on monday...i can't beleive that Edgar is dead...so sad. Too bad it wasn't kim or chloe. I can't stand either of them.... I can't beleive we are only half way through the season....i am on the edge of my seat every week and i hate this waiting....grrrrr.

In other news, i figured out a sure-fire way to get Denis to help me with the cleaning around the house....BABYSIT! yes folks, denis babysat our God son Robbie last night ALL BY HIMSELF! well....the baby slept the ENTIRE time, but still denis was alone for 3 hours with the baby. And the house was spotless and he did most of it. it was AWESOME! and if you saw our house before yesterday, you would say that my house needed a little bit of TLC to say the least! Robbie is cutter than ever and i love him so much, but it is hard cause he loves denis way more than me....maybe it is because denis is black like his daddy, but i am black too....heheheh

Be on the look out for more wedding pictures shot by Rach and I. Rachel is coming up this weekend for a wedding out in Lydonville. The most exciting thing is that Amber will be there. If you get the chance you can visit her blog, ambernesbitt.blogspot.com and see some pictures of her. She is doing so well and she is still a living, breathing miracle of God. I can't wait to see her and talk to her and love on her this weekend.

I have had Parent/Teacher conferences all week her, i have one more day left and i can't wait. They have all gone very well, they are just exhausting...i would rather be with the kids, that is for sure.

Well i think that is all from the homefront. I will try to be more faithful to posting blogs, but i can't make any promises....

Seacrest Out...

oh...there's more!!!

Like i said in my last blog, i am in New Jersey visiting with my good friends christy and ben. If you are also a faithful reader of Rachel's blog, you read recently about rachels trip to NJ as well. And if you recall the title of her blog was " Do you have a Pittsburgh license?" Just to give you some background info on my good ole buddy, I met her while at Roberts. We lived on the same floor our freshman year and even though we didn't hit it off right away, we eventually became inseparable. She attended Roberts for three years then went to RIT for another 2 and then FINALLY graduated with a mechanical engineering degree! So needless to say that Christy has both brains and beauty. BUT now that she is out of school, I fear that her brain power is slowly fading. Let me explain. Well first, as mentioned above, when Rachel was here she asked Rachel if she had a Pittsburgh license, to which Rachel responded, "No...but I have a Pennsylvania license!" exhibit A to christy's brain farts. Exhibit B: Not to long ago, apparently Ben and Christy were in a discussion as to what Chinese or Japanese people liked to be called. Ben assumed oriental, but Christy said Asian. To which Ben thought was silly because there are more than just those 2 countries in Asia, what about India and Russia. Christy then unfortunately responded that Russia wasn't in Asia....so sad. Christy, Russia is like 80% of Asia, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you truly did know that. Exhibit C: Today while on the way to dinner, we were catching up on who is married, who isn't, who is enganged, and all that jazz. We started talking about a friend of ours who just graduated for Regent University in Virginia Beach, where she is still living. After Denis gave her that information, christy then responded " No...I thought that she lived in Virginia.... Oh Christy, Christy, Christy... you are TOO much.

We have had a great time laughing and catching up. She never ceases to make me laugh. And apparently she wasn't too thrilled with her laugh of "face time" in my last update, so Christy, this whole blog was just for you. Now i can stay on as speed dial number 8....(only rach and christy will get that...sorry rach...you just have to be 9)

in the words of my friend christy, peace out!

In the City of Brotherly Love...

Well.....close to it at least! I am actually in Williamstown New Jersey which is about 30 min outside the city. I am relaxing it up at Christy and Ben's beautiful new house. I have been doing alot of nothing and it feels great right now. I am getting over being really sick last week. i honestly don't remember the last time i felt that lousy. But i am feeling much better.

This past weekend I was with Christopher Hopper at a Baptist Youth Retreat down at Watsins Homestead. I has always been one of our favorite weekends as a band. This was our third year there. They are the sweetest bunch of kids and we just adore them. There was about 250 kids there and they were all so ready and hungry for the Lord. We were there from Friday to sunday. Friday i was just feeling real crappy but i did sing, not sure how well, but i did. My ears were plugged from my cold so i can only hope that i hit more right notes than wrong. We as a band didnt have much to do on saturday so we were able to spend alot of down time as a band just acting crazy. I was able to spend time with the most adorable little girl, Evangeline. She was so sweet. She does the cutest thing that jenny calls "squishy face" where she bashes her face up against yours and she wrinkles up her little nose....i just melt. i know that i shouldn't have held her as much as i did since i was sick, but i couldn't NOT! I just love her SOOOOO much.

In other baby news, BOTH my god son and my god daughter are going to be in town next week. so i am really looking forward to going back and seeing them both. Our God daughters name is Jasmin and she lives in Maryland. Her mom is a great friend of ours that used to go to our church. I havent seen her in person yet, just pictures, but she is beautiful. Our God son, little Robbie is coming into town with his mother, Leticia for a while because Leticia's mother is really sick. So Denis and I will be helping out with Robbie alot since leticia is really here to help her mom. We are praying for a miracle because her mom had a bad doctors report... so if you think of it, please pray.

Speaking of miracles, I have an INCREADABLE Amber update. I spoke to Jenny this weekend about her progress and I am still getting chills. Amber is still at St. Mary's Rehabilitation Center getting therepy on her arms and legs. Now let me remind you that the last kat scan that she recieved said she was brain dead....But she is FAR from that. She is moving her arms and her legs and is making great progress with her walking. She is able to go home all day on saturdays. Her memory is fine, she remembers everything before her accident. her short term memory still is suffering, but the doctors say that is normal and that it will recover. The most amazing thing about it all is that if she keeps progressing like this, she might be home in march FOR GOOD! God is SOOOOOO good. I just want to jump up and down right now thinking about it. Her spirits are high and she can't wait to tell the world about how Jesus healed her. I can't wait to see it.

The plan from here is to head to Pittsburg tomorrow to spend some time with Rachel and Mike then rach and i are off to Circle C Ranch to meet up with Jaime for our always fun filled weekend. I am really looking forward to it. BUT i do have one more night with Christy and i am just really enjoying my time with her. I have really missed her.... Christy and Ben have taken great care of us i will be really sad to leave her because i am never sure when i am going to see her again. So to christy, my blog stalker....I love you and I miss you everyday that we are apart. Come and visit soon! You are such an amazing friend I LOVE YOU CHRISTY!!!!

Well until next time....Over and out

"This is me in a nut shell"

I must begin this post by begging for forgiveness from all of my faithful readers. John checked and I haven't posted anything but pictures, updates and quotes since december 1st... So please forgive me for being neglectful and I hope that all of you will continue to support "The life of a Blogger"

I am not even sure where to begin....I think that i will just give you some highlights of the last 2 months. I will try to be brief and put them in categories to help the process along. Here we go!

A few of my favorite things or events:

- I took a trip to my parents house the week before christmas to kind of just unwind and spend some well deserved time with my mommy...yes i said mommy. The only bad thing about the trip was that i was there for my 3 year anniversary! WHOOPS! My bad... and the even bader thing...yes i said bader...denis had to remind me that it was our anniversary! BIGGER WHOOPS! Maybe i will think ahead next year!

- My Favorite Christmas present- my pink ugg boots from my brother! LOVE THEM! I look totally cute in them, right john!

- I was asked to Be little Robbie Tyler's God Mother! YEAH! The next best thing would to be either a mom or an aunt, and the whole mom things ain't happenin' any time soon, so rachel....guess what that means! You might as well start painting a baby room now before you settle in. because Marriage + House = BABY SHIPMAN! (hopefully a girl so we can avoid the whole KEMPER thing again!)

- As you have all been updated on Ambers progess. That has been a HUGE thing these past few months. My faith continues to grow as God continues to heal her. She is getting better everyday physically and emotionally. Please don't stop praying. She still needs a miracle.

- My favorite movie i saw (and i saw a few these past few months!) Was Glory Road. AMAZING! I laughed, cried and cheered like i was really at a basketball game. It is a definate MUST SEE! It will be in my movie collection, that is for sure.


Next Category: Embarassing Moments

Well as mentioned before...embarassing moment #1- FORGETTING MY ANNIVERSARY! I just can't get over it...someday i will make it up to him though.

Embarassing Moment #2- one night denis was out and i missed him, so i thought that i would send him a text message to tell him that. The message went something like this:
"Hey babe...i miss you already. I just want you to come home so we can spend some alone time together...kisses."
...well, being the brillant nursery school teacher that I am, i send it to DEANNA NOT DENIS!!! Similar...yes SO very different...lucky she just thought i was joking around and played along with it. Unless she reads this blog...she will never know that it was truly intended for the other Johnson....lucky i kept the message rated PG!

Embarassing Moment #3- i went to this really fancy dinner/dancing extravaganza the other night. You get all dressed up, eat great food and dance to a great live band. Well i was having one of those "i feel really fat in everything" nights and i couldn't pick a dress....out of all the bridesmaid dresses i have (not rubbing it in rach) i just couldn't pick one. i settled on the red one i wore for robbie and leticia's wedding, cause i just can't go wrong with Red....oh so wrong. It just so happened that Andrea lent her SAME DRESS to another girl and yes folks, we were dressed the same, and to make it worse, she looked better....so sad....and embarssing.

I am sure that i have done more embarrasing things in the last 2 months, but i just can't think of anything else to write. if anyone else would like to contribute, go ahead. I GOT NOTHING TO HIDE!

Next Topic- Regrets

1) Cutting my long beautiful hair....apparently everyone else regrets me doing it as well...at least hair grows, right...

2) Throwing Denis a graduation party

3) Not calling home more...sorry mom

4) Not keeping up with my blog

Moving on- Exciting News

- MY SISTER BOUGHT A HOUSE! i was 70% excited and 30% jealous at first, but now i am more 85%-15%...i can't wait to see it. It is going to be great Rach, i am truly happy for you...and jealous...but mostly happy!

- I found out that some of my favorite cousins are fellow bloggers! i am so excited to be able to check in with them! I wonder if i have anymore friends or family out there in cyber space just waiting for me to find them!!!!

- I may be promoted at my job. Nothing is offical yet, but i have been offered a new position starting in the fall. They are some pretty big shoes to fill, but i will put on my big girl shoes and try my best....wink wink...

- MY HUSBAND GRADUATED!!! he has a religion and philosphy degree. I couldn't have been more proud of him that day...at least i rememberd THAT! I really am a good wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last but not least: Top 12 Goals for 2006...in no particular order

1) Lose 20 pounds. Amy is my work out buddy. We have a wedding to look good for!
2) Call my mom more
3) Be 100% happy for rach and her new house
4) become an Aunt..... hehehehehe
5) See my Grammy and Poppy
6) Try to control my emotions when my brother walks across the stage at graduation... Don't think that is gonna happen though. One can try
7) Try to control my emotions when i walk down the isle and see John stading there and then when Amy comes down the isle...another goal that is desitined to fail. OH WELL
8) Be a better wife...
9) Never miss a 24 episode!!!! Miss one and your done!
10) Be patient as God reveals His plans for Denis and I. This is so hard, but there is nothing else to do but wait
11) Watch Amber be completly healed. All things are possible with Christ!
12) Last, but not least, get pregnent!!!! or at least enjoy trying (Sorry mom)

I promise that i won't wait as long for the next post. LOVE YOU ALL!

AMBER IS TALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish that i could convey my overwhelming emotion right now through this computer screen, but that is just impossible.... But God has continued to work miracle after miracle with Amber! SHE IS TALKING. Here is my latest email from Christopher!

Talk about doctors being baffled! Amber is talking!...well, more like whispering, but the truth of the matter shouldn't be lost on a technicality!


Here's me yelling in an e-mail:


HHHHAALLLLEEEEELLLLLUUUUJJJJJAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!


I have never heard so many friends whoop and holler over the phone before!


Yesterday the speech therapist held her finger over Amber's tracheotomy opening and started asking her a few questions. To everyone's amazement, Amber responded, with words, and everything was accurate! Here's a partial list of her dialog with the therapist:


"Amber, where is the last place you remember being?"
"Pittsford." (Rochester)


"What year was it?"
"2005."


"Who is in the room?"
"Mommy, Amy, Bubbles (nickname for Aunt Rene)." (And more people when they entered, all correct).


What's this?" (Holding up fruit)
"Banana, orange, etc. (more fruit)."


[Business voice]: Amber will be accepting speaking ministry invitations shortly. (And if we're lucky enough, Jenny and I may be asked to lead worship for her meetings once a year!) ;)


What needs to be stressed here is that the "communication/speech" part of her brain received most of the damage, along with the brain stem. Given the 0% chance of recovery from the coma, if she were ever to wake up and partially recover, this area would "never function again." In other words, she'd never speak. Need I say more?


Staff from St. Mary's Rehab Center in Rochester also visited her yesterday and said that it is still too soon to transfer her, but she would headed their way shortly.


Elation is an understatement...and gratitude as well. Many tears have been flowing among the family and friends since the news made it's rounds yesterday. And we continue to pray and trust God for complete healing. Amber is now out of the ICU and on the 5th floor, completely skipping a "normal stop" on the 6th floor. She is His Miracle. All the glory goes to Jesus, it's clear.


Please rejoice with us! And may your faith be lifted for not only Amber's wellness, but for those who are sick in your own midst. Please stand with us to the end! We covet your prayers. And given the extent that I now realize these little e-mails go to around the world, I could never thank everyone...though I'll be sure to in glory.


And last but not least, the doctors have scheduled another MRI...


...of course.


C.


Christopher Hopper


SO it looks like she will soon be going to a rehabilitation center soon. Continue to pray for her and her family. Our prayers are making a difference!!!

Amber Update

Last week i recieved an update from Christopher and Amber had two more cat-scans done and they looked worse than the original ones. The doctors said they continued to stand beside their report that there was no way that amber would ever recover and ever do anything on her own. As you read in my previous blog about Amber, she was already beginning to show signs of recovering. They were very small steps but steps none-the-less. Yet the doctors still took her off her pain medication because she wouldn't ever feel the pain anyway. Well they were wrong. She is beginning to react to pain and she is even opening her eyes and following people as she moves. This truly is a miracle in the process. I just go a second email from Christopher and this is what it said

A very quick update as Jenny and I just got out of church and are on
our way down to Rochester. On Thursday Amber received a
tracheotomy...and on Friday around 2pm she started to breath on her
own, WELL above the ventilator! PRAISE GOD! This in itself a major
miracle as the doctors said this was simply "impossible." But as our
senior pastor stated this morning (during a sermon on believing ALL
of the Bible which includes the miraculous power of God for healing),
"I won't be content until she sits up and walks out of that place!"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! Wow! Please don't stop! This girl and her
family are a testimony to the whole floor at the hospital!

Blessings and much gratitude,

C.

Christopher Hopper


I truly beleive that God is going to do amazing things. My faith level is rising everyday and i am hopeful that Amber WILL recieve her miracle. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Also Amber and her family need a financial miracle. Amber has NO health insurance. The finacial burden that will be on that family is heartbreaking to think about. But i will rest in knowing that my God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He WILL make a way where there seems to be know way. You can still leave messages on www.ambernesbitt.com. I beleive that she will be able to read them someday.

my be-fri in the b-lo

This is for kelly and anthony...i wish that i saw you more often than i do, but i always enjoy the great times that we do have together!

Here are a few of my favorite memories with kelly and anthony:

Playing card/board games. Even though anthony has yet to finish a game that i play with him because he always QUITS, i still enjoy watching him try and cheat and then get mad when we catch him. Of couse playing with kelly is always fun when she yells at you for making stupid moves and then gloats when she is winning...what a blast...FARKLE!

WATCHING ANTHONY DANCE! For those of you who haven't seen him bust a move, you are MISSING OUT! that boys got moves you've never seen! HA! Just ask denis, he put on a special performace just for him the other day. HILARIOUS! one of the funniest things i have ever layed my eyes on. I just wish i would have seen the dance competion between him and kelly...kelly does take a hip hip class and apparently has taken dance lessons before that too...from what i remember i am not quite sure if that is true...is it kelly...

SHOPPING! it is what we do best, right kelly! We went to old navy the other day and we were waiting by the windows for heather to check out and there was anthony, huffing his hot breath on the window and writing GAP into the little hot breath cloud. SO FUNNY! apparently he is a big GAP fan...not old navy...WOOPS

Anthony has crazy one liners too, like : "why do you hate me, bye" "don't touch the hands, these are the money makers baby" "yeah i am gonna cry and why don't i change my own diaper while i am at it" and one of my favorite stories, "mom, i asked a boy for his phone number today and he said no" kelly: "what grade was he in" Anthony: " i don't know...what grade are you in when you are 14?" (for all of you who don't know, anthony is 7!!!! what a cutie

I would have to say that kelly is one of the funniest people i know, and my funny i mean FREAKING HYSTERICAL! I love her to death and anthony too. did i mention that anthony is kelly's son...well he is. I love you both very much and i can't wait to see you again.

Amber

Some of you may know that recently a good friend of mine was in a terrible car accident. Her name is amber. She is currently in the Burn and Trama unit of Strong Memorial hospital where she has been since November 15th. She has suffered major head trama after hitting a tree with her car the night of the terrible ice storm. I just recently recieved an email from christopher, ambers brother in law, with the latest update, this is what it said:


On Tuesday the 27th, the two top neuro-surgeons in the northeast met
with my wife's parents to tell them that Amber's condition had
deteriorated so much so that they gave here a 0% chance of recovery;
0% of ever coming out of the coma once the narcaotics were lifted,
and if for some reason she were to actually wake up, a 0% chance of
ever regaining any cognitive or physical control of her body. The
damage to the brain stem and cortex was so severe, they termed her
condition a "complete brain disconnect"; not even reflex response
could be recovered (twitching to stimuli, yawning, etc.).

But faith has been SO high in the family, and with over 25 countries
(at least that we know of) praying for her, in addition to all the
words spoken over Amber in the past that have simply no come to pass
in her life yet, we have no choice but to believe for a miracle. The
news actually did something the enemy didn't count on: it increased
our resolve. It took this completely out of the hands of man, of
doctors, a system, and placed the weight solely on Jesus.

Really, nothing has changed in us; we were praying for a miracle
before and we are still praying for a miracle!

They pulled Amber off ALL her drugs, pain killers included, because
she simply "doesn't need them because she can't feel anything
anyway." That's when things started to happen just yesterday...

She started to move her legs and feet and fingers, even squeezing my
mother in law's hands when she asked, "Do you love your mommy?" Her
eyes have been twitching and she's been yawning. Jenny lifted Amber's
eye lid and when Amber saw Jenny, huge tears streamed down her face.

The behavior has obviously befuddled the doctors and, truly, they
have been speechless. They gave her a second CAT scan Thursday night,
and scheduled an MRI for last night. They aren't saying anything to
my folks right now, honestly because they really don't know what's
going on. But we do...at least in part.

We're just taking these things for what they are and trusting the
Lord, trying our best not to "read into" anything and letting God be
Himself. But certainly something is happening and today should be an
even bigger day for Amber. We know that God has already made His
decision concerning her healing 2,000 years ago.

Dozens of visitors continue to flock to the waiting lounge and e-
mails have flooded my computer. Jenny and I took two days back home
just to rest and clear our heads, back to the hospital last night.

You may wish to leave Amber a note on a blog page we created for her:

http://ambernesbitt.blogspot.com/

Blessings!

C.

Christopher Hopper


Please, if you get the chance, leave a message on her blog, even if you don't know her, pray for her recovery. I am believing for a miracle and my faith is increasing everyday. I truly believe that this isn't all the Lord has for Amber. I will continue to keep you all updated with her condition. Please pray for her family as well. it has been an increadably hard holiday for them. Thank you all for your prayers, I know that they will make a difference.