random tuesday.

I haven't posted in a while because most of the time I feel that my day-to-day life is bland. We are pretty normal in the Johnson home! But I liked the way that Kayla summed it all up on her blog, so I thought I would give it a try also. 

Loving: How close Eric and I have gotten. Our one year anniversary is soon and we've been reminiscing about the past year and how our marriage and ourselves have changed. It's so fun having a best friend to do everything with. 

Working: I am working on personally improving my health. I can honestly say it's been great, but it is hard. I admit cutting out the delicious pizza and tacos is tough. But since working out every morning for the past month, I can tell such a difference in how I feel when I put good things in my body. When it comes to exercising I'm starting to feel addicted to the feeling after a great workout and I love the results. There is a race coming up mid-June. I'd have to get on top of training. I'm considering signing up for the 10k or Half-marathon. But it makes me so nervous to commit! Ahhh, what are your experiences? 

Cooking: We made this chicken taco soup in the crockpot. Goodness. It was so good and Eric's asking when we can make it again. 

Experiencing: Shopping for a DSLR camera. We've been researching! I want to know what you have, why you like it and what you know about canon and nikon. This is a camera we'll have for many years!

Listening to: A lot of my recent favorite songs are on my Running play list. Check out "Hurricane" by MisterWives. 

A little sad at: The Walking Dead. Any other fans out there? I wasn't a fan until a year ago, I admit. At that time I was able to watch seasons 1-4. That's a LOT. I guess when season 5 started I had to get used to the pace of the show slowing way down. Sometimes I wanted it to pick up more. Now this season is over! Ohhh that season finale. What did you think?

Wasting time: Netflix. Always netflix. This time it's Revenge. Most of the time we laugh at the crazy people in that show and wonder when her cover will be blown. 

Looking forward to: GENERAL CONFERENCE. I love that the General Women's Meeting is held the weekend before. It was so great and it get's me in the mood even more for general conference weekend. This weekend we'll be staying home and it'll be relaxing and filled with listening to the messages of inspiration and guidance.

Obsessed with: Curling my hair. I haven't curled it in forever and I've done it almost every day this last week. I go through phases of everything with my hair. Five-six months ago I was so tired of it being long, so I cut it all off at the very beginning on the year. It's already grown a ton... But now I'm really missing my long hair! 

Appreciating: My sister who has been waking up with me every morning to meet me at the gym to workout together. 

Laughing at: Eric using Pinterest. He get's on it and finds the funniest memes and jokes!

Excited: This past week we made exciting plans that are happening very soon. I mean, it involves Texas so it has to be exciting! I have to keep quite just a little longer. 

Grateful for: My Savior and this time of year to reflect on Easter and remember that He lives. This past Sunday I was teaching the Easter lesson to my primary class of four year olds. First of all, I am grateful for them. They teach and show me so much every Sunday. I love each of them. In class we were talking about Jesus Christ's life and recalling what we know and have learned so far, his birth, childhood, baptism, teachings and the people he helped and healed. We talked about what the word "wicked" meant and there were some mean and angry people who didn't want Jesus Christ to live. There is one girl who has the most tender heart. She was upset when we talked about Christ's death and the crucifixion. I admit I was getting really worried. I pushed through the lesson talking about his burial in the tomb stone. All of the other kids were fascinated by the pictures and their eyes were glued to them, but she wouldn't look at them. I watched her excitement grow and attitude change when I taught them that after 3 days he was resurrected. That today He lives. And because of the first resurrection we can all be resurrected and live forever with our family, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. 

daylight savings kicked our ends.

Did anyone else way over sleep Sunday? I'm ashamed to say... we slept in until 11:30. But oh goodness it was amazing! But this morning we've been feeling sicky and that's been no fun. But did you know it's National Nap day? So I guess this laziness is justifiable. yeah.. no? Whatever :)

Recently we've been exploring the things the campus has to offer. We discovered theres Roller Skating! I mean, when's the last time I did that? It was so fun. More like have Eric drag me around + dodge as many people as you can before taking a kid out. It was also really funny sitting on the sides and just watching that happen to other people.... 

Next, I want to go to Latin dance night they offer. Seriously though, the school campus offers so much. Last month we saw Vocal Point perform for about $10 and we've run into the Piano guys around town when they've been here performing. Where else are we going to get these opportunities?  Gotta take advantage of them!

photos on the wall.

At the start of the new year I finally hung things on our bare walls!
There was a pile of frames, that Eric kept asking about, on the floor for far too long.
I had so many things to hang up,
but where did I want to put it? How did I want to organize it on the wall?
I was sure I was going to screw it up! haha Creating a photo wall is intimidating right??
 So I kept putting it off.
I guess I kept thinking Eric would help me out ha.
One Saturday I got to work with hammers and nails and just went at it.
My attempt at our "photo wall" turned out lots better that I was expecting
and it's my favorite part of our home!

My home feels complete when pictures and photos of special times of our lives hang on the wall.
 I love the daily sight. I love as the day passes by quickly,
I can stop and glance at a picture of the Savior, of my love, my family miles away memories. 

journaling.

I wouldn't call this blog as my personal journal. I like having this blog to feel and be creative and share things for friends and family who follow along who we don't see enough of. It's nice to come here and focus on the good, the happy, to remind myself how fortunate we are or how far we've come when I look back on post. That we are truly happy with our life and who we are. 

But I've recently been feeling like it's not enough. I was given this beautiful journal as a high school graduation gift. Along with it was a note from the family about documenting my memories in college. 

Today, when I open that book the first thing it says is "I have completed my first semester of college!"

End.

The next line says "Soooo.. I completed my second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth semester of college. I graduated. And I'm married now."

End.

You get the idea. I have been horrible at keeping my own private, personal journal. 

I have had quite a few journals growing up. I had stopped after those awkward, embarrassing middle school years. But I started another journal when Eric and I started dating (age 16) and I'm SO glad that I did. But when he left on his mission, and I to college, all journal writing ceased. I'm not sure why. 

"People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful

 and nobody would be interested in what they have done. 

But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and 

records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration

 to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, 

and others, on through the generations."

-President Spencer W. Kimball, December 1980

I certainly feel like 95% of my life is "uninteresting" or not special enough to record for others. But there is the other 5% that is packed full of life lessons and experiences that I want my future family to be able to learn from and maybe inspire them to keep a record for themselves and others. 

So this is kind of me saying, out loud, I'm going to become better and focus on my personal journal writing because I am realizing it is so, so important. Your personal journal can contain your true self. It can include your triumphs, challenges, adversity, testimony and deep thoughts. 

"Your journal is your autobiography, 

so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, 

and there may be incidents in your experience 

that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way

 than those recorded in any other life"

-President Spencer W. Kimball, December 1980