Chris's 50th Birthday Party

A few weeks ago we were invited to an absolutely wonderful birthday party for our friend Chris Godreau.  There was great food, great friends, a live band, a jam session and swimming.  We are so grateful that we got to enjoy this celebration.  

Chris and the band - they were all awesome!

The lovely Carla and Dude

Larry and Julie

Mike and Carole

Carole and I

David and I

Victoria swam for the 3 1/2 hours we were at the party

This is the same group we went canoeing with last year and they love to have fun.  Happy Birthday Chris!  We hope this year is your best and the years after just get better!

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Jacksonville Zoo: Garden Festival and Plant Sale May 18

Garden Festival & Plant Sale

Date: May 18

Event Information:

9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Members Only

10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. General Admission

Event Pricing:

Zoo Members: $3 adults/$2 children

General Festival Admission: $4 adults/$3 children – PLUS, when you show your festival ticket, get $1 off on Zoo admission if you visit the park on the day of the event.

Details:

Don’t miss the inaugural Garden Festival & Plant Sale! Join us at the Garden Tent outside of the zoo grounds (back left hand corner as you drive in) for a fun-filled day of outdoor entertainment. Spend your Saturday listening to great music surrounded by good food, drinks and beautiful plants!

Purchase unique plants and garden related items from over 30 vendors from throughout Florida.

Enjoy demonstrations from horticulture experts.

Participate in fun children’s craft activities from MOCA and the Zoo.

Enjoy entertainment from local bands like Grandpa’s Cough Medicine and Grimm White Steed.

Indulge in fine cuisine from popular area food trucks On the Fly and Super Food Truck, as well as other delicious festival foods and fresh-squeezed lemonade!

Treat yourself to a cold beer hand-crafted by Bold City Brewery and Intuition Ale Works.

This looks to be a really fun way to spend a Saturday!  If you want more information click here.

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A Time Apart 2013

Our awesome home school co-op, River City Homeschool Adventures, went on an amazing retreat this past weekend to Cape San Blas, Florida.  We were southwest of Tallahassee on a cape that juts out into the Gulf of Mexico giving us the option of beach side or bay side beach time. 

We were toward the end of the cape on the left, 1/2 mile before the St. Joseph State Park

The weather was a little chilly so most of my time was spent walking the beaches, wading out at least 1/4 of a mile in the bay and finding amazing marine and land life!  We saw sea urchins, whelks, conchs, starfish, lightning whelk egg cases and so much more.  The scalloping season starts here in July.

Wading into the bay

Cactus flower

Sea urchin test

This place truly separated us from the world, we had to drive many miles to get to a store so our time was spent talking, visiting, sitting in the jacuzzi, eating, walking, enjoying nature, enjoying each other's company and laughing until it hurt.  This group of women amaze me and I love them all.  They are Real!  No pretenses, no falsehood, they are beautiful gifts from God with hearts of gold and a love for God and family and this world that makes being with them a joy.

Heather and Leanne on my favorite beach

A beautiful and very windy sunset

The sea urchins would cover themselves with shells.  We thought this one looked like he had put on a face: eyes, mustache, crazy hat 

Conch

Kim and I, we had waded about 1/4 mile out into the water , never over our knees and then back up to ankle depth

Our finds - the top middle is some kind of vertebrae - very cool!

Our group at dinner

Another sunset over the bay

This is like a big beach mouse or rat, don't know which but they were everywhere.

The house we stayed in 

Another great find

The colors and beauty were breathtaking.

If you are ever looking to get away from it all and just be and explore, this would be the place to go.  Thank you Christie and Heather for giving us this gift of time apart from our loved ones, to connect with God and each other, to encourage and pray for each other and to grow in Christ and come home refreshed and ready to love!

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Whirlwind of Activities at the Johnston Home - End of School Year Fun

I can't believe that it has been almost two weeks since I last blogged, however with all of the activities going on, I really didn't know where to start or know where to find the time.  Here are some pictures of our last few weeks:

Judi's birthday dinner at Carmines Pie House in Riverside - great food, great ambience and great friends!

Her cake presentation was wonderful and delicious

Music and Poetry and the Jacksonville Sympony Coffee Series 

Spring Banquet with our totally awesome homeschool co-op - this is the Jr. CSI class board

Victoria with her end of the year certificate

Victoria's Spring Piano Recital  with Orchard Kingdom she did a wonderful job and played America the Beautiful

After all of this we decided we needed a rest at Disney - not really a rest - just fun!

 Sombreros in Mexico

Gotta love EPCOT!  The flower displays were gorgeous.

Animal Kingdom

A determined Buzz Light Year team

A great day at Magic Kingdom - it did not rain on us until we were about to leave and then it poured.



We stayed at the Disney's All Star Music Resort - great food, fun pool, late night swimming, convenient room, the only downside was no jacuzzi and my feet sure needed one by the end of a Disney day.

After all of this it is time for a vacation from our vacation.  I haven't downloaded the pictures from RCHA's wonderful play last night, Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince    it was wonderful!

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My Personal Reading Challenge

I have purchased some books that I have really been wanting to read and I they cover different aspects of my life that I would love to improve or just enjoy.  Here's my current list:

Rekindling the Romance by, Dennis Rainey -

This is one David and I purchased years ago and I would really love it if David would read it when I am done to open some discussion.  Don't know if that will happen but I think it would be a blessing.  This book is for all couples looking to lead a Godly, romantic, exciting married life together at all times of your marriage.

So far it points out that after the initial passion, children, family and outside activities become very draining and we really need to be purposeful with:  first - our relationship with God and second, our spouse - all other things, including children, come after.  This can be a challenge, especially for homeschool moms or really any moms as our hearts are geared to love and give to our younger ones.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by, John C. Maxwell

MoneySavingMom.com had this book on her reading list a few years ago and I feel that leadership is such an important aspect of our lives.  There are many skills that I would like to improve and some I just have no idea how to handle.  Hoping this book will inspire creativity in blessing those around me.

Satisfy My Thirsty Soul For I Am Desperate For Your Presence by, Linda Darrow

Need I really say more - this is how my soul feels for God, for I am desperate for His Constant and Eternal Presence!  Really looking forward to reading this book.

The Hounds of Baskerville by, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I am excited to read a Sherlock Holmes mystery.  This will be a classic!

My goal is to finish each and move on to the next.  I seem to pick up books and read a bit and then read something else.  Once again, I need to be diligent about reading two chapters a day and trying to finish the book within the month.  So, I hope to have these finished by the end of summer.

  I think it looks very well rounded, spiritual, marriage, business and a classic.  I have been hearing a lot about the book, Wheat Belly and I may pick that one up also along with Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts.


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Spring is in the Air

We have spent the day working hard on getting our yard in shape.  There are no before pictures...it was scary, but after 8 hours of work we have a lovely yard again.

The last of our azalea blooms - they were so beautiful this year

Our back yard with our orange tree and a raised bed - we have broccoli, onion, potatos, brussel sprouts and collards

The tomato seedlings are doing well but the peppers and basil are not.  Some squash is growing out of  the pots that had compost soil.  Hopefully they will make it this time.

Potatoes, mint and rosemary

David made me a raised bed for the side yard - I want to plant tomatoes, basil, peppers, corn , squash and beans - Hope it will all fit.

Victoria and I like to sit out here to read during the days, it's very peaceful

I bought and planted this fig tree to replace the one that died.

You can't see it well, but there is an apple tree and a dogwood (very little stick- like tree), the new raised bed and another orange tree

Trimmed back a lot of this but we have a little lemon tree, 5 blue berry bushes, some knockout roses and  other plants in a front bed.  I would love more color, but resisted buying flowers and decided to try to propogate sweet potato vine, cactus (ground cover) and rosemary

Hope this spring and summer yields a bounty

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