Sunday, February 21st

So today was a busy day for the Johnsons of Old Bridge. On most Sundays we go to church as a family. Some Sundays Daddy has to preach or teach, but today was different because Daddy had to preach twice and teach Sunday School. On a day like today we had to get up like it was a normal work day to make it to church on time.

This was no ordinary Sunday either. Mommy is fighting a bad toothache and the week prior still has Daddy a bit tired. Nevertheless we continued on by the grace of God. We got to church for the 8AM Men's Worship Service and Daddy preached about Keeping Your Focus. Once we were done we hurried along to Ma's house so Daddy could get some fuel in the form of oatmeal. Then, we got back in the truck and headed back down to the church for Sunday School. No one showed up but did that stop C.J.'s daddy? No it did not. Daddy taught Mommy a lesson about the transfiguration, which was quite educational to us both. Then finally it was time for the 11AM Worship Service. The people trickled in, but by the end of service, a good crowd was in church. Daddy preached about Making that Change and even referenced Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror song. C.J. finally got the chance to meet two of Daddy's close friends, Calvin and DeCarlo, who came to hear a word from God through Daddy.

You would think that we would have had enough but not us. We quickly went to Ma's house again, changed clothes and gobbled down some grub. We were in a hurry to get to the bowling alley to meet up with our Harper Family for some good old fashioned bowling. Daddy did not have such a great game today, maybe because he was exhausted. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it!

It was a busy day for us but C.J. and Daddy and Mommy, with her toothache, fought the good fight but the day fought back because Daddy, for one, was really tired. C.J., who did not take many naps, was awake for some reason. It was funny at one point. Daddy was knocked out and C.J. was playing on the bed...not to worry she was safe and secure though (as shady as it may seem).

So it was a busy day but as usual the Lord made a way and brought us through. We got our worship on and we had some family fun! So in all today was a good day. So as you lay down please do not forget to pray because I say it every night and I mentioned it in church today. Prayer changes things, people, and situations!

It's Party Time

What a busy day for Daddy and C.J. I will provide a few highlights and then get to bed. We have a packed day starting at 5:30am tomorrow as well. C.J. cried from when I got on the parkway until Exit 135. We had to make a stop and as soon as she saw my face she stopped crying.

C.J. had a piece of birthday cake at her cousin's first birthday party. (OK, it was not a piece but a crumb) It was at McDonald's and her goodie bag was filled with baby food. She also got a cool shirt with her cousin's picture on it. The only problem was that it was pink. They tried to get C.J. to take a picture but she was not having any of that. We came back home and watched the end of the Kentucky versus Vanderbilt basketball game.

I do apologize for the quick post tonight but Daddy needs to lay down and C.J. is already sleep. I will not leave before I remind you to always pray because prayer changes things, people and situations. Oh yeah, I forgot C.J. wore a birthday hat too!

Daddy Daycare 101

Though rare, C.J. and Daddy get to hang out together. Tomorrow will be one of those days. With the day looming just a few hours away, Daddy needed to prepare so he could have the most productive day possible. It began with Mommy giving C.J. a bath and getting her to bed early. As some of you may know, on Friday nights, C.J. usually gets to stay up as long as she wants or until Daddy feels like putting her to bed. While Mommy was with C.J., Daddy began the process of preparing the traveling diaper bags. Daddy found back up outfits, packed the diapers, changing pad, bibs, pampers and her trusty teething ring and basketball. Mommy came and put the food in the bag, so now C.J. is all set to rock and roll.

So when Daddy takes C.J. out, everything needs to be done strategically. She must be fed at the right time so when we get in the car we can get to the destination all while C.J. is sleeping peacefully. Having to pull over to tend to her would make the trip very, very long. The proper music must be played at the right volume so it does not get her excited, but rather keeps her calm. Usually when we arrive to our point of destination C.J. is still asleep and has to be awaken. The biggest piece to Daddy and C.J. going out together is the diaper change. To be honest I think I would do the changing in my truck. The bathroom facilities never seem appealing, and I still am in search of the answer to this question. What bathroom does Daddy take C.J. to? I know it sounds crazy but I need that answer badly folks.

So Daddy really wanted to match C.J. with her Kobe's tomorrow but for $140 to $160 he has decided to not be his Princess' twin just yet. Tomorrow will be her first birthday party. We will see how this all goes. Mommy is not joining us but she needs some time alone to rest anyway. You can all rest assured that I will have pics of her in a party hat though. She will also get to get a crumb of birthday cake. If she is going to the party, she has to go all in!

So as you pray tonight, send one up for Daddy and C.J. We anticipate a great fun filled day together. So have a great night and remember we pray because prayer changes things, people and situations!

A Praying Baby

I know I mentioned this before but today I have to share with you again that C.J. is a praying baby. As you know on Thursday nights Daddy bathes, prays with and reads to C.J. Today the reading was Roman 6:15-23. Daddy has to prepare a sermon for Sunday and the Lord has led him to work with that scriptural lesson. So when I cracked open the good word CJ began to grab at it. I had to hold her back because I did not want her to tear Daddy's bible. I am going to go with that she was very eager to get into the word. That is my story and I am sticking with it.

The highlight of Daddy bath time used to be when C.J. would kick and splash water all over the place. These days the highlight is when I ask C.J. to pray, she begins to make utterances. Today she even looked up to the Lord which means she is growing in her prayer life.

Daddy enjoys praying with C.J. more and more each time they pause to communicate with God. We pray for an open relationship, respect, a strong bond, love and family. These things will help develop the father/daughter relationship and help each of us to grow. Prayer will take us a long way! So you all continue to pray because prayer changes things, situations and people.

NOTE TO C.J.: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Just a Poem Tonight

Now usually I have a lot to say, but today, nothing too interesting went on other than C.J. sleeping through getting dressed and not drinking her bottle on the car ride to the sitter. C.J. and I were apart more than we were together. We did manage to get some tummy time in together, but then Daddy had to go down to the church for service and it was magnificent! So as I leave you today, always remember to pray because prayer changes things, situation and people. I will also leave a poem for C.J.

A Black Woman, Nothing Else

By Annie Ruth

There used to be a time when
I was ashamed of my skin.
I received tormenting jokes
from all of my friends.

Of course it wasn't done
to make me feel this way
But being black gave me much dismay.

"African, charcoal, Black Baby",
I would hear
But no one even noticed or knew
That I had silent tears.

Those names became nicknames and
I'd hear them everyday at school
‘Cause when I was young and growing up
I'd play by my peers rules.


One day when I was still young
My father left us all
And married a white woman
Who beckoned his every call.

I was really ashamed of my skin then,
I thought it was very bad,
I thought the white woman had something
Which I could never have.

But one day when I was still young
I met a black lady darker than I was,
She cherished and boasted that her
Color was a gift from above.

She told me that I was beautiful -
Something no one had ever done.
She said, "your skin is
So black and smooth-
Which shows the perfecting of the sun".

She said, "To match the pretty black skin
Your teeth are white as snow
And I'm sure that you will show them
Everywhere that you go".

Everyday she would tell me this
And her words began to spread.
They came from other people
I never even met.

The words of my friends changed to,
"Let me feel your face

And let me see you grin"-
For sister, you are beautiful-
Be proud of the color of your skin.

Now, I'm not ashamed of my skin
Though obstacles it may bring.
I proclaim to the world that I am
A Black Woman, the element of spring.

I blossom with happiness
And pride within myself
For I am A Black Woman
And I wish to be nothing else.

Feast of Cakes

Now we do not do the whole Fat Tuesday thing but tonight we had a lot of cake. Daddy's Valentines Day cakes finally got here for his leading ladies and the one we tasted tonight was simply marvelous. The message on C.J.'s cake read, "Daddy Loves Princess C.J.". She is now officially one year in on Valentine's gifts. Now it is time to start thinking about her birthday present...we shall see what the end of that journey brings to C.J.

I had to drop something off to the babysitter today and I love my Princess so much that I did not want to see her. I felt that if I saw her I would want to take her with me and I could not today. So I let her stay with the sitter for the rest of the day.

So now that I have tried a new cake maker I have someone to gauge from. Her cakes for C.J. are great and C.J. smiled when I showed them to her. That means my day was a success! So now as we embark upon the journey of Lenten season I solicit your prayers as during this time we get more intimate with God. We know that when we pray people, things and situations are changed.

NOTE TO C.J.: When you take a trip make sure that you are able to get home. Today Daddy almost got into a situation where he would have been stranded. (OK I got a flat tire on the turnpike and had no spare) BUT GOD, allowed us to safely reach a service station and then they took us to get a tire. GOD is truly worthy of all my PRAISE!

Time Flies

I learned a long time ago that there are 24 hours in a day. I also learned that you work a third of that day and another third should be spent asleep. So if my math is correct (please check me because math is not my strong point) that should leave 8 hours to remain unaccounted for in a day. At least that is for normal people. For C.J.'s Daddy you can split that in half because up to four hours a day are spent commuting from home to work and from work back home. So now four hours what to do with it? How is it spent? I wish I could bank it all up and save it to create an extra day to the week but I can not. So I have to use it as best as I can. No matter what I do it seems that I never have enough time.

Today I left the house late. All because I spent a half hour envying Mommy and C.J. because they did not have to go to work or the sitter today. They actually observed the federal holiday set aside to honor our Presidents. Let me use the strong language I wanted to use...I was straight jealous. I really hate that I could not spend another day with them because I really enjoy their company, no matter how much they fuss and fight with me.

So today because Daddy got to work late he arrived home late. He had no time to play with C.J. but he did get to sit and talk to her for a bit before it was bath time. He much rather his eight-to-three o'clock hours better. This allows him time to play and relax with his Princess.

You all know that I learn a lot from the students I work with on a daily basis and today was no exception. Today I witnessed a father learn from his daughter information that really broke his heart. I saw a daughter broken into pieces because she felt she had let her dad down. I also saw how a father reassured his daughter that he always loves her and that nothing she does could stop that. He gave her words of wisdom and lessons on life today that he had once told her but needed to reiterate. As I sat in my seat I could not say a word. All I could hear was C.J., all I saw was C.J. The dad did say he would pray for me and I appreciate it. Immediately when I came home I asked C.J. not to take me through so much pain. The reality is that life will be part of her educational process. So with that will come ups and downs, good times and bad times. Heartaches, headaches and pain but the beauty is that there will be smiles, laughs and love to outweigh it all.

So tonight as I pray for strength and an open and honest relationship with my daughter, you all continue to pray too. We all know that prayer changes things, situations and people.