hot shower

As I mentioned in our last post, we went white water rafting and camping yesterday and had the best time ever! However, I don't think I am alone in saying that when you sit by a campfire all night, are covered in bug spray, and sleep, well literally outside, you feel a little nasty. I was incredibly thankful today for the wonderful, long, hot shower I took as soon as I got home!

the "brothers"

I didn't post yesterday because we were white water rafting and then camping with a bunch of Richie's friends and their significant others (which included my best friend Jenna! Yay!) I am thankful that I get along so well with "the brothers" (and yes, our girl group is the sistas which then makes up "the family") and consider each of them to be one of my best friends as well. Special shout of to Tommy who is a follower of my blog and one of the brothers! :)

phone = entertainment

I am thankful for my phone for providing me with entertainment while I wait on my car at the shop!

Big Brother!

I'm not typically a huge reality show fan, but Richie and I love the show Big Brother. I am thankful for the nights in summer when my hubby and I watch this show together and try and decide who we want to go home, etc!

lobster mac and cheese

Last night, Richie and I went to our favorite restaurant for our anniversary dinner- Capital Grille. Besides the delicious steaks, the best thing there is the lobster mac and cheese. We of course split that and then brought the leftovers home so I just had to have it for lunch! Mmmmm good!

P.S. Has anyone noticed how often I'm thankful for food?? Goodness gracious!

"you're every line, you're evey word, you're everything"

July 26, 2008 was without a doubt, the best day of my life.  My dad walked me down the aisle and I proudly became Mrs. Richard Allan Johnson, Jr.  In exactly one hour, Richie and I will have been happily married for three years.  :) For today's post, I am going to write about what I am most thankful for; my marriage.

 Growing up, I was always that little girl who dreamed of her wedding- in fact, there are many pictures of me in a dress up bride to prove it.  My wedding was absolute perfection- everything that I had dreamed of and more.  However, the real fairy tale came after and is what I am lucky enough to live every day.

 I loved my husband more than anything as we said our vows, but over the past three years I am amazed to say that was just the beginning.  The true intimacy of marriage is what makes that love totally different than any kind of love I have ever experienced.  I know everything about him and even his imperfections make me love him more.  When we got married, we went with the traditional vows, but now that we have been married for a few years, these are my new vows. :)

I vow to be the best wife I can be to you.  I will always make your favorite, pot roast, as soon as it begins to get cold out and will keep tomatoes and mushrooms out if your servings of food as much as possible.  I promise not to nag you too much when you leave your socks in the chair (as long as your pick them up!) I will always leave your side of the bed slightly untucked so your feet don't feel claustrophobic.  I promise to entertain your golf habit and eat your delicious bbq every time you make it! I vow to not tease you when you play online games with Stuart (not too much at least!) I promise to share Wrigley duties with you.  I vow to stand behind you wherever your job may take or lead you and always be proud of you. I will start a family with you and raise them in a loving, Christian home.  I promise to love you more and more every single day.

I love you more than I could ever express.  Happy anniversary!!

Nana

My nana has one of the sweetest hearts if anyone I know. She is a wonderful, Christian woman and has always been an inspiration and role model for me over the years. I have watched her as she loved her husband, my Papaw, and her children and grandchildren my whole life. She selflessly cared for my papaw as she got sick because she would do anything in the world for her loved ones. Some of my best memories growing up are of Nana telling me stories. I would constantly say, "Nana, tell me a story." and she would make up the greatest stories anytime I would ask. Our joke used to be that she would start the story with the character having one name but by the end the name would always have changed and I would always have to remind her if he real name. :) Nana also used to so patiently play grocery store and school and dolls and whatever else popped into my head that I wanted to do and never would tell me no or say she was too busy. I am so blessed to have grown up with such a loving, caring Nana and I am thankful for her each and every day!

Folks Folly

While we were in Memphis, my nana took us to a famous steak house in Memphis, Folks Folly. That restaurant was my Papaw's favorite restaurant so we have spent many, many dinners there. When I think of Folks Folly, I think of their delicious caramel cake, the pimento cheese and chicken salad Nana and Papaw would pick up for us, ordering steak and lobster at 10 because I mentioned I wanted to try lobster so Papaw insisted I order it, delicious food, and family time. I am thankful not just for the yummy food but for all the wonderful memories I have whenever I walk in there.

Griffins plus one newbie :)

Wow, I am way behind on my posts! Going out of town always seems to get me behind! The next three posts will be Saturday, Sunday, and today! (Not necessarily in a particular order; just three things I have been thankful for over the past few days)
If you read my blog, you know I was in Memphis this past weekend. I mentioned we went to visit family, but it was especially to meet our newest family member- Ellee Grace Griffin! I am very close to all of the Griffins- Uncle Skip, Aunt Carla, and my cousins Brock, Lindsey, and Kelsey. We used to live about 2 streets away from them when we lived in Memphis and my cousin Lindsey and I were inseparable growing up. Now that we live in Atlanta and they are still in Memphis(Lindsey and her husband Jared are in Portland and we missed seeing them this weekend!!, we look forward so much to the times we get to see them! I had the best time with them and loved getting to meet the newest member, Brock and Grace's precious baby, Ellee! She is so adorable and anyone else that wanted to hold her pretty much had to fight me off to do so! :) I am very thankful for the entire Griffin clan and love and miss them all very much!

Memphis BBQ

So, I forgot to blog again yesterday...oops! As I said in my last post, we are in Memphis visiting family! If you don't know, I was born in Memphis and lived here until I was 7 which is when we moved to Atlanta. Most of my extended family still lives here, so we still come back quite a lot to visit. One of the things we always do when we come to Memphis is eat BBQ!! Last night we went to Rendezvous with my family (mom, dad, Robbie, Laura, Richie , and me), my cousins Brock and Kelsey, and Aunt Carla and Uncle Skip. I had the absolute yummiest ribs ever last night (which is what Rendezvous is famous for)! Soooooooooo yummy and I am thankful for the delicious Memphis BBQ we always eat when we are in town!

airplanes

We just arrived in Memphis to visit with family and I am very thankful for the airplane that turned our 8 hour at ride into an hour flight!

Kickball!

Since today is Wednesday, we had our kickball game tonight! We play with a great group of people that are friends with one person on the team or another from various ways and places. If you know me, you know that is one of my favorite types of groups- my bible study is comprised of that and any time Rich and I have cookouts, it usually is that way as well. You know everyone will get along because there is a reason they are friends with one of the others and to me it is just a great way to meet and make new friends! Today I am thankful for our fun kickball team! We have the best time at our games and then always go out to eat afterwards which is such a blast!

Cooking class!

I am thankful for the cooking class I took with my mom tonight at Harrys! It was so much fun with delicious food and now I have the recipes to make at home! Richie will be thankful for that! :)

Feeling better...

I just posted about what I was thankful for yesterday and almost forgot about today! I am thankful to be starting to feel better! :)  Have a nice night y'all!

Bit Bit

I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday because I was very sick...so sick that I had to miss Britney Spears- can you believe it??!  So, today I am thankful for my best friend Brittany who took care of me yesterday and ran around getting me gingerale, medicine, etc!

Brittany and I have been best friends since our freshmen year in college where we met as new little Phi Mu's at Auburn.  In case you've never met her, here is a picture of us!


Some people think we look alike; what do you think? :)



Brittany is one of those people who just makes you happy when you are with her.  She is so silly and crazy and funny and I always have the best time ever when I am with her.  We have had many silly moments together from college adventures to our "background story" for when people ask if we are twins- which, yes Bryn and Jenna, happens a lot! But for the laughing, singing, and just being wild together that we do, she is also the person I turn to when I need to talk or am upset, and she has been for the nine years I have know her. She was my maid of honor in my wedding and I know that we will be best friends until we are old and grey, having our grandkids grab us a "Mich Ulch" and reminiscing...probably with some Britney Spears on in the background!  She is one of those once in a lifetime friends (how lucky am I to have a whole circle of those??) and I am thankful each and every day to have that beautiful, fabulous girl as my best friend!  I love you Bit Bit!!!





I love this picture someone took at my wedding! 



life...

It's easy to forget how precious and short life is until tragedy hits.  Yesterday, a friend of mine from high school (who was married to a guy I grew up down the street from and am still good friends with his sister) was shot and killed yesterday in a complete random act of violence.  My heart is just so heavy and hurting from the news and I can't imagine what her family is going through, especially her sweet, young husband.  It's in times like these that you want to question and ask why, but we need to turn our hearts to God for healing instead. 
I had to do my two memory verses last night (I missed July 1 verse!) and these two spoke to me...  "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give it to you. Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 
I know He is with her family and friends at this time and we can continue to pray for their healing and for justice for the man who did this.

Today I am thankful for life.  Whatever stage of it you currently are in, take a moment today to be thankful for the wonderful life you have been given. 

morning off!

I am thankful to have had the morning off from nannying today. I slept in late, did yoga, then had some cereal and enjoyed my coffee! Not much better than a nice, leisurely morning. Now I am off to pick the boy I watch up from camp! Happy Friday everyone!

I scream, you scream...

We all scream for ice cream! Today I am thankful for ice cream...Mcdonalds ice cream cones to be specific! One of my absolute favorite treats is ice cream- especially on a summer night. MMMMMMMM!!!

Score!!!

So, we are on a kickball league this summer that started a few weeks ago.  Since I have been on trips the past two weeks, I had to miss the first couple of games so tonight was my first one of the season.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not exactly the most athletic or coordinated person, so needless to say I was a little nervous about playing an organized sport.  However, I scored a run tonight which is what I am thankful for today! :)

sushi and wine

I got home from dinner with friends last night and went straight to bed and forgot to blog!So, yesterday I was thankful for delicious sushi and white wine- and for sitting on a patio with good friends while enjoying it! :)

wildlife

I am thankful that even though I live in Metro Atlanta, there is still wildlife around me.  Today as I was driving the kids I nanny to various places I saw 5 bunnies and 2 deer darting across a parking lot.  For some reason, seeing those animals makes me smile. :)

Catch Up!

While I was on my girls trip this weekend, the Internet on my phone was so slow which is why I didnt blog! So here are 4 things I am thankful for to make up for it!
I am thankful for delicious, fresh seafood which we ate lots of on our trip.
I am thankful for water parks and acting like a kid at them. We went to Big Kahunas in Destin and had the best time ever. Our favorite was a ride you went down on a double tube and it went so fast in a closed slide to where you felt like you were going to flip over! We appropriately dubbed it The Divas Double Ride!
I am thankful for times that you laugh until you literally are crying. We did a whole lot of that this weekend especially with loving Titanic and mustard attacks and so much more.
Last, I am thankful for having too much fun to blog!

Girls Trip!

I am thankful to be heading out on a girls trip!  Tonight, Bryn and I are heading to Montgomery to stay with Brittany and tomorrow morning the three of us and Stephanie are heading to Sandestin!  Can't wait!!

Anna Lee's

I am thankful for my favorite lunch place, Anna Lee's. It is the best place that I used to work at during the summer and is soooo yummy! My mom and I went to lunch there today and it is always such a treat to go because they are only open during the week for lunch. Today I had gazbacho, chicken salad pita, and the best thing there- coconut cake! I'm already looking forward to the next time I go!

God bless America

Today I am thankful for the wonderful country we live in and for our freedom! I'm proud to be an American.

Off to the pool, with a full cooler and good friends! Happy 4th everyone!

pizza, pizza

I am thankful for delicious, yummy pizza! (Especially the Greek pizza I had today!) There's just something about melty cheese that I can't resist! MMMMMMM :)

Who is totally craving pizza now??

my in-laws

I am thankful for my wonderful in-laws for taking us on such a fabulous trip! It was so gorgeous and we had the best time! Thanks!! :)

moments with you

I am thankful for a moment I had today. Richie and I went by Baracudas this afternoon and set looking out over the beach and had a beer and had a moment just us sitting there talking. It was one of those perfect moments in life- sitting staring at the most beautiful ocean, nice salty breeze, and my sweet honey sitting there with me. Sounds like a country song waiting to happen. :)

*ten points for anyone who gets the song reference in the title!