Hurt

I guess that I really want the world to just stop- my daughter has died. Why is it a beautiful, warm day? Why are the birds singing? The schools, banks, shopping malls are open and life is just going on. Why doesn't it all stop for a bit while I hurt so bad?

Thank you All

Dear Readers,
Thank you all for your prayers, calls, help to Juan and the kids. I SO appreciated everything. Thank you all.
I am home, really tired, but home!
My daughter" L" and I still need your prayers as we now try to take care of the things that get left ed behind. Please pray for my beautiful granddaughter "C". She is precious. Please pray for "L" whole family as they all go thru so many changes in their lives.
Blessings, Pam

Home for Good

Pam is home. Exhausted of course, but home none-the-less. Thank you so much to her "sisters" in the OBX, that took her in and babied her for a couple of days. Unfortunately, it was too cold/windy for them to sit on the beach, so they took advantage of a great clearance sale at Belks. ;o) Thank you so much to my sister for sending us a Honey Baked ham & a carrot cake. It lasted through 2 great meals and still had left overs for a soup.

Thank you all again for your prayers. May the Lord bless each of you with peace, strength and wisdom.

My two oldest daughters made me so proud. They stepped in for Mom without hesitation. Cooking, doing laundry, and getting the "little ones" off to school. All the kids worked together as Team Johnson. Mom didn't have to come home to a disaster. (A sure sign of great mom)

Love from a greatful husband and father
Juan

Jesus & The Passover

Today, we went to church and there was a guest speaker. I'm terrible with names, so I'm not going to even pretend to remember. He was however a joyous blessing to listen to . He is a Messianic Jew, who is a missionary to Jews (JewsforJesus.org). The subject was the passover meal that Jews celebrate (The Seder), and the meal that Jesus celebrated just before he gave his life for me/us. He told us all the significance of each element of the meal, and all of the actions involved. He had samples of just about everything that would be involved in the meal, as he was explaining it. The neatest part is how he was able to show how things pointed to the Lord Jesus.

For some reason, I always find it a blessing when I meet a practicing Jew and a double blessing when I meet a Messianic Jew. I guess it's a triple blessing when I get to sit and listen to one tell of how the they love the Lord Jesus and how they are being lead to lead other's to His salvation.

It reminds me to pray for salvation for "The Branch" that was taken out so that we could be grafted in.

Mommie's Home!!

I met Pam, (L) & (C) outside of Richmond and brought her home this morning.
She was absolutely spent. Her good good girlfriends from OBX came and got her this afternoon to go spend the weekend in decompression. A few days of nothing to do, no where to go, and all day to get it done is what this doctor (Dr. J) ordered. The OBX is the best place...surrounded by loving friends, a calm environment a peaceful ocean and sandy beaches. I'll go get her Saturday after soccer practices.

Thank you to all of you for all of your prayers and all of your kind words of encouragement.
Without a Christian family, this would be maddening.

God bless all of you.

Coming Home

Pam, (L), & (C) are on the road heading home.
Please continue to pray for traveling mercies for them.
It's a 3 day trip.

Latest Update

Pam and (L) are with our granddaughter(C). The "neighbor" actually turns out to be a cousin of Heather's boyfriend and the cousin's wife. Pam got to meet some other relatives as well. Pam and L are working on going through Heather's things (sorting, prioritizing, etc) A person's sudden death leaves so much guess work behind. It's mentally and emotionally exhausting trying to maintain your calm and composure while grieving over the loss of your child. I am so thankful to Jesus that (L) was able to be there with Pam.

(L) is to take custody of (C), this was in Heather's will, so it wasn't a decision they needed to make. Thankfully, (C) is in agreement with this as well. For some reason she didn't want to be swallowed up in the Johnson Clan to be one of 8 kids. Can you imagine that? (C) & (L) are fairly close as aunt and niece already, so the transition should be "relatively smooth" over the course of time.

They will be using Heather's car and will driving back, so please pray for traveling mercies for them. I'll probably have to meet them somewhere to pick up Pam. I'll let you all know when that is to be.

She's gone.

Our daughter, Heather passed away this morning around 10:00am. She was 36yrs old, and leaves behind her 14 year old daughter, and her loving family.

Please continue to pray for Pam as she is on her way to Dallas. Pray also for our granddaughter and our other daughter (L) who is also on her way to Dallas.

PLEASE PRAY

This is an emergency request for prayer.

Our oldest adult daughter is in the hospital and on life support at this very second. The doctors are doing everything they can to keep her alive.

Please pray for
Mercy, Peace, Wisdom and Strength.
Traveling mercies for Pam and our other adult daughter (L) as they travel to Dallas this morning.
The doctors, nurses, and techs at the hospital in Dallas Texas
Our granddaughter who is with a neighbor friend right now.
Bless this neighbor friend for being there and stepping in for us.

Thank you for praying with and for us.

Good Food

Here is a chicken recipe that my kids LOVE-- all of them love this WOW!!
And it is easy to make:

BAKED CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI

1 egg
1 Tbs water
3/4 teas salt
1/8 teas pepper
1 cup dry bread crumbs
4 boneless skinless chicken breast
4 Tbs olive oil
5 med zucchini - sliced
4 med tomatoes -- sliced
1 cup mozzarella cheese
2 teas minced fresh basil

In small bowl, beat egg, water and 1/2 teas salt and pepper. Set aside 2 Tbs bread crumbs. Place the remaining bread crumbs in a large resealable plastic bag. Dip chicken in the egg mixture, then place in bag and shake to coat. In skillet cook chicken in 2 Tbs oil for 2 to 3 minutes on each side (or until golden brown ) Remove from skillet and set aside. In the same skillet saute the zucchini in the remaining oil until crisp, tender; drain. Transfer the zucchini into a greased 13x9x2 baking dish. Sprinkle the reserved bread crumbs on top of the zucchini, top with the tomatoes slices; Sprinkle 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the basil and remaining salt. Top with the chicken. Cover and bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle the remaining cheese on chicken and bake for 10 minutes longer (or until cheese is melted.
Yield- 4 servings.

First time I made this, I did just what it calls for here-- the 2 time, I added yellow squash to the zucchini and I used a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes instead of the fresh tomatoes. For my family, I double this recipe and use the amount of chicken to feed 9 of us-- I also use the frozen chicken tender- instead of the whole breast. (that works well for my smaller kids.)

Another recipe that we like and is easy to do--

ASIAN CHICKEN AND NOODLES

2 cups water
1 pkg chicken flavor Ramen noodles (3 oz side)
1 pkg ( 16 oz ) frozen broccoli, carrots, and water chestnuts
1 Tbs oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast--cut into strips
1/4 cup prepared stir fry cooking sauce

Bring water to a boil in large saucepan. Add noodles and frozen veggies, reserving the seasoning packet from the noodles. Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain. Meanwhile, heat oil in skillet, add chicken; cook and stir until lightly browned; about 8 minutes. Stir in noodles, veggies, stir fry sauce and the seasoning packet; heat trough.
Yield- 4 servings

I doubled this and made 4 packs of the romen noodles. Again, I used chicken tenders instead of breasts- have to cut in strips anyway!!

Kids love both of these.

Hey girlfriends- sorry you forgot these yesterday!! but here they are! love you both!
Thank you for the girls day shopping!

Blessings, Pam