Rainy Day Friends

This past Sunday we witnessed something pretty rare here in Central Texas – rain.  Not the crazy, act-a-fool kind of rain we usually get, but a nice long, slow, saturating rain.  It was exactly what we needed and we thank the Lord for it.

During the day, while Jack, Madi and I lazed around the house {watching TV and playing scrabble} we saw several hummingbirds paying visits to our flower beds in the front yard; zooming around from flower to flower.  We picked and planted most of our plants specifically to draw in hummingbirds and butterflies, so I’m always super happy to see them come and enjoy our flowers!   Our most popular plants amongst the hummingbirds are our Turk’s Cap plants. 

As you can see, these interesting Texas natives have bright red blooms {a hummingbird’s favor color!}, and a tubular shape perfect for the hummingbirds beak. 

I’ve seen them feeding from the plants a lot, but I’ve never seen them frequent it so many times – especially in the middle of the day.   I don’t know, maybe they felt a little more brave than usual since it was a cloudy/overcast day.  Whatever the reason, I enjoyed watching them as much as they enjoyed the Turk’s Cap! 

*Just a note:  You may notice the tiny black lines on each photo – that is from the window screen.  Each photo, with the exception of the first, was taken through our window; through the glass and the screen.  So, needless to say, I’m thrilled with how lovely they turned out!

Pflugerville Meet | 9.14.12

Early this morning I made the one hour drive to Pflugerville, Texas to cheer on Madison during the Pflugerville cross country meet.   If nothing has ever shown Madi the depths of my love for her – this certainly should!   I am really uncomfortable driving in or around cities and I have zero sense of direction.  So, for me to drive to Pflugerville, in the dark, alone, near the city of Austin and all of its horrible traffic, without a GPS {thanks to the person who stole it from my husband’s bag at the airport a few weeks ago! }, in the torrential rain, is huge!   HUGE!   But, I was determined to see her run and determined for her to hear at least one voice in the crowd cheering for her! 

Since it’s been raining pretty much non-stop for 24 hours around here, the course, which was a muddy mess, was shorted to 2 miles.  It rained the whole time the XC teams were there. It didn’t seem to faze the runners much, but I had a hard time dealing with it because it was nearly impossible to hold an umbrella and take pictures at the same time!  So anyway, here are a few picture of our girl taken earlier this morning during her 4th High School XC meet of the season!

This one’s a little out of focus thanks to the whole umbrella holding fiasco.





Yep, it’s your crazy ol’ Momma over here; trying to hold the umbrella, take pictures and cheer for you at the same time! Aren't you the lucky one?!

Sprinting at the end!  That’s our girl!   

You can’t really see her, but Madi crossed the finish with a time of 16:08 – which is a whole minute and 41 seconds faster than her last 2 mile time!!

Madi just continues to amaze us!  Her hard work is paying off every week during these meets and I'm just so glad I get the chance to see it!  Madi, you make this Momma so proud and you are so very worth the hour long anxiety filled drive! ;)

Midway Meet | Sept. 7, 2012

Madi ran in the third high school cross country meet of the season this morning.  This meet was in Midway, Texas, about an hour from Belton. 

Unfortunately, Madi started experiencing some pain {potentially a muscle strain} in her left calf yesterday afternoon which was still present this morning before and during the run.  So, this morning’s 5K run was particularly brutal for her. 

Poor thing - you can see that she’s in pain from the look on her face.

However, even with the injury, Madi improved her best 5K time by 56 seconds! Her new best time is now 29:26. Here she is heading to the finish line…

She was sad after the meet because she felt like she could've done better.  She actually cried out of frustration – that’s a first!  She’s usually happy with whatever; just an easy goin’ “I’m just here for the ride” kinda kid.  But, today was different.  Her attitude sifted and for the first time ever {even throughout all of her swimming years} I saw a spark of competitiveness in her.   And if I’m being honest, I’m happy to see it.  I love her sweet, kind, carefree attitude and I don’t like to ever see her cry, but when someone works as hard at something as she does at XC, then they should feel emotion about it – good or bad.  And plus, being competitive helps motivate and drive athletes to do their very best.   Today, I think Madi did her best – even though she had an injury, she improved her 5K time by almost a minute!  That’s just fantastic!

Pick your head up, Madi!  We’re so proud of you!  You’re training so hard; putting in so much time
and effort and though you may not think so, it shows – little by little you are improving; getting faster and faster, better and better!   Be proud of yourself - you are an inspiration!  We love you - bummed leg and all!!



Wordless{ish} Wednesday | Forgotten Photos

I'm being a little lazy with this post because I just don’t have time to be super creative today.  I have too many irons in the fire right now, but I wanted to post something  for Wordless{ish} Wednesday. 

So, I made a collage with photos that I took last year but never posted.  As a matter of fact, I had completely forgotten about them because they were loaded onto my daughter’s computer back when my computer was in the shop last summer.  I hadn’t seen them since I loaded them, but when I ran across them earlier this week I figured today would be the perfect day to share them.  J Hope you enjoy.

A Zinnia, a Damselfly, a Monarch & a bloom on a 'Lemon Queen' Sunflower plant.  All of which were taken
in our back yard last summer.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday | Backyard Blooms

Today in my backyard.

MoonPie and RC Cola | A Sweet Southern Treat!



Holy cow were these babies good! 



Father’s Day is always a difficult time for me as far as gift giving goes.  I have a father who is extremely hard to buy for.  He has just about everything and even if he didn’t, he would never admit to wanting anything.  I guess most men are that way – especially Dads.   Anyway, as Father’s Day began to come into focus this year, I was at a complete loss as to what to get him.

Well, thank goodness for Pinterest because it totally saved my bacon this year! About a week or so before Father’s Day, I was browsing through pins on pinterest when I ran across a link to a recipe for homemade MoonPies!  Homemade MoonPies??! How absolutely awesome is that?!  So anyway, as soon as I saw that link, I knew that that was it – that was the golden ticket!

I have so many wonderful childhood memories of my Dad, my sisters, MoonPies and RC cola! We lived in Alabama back when I was a kid and on the weekends, my Dad would let us girls {me and my two sisters} walk to the store {about a mile round trip} and buy MoonPies and RC Cola {because you just can’t eat a MoonPie without an RC Cola!}.  And sometimes, we would get to have boiled peanuts {which is my all-time favorite southern treat!!} and RC cola instead - it just depended on my Dads mood, I guess.   It was a special treat for us girls – a treat that my sisters and I would sometimes have to arm wrestle our Dad for.  Even though it was the three of us against his one arm, we never won; he was as strong as a bull {and still is, mind you!}, but he wasn’t a mean bull, he was a gentle one and even though my sister’s and I didn’t win, he’d usually give in and let us get MoonPies or boiled peanuts anyway.   

So, thanks to Pinterest, I had my gift idea – MoonPies, RC Cola and salted peanuts {for dumping into his RC Cola, of course!}. By the way, I had to go with salted peanuts rather than a bag of boiled peanuts because, believe it or not, in Texas where I live, boiled peanuts are pretty much unheard of - crazy, I know!  So anyway, I was totally psyched about this gift -  I knew that my Dad would be delighted with a nostalgic gift such as this!

Madi was also pretty excited! She couldn’t wait to get started and I was so thankful for her help because, turns out, these babies aren’t that easy to make – well, sorta easy, but really time consuming.  But!!  Boy, were they worth it – the finished product tasted just like the store bought, sweet southern treat I’ve enjoyed so many times before!  

Marshmellow filling  - sorry for the poor quality photo, I took it with my blasted cell phone.

MoonPies before they were dipped in chocolate!

Another shot of the MoonPie, pre-chocolate coating.

 MoonPies after being dipped in chocolate - another cell phone shot, sorry.

Madi and I wrapped them up and placed labels on each. 

  Dad's gift basket completed!

Because we hadn't seen my Mom since before Mother's Day {they were gone to Savannah, GA for a few months} we weren't able to give her her gift until the same day we gave Dad his Father's Day gift - July 19th.  Mom's gift was ALSO a pinterest find!  I modge podged a photo of my her and my Dad to  an 11' x 14" canvas.  It turned out pretty good; it almost looked like a painting rather than a photo.

Jack giving Dad his gift basket.

Dad - not really sure what it's about just yet.

He's eyesight ain't what it used to be. Lol!  It took him a minute to figure out what the labels said - I think the one he picked up just said "Happy Father's Day", so he had to pick up another one ...

NOW he's figured it out!   I love his reaction here - his big ol' smile!  It says it all and makes me :) big!

Wordless{ish} Wednesday | Thistle

The Thistle

In a patch of baked earth

At the crumbled cliff's brink,

Where the parching of August

Has cracked a long chink,

Against the blue void

Of still sea and sky
Stands single a thistle

Tall, tarnished, and dry.

Frayed leaves, spotted brown,

Head hoary and torn

Was ever a weed
Upon earth so forlorn,

So solemnly gazed on

By the sun in his sheen

That prints in long shadow

Its raggedness lean?

From the sky comes no laughter,
From earth not a moan.

Erect stands the thistle,

Its seeds abroad blown

-Robert Laurence Binyon



From a Swimmer to a Runner

I officially withdrew Madison from Swim Belton today.  I can honestly say that after 3+ years of swimming, her Dad and I are a little sad to see it come to an end.  But, at the same time, we are very happy and very proud of her for the new direction she is taking in sports - Cross Country.  Going from a swimmer to a runner hasn’t been easy so far, but with our encouragement, Madi’s running is getting better with each passing week.  We just pray that Cross Country is good to her {as long as she’s putting in the effort, we’re sure it will be} and that she finds what she is hoping for in the sport.

One of my favorite swim photos of Madi.  I’ll miss watching this girl swim – especially that nice butterfly stroke she has!

Madison:  We love you and we are proud of you no matter what you choose to do in life.  As you know, one of our rules is that - if you choose it, follow through with it.  I know we push you pretty hard and expect a lot from you, but I want you to know that we do it for YOU!  We do it, not only so that you learn to dedicate yourself to something and work hard at it, but also so that you learn integrity – the importance of following through with the commitments you make in life.

Cross Country was a choice you made {a huge twist in the Johnston’s game of life}, but it’s one that involves our whole family because you need {for now} to be pushed.  You need constant supervision so that you put in the work/miles.  I’m pretty sure that one day running will become something you want to do, not something you have to do because we make you. But, until that day, just know that your Dad and I will be right beside you; supporting you {first and foremost}, encouraging you, pushing you, and yes, sometimes downright yelling at you in frustration because we know you can push harder!  But, also know this; that we’ll be doing all these things because we care about you, we love you and we want to see you succeed in everything you choose to do in life.

Madi's Summer Break | The First Four Weeks, in Pictures.

We’re already a month into Madi’s summer break, which is just C R A A A A Z Y. Time is flying!  

I’m having such a great time with my mini me and I’m pretty sure she feels the same way.  We do almost everything together and have enjoyed our summer together so far!  Of course, our summer together would not be possible if it weren’t for Jack/Dad; he works hard so that I can stay home and just BE with Madi.  It’s all thanks to him that this is possible, which is a real blessing to Madi and I.  Jack/Dad is a real blessing to us!
Summer break started on June 1^st and for the first few days, Madi just vegged out.  Well, I guess I did a little veg’ing too.  :)  We watched movies and ate a lot of popcorn.  However, on June 4, we started our summer exercise routine, which basically consists of running. Lots of running.  I know, it sounds so wrong that I make my child go running during her summer break {her grandparents are feeling super sorry for her, let me tell you!}, but we’re doing this for Madi; to help her prepare for the upcoming Cross Country season.   It’s a choice she made at the end of the school year – to not continue swimming {btw, her last day was June 21 though I haven't withdrew her from it just yet} and to join the High School Cross Country team. She’s a swimmer, not a runner, so our number one goal this summer is to help her become a runner.


So, Madi’s Dad and I have been running with her  early in the mornings {at 6:30 because otherwise it is just too hot!} and in addition to the running she’s attending the High School Workouts three times a week.   It sounds like a lot for a 14 year old, who’s on summer vacation, and I’ll admit, it is.  But, she’s doing really great and most of the time {not always} she does it without complaint.  And, the best part is that she’s getting SO much better at running with each passing day!  For example, when we started running on June 4, she was only running a little over a mile before having to stop and walk.  Today, she is running 4 miles with NO walking breaks!  That is a fantastic improvement in just four weeks of training.  Also, she has dropped 2 minutes off her 5k time.  So, she’s working super hard and we are very proud of her hard work and of all the improvements she has made so far! There’s no telling what she’ll be doing by the end of summer!

Our summer hasn’t just consisted of running though; we’ve been able to have some fun too!  Because I want Madi to be able to look back on this time in her life, I’ve tried to take pictures and document the things she and I do together {along with her Dad when he is not working} and I plan to share them here on our blog throughout the summer for her sake and future reference.

I missed a few things here and there, but for the most part, this is the first four weeks of Madi’s summer vacation in pictures.

A rainbow or halo around the sun - Madi spotted this on our way to her Grandparents house, June 3, 2012



Madi and Sammy during our visit with her grandparents on June 3, 2012.

Watching her Dad practice his fly fishing skills - June 3, 2012

Madi's first ever High School Cross Country practice with the team & couch - June 5, 2012 *Madi had Cross Country Practice twice a week with her Cross Country team, but that was only for the first three weeks of summer.  It will pick back up in August.

Madi after her first High School Cross Country Practice on June 5, 2012. 
She was worn out!!

 Carly and Madison goofing around on the kiddy playground during our trip to Salado, Texas - June 6, 2012.

Poor donkey {or horse??}!  In Salado, Tx, June 6, 2012

 During our walk through the town of Salado, we walked past "The Inn at Salado" which is a beautiful historic bed and breakfast.  This picture hardly does it justice and was taken in the back of the Inn.  This is where most weddings take place and before we decided on Hawaii, Jack and I were thinking of getting married right there under that big oak tree.   June 6, 2012. 

Madi and I taking getting out of the sun near the Salado Creek. Thanks to Carly who took a picture, I have a picture of Madi and I from this day! June 6, 2012.

 

Madi, always the little cut-up! 

Madi and Carly - Salado, Tx on June 6, 2012.

That's better, Madi!

Carly, Bella and Madi watching "The Woman in Black" with Jack and I.   June 6, 2012.

The following are all pictures taken on June 7, 2012 during our {what we like to call} "Historical Marker Drive".  Madi and I have done it since she was a baby, it's just where we drive around looking for historical markers and learn about the history of the places around us.

Moffats Cemetery in Temple, Texas

 The Coryell County Courthouse.  It has a historical marker, but I don't have a picture of it.

Adamsville, Tx


Stanley Walker historical marker on the west side of US 281 in north Lampasas county.

 We stopped for a late lunch at "The County Seat Restaurant" in Lampasas, Texas

The bea-u-tiful Lampasas County Courthouse.

Hughes' Springs - off US 190 East of Lampasas.

Battle Branch historical marker, just entering Lampasas.  This marker is named for an event in the Horrell-Higgins Feud in 1877.  It's like the Hatfield's and McCoy's, but on a much, much smaller scale!

The Ogletree Stagestop and Post Office - A really, really neat old place in Copperas Cove, Texas.

That’s the end of the Historical Marker Drive pictures.  Now, the following pictures are from Madi and Carly’s day of tubing with Johnny Dad on June 8, 2012.

Madi and Carly tubing together. This was Carly's first time tubing and she did great!

Just Carly

Just Madi.

Madi pointing out a bird to me - LOL, she knows me too well!  :)  However, I didn't get a good picture of it. Boo.

 My girl.

 This is my favorite picture from this day - it perfectly sums up these two; always laughing, always smiling, always fun!

Madi helping her Granddad.

Olive Garden in Temple, Texas on June 9, 2012 - Madi took this picture of her Dad and I, but didn't want one of herself. 







Madi's first day of High School Workouts - June 11, 2012.  Workouts will last all summer long.

One of the small projects we worked on together for Madi's room - June 15, 2012.

We went to Crystal Lake the weekend of Father's Day.  This is one of my favorite pictures of Madi during our visit. Taken June 16, 2012

Another photo from Crystal Lake on June 16, 2012.  Madi, her Dad, Cami {her Grandma}, Jackson {with his feet in the air} & Johnny Dad {her Granddad}.

Madi being a HUGE help in the kitchen!  Making MoonPies for her Papa on June 18, 2012.

The MoonPies Madi and I made together for Papa for Father's Day! June 18, 2012.
 Madi and I hung out with her Dad and Bella - watching them do some fly fishing at Miller Springs on June 19, 2012.

 Madi - dog sitting for our neighbor and good friend, Brenda.   These to cuties are Rusty {the tan one with the HILARIOUS face} & Baloo.   June 21, 2012

Hanging out with Jason for a short time on June 25, 2012.  : )

6am comes mighty early and Madi needs a little boost most mornings before her run. So, Madi tried her first cup of Coffee on June 26, 2012 before our morning run.

 Our weekly treat - Starbucks frappe's!  We enjoyed these two on June 28, 2012 while taking a break from shopping.

Masks! Some fun, some freaky!  Pier 1 Imports -  June 28, 2012. Fun stuff!

 Madi helped me bake again on June 30,2012.  We made Coconut Petits Cakes for Cami's Birthday!

Madi giving Cami one of her gifts - June 30, 2012.