The Johnson Family Update » celebrations

After the party was the after party.

Maria — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:20:23 +0000

OK. Not quite, but on Sunday, I went to church with my Grandma (and uncle’s family). After church, we had lunch at Grandma’s. It was VERY tasty, as is the norm, and we had a lot of fun. The Boy was entertaining, and right before dad was to blow out his candles, his phone rang. It was my sister, so he answered it. We snapped some pictures, because dad can’t go anywhere without his cell phone, and we all had a little giggle.

After The Boy napped, it was time to play with balloons and Magic Nuudles.

Monday morning, we chilled with dad and then drove off to the airport where we ate and hung out while our flight was delayed. One trip down… one to go.

You know you’re a mom when…

Maria — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:57:00 +0000

…you wrapped all the presents, carefully placed them under the tree, and then forget that you stuck your present from your parents up in the tree days before so The Boy wouldn’t find it and rip the package to shreds before Christmas. Yes, 1:54 PM on December 27th, I opened the one and only present for me under the tree. LOL! (The presents from my mom were opened as they arrived.)

Thanks Dad and Sheri! I am going to spend it in the next few days and will let you know what I got!

Oh my! He’s two!!!

Maria — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:01:00 +0000

Honestly, I cannot believe it. There were times when I thought he would never grow up, and there were times when I thought he was growing up too quickly. He can be a real shocker.

Day 1

2 years (almost)

Getting closer

Maria — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:06:00 +0000

The tree is up. I bought non-shatter plastic bulbs to prevent any major accidents with The Boy. I’ll save all the ornaments I’ve collected for another year. I still think it looks good.

Happy Hour

Maria — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:19:00 +0000

A little while back I mentioned that I went to Happy Hour with some friends to celebrate a deceased friend’s birthday. Here are some pictures.

Today something special happened.

Maria — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:51:00 +0000

Last week, I received my annual Salem Historical Church Christmas letter. For several days it sat unopened on my table. Each day I would come home and say to myself that I need to open and read the letter. Today I finally did it, and I was amazed at all of the memories and sense of nostalgia that came over me. The church on the hill has come to mean more to me than I ever thought it would, and this little church connects me to a past, to people, that I can only know by words and photos. Each year, the letter brings a little piece of our history to the forefront of our minds.

The church is visible from my Grandparent’s picture window in the living room, and through the seasons, you can see the church sitting on the hill mostly quiet. Yet there are days when the people of Salem come together to remember our past. The bell tolls. There is ample food, and the older generations tell stories.

This year’s letter speaks of the recently restored bell tower and bell. Mr. Miller writes of the inscription– “Komm Komm bet an.” (He translates it Come come pray on. I would interpret it as simply “Come. Come pray.” Maybe my German readers can offer insight? My German certainly is not perfect, and the inscription doesn’t appear to be perfect either.) The words are simple, and their reminder is also simple. And yet, as the bell tolls for this year’s celebration, I will once again be absent, but the calling is clear…the reminder is clear.

No matter where I am or what I am doing, my ties to the past can never be severed. My German ancestors live on– the people of Salem live on– reminding us of our roots. Perhaps these memories…this heritage… is why I feel such a strong attachment to Germany. Perhaps this is why I am so comfortable there. It is my home in more ways than one. Sure, things have changed, but the beginning of it all is still the same. On the 22nd, many will gather to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus just as our ancestors had done through the years.

The fact that the church is still standing and vibrant is a constant reminder to all those around of the perseverance of our ancestors…and our friends. Many people, including members of my own family, have worked hard to restore and preserver the church, and I hope the church stands and the bell tolls for another 110 years.

Froehe Weihnachten Salem.