Sherri

Sherri has been married for 24 years and has a 21 year old daughter and a 18 year old son. She loves to read, write, spend time with family and friends, play in the ocean and ride roller coasters. She loves roasting marshmallows, eating chocolate, and indulging in a banana split every now and then.

‘Tis the Season to Be…

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for a Happy Wife, Habits for life, Heavenly Habits, Holiday Habits No Responses »

Dec 132012

…Jolly…Ready for fun…Busy…Crazy…Worn out…

Or ’tis it the season to be Blessed…Thankful…Loved…Cherished…?

With the holidays upon us, many of us face crazy days of shopping, maybe a little traveling to see family members, and more than likely church events, musicals and plays to fill our evenings. The month of December can be over and done with before you even have time to get your tree decorated and the wrapped gifts placed under it.

Many families struggle at this time of year because they don’t have the resources to provide their loved ones with presents under the tree or a buffet of seasonal foods. They may not be able to travel to visit family members far away or may be estranged from certain family members. This can be a tough time of year for those who have lost loved ones in recent days or years, as my family has.

For many years, the Holidays have been my most dreaded time of the year for a variety of reasons. But I have recently begun to feel change occurring in me. I’m actually looking forward to the year end happenings.

When we pause and remember the reason for the holidays, we open our hearts and minds to receive the best gift of all. Jesus came so that we would have life and have it abundantly. He is more precious than silver and gold so He is more of a gift than anything that is wrapped under the tree. The bread and wine/juice we partake of in communion is more delicious than any Holiday ham or turkey and more satisfying than Grandma’s apple pie or Aunt Mary’s chocolate cake and more thirst-quenching than the latest trendy hot tea. He is closer than a brother and time spent with Him makes even the best family gathering seem like a day spent in jail.

When you find yourself dreading the next day in this season because you’ve got too much to do to get ready for your next holiday event, remember the babe that was born in Bethlehem so long ago and how He gave His all to others while here on earth.

But don’t forget…even He needed a break every now and then. Even He slipped away from the crowd and had to say “No” to the demands of the people. He took time to rest and to pray. He kept His relationship with His Father first and foremost in His life.

Peace be to you during this holiday season. Keep things simple and remember that you don’t have to do it all and it doesn’t all have to be done.

Sherri Wilson Johnson is an Inspirational Romance novelist, a speaker, social media junkie, and a former homeschooling mom who loves to share God with others, while sharing her life experiences with them. She is a member of the ACFW and a graduate from the Christian Writers Guild writing course. She lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. She loves to dream of romantic places and romance in general–good, clean romance, that is. She is passionate about purity and sexual integrity. Sherri is the author of To Dance Once More (OakTara) and Song of the Meadowlark (OakTara). She is polishing her novels To Laugh Once More and After the Raging Storm. http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/

Candles and Nativity photos: http://www.kaylajohnsonphotography.com/

Parenting Like the Eagles Do

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for life 2 Responses »

Nov 062012

Eagles are fascinating birds. They are mentioned in the Bible over thirty times and can teach us a lot about family life. First of all, they mate for life with a bird of the opposite sex and they raise their young together as a couple.

They live to be approximately sixty years old and midway through their lives (probably when they are done with their child-raising) they go through a renewing process which gives them strength to make it through the rest of their lives.

While in the parenting phase of life, when an eagle believes her young are ready to leave the nest, she stirs the nest and basically pushes the babies out of it one at a time. She flies above the babies to show them how to fly.

As parents, we keep our kids in the nest until it’s time for them to fly. Their time will come…although some days it seems it never will. Each child is unique and his or her time may be at a different point in life than another child’s or a friend’s child. Some are ready to head off to college away from home at eighteen and others will thrive by staying home and attending a local college or working for a while and discovering his or her calling.

Letting go is hard but can be manageable as we gradually let our young test the “air” of life to see if readiness has arrived. Little bursts of flying help strengthen the wings but the safety of the nest is always nice to come back to if one has to.

I learned something the other day about eagles that fascinated me and that I found applicable to parenthood. If the baby eagle falls and doesn’t seem to know how to fly, the mother flies underneath it and catches it so that it doesn’t die!

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 says: …He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft…

Having just had my oldest child fly the nest (no, I did not push her out), I’ve felt a little like the mother eagle. My child is on her own but rarely a day goes by that I don’t talk to her or text with her about the things going on in her life. Sometimes she just needs to bounce an idea off of me. Other times she needs advice. Other times she needs help or just a good cry.

When I read this about the mother eagle, I saw myself. Swooping down. Letting my child fly on her own. Yet being there to catch her if she falls too hard.

I know I will do the same when my second child officially flies the nest. Until then, he tests the air and returns to the nest daily for reinforcement and encouragement.

And is this not exactly what our Lord Most High does for us? He parents us. Guides us. Teaches us. And sometimes when we are lagging behind a bit on the next step in life He pushes us out of the nest. But He is always there flying above us and with us to teach us what to do. If we stumble and begin to fall, He swoops down and lifts us up on His wings just like an eagle.

What comfort we can take in knowing that we have the ultimate example of a parent to guide us as we parent our own.

Photo credits:

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/963547

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1253660

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/615918

~ by Author Sherri Wilson Johnson

The Habit of Seeing People for What They Will Be and Not Necessarily for What They Are

Habits for a Happy Mom, Habits for Happy Kids, Heavenly Habits 2 Responses »

Oct 182012

All throughout the Bible, there are people who—well, let’s just be honest—are rougher than a piece of sandpaper. They’ve got a lot of fixin’ up to do in their lives before they’ll ever be what God wants them to be. Have you noticed how God used them anyway? And have you noticed how by the time their story was finished, God had not only done a mighty work in their lives but had used them to do mighty things in the lives of others?

As a homeschool mom, I always tended to look too much into the future. I saw the potential in my kids and before they were ready to meet the challenges that would come with that potential, I was pushing them on to the next thing. In Elementary school, I was talking about Middle school. In Middle school, I was talking about High school and in High school, I was—well, you get the point. I was dreaming of the veterinarian or the lawyer or the rocket scientist or whatever my kids happened to be dreaming of at the time. Any little tidbit of information they gave me about what they wanted to be when they grew up or what subject they wanted to study and I was off to the library or researching on the Internet how to do it or become it.

And on the flip side of that, every little quirk or flaw either of my children had and I was on guard and ready to purge it from their lives. I had a cure, a solution, a punishment or a Band-aid that would mask or do away with that pesky little interruption to the game plan.

The problem with that way of thinking is that often times I missed out on the beauty of the “becoming” that was happening in my home, in my children, in my family. It takes time to grow plants and trees and it takes time to build character, conviction, passion, faith, and perseverance. Through that growth, there will be mistakes, flaws, teachable moments, embarrassment and pain. But out of those moments come humility, strength, wisdom, knowledge, and a calling.

Look at Joseph. He was his father’s favorite. He knew it, too. He strutted around with that coat of many colors and it angered his brothers. They were jealous of him and to be honest, they had a right to be. He was a victim of the jealousy that he caused when his brothers took him out into the desert and put him down into a well, sold him to travelers, and then lied to their father about his death. He was a slave and imprisoned. But through all of the pain, he learned much about himself and about God. He ended up in a powerful position and then had the opportunity to forgive his brothers and later care for his entire family and a nation. And instead of being jealous of him, his brothers respected him. The growth in him brought about growth in others. His full story can be found starting in Genesis 30.

Look at Esther. She was an ordinary gal who was chosen to be the new queen and wife of Xerxes. She had little confidence that she could be chosen as queen let alone do the job that was required of her—approach the king and ask him to save her people. But as God allowed her to gain favor in the house of the king, she learned much information about some pretty evil plotting that was going on behind the scenes and eventually she was able to not only save her people but to save the king, as well. Read the Book of Esther for her story.

The disciples all started out as simple fishermen and other ordinary men in society and Paul started out as Saul, a persecutor of the Jews. But they all became something useful to the Lord. They all were instrumental in leading others toward the right path. Even Judas, who betrayed Jesus and Peter, who denied Him—their stories guide us and teach us what happens when we don’t let God completely consume our lives. The New Testament is full of stories of these men.

There are many more stories in the Bible of people who started out as ordinary folks with seemingly little to offer but who allowed themselves to be used by God and who went on to be memorable world-changers. Ruth, Rahab, Daniel, David, Timothy…the list is endless. When we see people for who they will be and not just for who they are right now and when we pray for them, encourage them, and resist the urge to push them when they are not ready, we’ll be there to cheer them on when they reach their full potential and finally BECOME what it is God has called them to be.

Oak tree photo courtesy of Kayla Johnson. Copyright protected.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/927178

The Habit of Tradition

Habits for life 2 Responses »

Sep 272012

When your ancestors boarded the ship and set sail for America, they brought with them some of their earthly possessions, loved ones, memories, and traditions. As the generations have passed, many of those possessions may be deteriorated, the loved ones passed on, the memories forgotten, and the traditions cast aside for new ones.

These are my great, great grandparents on my dad’s side of the family, Peter and Augusta Juhlin. This photo was taken before they boarded the ship from Sweden to America. The picture in the bottom right corner is Peter many years later.

For centuries, a “family” started with the wedding ceremony, if things were done in the traditional way. Typically, the order of operations would be, first of all, to date (or court), fall in love, have an engagement, attend bridal showers where the bride-to-be is showered with gifts and well-wishes, have a rehearsal the night before the wedding, then have the wedding, the reception, and finally…the honeymoon. Of course, not all families start in this way but you get the gist. (Below is a picture of my parents at their wedding.)

After a family has formed, which is a combination of two families brought together by two sweethearts, new family traditions are added to the old. If the bride and groom come from the same social class, religious and/or ethnic backgrounds, then many of the traditions in their new union would remain the same as in the previous generations. However, if they come from different backgrounds, they will form new traditions, often meeting in the middle with a compromise.

There’s a meaning behind every tradition.

Back in the Colonial times, people put candles in their windows to symbolize warmth and security. It was like an invitation to come on in and be a part of the family. Later, the family fireplace did the same thing. People gathered around and popped popcorn, or in more recent times roasted marshmallows, and it became a time of connection. Simple. Yet profound.

Another tradition, which let people know they were loved, missed, cared for, and thought about was to tie a yellow ribbon around a tree. This welcomed people home from war or from long adventures and said “Come on in,” just like the candle in the window.

And yet another tradition was to gather everyone together annually for a reunion. Many families still carry on that tradition.

Building traditions takes effort.

In our busy world, nightly meals where we sit around the dinner table together may be impossible for some families. If Dad travels on business or the kids are involved in sports or dance or scouts, they may only be afforded the opportunity to dine together once or twice a week. In days of old, this was a staple in the life of a family. They worked together and ate meals together. Many speculate that the elimination of the family meal time has contributed to the crumbling of the family and, in essence, to our society. But that is a discussion for another day.

Whether you know it or not, the traditions of your ancestors or of the Founding Fathers of our country have infiltrated your home without you having to even think about it. Many families celebrate Valentine’s Day with candy hearts and sweet notes to those they love, wear green on St. Patrick’s Day so you don’t get pinched, hunt Easter eggs in tall grass or dye eggs for colorful table decorations, and go trick-or-treating dressed in costumes and beg for candy. We’ve all probably participated in these things without knowing the origins (which may stem from Pagan rituals) just because that’s what everyone else was doing. There’s no real harm in good clean fun if it brings you together with those you love.

Traditions are there if you look for them.

Do you celebrate birthdays each year? (That’s me with my sister on my birthday blowing out the candles on my chocolate cake with chocolate icing.)

Do you have Sunday dinners with the grandparents? 4^th of July picnics? New Year’s celebrations where you stay up until midnight and blow your horn or ring a bell? How about carving the Thanksgiving turkey, which sits on the dining room table adorned with the favorite family tablecloth? Or opening a few gifts at Christmas, and eating favorite foods from old recipes on the Christmas china while talking about Christmases of long ago and baby Jesus who was born in a manger?

Don’t despair! It’s not hard to slap a “TRADITION” label on your family’s favorite activity.

If you have a favorite vacation spot, or if Friday night means pizza and game night, or you enjoy camping out in the Living Room with a homemade tent of blankets and quilts, or you simply watch a favorite TV show together once or twice a week, you’ve got the makings of some pretty great family traditions. Let’s don’t forget how important attending church together is. It’s a great tradition that will change your life!

One of our favorite things to do annually is go to the state fair. We haven’t always been able to attend because of finances but when we do get to go, it’s such fun! To the left is a picture of me, my daughter and son riding one of my favorite rides. My husband took the photo. He’s not a big ride rider. The highlight of his night at the fair is eating EVERYTHING! That’s what we like to do, too. My daughter’s favorite thing is the petting zoo. (see picture below)

Even though each family has its own way of doing things, the important thing is that they do them. Time together does not have to consist of elaborate events or expensive items in order to make them special.

One of the best traditions we can make and keep is the tradition of gathering together. In fact, Hebrews 10:25 tells us: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

How about starting a new tradition in your family this week—the habit of recognizing a tradition in the making.

~ by Author Sherri Wilson Johnson

A Day in the Life of a Mediocre Housewife

Housekeeping Habits 7 Responses »

Aug 222012

I hear my friends talk about the joys of housekeeping, organizing their pantries, doling out chores to their kids, looking at the home with a regimented eye. I’m sorry, that’s just not me.

On a daily basis (or as needed), I do the household tasks but it doesn’t give me a sense of pride. Most of the time, I do them simply because they have to be done. I mean, I guess deep down I do them because I love my family. But that’s not really how I show my love for them.

Proverbs 31:27 says: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. I’ve said it before. I’m not June Cleaver. But don’t get me wrong. I do keep a clean house. I do the dishes and the pots and pans. I wash the clothes. I clean, dust, organize, clean the bathrooms and vacuum. But I do it so I can move on to other things.

In the morning I grab the dirty clothes hamper out of the bathroom and go to the kitchen to turn on my coffee water. While waiting on it to boil, I go downstairs and start a load of laundry. I unload and load the dishwasher and then fix my coffee. I read my Bible and check my emails and start my writing tasks for the day. After lunch I put the clothes in the dryer and then get back to my writing or working my part-time bookkeeping job. Soon it’s time for dinner. Afterwards I wash the dishes and pots and pans and settle down for an evening with my hubby and son (if he’s home) and daughter (when she visits). The other biggie household things get done when company is coming or on a semi-annual or annual schedule.

I think it’s kind of easy to keep a house in order. Or maybe I’m just not doing it right. Perhaps I just have a small home. I certainly don’t have an army to help me keep it clean. Of course, I don’t have an army living here either to mess it up. There are no toys or other clutter or homeschool books stacking up around the place anymore.

The conclusion I have come to in my twenty-four years of marriage is that there are some things that are more important than a clean house. If I have the choice between visiting with my daughter or doing the dishes or folding clothes, you better bet I’m going to choose the visit. If my husband wants to watch a movie, I may fold clothes while doing it but I certainly will make time for him. If my son wants me to listen to his latest song he’s written, I’m going to put the tasks aside and do it.

They say “cleanliness is next to godliness” but I’m not so sure that’s true. However, having a clean and orderly environment for your family does honor the Lord. It’s part of being the Proverbs 31 woman. But when I feel guilty for not doing everything the way my friends do them or feel terrible because I don’t take joy in the menial tasks of housekeeping, I remind myself that “home is where the heart is” and it’s all about what you make it. It’s the love that flows throughout the walls of the house. It’s the feelings your kids get when you bake brownies. It’s the joy that occurs when you sit and watch a favorite show on TV together and laugh until you cry.

It’s the comfy feeling that takes over when everyone is in their beds at night and you close your eyes to thank the Lord for the day.

I am a mediocre housewife.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/734842

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1394979

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