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smileyface02100
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Name: AJ
Metro:
Birthday: 4/20/1986
Gender: Female
Interests: My personal relationship with Jesus Christ my Savior
I enjoy lots of activities including biking, hiking, running, photography, camping, gardening, swimming, cooking, birding, and EXERCISE!
Expertise: Umm.... forgetting everything!
Occupation: Accounting/Finance
Message: message me
Yahoo:  smileyface02100
Member Since:
6/5/2005
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| Saying goodbye to a friend is so hard, I don't think I've ever cried or hurt so much. It's finally sinking in that Jon-E is gone. At first it was such a shock it didn't seem like it could be real, especially b/c it all happened so far away and I haven't seen him since I left Taiwan, but after reading so many posts of friends and letting it sink in awhile, it's finally becoming real. I don't know why God decided to take him home so young, but not everything is for me to understand or be the way I would have planned it and I'm glad it's not, because God's ways are far above my ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Even though it's hard for me to understand why he would take Jon-E now, I know God will bring good out of this painful situation, for He promises: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. I pray that God would use this tragic accident to bring glory to His Name, that just as He was glorified and honored through Jon-E's life, that He would also be glorified through his death, that many people in Taiwan would come to know Christ because of seeing God work in Jon-E's life and death. I believe that God will not allow Jon-E's time in Taiwan to be of no avail, he obeyed God's call and shared God's love with others. One way that Jon-E challanged me was his boldness in sharing about Christ. I remember sitting at the same table as Jon-E at dinner in Chai-Yi and listening to him share with the teachers/principals at the table all about why he had come--that the Lord had called him there for this time, and explaining it to them. I trust that God will bring many to know Him b/c of the seeds that were planted in many people's hearts through Jon-E and all the other teachers in Taiwan. Galations 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. When I see pictures, and remember the times I got to spend with Jon-E--TESOL, summer camps in Taiwan, teaching in Chai-Yi together, our Hong Kong trip-- and it hurts to think that I won't get to see him again here, I remember God's promise that this goodbye is NOT forever. John 11:25b-26 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? Jon-E is rejoicing with Jesus in Heaven, and he's happier than he could ever possibly have been here. I mean, think of it, seeing Jesus face to face!!!! wow! what could possibly be better?!!! I will see him again in heaven, when I get to see Jesus face to face! Jon-E invested his life in others. He always spent time with the TA's we worked with and got to know them. He lived a fulfilling life, a life all out for God, and I hope I can learn from him. One time, on a special trip to McDonald's(yes, it's special after you've been at camps eating taiwanese camp food for5 weeks  , he had called one of the TA's and put the conversation on speakerphone... it was a funny conversation, with Naomi and Jon-E talking about the TA's( I can't remember who they were talking to, it's been a couple years now) new moped and what she should name it or something like that... funny....  He was always willing to help others, in fact, he even got my xanga tracker going. I had just gotten my xanga a few weeks before coming to Taiwan and couldn't figure out how to get my tracker going, so he did it for me and Jocelyn. He was always willing to take a challange and do things that were out of his comfort zone. He taught at Nei Hu for a few weeks when Christina was the camp leader, but when all the experienced teachers left, and it was only the 6 of us left, he was the camp leader. I know Matsu was alot of planning and work for him, but he didn't shy away from the responsibility, he did it with the Lord's strength. Please continue to pray for his family and close friends, that God would continue to comfort them and give them peace and surround them in His love. I'll never forget our trip to Hong Kong. Jon-E had to put up with 5 girls and no guys for 2 1/2 days... here we are all squashing into a phone booth, or at least trying.
I'll miss you Jon-E!! Goodbye, till we meet again in heaven!!!
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| I just want to shout out "CONGRATS!" to my brother Trevor. Trevor, I want you to know how proud I am of you, not just because you're graduating, but because of the fine young man you've become. 
Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony... I can't believe it's already here!
TREVOR DAVID JOHNSON
CLASS OF 2007
My verse for you:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 
I love this song, and this is my dream for you--that you keep God #1 in your life following Him wherever He leads you, I know He has an awesome plan for your life!!! I can't wait to see what He has in store for you!
I love you Trevor!!!!!!!!!!!
Find Your Wings--Mark Harris
It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow
Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings
May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories
It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly
Must be one of your favorite pastimes--shooting hoops. And this shot went in!
Soccer--all 4 years of highschool. I'm gonna miss watching you play...
Bluegrass time!! 
I just got a new camera--a Canon Rebel XT-- and have been having a little too much fun experimenting with it and doing crazy editing stuff as you can tell from some of these pics... 
Yes, I'm proud of my amazing brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Yesterday, God held back the rain. Maybe this seems silly to some of you, but to me it was special, it was awesome. God answered my simple prayer in faith and reminded me again how powerful He is and that He's in control of EVERYTHING. That's something I remind myself often lately, as things haven't gone quite as planned since I got back home from Taiwan. You know what though? Life never seems to go as planned, that's what makes it exciting!
God taught me an important lesson about trust while I was in Taiwan and now that I'm home He has been testing me in that aspect. It seems like my Father, when He teaches me something, often decides to test me to see if I've actually learned the lesson He's tried to get through to me. Before I even left for Taiwan, I had planned out where I wanted to work when I got home, but so far I haven't gotten a job in that field yet. I've been working temporarily at a place I used to work quite awhile ago. So, I'm not where I planned to be, but God has provided for me and I know He has a reason for taking His time. He'll get me a CNA job in His time, not mine... for now, I'm right where He wants me, and I'm trusting He knows what's best.
Now, what happened yesterday! I had decided that I was now recovered enough from being sick to go running on my big loop again. The day had been beautiful--sunny & warm--that is until I was finally ready to go running. I got ready and went out and saw that it was now cloudy and looked like a storm front was practically on top of me. My brother told me he thought it was going to rain. I thought it was going to start raining too, so as I started running, I prayed "God, please don't let it rain until I get home, please hold back the rain. Jesus, please hold back the rain!" I really didn't want it to rain b/c I had on my nicer shoes that I didn't want to get soaked.
*edit*
Ewww...a centipede just came crawling out right next to me on the desk(I'm in our basement)!!!!! YUCK!!! They're way grosser than the gecko's that used to run around on the walls near the computer in Taiwan. Sick, I really don't like centipedes!! Thankfully my brother, Trevor, just came down and did away with the disgusting creature for me...ick.
*edit*
And plus, I've had enough "caught in the rain" experiences to last me a little while. I got further along on my route and I could feel the humidity in the air--it was so thick, it smelled like rain, it felt like it was just about to pour. I kept on praying though, trusting God could hold back that rain from falling on me. When I was about 1/3 of the way on my route, I felt a few drops of rain which made me pray even harder About that time 2 young girls came biking toward me. When they got to about where I was, one girl stopped and called to the other "We need to go home, it's raining" That was not very encouraging, but I thought "No, it's not raining! and it's not going to until I get home! I know God can hold back the rain!" and it only made me pray harder. They turned around headed the direction I was running. We reached their house at about the same time. It still hadn't started raining and the girl who had called off their excursion said "well, I just said it's probably going to rain." I kept going, and told God that I would if He could hold back the rain, I would not write it off as a strange coincidence later(which is easy for me to do although it shouldn't be), but that I would realize it was totally Him. You know what happened? The entire front went over without rain! I made it back dry(well, besides all the sweat ). I know it's probably not that amazing to you, but to me it was awesome! I felt the rain coming, but I trusted God and He didn't let it fall. When we have faith, God can move mountains, He can do anything!! Even though my faith is as small as a mustard seed, God answered my prayer and held back the rain! If I can have faith in smaller matters, like the rain, why shouldn't I trust Him and have faith that He knows what He's doing with my job situation, with my future? There's no reason not to, and there is EVERY REASON TO!!!
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
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| Just learned something new about my b-day--it's National Pot Smoking Day. wow, another wonderful thing to add to the list... Thanks for the info Jessica! btw, it's her b-day too, so go give her some birthday cheer!
Anyhow, I'm 'legal' now, as some ppl have pointed out to me. yes, I've hit the BIG 2 1!! don't worry, I don't think you'll see me hitting the bars anytime soon... or ever, for that matter.
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| Yikes, my little brother seems to be growing an inch a day!!! I left for Taiwan and he was shorter than me, but now he's almost taller! How did that happen??!!! He just never stops growing.
Tonight we all happened to be at our house at the same time. Now this is rather an amazing occurance as of late... Taking hold of the opportunity, Mom lined us all up and snapped a couple pictures to record this moment in time, this moment while we are all relatively close to the same height!!!
Here is my lovely sister and studly brothers!
Johanna me Trevor Jeremy
Siblings are great!!! Well, there are always those moments... But I really am grateful for the amazing sister and super brothers God has given me! I just cannot imagine life without them.
Thanks guys!! You're the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you!!!!
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