Thought I would post a few pictures to show what we’ve been up to lately:
(my personal favorite!)
OK, those were just from today…but I just made the grandparents happy!
I’m working on a post about my birthday and yes, I am fully aware that it has been over a week now, but I’ll catch up…someday.
This Sunday will be our first Father’s day without a Daddy at our house. So we could use your prayers…and not just us but our whole family. Days like this can be hard. We don’t really have any plans and I’m honestly not even sure how I feel about it…I just know we will need prayer. God will see us through…I have full confidence in that.
Beautiful Things 
How fun were those pics?! I want to play in the sprinkler! And eat ice cream at Culvers. O.K. Definitely eating custard at Culvers wins but it has to be after I’ve completely grossed everyone out by eating an entire butter soaked bunned burger from that place. Yum – yum. It’s definitely helped my figure moving AWAY from IA and Culvers….although I did see a new one last time I was in KC. It’s a good thing I’m nowhere near KC as well! Already been thinking/praying for you and father’s day. So rough. I know God will help you through it and we’ll be lifting you up. My sweet Grandpa is in the final stages of cancer and that will be hard for us this Sunday as well. He does not know Jesus and doesn’t care to. 😦 I’m glad Josiah is in heaven. Talk to you later-
Sister, whenever I read your blog, my heart alternately breaks, then rejoices in the Lord.
Tonight, I am rejoicing that the Lord put verses and promises very specifically for YOU in His precious, Holy Word.
Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Extol Him who rides on the clouds,
By His name YAH,
And rejoice before Him.
5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;
But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
I praise the God of salvation who is the Father and Defender of your Home. May you feel His presence as strongly as you feel your Josiah’s absence. Praying for you with sorrow and joy.
Yes you have made the Grand parents Happy!Woo Hoo!
Great Pics, they are just darling :0)
Thanks Dear One you’re the Best.
Thanks for asking for prayer for all of us.
Sunday is another glaring reminder of everyones Huge loss.
How Very MUCH we miss him. Such a Huge,Huge Void.
The Deep, pain we feel as times & seasons are changing, so hard to believe that he is not here…
This is the first Father’s day that Dennis will not hear from his 1st born child, his only son. We feel it already.
The Comforter will attend to us. I am thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness.
Mostly thankful that Josiah firmly knew his Lord Jesus.
I was cleaning a closet and came acrossed a song that Josiah wrote yrs ago in high school. Thought I would share.
START WALKING by Josiah Johnson
Sun settin’ on a town in the west
And it’s settin’ on a sin fest
People in that town are goin’ down
But one man stands there, holding his ground
‘Twasn’t easy, but he knew it was right
And he started walkin’ that road that night
chorus:
He started walkin’ down that road that night
All that he wanted was to follow the light
He paid no attention to the things that he passed by
Just kept his face lookin’toward the Eastern sky
As he traveled he read the Book of Truth
Read about God’s promise,if he turned from the ways of his youth
Read how Christ died for him-saved him from his sins
The book showed how to stand against the wind
As he walked with God He revealed the rest
Showed him which path to end up the best
Chorus
Man nearin’ the end of his journey
As he looks ahead, sees the gates of the Golden City
This man weren’t perfect,but he strived for Godliness
And if it weren’t for God’s grace he’d still be in that mess
Chorus
Sun risin’ on a City in the East
That’s where that man is now and he’s glad to say the least
chorus
I thought it was a bit prophetic. Thats our Josiah.
What a joy & treasure he is. We miss him deeply.
He was a MAN among men. Now enjoying his reward.
Great pictures, Jessica! Thanks for posting. As always, praying for your new family.
Luke Ulrich
Praying for you and your entire family. I know our Heavenly Father will give you strength to get through this Father’s Day and all the tough times ahead.
Such fun pictures! We love that park!
I’ll be praying for you this Sunday, that our Heavenly Father would give you the comfort and strength to get through this next difficult milestone!
What a great song Josiah wrote. Thanks for posting it Mary. Great pictures too! I can almost hear the laughter in their voices!
I’ll be praying for all of you this weekend, Jess. Thanks for reminding me that God loves me so much He gives me what I NEED not what I WANT. Do you sometimes wonder how messed up our lives would truly be if He did give us what we wanted and not what we needed?
Love ya,
Jen
You pics reminded me that of the park we were just at Ashby Park there in Des Moines on 38th and it was a very good park with the splash pad and two other play areas and bathrooms and grassy area. Very nice for some families ‘meeting in the middle’. Maybe you have been there.
I read your blog when I can (I am friends with Amy Stephenson) I think of you and your children a lot but I think of you when my dear husband and I don’t agree or argue-gasp! and don’t see eye to eye, but I remember you and how you say you want miss Josiah to discuss life with and such. So, thanks for sharing what you do. Like you have before, I’m sure it is good to get it all out and journal all that you do. I thank the Lord that I do have my DH to ‘discuss’ life with, even when it’s hard.
Dear Lord,
Please send a breeze of encouragement and hope to Jessica tomorrow for Father’s Day. Help her to celebrate the fact that Josiah is with his Heavenly Father, Whom he wrote about so eloquently at such a young age. Bless his Mom and Dad and siblings and may they each feel your smile and understanding compassion in a very special way on this day when sorrow is inevitable, but Your love is invincible. I pray for little Ava and Lincoln and for Sarah and Duane and all their kids as well. Please give them a special day of remembering their dear Josiah, and keep Satan from discouraging or distracting them from Your wisdom and kindness even in life’s greatest disappointments. Help them to live with eternity’s values in view, Lord. Some hugs from heaven would be such a blessing.
Thank you for sacrificing Your only Son and for the promises that we can bank on because of Your amazing grace!
In His precious name,
Amen
Jess,
I love seeing all the pics of your kiddos. I have to say that Lincoln is sure growing up and looking like a little man now; He’s looking more like Josiah 🙂
We just found a water park kind of like yours near our house. The girls loved it. They thought it was great!!!