Farewell to Johnston Farm

The end of July brought closure to a lot of things: it was the end of my summer vacation, the end of my time as a (semi) stay-at-home mom, the end of our weeklong trip to San Antonio, and most importantly, the end of an era as we said goodbye to the farm that I have always known as Grandma and Grandad's house. While Grandma and Grandad now have a new home in town and I know there are still tons of memories to be made there, I will never forget the laughter, joy, breakfasts, porch swinging, card games, photo shoots, and slumber parties next to Grandma and Grandad's bed. Of course, this does not even begin to cover the many memories I have from one of my favorite places in the world, but surely it displays the special place that this piece of land and frame home will always hold in my heart. For me, this was the one house that stayed the same no matter how many times we moved. It was the place I slept better than anywhere else. It was the place that joy and such depth of love you couldn't even explain greeted you with a big bear hug the second you opened the front door. It was home. I am so thankful though that in the words of one of my favorite songs, "Home is wherever I'm with you," and it's not the place, but the people, that make a house a home. I am beyond grateful for the time spent at Johnston farm, and am even more thankful that my son was able to spend some time there before the big move.

In addition to our time spent at Grandma and Grandad's house, we were able to attend the Johnston Family Reunion, which I had not been to in years. It was so much fun to see cousins and watch our kids play together. How time flies!

I want to end this post with the sweet poem that Kirby wrote to accompany a canvas of the photo above that we gave to Grandma and Grandad for Christmas this past year. It perfectly encompasses the love of our family and our grandparents who inspire and bless so many.

Johnston Farm

by Kirby Brown

Popcorn ceilings and carpeted floors

Three little bedrooms with a couple of doors

White wooden panels and a sturdy roof of tin

A box unit in the bedroom to warm all our kin

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A shop in the woods where Grandad taught me to play

when I wasn’t learning how to drive in a field full of hay.

A wooden porch where I stood while he protected me from snakes

when they weren’t in the carshed—what a mysterious place!

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A deer blind now crippled once held Grandad, sister, and I

while we searched for animals and watched the sun rise in the sky.

The pecan trees were plenty and told many a story

like the time one caught my first bullet and brought lots of glory.

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A brown kitchen table where Grandma helped me dye eggs

A red stool so I could dry dishes even with my short legs.

A wooden buffet filled with sweets like Grandma’s chocolate cake

And all the other goodies that we would help her bake.

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A small bathroom in the back kept warm by a fire

with a tub in which we cuddled when the tornado became dire.

A cabinet full of scents I would sneak after a bath

because I love to smell like Grandma and moonlight path.

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A bedroom with a bed on which my Grandparents slept

with room on the sides where my pallet was kept.

This served as the perfect McDonalds drive thru

when I played with the adding machine—the time, how it flew!

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

A garden full of veggies that I helped pick when they were ripe

A love for cherry tomatoes that I would joyfully swipe.

A tree swing that hovered over a bed full of ants

which didn’t keep me from swinging and getting dirt on my pants.

But it’s not the house that makes a home.

Though you no longer live on that old county road

I can still feel the love that you both have always shown.

I can still smell Grandma’s chocolate cake

and hear the boisterous laughter after a joke Grandad makes.

I cannot wait for the new memories that are to come

because it’s not the house that makes a home.

Summer Vacay in SA

The last week in July, I took advantage of not having to work and Hayes and I drove up to San Antonio to spend the week with GG and Pops. We had a blast going on walks, playing at the park, swimming and going to the Do-Seum. We wrapped up the week with one last visit to Grandma and Grandad's farm and the Johnston family reunion. Those pics will follow in the next post, as they definitely deserve a commemoration all their own!

Weekend in Houston

Because of the overflow of pictures from July, it seemed easier to do installments of our adventures. Toward the end of the month, we ventured to Houston to stay with Katie and Jason for the weekend. Hayes had so much fun with his cousins! We went to the Houston Zoo and they had a snow day for the kids. Nothing like some icy slush and a snowball fight in the middle of a hot, Texas summer!

A Week of Sand and Cotton Celebrations

The third week in June every year marks the annual Algodon ball and all of the festivities that come with it. Cody and I are in our second year on the Board of Directors for the ball, so we were excited to see all of our work from the year come to fruition. It was also an even more special celebration due to the fact that Grandpa and Grandma Johnson were this year's reigning Don and Dona, so we were honored to help Grandpa host the Don and Dona party the night before Algodon. The whole Johnson clan came into town that week to get in on the festivities, so Tami decided to rent a condo at the beach and have a little family getaway before all of the Algodon parties began at the end of the week. I was thankful to be finished with work and officially on summer vacation, so we were able to stay from Monday to Wednesday and enjoy some fun time soaking up the sand and sun. Katie, Addie and Lila were able to come down early, too, and it was so much fun watching Hayes play and interact with his cousins. I have a feeling these three will be great partners in crime as the years go on, which couldn't make us happier! We have lots of great pics to document a fantastic week with family, so I'll let them do the talking.

Before we headed to the beach, I hosted a "Bubbles and Baubles" Stella & Dot trunk show for Katie. She just recently started selling Stella jewelry and it was so fun to visit with some girlfriends and try on pretty jewelry!

And now for a little beach fun...

... and the Algodon festivities!