Monday, June 29, 2009

Happy Birthday, Nana!!

Happy Birthday Nelwyn/Mom/Nana!! We love you so very much. You are a true blessing to each of us.


I was reading my Daily Devotional my Max Lucado today. And I wanted to share some of it with you. His message today was entitled "Greenhouse of the Heart."

People harvest only what they plant.
Galatians 6:7 (NCV)

Think for a moment of your heart as a greenhouse....And your heart, like a greenhouse, has to be managed.

Consider for a moment your thoughts as seed. Some thoughts become flowers.

The proof is everywhere you look. Ever wonder why some people have the Teflon capacity to resist negativism and remain patient, optimistic, and forgiving? Could it be that they have diligently sown seeds of goodness and are enjoying the harvest?

When I read this devotional, it immediate made me think of you. You have diligently sown seeds of goodness. You are constantly encouraging those around you. Loving each person who crosses your path. You give all of yourself to anyone who will let you. I know the Lord is pleased with you, and is preparing an beautiful mansion, surrounded by a greenhouse of flowers, just for you!!

Have a wonderful Birthday!

Cotton Anniversary

As most of you know, Cody and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary last week. We had previously decided, for gifts for each other on our anniversaries, we would exchange traditional gifts according to the number of years we have been married. This year is our "cotton" anniversary.

I took the cotton theme very literally, since Cody is from West Texas. (His grandmother on his dad's side picked cotton, and his grandfather on his mother's side used to run a cotton gin.) I thought since his family has so much history involving cotton, and he is so proud to be a West Texan, I would try to find some artwork that involved the two. After a few days of searching the web, I came across a photographer whose daughter is a sophomore at Texas Tech, so he has just recently begun photographing West Texas. On his website, I came across this picture. (Ty, you would appreciate it... it was taken just outside of Snyder!) It drew my attention, due to the combination of the old and new windmills. I love the colors in the clouds, and the vegetation (i.e. cotton) in picture. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was what I wanted to get Cody. I thought it would be perfect for him to hang in his office.

I was anxious to give Cody his present. I knew I liked the picture, but I didn't know if he would like it as much as I did. I was also excited because I felt I had gotten something completely unexpected, and my gift was definitely going to outshine his in the creativity department. :)

I was wrong! Cody won! Cody completely out shined my present and got something unexpected and way more exciting than my picture. For my present he handed me a cotton dinner napkin, and a card. The card read, "we are going to Chicago for the weekend. We have reservations to go to dinner Saturday night at Gibson's Steakhouse." (hence the dinner napkin.)

We had such a great time on our weekend getaway! The weather was absolutely perfect! It was a 88 degrees with a cool breeze blowing in from the lake! :)

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

We stayed at the Intercontinental Chicago, on Michigan Avenue.

The Magnificent Mile.

We went to Taste of Chicago. (The food was delicious! Our favorite was the Chicago Pizza.)
We walked through Millienium Park.


We went to the Field Musuem. Real Pirates was the featured exibit, so we had to take a few Texas Tech pictures for Coach Leach.



Thanks again, Cody! The trip was perfect!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

24 Roses for 24 Months!

Is my man smooth or what?!? :) I have had the pleasure of looking at these beautiful roses all day today. I have had more fun bragging to all the girls who walk by my desk, that this beautiful arrangement is from my thoughtful and incredibly handsome husband, for our 2 year anniversary!!


Cody, these past 2 years have been so much fun! I love getting to spend each day with my best friend. I don't know what [some] people are talking about?!? (as Ava would say...) Marriage is "AWESOME!" I love you! ~ Tara

Monday, June 22, 2009

Beautiful Baby Girl

As the very proud Aunt Mae, I am so excited to introduce sweet Jenna Mae Armstrong to all of you! She is the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen. Thank you all for your prayers for Sally, Lee and Jenna during the last nine months. It is amazing to see God at work!

Below are a few pictures from Friday that I thought you all might enjoy seeing. I know there will be many more to come. She is looking forward to meeting all of you!!!















Happy Fathers Day!



I know we're a day late, but I wanted to take a moment to wish all the dads in this family a very Happy Father's Day!

God gave fathers the special responsibility of leadership in their home. The most important role of our father is to lead us to the truths of God. A fathers love is a representation of God’s love for us. We has been so blessed to have Christian fathers leading this family.Thank you for all the love and support you have given each of your children. Happy Fathers Day, and God bless you!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Jenna Mae Armstrong is here!!

I know it may not be my place to announce the arrival of Jenna Mae Armstrong, but her Aunt Mae and Uncle Tyler are busy giving her hugs and kisses right now! :)


Jenna Mae Armstrong
June 19, 2009
7 lbs. 5 oz.
6:43am

God is good!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Official Homeowners!




We are excited to let you know that we are official homeowners! We closed on a house on Thursday morning and will be moving over the next few weeks. Please change our contact information in your address books to:


Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Johnson
6647 Mimms Drive
Dallas, TX 75252


All of you are welcome to visit anytime, so please feel free to come see us! We are looking forward to seeing most of you this weekend in Temple :)

Love,
Mary Helen & Tyler

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Happy 7th Birthday Gracie!!

Happy Birthday Gracie...wow... 7 years old!!! We love you deeply and have enjoyed your week long birthday celebration....I'll post photos soon!
Love,
Mom, Dad & Jacob:)

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Tanner turns 21 today!!

Happy Birthday Tanner! We hope you have a fun-filled (and safe) 21st Birthday! We love you!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Germany Trip (Days 8- 10)

Day 8 (continued)
The drive to Garmisch was really nice. We actually got to drive into Austria, and then back over the Alps to get to Garmisch. The drive provided us, like most our trip, with breathe taking scenery. Once we reach Garmisch, we checked in and unpacked.
After settling in, we went for our typical walk around town. It was nice, being in a familiar place. I don’t know if some of yall know this or not, but this is my second stay at Garmisch. Henry and I stayed here in January on our last trip over here.
Later that evening after our walk and some down time we went out for dinner, and then back to the hotel for a little TV. After a couple of CNN shows, we called it a night and went to sleep.

Day 9
Well it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to take any more runs the rest of the trip. This is sad news, because I really enjoyed my morning runs. From now on out, our hotels are more in the city, where there is just too much traffic for runs.
Breakfast in Garmisch was fabulous this morning. I love the breakfasts here! Wanting to do something different today, we decided to go on a driving tour through the surrounding towns near Garmisch. Henry has given this tour many a times to the people he brings through Garmisch. It was a nice pleasant drive. We saw monasteries, church, little villages, castles, and the countryside. I really like one of our stops it was at the King Ludwig castle that Walt Disney copied as its logo. Our driving tour took about 3.5 hours and lasted up until the early afternoon.
Since we were on this swing of difference, I wanted to step away from the typical Bavarian meals I was use to having. For lunch today I decided to have a doner. This is a Turkish kind of sandwich, and it surprisingly really good.
Our down time back at the hotel was really nice, because I realized they had wireless internet available for short time purchase. It nice being able to surf the web, talk to friend, and reconnect with reality again.
Now it time for dinner. Dinner tonight was really a treat. We ate at a typical Bavarian restaurant. In my opinion this was the best meal we have had all trip. I had some very tender slices of roast beef that were swimming in this kind of brown gravyish onion bisque thing. Plus, it came with some home fried potatoes. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I do know that it was superb.

Day 10
We woke up this morning and began to pack a few of our things up, because today we leave for our last destination of Munich. Once we had packed up most of things, we headed down for breakfast. After breakfast, we packed up the last of our remaining things, and left for Munich.
The drive to Munich was not quite as long as most of drives to a new place. It was only about an hour and a half long. It still was like much of the other though in its beauty. We drove through many small towns and villages along the way.
Reaching Munich, our final destination, we didn’t need the car anymore, so we returned it back to Avis and walked over to our hotel. At our hotel, we were greeted with the very friendly staff at the Dri Lowen Hotel. Everyone here remembers and knows Henry, and they treat him like royalty. It’s nice to be treated like a VIP guest.
After we got all our stuff into our room and unpacked, we headed out for our walk around town. Walking around we noticed that today the streets and much of Munich was completely packed with people. Despite the enormous crowds, we continued our walk through the city down to a little market place. At the market place, we found a little shack that sold fresh cooked bratwurst just off the grill. We each got one, and they were so good. After our lunch snack we headed back to the hotel.
Dinner tonight was good. We sat outside under the shade of some trees, and had a very nice Bavarian meal. It was so pleasant just sitting under the shade having our meal and sort of people watching, too.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Germany Trip (Days 3 - 8)

Day 3 (Continued)
After our afternoon R&R, we headed back into town for dinner. We meandered through the cobblestone streets for while, until we found a nice little restaurant that had an outside seating section. We sat outside with the nice warm sun shining down on us for several hours just talking and having our dinner. Finally after the warm sun set over the hills, we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel to sleep.

Day 4
I woke up around 5 again this morning and went for another run. My run this morning was the same route I had taken yesterday, but this time I ran with Henry’s camera. I was determined to take many pictures on my run in hopes of capturing some the beauty I was getting to see and experience. (I still haven’t figured out how I am going to get the pictures on here, but when I do, I will post them.)
After my run this morning, I showered and got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was good as usual; we had fresh breads, soft boiled eggs, homemade jams, and many other delicious things as well. Following breakfast, we packed up our things and headed to Frusteneck.
Our drive to Frusteneck was so easy and pleasant. Most of the drive cut through the countryside, so I got to see some more amazing countryside. Arriving in Frusteneck, I was surprised by how little the town was; it was only about a population of 200 people. The place where we are staying is in another typical Bavaria castle, expect this one only encompasses the hotel and its property, rather than the whole village like in Rotenburg.
Thinking that the rooms we be similar to what one might picture as a castle room, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw our rooms. They had nice modern furniture and even satellite TV. For dinner tonight we sat our on the hotel’s terrace and soaked up the nice and peaceful surroundings.

Day 5
Well I now have a new favorite run! I went for another run again this morning, but this time it was not around a wall that overlooks the countryside, but rather in the countryside. Not sure where all I could run, I decided to just explore. I found a little nature trail that led me down to the river, where there was a nice wide walking/running trail that ran parallel to the river.
After my run and breakfast, Henry and I decided to head into the larger town of Passau that was about 15 min away. In Passau we went sightseeing, mainly just walking through the streets and along the river-walk. We also decided to stop by a local market and picked up a few things for a little picnic for a place that Henry knew of that was right near the river. The place that we had our picnic was back in the countryside and was near a little wooden damn.
Following our little picnic, we headed back to the castle for a little down time. Dinner this evening was at the castle, and it was just as good as it was the evening before.

Day 6
After staying up later than normal watching TV and messing around on my computer, I slept the latest I had all trip. In doing so, I couldn’t go on another run where I had yesterday. Instead I just showered, packed, and got ready for breakfast.
Breakfast was different today, instead of eating with just each other; we ate with the owner of the castle, Hinney. Henry and he have been friends since Henry had first started coming here over 25 years ago. They had a great time catching up with each other. He was a very nice man that spoke excellent English.
After breakfast, we grabbed our luggage and said our goodbyes to the castle staff and headed off for the town of Konig See. The drive was just a nice as our drive to Fursteneck. We drove all through the countryside. The scenery is out of this world.
Finally arriving in Konig See, we unloaded our bags and checked in. All settled in, we headed out for a walk around the town just to get our bearing. Our hotel is nestled at the bottom of the Alps and right next to lake. To pass a few hours away, Henry and I stopped by a local bread shop and picked up a few rolls to feed some of the ducks that we saw on the lake.
Later that evening, we went out for a nice typical german meal at a restaurant located right next to the lake. Then with our bellies fully satisfied we called it a night and head back to the hotel.

Day 7
Since I didn’t go running yesterday, I was determined to go running today. My run this morning was just as good as all the other runs I’ve had on this trip. On my run this morning, I ran all around the lake. I ran across bridges, through fields, through the town streets, and I even saw a few animals (ducks and some lake trout) on my run as well. It was a great run.
After my run, I went back to the room to shower and get ready for breakfast. Breakfast at the Konig See was even more elaborate than the previous places we have stayed. It was so good. Following breakfast, Henry and I got ticked to go on a little boat excursion that would take us to a little place that was on the banks of the lake, and was park of the national forest. Here we went on a few nature trails, sat on few benches, and mainly just enjoyed the scenery of the national forest and the mountains that surround it.
Back from our little nature excursion, we just messed around town for the rest of the afternoon. We fed the ducks again, had a few snack, and just wasted the day way in relaxation. Dinner this evening was very similar to yesterdays. We ate a little restaurant near the water again that had just as good of food as the one yesterday’s did. I didn’t mind the similarities, because the first place was so good; why change it up?

Day 8 (Morning)
Last night was the roughest night of sleeping I have had so far this trip. I don’t know whether it was the mattress, or the pillows, or what. My horrible night of sleep left me too tired and sleepy to get out of bed to go on a run this morning. Instead I manage to pass the morning away until it was time for breakfast.
Breakfast this morning was much like all the others. Good as usual. After breakfast, we went back to the rooms and packed up our stuff. Today we are leaving to go to Garmisch.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

German Trip

DAY 1

This was a rough day. Mainly, because it was a day of just traveling. The plane ride was not as enjoyable as past plane ride to Germany. The main reason for this, was that this plane did not have personal video entertainment monitors in the seat in front of you. Instead it had several community video screens for certain sections of the plane. The reason the personal entainment screens are better is because: they have a full list of movies, games, music, and tv shows that you can choose from, but with the community one you didnt get to choose what was shown.

Since the entaiment wasn't that great, I decided that I should try to sleep. This didn't fare to well, either. I spent most to the time fidgeting around trying to get comfortable, rather than sleeping. When I did finally manage to fall asleep, it would be in really awkward postions that ended up leaving my back sore.



DAY 2

The trip has not started out on the best note. My back is sore from the horribly uncomfortable airplane seats. I hardly slept on the plane, so I'm extremely tired. I have a soar throat, and on top of all that I just got a sinus infection.

But all it all its not so bad. The first town were staying at has rediculously pretty countryside, and it's pleasant to just get to walk around the town and enjoy the scenery.



DAY 3

Well today's start has been night and day different from yesterdays. My back isn't sore, my nose is bearable, and I'm rested.

I woke up around 5:30ish, which wasn't that bad, because I had to went to sleep at around 7ish. Well when I woke up, I started on my fitness kick that I decided I was going to start, since I was gonna so much free time.

I started out doing push ups and sits up. This wasn't enough, so I put on some clothes and shoes and went out for a run. Let me tell you, this was probably the best run I have ever had. What made it so great was the weather and the scenery. The weather was a cool 55 degress, which was nice cause I didn't sweat. Oh man, was the scenery was incredible. The place where were staying is a town that has a castle in it. So this morning, I decided to make my run just on the inside of the wall. Well the castle sits on a hill top over looking a river, so the whole run I got to see amazing countryside. I even stopped half way through my run, just to soak up the beauty (but also to kill some time, cause I had another hour and half till breakfast). The view I saw was the sun rising over the hill tops with steam rising up from the river at the bottom of the valley.

The rest of the day has been nice as well, we had a good breakfast and a real nice walk around town. Now, were back at the hotel for a few hours and probably till we go out to dinner tonight.

Oh, I would take a few pictures and post them, but my mom's camera battery is dead and the charger wont work for some reason. Tomorrow I will just use Henry's camera, and if I can figure out how to get them on this computer and post them, then I will.